Chapter 7
Sophia
“ I ’ve got a babysitter, and that means that we’re going out.”
Sophia smiled as she glanced over at Emma—also known as Emily. The country music star had really slowed down since she’d had her first child. She still did a handful of shows across the country, but for the most part, she preferred to stay home with her family.
And who wouldn’t when she had managed to find the perfect guy? Caleb Keagan had swept her off her feet, and she had been willing to change her whole life just for him.
She still looked like a star even after becoming a mom.
“What do you say? Girls’ night?” she pleaded with Sophia, her bright blue eyes sparkling with excitement. “Caleb says we haven’t gone dancing in ages, and he wants to take us to Shane’s country club.”
Sophia chewed on her lower lip. It had been forever since she’d gone out with Emma.
The handful of dates she’d gone on since they’d met had also been few and far between.
And since Cameron came crashing back into her life?
She’d only gone on one date, officially.
Unofficially? She’d gone out to the country club to escape from the suffocating knowledge that Cameron was living on her family’s property.
For some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to actually go on a date.
“A girls’ night sounds nice.” Maybe she’d be able to forget about the tall, handsome man who had managed to steal her heart five years ago. The man she’d never really gotten over.
“Perfect! We’ll pick you up. Seven sound good?”
Sophia nodded. She brought her drink to her lips and took a sip. It was a beautiful day, and it was a nice surprise when Emma dropped in to say hello. Caleb had wanted to speak to Mateo about something, so the two ladies had opted to get some lemonade and relax on the porch.
Emma let out a whistle. Her voice dropped to a whisper, and she nudged Sophia. “Are all of the guys your brother hired that good-looking? I mean, he’s nothing like Caleb, but geez. You should definitely ask him out.”
Sophia let her focus shift in the direction that Emma had motioned with her eyes, and her stomach dipped. Of course, she would say something like that about Cameron. Sophia scowled.
Emma laughed at her reaction. “He already get on your blacklist?”
“You could say that,” Sophia muttered.
Her friend’s eyes widened. “That sounds like a story I want to hear.”
“It’s not that interesting, really. He’s just a flirt and a tease.”
“Sounds like someone else I know.”
Sophia gasped and dug her elbow into her friend’s side. “How dare you?”
Emma shrugged. “All I’m saying is that you don’t exactly go after one guy for long.”
“Yeah, because we can’t all be lucky enough to snag a Keagan.”
Emma laughed. After a little while, she went quiet. “Well, if he’s not an option, then who is? We need to find you a man.”
Sophia rolled her eyes. “I don’t need a man or anyone else. I have my family and my job. I’m perfectly happy.”
The look her friend gave her made it clear she didn’t agree, but at least she wasn’t going to argue with Sophia about her opinion.
Movement from across the yard stopped her even if she had wanted to say something to that effect. Caleb and Mateo stopped to speak to Cameron for a moment, and then they resumed their walk toward the house. Caleb gestured toward Emma, and she got to her feet. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Sophia nodded. “See you then.”
“Wow, you look good .” Emma’s compliment warmed Sophia’s heart. “Caleb is going to have to fight guys off you with a bat.”
“Unfortunately, I didn’t bring it with me tonight, Sophia. So you’re on your own.” Caleb chuckled as he shut the truck door.
Sophia laughed with him. “Don’t worry. I can handle myself.
” The country club was already in full swing.
And yet all Sophia could think about was the last time she’d really enjoyed going dancing.
She’d come here since meeting Cameron at the conference five years ago, but nothing had compared to that night she’d been in his arms.
She shook her head to clear it of the memories. The pain that came with those memories had become more potent ever since Cameron had shown up. And with that pain came additional memories of the first man who had ever betrayed her.
Closing her eyes briefly, she shoved those depressing thoughts deep into her soul where they wouldn’t be capable of bothering her tonight.
She was here to have fun with her friends, and she refused to let her past stop her from doing so.
They entered the country club, the upbeat music making it easier to let her past fall away. Almost immediately, Caleb dragged Emma to the dance floor. Sophia waved at her, laughing at the squeal that escaped Emma’s lips.
Once upon a time, Sophia had wanted to find that kind of love.
But now she knew better. It was getting harder and harder to find someone who was so devoted that they would never leave the person they loved.
Cheating and divorce rates only continued to grow higher.
The fact that two members of her family had been affected by the former proved it.
Rather than jumping right into the fray and dancing with a stranger, Sophia decided to order a sweet tea.
She didn’t want to blame Cameron’s presence on the ranch for the tension in her muscles, but part of her knew that was exactly what had happened.
He was everywhere. His eyes would remain trained on her whenever she entered his vicinity.
Needless to say, she had been on edge, and it was all because some small part of her still had feelings for him.
That was crazy, right?
Yes, definitely crazy.
She got to the counter and placed her order.
In no time at all, her defenses softened.
