12. Chapter 12
Chapter 12
S tone was an ass, and he knew it. He’d jumped ship on Sophie the moment it hit him he wouldn’t mind falling for the professional daydreamer. Which made him a fucking daydreamer. The realization that he could actually fall for her had terrified him. It went against everything he had sworn to himself, everything he thought was best for all concerned.
He’d had no choice but to cut things off before he lost his way and broke them both.
Now, almost two months since their last interaction—two months in which he’d read every book on her damn list of romantic comedies for her columns—it was time to professionally reunite. Emphasis on professional . Never in a hundred lifetimes could he let Sophie know he’d been damn close to giving her his heart.
The thought of seeing her again both excited and scared the hell out of him. How could he keep his distance when all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her?
In a perfect world, he’d never had to see Sophie again. Fuck. There wouldn’t be anything perfect about a world in which he’d never see Sophie again. But at least it would be a safe world, free from the risk of heartbreak.
But he didn’t live in a perfect world or a safe world. Without telling him, Clarabelle had contacted Ms. Birdie to let her know he was once again available to help.
Ms. Birdie had quickly arranged for him to return to Sophie duty.
If Stone had been strong, he would have told Ms. Birdie to find another bodyguard for her columnist. But the idea of some other guy protecting Sophie had turned his gut sour. No one would be as invested in her well-being as him. Hell, he’d give up his life ten thousand million times to keep her safe.
All commitment-phobias aside, giving her his heart and asking for hers in return wasn’t in the best interest of her heart or her safety.
“What’s got you scowling?” Clarabelle asked Stone, glancing over her shoulder at him from her position in the kitchen.
He snapped out of his thoughts, realizing his emotions were probably written all over his face. He and his siblings were sitting around the kitchen table at Ryder’s place, while Clarabelle stood at the stove stirring something that smelled delicious.
“I’m just hoping the spell you cast over me to keep my magic from glitching holds. I’m back on fluff duty starting tomorrow.”
“I was assured it would do the trick,” Clarabelle said. “Unless—”
A knock at the door interrupted her sentence.
“Did you invite someone else?” Clarabelle asked Ryder. “Should I set another place?”
The question reminded Stone of the meet cute scene in Anyone But The Billionaire . A memory that made him smile. He’d thoroughly enjoyed that book, not just because of the story, but because it was something he and Sophie had shared.
“No way. Family time is sacred time,” Ryder said exiting the room to answer the door. When he returned, he wasn’t smiling. “We’ve got a case. Another complicated one.”
“I’ll put Sophie on hold and join you,” Stone said, instinctively ready to jump back into action.
“Nonsense,” Clarabelle snapped. “You’ve given Ms. Birdie your word you’d finish what you started.”
“But—”
“ Honor and but don’t go together.” Clarabelle removed her apron. “You’re either a man with honor, or you’re a butt. You can’t be both. Does Sophie deserve your best or your ass?”
Stone straightened, feeling a pang of guilt. He should have had dinner with Sophie and tried to explain why continuing their book chats wasn’t in either of their best interests. That would have been giving her his best. “She deserves all the best parts of me.”
When he realized everyone was staring at him like he had two heads, he realized he’d worded his answer a little too honestly.
“It’s not like that,” Stone protested, though his heart told a different story.
“If you say so, dear,” Clarabelle said, patting him on the cheek.