Tamed by You (20 page)
"I'll tell you what's been going on."
Sophie sat on a chair across from them.
They looked like some sort of tribunal, waiting to pass judgment on her. She supposed that wasn't far from the truth.
Exhaling, she said, "Tony and I have been engaged in a flirtation for weeks. It's been a strange dance, where he makes a move and I follow, and vice versa. The only problem is that it changed from flirtation to something more serious, and I didn't pick up the lead. It was my fault, but it was his, too, maybe to a lesser degree, but the blame definitely rests with both of us."
Daniela frowned. "Hmph."
What did that mean? Sophie shook her head and continued. If the woman didn't like what she had to say, too bad. Being this honest felt good. She felt like a character in a movie, only in the best way possible because she wasn't acting. She meant every word.
So she continued. "He's the first man who's been interested in
me
. Not
Sophie Martineau, but the woman I am inside. He's encouraged me to be true to myself. How he saw who that was, I have no idea, because
I
didn't know who that was. But I'm on my way to great things because of him. I want to be that for him."
She leaned forward, holding Daniela's gaze. "I'm not saying Tony and I will work. I'm not saying that we're forever, but we deserve the chance to find out if we are. You obviously had that chance. I'm only asking to know where he is. If he's not interested I'll leave him alone."
Silence echoed uncomfortably in the room. Finally Daniela said, "He's in LA, staying at Chateau Marmont."
Sophie blinked. "It was that easy?"
Daniela shrugged. "I believe you meant every word. Plus, my brother is an idiot sometimes, and he needs someone to call him out on that. You're right. It was partially his fault."
"It always is, in a relationship," Lola said. "Two people are involved."
Sophie stood up, feeling more positive than she had in days. "I'm going to go bring him back."
"Good." Daniela stood, smiling. Then she surprised Sophie by grabbing her in a hug.
Sophie flailed for a moment, not sure what to do. Then she gave herself to the embrace, closing her eyes and inhaling the hint of sweetness that emanated from the woman.
Daniela let her go and gave her a wink. "We'll practice that."
Sophie laughed—something between her trademark husky chuckle and the belly laughs Sarah had been known for—and it felt good.
She knocked on the door of another hotel suite, only this time the man she suspected she was in love with was on the other side.
She hoped. She hadn't actually been able to figure that out based on the "help" she received from the front desk. Because actors were a dime a dozen in LA, the girl at the desk hadn't blinked an eye at Sophie, nor had she been useful in any way. The only way she'd been helpful was by turning her back so Sophie could glance at the computer screen.
There was movement on the other side of the door, and suddenly it opened.
Sophie had been braced for seeing Tony again, but the reality of it struck her speechless. His dark curls were messy, like he'd run his fingers through them countless times. He wore a dress shirt, untucked, sleeves rolled up, and his feet were bare.
But his face was what drew her attention. It was beautiful—worthy of an Italian god—and etched with fatigue. She reached out to cup it.
He stepped back. "Damn Daniela and her meddling."
"Don't blame your sister. We're at fault here."
He arched his brow.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
"I thought you just took what you wanted." But he stepped aside to let her pass.
"Normally I would. You have to understand that I've clawed my way to the top. It's the only way I've gotten results, and I've been afraid if I didn't continue the same way that I wouldn't get what I wanted."
"What do you want?"
"You." She walked in and waited for him to close the door. "But there's two of us in this, and you have to want this as much as I do."
He crossed his arms. "I don't want what I left."
"That's not what I'm offering you."
"You have an offer?" He arched his brow.
"I know how you agents live for the deal, so I'm going to offer you one you can't refuse."
"I'm listening."
The butterflies in her stomach were swooping like they were Air Force bombers, but she ignored them and sauntered up to him, running a finger down his collar. "You, me, a Jacuzzi, and all night."
He glanced at her lips. "That's your best offer? One night?"
"Yes." She looked him straight in the eye. "Tomorrow I'll make you another offer."
He said nothing. For a panicked second she thought he was going to turn her down, but then he pulled her into his arms. "What's your offer for tomorrow?"
"Depends on how tonight goes." Hope, affection, and desire filled her chest. She wanted to kiss him—she wanted to hold him forever. But she gave him a wink and the space to make his decision.
Tony lifted her face, running his thumb along the cheekbone
People
magazine had called perfect. To her, it hadn't been nearly right until that very moment.
"The Jacuzzi here is boring," he said finally, walking her backward. "No gold. No waterfall."
She circled her arms around his neck. "If you're in it, it won't be boring."
"Tell you what." He lowered her onto the couch and followed her down. "We'll try it and see how it does, but I think our next deal should be for the Jacuzzi at home."
Her heart leapt. "At home?"
"The gaudy mausoleum in Laurel Heights where you've been squatting for weeks."
Spearing her hand in his hair, she brought him so he was nose-to-nose with her. "Are you coming back?"
"Will you be there?"
"Yes, if you will."
"I will." He kissed her, and it was a promise for tomorrow.
Epilogue
Normally when Nicole, Marley, and Valentine went to Grounds for Thought, they sat in the front, at the round table in the window and drank coffee.
But this wasn't a normal evening. Tonight, Nicole sat on the counter and swung her feet while she drank champagne.
Tonight was Valentine's wedding reception.
Eve had outdone herself. There were heart-shaped balloons and white streamers all over. There was a table of tiny cakes and pastries and endless champagne. Someone had plugged in an iPod, and in the front there was a makeshift dance floor.
