Chapter 4
Chapter Four
D id she know how bad he wanted to kiss her right now? His entire body shook from the desire to brush his lips across hers.
“I suppose,” she said after a long pause.
Just then, Loki yanked on the leash and let out a few happy-sounding barks.
“Sorry,” someone called out.
Glancing over, he recognized Jacob and Rose Jordan. Their daughter Grace was holding their older dog while Loki continued to bark at them.
“Loki,” he said, pulling the leash.
“We didn’t mean to spoil the moment,” Rose said when the dogs quieted down. “Nice night for a walk.”
“Yes,” Sophia said, bending down to pet Sophie. “I was happy to hear that she was still around,” she said to them.
“She’s old but still spry.” Jacob laughed.
“I used to dog-sit for the Jordans,” she said with a smile towards him as she stood back up.
“I doubt I could find a dog sitter named Loki,” he added with a wink.
“Palmer, we were going to call your brother to take a look at extending our patio this spring. I also have a few odd jobs I’m thinking of doing at my parents’ place,” Rose said to him. “Now that you’re business partners, I suppose I can just ask you to swing by their place sometime this week. Just let me know and I’ll meet you over there.”
“Sure thing.” He nodded.
“You’re business partners with Parker?” Sophia asked, turning towards him.
“Sure am.” He beamed. “He made it official the when I got my license.”
“Congratulations,” she said, and he saw her shiver.
“I think I kept you out in the cold too long. Want me to walk you all the way up to the door?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Thanks.”
“Thanks for bringing me dinner,” he added. He said goodnight to the Jordan family and then turned and started heading back down the beach with Loki, who whined a little but then fell into step when they got further away from Sophia.
The walk back to his place seemed boring. Quiet. Lonely. Even talking to Loki and letting him run free for the last little bit didn’t brighten his mood.
How had Sophia changed so much in him with one single night? Damn, he didn’t even get to kiss her like he wanted to. Did she want to kiss him? Was she thinking about it? About him?
Shit. He didn’t even have her phone number to text her a proper thank-you for the night. For the rest of the night, he stewed over his stupidity.
He didn’t feel a sense of relief until the next morning when he and his brother were meeting at Sara’s Nook and Sophia walked in with her sister-in-law.
Of course, he should have known he’d run into her eventually. They lived in what she liked to call the perfect small town—a place where you couldn’t walk a block without seeing someone you knew. And often, you’d end up crossing paths with the same people multiple times a day.
“Hey,” he said as Avery sat next to him without asking. He scooted over for her.
“Morning,” he said easily.
She sighed and rolled her shoulders. “Sorry to barge in. Sophia is going to order for us and this is the only available spot.”
He glanced around the crowded bakery and, sure enough, they were the only table that had room for them.
“No problem,” he said easily.
“Lucas wants the two of you to swing by the restaurant sometime this week. The back fridge keeps dancing away from the wall.”
“Dancing?” Parker frowned.
Avery shrugged. “His words, not mine.”
“I’ll swing by later today.” His eyes moved over to Sophia’s back as she ordered.
“Thanks.” Avery sighed.
“How goes it?” Parker asked her.
“Slow. How did Sara ever manage to give birth to twins? This one is giving me hell.” Avery groaned. “Little hint.” She turned to him. “Morning sickness doesn’t always happen in the morning. Mine seems to happen around ten each night, just when I’ve started to fall asleep. Then, wham!” She slapped her hands together, causing several people to glance over at her.
“Thanks for the tip,” he said dryly, and Avery laughed.
“Trust me, someday you’ll thank me sincerely.” She touched his arm just as Sophia sat next to Parker.
“Sorry, everyone we bump into this morning is getting unwanted pregnancy advice,” Avery said, and then took a sip of her coffee.
Palmer chuckled at Avery’s bluntness. For a brief moment, his and Sophia’s eyes met, and the warmth in her gaze made his chest tighten.
“Including me,” Sophia teased Avery as she stirred her coffee, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
“Absolutely,” Avery said without missing a beat. “I’ve got advice for everyone today.”
Parker leaned back, smirking. “Lucky us.”
Avery nudged him playfully. “You’re welcome.”
Palmer took the opportunity to turn to Sophia. “How’d you sleep?” he asked softly, his tone casual, though his heart thudded in his chest.
She paused for a moment, her fingers tapping lightly against her coffee cup. “Not bad,” she replied. Her voice was steady but her smile gave away something unspoken. “How about you?”
“Not much sleep,” Palmer admitted, leaning back in his chair. “Too much on my mind.”
Avery raised an eyebrow, glancing between them. “Well, don’t let us interrupt. Clearly, you two have some catching up to do.”
Sophia rolled her eyes, laughing lightly. “You’re impossible.”
“Don’t mind her,” Parker interjected. “I heard from her husband that she’s just trying to avoid talking about the nursery she’s supposed to be working on. We still need the paint color for the walls if we’re going to get the work finished before that baby comes.”
Avery gasped, mock offended. “Excuse me! I’ve been meticulously planning that nursery, thank you very much. It’s a process. I’ll get you the color next week.”
“You’ve been saying that for three weeks,” Parker quipped, earning a playful swat on the arm.
Sophia shook her head at their banter, then turned back to Palmer. “So,” she began, her voice quieter, “any plans for today?”
He hesitated for a beat, wondering if now was the time to ask her out. Before he could respond, Avery chimed in again.
