Tangled Up In You (Rogue #1)

Chapter 73

73

SOPHIE

S ophie’s travels started in Los Angeles, where she used the time before and after her Vogue shoot to meet with an interior designer to decide the style for the Venice Beach house, as well as visit with her parents. Steve and Maggie had tiptoed around the news of Gavin’s mother since it had been revealed, clearly not wanting to impose, and other than general inquiries, seemed eager to believe that Sophie had everything handled. She didn’t disabuse them of this notion, since she didn’t want to share the details of Gavin’s downward spiral with them. They never had the kind of relationship where she confided in them when things were bad. Why would she reach out to them when she knew their answer would be that she had to be strong and figure things out for herself?

The trip to New York was longer and included an offer by Colette to stay with her. The two women got a chance to play roommates and catch up in between work. As they relaxed with a glass a wine and a warm late-afternoon breeze found its way through half-opened windows, Sophie learned that while Colette and Conor were still together, they were currently having a bit of a spat regarding the fact that he was in Canada visiting an old school friend.

“What’s wrong with that?” Sophie asked before taking another sip of her Chardonnay.

“The friend is a woman who just happens to have gotten divorced.”

“No, not Felicity!”

“That’s her name. And he hasn’t told me much, but I think he still has feelings for her,” Colette said.

Sophie took a moment to get over the shock and sadness of learning that her old friend’s marriage had fallen apart. And it made her feel even more vulnerable in her own relationship.

“What makes you say that?”

“Because,” Colette said excitedly, “I was thinking this whole time that you were the married woman he was once in love with. But now, it seems it was this Felicity all the while!”

“Wait a minute,” Sophie said, nearly choking on her wine. “What are you talking about? Why on earth would you think Conor was ever in love with me?”

“Because he told me that the only woman he was ever in love with was someone who was unavailable to him. I guess he didn’t even mean to say that much, since he’d never go into it again.”

“But why would you think it was me? That seems like a really odd thing to assume.”

“No, no, not really, Sophie. Don’t you ever notice the way he looks at you? The way he … brightens up when you’re around?” Colette got lost in thought, her face twisted in discomfort.

“That’s not true,” Sophie said, unwilling to acknowledge possibility. Lust, she could see. But, love? It was too much to even entertain. “I think you’re worrying too much. And anyway, what did he tell you about Felicity? Because you have to remember that I was with them during one year of school.”

That excited Colette again. “That’s right! He said they were never boyfriend and girlfriend. He said they were just really good friends and that he wanted to go cheer her up now that she’s having a hard time. What do you think?”

“He’s telling you the truth, Colette. And he’s being a good friend by going to see her now. That’s all. I’m sure of it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. God, you’re all he can talk about anyway,” Sophie said with a laugh.

“Good. Because I think I really love him, Sophie.”

Sophie nodded and did her best to smile at the declaration. But at the same time, she felt an uneasiness she didn’t want to examine.

A few days later, Sophie had the house to herself for the remainder of her stay. Colette had been unable to keep from bickering with Conor when he called from Felicity’s, and in a fit of immaturity, she flew to London early to meet up with friends.

Sophie was thinking of her own sporadic and unsatisfactory calls to Gavin when there was a knock on the door. As she padded barefoot to answer it, she tried unsuccessfully to ignore her certainty that Gavin was well beyond the mere partying stage when it came to cocaine use.

Opening the door, she was surprised to see Conor. And he was just as surprised to see her.

“Well, isn’t this something,” he said with a grin.

“Hey, Connie,” Sophie replied, feeling unexpectedly happy to see his handsome face.

He stepped inside and dropped his bag familiarly in the corner. Looking beyond her, he seemed to take in the unusual quiet as he shook his head with a rueful smile.

“She’s not here,” Sophie said. “She flew out earlier today to London. She didn’t tell you?”

“My girl, she has a flair for the dramatic.”

“That’s putting it kindly,” she replied.

“And you’re staying here for a while?”

“Just a couple more days. Then I’m off to London too.”

“Well, hope you don’t mind if I crash here, ’cause I’m not getting on another plane right away.”

“Of course not. No, you should stay. Hey, we’ll make a night out of it,” she said, suddenly excited.

“What have you in mind?” he asked as he moved toward the kitchen to help himself to a beer.

“Be my date tonight at the Jeffrey Fashion Cares event?”

“What?”

“I have to make an appearance. But after that, you and I can go find our own fun. I heard there’s a great new burlesque club—very sexy in a retro way. I’ve been wanting to check it out.”

“How many ways are you trying to get me into trouble with Colette?” he asked with a laugh.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Well, first, she’s not going to like me being your date. Second, she’s really not going to like me going to check out mostly naked girls. And third …”

“Third?”

“And third is, fuck it,” he said, resolved. “It sounds like a great time, Sophie. You and me and no fucking drama. Yeah, let’s do it.”

She smiled because she was having fun for the first time in a long time.

Sophie gave Conor a ticket and instructed him to meet her at Manhattan’s Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum for the Jeffrey Kalinsky fundraising event in support of LGBT causes. She then dressed to stun in a formfitting Dolce & Gabbana dress and went to her favorite New York salon to get her hair and makeup done. With sexy, just-rolled-out-of-bed hair and dark green smoky eye makeup, she was impossible to ignore.

When she met up with Conor at the event, he looked at her with such naked desire that she felt a tingling in her core. And when he chose to ignore Colette’s calls, she knew he was focused on only her.

They stayed only as long as they had to, careful to mingle with others before stealing away together. They had a great time at the burlesque show. It was a performance by good-looking young women who were just as aware of their luscious bodies as they were of how to tempt men without any vulgarities. At one point, two of the dancers focused on their table, preying on Conor.

Sophie watched with amusement as he unabashedly enjoyed it when the women sat on his lap or playfully waved their breasts in his face. He then watched with pure joy as the women turned their attention to Sophie and treated her to the same bit of teasing.

When the show let out after midnight, they were still both wired. As they headed out to the street, they talked about going to a bar for another drink. But when a photographer unexpectedly blinded them with repeated camera flashes, they instinctively covered their faces.

Conor grabbed Sophie’s hand and pulled her along at a sprint. Luckily the lone paparazzo was not nearly in the shape they were and they soon left him behind. But being “caught” was a buzzkill to their good time, and they decided to go back to Colette’s brownstone.