Then & Now (13 page)

Ella had always been
afraid to explore the outside world.  She left the high life to Amy and stuck to her books.  It was a real shame, seeing Ella was incredibly beautiful though she hid it under bulky cloths, thick framed glasses—which she didn’t need—and frizzy hair that would look really cute if she did something with it. 

“
How long have you felt this way, Ella?”  Sophia asked curiously.

Her friend shook her head with embarrassment painting her cheeks.  “I think it’s because of all of you talking about love lives and changes.  Hell, even
my sister, who is living the perfect life, has been talking about wanting to change things.  She has been thinking of having a baby.”  She sighed as if the thought of her sister having the option was painful for her.

Sophia’s
heart went out to her friend as she watched Ella take a seat in the large arm chair that sat in the far corner of the bedroom.   Ella had been wanting to have a baby for the last two years of her marriage.  Unfortunately, her husband had decided that children wouldn’t be an option for them.

“Hey, ladies!”
  Leya Davis smiled as she came into the bedroom killing the somber mode.  “I heard you were going camping with Tristan Macklin.”

“News travels fast.  How did you find out?”  Sophia asked giving her friend a long questionable look.

Leya shrugged indifferently.  “Amelia’s man knows him.  I guess they go skiing or something.  Tristan is a real outdoorsy kind of guy.”

Sophia figured as much when she met him at his store.  She never thought that the rugged, outdoor type did something for her.  Yet, Mr. Macklin—dirty shoes and all—made her question things that really shouldn’t be brought to the table now.  Not when John was ready to move forward.

“You’ve met this outdoorsy Scot?” Ella asked Leya with a bit of shock.  Out of all of their friends, Leya held the most class.  Her upper eastside friend seemed to live a very exquisite life.  Born to wealth she didn’t have any worries of needing a job or having enough food.  Her worries mostly involved what lavish party to attend or what designer is the most wanted or what hot guy she would let share her bed that night.

“Yes and he’s gorgeous.” 
Leya sighed.  “He looks like he was chiseled out of stone by the Gods themselves.”

“A rock hard body, good looks and a boatload of money can only take you so far.  Personally, I look at all those qualities and shutter.  Men who have those things don’t have to try at anything else.”  Sophia stated trying to convince herself more than her friend.

“Yeah….but those qualities make great eye candy.”  Leya teased.

“Yes.  Yes it does.”  Sophia admitted.  “But, in all honesty, that’s all their good for.”

“Tight abs fallowed by a great ass, is enough for me!”  She claimed with a Cheshire grin.  “I bet he has an amazing body. Can you imagine what he looks like in a tux or better yet in a Speedo?”

“Leya!”  Sophia whined hoping her friend would stop.

“Oh, like you haven’t noticed.  All women and even some men have noticed.”  Her friend taunted with a devilish grin. 

“That is the last thing I need to notice right now.”  She sighed.

“That is the only thing you should be noticing right now!”
Leya exclaimed.  “I mean look at him.”

“Trust me I have.” Sophia whispered.

Ella, who had been silent until that moment gave her a questionable look, then asked carefully. “You, have?”

She waved off her quieter friend.  She needed to be careful with her. 
Ella was quite perceptive. “He’s John’s boss and if John’s right about this guy, he could be a real jerk.”  Sophia sighed. 

Giving her friend a playful push,
Leya assured with a charming smile.  “Watch, I bet he’s nothing like you imagine.  I mean the man runs a motor sports store.  He has to be somewhat laid back.”

“I don’t know…”

“Well at least go and check out the better side of Scotland.  Then come back and give full length details to your friends who didn’t get the chance to do it themselves. ” Her friend begged. “For me?” 

“I’ll see what I can do.” 

“A true friend would.”

“A true friend wouldn’t remind me how sexy he is.”

“Your true friend must be blind.” Leya scoffed lightheartedly.

Sophia had to genuinely laugh at her friend’s banter.  She had somehow made this experience a little easier. “Thanks.”

     “Yes, I do understand.” Sophia repeated for the third time as she gathered the materials from the cluttered garage.  Juggling the phone on her shoulder she tried to listen to John’s mindless babbling while she checked over all the items in her other hand.

“Make sure you get everything!  I don’t want to look like a
jackass on my first field test assignment.” John continued without any perception of what he was really saying. He had no idea that he was already looking like a jackass, only she obviously didn’t count.  “I have been working for him for the last five years and I don’t want to mess this up now. You understand that right?”

Deciding not to answer the same question—for the hundredth time—Sophia dumped everything into the back of the SUV.  “Just get home as soon as you can.  That way you can double check everything.”  She ground out while she continued to gather items from his unorganized garage.

“I really don’t have time for that. I won’t be there until we have to leave.  Just make sure you have everything ready.  I want everything perfect.”  He barked into the phone.

Releasing a breath she bit her tongue. She wanted to help him, although he was making it difficult. Holding the phone away from her, she thought about putting everything away and telling him where to go.  Unfortunately she lacked the stamina.  She would feel guilty about it later.

Heaving a sigh she said.  “Don’t worry about it. Amelia and her boyfriend came over and helped me find everything we need for this weekend.  Bryant even brought some extra things he thought we might need.”  Knowing he had high respect for Amelia’s new love, Sophia smiled when she heard the submission in his voice.

“Oh, okay.  Good.  Then I guess I’ll see you later then.”

“Fine.”  Clicking off the phone, Sophia tucked a lose strand of hair behind her ear.  She had a three hour drive a head of her, plus a three day camping trip with no shower access until they got home on Sunday.  Double checking everything one last time she shut the latch on the SUV then went inside for a long bath.  She had a terrible feeling that this was going to be a long weekend.

