Chapter 25
SOPHIE
‘Oh, wow, look at that!’ I exclaim.
After dinner, we were going to head straight back to the resort, but our waiter convinced us to walk a little further in the other direction to see Staubbach Falls.
‘That’s incredible, how it’s all lit up like that,’ says Drew.
It looks like a river of silver plummeting from the top of the cliff into a misty haze above the valley floor. Overhead, the sky is cloudless – inky black and adorned with thousands of stars.
‘It’s so beautiful here,’ I say with a sigh.
‘Yeah. I suppose if you have to recover from a skiing accident, this is the place.’
‘Only poor Max isn’t seeing much of it – not yet, anyway,’ I say.
‘Hmm, good point,’ he agrees.
I look up at Drew, who’s craning his neck to take in the night sky. He really is handsome – more so now that I’ve got to know him.
And he was going to kiss me out in the snow this morning. Or I was going to kiss him.
Before I realise what I’m doing, I reach for the sleeve of his puffer jacket and he turns towards me.
My eyes search his and I gasp as he dips his head towards mine.
Our mouths meet, moving together – hesitant at first, then slowly surer.
This isn’t like the kiss in my kitchen – that was sudden and hungry. This is gentler, tender, searching.
Drew’s arms slide around my waist, his hands firm against the small of my back, and I encircle his neck with mine. I rise onto tiptoes, tilting my head to deepen the kiss. His tongue touches mine, sending an electrical current between my thighs, and his kiss becomes more eager, his embrace tighter.
I want him.
I break the kiss, easing back, and he groans in protest. ‘We should go back now,’ I whisper, my voice hoarse.
His lips stretch into a smile.
‘How fast can you run in those boots?’ he asks.
‘Piggyback?’
He laughs, giving me a quick smack on the lips, then takes my hand, and we speed-walk to the resort.
Even the uphill part.
My eyes pop open and I stare through the dim pre-dawn light at the rafters overhead, listening to the even sounds of Drew breathing.
I may have fantasised about having sex with Drew more times than I can count, but every single time pales in comparison to the real thing.
We chose my room – closest to the lift – and the door had barely closed behind us when we came back together in another spectacular kiss – clumsy, yet passionate in that I-need-you-now way.
Our mouths locked together, we shrugged out of our coats, letting them fall to the floor.
My hands roved his muscular back through his shirt, but I wanted more, and I pulled away to fumble impatiently with his buttons.
When I undid the last one, he peeled off the shirt and – oh my god – his body was way better than I could ever have imagined.
My dress was next and I stepped out of it, expecting to feel self-conscious.
But I wasn’t, not with the open admiration in Drew’s eyes.
He knelt before me, unzipping my boots and holding on to me while I slid them off.
I shimmied out of my knickers and unhooked my bra, sliding the straps off my shoulders and letting it fall to the floor.
Drew slowly stood, his eyes drinking me in.
‘You are so damned beautiful,’ he said, his voice gruff. And I felt beautiful – to my core.
He slipped his arms around me, kissing me again, then dropped his mouth to my neck.
‘I want you,’ I said, in a daze, ‘but I don’t have anyth—’
‘I do,’ he said, his lips vibrating against my neck, and every remaining ounce of tension left my body. Then he led me to the bed, and I lost all track of time and reality, giving myself over to pleasure.
I smile to myself. I’d almost forgotten this feeling – waking up next to a man, sated and tingling all over.
He rolls away from me and I glance over – he’s still asleep.
He has an incredible body – he’s ripped, or jacked, or whatever they say now – stacked, maybe. He should put out a calendar – twelve months of Drew Parker hotness. Imagining Connie opening hers on Christmas morning, I snigger softly to myself.
‘You laughing at me?’
That low gravelly voice… it’s enough to set me off again.
‘Maybe,’ I reply lightly.
He rolls over, squinting at me, then rubs sleep out of his eyes. ‘It’s not nice to laugh at people.’
