Rescuing the Bad Boy (Second Chance #2)(25)

“Well, I think that’s lovely. I don’t know why the two of you won’t go on a date. He’s single, you’re single…”

Sofie’s mind strayed to Donny. The feel of his lips on hers still made her shudder years later. She wondered if he was single. Doubtful. Back when they worked together, he hadn’t been taken, but she’d never seen him single, either…

“Yeah, Sofie,” Kinsley teased, egging their mother on. “You and Scott should go out. He’s a lawyer, you are a professional. You would have professional, event planner/lawyer babies.”

“I know what you’re doing, young lady,” Sylvia snapped at her youngest daughter.

Not missing a chance to put Kinsley in her place, Lacey spoke up next. “Yeah, Kins. Be supportive of your sister.” She sent a snarky smile over to Sofie. “I hear he’s a good kisser. He used to date my friend Trish.”

Great. If she did go out with Scott, it’d be like dating Lacey’s friend’s hand-me-down. Perfect.

“He’s cute, Sofie,” Lacey said.

Cute. True. But was that what she wanted? Is that what Lacey wanted for herself? What Kins wanted for herself? Would they settle for “cute”? Didn’t any of them long to feel primal attraction to someone? The undeniable physical pull to the opposite sex like a magnet to metal?

That’s what Sofie wanted. Maybe she was being too picky. Would explain why she was still single.

“If he’s so hot, why didn’t Trish stay with him?” she grumbled, picking at her monochrome food.

“Because Trish is a spaz,” Kinsley said.

Fact. Trish was a spaz.

Lacey’s mouth dropped open. “Trish is my best friend, Kins. She is not a spaz.”

The two started bickering. And they’re off.

While they argued, Sofie’s mind went to Donovan in the kitchen, towering over her, trying to intimidate her. Then she reached up to touch his face, and he fled the room like she was emitting some sort of noxious gas.

He suggested they stay out of each other’s way. She’d be doing better at that challenge if she stopped letting him into her brain fifteen times a day. She stabbed a brown-orange carrot, making a decision. The best way to keep thoughts of Donny Pate at bay—the best way to physically remind herself he was not a viable dating option—was to go out with someone else.

Her experience with men since Donovan had been less than noteworthy. Mostly, there’d been bad dates interspersed with shortish relationships leading to only a few horizontal mambos. None of them mind-blowing or remotely close to how intense it’d been with—

Nope. Don’t freaking go there.

Maybe dating Scott would be different. She pictured breezing into the mansion, taking a phone call from him and laughing loud and appreciatively at some witty thing he said. She imagined Donny’s pale eyes narrowing, his lashes closing in as he came to terms with the fact she’d moved on.

And she had moved on… hadn’t she?

Hmm. That question was worrisome. Mainly because she didn’t know the answer.

She tuned into her sisters, and her mother, who had joined the bickering.

“Scott is a great kisser. She could at least get a decent kiss,” Lacey was saying.

“How do you know?” Kins asked. “Did you kiss him?”

“I’d never!” Lacey pressed her nails to her neck, aghast. “I’m engaged.”

Kinsley shrugged. “Yeah, but for comparison’s sake. You know, before you lock in with one sex partner until the end of days.”

“Kinsley Abigail!” Sylvia scolded.

Patrick shifted uncomfortably, stood with his plate, and ambled into the kitchen. While he rinsed his dish in the sink, he sent Sofie a quick lift of his eyebrows. Sofie covered her mouth to stifle a small laugh.

“I’m merely looking out for Sofia,” Sylvia began her argument.

Enough was e-freaking-nough, already.

“I’ll go out with him,” Sofie blurted.

Her sisters and her mother slowly turned their heads in her direction.

She shrugged. What’d she have to lose?

“I’ll call him today. And see if he’s available for a drink.”

Maybe her insistence on waiting for the right spark was futile. She’d had that spark with Donovan—hell, had experienced an entire forest fire with the man. But while they’d burned hot and steady, the spark was snuffed the moment he drew out of her. Now, there was nothing left but embers.

Embers she’d no longer allow Donovan Pate to stoke.





CHAPTER SIX




Donovan propped his hands on his hips, unable to stop the scowl on his face from appearing. “How long were they there?”

Connor looked up from burying another plant of some sort in the ground. His eyes weren’t visible behind a pair of mirrored aviator sunglasses, but his smile and the pair of dimples on each side of his face were. His abject glee made Donovan want to hit him. And he’d stopped fighting for fun a long time ago.

“Jealous?” Connor asked.

“Of what? An ex-pothead in a cheap suit?”

Connor returned his focus on the dirt. “Yeah, you’re jealous.”

Shit. He kind of was. What the hell was Scampi doing in public with Scott Torsett?