‘Morning, Marty.’ Sophie sat down at the breakfast table, having snagged some yoghurt and fruit from the side table behind them. It was already a glorious day and she’d slept well, although it had taken her a long time to get to sleep. Too busy reliving Todd’s kisses, her mind going backwards and forwards over every word they’d exchanged. This morning she’d woken full of hope and crazy joy that zinged about in her stomach like a demented moth.
‘Hey,’ he mumbled through a mouthful of bacon. His plate was piled high with bacon and waffles swimming in maple syrup.
‘Looks good,’ she teased.
He looked furtively around and shrugged.
‘Mom would go ape. She’s like, your body is what you put in it. But,’ he slumped in his seat, ‘she won’t be up for ages and Dad is already on the golf course.’
‘I won’t tell,’ she said. ‘Although I might be boring about fruit later.’ She winked.
Marty gave her a considering look. ‘Me and Todd are going to the lighthouse this morning. We always go.’ There was a certain defiance in his tone as if he were daring her to contradict him.
‘That sounds fun. When I go home, me and my dad always go down to the stables. Not that we have any horses or anything. Just something we always do. Kind of like, me-and-Dad time.’
Marty nodded. ‘We’re going to the beach afterwards. Maybe you can come then?’
‘That sounds like a plan.’
‘What does?’ Todd sauntered in the room and Sophie’s breath caught. A flood of sensation hit her. Fresh from the shower, he looked absolutely edible.
‘You two making plans without me? Dude, you’re not running off with my pal, are you?’
‘No,’ said Marty, grinning. ‘Although she’s better off with me.’
‘So still up for the lighthouse this morning?’ Todd scooped up a couple of slices of bacon and some waffles from the side, glanced at his brother and added some grilled tomatoes and two bananas. ‘Here you go, junior.’ He tossed the second banana next to Marty’s place setting. ‘Build up your strength.’
Marty rolled his eyes.
‘Fancy coming with us, Sophie?’ Todd sat down next to her, his ankle nudging hers. She glanced at the younger brother, whose shoulders were now level with his ears.
‘Do you know what? I think I might stay put, if you don’t mind. It’s such a gorgeous day and being totally selfish, it would be lovely to laze by the pool with a book. Us Brits aren’t used to this weather, I want to soak up the rays. Make the most of it.’
Marty shot her a look, part relief and part guilt. Todd noticed the exchange and raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.
‘You can come if you like, Sophie,’ he suddenly blurted out.
With a gentle smile, she shook her head. ‘I wouldn’t want to come between brothers. Todd would never forgive me if I decided I like you better.’
‘OK, beach this afternoon?’
‘Sounds like a plan.’
After a lazy morning by the pool, where Mahalia had brought lunch to her, which seemed deliciously decadent, especially when followed by a sneaky snooze, Sophie decided to investigate the library, as she’d finished the book she’d brought with her. There was a good selection and when she’d grabbed a paperback, she decided to head back to her room to sit on the balcony for a while. Crossing through the salon, she entered a second lounge area which she remembered from her tour with Todd. Today it had been transformed and she paused to take in the beautifully arranged table set up for afternoon tea.
Red, white and blue bunting hung around the edge of the white damask-covered table, upon which champagne flutes and pretty china cups had been arranged along with little dessert forks and fine bone china tea-plates, interspersed with floral napkins. She almost did a double take when she saw the cakes on glass cake stands and, intrigued, she crossed the room to examine them.
‘Surprise,’ yelled a voice from behind her.
‘Bella!’ She turned and before she could say anything else she was enveloped in a huge hug. ‘What are you doing here?’
Bella beamed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. ‘Personal delivery. Aunty C saw my cakes on mom’s Facebook page and just had to have some.’ Bella wiped her brow with exaggerated feeling. Sophie grinned at her, delighted to have her here.
‘Honestly, I thought I was done with the darned things. But what Aunty C wants, Aunty C gets.’ Her freckled face danced with glee. ‘Uncle Ross sent the Lear to get me and five cakes. Heck, I’m not complaining, it’ll be great advertising.’
‘The Lear?’
‘Jet, darling. Welcome to the Hamptons.’
Wow, it really was another world.
‘I’m rather enjoying them, so far. Oh Bella, it’s so good to see you.’
‘You too. How are you finding it all?’
‘Fine,’ said Sophie, with a sudden qualm. Eeek, what was Bella going to say about her and Todd?
‘I hope you don’t mind but the house is pretty full, so I offered to bunk in with you.’
‘No problem. Er, Bella, there’s—’
‘Ah there you are, Bella. I completely forgot to ask. Can you tell me if there are any additives in the frosting? The colouring is all natural. And did you make a gluten-free version too?’ Celine breezed in wearing a white linen sheath dress that showed off her tan and a youthful figure that looked far too young to have Todd as a son. As she teased her blonde hair, the single piece of jewellery – a diamond tennis bracelet – on her slim wrist sparkled and glinted in the sunlight streaming through the window.
