Authors: Susan Behon
He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “Sophie, as you probably know by now, she was lying. I
was
interested in you and I was trying to ask you out but you kept dodging me. I thought you were giving me the brush off.”
“
Really?” She'd dodged him out of embarrassment.
“
Yes, really. I told you that I had a
thing for you back in school. That was the truth. Damn it! I wish you would have asked me about it. I could have told you myself.”
Sophie sighed and rubbed her hand against his chest, right over his heart.
“
I was embarrassed, and at that time, not much for confrontation.” In an effort to soothe him, she said, “There isn't anything that can be done about it now. We were still pretty young then,
so who knows what would have happened?”
Reed placed his hand over hers. “That may be, but it still doesn't make it right. Believe me, I had no idea any of that happened. She never said a word.”
“
You know, Reed, I've been thinking. Do you think this has something to do with my mom? Some weird tension came up when I said her name last night at dinner. Before you say anything to your mom, I want
to talk to mine.”
Reed led her out of the storage room and pulled out a seat for her.
“
It's worth a try.” He looked her up and down. “How are you feeling?”
“
I feel fine. Actually, I feel pretty good, why?”
With concern, he asked, “No morning sickness or weird cravings for pickles and ice cream?”
Sophie couldn't help but laugh. “Reed! We had sex less than twenty-four hours ago! No matter how
awesome it was, if I were pregnant, I wouldn't be showing symptoms this soon!”
Reed leaned into her and gave her a hot, toe-curling kiss. He winked.
“
Just checking. If I remember right, our sleepover didn't involve much sleeping.” He held his hands out innocently. “Hey, I'm just saying.”
She shooed him away. “Go help Ben, you big stud.”
* * * *
The next week passed without any trouble from
Dot. Reed and Ben were needed back at the site, so they were only able to work on the wall a few hours at a time. Friday, Jack picked up his weekly order and invited her over to their family get together. He was so nice to her that it was hard giving him excuses for not being able to make it.
Sophie liked Jack, but it was too difficult being around Reed's mother right now. She couldn't sit at
the Sutton family dinner table and ignore the elephant in the room. Dot hated her and she didn't have the energy to pretend she was ignorant of it.
Sophie was still working on forgiving Dot for what she'd done. It would probably take a while and barring any more incidents, she thought it prudent to keep her distance. Reed skipped the family dinner too. Sophie didn't want to be the cause of any
more family friction so she told him to go to the next one.
Lately, Reed spent the night at her house more often than not. When not working, they were usually together. Max had adopted him too. He followed Reed around the house like he was the Pied Piper. He'd never had a pet before so Reed loved all the attention and canine affection.
So far, things were going pretty well at the bakery too.
Since hiring Meg, Sophie's workload became more manageable. She was less swamped with work but couldn't shake being tired all the time.
Sophie chalked it up to all of the nights staying up late talking with Reed. Not to mention all the lovemaking. She would easily trade a little sleepiness for a lot of happiness.
* * * *
"Craving pickles and ice cream yet?"
“
No, of course not.” Reed had been asking her the same question every day since their slip up in his pickup truck. Sophie knew he would keep on asking until she got her period.
That Monday, he'd set aside some time so he and Ben could put the finishing touches on the wall. She was excited even though it was already mostly done.
Lately, Sophie
had been lucky enough to make it home at a decent time, so he was surprised to see her still working when he came in.
Reed came up behind her and kissed her on the neck. “Did you get a last minute order?”
“
I have to make the cookies for the MFLIC. It's my last order, then I get to go home.”
Stunned, he asked, “You're really still going to bake them? After all of this crap with my mom?”
Sophie
was determined to do this. She would bake the best damn root beer float cookies that committee ever tasted.
She looked up at him over her shoulder. “I'm definitely making them. But if your mom wants to eat them, she needs to come here and pick up the order herself. No more deliveries.”
Reed gave her a swift kiss and headed out the door with his phone in his hand. “I'll get out of your hair.”
