Sophie absently rolled a pen between her palms as she sat on the corner of her sister’s desk. In fifteen minutes she was going to meet with a local magazine writer, Ariana Lamonte, and Sophie wasn’t looking forward to the interview. She supposed there were plenty of people who were interested to read what it was like to be part of the Fortune family. But Sophie couldn’t explain what it had been like to go through the name change and learn her father had been living a life of deceit for many years. She’d not totally digested it all yet, so how could she tell anyone what it felt like to become a Fortune?
“I’m not keen on meeting with the woman, Olivia. She didn’t exactly put a nice slant on her blog about Keaton. I cringe to think what she might write about me.”
Olivia shot Sophie a droll look. “She didn’t say anything unflattering about our new half brother.”
“Maybe you didn’t think so, but I’m sure it made him and Francesca very uncomfortable. Surely you’ve not forgotten she implied Keaton was a ladies’ man—like our father.”
Sophie followed Olivia’s gaze across the work area to where Thom was chatting with a female programmer. The young redhead was known to be a party girl. Maybe she had her own plans to make Thom her Valentine date. Strange how that notion didn’t even make a bleep on the radar of Sophie’s feelings.
A few minutes ago, when Sophie had entered the research and development department her first glance had been toward Mason’s desk, but to her disappointment, his cubicle had been empty. And then she’d spotted Thom by the water cooler. She’d simply given him a casual wave and continued straight to Olivia’s cubicle. No doubt he was probably wondering why she’d not made a point to talk with him. To be honest, she wasn’t quite sure why she’d avoided him. Other than the fact that it would be terribly uncomfortable to make conversation with Thom while her mind was preoccupied with Mason’s red-hot kiss. Ever since last night, the reckless moments she’d spent in his lap had been looping over and over in her mind, making it impossible to think of little else.
“And like our company lothario,” Olivia suggested with a smile.
Sophie let out a frustrated sigh. “Do you have to be so tacky? Thom might like women, but he’s hardly a lothario. Unlike our father, he doesn’t have illegitimate children popping up here and there.”
“Give him time,” Olivia retorted.
Was that how people really viewed Thom, Sophie wondered. Or was her jaded sister simply trying to put Sophie off the idea of making him her guy?
“Really, Olivia,” Sophie scolded. “We were talking about Ariana Lamonte and the blog she wrote about Keaton. Not about Thom.”
Leaning back in the desk chair, Olivia crossed her arms and gave Sophie a rational look. “Like father, like son. With all that’s come out about our family recently, I’m sure most everyone in Austin is thinking about Keaton and Dad in those terms. Which is totally unfair to Keaton. He’s not a playboy. But Ms. Lamonte sort of slanted things in that direction. Even so, we can’t avoid the media, Sophie. To try to hide from it would only make matters worse. Besides, what could the woman possibly write about you that would be unflattering? You’ve never done anything wrong or bad or—”
“Interesting?” Sophie finished wryly.
“You’re the one who used that word,” Olivia pointed out. “Not me. I was only going to say you’ve not done anything a person could criticize.”
“Well, I’ll try not to say anything that might reflect badly on our family.”
“Easier said than done,” Olivia told her. “I’m sure Ms. Lamonte will try to trip you up or put words in your mouth.”
Sophie rose and smoothed down her figure-hugging sweater dress. She’d chosen it today because she’d wanted to look sexy and fashionable for the interview. Or so she’d told herself. Deep down, she’d hoped Mason would glance her way and see her as a woman instead of a friend.
“Gee, thanks, Olivia,” she said with sarcasm. “That gives me a wealth of confidence.”
Olivia laughed. “Let me know how the interview goes.”
Sophie sighed. “We’ll know the answer to that when Ms. Lamonte’s article comes out in Weird Life Magazine. See you later, sis.”
She left Olivia’s cubicle, but before she reached the exit, Thom intercepted her and from the way his brow was arched, she got the impression he was a little confused by her behavior. He wasn’t the only one. Sophie was confused by it, too.
“What’s up? I thought you’d want to talk with me before you left.”
Sophie glanced at her watch while hoping her cheeks didn’t appear as pink as they felt. “I’d planned to. But I have a meeting in five minutes.”
“Business?” he questioned.
