“I’ll be right back,” he said, dimming the crystal chandelier to a notch above blatantly romantic.
Once in the newly renovated kitchen at the home’s rear, Connor poured two glasses of the Pinot Grigio, grabbed a hunk of fresh bread he’d made, and pulled a salad from the fridge. He served a generous portion of the scampi onto a plate he then popped into the microwave to warm up. While waiting, he made some decisions about her accommodations and how to make her feel relaxed and comfortable.
Still, a worry lingered, and after a moment, he realized that he was intending to flirt with her despite something unpleasant apparently going on with her. Was now a good time? Probably not. But then if this opportunity passed, would he get another? She was intending to stay the night but he assumed she’d be gone in the morning. He’d have to make his impressions now or risk not having another chance, but flirting during her stay could seem insensitive to her air of trouble. He decided to gently test the waters, trust his instincts, and let her reactions guide him.
Back in the dining room, Sophia’s thoughts drifted to home. Hopefully Minx had run away and hidden; she would no longer put it past Seth to hurt a cat, but he was probably out on the roads looking for Sophia. The idea sent chills down her spine. That Seth tried to run her car off the road twice had scared the shit out of her but the collisions had at least left evidence. He’d be going to jail for a long time. That was attempted murder, even if killing her wasn’t what he’d intended. The sight of Connor putting her car in the garage had caused such a huge wave of relief to wash over her that, for a moment, she’d almost cried.
Only now did she think of her local friends she could’ve turned to instead of Connor, but the decision to pull in here had been a spur-of-the-moment one. She wondered if Seth was driving by the houses of those old friends even now, looking for her car. Many of them had gone off to college like her, or at least moved out of their parents’ house, but she wasn’t that close with them anymore. College does that to people. So does living hundreds of miles away. Still, some of those parents would’ve taken her in, so maybe she’d try that tomorrow.
She looked up as Connor returned, balancing a wooden tray on one arm. “I hope you like Italian dressing. Both Quinn and I do so I’d poured it right in earlier instead of leaving it on the side.”
She was in no position to object and nodded. He set the lone dinner plate and silverware before her, the scent of garlicky scampi sauce making her stomach growl again.
“You’re joining me?” Sophia asked hopefully.
He gestured at the second glass and a dessert plate still on the tray as he sat across from her. “Some wine and cheese. I just ate, but I’ll keep you company, if you don’t mind.”
“Yeah. Of course.”
She eyed the wine a few seconds before lifting the glass as if for a toast. “Thank you so much for taking me in tonight, Connor. You’re a life saver.”
He pursed his lips at the expression and clinked glasses. He was supposed to card younger drinkers, so he said with a smile, “I’m taking it on good faith that you’re old enough to drink.” She looked at him as if caught and he quickly added, “Don’t tell me anything that will get me into trouble.”
She sipped the dry wine and nodded. “This is good.”
“Thanks. It’s from our family winery down the street.”
She hadn’t seen the bottle label. “Comus Winery. I’ve been there. Your family runs Sugarloaf Stables, too, right? Everyone around here knows the Kendalls. You and I actually went to high school together.”
“We did? I don’t know. There’s no way I’d forget you.”
She flushed at his gaze and filled the spoon with scampi. “I was a freshman. You were a senior. And I wasn’t a woman then.”
“I’m sure you were unmistakable.”
Deflecting his attention, she said, “I don’t know about that, but we all used to talk about you, my girlfriends and me.”
His eyebrows rose and he watched her lips close around the spoon. “Really? Should I be afraid to ask what was said?”
“Probably.” She laughed, turning red. “One of them had a crush on you, so you know, she had some interesting ideas about being with you.”
“And you didn’t? The crush, or the ideas?”
“I never said that,” she teased. “Everyone knew you were a good guy.”
“So no racy thoughts, then? That’s just what I’ve always feared. Thanks for breaking my heart,” he joked.
“It’s true that
some
girls assume a nice guy is boring or something, but most girls like nice guys. Like me. I think they’re…stronger. On the inside.”
“Tell me more.”
Before she had a chance to respond, another car stopped at the intersection outside. On seeing it was black, a clear look of alarm widened her eyes.