But the best part of the wedding had been the ceremony itself. It'd been a small gathering at City Hall, but it'd been perfect. Joyous. The bride had been glowing, and the groom looked besotted—at least that was the way his expression would have been described in the historical romances she loved to read.
And the Hulk (Nicole blamed Marley for that nickname sticking) was the perfect hero. A little flawed, a lot hot. Apparently he'd been some famous fighter not long ago.
According to Valentine, his fighting days were over. He'd created some sort of material that was going to revolutionize safety in athletics. Since Valentine was business-minded, with her never-ending ideas for apps, they were suited for each other in more than just the bedroom, where they were very well-matched from what Valentine had confessed.
Nicole smiled dreamily, watching her friend and her new husband slow dancing to Frank Sinatra. Valentine wore a romantic ’50s-style dress, which was so
her
. The Hulk wore slacks and a silk shirt. Together, they looked stylish and so deliriously happy.
It was adorable.
One day Nicole wanted to find that sort of complete happiness with someone. Someone who was on her side and encouraged her to be more. A best friend who excited her mentally
and
physically.
She'd had a best friend once who was like that. They'd only been friends, but she'd often wondered if they couldn't be more one day.
Until he'd left for college and never talked to her again.
Marley ambled up to her and nudged her leg. "Looks like Cupid barfed in here, doesn't it?"
Pushing aside the regretful thoughts, Nicole shook her head but couldn't help grinning. "You're so cynical. How is it you can be so in love?"
"Look at him." Marley pointed to her boyfriend Brian, her expression soft. "He's a babe. How can I not be all over that?"
Nicole laughed.
Marley lifted her camera and took a quick picture. "Where's your boyfriend? Kevin didn't come?"
"He had to work tonight." It was true, even though she hadn't invited him anyway. They'd broken up a few days ago. She hadn't mentioned it because she hadn't wanted to cast a shadow over Valentine's wedding planning. She was sad, but it was probably just as well. She suspected Kevin wasn't right for her in the long run. He was more of a blip than anything.
But she didn't want to think about sad things. Today was for joy. She pointed at Valentine's parents, also on the dance floor. "I'm glad her mom's issues were just hypochondria. Aren't they so cute?"
"I hope Brian and I look like that one day." Marley snapped a few pictures of them before taking a few candid crowd shots. Then she lowered her lens and leaned in to whisper. "I can't believe Sophie Martineau is here with Tony. It blows my mind."
Nicole glanced at the couple chatting with Eve and her husband. Sophie had her hand on Tony's arm, and he looked at her like he was looking forward to eating her up later. "Not many people have such famous guests."
"It's not that,” Marley said. “It's that I can't believe Tony would hook up with anyone. He was a confirmed bachelor. I wonder if it'll last."
"The reformed rakes are always the best heroes, or so they say."
"I have no idea what that means, but okay." Marley shook her head in awe. "I have to document this moment. It's like the fall of Rome."
"Have you talked to Daniela?"
Marley hummed. "Briefly. She and Nico are in New York visiting her parents."
"Ladies." A beefy bald guy in a sharp suit came up and saluted them with his drink.
"You're the best man." Nicole held out her hand. "We haven't met officially."
"Bull." He took her hand. "I'm Ethan's former fighting buddy and only friend."
"Nicole." She'd been prepared to have her hand crushed, but she was surprised that he held it with enough pressure to be firm but not so much that it hurt. "And this is Marley."
"Who knew the Hulk had friends?" Marley said as she shook his hand, too.
"The Hulk?" He burst into a belly laugh that rocked the building.
Nicole winced. "We really need to stop calling him that."
"No, please don't." Bull wiped the tears from his eyes. "I may start calling him that myself. It's brilliant."
"Thank you," Marley said modestly. "Is that a UV tattoo on your face?"
"Yes."
"It's a flower."
"It's not just any flower." His chest puffed up. "It's a dandelion."
"Cool." She took a close-up of it and then nodded. "If you guys will excuse me, I'm going to find my boyfriend."
"Marley is an interesting girl," Bull said, watching her walk away.
"You don't even know." Nicole grinned. She loved Marley and Valentine. They hadn't known each other long, but they'd become great friends. She worried a little that now that Valentine was married and Marley was almost there (if Brian had his way), that they'd lose some of their closeness. Friendships faded.
She sighed. Why was she thinking about him so much today? She hadn't seen Griffin Chase in years—usually she didn't think of him unless someone from home brought him up.
Whatever the case, she had to stop. Today was a day of happiness, and remembering Grif never made her happy.
"You look sad," Bull said. "Or like you're gonna punch someone out."
"I'd rather dance." She smiled at him. "Want to?"
"Let's get down." He set his drink down and held out his hand. "But don't get ideas about me. You're cute and all, but I'm not your type."
"You know my type?" she asked with a grin as he led her to the front.
"Yeah. Younger and prettier than me." He nodded to the front door. "Like that dude who just walked in."
She looked at who he pointed out, and then she tripped.
"You okay?" Bull steadied her. "I know I have two left feet, but even I've never knocked over a girl while dancing with her."
"No, I'm fine," she said faintly, watching the guy zero in right for her.
Bull scowled. "You know that dude?"
"I used to." It'd been years, but seeing him suddenly made all the time fall away. Suddenly she was back in high school, and she had her best friend back again. Suddenly they were hanging out in her backyard, talking about all the places they were going to go one day. Places he'd gone without her.
He'd never even sent a postcard.
Grif stopped directly in front of her. "Hello, Nicole."
* * *
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