Page 24 of Chance of Romance
Jake narrowed his eyes. “Why is your entire wardrobe all nicely hung up and laid out in our closet and my stuff is in boxes in the basement?”
Claire slung an arm over Sabrina’s shoulders. “Because I knew we were doing a wardrobe fitting today.”
Jake grumbled something, turned, and left. A pair of gray socks stuck out of his back jeans pocket.
“Love you!” Claire cooed after him.
“Love you too!” he hollered from somewhere downstairs.
Claire smiled dreamily before getting a couple of wineglasses and pouring them some wine. She gestured for Sabrina to take a seat on the white sofa. “Okay if I show you more of the tour later? I’d like to catch up.”
“Of course.”
Claire handed Sabrina her wine and took a seat next to her. “It’s all pretty much like this. Limestone and fieldstone fireplaces in the living areas, lots of neutral white and beige furniture. The upstairs is mostly empty except for the master bedroom. We’ll probably spend most of the party in the man cave—” she waved a hand in the air “—big screen TV, bar, pool table, Ping-Pong, some arcade games and pinball. His stuff is lined up along the back wall, out of the way. It’s Jake’s dream room basically, but on the other side of that is my favorite feature—a wine cellar with a tasting room.”
“Wow!”
Claire crossed one leg over the other, looking sophisticated despite her casual attire. “That was already here; the previous owners were huge wine aficionados. Anyway, most of what you see was either left from the previous owners or from the designer we hired to make everything comfortable but neutral. We’ll go ahead and add some personal touches after we live here for a while. Some art and framed pictures, stuff like that.” She took a sip of wine. “I kept my place in California. Jake sold his. Actually, Logan’s going to be staying at my place when he goes out for his meetings this week.”
Sabrina’s shoulders drooped at the mention of Logan. She had to let go of him, she knew that, but every cell in her being protested. Throat suddenly tight, she took a sip of wine to ease it.
Claire looked at her expectantly. Clearly she wanted to hear more about the Logan situation. Claire knew Logan had showed up atSunshine Americato support Sabrina, and she knew about the news story that made it sound like they were having a lovers’ quarrel on the sidewalk. Not to mention Claire had a real soft spot for her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, always trying to help them out and make sure they were happy. She did the same for her friends, but that tie by marriage to the Campbells brought out her protective side.
Claire leaned close. “What’s the deal with Logan? You two—”
“Just friends,” Sabrina said firmly.
“Why?” She lowered her voice. “I never said this, but he’s seriously hot. And take it from someone on the inside with the Campbell family, he’s probably the most easygoing guy there. Unlike some hardheaded men.”
Sabrina laughed. “Jake is not hardheaded. He’s sweet.”
Claire shook her head, smiling. “Oh, we’ve gone a round or two. We’re both hardheaded.”
“But you talk it through.”
Claire bit back a smile. “Sometimes.” Her voice dropped, husky and suggestive. “Sometimes it works out in other interesting ways.”
A pang of jealousy made Sabrina clench her teeth. She wished she were above it, but there it was. Claire and Jake’s love was palpable. They were married with a beautiful home, and Claire had told her before they were trying to get pregnant. Meanwhile, Sabrina was stuck in the friend zone.
“Here’s the problem with Logan,” Sabrina declared much too loudly. She was getting worked up all over again.
Claire’s eyes widened. “Do tell.”
She stared at her wine and said in a small voice, “I screwed everything up.”
“Come on, it can’t be that bad.”
She lifted her head. “I’ve been friends with him for six months, secretly lusting after him—”
“I knew it!” Claire crowed. “I told Jake there was no way it was platonic.”
“Do not breathe a word of this to Jake.”
Claire quickly mimed zipping her lips.
Sabrina sighed. “I never let him know because I thought he was a commitment-phobe. He never got serious with anyone; he never even mentioned a date. I have a real thing against commitment-phobes, you know?”
Claire nodded vigorously, her lips still zipped shut.
