Page 22 of Near Miss

Sophia’s steps faltered. She raised her chin and gave him a defiant stare that didn’t hide the glimmer of hurt in her big eyes. Twin spots of color stained her cheeks. “Jared invited me.”

“Jared’s here?” Lachlan did a quick scan of the room. Had his boss seen him with Lucas?

“He was, he, ah, had to leave unexpectedly. I stayed to admire the art.” She bit her lip, defiance giving way to uncertainty. “I guess I should call an Uber.”

He tore his gaze from her mouth and frowned. “Jared brought you here and left you to get home on your own? That was a shitty move.”

Surprise flared in her eyes at his tone. MacLeod’s curious gaze flitted back and forth between him and Sophia.

Lachlan sucked in a lungful of air before he dug himself any deeper of a hole.

“Forgive me, Alan.” He turned to the other Scot. “I’d like you to meet Sophia Russo, a colleague of mine. Sophia, this is Alan MacLeod, one of the artists exhibiting his work here this evening.”

“A bonnie wee lassie, and aruadh—a redhead.” MacLeod bowed with a flourish and kissed the back of Sophia’s hand.

A flush pinkened her skin at the artist’s dramatic greeting. “It’s nice to meet you—your paintings are lovely.” She turned to Lachlan, her expression guarded. “I don’t want to interrupt your conversation. I’m going to take one more peek at the exhibits and then leave.”

“I’ll take you home.” The words tumbled out before he could stop them.

“You don’t have to.”

“I insist.” He’d put that wary look on her face with his rudeness. “Jared should never have left you to fend for yourself.” The thought of her getting into a car driven by a stranger didn’t sit well with him when he could see her safely home.

She rolled her eyes, her lips pursing as if something he’d said amused her. “I’m more than capable of fending for myself, as you put it, but thank you. I accept your offer. Come find me when you’re ready to leave.”

“Ach,” MacLeod cut in. “Any red-blooded Scot would rather spend time with you than continue to blether with an old man like me.”

The flush in Sophia’s cheeks deepened to a rosy hue. “I’m sure you are charming company. I’d love to know more about your beautiful paintings.”

“Then stay,” Lachlan found himself saying.Stay with me.He hadn’t wanted her here, and now he couldn’t seem to let her go.

“Okay.” She gave him a shy smile.

His heart gave a strange stutter.

They broke eye contact when MacLeod cleared his throat and gave an amused chuckle.

Lachlan drank in Sophia’s animated features as she peppered MacLeod with questions about the landscapes he’d painted. Once she’d finished, he took her around and introduced her to the other Scottish artists. They were all equally captivated by her, and Lachlan could see why. He was as well.

Sophia gave off an aura of sunshine, her wide smile and warm eyes focused on each artist as if they were the only person in the room when they answered her questions. Her passion was evident in her voice and delicate hands as they moved through the air like a conductor’s, punctuating her speech.

Such a contradiction. Despite her professional prowess, she seemed oblivious to her feminine power. She’d held each of the artists in her thrall, and the gaze of every man at the reception had lingered when she passed by.

Lachlan’s head hurt from gritting his teeth to throttle a snarl.

Was she like that when she made love? Her lover the singular focus of her attention. Her hands roving his skin, memorizing his body as she whispered words of seduction. Another wave of desire hit him, rolling through his veins and reviving his flagging erection. He shifted to stand just behind her and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I’m going to get a drink. Would you like something?”

She shook her head with a smile and resumed her conversation.

Lachlan shouldered his way through the crowd to the nearest bar. “Water, please, with ice.” His voice came out scratchy and a touch desperate. The bartender probably thought he was choking on something. “Thanks, pal.” He grabbed the proffered glass of ice water and chugged, willing the cold liquid to take effect on his painfully hard cock.

“There you are.” Sophia appeared next to him, her eyes twinkling with a touch of mischief. “I have something to show you.” She grabbed his hand. The unexpected feel of her soft fingers twining around his callused ones left him short of air.

He didn’t want to get involved with Sophia.

He didn’t want to let her go.

She led him through the crowd to an exhibit along the far back wall.

---