Chapter Seventeen
“Ah, that’s sweet,” Sophia said, sounding pleased, which went a long way to resurrecting his calm. “But I can do you one better. It’s actually why I’m calling.”
“Oh?” Ryder’s pulse increased, proving that excitement hadn’t completely died out.
“Any chance you can get away later to catch a Mets game with me?”
Keiffer’s condo and the game they’d watched together immediately sprang to mind. They’d only caught five innings, but it’d turned out to be the best damn game…certainly the most memorable. “I’d love to watch a game with you again.”
That seventh inning stretch had rocked his world.
“Mmm…I’d love that, too. But, I’m actually talking about seeing the game in person, not on television.”
He sat up straight, anticipation thrumming through his veins. “At the stadium?”
Ben’s head snapped up, envy gleaming in his gaze.
“Yes.” She laughed. “You game?”
He couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face. “What time should I meet you? And where?”
“Hmm…” Her tone was playful. “I get the feeling you’re more excited about the game than seeing me.”
“Not true.” He snickered. “I’m equally excited about both.”
Her soft chuckle sent shivers down his spine. “I’ll take it. And you.”
He wanted to tell her she could have him, but his buddy was way too close for him to get into a private conversation with her. “Deal,” he said instead.
“Perfect. I’ll text you the address to my apartment. It’s closer to the stadium, so I’ll meet you there, say around five-thirty? If that’s okay. This way my dad will be home from work to take care of my mom, and you and I can…get something to eat first.”
Her slight hesitation wasn’t lost on him or his body. It immediately picked up on her unspoken innuendo, and the horny bastard tightened with unchecked gusto.
“Deal,” he repeated, shifting to relieve the pressure behind his zipper.
“I’ll see you then,” she said, before hanging up, and a few seconds later, a text came in with her address.
Ever since she’d left, he’d fought an inner battle.
Scars of desertion, of family coming first, of not being enough, they all tormented his mind.
Deep down, he knew this was different. That Sophia wasn’t Jinan, and yet, old hurts resurfaced, causing doubts, and unwarranted pain.
And guilt. He felt bad—selfish—for not wanting her to leave him to take care of her sick mother.
Just because he felt guilty about it didn’t make him any less of a dick.
Feeling his buddy’s gaze on him, he glanced up. “What?”
Ben smirked. “Don’t count on seeing the game tonight, man. You’re going to be otherwise occupied.”
A smile spread across his face as world-rocking memories crowded his mind.
In the grand scheme of things, Ryder was okay with that.
***
“Why are you all smiles today?” her mother asked.
Sophia stopped straightening the stack of magazines on the coffee table and glanced at her mother, convalescing on the couch. “I wasn’t aware I was smiling.”
What she had been doing was thinking about Ryder and the fact she would see him in less than an hour.
“You’ve got a dreamy look in your eyes, too. And I noticed you’re not wearing your contacts. You’re not covering up the real you. It’s about time.” Her mother grinned. “So, who is he?”
She snickered and shook her head, ready to give a vague answer when her mother spoke again.
“Is it that Ryder guy?”
Sophia’s heart rocked clear up into her throat. “How…?”
Her mother chuckled. “I know things. I also took a train to see your sets for Oklahoma.”
“You did? When?” She sank onto the loveseat and stared across at the smiling sneakpot. “Why didn’t you come find me?”
“It was opening weekend. I got there just as the curtain went up, so there was no time to find you before the show. And when I went to find you afterward, you were in the arms of a very handsome man. A very nice lady told me his name. I’ve never seen you so happy.
” Tears glistened in her mother’s eyes. “Are you still seeing him?”
She nodded, unable to keep the smile from her face. “He’s great. He makes me feel…amazing.”
“I noticed you have the passion. That is good. I witnessed it firsthand.” Her mother fanned herself.
Heat rushed into Sophia’s face. “Ma—”
“What?” Her mother frowned. “I was young once. I remember the passion. Your father and I still have it, we’re just not as spontaneous as in our youth.”
And Sophia really didn’t need to know any more. “Okay. I get it.”
Her mother chuckled. “You’ll be my age someday, just wait. And with the right person, hopefully, you’ll be just as happy.”
Her parents always had a loving relationship, it’s the reason Sophia never settled for any of the guys paraded at her. None of them made her feel…none of them ever connected. Not like Ryder.