The drive up the canyon hadn’t taken as long as she thought.  Watching the trees and gorgeous landscape on the way up seemed to consume most of the time.  John had been silent the entire drive up, which surprisingly was just fine by her.  She figured he was gearing up for his first assignment.  Allowing him to concentrate on whatever he needed to, she sat quietly enjoying the view.

“We’re here.”  The excitement in John’s voice was lightly tinted with apprehension.

She had to smile at his eagerness. 
Though it was short lived.  There in the clearing of the camp site stood the powerful Scot in all his glory.  He looked as if he belonged there, like some kind of Nature God.  Leya was right he would look amazing in a tux or—God help her— a Speedo.  How was she going to make it through this weekend with a man more beautiful than her imagination could have ever thought possible?

Coming up to her side of the vehicle, Tristan smiled as he helped her out.  “I was hoping you’d come.”

“Yeah, well…”  She lifted her hands out from her sides with a small shrug.  “This is more beautiful than I thought it would be.”

“Aye.
  I love this time of year.  Still plenty warm, yet the leaves are turn’ into their fall colors.”  He lifted his finger to the top of one of the taller trees.  Orange and red sprinkled the top as well as the neighboring trees.

“Oh, that’s pretty.”  Shading her eyes with one hand she glanced at all the wildlife surrounding her.

“Come on, I will show ye where to set up.”  As Tristan walked away she noticed that there were several camping trailers and some expensive looking fifth-wheels.  There was only one other tent in the camp and it even look luxurious compared to the worn three-man tent they brought.

“Ye can set up here.”  Tristan explained to John as
he point to a large grassy area. “’Tis quite comfortable.  And if ye will be so kind as to fallow me, Sophia, I will introduce you to everyone.”  He said with a wicked grin.

Giving John a quick look she turned back to Tristan and nodded.  “Okay, sure.”

She didn’t miss John’s disapproving glare as he dumped out all of the equipment.  He had no intention of setting up the tent on his own.  He expected her to help, which had him leaving everything lying out as he fallowed close behind them.

Tristan fiddled with the laptop without really paying attention to any of the data.  He chewed on the inside of his cheek to keep from saying something that would get him into trouble with his friend.  Kyle was relaying important information that should be documented accurately.  Unfortunately, nothing he said was locking into Tristan’s head.

It was well over three hours since he had left the camp and Sophia behind.  He really didn’t want to
leave her behind with people she hardly knew.  It wasn’t how he was raised.  He invited her; therefore he was responsible for her to have a great time.

Although she seemed to get along with everyone, the idea of leaving her and not knowing if she was enjoying herself had his stomach turning.  Maybe he should make some wild excuse to head back to camp just to make sure she was alright.

Scolding himself, he thought of John.  She wasn’t his.  It wasn’t his job to keep her happy.  She belonged to his employee.  Though the thought of John with her had his stomach turning even more.

“Tristan?
  Are you listening?” Kyle asked, sounding a little annoyed.

“Aye
. Of course I am.”  He lied.

His friend nodded skeptically.  “Then why haven’t you computed any of the data I just gave you?”  His thick caveman-like eyebrows dipped slightly.

Giving him his full attention, he let out breath.  “Sorry, my mind isnna all the way here right now.”

“Yeah, I noticed.”  He chuckled.  “What is
sooo
important that it has your mind wandering?”

Wondering if telling him the truth was such a good idea, Tristan gave him a quick once over.  He decided to lie.  “There are a few things I
havena had time to finish over the week.”

“Oh. You mean with the thing that happened with your night auditor?”  He asked completely unaware of Tristan’s real thoughts.

“Umm…Yeah, that.”  Thankful for Kyle unknowingly giving him a way out, he shut the laptop.  “I have to go back to the camp.  Keep running the test and I’ll be back soon.”

His friend gave him a questionable look but said nothing.

He jumped on his favorite four-wheeler and took it at full speed back to the camp.  Surprised to see the camp vacant, Tristan drove slowly through the sight.  That’s when he spotted her.  She was completely alone nestled under a tree with a book in her hand. 

Cutting the engine he gave the camp another good look around. 
Nobody.  She was here by herself.  Where was her boyfriend?  And why and earth would he leave her here without any company?

“Hello.”  He greeted as he came up to her.  “Where is everyone?”

“Hi.  I have no idea.”  She smiled.  “John went up with some of the guys a few hours ago and everyone else seemed to wander off to do other things.”

A few hours?
  What pile of crap leaves his woman in unfamiliar territory for a few hours alone?  John hadn’t even put up the tent.  Giving their camping supplies a quick look he noticed that nothing had been done for their night there.   He could tell she was uncomfortable and giving her body langue here and in the store the day he met her she knew little about camping and even less on how to put up a tent.

Annoyed with the man who had the audacity to call this lovely creature his, Tristan pointed at the mess pilled next to her.  “Can I help ye put this tent up?”

Giving him a shy smile she set her book aside. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t be much use with that task.  I would probably get more in the way then be any help at all.  Besides, John would be furious with me if he knew I made his boss put up our tent.”

The ass had an hour before the field testing had started.  That was plenty of time to put the tent up.  What in the hell had he been doing during that hour that he couldn’t provide shelter for his woman; who he had
the audacity to leave for hours?

Her bright green eyes must have caught something in him for she quickly laughed. “That was a joke.  He said he would do it when he got back.”

He doubted it was anywhere near a joke.  He bet his left testicule that John was the type of jackass who would place blame on her for his own incompetence. 

Shifting the weight from one foot to the other, he decided to change the conversation before he said something that he would regret later.  “Do ye ride?”