I turn onto my side and face him. ‘Sorry.’
‘Are you?’
I shake my head.
‘I can make you sorry,’ he says, capturing me so quickly, I don’t have time to escape. His fingers find the side of my waist and start tickling.
‘Ah!’ I cry out, wriggling inside his embrace.
‘Are you sorry?’
‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry!’
He stops, chuckling into my hair and holding me close.
I lie still, relishing the sensation of being wrapped in his arms, our legs entwined.
Now what?
I recoil at the intrusive question, inhaling sharply.
‘Everything okay?’ he asks.
I nod, even though it’s a lie. Because I don’t want to think about anything beyond this moment – I don’t want to worry about the shoot today, or what will happen when we return to London, or how it will be when we’re back in the office.
His fingers lightly stroke my back, and I feel the heat within me start to build again. I tip my head and meet his eyes – those intense blue eyes – then touch my lips to his.
I break the kiss to climb on top of him, and his eyes widen for a second, then the corners crinkle and he pulls me close and kisses me again.
‘Hey, Drew, can I borrow you for a sec?’ I ask, signalling for him to meet me out in the hall.
Louis has just called ‘cut’ on yet another take of Stevie surrounded by his whole family, but we still didn’t get the shot.
‘What’s up?’ Drew asks quietly.
‘I’m worried about Max. He keeps wincing in pain between takes, and it’s getting worse.’
‘Yeah, I’ve noticed that too. I mean, he’s not complaining but he’s a pro, right? He’s not going to say anything.’
‘How about we use what we’ve got so far and intercut close-ups for Paul’s lines,’ I say, referring to the actor playing Stevie’s dad, who keeps flubbing his lines. ‘We can even move Max to another room.’
‘I think it’s genius and that you’re a very thoughtful person.’
‘Oh, uh…’
‘Are you blushing, Sophie Reid?’ he asks softly, leaning in close.
‘Maybe.’
‘Sophie?’
Beatrix pokes her head out the door and Drew and I spring apart.
‘Beatrix, just who I need to see,’ I say brightly. ‘Give me two secs.’
She looks between us, gives a stern frown, and goes back inside.
‘And you,’ I say to Drew, ‘stop that. We’re working.’
‘Stop what?’ he says, playing dumb.
I tut at him and go tell Beatrix the revised plan.
Two hours later, we finally wrap. Drew and I thank the crew and the actors, then stop by the room where they moved Max, but he’s asleep. Poor guy – he must be exhausted.
I’m not, even though I didn’t get much sleep last night. Must be the high of finishing the ad shoot – the people at Hargreaves are going to love it.
‘Feel like celebrating?’ Drew asks as we walk towards the lift.
‘You read my mind,’ I answer, pressing the button to call the lift. ‘Louis said something about all of us having a drink in the bar – we should get a couple of bottles.’
‘Oh, okay.’
‘You don’t want to grab a drink with the others?’ I ask.
‘I was thinking…’ He gives me a pointed look.
‘Oh!’ I shoot a look down the hall – we’re alone – then step closer to Drew until we’re toe to toe. ‘We can do that too, but we should probably make an appearance in the bar, don’t you think? At least shout everyone a round of drinks.’
He chuckles, conceding with a reluctant nod, his eyes firmly on mine.
One drink, I promise myself. And then we’ll celebrate properly.
‘They love you,’ says Drew, low in my ear as we ride the lift upstairs.
‘They love that we paid for the drinks – and dinner,’ I reply.
I should have known that having ‘one quick drink’, then disappearing upstairs would be impossible. Especially with actors, a director, and whatever job title Beatrix holds – drill sergeant?
Drew starts kissing my ear.
‘Oi,’ I say, swatting him away. ‘We’re on camera.’
‘So?’
I flatten my hand against his chest and push him away. ‘So, you can wait. We’re nearly there.’
‘I like it when you’re bossy.’
