Sophie flicked through some design magazines she’d picked up in town earlier that morning. She’d checked with Amy who was filling in for her while she was away, and everything was okay, no problems. Even her client’s furniture had finally been delivered.
“When do you think you’ll be heading back to Seattle?” Amy had asked her.
She only just thought of Grans, the real reason she’d been forced to return home, when Amy had asked her that. Up ‘til now it had been all Wade. How would she deal with saying goodbye to him?
Can I say goodbye to him?
“I’m not sure. Probably after Grans’s pretrial and then I might fly back to Seattle for a while and then come back if it goes to a full trial.”
“You think it will?”
“I hope not, but I have to be prepared for that scenario.”
“Don’t worry because I can handle anything for you.”
“Thank you so much, and I’ll call you again a few days.”
Sophie pressed the end call button on her cell and then tapped her fingers on the reception desk. She’d told Grans that she’d man the desk as Julie was heading out to the police fundraising dance. The same one that Cathy was attending with Wade.
Grans walked out of the office carrying two cups of coffee.
She placed one down in front of Sophie.
“While I’m home I should give this reception area a makeover.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Grans said, perching on the stool beside her.
“It’s outdated. I mean how long have you had those pillows on that couch over there? And the drapes…no one has that style any more. In fact, let me start taking some measurements now.”
“Nelson’s Ice Cream parlor is still around you know.”
“Meaning you want me to go there and not mess with your décor?”
Grans grinned.
“You want to come with me?”
Grans shook her head. “I have an outdated reception area to man.”
It was Sophie’s turn to grin.
“Go on, take my car and buy yourself one of those banana splits you used to love so much. You don’t want to spend your Saturday night with an old lady.”
“I’m home because of you.”
“We have plenty of time to hang out, and besides, I’m working.”
“If you say so.”
Grans flickered her fingers pretending to shoo her away. “My car keys are on the hook in the kitchen.”
Sophie ran up to her room to brush her hair before heading out. She grabbed her purse and then ran back downstairs. She collected the keys and made her way outside toward her grandmother’s car.
She could almost taste the banana split as she drove through the entrance of Mountainview and down the dirt road that led to the main street leading into Glacier Valley. Sophie turned on the radio and tapped the steering wheel trying to decide what three flavors of ice cream she’d pick to top the banana. Funny how you always loved the foods you remembered from childhood. She turned on the radio while she waited for the light to turn green. Sophie used her index finger to hit the wheel in time with the beat of the music as she made a left onto the main street. She glanced momentarily at the parking lot of the Horseshoe Inn. It was packed because the police fundraising dance was being held there. Sophie knew it had started about an hour ago and didn’t want to think about Wade being inside there with Cathy. She signaled left and made her way down the street. At this time of the evening you could park on the street, so she pulled up as close as she could to the entrance of Nelson’s Ice Cream Parlor.
Nothing like ice cream to take your mind off things and to chase away the blues.
She got out of the car, locked it and headed down the road a few feet. Nelson’s looked exactly how she remembered it. A few tables and chairs outside on the sidewalk. The red and white checkered curtains in the window. By the look of their faded colors, Sophie guessed they were probably the same ones that had hung there since she’d been a kid. What was it with everyone in Glacier Valley not changing their décor? Maybe she’d give the whole town one of her design makeovers. But no, that would be wrong. It was, after all, what made it so unique and homely. In all honesty, it’s what she liked most about coming home. Everything was familiar and predictable. Seattle was fast paced and constantly changing.
She smiled when she heard the bell over the door ringing as she stepped inside. Even that was the original. On a Saturday night she hadn’t expected there to be a line of people waiting for ice cream, but eight people were ahead of her. She looked up at the menu above the freezer housing the ice cream while she waited.
The bell over the door sounded again, and as she looked around she saw Wade’s father heading inside. He pushed his cowboy hat back on his head and smiled.
“I’ve been meaning to drive over to see you, honey,” he said. They hugged one another, and then he kissed her on the cheek. “How’s Emily holding up?” he asked.