“
Who are you calling?”
“
Mom. If she wants the cookies, I'm making sure she knows the terms. There won't be any mix-ups or excuses this time.”
* * * *
Dot wasn't thrilled with the conditions. “Reed, I'm doing that girl a favor by ordering from her shop. The least she can do is deliver them.”
“
No, Mom. Sophie runs a very lucrative business. You aren't the only one buying her cookies and she has
a bakery to run. Since you ordered the cookies, you can come by in the morning to pick them up.”
Reed squeezed the phone so tightly, he was afraid he'd crack it.
“
Fine, but this is the last time I order from her. The Madison Falls Market delivers without all the fuss.”
Reed didn't want to ruin anything for Sophie. “Mom, I'm sure you know Sophie's cookies taste ten times better than anything
from the Market. When the ladies try them tomorrow, I guarantee, they'll come back for more.”
Dot huffed. “We'll see about that.”
Was that a threat?
“
Mom, you're lucky she's making them at all. I told her not to.”
“
Why would you do that?”
Reed was incredulous. “Why would I do that? You pulled a pretty mean trick on her by ordering a shitload of cookies and not showing up to buy them. It cost
her a night's sleep, not to mention all the work she put into them! This is her livelihood, not some hobby.”
“
I never…”
“
Mom, whatever you have against Sophie, you better make peace with it.”
She sounded wary. “Why?”
“
She's important to me and we aren't kids anymore.”
“
What's that supposed to mean? And you better watch your mouth with me, boy.”
Reed needed to say it. “I know why you thought
Tracy and Sophie called you a bitch.”
“
So, she admitted it! I told you they were rude! You'd be better off…”
He interrupted. “Why don't you admit that this happened almost
ten
years ago and it was because you humiliated Sophie in public?”
“
Humiliated her? I was just telling her the truth. My son is too good for anyone in that family.”
He'd had enough. “It's not up to you. Pick up the cookies
tomorrow.”
Reed thumbed the End button and tossed his phone into his tool belt. Then he hung his head in his hands and groaned out his frustration.
* * * *
Sophie was putting the ingredients together for the frosting when Reed came in carrying a set of keys.
“
Hey. I didn't want to bother you while you're busy, but Ben and I are all finished. As promised, here are the keys to the shop. Do you
want to see the finished product?”
She jumped into his arms and hugged him. “It's done? Of course I want to see it.”
Ben was sweeping up the last of the drywall dust when they walked in.
“
Are you sure you don't want us to paint it for you?”
“
This is perfect! Thank you, but Tracy and I will do the painting. That's the fun part.” Sophie ran her hand along the smooth finish. “I need to get her
so she can see how good it looks.”
Ben interrupted. “Tracy isn't home.”
Sophie thought Tracy was working on some new recipes upstairs. “Are you sure?”
He concentrated on sweeping. “I checked.”
“
Oh, well, okay. I guess she can see it when she comes home.”
After the guys finished reloading the truck, Reed found Sophie in the kitchen and kissed her softly. “I'm going to drop off Ben. Do you
want me to come back here or meet you at your house? We can have a pizza feast to celebrate a job well done.”
She grinned. “You just want pizza.”
“
That too.” He smiled. “So, what's it going to be? Here or at your house where we can share it with Max?”
Sophie thought about it. “Better make it my house. I only have a few more things to do here and then I'll be home.”
With another kiss, Reed
said, “Okay, I'll pick up the pizza on the way over. Make sure you lock up, okay?”
Ben honked the horn so Reed made his way out the door. “See you in a little while.”
Things were going so well for her lately that Sophie almost had to pinch herself. Her cookies were almost done. She had her wall. And best of all, she would go home to Reed and have some kick ass pizza.
* * * *
The frosting was
almost mixed when Sophie remembered the root beer extract. Her mind must have been on Reed and pizza again because she almost forgot it.
She shook her head.
Just what I need to make a good impression with the ladies.
