Page 135 of Tangled Up In You

“Here’s an idea: stay out of my marriage,” Gavin said, his voice steely.

“What am I supposed to do next time? Turn her away? You’re killing her with this coke shite. You know that? She used to be a beautiful, sweet girl. And you’re tearing her apart,” Conor said.

“You think you could make her happy, Con? Is that it? You think you’d be a better husband to her?” Gavin asked.

“I would never hurt her the way you are,” Conor said cagily.

“Then maybe you should have married her.”

“Maybe I should have.” Conor closed his eyes and shook his head.

Gavin stared at his friend. He knew Conor didn’t mean it like that. He was just looking out for Sophie, like he had for years. And Sophie needed caring for more than ever. Gavin wasn’t deluded enough to not see how he was hurting her. But still. Hearing Conor, the friend he had revered since they were kids, voice his disapproval so bluntly while asserting himself as the better man was hard to take. Without another word, he headed for the door, feeling all of their eyes on his back as he went.

81

SOPHIE

Checking herself in the foyer mirror one last time, Sophie smoothed her hair’s sleek side part and headed for the front door. She wore a body hugging ivory pantsuit with alligator skin stilettos. The jacket was tight at the bust and cut wide and low around the neck and shoulders, revealing a sexy hint of an emerald-green lace bra.

When she opened the door to leave, she was surprised to see Conor about to knock.

“Sophie,” he said. He stood straighter and took her in. “You look amazing.”

She smiled her thanks.

“Is he home?”

“No … not yet,” she said. “Listen, I have to run to the airport. I’m going to Paris for the day. Work.”

“We should talk. There are things I need to tell you,” he said. “I’ll drive you to the airport. How about that?”

She agreed, knowing there was no time to protest, and they went to his car, a newly purchased silver Aston Martin DB9. Conor held the door open for her before going around to the driver’s side.

“What’s in Paris?” he asked as started the engine.

“My agent set up a meeting for us to talk to Lancôme. They’re interested in me being their new representative. I thought it would be a good way to phase out of modeling.”

“If you want to quit, why don’t you just stop? Why keep hanging on?”

“It’s what I do,” she replied. “I hang on, even if it’s not the best thing for me.”

He looked over at her and they exchanged a lengthy moment of silent understanding.

“Listen,” he said and hesitated.

“Yes?”

“Gav and I sort of had it out yesterday, and it got me to thinking about what I should be doing. You know, thinking about doing the right thing.”

“I’m not sure what you?—”

“I asked Colette to marry me last night. She said yes.” He squinted at the road and shook his head. “Anyway, our plan right now is for me to move to New York. At least part of the time.”

“But you can’t,” she said, unable to stop herself. She hadn’t expected Conor and Colette to last, let alone see them get married. And now that he was telling her he would be moving away, she realized how much she had come to rely on him.

“I won’t move until after we get the studio work done,” he continued. “The trick is getting Gavin to calm down some and work with us.”

All she could do was nod in agreement.

---