Connor’s eyes shot to the car, noted the color, and quickly scanned for damage on the side. Nothing. The car went through the stop sign and disappeared. He went to the windows, casually closing the curtains as if merely wanting to keep people from peeping when he felt certain he was keeping a specific person from doing so. He just didn’t know who. He glanced at Sophia, who looked visibly relieved.
“How’s the food?” he asked, trying to distract her from whatever was worrying her. He picked up some pepperjack cheese as he sat.
Gulping nervously, she answered, “Really good. You cooked this?”
“Yes.”
“Surprising.”
“Why?”
“Most guys our age don’t seem to know how.”
“Real men know how to cook, so they can provide for their family. That’s one of the reasons I learned how.”
She smirked. “So you could be a real man, or to provide for a family?”
He laughed. “To provide.”
“There’s some truth to that idea, actually. It’s kind of sexy, too.”
He returned her sparkling gaze. “Why?”
She shrugged. “A man who knows his way around a kitchen can probably stoke a fire in other places, too.” She grinned around another bite of bread and then asked, “Do you want to?”
“To stoke a fire in other places?” he asked, grinning. So far the flirting seemed to be going just fine.
She flushed and laughed. “To have a family.”
“Yeah. I came from a big one, so...”
“A big one would be a change for me. A welcome one, I think. Mine is small. Just me and my mother. My father died when I was little.”
“Mine, too. No stepfather?”
“Just my mother’s boyfriends. Few and far between, and none worth getting excited over. That seems to be the case with most guys I meet, too.” The absence of a decent man in her life had been systemic, causing her to romanticize the idea. Part of her knew she was unrealistic, but she couldn’t let go of her ideas on what a real man should be. There had to be one around here
somewhere
. Maybe not in Comus, but she hadn’t found one in Syracuse either. Maybe there was another planet...
Connor said, “My mother never dated after my dad died. I can’t imagine that, actually.”
“Sometimes I wish my mom wouldn’t, but everyone deserves a partner.” Their eyes met.
“Everyone deserves
love
,” he said, holding her look, “some more than others.”
Her eyes glittered as she said, “You’re a bold one, Mr. Kendall, I’ll give you that.”
Afraid he was coming on too strong, he sincerely said, “Sorry.”
“No, you’re not. And don’t apologize. I wasn’t complaining.”
He chuckled and let that hang in the air for a moment, his heart pounding at her reciprocation. He took another sip and said, “I haven’t seen you around, especially for someone living right up the road. Did you come back from college for the summer?”
“Yeah. Syracuse. Photography degree.”
“Oh, you should be on the other side of the camera, Sophia.”
Her heart fluttered. Other guys had said such things before but always seemed to mean something by it, like they wanted a gold star, a blow job, or more. Connor seemed genuine for reasons she couldn’t put her finger on. She could spend her whole life listening to him flirt with her and not care about anything else. Feeling like confessing her interest, she asked, “How is that you’re single?”
“Why do you assume I am?” he asked, smiling.
She answered confidently, “You’re not the sort of man who flirts like this if he’s got a girlfriend.”
He nodded, admiring her ability to size him up. “Bad luck, I guess. Maybe that’s changing,” he added suggestively.
“Maybe it is, Connor.” She bit her lip and flushed when he smiled in understanding.
“Your turn. How is it is that you’re single?”
She hesitated, unsure he should know the truth, but if he wanted her heart and not just her body—and she sensed this was true about him—then he ought to know where other guys had tried to take it.
She admitted, “Boys seem to think sending me a picture of their junk is flirting. It’s such a turn-off.” She saw her words startle him.
Shaking his head, Connor said, “I’ve heard about that, but I can’t imagine ever doing that. Certainly not to you. I mean, if you wanted to see it…” he added suggestively, as if offering.
A burst of embarrassed laughter erupted from her, worse than the scene of Julia Roberts cackling in
Pretty Woman
when Richard Gere closes the necklace box just as she reaches for the jewels. She covered her hot face, hardly noticing that Connor had turned crimson, too. A few moments of silence passed as she tried to focus on dinner and he nibbled on cheese.