“Careful, Palmer,” she teased. “Sophia might rope you into one of the projects she was talking to me about on the way over here. She has big plans for some remodeling.” Avery winked at Sophia, who just frowned and shrugged slightly.
“I’ll take my chances,” Palmer said, his gaze locked on Sophia.
“No projects, I promise.” She held up her coffee.
Before anyone could add another comment, the barista called out an order, and Avery took the opportunity to stand. “Don’t mind me while I waddle my way back to the counter.”
As Avery walked off, Parker followed, heading over to chat with a few people, leaving Palmer and Sophia alone at the table.
“So,” Palmer said, his lips curving into a grin, “how about a walk with Loki and me later, after work?” Palmer offered, his voice low but steady.
Sophia’s eyes flickered with surprise, but she nodded. “I’d like that.”
And just like that, the busy bakery around them seemed to fade away.
Sophia leaned forward a little, allowing him to smell the perfume she was wearing. The sweet scent did things to his insides.
Just then, the bakery door jingled, and the cool morning air rushed in. He watched as Sophia glanced towards the entrance, her eyes narrowing slightly. Looking over, he saw a tall man with sandy blond hair and piercing silver eyes stroll inside. The man carried himself with a confident air, his coat slung over one shoulder as though he’d just stepped out of a fashion spread.
He stopped just inside the doorway and, to Palmer’s surprise, the man’s eyes landed directly on Sophia. Then a slow smile spread on the man’s lips as he started walking towards the booth.
“Sophia?” the man said smoothly and in an unmistakably familiar tone.
“Max?” she said, her tone both startled and delighted.
“This is a happy surprise.” His gaze lingered on her before he extended his arms. Sophia rose, letting out a small laugh as she hugged him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, stepping back but still smiling.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Max said, his eyes gleaming. “I thought you were still in New York.”
“I came home about a month ago,” she answered, and he could see the pain flooding her eyes.
“You’re quitting school?” Max asked.
“I…” Her eyes moved to his quickly. “My mother passed away.”
Max’s expression changed, softened. “I’m so sorry.”
Palmer cleared his throat, the sound deliberate but not overly loud. Max’s eyes flicked to him, a brief moment of curiosity flashing across his face before he returned his attention to Sophia.
The interruption had done the job. The sadness retreated in her eyes.
“Oh, Max, this is Palmer,” Sophia said, motioning to him. “Palmer, this is Max Wilson. We worked on a project at school together in New York.”
“Nice to meet you,” Palmer said, his tone even as he extended a hand. So the man had attended film school with Sophia in the city. He supposed that wasn’t too bad. After all, it was a small world. Right?
Max shook Palmer’s hand firmly, the kind of grip that spoke of self-assurance. “Likewise. You’re an old friend of Sophia’s?”
“Something like that,” Palmer replied, his lips twitching in a faint smile.
Max raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. Instead, he turned back to Sophia. “I just moved here, believe it or not. I bought a lighthouse,” he exclaimed. “I’ve always wanted to live someplace unique. I figured it’s the perfect spot to start that next chapter I was telling you about last time we met.”
“You bought the lighthouse?” Sophia asked, her eyes widening, as if his words had just sunk in. “Pride’s lighthouse? That’s amazing! I always thought it was such a unique place.”
“It is,” Max said, his voice dropping slightly as he leaned closer to her. “But it’ll feel even more like home now that I’ve run into you. When you mentioned how quaint your little hometown of Pride was, I had my agent scour for a property and…” He waved his hands. “I closed on it two days back and just arrived about an hour ago.”
Palmer’s jaw tightened, but he kept his expression neutral. “Small world,” he said, his tone laced with a subtle edge.
Max glanced at him briefly, then smiled at Sophia. “So, what are you doing later? Maybe you can give me the local tour, help me get my bearings.”
Palmer shifted in his seat, his shoulders stiffening. “Actually, Sophia and I already have plans for later,” he said, his voice calm but firm.
Sophia blinked, looking between the two men. “I—well, yes, Palmer and I were planning to take a walk with his dog.”
Max chuckled, a sound that was both amused and dismissive. “A walk, huh?” Max tilted his head, as if thinking. “Another time, then.”
“I’d love that. Maybe you can give me a tour of the lighthouse. I’ve never been in it before.”
“I’m free tomorrow?” Max suggested.
Sophia frowned. “I work from eleven to ten. Day after? I can swing by around noon?”
“Perfect,” Max said with a smile, his silver eyes locking onto hers for a moment longer before he stepped away. “Nice meeting you, Palmer. I’ll see you around.”
As Max moved to the counter to order, Palmer turned to Sophia, his jaw unclenching slightly. “Friend from New York?”
Sophia nodded, letting out a small breath. “Yeah. We worked on a few projects together. I had no idea he was moving here.” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Pride just gained a national celebrity. The man is a legend in the screenwriting world. He wrote Never Again and Lies in Waiting .”
Palmer frowned. “The movies?” Then it dawned on him. He’d seen several interviews with the man. Maxwell Wilson, winner of several screenwriting awards, including some of his favorite movies. Damn, how was Palmer supposed to compete with that?
He glanced towards the man, who was currently charming Blair as she made his coffee, laughing at something he had said.
Palmer gave Sophia a faint smile. “It looks like Pride’s getting more interesting by the minute.”
Sophia sighed lightly, her eyes still fixed on Max’s back, and he noticed a flicker of something unreadable cross her face. “You could say that.”