“I think she’s doing okay, but she has her moments when she’s scared.”
“And I don’t blame her. The whole thing is crazy. I told Wade count me in on helping get to the bottom of the mess.”
“Thank you.”
“And you, young lady, you’re more beautiful than ever. What are you doing without a date on a Saturday night?”
“Waiting for a banana split.”
“You getting one of those things? Me, too. Hey, this is my treat,” he said reaching into his back pocket for his wallet.
“No, really, Bob, you shouldn’t.”
He lifted his hand. “I insist, and I’ll be insulted if you don’t let me.”
“Okay because I wouldn’t want to do that.”
They approached the counter, and Bob ordered two splits with the works.
“Let’s take the table over by the window there,” Bob said, putting his hand in the small of her back.
They sat down, and Bob pulled out a pile of napkins from the stainless steel dispenser. “Don’t know about you, but when I eat these things, well, it tends to get real messy.”
Bob looked great, and she suddenly realized where Wade got his good looks from. Despite grey hair and some lines around the eyes and mouth, Bob was still a handsome cowboy.
“And how come you don’t have a date tonight?” asked Sophie when the assistant placed two glasses dishes overflowing with ice and whipped creams and chocolate syrup.
“I am in fact supposed to be at the police fundraising dance, but I guess my heart wasn’t really into it.”
“You didn’t want to tag along with Wade and Cathy?”
Sophie took her first bite of the strawberry ice cream and thought she’d gone to heaven.
Bob shook his head. “I’m happy to see that Wade is dating, but I don’t know what it is, can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something about Cathy I don’t like.”
“Me neither.”
That had slipped from her mouth before she’d realized it. “Sorry. I shouldn’t be judging. I mean I don’t know her, only met her briefly a couple of times.”
“No, I think your instincts are probably right. We’re not the only two who dislike her either. In fact, everyone in town thinks something isn’t right about her, but they just can’t put their finger on it either. She seems nice enough, but she’s pushy and nosy, too. Wade brought her over to my place one evening, and her eyes were everywhere, asking me where I got this and that. If I ever thought of selling anything to let her know.”
“You don’t think she’ll hurt him do you? Listen to me. I did just that.”
Bob put his hand on top of hers. “I think that’s sweet of you to think about him and his welfare. Don’t worry; I know Wade’s sensible enough to take care of himself.”
“I think so, too.”
“Hey, I suddenly do feel like dancing. Maybe my body will need to work off the calories from eating this ice cream. How about being my date for the fundraising dance?” He looked at his watch. “The night is still very young.”
Sophie would have jumped at the chance to go with Bob, but she didn’t want to see Wade and Cathy together, dancing together, being happy together.
“Bob, I’m wearing a t-shirt and jeans.”
“And I’m wearing jeans and a cowboy shirt. We’ll make a perfect pair.”
“I’m not much of a dancer.”
“Not a dancer. Listen to this girl. Do you remember who taught you all those fancy moves?” He swayed his shoulders from side to side.
Sophie laughed recalling Bob letting her put her feet on top of his at the Valentine’s dance when she was seven. It was the first one since she’d lost her parents, and the theme had been dads and daughters. It had taken all her nerve to walk down to the Linleys’ house to ask him.
“Mr. Linley, would you be my dad for the Valentine’s dance this year?”
“Sophie, my sweetheart, I’ll be your dad whenever you want me to be. I’d be honored to escort you, little lady.”
Sophie remembered she’d lost one of her front teeth the night before, and her dress being so new had scratched her all night, and she’d ended up with bright red welts on her arms and legs.
“I still have that photo they took of me and you,” Bob said. “You looked so pretty.”
“With missing teeth and that awful frilly dress.”
“It was cute…you were cute. So what do you say about tonight?”
She was weakening. She’d be with Bob, so it wasn’t as if she’d be all by herself, sitting being tortured when Wade and Cathy danced by.
