Rescuing the Bad Boy (Second Chance #2)(64)
Rookie.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
All set then?” Gloria Shields stood, her red nails pressed onto the edge of Sofie’s desk. The woman was a force to be reckoned with—Sofie had noticed when she met the literary agent last year. If anything, Gloria’s intensity had only increased.
Glo represented both Evan Downey and Asher Knight for their Mad Cow children’s books. She’d also arranged to have a special print run and donate hundreds of copies to Open Arms.
They’d discussed the charity dinner, the books, the signing where Evan and Asher would set up, but Sofie had one more favor to ask. She’d been trying to get her courage up to ask before now, but failed. She was running out of time.
Sofie made scribbly lines on her desk calendar, took a breath, and said, “I know you don’t really handle Asher’s music career, but I’m having trouble nailing down a DJ. Do you think he might—”
“I don’t handle it.” Gloria’s eyes were as hard as the sapphires they resembled. She flicked her silken black hair off one shoulder and sniffed.
Something had gone down between those two in the Cove last year when Asher was in town working on the second book with Evan. Charlie had told Sofie about how Asher and Gloria were lovey-dovey one minute, and at each other’s throats the next.
Sofie shuffled some papers. “Of course, I’m sorry to ask.”
Gloria peeled a Post-it note from the pad on the desk and fished a pen out of the cup on the corner. “Here’s his personal cell. He has a scheduling manager, but she’s an insipid twit. He gives you hell for calling him personally, tell them I told you to do it. It’s a good charity. And if Asher has a scrap of self-worth, he’ll say yes without too much argument.”
Sofie accepted the Post-it note with a cautious smile. “Will you be in town long?”
“Leaving late tomorrow.” Sharp, blue eyes trained on Sofie. “Why?”
Because Gloria looked like she needed a drink. Maybe two.
“Wine night at Charlie’s studio tonight,” Sofie said. Charlie, who had moved in with Evan, had kept her house on the beach, using it as her photography office-slash-studio. Her back porch was enormous and perfect for entertaining. Perfect for Girls Night Out.
Faith stepped into the office from the back room and said, “Oh, that would be great. I’ll pick out a new bottle of wine. We had so much fun on the boat with you last year. I’m sure Charlie would be excited to have you.”
“That’s sweet.” Gloria looked as if she might offer a polite “no” behind that statement, but surprised Sofie by asking, “What time?”
Charlie threw the best Girls Nights Out ever.
A cool breeze blew off the lake, framed by the plantation-style back porch. Appetizers covered an outside table, dressed in a flowered tablecloth with matching seat cushions. Hummus and chips, a vegetable platter, and courtesy of Faith, Devil Dogs for everyone. The dessert had become something of a tradition since she introduced them to Charlie last year.
Fat-packed goodness of layered chocolate cake, cream filling, and dark chocolate coating proved to be too good an indulgence for any of them to pass up.
Sofie, Faith, and Charlie had already started on the wine when Gloria rounded the back of the house, making her entrance.
“I know you told me not to bring anything, but I happened to find my best friend in need of a break.” Gloria tugged a woman with midlength wavy red hair alongside her. The redhead lifted a hand and gave a bashful wave.
“I hope that’s okay.” But Glo’s smile insisted she knew it was more than okay.
“Kimber!” Charlie exclaimed, rushing off her porch to close the redhead in her arms. “How? What are you doing here?”
“She has a very wealthy husband who put her on a plane immediately when I called and told her about wine night,” Glo said.
“Are you staying?” Charlie asked.
“Not for long,” Kimber said. “Gloria and I are flying back to Chicago tomorrow.”
The three of them scaled the steps to the porch. “Faith, Sofie. Kimber Downey. Landon’s wife,” Charlie introduced.
Sofie had heard of Evan’s oldest brother, Landon. He was a Chicago-based ad executive who married family friend Kimber after an unexpected twist of events. Charlie and Evan had busted out their cell phones to show Sofie pictures last Christmas. The unexpected twist? Their son, the adorable Caleb Downey.
After a round of introductions, hugs, and compliments on Kimber’s attire—finds from her Chicago-based clothing stores—the ladies circled the table, filled their glasses, and the gossip began.
“I think a date at the quarry is romantic,” Charlie said after Faith spilled the proverbial beans about Donovan coming to pick Sofie up at her shop.
“Not romantic. We were just… hanging out,” she said, her eyes on her wineglass. “I need a refill for this discussion.”
Faith obliged her.
“Sounds like you’re in deep, Sofie.” This from Kimber, who probably knew what she was talking about. She’d mentioned how all she’d done was agree to a nanny position with Landon to watch Lyon for a week. After that week, she and Landon agreed to a list of “extracurricular bedroom activities”—her words—that ended with a surprise neither of them had anticipated: love.