Chapter 13
Lincoln
Finding time to see Sophie in person was a new and fascinating experience. In the week that followed the fair, I brought her lunch once, and we managed to meet for coffee later in the week as well. The longer we spent time apart, the more desperate I became for any sight, touch, or taste of her.
The drastic shift in my thoughts should have spooked me.
I was a sworn bachelor, soured on the idea of relationships after my own marriage crashed and burned.
I’d thought I was happy with my life, satisfied.
With Sophie, all of a sudden, I wanted more, and the only thing that scared me was the idea that she might not feel the same.
I cherished the time we had spent together so far, but I was desperate for more.
Sophie had invited me over for dinner with her and Lou.
I was pleased, curious to see the inside of their space.
That didn’t mean I wasn’t planning an official date night for me and my girl.
Shock at how invested I already was ran through me, but I dismissed it, my growing obsession with Sophie outweighing any of my previous concerns.
In the short time that I’d gotten to know her, Sophie seemed to think about everyone else before herself.
I wanted to spoil her, but something told me she would be…
difficult about it. I was taking my time to learn as much as I could about both Sophie and Lou.
Likes and dislikes, habits and schedules.
It seemed mundane, listing it out like that, but my life was far more flexible than theirs.
I was ready and eager to become a part of their routine.
Everyday life wasn’t picture-perfect. It wasn’t all over the top, fairytale dreams. I wanted something authentic; the daily play-by-play of a messy, unpredictable life.
Because that’s what this all was to me. I hadn’t been in a serious relationship since my marriage, and I had never dated anyone with kids.
The gravity of the situation, what was on the line, wasn’t lost on me.
For our first date, I had something simple but fun planned.
I took her out in the Nulu area, starting with dinner reservations at Repeal Oak-Fired Steakhouse.
The food was always delicious, and the dining room was spacious, providing privacy and room for intimate conversation.
I picked Sophie up, and she looked edible in the jeans that molded to every part of her hips and ass.
The simple top she had on showed just enough skin to torture me, but not nearly enough to satisfy my craving for her.
The hostess was a younger girl—barely drinking age, if I’d had to guess.
“Hi, there! My name is Bethany. How can I help you tonight, Mr…” she asked, batting her lashes at me while studiously ignoring Sophie.
“Reservation for Carson,” I told her, reaching for Sophie’s hand, entwining our fingers. The hostess eyed her with a frown before looking back down at the books.
Once seated, Sophie seemed stiffer, a bit nervous. She was looking around at everyone in the restaurant but me. Once the waiter took our orders and left the table, I decided to get some questions out of the way.
“Tell me about your ex.”
She looked at me, startled, eyes wide. “What? Why would you want to talk about that?” she asked, looking adorably scandalized.
“It’s not like we can ignore it. He’s Lou’s dad. I assume he’s still a part of your life. Plus, I’m sure you have questions about my ex-wife.”
“I didn’t know you were married,” she replied, before biting her lip, as if to hold back the rest of her response.
“Yep. Only once. Been divorced for almost ten years now. Your turn.”
“We were only married a year when I found out he was having an affair. It turned out I was just a placeholder until his childhood sweetheart was ready to get married,” she told me, a practiced nonchalance in her manner that belied how deeply it all had wounded her.
“So he wanted to marry the mistress?” I asked, having a hard time comprehending. To my surprise, she snorted, a sardonic smile on her face.
“I think Max would have preferred to keep things how they were. The clueless housewife in public and his sultry mistress on the side. Max is very used to getting anything and everything he wants.” Not liking the sound of that, I prodded further.
“So he didn’t want to get divorced? Did he fight you on it?”
“He would have, if I hadn’t had Pops backing me.”
Leaning over the table so she was closer to me, Sophie’s eyes warily met mine as she started speaking again.
“I started planning how to leave as soon as I found out, but none of the lawyers would take my case. Pops could tell something was wrong, and basically moved Lou and me into his house. He got me a lawyer and arranged a meeting with Max and Helen, Max’s mother.
Pops took photos from my private investigator and claimed responsibility.
Acted as if he told me about the affair to prevent a scandal.
