don’t need to do that, Zach. I’m only doing my job—one I’m very well compensated for.”
“I know, but I am grateful and I’d like to show it. I’ll make the reservation today, and Sophie? I won’t take no for an answer.”
She gave a little laugh, the sound a gurgle of amusement that removed the last of the dark cloud in the back of his mind and pulled an answering smile across his lips.
“Well, when you put it like that, what can I say? Thank you, I’ll look forward to it.”
He watched her turn and leave his office, noted the way the fabric of her straight skirt skimmed her hips and pulled across her buttocks with each no-nonsense step. An unwanted pull of desire tugged deep inside him and he forced himself to avert his gaze. Acknowledging that Sophie Beldon was an attractive woman was one thing, but actually doing something about it was off-limits. They worked together, and he didn’t want to jeopardize that. Too much hinged on them continuing to work in synchronicity until Alex’s return. Besides, look at the disaster of his last work-related relationship. It wasn’t something he was in a hurry to repeat.
He’d asked her out to dinner to express his gratitude, that was all. There couldn’t be any more to it than that—no matter what his clamoring libido insisted to the contrary.
Two
“Thank you, I shall look forward to it?” What on earth had she been thinking? The words played over and over in her head, so stilted, so... Argh! Why couldn’t she have come back with something witty or sophisticated? Something that might have attracted his interest just that little bit more.
This was further proof that a man like Zach Lassiter was out of her league, Sophie castigated herself as she settled at her desk and tried to force her mind back to analyzing the projection figures that had come in on Alex’s latest venture. They made for interesting reading and her fingers itched to compile her report. But even as she started entering the data into her computer, her mind kept flicking back to Zach’s dinner invitation.
Her pulse skipped an excited beat. Claire’s was not your run-of-the-mill restaurant and the prices there reflected that. She’d only ever made reservations there for Alex and his various business contacts—she’d never had the good fortune to dine there herself. Sophie quelled an inner squeal of delight and reminded herself she was a sage twenty-eight years old, not a giddy teenager. Besides, this wasn’t anything like a date. It was a work-related bonus, that’s all. And the sooner she started believing it, the better.
When her phone rang, she was glad for the interruption to her thoughts, even more so when she heard who was on the end of the line.
“Lila,” she greeted one of her dearest friends, “how are you?”
Lila Hacket had been making a strong name for herself in set production design in Los Angeles. Sophie was so very proud of her for carving out such success in that competitive world. A world as far from hers as it was probably possible to get, when you thought about it. When Lila had been in Royal to work on a movie being filmed there, the two women had had scant opportunity to catch up beyond the barbecue Lila’s father had hosted last month. Even then it had been so packed they’d had little chance to really talk. Except about Zach Lassiter, that was. Strange how he kept coming up in her thoughts and conversations, Sophie mused before pushing him to the back of her mind.
“I’m feeling just fine, thank you,” Lila said. “Under the circumstances.”
Sophie could hear the grin that was undoubtedly painted on her friend’s face. She could always tell when Lila had news she was itching to share.
“Circumstances? C’mon, spill,” she demanded. “I know you too well for you to keep a secret from me for long.”
“I have news.” Lila chuckled.
Sophie’s lips twitched into a broad smile. “You and Sam? I knew it! There always were too many sparks between the two of you.”
“More than sparks, we’re getting married.”
Sophie let go a shriek of delight, then, remembering where she was, rapidly tried to calm herself. “Congratulations! When?”
“Last Saturday of the month. We’re having it on the Double H. We just want to keep it simple and low-key.”
“And your father agreed to that? Low-key really isn’t his style, is it?”
Lila laughed. “No, you’re right, but I’m standing firm on this. Close friends and family only. Besides, any more than that will probably wear me out, seeing as how I’m pregnant and all.”
Sophie’s breath caught in her throat as the news sank in. Excitement and sheer joy swelled up within her.
“Pregnant? Oh my, that was quick. Congratulations again, that’s wonderful news.”
“Not so quick, actually, I’m just over four months along.”
“You’ve been holding out on me,” Sophie accused her in a teasing tone. “We’ll need to talk this out face-to-face, I think.”
“Definitely. Oh—” Lila hesitated for a moment and Sophie heard her draw in a deep breath “—and it’s twins.”
“Twins! How long have you known?”
“About the twins? Not all that long, although I have known for a while about being pregnant. I just needed some time to come to terms with it. To sort out in my own mind what I was doing next. It’s part of why I came home last month.”
Sophie could easily imagine what it was like to face raising a child on her own. Although Lila’s position, both financial and social, was vastly different from what Sophie’s mother’s had been. Lila would never have been short of support, emotional or monetary, which was a luxury Sophie’s mom had never had. She pushed those sad thoughts aside, wanting instead to give her full focus to her friend’s exciting announcement.
“I’m so very happy for you, Lila. A wedding and twin babies to look forward to? It’s wonderful, wonderful news. You have to let me host your baby shower, please! My mind is already brimming with ideas.”
“Are you sure it won’t be too much work for you? You’ve got so much on your plate already, especially with your boss still gone.”
Sophie made a shushing sound to her friend. “Don’t be ridiculous. It would be an honor to host your shower. You just leave it all to me.”
“Thank you, Sophie.”
“You’re very welcome. It’s the least I can do for you. So does this mean you’ll be staying in Royal?”
“Sam’s offered to relocate to L.A. with me, to set up a branch of Gordon Construction there, but we’re holding off making a decision until after the babies are born.” She gave another breathy laugh. “I still can’t believe it. Babies!”
“It’s going to be amazing,” Sophie reassured her. “But are you sure we’re talking about the same Sam Gordon?”
Sam had vocalized his thoughts about a woman’s place being in the home on more than one occasion. In fact he’d