I open my mouth wide, pretending to be insulted. ‘“Bossy” is a terrible word to call a woman,’ I say. ‘Lots of negative connotations. I think what you mean is “in charge”.’
The lift announces that we’ve arrived at our floor and I’m first out, leading us down the hall to my room.
‘In charge – got it,’ says Drew, trailing behind me.
At my door, I dig around in my tote for the keycard.
‘You really are incredible, Sophie,’ he says, and it’s obvious from his tone that we’re not playing any more.
I look up. ‘Thanks.’
He stoops to kiss me – softly, sweetly – then eases back, his fingertips lightly tracing my jaw.
‘Hey, there’s something I want to tell you before we go in.’
‘Okay,’ I reply with a sly smile. Maybe it’s something sexy he wants to try.
‘I’ve already cleared this with Lorraine so—’
Lorraine’s name is jarring – like the screech of feedback from a microphone.
‘Sorry, what?’ I cut in. ‘It’s a work thing?’
‘Well, yeah,’ he replies hesitantly.
‘Go on then,’ I say, hoping we can get this out of the way and go back to the seduction part.
‘It’s about the bonus.’
Wow, he’s really jumping around, I think. ‘The bonus?’
‘For the Hargreaves campaign.’
‘Okay, what about it?’
‘I’m giving it to you.’
He looks more pleased with himself than he did last night – only last night he had good reason.
‘You’re giving it to me? Your bonus.’
‘Yep. You’ve earned it, Sophie,’ he says earnestly.
‘You’ve been incredible this whole campaign – first the idea about the surprise visits, then figuring out how to pivot with Max in traction.
And on set… Every time there was a question or we needed something tweaked, people came to you.
You even looked out for Max. This is more your campaign than it is mine – I mean, now it is – and you deserve the bonus. ’
‘Drew, that’s— You don’t need to do that.’
‘But don’t you want to take Harlow to Australia for Christmas?’
It’s like being doused with a bucket of cold water.
‘What?’ I whisper.
‘Australia. You said you wanted to take Harlow.’
The dots start joining up and my stomach takes a dive. I can handle almost anything – even an A-lister’s indecent proposal – but I draw the line at pity.
‘Are you okay?’ he asks.
‘No, I’m not.’
‘Oh,’ he says, running his hand up and down my arm. ‘Something you ate, maybe too much to drink?’
‘Uh-uh,’ I say, shaking free of his grasp.
‘Sophie, what’s going on?’
‘Why do you really want me to have the bonus?’
‘I told you – because you deserve it.’
‘Then why bring up Australia?’
‘Well, you seemed a little sad when you said you weren’t going this year so…’
‘So, you figured it was because I can’t afford it?’ I hiss.
‘Hey, no.’ He backs away, both hands raised.
‘Are you sure?’ I push, and his eyes drop to the floor. ‘Are you sure you didn’t get it in your head that I’m this poor helpless widow who needs some guy to swoop in and save her with ￡5000?’
‘That’s not— It’s not like that,’ he says harshly, meeting my eye.
‘Well, that’s how it makes me feel.’
‘Okay, so maybe that’s on you.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘Everything I said about how much you deserve this bonus – and you do, by the way – and you latch on to that?’
‘It’s patronising.’
‘How?’ he shouts, throwing his hands up.
‘It just is – and keep your voice down,’ I snarl, glancing around.
He lifts a hand to the back of his neck and huffs out a long breath.
‘Look, I had something exciting I wanted to share with you, only the more I talked, the more you looked at me like I was some kind of crazy person. I could tell you were going to turn it down so, yeah… I went with the one thing I thought might sway you. I brought up Harlow and Australia, so sue me. I was trying to do the right thing here – only clearly, I fucked it up. So, goodnight, I guess.’
He turns around, marches down the hall to his room, and goes inside without looking back.
With a shaky hand, I dig the keycard out of my tote and go into my room.
Maybe Drew’s not the only one who fucked this up.