With the evidence, and faced with direct orders from the patriarch, they had no way to wriggle out of it. ”
“He’s a good man.”
She nodded. I had so many more questions.
What about custody of Lou? How often does Sophie see her ex and the side piece?
But those questions could wait. A bigger picture was forming in my head, and I had enough to chew over for now.
I was proud of my girl. She had gotten out of that situation right away.
Leaving a marriage was hard enough, but fighting against money and people not afraid to use it made it so much harder. Not to mention, she had Lou to think about. Something told me her ex and his mother wouldn’t be above using a defenseless newborn as collateral to get their way.
“What about your divorce? Was it as dramatic as mine?” Sophie asked, clearly done with that part of the conversation… for now.
“The divorce part was easy. Lindsey was already looking for the next best thing before I gave her the papers. It’s a pretty overtold story.
Met in high school, had dreams of moving to the big city to live our best lives.
In actuality, we were living in an overpriced studio apartment outside LA, working multiple jobs just to get by.
I wanted to come home, create a life here, but Lindsey was determined to make it as a movie star.
Last I heard, she was living with some hack director who still entertained her dreams of becoming America’s sweetheart. ”
“I’m sorry. That sounds rough. Being all alone across the country, trying to make things work. I’m sorry you had to go through that,” she told me, one of her hands resting on my forearm, urging me to continue.
“It took me some time, but I finally got my head on straight. I had to work through all the different reactions, ya know? Went from sad to angry to embarrassed before I could finally move forward and accept that not everyone is like her.”
“Makes sense. Thank you for sharing with me.” Sophie smiled sweetly.
Grabbing her hand, I gave it a squeeze before shifting the conversation.
The rest of the night passed with easy banter.
I told her about my parents and siblings.
She entertained me with stories of Lou’s troublemaking over the years.
The date ended with a makeout session in my truck that rivaled any high school experience. I walked her to the door, making sure she got in safely for the night.
After that, we slid into an easy companionship, a rhythm. I spoke with Sophie at least once a day. We met for coffee or lunch once or twice a week, and the past few weekends, we had gone on a family-friendly outing with Lou and occasionally Pops.
My family was dying to meet her. The guys at the fire station were tired of hearing me talk about her and Lou.
I didn’t care, though. Nothing could embarrass me or make me pull back now.
As much as I had enjoyed the time getting to know Sophie, I was desperate for more.
I was trying to follow her lead, making sure she took as much time as she needed.
It was her first relationship since her divorce, and I didn’t want to rush her.
That didn’t mean I wasn’t dying to take things to the next level.
I was desperate for a taste of her, a touch.
I felt like a drug addict, craving my next fix.
The other night had been one of the hardest of my life.
After a quick dinner, we walked over to a small bar.
In heels, Sophie was probably a little over 5’7.
Not short, but still significantly smaller than me.
Once we reached the bar, I crowded behind her instead of standing next to her.
The bartender came over, and Sophie ordered a seasonal beer from the tap.
“Make that two,” I grunted, impressed that I’d managed to get that much out while pressed up against her. She gave a small wiggle, her denim-covered ass brushing against me before she turned around. Still encircled in my arms, Sophie now faced me, head tilted back as she watched me.
“Would you rather take charge or be the one following orders?” she asked, a teasing look on her face. She was stirring up trouble, and I was ready for it.
“Well, that’s a tricky one. I’m good at following orders, but with you…
I think I’m gonna enjoy taking charge.” I was close enough to hear her sharp inhale and feel the goose bumps that broke out.
She was so easy to rile up, so goddamn sensitive.
It made holding back even harder because her responses were exquisite.
The way her breathing stuttered, the small shiver she couldn’t control, and that moment when I felt her give in to me got me going.
Ending the night with just a kiss was getting harder and harder, and by the look in her eyes, my girl was about ready.
“Pops is taking Lou for a sleepover on Saturday. I was thinking… Maybe we could go to your place?” she asked hesitantly, her eyes heated.
Subconsciously, I thought I had held off on bringing her to my house because I knew that once I saw her in my space, I would have to have her. There would be no going back.
She had just invited herself into the lion’s den, and there was no way I was going to deny her.