Chapter Seven

When the doorbell rang, they were eager to go to dinner. Sophie figured spending time with Nick in a restaurant, with a chaperone this time, provided the safest route to maintaining her vow of celibacy. She yanked open the door and smacked into a brick wall.

“Ouch. Do you always stand so close to a door? You practically knocked the wind out of me.” She pushed away from his chest, her fingers curling to grab his crisp button-down shirt. Instead, she jerked her hands behind her back, her heart hammering. Must stop touching him.

What was wrong with her? She felt like a teenage girl at her first boy-band concert. She dug her fingernails into her palms and inhaled deeply.

“I was just right here.” He gestured to the porch.

Glancing down, she did notice he seemed to be at a normal distance from the door. Drawing herself up to her full five feet six inches, she shrugged. Admit nothing.

“Okay, kids. Enough. Let’s all go out for a nice evening and allow Nick to show us the best Laguna has to offer,” Kelly interjected.

“Let’s start over. You both look beautiful. Let me open the door for you.” He smiled as they approached the passenger door of his sleek black sedan.

“Thank you very much, sir.” Kelly hopped into the front seat of the car, leaving Sophie no choice but to sit in the back.

She scrunched down in her seat. How had he maneuvered her into spending another evening with him? Why was he so persistent? And why was it annoying to be relegated to the backseat, like a kid? She stuck her tongue out at him.

Nick’s glance caught hers in the rearview mirror. Of course, he’d looked at the exact moment she’d given in to a childish impulse. His mouth quirked at the corners before he shifted his focus to the road.

Not that she cared what he thought one way or the other. She was planning on being a single novelist for the foreseeable future.

Like Jane Austen.

Just like Jane Austen.

They arrived at Vines, a charming little wine bar. When the valet opened Sophie’s door, she resolved to have a good time. She’d promised herself a new life, and her best friend was visiting. Just enjoy it.

Nick offered one arm to Kelly, who accepted it with a smile. He offered his right arm to Sophie. Goose bumps erupted down her spine the moment her hand touched his sinewy forearm.

Music drifted through the open windows, and humming conversation filled the intimate space. The ceiling was wood beamed and high, bestowing a feeling of warmth. An enormous polished mahogany bar occupied the majority of the room, and café tables were set amongst wine racks throughout the large room. Clusters of young, attractive people chatted and sipped wine. The far wall was exposed brick with stenciled drawings depicting what appeared to be small Italian towns dotted across it.

“This is so lovely,” Kelly said. “Just our kind of place, Nick. Shall we grab a spot at the bar, or do you see an open table?”

“Don’t worry. I can get us a table.” He raised his hand in the direction of the bar. A tall, handsome, dark-haired man waved him over. “I’ll be right back.”

“Wow, Laguna is full of smoking-hot guys. Did you see that bartender? Maybe I need to move up here to take advantage of this.” Kelly continued to stare at the bartender.

“What about Robert? I know you don’t want to talk about him, but I can’t help but wonder what’s going on. I’m sorry we haven’t even talked about your love life in all the chatter about my drama.”

Kelly frowned and shifted her gaze back to meet Sophie’s. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll discuss it later. Nick’s on his way back over.”

“Follow me.” He led them to a table by the garage-door-style windows that opened onto the street, giving the illusion that they were sitting outdoors on the sidewalk. The crisp evening air wafted in.

The minute they sat down, a striking redhead approached. After greeting Nick with a peck on the cheek, she left them with menus. Settling in, they reviewed the wine listings with an appreciative eye. The list was extensive with both old- and new-world vintages. They decided on a medium-bodied red, and Nick ordered a bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape along with marcona almonds and a cheese-and-charcuterie board.

“Yum, all my favorite things.” Kelly clapped her hands together and smiled. “So who’s your hot bartender friend?”

“Christian? He actually owns this place. He’s an old friend, and he noticed you too.” Nick smiled. “Do you want me to introduce you?”

“No, no, that’s okay.” Kelly shook her head and reached for another handful of almonds.

Sophie’s head snapped toward her friend. Before she could ask why she was scoping out the bar owner, the waitress returned. After showing Nick the bottle, she uncorked the wine and poured for him first, but he gestured for Sophie to taste. Sophie swirled the wine in her glass to allow the aromas to release. She approved of the moderate legs showing in the wineglass, indicating the flavor would be ripe, dense, and bold. Picking up the glass, she inhaled the aroma and hmmed at the notes of lavender and spice.

She held the first sip in her mouth, allowing the flavors to explode on her tongue. Her eyes closed in pleasure as she swallowed. When she opened them, Nick was staring at her and his eyes had darkened almost to black. She loved wine and enjoyed the whole sensual process that comprised sampling. If he found that sexy, so be it. She nodded at the waitress, who filled their glasses and stepped away.

“You didn’t tell me you were so into wine when we had dinner.” Nick’s intense stare pinned her to the spot.

“Really? Sophie always picks the wine for us. She’s got an amazing palate.”

“Don’t exaggerate.” Damn it. Sophie’s face grew hot again under his scrutiny. Between the constant blushing, fluttering, and shivering, maybe she did belong in a Jane Austen novel.

“Tell me more about Sophie. She’s full of surprises.” Nick shifted his attention to Kelly, and Sophie breathed a sigh of relief.

“Well, did you know that she loves romance novels? She’s got a stack of those historical bodice rippers somewhere in your cottage as we speak. The ones with Fabio on the cover…” Kelly snickered, and his smile deepened.

“Stop, or I’m going to tell the hot bartender you want to take him home tonight.” Sophie needed to divert the subject from her reading habits. Fabio wasn’t on any of the covers, was he?

“You wouldn’t dare.” Kelly’s mouth snapped shut.