The suspicious note she heard in his voice made no sense. Thom had no reason to be doubtful or jealous. He was the golden boy of Robinson Tech. He could have his pick of women. As for her, she was quite sure he’d not developed any deep feelings for her. Not yet, at least. Perhaps the gossipers in the ladies’ room had been right about Thom, she thought. Perhaps he was viewing Sophie as a step ladder to the top of her father’s company and he didn’t want anything to prevent his climb.
“Uh, yes, the meeting is business related.”
She smiled at him even though she wasn’t feeling it, but the gesture must have pleased him, because his features softened and he moved a step closer.
“So when are we going to get together again? Tonight?”
Was it only a few days ago that she’d wanted to turn handsprings because Thom had asked her out on date? How could her feelings about him have changed in such a short time?
“Oh, it’s nice of you to ask, Thom. But I have a family engagement tonight. I’ll get back with you later. Right now I’ve got to run.”
She hurried out the door, leaving him staring after her.
* * *
When Sophie entered the conference room a few doors down from Wes’s office, she found Ariana Lamonte standing at a window, staring out at the Austin skyline.
“Ms. Lamonte?”
The tall, shapely woman with long dark hair turned and walked briskly toward Sophie. As she moved, a long printed skirt in orange and green swirled around a pair of brown suede boots. At the same time, the fringe on her leather jacket swayed with a life of its own. Ariana Lamonte rocked the chic bohemian look, right down to the long beaded earrings.
“Yes, I’m Ariana.” She offered her hand. “And you’re Sophie Fortune?”
“Sophie Fortune Robinson,” she corrected. “I was a Robinson for twenty-three years. I’m not yet ready to let go of the name.”
Ariana studied her thoughtfully. “And the Fortune name still feels a little strange, I’m sure.”
“Exactly. Shall we sit? There should be fresh coffee over on the serving table if you’d care for any.”
“No, thank you.” She took a seat near the end of the table. “But please go ahead without me.”
Sophie eased into the chair across from her and tried to make herself comfortable. “I’m not very good at this sort of thing—interviews about myself, that is.”
“If you’d rather I didn’t record our conversation I’m perfectly fine with taking notes,” she suggested.
Maybe the woman wasn’t only about getting a scoop on the Fortune family, Sophie thought. Or it could be Ariana Lamonte was playing nice to get Sophie in a relaxed enough mood to spill her guts. The notion spurred Sophie’s guard to an even higher level.
“I would rather you not have a recorder, Ms. Lamonte.”
“Certainly. And please, call me Ariana.”
The woman dug a small notepad and pen from her bag and placed it on the table. Sophie crossed her legs and began to slice the air with the toe of her high heel.
“You’re very lovely, Ariana. To be honest, I was expecting an older lady with gray hair and wrinkles.”
She laughed. “Plenty of people tell me a writer is supposed to be old enough to write from experience. But I don’t intend to wait around for old age to set in before making my mark in the business.”
“Neither do I,” Sophie replied and suddenly she was thinking about Mason and how much that one little kiss had changed her. Just a tiny taste of real passion was all it had taken to reverse her course of action.
Although she hadn’t yet figured out how she was going to do that without snubbing Thom and making herself look like a fool in the process.
For the next few minutes, Ariana questioned Sophie about her job, how she’d come to the decision to work for her father’s company and how she’d felt when it was discovered that Gerald Robinson was actually Jerome Fortune.
“It’s impossible to for me to explain how I felt at that time, Ariana. I’m still trying to digest the revelation.” She studied the perfect oval of her pink nails rather than meet the scrutiny of the other woman’s gaze. “It’s very difficult to accept the fact that the father I knew growing up is someone else. There’s that secret part of him that’s a stranger to me. And that hurts—more than you can imagine.”
Sophie could have gone on to say that unraveling the truth of her father’s life had shaken every aspect of hers. At times she felt like a fraud, a person with a phony name who’d lived twenty-four years of lies. So many secrets still swirled around her parents. And though she reminded herself that she was her own person, she couldn’t shake the fact that her family was bound together by lies rather than love. But she wasn’t about to express those feelings to Ariana Lamonte or anyone. They were simply too deep and disturbing.
“I can only imagine,” Ariana said, then hastily scribbled something on the page. “I’m also curious as to how Charlotte—your mother—is handling this whole situation with Keaton Fortune Whitfield becoming a part of the family.”
There was so much Sophie could say about her mother. On the other hand, she didn’t want Charlotte’s problems broadcasted in a magazine article. Her mother had already endured enough embarrassment over the fact that her husband was a repeated adulterer.