“This is homemade bread, isn’t it?” Sophia asked, putting some butter on her slice.
“Yes. Not handmade. I used a bread machine.”
“Still impressed.” She took a bite and then scooped up some scampi, her hair threatening to fall into it. She brushed her hair back from where it had hung over one shoulder, revealing several dark red drops on the fabric. After noticing the other signs of trouble, Connor had no doubt this was blood. Sophia saw his troubled eyes on her shoulder and looked down, seeing the spatter for the first time. She slowly pulled her hair back before it, trying to think of an excuse.
“I don’t mean to pry,” Connor began quietly, “but are you in some kind of trouble?”
She shrugged and tried to play it cool. “No.”
He pursed his lips. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re not a very good liar.”
Suddenly her pleasant mood vanished, leaving her cold. Her eyes grew dark with thoughts of Seth.
Connor added, “It’s okay, I’m not judging you.”
“Well, you must be judging me
some
,” she observed.
“The judgment is favorable. Very. I want you to feel safe here. With me.”
She looked into his mocha eyes and saw calm strength, resolute clarity, and sincerity. Quietly, she confessed, “I do feel safe here. With you. Thank you for everything. The food, the wine. The room. The company, most of all.”
“There’s more of everything if you want it. Just help yourself. This is your home for tonight.”
Sophia’s gaze roamed over him as if he was the thing she wanted more of. They returned to silence, sipping wine and making eye contact that alternated between amorous, sweet, and shy.
Connor felt compelled to reassure her. “The house has an alarm, which I can turn on right now if you’re sure you won’t go outside. Opening a door would set it off.”
“I won’t.”
“Okay.” He got up and went into the foyer. Several beeps sounded before he returned and sat down. “Every window and door on the ground floor is shut and armed. So are those on the second floor that can be reached by the deck or even someone climbing a tree. Anyone trying to get in will trip the alarm and the police will be called at once. There are also glass-breaker alarms in the kitchen, foyer, and other rooms, in case someone tries to get in that way, instead of opening the window or a door.”
Relaxing more, she asked, “How fast do the police get here?”
“A few minutes. I have guns in the house, too, and know how to use them. I’m not the expert marksman that my brother Riley is, but I’m a damn good shot. Used to go hunting with him all the time. Anyway, your room will be across the hall from mine. If you need anything at any time, just knock.”
“I will.”
“How recent is that blood?” Connor asked. “We should soak your shirt to prevent it staining.”
She nodded in agreement but said, “I don’t have anything else to wear.”
“I have some things you can borrow, if you don’t mind men’s clothes.”
“Not at all.”
Thinking she looked interested in the idea, he excused himself. “I’ll be right back.”
He disappeared into the foyer and up the long wooden staircase above the family room. He returned as she finished eating, placing a folded T-shirt, sweatpants and pair of socks on the table.
“Perfect,” she said. “Where’s your bathroom?”
“Through there.” He gestured and she rose, took the clothes, and laid one gentle hand on his arm as she passed by. Connor watched her go, feeling his heart stirring at her touch. He almost envied the bathroom walls for the view they’d get. To clear his mind, he cleared the table.
In the bathroom, Sophia noted the alarm sensor on the window while she closed the yellow curtains. Then she stripped off her socks, pants, shirt, and bra to stand nude; she hadn’t been wearing panties. Her nipples puckered from the air conditioning blowing down on her, contrasting with the heat between her legs. Connor was having more effect on her than she’d realized, and all without touching her. Well, except for those two gentle probes he’d done when exchanging keys. The memory of the feel of Connor’s fingers on her palm gave her a rush, but the scratch on her arm from Seth was a harsh reminder of the reason she was here. Funny how two guys could be so different from each other.
She put her clothes in the sink’s warm water. Then she put Connor’s dark blue sweatpants on, noting how they snugly fit her ass. Not until pulling the white T-shirt over her head did she catch the scent of it. She pulled it to her nose, breathing in. Much of the smell was laundry detergent, but something deeper and more masculine filled her nostrils. Maybe she’d be wearing Connor’s clothes until he took them from her. After slipping on the socks, she pulled her hair into a quick ponytail, using a narrow scrunchy she’d had around her wrist.