“Okay, you’ve twisted my arm.”
“Then let’s be on our way.”
They stood. He put on his cowboy hat before offering her his arm.
*****
Wade wanted to sit the next dance out so he could at least get his breath back, but Cathy insisted he wait until after the next song finished.
At least it was a slow one. The place was getting hot now that everyone seemed to have arrived all at once. Cathy put her arms around him and made him pull her in closer. He’d decided they’d have their talk when he took her home tonight. She rested her cheek on his chest. He twirled her around. As he did so he caught sight of his dad. He only saw his back, but he recognized the shirt and the brown leather belt he’d seen him wearing earlier that afternoon. Wade was happy that he’d decided to come along after all. He spent too much time on his own, and in way he wished he’d find a nice lady friend who would be by his side as he grew older.
Well, he’d found a dancing partner. That was a good start.
Wade wondered who it was. He couldn’t see because his father’s back was still toward him, and with his dad’s large size, Wade couldn’t see around him. However, at that very second he swung around, and Wade did a double take.
Sophie.
His dad was slow dancing with Sophie. Not that he wasn’t allowed to, put what were they doing together? How did they get together?
Wade casually moved Cathy around so it didn’t seem like he was staring at Sophie and his father.
“Isn’t that your dad and Sophie?”
“Yes, yes, it is,” Wade said.
“What’s she doing here, doing with him?”
“That’s what I’m wondering…not that it’s any of my business,” said Wade.
“They look kinda cute, don’t you think? Look at the way he’s holding her. Wade, you might end up with your old girlfriend as your step-mother. Wouldn’t that be funny?”
Wade didn’t see an ounce of humor in it. His dad with Sophie?
Not in a million years.
However, he could only watch as Sophie threw her head back and laughed, and then his dad laughed before giving her a squeeze.
He’d seen enough. He was putting a stop to his father’s foolish behavior before it got out of hand and everyone in Glacier Valley started gossiping about his antics with a girl young enough to be his daughter.
“Let’s go over and say hello,” Wade said.
“They probably don’t need us disturbing their time together.”
“It would be rude if we didn’t.”
He grabbed Cathy’s hand and pulled her over to where Sophie and his dad were twirling around to the beat of the music.
Neither of them saw him approaching, which in Wade’s books wasn’t a good sign.
Wade coughed.
“Well, son, hello. I didn’t see you. Cathy, you having a good time?”
“I was,” she said.
“I ran into Sophie at Nelson’s. We enjoyed a banana split, and then she kindly agreed to come here with me; and we’re dancing off some calories. Not that she needs to. She looks pretty good as she is,” said Bob.
“Sophie, seeing you’re here and that we haven’t danced for years, how about it?” Wade put out his hand out to her. “You don’t mind me cutting in, Pops?”
“Not at all. As long as you give me my partner back straight after. Cathy, it looks like it’s you and me.”
“Wade, just the one dance with Sophie okay?” she whispered in his ear.
She took Bob’s arm, and they walked away.
Sophie offered her hand to Wade, but instead he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her in close. She took the cue and rested both her hands on his chest as they moved slowly from side to side.
Wade looked down at her. She wasn’t dressed half as fancy as the rest of the women here tonight, but she was a million times more beautiful. She glanced up at him as if she knew he was observing her, mentally complimenting her. She stared back at him with those beautiful blue eyes. The luscious pink lips he was so desperate to kiss again. And yes, he was aroused, causing his cock to push against her tummy.
“You know this is for you, don’t you?”
“What?” she asked.
“My erection. I know you can feel it.”
“It’s not left over from dancing with Cathy?” He shook his head. “Just you, always you.”
“Oh Wade, what are we going to do?”
“Soph, I have the answer. Wait here, and I’ll be right back.” Wade made his way through the other couples until he found Cathy and his dad, who were now standing by the edge of the dance floor.
“You want your dance partner back?” asked his dad.
“I do, and Cathy, can we step outside and talk?”