“With Mother it’s impossible to gauge what she’s really feeling.”
“Are you saying she hides her feelings from the family? Her children in particular?”
“I think she hides her feelings from everyone. I suppose you could describe my mother as a loner. Although she has a countless number of friends, I don’t really believe she shares her private thoughts with any of them. But then, she’s from an older generation. Her views on a husband-and-wife relationship are far different than yours or mine.”
Ariana leveled a curious look at her. “How do you mean?”
Sophie shrugged. “Well, where Dad is concerned my mother has an overabundance of patience.”
Ariana’s brows arched upward. “Explain that for me.”
“It’s just that she...well, seems to look the other way with my father. I could never be as understanding as she is.”
“Hmm. I believe there are times when private things go on with our parents that children never discover about them. In this case, I’m wondering if your mother has a reason of her own for not kicking up a fuss about her husband’s naughty behavior. Did that notion ever cross your mind?”
Sophie studied the young woman’s thoughtful expression and decided she could trust her to a certain point. “More than once,” she admitted.
Ariana leaned eagerly forward. “Would you be interested in finding out what’s behind your mother’s—shall we call it—her blind eye to her husband’s womanizing?”
Sophie’s lips unconsciously pressed together. If it hadn’t been for Rachel’s bit of snooping into their father’s documents, no one in the Robinson family might ever have learned about Gerald actually being Jerome Fortune, about the nasty way his family had treated him, or how he’d faked his own death just to get away from them. But as much as Sophie would like answers about her mother, she wasn’t sure she would feel right playing detective.
“I’m interested,” Sophie told her. “But I’m not the person who can give you the keys to Mother’s past, or the motives for her behavior. She refuses to discuss Dad and their marriage with me.”
A smile crossed Ariana’s face. “Sometimes you can pick up clues without even trying. If you keep your eyes and ears open I have a feeling you’ll learn far more than you ever imagined.”
Sophie wasn’t exactly sure what the writer was hinting at, but after the recent events within her family, she doubted there was much left to shock her.
“Are you insinuating that you know something about my mother that I don’t?”
The smile on Ariana’s face turned suggestive. “Not exactly. But I do believe she has a story of her own. And any writer worth a grain of salt is interested in telling a good story.”
And any loving daughter would want to keep the awful truth about her parents safely hidden away. Or would she? Was hiding the truth the best way to deal with a problem?
Sophie didn’t know what to think anymore. Not about her parents, herself, or her misguided plans to snare her dream man.
* * *
Much later that evening, Mason rubbed his tired eyes and switched off his desk lamp. For the past several hours he’d been working non-stop on the health app. The new project was a chance to show Wes and Gerald Robinson what he could do.
However, after last night and that wild kiss he’d shared with Sophie, he’d not been able to focus for more than five minutes at a time on his work or, for that matter, anything else. All his mind wanted to dwell on was how soft and sweet her lips had tasted and how eagerly she’d kissed him back. She’d wanted him. He’d felt her desire as much as he’d felt his own. But what did it mean? What could it mean when her heart had seemed so set on Thom Nichols?
Last night, while they’d sat in Bernie’s drinking coffee and eating Italian cream cake, both had avoided mentioning the kiss or anything remotely connected to it. But Mason had felt the awkward tension between them and understood the intimate act had changed everything between them.
Groaning at the memory, Mason grabbed his jacket and left his cubicle. One glance at the dark entrance to the HR department told him Sophie wasn’t working late tonight. The realization caused his spirits to plummet and he wondered if she’d gone out on another date with Thom.
Why not, Mason? That kiss doesn’t make you her one and only. So don’t go thinking you’re something special to her. The two of you are friends. Not lovers. She wants Thom Nichols. She believes she can drag that little Bantam rooster away from all his hens. She’s too blinded by his charm to see how much you adore her.
Maybe she was looking past him right now, Mason mentally retorted to the mocking voice in his head, but he still had time. Valentine’s Day was a week away. By then he was going to come up with a plan of his own. Mason couldn’t allow the woman of his dreams to spend the special night of love with anyone but him.
Down in the parking garage, he got in his car, but instead of starting the engine, pulled out his phone. Moments later, his oldest brother’s voice sounded in his ear.
“Hey, Mason, what’s going on in Austin?”
Mason leaned his head back and massaged his aching eyes. “Not much. Are you busy?”
Doug chuckled. “Just going through a stack of depositions. The usual thing.”