She moved to the dance floor but didn’t see Emma or Caleb anywhere.
With a shrug of her shoulders, she let loose to the upbeat sound of the music playing.
This place was relaxed when it came to dancing.
It wasn’t anything like the fancy venues where she’d danced with Cameron five years ago.
Shane did everything he could to make this place feel safe.
Everything from the refreshments offered to the music was carefully curated.
The lighting even made people feel safe to let loose.
While his country club was nothing like the bars and clubs where the younger population enjoyed mingling, it definitely wasn’t your typical country club either. This place was a catchall that emulated the town of Copper Creek to a tee.
Sophia had only eaten once at the fancy restaurant that was part of this place. It was too highbrow for her liking. The ballroom was where it was at. Sophia could spend every weekend here just to get her social fix.
A woodsy, masculine scent enveloped her from behind, and she sensed she’d drawn a dance partner to her. A smile pulled at her lips, and she turned to find a cowboy with a smirk that matched her own. His moves were decent, but it was his charisma that intrigued her. He practically exuded confidence.
Cameron has something similar.
The flicker of a thought came out of left field, and Sophia’s smile faltered.
She wasn’t supposed to be thinking about Cameron.
He wasn’t at the country club, and he wasn’t going to get her attention anymore—bad or good.
Once his contract was over, he’d move on and prove that she was right to keep him at arm’s length.
The music slowed, and before Sophia could slip away from her dance partner, he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. His right hand captured her left, and he led them both into a sultry sway.
“You’re beautiful, but I’m guessing you already know that,” he said. His voice was gravelly and low. Its husky timber immediately made her think about Cameron again.
Ugh! Why couldn’t she get him out of her head? He was everywhere. It wasn’t fair.
Sophia closed her eyes to shut out Cameron’s face from her thoughts. He wasn’t allowed to make her feel this way.
“You okay?” the stranger murmured near her ear.
She gasped, and her eyes opened. His dark brows were pulled together, though his eyes were bright with interest. Sophia nodded with a laugh. “Just a little dizzy. Maybe I should get some water?—”
His hold on her tightened. Or was she imagining that? He offered her a knowing smile. “It’s okay, beautiful. I can hold us both up.”
“She said she wants a drink of water.”
That voice. It was the one she heard in every single one of her dreams. It was the one that sent chills racing down her spine. That voice was the voice of an angel, and she knew before she turned around who would be behind her.
“If she wants to go, she can go,” her stranger said to Cameron over her shoulder before looking down at her.
Before she had a chance to respond, Cameron’s hand grasped the one she had resting on the stranger’s shoulder.
In a move that was as exhilarating as it was terrifying, he spun her away from her dance partner.
He kept ahold of her hand with one of his own while placing the other on the small of her back.
Sophia glanced over her shoulder at the cowboy she’d left on the dance floor, her head still spinning. Then her eyes narrowed as she gave Cameron a disgruntled look. “What are you doing? I was dancing with him.”
“And he wasn’t listening to you.”
“You don’t know that?—”
“I know more than you realize.” Cameron jerked his chin toward the cowboy, who had already managed to find a replacement to dance with. “That guy is trouble.”
She scoffed. “And you know this how?”
“Call it a gut instinct.”
Sophia tugged at the hand he held, but he didn’t release her until they made it to the counter, where he ordered her a bottle of water. She had the hardest time remaining mad at him for his intrusion as she leaned against the counter and peered up at him.
Cameron’s eyes remained locked on her. He actually looked concerned. Maybe it was his proximity, but she found herself smiling at him from beneath her lashes.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“For saving you from that guy?”
Sophia rolled her eyes and lifted the water.
He nodded, and then his focus shifted to the room. “You should be more careful.”
“ Please ,” she drawled. “You realize that this town isn’t exactly a crime capitol, right? I’m perfectly safe.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Cameron said. “Crime can happen in small towns, too. Your town is growing. People are moving here.”
“So what does that make you? Are you a criminal I should be worried about?”
With an expression that was far too serious, Cameron shook his head. “I would never hurt you.”
She arched a brow, tempted to tell him it was too late for that. But she shrugged that thought off. “Sorry, I’m not taking applications for a knight in shining armor. You’re gonna have to go elsewhere.”
That got him smiling, and geez it made her stomach flip like it had jumped off a plane without a parachute. He leaned in close to her, and his breath fanned her face as he said in a husky voice, “I’m well aware you don’t need saving. But maybe you’d consider a partner in crime.”
She laughed. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed like that.
And the grin he gave her after he heard that laugh? There went her stomach again.
“Does that mean you’ll consider it?” His words were more like a growl than anything else.
She tilted her head to consider him, her lower lip protruding.
Then she pressed her fingers against his chest until he stumbled back a step.
“Sorry, bud. I work alone.” She grinned at his dumbfounded expression as she dragged her fingertips down his chest and headed off in the direction that she’d just seen Emma go.