Root beer cookies without the root beer!
Sophie was climbing on a step stool in the storeroom when she heard the back door open. She called out, “Hey Trace, go up front and see
our wall. Reed and Ben finished it.” There wasn't a response, so louder she yelled, “When is good for you for painting it?”
Some pans clattered so she stepped down to see what all the noise was about. “Tracy, what are you…” The door slammed in her face. She tried the doorknob, but it was jammed. “Hey Tracy!” Sophie yelled through the heavy wooden panel. “The knob is stuck! Come let me out!”
All was quiet until she heard the slamming of the back door. “Tracy! I need out of here!” She had a phobia about getting trapped in enclosed spaces. The door always remained open while she was in here.
Sophie checked her pockets and came up empty.
Damn!
Her phone was on the counter next to the frosting.
Hoping someone would hear her, she pounded on the door and yelled for help. Sophie was starting
to get anxious and on top of that, she really had to pee! She banged on the door some more and called out until her hands were sore and her throat hurt. She rammed her body against the door but bounced off without budging it.
Ow! It worked in the movies!
Sliding down the door, Sophie sat on the floor and prayed someone missed her soon. She needed a rescue.
* * * *
Two hours later, Reed finally
pulled into Sophie's driveway. Every person in Madison Falls must have wanted pizza tonight because the line at the Pizza Palace was crazy. There had to be something addictive in the sauce. It smelled delicious sitting there on the passenger seat.
He didn't see her PT Cruiser parked out front so he guessed she was running late too. Reed waited through three songs on the radio before realizing
that her car was probably parked in the garage.
Grabbing the pizza, he headed up the walkway. When he got closer to the door, he could hear Max's excited barking. The dog peeked his head beneath the living room curtain, saw Reed, and barked even more frantically. Reed knocked on the door, but there was no answer. The longer he stood there, the more upset Max became.
This is ridiculous.
He set
the pizza on a porch chair and tried the door.
Locked.
Max started a whine so high pitched it was about to make his ears bleed. “Okay, buddy. Let me see what I can do.”
Hoping Sophie knew better but still wanting to get in the house, he looked under the doormat.
Nothing.
Reed tried calling Sophie to let her know he was at her place and that that Max was going a little nuts. It went straight to
voicemail.
Max was taking turns between barking and whining. The poor dog was practically dancing around in front of the window. Reed looked around the porch, trying to find anything that would help him get inside. His eyes fell on a statue of a little green frog next to the doorjamb.
No way.
Reed lifted it up and underneath was a house key.
This was supposed to be safer than under the mat?
Max about knocked him over when he unlocked the door. “Hold on, pal. I have pizza.” He set the pizza on the dining room table with Max on his heels. Reed hurried to let the dog out before Sophie found a puddle on her carpet. The dog did his business and scratched the back door to be let back in.
Following Reed back to the table, Max sat expectantly.
Shaking his head, Reed told him, “You're not
getting any until Sophie gets home.”
Max drooped down to the floor and dejectedly put his head on Reed's boots.
Reed waited another ten minutes and tried calling her again.
Voicemail.
Even if she were running late, Sophie should have been home by now.
Her kitchen phone rang. Reed debated whether to answer it or let the machine get it. Thinking it was Sophie, he picked up the phone without looking
at the caller ID.
“
Hello?”
An older woman's voice cautiously answered him. “Hello? Is this Sophie's house?”
Sophie's mom.
“Yes, Mrs. Brandon. This is Reed Sutton. I was waiting for Sophie to get home from work.”
Her voice warmed up. “Why hello, Reed! How are you?”
“
Doing just fine.” He hated to cut her short with the small talk, but he was starting to get worried. “Mrs. Brandon, have you
heard anything from Sophie?”
“
Call me Lucy, honey. That's why I'm calling. Sophie isn't answering her other phone. I talked to her a few hours ago. She said she only had to put some finishing touches on some cookies. You haven't heard from her?”