The Billionaire’s Forbidden Desire(54)
“Then stop sending me flowers and taking me out to dinner.”
“No. Flowers signal to other men that you already have someone who’s very interested, and they cheer you up.” He tilted his head. “Unless I’ve misjudged. Are diamonds more your thing?”
“Absolutely not!” she sputtered, thinking, Better nip this in the bud.
He moved the hand down and rubbed her back, the gesture comforting and caring. And suddenly she couldn’t remember why she’d been upset with him. She hadn’t been touched like this in so long that she hadn’t even realized she missed it.
“Finally,” he continued, “I don’t eat with my family because I don’t particularly enjoy indigestion. So the dinners aren’t all for your sake.”
“I don’t understand you,” she said. “It wasn’t just your dad that made you change. You left without a word in Mexico.”
Something in his expression shifted. “It’s complicated.”
“Complicated doesn’t mean I won’t understand. I’m not stupid.”
“I never said you were.” He took the stick from Roco and threw it again.
She narrowed her eyes when he didn’t elaborate. All this mysterious behavior and lack of explanation was getting old. “Why didn’t you say hello at Dad’s funeral?”
His eyebrows rose. “You knew I was there?”
“I felt it.”
“I didn’t want to stir anything up.” He looked at the wildflowers they were standing in. “Geraldine can hold a grudge for life. She married Julian despite her mother’s opposition, and she’s still angry that she proved Shirley right.” Pain flitted through his gaze. “I promised Shirley I’d be kind to her. Her deathbed wish. Couldn’t break it.”
Sophia bit her lower lip, then tentatively put an arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. He took her hand and squeezed. Elizabeth had been mistaken. Ice water didn’t flow in his veins. He cared a great deal about his family; he’d just chosen not to show it.
Sweetness as thick as honey seeped through her, and she closed her eyes. She’d never been this emotionally in tune with another person before, and she didn’t want anything to shatter the fragility of the moment.
On Wednesday morning, two bouquets arrived just as she returned to her desk from the break-room. Sophia signed for the one from “D” and then studied another one.
“You sure about this?” she asked the delivery man.
The guy snapped his gum. “Says two for Sophia Reed.”
Why would Dane send two? It must’ve been a mistake. She opened the card on the other one—a bouquet of yellow chrysanthemums. Her heart started slamming against her chest, but she calmed herself. She’d been out of the spotlight long enough that it couldn’t possibly be—
Hope you’re doing well.
– Your greatest fan.
Her fingers shook. There was only one person who signed his cards that way. He had been one of her most persistent stalkers. Chad had spent a lot of time and money trying to find out who he really was, but everything had led to a dead end.
Goosebumps rose along her spine. He knew where she was, and now she no longer had Chad to keep her safe.
“These aren’t mine,” she said, pushing the chrysanthemums back at the delivery man.
“You sure? Aren’t you Sophia Reed?”
“Doesn’t matter.” She hugged herself. “Look, they aren’t mine. Take them back.” Just then her mobile buzzed. “I have to answer this. Just…please. I can’t sign for them.”
“All right.” He shrugged but took the flowers.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Sophia checked her phone. Oh no, she thought as she saw the new text.
It was from George.
She deleted it, unread. Why was he contacting her now? They had nothing to say to each other. It’d be better if they could pretend they didn’t know each other.
“Hello? Earth to Sophia.”
She snapped her head around. Roxie was peering at her. “Are you okay?”
Sophia managed a smile. “Yeah. Fine.”
“You look like you saw a ghost. Why don’t you sit down?” Roxie pulled a chair over.
Sophia didn’t object. Her legs felt like pasta noodles. When her phone buzzed again, she turned it off.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Roxie asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. Do you have time to go over the Havergill memo?” Sophia said, desperate to not think about George or the stalker. “I want to make sure it looks okay.”
Roxie gave her a couple of raised eyebrows, but nodded. “Okay. Let’s check it over.”