Page 65 of It Happened in Vegas

I grabbed a few tissues and gently cleaned her up.

She straightened, smoothing her dress down with her hands, and faced me.

“I think we just made the office a lot more productive,” she teased, cheeks still flushed.

“I’ll never see this desk the same way again.” I cupped her face and kissed her softly. “I have tons of work to do and visionsof you bent over, grabbing onto my desk, will be a distraction all day.”

“Gripe all you want, broody brew master. You know you wouldn’t change a thing.” She playfully swatted my rump as I ushered her to the door.

“Nope. I wouldn’t.” Except one thing. In the momentary quiet space of my mind, I vowed to give her every reason to stay—despite the ticking clock. “I probably won’t be home for dinner.”

“That’s fine. Maisy made me promise to see her tonight and tell her all about our time with Melanie today. Don’t forget, though, you have a rain check to fulfill later tonight in bed,” she reminded me of my earlier promise.

“You be naked in bed waiting for me, and I’ll be there.”

“It’s a deal.” She traced my jaw with her fingertips, playing through the new beard forming there. Something passed between us—an unspoken promise more powerful than words. My body ached for hers, my heart ached for something I wasn’t ready to name. All I knew was I wanted more: mornings and nights, messy fights, lazy Sunday afternoons.

Only I said nothing. Couldn’t speak around my heart filling up. Instead, I kissed her, acting as if she already belonged to me. Maybe in my heart, she already did.

24

RIDE THIS WAVE

SOPHIE

We were nearingthe sixty-day mark, although neither of us acknowledged it. Not that it was something to celebrate, like an anniversary or special occasion. I didn’t relish flipping the calendar and seeing the red circle around the date when we told the studio we’d break up our marriage.

I’d taken to long walks in the mornings through town to clear my head before working. Maisy would sometimes join me and lament about her growing midsection.

Today, I walked alone before a meeting at Richard’s office. October brought a crispness to the air that made everything in Holly Creek feel freshly painted in shades of gold, orange, and red. The quiet simplicity of small town living made it difficult to remember what I even liked about city life.

Keaton enjoyed calling me several nicknames, ‘city girl’ one of them from time to time. When he used that one, it gave me pause. Was that even me anymore?

Who was Sophie Hatchett? Somewhere along the way, I’d changed. No longer did I feel like the woman trying to build her own business and make her own way in life, no matter my ties to the past and a family I tried to forget.

Oh, I still claimed to be a boss babe, still loved what I did for a living, but found myself longing for more. This whole situation with Keaton opened my view to what sharing my life with a man would be like. While the calendar never stopped churning out the days.

With the crunchy leaves under my boots came introspection and clarity. And yet, something inside of me was beginning to fray. At odds with the old me, the new me in this small town demanded I put down roots, stake my claim, and create a new life. Was it possible?

By the timeI arrived at Richard’s home office, the meeting was underway. Keaton winked at me and patted the seat next to him. I couldn’t hide a sly smile. His beard had grown back in, softening his jaw in ways that made it increasingly hard not to stare at his profile. Add to that his daily dose of flannel shirts for the pleasure of my eyes and this city-suddenly-turned-small-town-girl was ready to go on a sexy hayride for two at a moment’s notice.

Archer Bellamy stood at the front of the room, clicking through some slides. On the conference table sat blueprints, the lines crisscrossing forming the interior of a new building. “Per your instructions, I’ve created a modern take on the pub concept. Thinks brews plus full-dining experience with a chef’s touch. Seasonal indoor-outdoor seating. An elevated but still approachable aesthetic. Perfect for the next level in dining for this growing small town, if you ask me.”

I took my seat, having no idea what this meeting was about to begin with. “Gastropub by the Hops? The name might need some work,” I scrunched my nose at it.

“Definitely. I’d value your input as my resident snooty marketing expert,” Keaton teased, side-eyeing me with a sly grin.

I tried to focus on the details as Archer expounded upon the concept, showing feature by feature, but something about the entire conversation crawled under my skin.

"It looks beautiful," I offered, forcing a smile. "But... has anyone thought about Flora's Diner and how a fancy new restaurant might impact her business?”

Flora was the sweetest mother of Chelsea and Maisy, and I couldn’t be a part of something that could ruin the way she made a living.

Richard waved a hand. "Already considered. Vivian and Chelsea are helping upgrade the diner. It stays exactly what it is: comfort food, quick service, and the best damn pie in the region. We just need options now what with Rex breaking ground on building luxury homes out at Silverpine Lake, we have to meet demand."

Keaton shifted in his chair beside me, running a hand through his hair. "A full-scale restaurant was on my ten-year business plan, but I didn’t think it’d honestly happen, especially this fast.”

"Consider me your fairy godfather," Richard said with a chuckle. "Minus the wings, of course."

---