She knitted her eyebrows together and didn’t seem to budge, so he took hold of her elbow and maneuvered her to the door, which he opened, then nodded for her to walk through it. Once they were out in the foyer, Wade took a deep breath. This wasn’t easy, but then being in a relationship you knew you shouldn’t be in wasn’t simple either.
“Cathy, the last few months have been fun. I’ve really enjoyed your company and being around Max, too.”
He took another deep breath. He hoped he could do this without her getting upset or hurt, but it needed to be done right here, right now.
“Cathy, there’s no easy way to say this, but I can’t be in a relationship with you anymore.”
“You’re breaking up with me, here at this dance?”
He nodded. No more words would come out of his mouth.
“It’s because of her, isn’t it?”
“If you mean Sophie, yes and no. She’s just made me realize that you and I aren’t right for one another. As friends, and yes, I do hope we can remain friends, but as lovers, no. I can never give you my heart, and that would be wrong of me to make you believe otherwise.”
Cathy looked at him, almost through him but didn’t say anything.
“I’ll get my dad to run you home.”
He was expecting her to say something, but instead she turned and headed to the ladies’ restroom.
Wade walked back into the dance and strolled over to his dad, who was now talking to another one of the ex-cops there tonight.
“Dad, could you do me a favor and run Cathy home? She’s in the ladies’ restroom right now.”
“Sure, Wade, but is anything wrong?”
“I’ll tell you later, but right now I have to go to Sophie.” Wade found her by herself on the edge of the dance floor. Without saying anything he swept her into his arms and kissed her.
She pulled away. “Wade, are you sure we should be doing this? I mean Cathy – you shouldn’t be…”
Wade put his finger on her lips. “I just broke up with her. And you’re right, let’s get out of public viewing.”
There was a room at the back where people were checking their coats. A private office where they could go and talk. He didn’t want to rush her, but at the same time he wanted them to just get there without any interruptions and people stopping to talk to them.
He pulled her inside and switched on the light.
Wade opened his mouth ready to talk, but now they were on their own there was only one thing he could do and that was kiss her.
Sophie opened her mouth to him as soon as his lips touched hers. She flung her arms around his shoulders, and their bodies melted into one another. He backed her up against the wall as his tongue glided over her bottom lip before invading her mouth. They’d never kissed like this ever before, and he liked it.
His cock pulsated. All he wanted to do was make love to her, but this would be their first time. And he didn’t relish the idea of them fucking on a tiled floor or a table top. However, as he felt her hard little nipples poking into his chest and then sensed her hands slide over his chest and belly, it was looking like their maiden “let’s go all the way” adventure would be happening very soon.
He tugged at her t-shirt, pulling its hem out of her jeans. With that freed, he slid his hand up under the fabric and inched his fingers along her skin under he reached her right breast.
She groaned when his finger found her nipple. Wade gave it a slight tug and then a pinch. She groaned again. He hoped from pleasure and not pain.
Lost in frenzy, he engulfed her breast with his whole hand as he slid his tongue along her top lip. As he squeezed her breast she playfully bit his bottom lip.
Her breast was beautiful, well, by what he could feel of it.
They finally stopped kissing and looked at one another. She put her hands on either side of his face.
“I never stopped loving you. No matter how I tried to convince myself I had...” He shook his head. “Deep in my heart I knew I hadn’t and would love you to the moment I took my last breath.”
“Oh Wade. I should never have married Travis. The times I’ve tossed and turned in my bed and thought that. If we could only reverse time and do it right.”
She stroked his cheeks with her knuckles.
“I want you so bad it hurts me, physically and mentally.”
He tugged at the button on her jeans, opening them up and then pulled down the zipper.
Wade wanted to take her out of this room, carry her to his bed where he’d make love to her until neither of them could move a muscle, but shit, his cock was like a rocket about to launch and head to the moon. He’d never make the SUV, let alone the house.
He kissed her again as he put his hands on either side of her pants and gave them a tug downwards.
