twenty-nine
THE LAST MODEL to strut down the catwalk drew Sophie and Meagan center stage.
Sophie’s heart pounded as she waved at the cheering audience and joined Meagan in a bow.
The sunflower charms on her bracelet glimmered in the camera flashes. What would her mom say? Would she be proud?
Backstage, someone popped a bottle of champagne.
A glass was put into Sophie’s hand. It splashed her fingers. Multiple hugs and kisses later, she finally took a sip. Time had flown by so fast. Was it truly the end of everything, or was it the start of an exciting beginning as her friends had predicted? A tingle moving down her spine urged her to turn around.
King stared at her from across the room.
Her knees weakened. Why was he there? How had he gotten in? Robin had made it clear he wasn’t welcome, and she’d heard Meagan had kicked him out of the boutique.
Meagan gripped her arm. “There are a ton of people who want to meet you, including the mayor’s sister-in-law. She’s one of the most fashion-forward women in town.”
“What’s he doing here?”
Meagan followed her gaze across the room. “King never was good at taking orders. I told him to wait until things had settled down.”
“You invited him?”
“No.” Meagan studied her rhinestone sandals for a moment. “Robin did. She gave him her boyfriend’s ticket so he could attend the show.”
Robin had lied about her boyfriend not being able to attend the show? She and Meagan were behind this? She thought they were on her side. Sophie’s head swam and the blood drained to her toes. She swayed. “How could you do this to me?”
Meagan slipped the glass from her hand and led her off to the side. “I know you said you didn’t want to see him, but Robin and I think you should. He’s hurting. You are too.”
Sophie batted her hair from her eye and shrugged. “No, I’m not. I’m fine. In fact, I’m better than fine since I left him. His being here is a joke. He didn’t take me making jewelry seriously. He didn’t want me to succeed.”
“Remember the anonymous benefactor who invested in the show? That was him.”
“Well, it was either out of guilt, or it’s one of his famous manipulation tactics. He wants something, and I want no part of it. I’m going to the office. Come get me when he’s gone?”
Meagan held up her arm. “It’s not a manipulation tactic. You were never supposed to know. He just wanted to help you succeed.”
“He did?”
“Yes.” Meagan gave her a pleading look. “He’s promised to leave without a fuss if you refuse to talk to him, but why not hear him out? You can meet in the office. Go. I’ll send him to you.” Meagan nudged her.
Sophie hesitated. She could slip out the back. Her leaving would give him a plain enough answer. But she wasn’t a coward. Letting Robin and Meagan speak for her had left the door open for this. Sophie walked down the temporary corridor created with white fabric barriers. She’d thank him for his investment, then stress that her new life as an entrepreneur didn’t include him.
Inside the office, she rummaged through the desk and found a roll of Tums. She popped two. Sophie slipped off her pumps. What was taking him so long?
The air conditioner kicked on.
Her jewelry drawings, along with ones of Meagan’s fashion designs, drifted up from where they were pinned on the corkboard wall.
The one depicting the red jeweled and crystal bracelet she’d worn on the boat with King hung askew. If only they could have continued to share the good that had existed in that weekend. Accomplishment, togetherness, laughter. Love.
A knock sounded at the door. She took a deep breath. “Come in.”
King entered and shut the door behind him. The snowy white shirt he’d worn with his navy suit highlighted his face, which was bronzed from the sun.
He approached her. “Congratulations.” His low, husky voice filled the room. “It was a great show.”
“Thank you.” The intensity in King’s gaze drove hers to his tie. Cobalt. Whenever he wore blue, it made his eyes appear fathomless, and she always wanted to fall into them. Not this time. “I heard we have you to thank for that.”
“I wish Meagan hadn’t told you.”
“Why?” She looked up at him, and her heart stuttered.
“I didn’t want there to be any strings attached. I just wanted the best for you.”
“I overheard you talking to Aiden before I left. You wanted to make sure I didn’t leave Kingman Partners. Putting my life on hold so you can succeed—is that what you call wanting the best for me?”
