Marnie linked arms with Brynn and they left the room in a flurry of whispers. Will followed them, making soft mimicking noises behind Brynn’s back.
“So what do you know about the Mariners?” Sophie’s father said to Gray, as he led him toward the kitchen. Sophie trailed after them, trying to keep her eyes pinned on the back of her father’s head so her gaze didn’t drift to Gray’s back. She hadn’t seen him from this angle before, and it was every bit as yummy as the front.
Stop. It.
“Um, I’m not as familiar with Seattle pro sports teams as I’d like,” Gray was saying stiffly. Sophie rolled her eyes. At least his horrible conversation skills weren’t limited to her.
Gray stopped abruptly in the hallway and turned back toward Sophie. “Miss Dalton, I was wondering if you might show me to the restroom?”
She jolted slightly as she realized he was addressing her, and she swallowed dryly. “Um, sure, it’s just down the hall on the right—”
He grabbed her arm and pulled her in that direction, while an oblivious Chris continued to the kitchen, still rambling about ERAs and RBIs.
Gray shoved Sophie roughly into the tiny powder room and shut the door behind them.
“Well this is familiar,” Sophie said. “You, me, small dark spaces. Animosity. The sister element is new, though. Quite the twist—”
The light flickered on, and she found Gray glaring down at her.
“I think I liked the dark better,” she muttered. “I certainly haven’t missed your scowl.”
“What are you doing here?” he demanded. His lips were pressed together so tightly it was a wonder any sound came out.
“What do you mean what am I doing here? You’re in my parents’ house. Sunday dinners have been a weekly occurrence for a couple decades now. You’re the newcomer.”
His jaw twitched as though irritated to be caught asking the obvious. “You never said you were from Seattle,” he accused.
Sophie’s temper spiked. How was this horrible coincidence her fault? “You never asked! I was merely playing dress-up at my cousin’s bachelorette party, but you were too busy assuming I was a hooker,” she hissed. “Which I’m not. Obviously.”
“Obviously,” he snarled. Gray glanced down at her worn jeans and seriously ancient Stanford T-shirt. His gaze seemed to linger on her midriff, and Sophie resisted the urge to tug at the hem of her shirt. She was well covered compared to the last time she’d seen him, but something about the way this man looked at her made her feel…naked.
“I knew my sister had horrible taste in men, but you’re a new low. You’re judgmental, cruel, heartless—”
Gray took a step closer until her back pressed against the bathroom door. Dimly she realized they were both breathing hard, and the sound of their panting in the tiny room felt entirely too erotic given that she did not like this man.
“I find it difficult to believe that you can be related to someone like Brynn,” he said, his eyes moving over her once more.
“Why, because she’s so proper and I’m so slutty?”
Gray growled. “No, it’s just…Look, I obviously made a mistake about the prostitute thing, and I’m sorry. But we can’t just fake our way through the evening. Is there any excuse you can give to leave?”
She pushed at his shoulders in outrage, but he didn’t budge. “You want me to weasel out of my own family’s dinner so you’re more comfortable? You’re the interloper. You leave!”
“I’m a guest; that would be rude.”
Sophie gave an indelicate snort. “I’m sure it wouldn’t be the first time.”
Gray’s eyes closed briefly, and for a minute he looked almost weary. “This is what I get for agreeing to come to a woman’s house who I barely know.”
Something twisted in Sophie’s stomach. “So you and my sister aren’t serious?”
She didn’t know why she asked. Or why the answer was somehow important.
His eyes opened and they locked with hers before drifting to her mouth. “No. A couple of casual dates. More companionship than romance.”
“Oh,” Sophie said, licking her dry lips. “I don’t like you,” she blurted out, feeling very much like a fourth grader. But she’d had to say something. He was just so close.
“I don’t like you much either,” he said.
But the way their bodies leaned toward each other made liars out of both of them.
What is this? Sophie thought with panic. This man is everything you despise.
And yet, she wanted…
Brynn’s voice calling Gray’s name had them both jerking back. Unfortunately for Sophie, jerking back meant slamming her head against the back of the door.
“Ouch,” she yelped.
His expression turned almost gentle as he reached out a hand toward the spot she was rubbing, but again, Brynn’s voice had him pulling back.
“Gray? Did you get lost?” Brynn called.
“Shit,” he muttered.
“Shit,” Sophie echoed.
“You go,” she whispered. “I’ll stay here and follow in a minute. I’ll pretend I was upstairs or something.”