“Sorry. That was a stupid question, wasn’t it? I won’t keep you long. I only wanted to see how everyone was doing.” Finding Sophie had already left the building had unexpectedly filled Mason with thoughts of his family. Even though it was only eighty miles down to San Antonio, there were times Mason felt like he was a world away from his brothers and parents. “Mom and Dad okay?”
“Busy as ever. Dad’s job sent him to New Mexico for a week, but he’s back now. And Mom has been trying to set up Valentine’s dates for Shawn and me. You know her, she desperately wants grandchildren. Why don’t you give her some?”
A wife and babies. At one time Mason had believed he’d be the first of the Montgomery brothers to settle down and start a family. But after Christa had walked out, he’d begun to doubt whether he was cut out for love and marriage.
Groaning, Mason said, “I’m not in the mood to talk about Valentine’s Day.”
“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re having romance trouble again. After that stomping Christa gave you, I thought you’d sworn off dating.”
“I did—I have. Except I—”
“You’ve met someone and she’s turned your head. So what’s wrong? She won’t give you the time of day?”
Sophie had given him far more than Mason had expected. But he wanted more and he wouldn’t be satisfied until she looked at him with stars in her eyes and love in her heart.
“She—uh—likes me enough. But—”
“You want to be more than friends,” Doug finished Mason’s thoughts.
“You got it. But I’m beginning to think I’m being a big fool—again,” Mason said as he glanced around the nearly empty parking garage.
“Why? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for another flirty blonde with mush between her ears.”
Wincing, Mason asked with sarcasm, “Why do I call you? To be reminded of my mistakes?”
Doug chuckled. “We all make mistakes, Mason. And you call me because you want advice from an expert.”
Mason sputtered. “On women? I realize you have them lined up on your doorstep, but I’m not ready to call you an expert on the subject.”
There was a moment of silence and then Doug said, “Seriously, Mason, are you troubled about something?”
“Troubled. Confused. Dazed. Yeah, I guess I’m a little of all those things. This woman is really out of my league, Doug. Truthfully, I have no business even thinking about her, much less looking her way. She comes from a wealthy family. Extremely wealthy.”
“Money doesn’t make a man, Mason.”
“This is about more than a bank account. Her father owns Robinson Tech.”
This time Doug’s silence stretched to a point where Mason was beginning to think the cell signal had dropped.
“Doug? Are you still there?”
“I’m here. I was just thinking that when my little brother picks a woman, he really picks one.”
“I admit it’s crazy. She could never be serious about a guy like me. But—”
“Listen, Mason,” Doug interrupted. “This woman could walk the face of the earth and never find a better guy than you.”
Mason sat up straight. “You’ve never said anything like that to me before.”
“I haven’t? Well, I should have. You’ve always followed your heart. That’s why you’re Mom’s favorite.”
In spite of his doubts, Mason grinned. “You don’t have to lay it on that thick, brother.”
“Who’s laying it on? So when are you coming down to see us? If I can get some of these trials out of the way, we’ll go to Padre and do a little fishing.”
Mason chuckled. “By the time I get my new project finished and you get the court docket wiped clean it will be the middle of summer.”
“Great. Let’s mark the calendar. In the meantime, Mason, you keep asking yourself if that girl is good enough for you. Not the other way around. Okay?”
“I hear you. Thanks, Doug.”
The two men exchanged goodbyes and Mason ended the connection and started the car. As he backed out of the parking slot, he noticed two cars parked together in the row behind him. One of them was Thom Nichols’s sports car. The white economy car parked next to it belonged to a redhead who worked in R&D.
If Thom’s car was still here that meant he most likely wasn’t with Sophie. However, Mason had never seen him working overtime. Did that mean he was out with the redhead? The idea caused Mason’s jaw to clamp tight. Sophie definitely needed to know about the seedy side of her dream man. But he wasn’t going to be the one to tell her. He could only hope that Sophie would learn the truth for herself. Before Thom had a chance to break her heart.
* * *
Sophie was sitting in the family room, scanning a stack of work she’d brought home, when she heard footsteps on the Italian tile and looked up to see her mother walking toward her.
Glancing at the tall grandfather clock to the left of an oil painting that Charlotte had paid thousands for at a European auction, Sophie noticed it was only a few minutes past ten.
“Hello, Mother. I thought you’d gone to the theatre. Is the play over this early?”