“No. Never.” He stepped into her space.
His warmth and the scent of his cologne surrounded her. An aching for him to hold her betrayed her anger and resolve to send him away. “Then why did you say it?”
“Because I was too afraid to tell you what I really wanted with you.”
“What? Another couple of weeks of hooking up? A month, maybe?”
He shut his eyes for a moment. “I deserved that. You know my history, and I can’t deny it.” King cupped her cheek, stalling her from backing away. “But with you, for the first time, I couldn’t see an end date.” He moved closer. “And I didn’t want one.”
The low hum of attraction flowed through her. She couldn’t stop from turning her cheek into his palm. “What’s the point of telling me this? Why are you here?”
“I’ve changed.”
“That’s easy to say.”
“Then let me show you.” He cradled her face. “I’ve missed you, Sophie, and I’m not talking about the office.”
King was usually an expert at shadowing his emotions, but now a rawness emanated from him that she’d never encountered before.
Sophie backed up and turned to the window.
A light rain pelted the glass.
A moment later, King’s warmth radiated into her back. “I know the things I’ve said and done to you make it hard for you to believe me, but I can’t undo them. I can only promise a different future.” He moved closer. “Please—give me another chance.”
His words formed reasonable-sounding sentences, but she’d wrongly interpreted his intentions more than once.
“Getting Sophie’s Originals firmly off the ground is important to me. I won’t give it up.”
“And I’d never ask you to.” He brought her back against him. “Yes, I do think I know everything, and there will be plenty of days when I piss you off with my opinions about business. But what I can promise is that I’ll never get in the way of your happiness and what you want again.”
A young, attractively dressed couple strolled out of the building across the street.
The guy opened an umbrella.
Sophie caught a glimpse of the design on top of it before he held it over him and the woman. Sunflowers? Her breath caught. Tears pricked. A sign?
King kissed her temple. “Before you left, I said you shouldn’t jump blindly into things. You told me that when it’s important, you should. You’re right. I never believed in happily ever after, but now I’m willing to take a blind leap to explore a future with that possibility. But only with you. Take a leap with me, Sophie.”
The couple walked down the street with arms wrapped around each other.
Sophie flattened her palm to the window. She wanted that. She wanted a standing-under-an-umbrella, supporting-each-other’s-dreams, moving-past-each-other’s-imperfections, knowing-that-they-could-handle-whatever-rained-down type of love. Forever. Could she have that with King?
He held her tighter. “Please say something.”
Sophie’s heart drummed in her chest. Was he offering her forever?
She turned and rested her hands on his chest. “Stop negotiating and ask me what you want properly.”
“Properly? I can do that.” Sincerity added warmth and depth to his blue eyes. “Be mine, Sophie, and let me be yours. Girlfriend and boyfriend, significant other, I don’t care what you call it. I just want us to grow together, be there for each other, and build something special, knowing that when we’re ready, we’ll share even more.” King lifted her left hand. He stroked his thumb over her ring finger, where an engagement ring would sit if she had one. He tenderly kissed the same spot. “I love you, Sophie. Let me back in. Say you’ll give us a chance.”
The possibility of more with King, the man she loved? Happiness grew inside of her. Too much to contain in her heart. How could she not accept? “I love you too.” Sophie wrapped her arms around him. “My answer is yes.”
King’s exhale of relief blew over her cheeks as he captured her lips. She opened to him and he explored every hollow and curve of her mouth. Sophie pressed herself closer and King moaned. He cupped her face and the kiss gentled. Her heart raced and beats echoed in her ears as he coaxed, seduced, and conveyed his need for her.
As King eased slightly away, he caressed down her back. “Are you expected anywhere soon?” His erection nudged her lower belly.
The heat of desire flooded inside of her.
“Yes.” Sophie rose on her toes and brushed kisses over his lips as she unknotted his tie She backed him up toward the couch. “But we’re going to be very, very late.”