“Really? Are you writing a romance novel?” Nick angled closer to Sophie, and his eyes narrowed in concentration as his gaze flicked back to her.

“Don’t you worry about what I’m writing. Next subject, please.” She took another sip of wine.

“Like pirates tossing wenches over their shoulders and—” Nick’s brow arched.

Sophie held up her hand, stemming the giggle rising in her throat. “No way. Discussion over.”

“She also drives like a maniac. Did she tell you how she almost demolished one of your neighbor’s hedges before she arrived?” Kelly’s new topic wasn’t much better than the first. Usually, Sophie found her best friend hilarious. Not so much tonight.

“No, are you all right? Were you hurt?” Nick’s tone sharpened as his hand shot out and covered hers.

“Just my pride. Some truck came flying toward me, and the road is so narrow up there.” Sophie tried to withdraw her hand, striving to keep the mood light.

“You need to be careful. The road is treacherous.” Alarm filled his eyes, and his fingers tightened on hers, hurting her now.

“I’m fine. Nothing happened. Kelly drives like a grandma and thinks anyone who drives one mile over the speed limit is a drag racer.” Sophie shifted in her seat, gently tugging her hand again, concerned at his dramatic reaction.

He released her and sat back in his chair with a tight smile, his eyes chilled into chips of jade-green glass.

They turned their attention to the wine and hors d'oeuvres, and Kelly regaled them with hilarious stories about her law firm’s stuffy coworkers. The earlier friction disappeared, and Sophie’s shoulders softened. The more time she spent in Nick’s company, the more it became apparent he was genuine. Not all men were jerks like her ex-fiancé and her deadbeat dad.

She excused herself and headed to the ladies’ room. Kelly and Nick were deep in conversation, so she wasn’t concerned about an awkward absence. While in front of the mirror, Sophie reapplied nude-pink lip gloss and fluffed her hair.

Who was she kidding? She couldn’t deny her attraction to him. Her initial plan to remain single for a year didn’t seem like such a brilliant idea, after all. She trusted Kelly’s judgment completely. Her friend’s reaction to Nick cemented the notion that perhaps a casual fling would help her get over her ex. Would a rebound romance help her find her confidence again?

Maybe she’d go for it.

As Sophie wove through the crowd back to their table, she froze when she spotted a stunning brunette in her seat. Who the hell was she? The woman tossed her head in laughter and leaned in even closer to Nick, smashing her impressive cleavage into his side. Sophie’s buoyant mood deflated as jealousy licked at her belly.

Memories of Doug’s infidelity slapped into her. Her spine stiffened. She’d sworn never to be involved in a love triangle again. Donning her best poker face, she returned to the table.

“There she is.” Kelly’s smile looked strained as she called out to her. “We were wondering when you’d get back. Are you almost ready to head out to sushi?”

Sophie wanted to bolt, but she wasn’t about to reveal her cards. Celibacy was safer, after all. She’d overestimated her ability to handle a player.

Nick stood, smiling at her as he gestured to the woman who remained in Sophie’s chair. Didn’t she see Sophie’s wineglass?

“I want you to meet Heather, my right hand at work. Heather, meet my new tenant, Sophie.” He continued to smile, oblivious to Sophie’s sharp inhale. That’s how Nick saw her? His rental income? A polite obligation?

Heather rose from Sophie’s chair, although she continued to lean into Nick. Her smile looked forced, revealing blinding-white teeth, and it didn’t reach her glittering dark eyes. Sophie saw the flash of hostility before she banked it. Interesting. This woman wasn’t only his colleague.

Fine, she could have him. What men saw in this type of manipulative woman, she’d never understand. Not her problem. Decision made.

The Player of Laguna was her landlord. Nothing more.

Definitely not her interim man.

Sophie nodded as she reached for her wineglass. “Hi, nice to meet you.” Her gaze shifted first to Kelly, then back to Nick. “Well, maybe you should stay and hang out, and Kelly and I can head over to dinner, if you’ll just tell us where it is?”

Nick’s eyes widened. He was clueless. Idiot. Was he unaware that he’d just insulted her?

“The reservations aren’t for another thirty minutes,” he said. “Let’s finish our wine first.”

“Oh, please don’t let me interrupt your evening. I was just headed back to my table.” Heather leaned in and wrapped scarlet-tipped talons around his forearm. “Lovely to meet you, girls. I’ll see you very soon, Nick.”

She strutted away from the table in her skin-tight, leopard-print pencil skirt and fitted silk blouse, like a woman who was hyperaware of her beauty and who loved to flaunt it.

Kelly and Sophie exchanged glances, and as longtime best friends, no words were necessary. They’d both seen Heather’s possessiveness and how friendly and comfortable Nick had acted.

Regardless of why he’d introduced her as his tenant, Sophie retreated to her original stance where Nick was concerned.

Player.

If only she and Kelly could ditch him and go to dinner by themselves, but she refused to show she was troubled by this new development. No way in hell would Nick discover she’d started to soften to the idea of jumping his bones.

For the remainder of the evening, she dug deep and continued to laugh and act lightheartedly, despite the heavy pit in her belly. At dinner, she maneuvered so Kelly was sitting between her and Nick at the sushi bar. It was easy to allow her outgoing friend to dominate the conversation and keep it casual and superficial.

Nick tried to catch her eye and draw her into the conversation. Too bad. He could go jump off a cliff for all she cared.

Since Kelly rode in the front seat when he’d picked them up, it was simple to repeat the pattern. Mellow from the wine and Kelly’s presence, Sophie maintained her nonchalant façade. She managed to escape out of the car with a jaunty wave when Nick dropped them off at the house.

He’d run out of excuses now to seek her out. She’d avoid him at all costs. The evening served as a reminder that she was here to create a new life as an independent woman and author.

No distractions needed.