The older woman dropped her jeweled handbag onto an antique loveseat and slowly eased off her brocade jacket. “I couldn’t sit to the end. The whole thing was too boring. But to give the actors credit, no one could have made that dialogue believable. The only saving grace was that the cost of the ticket goes to one of my favorite charities.”
That was one positive thing about her mother, Sophie thought. If there was a cause Charlotte felt deeply about, she would generously contribute both her time and money to help it flourish.
“I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it,” Sophie told her. “What about your friend Alice? Did she stay to watch the end?”
“No. We left together. Her husband hasn’t been feeling well, so she wanted to get home early to check on him.”
She wondered if her mother would have done the same.
Charlotte eased into an armchair angled to Sophie’s. “I’m glad I caught you,” she said. “Olivia informed me that you talked with that magazine writer today. What’s her name? Lamonte?”
Sophie nodded. “Ariana Lamonte. She’s writing about what it means to become a Fortune.”
“Hmmp. Surely the woman could find something more worthwhile to focus on besides the Fortune family.”
Sophie frowned at the bitterness in her mother’s voice. “Are you forgetting that I am one of those Fortunes? That all your children are now Fortunes?”
“It’s a fact I try not to dwell on,” she said bluntly, then smoothing a hand over her long, black skirt, she gave Sophie a sidelong glance. “What did you and Ms. Lamonte discuss during your interview?”
What would her mother think if she told her that Ariana Lamonte was more than curious about her behavior? “Just the routine things. Mainly she wanted to hear how I felt about getting a half brother that none of the family knew existed. She also wanted to know what it was like for me to learn how my father had chosen to fake his own death rather than live as Jerome Fortune.”
“Sophie! I don’t like you speaking about your father in that sarcastic tone.”
Sighing, Sophie looked away from her mother’s stern face. Drama and secrets seemed to always surround her family. Why couldn’t she have been born to regular parents like Mason’s? No doubt he’d been conceived in love. Whereas, Sophie could only imagine Charlotte getting pregnant by doing her wifely duty and little more.
“I apologize, Mother. I’m trying to understand what motivated Dad to take on a different identity. But apart from that deceit, some of the things he’s done are very...well, disappointing.”
“He’s your father and he loves you,” she said as though that made up for everything.
But did her father, whom she now had to think of as Jerome Fortune, really love her? Or had the affection he’d shown her over the years only been a part of his deception? Oh, Lord, she didn’t know what was real or pretense anymore. Not with her parents or with Thom.
“If you say so.”
Charlotte’s lips tightened, but she didn’t issue any more scolding words. Instead, she settled back in her chair and asked, “I’m sure the subject of your mother came up in the interview. What did Ms. Lamonte ask about me?”
Are you asking because you have something to hide?
The question darted through Sophie’s mind as she studied her mother’s regal features. “I think Ms. Lamonte is like everyone else in this city,” Sophie said. “She’s wondering how you’re dealing with all this scandal about Dad.”
“And what did you tell her?”
Sophie frowned. Her mother seemed overly curious about the interview. What could possibly concern her about a simple magazine article? Over the years the Robinsons had dealt with all sorts of bad publicity. Granted, nothing as bad as the recent tabloids, though.
“Don’t fret, Mother. I told her how you were standing faithfully behind your husband. And that we’re all unified as a family. I’m not so sure she understands your attitude. Frankly, neither do I. But that’s another matter entirely, isn’t it?”
“Entirely.” Clearing her throat, she rose to her feet. “Be advised, Sophie, not to say any more than necessary to this woman. After reading her feature about Keaton I have a feeling she doesn’t have any regard for a person’s private life.”
Not wanting to cause her mother any more distress, Sophie planted a swift kiss on her cheek. “Don’t concern yourself about it, Mother. I measured my words carefully. Besides, we’re a strong bunch. We can weather any kind of media storm.”
In an unusual display of affection, Charlotte patted her cheek. “You’re right. I’ll say good-night now. I’ve had a busy day.”
As she turned to go, Sophie asked, “When is Dad going to be home? I haven’t seen him the past few evenings.”
“He called from LA earlier this afternoon. He’ll be staying on another day or two. Business, of course.”
Of course, Sophie thought sadly. And as she watched her mother leave the family room, Sophie was more determined than ever to make her life different.
She wasn’t going to make the same mistake of wasting away in a cold marriage. She was going to marry a man she loved, who would love her in return. A man who would take her into his arms and wrap her in warmth and passion and fill her heart with happiness.
A man exactly like...Mason.