“You love him, don’t you?” Her mother’s gaze softened.
She nodded, her own insides going mushy. “Yes. I do.”
“I thought so.” A pleased expression spread across her face.
“That’s why I haven’t called so much. Or mentioned any guys.
I was hoping you found a good man on your own.
So…what’s he like? I already know he’s not Italian, but that’s okay.
I won’t hold it against him. Now, your father… I’m not so sure.”
With a light heart, Sophia told her mother about Ryder and his family, and some of the less racy moments from her summer with him.
“I’m sorry I pulled you away.” Remorse clouded her mother’s gaze. “I don’t see any reason for you to still hang around here.” She brushed imaginary lint off the blanket surrounding her and huffed. “Your father is just too overprotective.”
“He loves you, and doesn’t want you to overdo it—like you usually do,” Sophia said.
“Well, I’m fine now. You can go back.”
She chuckled. “Next week. It’ll be fourteen days, and that’s when the doctor says you’re okay to do certain things,” she reminded.
“But, your man…you can’t keep him waiting.”
She smiled. “I’ve been talking to him every day, and as a matter of fact, he’s meeting me in a half hour. We’re going to the Mets game tonight.”
Her mother’s face brightened. “He likes the Mets? See? I knew there was a reason I got a good vibe about him.”
Sophia got lots of good vibes, both about and from the man.
“Your brother’s coming in for the game, too,” her mother continued. “Maybe you can go together. Is Ryder coming here? I finally get to meet him?”
Her parents lived fifteen minutes from her, so they were both about the same distance to the stadium, but having Ryder meet her here wasn’t a good idea.
Her father would be home soon, and her brothers would no doubt drop in.
All they’d have to do was talk about work and disaster would strike.
Definitely not the way she wanted him to find out about the family company.
It had to come from her. And it would.
She’d made up her mind to tell him, but not until she was back at work in the Poconos.
This way, if he had an issue and tried to pull back, she would be near to do something about it.
If she told him while in New York, there would be too much time and distance between them, and it was possible she’d never be able to bridge that gap.
“No.” She shook her head. She couldn’t, wouldn’t take that chance. “We’re meeting at my place. I need to change.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “As soon as Dad gets here.”
Of course, today of all days, he had to be late.
When he arrived ten minutes later, she kissed them both on the cheek and took off for home. With luck, she’d get there just before Ryder was due. He’d sent her a text when he’d gotten through the city. Twenty-eight minutes ago.
Luck, indeed was on her side, though. Traffic was surprisingly light for that time of day, especially on a game night. She lived about five miles from the ballpark and knew things could get hectic.
Snagging one of the few parking spots in front of her building, she got out, stepped onto the sidewalk, then noticed a very familiar, sexy, blue-eyed man leaning against an equally familiar silver car a few spots down.
Sophia’s heart leapt. “Ryder.” Smiling, she rushed into his open arms, loving the way they banded around her as his mouth found hers.
God, she missed this. Missed his kisses. Missed him.
Uncaring that she was in the middle of the sidewalk and that people had to walk around them, she eagerly gave into the passion.
When they finally broke for air, he rested his forehead against hers—a move she really loved—and met her gaze. “Hi.” His eyes were dark and heated. “I needed that.”
“Me, too.” She grinned, running her palms over his shoulders to lock behind his head. “In fact, I think I may need a little more.”
“God…me, too,” he uttered against her mouth, and kissed her slower, deeper, apparently not caring about the whistles and snickers and sighs going on around them, either.
But the sound of tires screeching and doors slamming had them both breaking apart in time to see her brother and Gino glaring at them, from beside a white van with Colarusso Construction printed on the side.
“What the hell?” Ryder’s gaze narrowed as he stared at the men and the truck.
Oh, God.
All the air in her lungs gathered to form a tight ball in her chest. This wasn’t happening, she thought to herself. Why in the world were her brother and Gino here? Her mind reeled and her chest squeezed, but she knew none of that was going to help defuse the situation.
“Sophia? Who is this guy?” Tony asked, suspicion darkening his eyes.
“Yeah, Sophia,” Gino piped up. “Who is this guy?”
Stiffening, Ryder transferred his attention back to her. “You know them? You know Colarusso?”
“Know them? She is them,” Gino stated, with a pompous lift to a chin her fist itched to smack.
