Page 23 of Bad Boys After Dark - Brett
They both smiled and waved to the tall, blond, built new personal trainer.
“Nice workouts today, ladies.” He flashed a boyish smile that usually made Sophie melt.
She felt nothing. Not even a flutter.
“Brett broke me,” she said as they left the gym and blended into the crowd on the sidewalk.
“No, that’s just what he wants you to believe.”
“I didn’t even sigh when I saw Hot Guy. I felt nothing, Grace. Brett told me he would ruin me for all other men, and he was right.”
“Boy, Mr. Bad sure did a number on you. I still think you’re wrong about him and last night being a one-night stand. You’re an amazing woman, and no man can have you for just one spectacular night.”
“He can. Trust me. This is what he does. And it’s cool,” she said as nonchalantly as she could. “Whatever. I’ll get over him.”
Grace gave her a doubtful look. “Well, I don’t believe he’ll get over you. I think you’re too incredible to be forgotten.” She looped her arm through Sophie’s, guiding her toward the coffee vendor at the corner. “But I also don’t want to see you get hurt. You lived out your fantasy, which is more than most people get.”
A sad expression washed over Grace’s face, and Sophie wondered if it was empathy or if she was thinking about the guy she’d fallen for all those years ago before leaving him in search of a bigger life.
“Maybe it is time to move on,” Grace said, pulling her from her thoughts. “Just act normal at work tomorrow. You were used to blowing him off, so just do that.”
“Act normal? Blow him off?” She lowered her voice and said, “Did you forget I’ve actually blown the man? How can I pretend I haven’t seen him naked or had him inside me?” She leaned closer and said, “Not to mention, spending years dreaming about what it would be like to finally be in his arms and having those dreams obliterated by pure, sexual perfection.”
“Then we have to make it our mission to find some other hot guy to wine and dine you and make you forget him. Maybe we can change your search for forever kisses to a guy who dips his fruit in yogurt. Food compatibility is important.”
“Mm-hm. Sounds promising.” Even if she doubted it would ever happen, she could try. “Now what?”
“Coffee, of course. Isn’t that what we always do?” Grace ordered two lattes, and when Sophie took out her wallet, Grace covered it with her hand. “My treat. You’re in turmoil.”
After they got their coffee, they walked two blocks to the corner where they’d go their separate ways and Sophie would be left alone to deal with her thoughts.
Grace hugged her again and said, “Here’s the thing. I totally know where you’re coming from. You put your heart into last night, whether he knew it or not, even though you didn’t want to. You fell asleep in his arms and woke up alone, which feels awful regardless of whether you knew you would.”
“Like you would know about falling asleep in a guy’s arms and waking up alone?” Sophie teased. Grace was so busy with work, she rarely had time to relax, much less have overnight playdates.
“Remember that one time? The left-handed guy?” Grace shrugged. “Even we good girls go bad sometimes.”
Sophie was glad for the smile that brought, although Grace’s “bad” began with a lowercase B and hers didn’t.
“Give it a day or two,” Grace suggested. “See what happens and how you feel. It might be easier to handle him tomorrow than you think. And most importantly, don’t forget who you are, Sophie. The hottest legal assistant in the city. He’s a fool to stick to his one-night rule and let you slip through his fingers.”
“Thank you, Grace. I needed to be reminded of that.”
“Don’t forget, you’ve got your grandparents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary next weekend. I’m sure Nana and Poppi will have a nice single guy on hand to help you forget Mr. Everything.”
Sophie groaned. She adored visiting her family, but the last few times she’d gone home to Oak Falls, her grandparents tried to set her up with ‘nice, down-home fellas,’ and she’d had to wrangle Lindsay into playing interference so she could slip away. Her grandmother celebrated every holiday and event as if it were her last chance to do so, and their anniversary parties were big, all-day community events. Like Sophie, Grace usually went home to attend the parties, but she was mid-production on her play and wouldn’t be able to make it.