Seeing her pink lace undies did nothing to quell his urgent need to get inside her pussy. He wanted to rip them off her, part her legs, and in he’d slide. Instead he pulled them down hoping it would give her enough room to part her legs for him.
She bit his lip again as he slid his hands between her inner thighs.
“Soph, can you open your legs for me?”
She murmured something, and next thing he knew his hand had slid inwards sandwiched between the softest skin he’d ever felt. Although they’d never made love before they had done some messing around. Him touching her folds, running his fingers over her slit. Her holding his dick in her hand but never bringing him to climax. Back in those days he’d been a virgin and hadn’t known that it was a lady’s clit that needed attention first. Hell, he hadn’t even known where he’d find it until he’d checked out a book from the library.
He eased his finger through Sophie’s curls. Her clit was hot, throbbed, and he knew it was waiting for his caress.
They stopped kissing as he passed his finger over the now engorged nub. She moaned.
“Does my Soph want me to bring her to climax?”
She ran her hands down his chest. “Wade, you’d better do just that now that you’ve started.”
Wade got harder, if that was possible, as he slid his finger back and forth over her clit. Her hips thrust toward him, and her whimpers got louder. Her breath grew faster, urgent, and at that point he remembered he didn’t have a condom on him.
Never mind. This was Soph, and he knew she was safe. She wasn’t a person to take risks, and neither was he, so she had no fear about that.
And as far as getting her pregnant, he’d like nothing more.
“Wade, Wade,” she whispered pounding her folds over his hand until she finally screamed out and fell into his arms.
“Oh Soph, you’re so beautiful when you come.”
“Hold me because my legs are weak.”
He hugged her to him.
“I don’t have a condom.”
“It’s okay. I trust you, and don’t worry about babies because I’m on the Pill.”
It was her turn to open up his jeans and tug them and his boxers down his legs. She kicked off her own ones along with her panties and looked at him.
“You really okay with this?” he asked.
She nodded.
He picked her up, thinking if they couldn’t get to a bed, a table would do. He sat her carefully down, knowing that in a few minutes he would be inside his Soph and on his way to paradise.
He spread her legs, wrapped them around him…
“You son of a bitch. I might have guessed this would happen. She is the reason you broke up with me!”
He’d been so lost in the moment that he hadn’t heard the door open, let alone known that Cathy was standing right behind him.
He turned around and couldn’t get out the way of her raised hand quick enough. She smacked him around the face and head. It stung, and it felt like one of her rings had bitten into his cheekbone.
Sophie screamed and jumped off the table.
“I’ll deal with you in a minute, you little bitch.”
Cathy lifted her hand again, but this time Wade managed to raise his arm up to defend himself before the second blow reached him.
Sophie put her t-shirt around her lower body and stood looking like every bit of color had drained from her face.
Wade didn’t want to hurt Cathy because she was right. He’d broken things off with her because of Sophie, and he guessed if he didn’t keep a tight grip on her she could hurt him, hurt Soph, which was the last thing he wanted.
“Cathy, I’m so sorry,” he said. “It’s just that Sophie and I have a history, and…”
“This is so humiliating. You bring me to the dance, then you tell me it’s over, and when I come looking for you I find you’re about to do the wild thing with her!”
“I’m beyond words, so I don’t know how to put this right even if I could.”
His dad now stood at the door as Cathy burst into tears and pushed by him on her way out.
Wade wiped his face because he sensed he was bleeding. He looked at his fingers, and just as he thought, they were tinged with red.
“You might be needing these,” said his dad, throwing his jeans and boxers at him.
Wade caught them and quickly slipped them back on. Poor Sophie was backed against the wall doing her best to hide.
“So you stole my date. I should be pissed off like Cathy is.”
Wade didn’t know whether his dad was joking or not. But when he burst out laughing, Wade sighed with relief.
“Geez, you two. It was obvious this was going to happen, so you should have got yourself a room and had sex somewhere more private than this.”