“Shut up, Gino,” her brother muttered, no doubt sensing her distraught state.
Ryder released her and stepped back. “All this time…and you said nothing?” The tiny sliver of light left in his eyes flickered and went out.
Sucking in some much needed air, she set her hand on his arm. “I can explain.”
“I want him to explain why he had his mouth on my fiancée,” Gino grumbled from behind.
Pain twisting his face, Ryder yanked free. “Fiancée?”
“No. We’re not engaged.” She stepped toward him, but he moved away. “Please, let me explain,” she said again, her chest crushed so tight she could barely breathe. “Ryder, please.”
But his gaze was closed and cold, miles past indifferent. “You had more than enough time for that,” he stated in a hard tone, before climbing in his car and driving away without a backward glance.
“You’re better off without that pretty boy, anyway,” Gino said, taking his life in his hands, because she was damn close to losing it.
Twisting around, she strode straight to him and shook her fist in his face. “Gino, so help me, you better listen and listen good, because I will not say this again. I will never marry you. Ever. Leave me the hell alone. We may have grown up together, but I don’t like you right now. I really don’t.”
And if her throat hadn’t closed on her, she would’ve told him to get lost.
“But I’ve been working my ass off getting jobs this summer so we can have a big wedding,” he said, truly clueless to how close she teetered to the edge.
Tony stepped forward, expression dark, jaw tight as he wedged himself between them.
“You heard my sister, she said she doesn’t want you.
Don’t ever harass her again.” He slapped the keys to the idiot’s chest. “Take the van and get out of here. You can pick me up at my parents’ house in the morning. ”
Something in her brother’s tone must’ve gotten through to the guy’s thick head, because he closed his mouth and got in the van.
By this time, her bravado and strength were just about spent. Her whole body shook.
“Come on.” Tony slid his arm around her. “Let’s get you inside and you can explain to me what the hell just happened.”
She snorted. At least, that was what she was going for but a strangled sound came out instead. “The man I love hates me,” she muttered, leaning against him as he helped her inside, and upstairs into her third floor apartment.
He sat her down on her couch, then disappeared into her kitchen and returned to shove a glass of water in her hands. “Tell me what’s going on,” he said, sitting next to her.
After sipping some water, she set the glass on her coffee table because her hands were shaking too much. And she was cold. God, she was so cold. Fighting tears, she told him briefly about her relationship with Ryder, and then about how their company was underbidding and hurting his business.
Tony blew out a breath and shoved a hand in his thick, dark hair. Although she loved her middle brother dearly, right now, she wanted to smack him, too.
“Why were you even bidding in Pennsylvania, Tony?” she asked with a shake of her head. “Surely there’s still enough work in New York?”
He dropped his hand and twisted to face her. “It wasn’t me. Gino’s the one who’s been doing the bids.”
“Gino?”
Tony nodded. “I confronted him after you’d called about that ice cream parlor bid.
Turns out he’s been dividing his crew in half and working two areas.
I put a stop to it. He was overworking his men.
I made sure they got paid.” He set a hand on her back.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know until you’d called.
I assumed he was just working the New York jobs I gave him. ”
Anger fisted tight in her chest as she focused on the company. It was safer than letting her thoughts drift to her mess with Ryder. “Did he at least pay the workers?”
“Yeah. I made sure of it.” Tony scowled. “I also went through the material receipts on the jobs he did, and had to go in and replace a few things to make sure the job was up to Colarusso standards. I appreciate the initiative but not the execution.”
“What was he thinking?”
“That you were going to marry him, I guess. Although, that’d be over my dead body.” He smirked.
She was too raw to respond to that. “Does Dad know about this?”
“Yes.” Tony nodded, easily going along with her subject change. “And Gino’s on probation. Doesn’t matter how good of friends Dad is with his dad, he won’t stand for jeopardizing the Colarusso name.”
Her control was starting to slip, so she just nodded, and fought through the burning behind her eyes.
A strangled sound rumbled in her brother’s throat as he pulled her into his chest. “What can I do to help?”
“Nothing.” She sniffed and burrowed closer. “Ryder was right. I should’ve told him.” The damage was done. It was up to her to try and fix things. To explain. And, oh yeah, she was definitely going to track him down and explain. But it would have to wait until she could go back to the Poconos.
She just hoped it wasn’t too late.
Hoped it was enough.