‘Yes,’ said Bella with the type of patience that suggested she’d been asked the question a few times before. Sophie shot her a sceptical look, which Bella met with blithe innocence.
‘Marvellous. They do look wonderful. I’ll see you later. Tea at four.’ She tutted. ‘I really should have said tea at three. It has a better ring to it.’ She sighed heavily and drifted off, straightening champagne glasses and fiddling with the plates.
‘Let’s get out of here,’ Bella whispered.
Only when they’d reached the foot of the stairs did Sophie round on her. ‘Natural blue food colouring?’
Bella shrugged, looking like a naughty pixie, her red curls bouncing as she then shook her head in disgust. ‘Like any of her friends are going to touch it, because of the carbs anyway. She wanted red, white and blue cake. She got red, white and blue cake.’
Both Marty and Todd were pleased to see their cousin and the three of them exchanged family news as they walked down to the beach. Carrying his body-board and towel, Todd teased his cousin as he walked alongside Sophie, their arms brushing frequently enough for her to know that he wanted to make her aware he was there. Oh, she knew he was there, alright. Each touch brought the brush of his soft hair against hers, igniting a giddy warmth and lightening her step. Something about being with Todd made her feel happy, despite the slight apprehension she felt at the thought of telling Bella.
Luckily, although that probably wasn’t quite the word, the cat was well and truly let out of the bag when they stopped at an appropriate spot and Todd dropped a quick kiss on Sophie’s lips before he and Marty charged off into the surf, already clutching their boards to their stomachs.
‘Oh lordy, it’s like Baywatch,’ said Sophie, watching them go and feeling her face turning pink, busying herself getting out her towel and laying it on the sand, hiding her face as she peeled off her T-shirt.
‘So-phie.’
With an inward sigh, Sophie turned to face the music, wriggling out of her shorts.
‘Seriously? Todd? After everything I said?’ Bella had planted both feet in the sand with her hands on her hips, and she looked as if she wouldn’t be budging until she’d had answers.
‘I’m a big girl, Bella.’ Sophie flicked the corner of her towel and sat down, rummaged in her bag for her book. ‘I know what I’m doing.’
‘Really?’ Bella dropped to her hands and knees on the towel, so they were eye-level. ‘Please don’t be like all the other girls and think he’ll change. He won’t. You must have seen Aunty C and Uncle Ross in action.’
‘Bella.’ Sophie lifted her head and raised her sunglasses, ‘I’m not like those other girls. I know what I’m doing.’
‘Hmmmph.’ Bella’s face twisted in disgust as she reared back on her heels. ‘I know you’re not like the other girls. That’s what worries me even more.’ She fixed Sophie with an assessing look. ‘They’re usually the smart, sophisticated, cool types who only want Todd for his - oh darn it, I’m going to have to say it - looks. Who wouldn’t love those baby blues and that manly jawline? Not to mention the slight bonus of status and pedigree. You do realise that his dad is on the Forbes richest list? Among a certain social circle, Todd is a serious catch.’
‘Bella.’ Sophie’s tone was firm and kind. She really didn’t want Bella raising all her own doubts. ‘I know Todd isn’t a keeper. He might be a catch for those girls, but he’s a fish I’m going to throw back into the sea.’ She gave Bella a sad smile. ‘After my last boyfriend, I’m not in the market for anything serious. I want to have some fun.’ Her jaw clenched as Bella looked sceptical. ‘I really loved my last boyfriend. I thought we were going to get married, everything. Then I found out he was cheating. It was such a shock, I packed up and left. I’ve not seen him since.’
‘Wow. How does that feel?’
With a shrug, Sophie looked out to sea, just about making out Todd and Marty’s dark heads bobbing in the frothing waves.
‘Do you still love him?’ With her usual directness, Bella gave her a look that left Sophie with nowhere to go.
‘I shouldn’t after everything he’s done, but …’ With a beseeching look she turned to Bella. ‘I know you think I’ll fall for Todd, but I won’t. It’s going to take me a very long time to get over James properly. Todd is his polar opposite. And not someone I’d ever normally go out with.’
‘Your rebound?’
‘That’s a good way of putting it. I want to have some fun. Enjoy myself while I’m here.’
‘OK,’ Bella screwed up her face and gave a wry frown. ‘And now I’m in the weird position of saying, don’t hurt my cousin, even though I know he’s a player, but he’s … like my brother.’
Sophie reached over and patted her on the hand. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll look after him.’
‘Make sure you do,’ said Bella with more than a touch of menace in her voice, before she lay back, propping herself on her elbows and tilting her face up to the sun saying, ‘Heavens to Betsy, this is just darn blissful.’