Page 129 of Best Served Cold

Sophie’s blush deepens, making her even more irresistible. “I mean that literally.”

“Of courseyou do, dear. Now, I think we’d better bring in the other girls for our discussion, don’t you? Tomorrow morning at the tea shop, perhaps?”

“Yes,” Sophie says. “Yes, they need to be a part of this.”

“Itisa pity about the young woman who’s connected herself with Jonah.” Dottie tsks. “But it may be that he’s bamboozled her. I’ve been bamboozled myself. Men with silver tongues can be very convincing.”

I’d already told Sophie and Dottie about Patricia making that first call to Nelly.

Dottie purses her lips and then nods. “We’ll discuss this further tomorrow, but I still believe that young man needs a public truth-telling. In front of that young woman.”

“He’ll sue if we don’t have our bases covered,” I say, because it wouldn’t be the first time Jonah or my dad used the worldlawyerto get out of trouble. “There’s nothing he cares about more than his reputation.”

“So we’ll make sure we have all of our bases covered,” Dottie says. “I was thinking we could make your promvery special. It’s just over a week away, so we’d have plenty of time to prepare.”

“How will you get him there?” I ask, smiling a little at the thought of Jonah with an eighties’ mustache. “It’s not exactly his scene.”

“Leave that to me, my dears,” Dottie says. “But I have no doubt of my success.”

Again, neither do I. She’s proven, over and over again, how much she’ll do for the people she cares about. And from what I’ve seen, that includes just about everyone.

It’s largely thanks to this woman that Sophie and I are here now, together. Dottie convinced Sophie to make a commitment to be true to herself—and Sophie has. And Dottie convinced me to indulge in some Pollyanna thinking of my own.

“Thank you, Dottie,” I say, taking her hand and squeezing it. “I can’t say it enough.”

She stands and says, “You already have. Seeing you happy gives me great joy. Have a good night, my dears. We’ll talk soon.”

Sophie and I walk her to the door and stand there together as she makes the very short trip home. Her partner meets her at the door, greeting her with a loving smile that moves me.

“That could be us someday,” I say, looking down at Sophie.

Her eyes widen. “Really?”

“Yeah,” I say, nudging her into the house and shutting the door behind us. Then I gently push her against it. “I think I’ll still be looking at you like that when we’re both old and gray, Soph. And let’s be honest. You’ll definitely be dying your hair purple.”

“Maybe I’ll try now,” she says, raking her hand through my hair. “Maybeyoushould try it.”

“Is that your next scheme, Sophie? Because I’ll do it. Anything you want to try, we’ll try together.”

She smiles up at me, her whole being shining with it. “I think you mean that.”

“I do, baby. I do.”

“Then…fuck me against this door, Rob.”

I grin at her, then lean in and kiss her neck, her jaw. “How hard was it for you to say ‘fuck,’ Soph?”

“You wouldn’t believe it,” she says.

“I’m in love with you,” I admit. “I know that wasn’t what you asked me for, but it’s what happened, and there was no fighting it. I didn’t want to.”

“Thank God,” she says, wrapping her arms around me and squeezing as if I might disappear if she doesn’t squeeze hard enough. “Because I’m desperately in love with you.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

SOPHIE

“Are we sure Jonah’s coming?” Hannah asks, glancing out the window of the limousine. It’s Rob’s birthday, and also the night of the “prom.”

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