“Don’t worry.” Lyn chuckled. “It’s hard to see what’s going on when you’re in the center of it all. What you need to do is keep in mind what’s right for you. He’ll fumble around on his own and it’ll be a mess. Don’t let it push you away.”
It didn’t sound like fun. Yet another reason why she’d never broached the careful balance of friendship she and Brandon had. She’d been so happy he’d come back; she’d thought that was enough.
And, suddenly, it wasn’t. At least, not for her.
Sophie sighed. “It is, without a doubt, a whole lot easier to watch it all happen. I remember the both of you while you were figuring out your relationships with David and Alex.”
It’d been fun to meet Lyn and Elisa. Sophie wouldn’t give up their friendships for the world. But it’d also been frustrating. She’d watched them fall in love, and there had been Brandon, showing no signs whatsoever of catching the love bug.
“Is this a good thing for us?” A sliver of fear stubbed the fluttering excitement in her chest. “Having his friendship, being able to come here and spend time with all of you, it could all get seriously screwed up if this isn’t the right thing. I don’t want to lose any of you.”
And it would be awkward. Brandon owned Hope’s Crossing Kennels. If they had a falling-out or if she pushed for a relationship he didn’t actually want, she’d be mortified by his rejection. She’d also be broken. She’d picked up the pieces of her heart after he’d disappeared the first time. There was no guarantee she’d recover a second time.
“Sophie, honey, this is a good thing. It’s okay to get excited. Enjoy it.” Elisa paused. “Unless he’s not a good kisser. That could be problematic.”
Lyn stared at her.
Sophie bit her lip. Nope. No kiss and tell, just the memory of those firm lips on hers teasing her into opening for him and…
Lyn laughed. “Oh, that look is enough. If you were any happier with the way he kissed you, your nipples would be poking their way through your shirt right about now.”
“Oh my god!” Sophie gasped and crossed her arms over her chest.
Elisa howled, laughing so hard she tipped off the side of the couch. That tipped Lyn off the edge and onto the floor, too, and Sophie doubled over laughing. Every time they subsided into giggles, one of them would make eye contact with the others and they’d launch into a fresh wave of laughter.
Finally, they were all lying on their backs wherever they’d landed, sucking in air and exhaling exhausted giggles.
“Wow, I needed that. I love you ladies.” Sophie wiped tears from her eyes. It’d been an incredible relief after the insanity of the past couple of days.
“Right back at you, darling.” Lyn pulled herself back up onto the couch.
“So the question is, are you going to be the girl from down the street and wait for him to figure this out, or are you going to take matters into your own hands?” Elisa sat up but didn’t bother to get back up on the couch. Instead, she patted the side of the go bag.
Sophie shrugged. “Most of my everyday clothing was torn up and tossed all over my bedroom floor.”
It’d hurt to see it. The intruder had deliberately shredded her clothing, and looking at any single garment brought up thoughts of what could’ve been done to her. After she’d picked up two or three garments all treated that way, Brandon had stopped her and just grabbed her go bag.
“This calls for something other than everyday wear, anyway.” Lyn patted Sophie’s knee, bringing her back from the memory of earlier in the day.
“She’s going to have to be unorthodox, too.” Elisa rose. “The minute he sees lace or gauzy anything, he’s going to try to wrap her in a robe. Then he’ll try to take a walk or something.”
Yup. Sophie had tried the more obvious technique once or twice and Brandon had a way of pretending he saw nothing.
“So we need for me to be me, only irresistible.” Sophie fought the heavy weight in her belly. “That’s not exactly something I can do.”
“Sure it is.” Elisa pulled a sleep shirt out of the go bag. “It’s just going to take a few creative adjustments to your sleep Tshirts and maybe one or two of your sweatshirts. Lounge wear can be incredibly suggestive when it fits just right.”
Chapter Eleven
You rented a car for this?”
Forte glanced up into the rearview mirror to check Sophie’s expression before he answered. “It’s too easy to track me via my vehicle and plates. If we’re going to take you off the grid, it makes sense to do it in a car that isn’t connected to me. I didn’t rent this vehicle, though.”
“Brandon, this looks and smells like a rental vehicle. It’s got the ‘I was just detailed’ smell to it.” She wasn’t challenging him, even if it sounded like it. Or maybe she was and he didn’t mind.
He’d made a comfortable space for her in the backseat so she could keep her right ankle elevated. From his point of view, she looked damned cute in the nest of blankets and extra pillows.
Cute in a very adult, very irresistible way.