Rescuing the Bad Boy (Second Chance #2)(99)

“Don’t tell me that. Don’t tell me that when I am trying to get over him.” She gestured at her surroundings. “When I am in this office trying to focus on work, trying to pick up the pieces. Trying not to hurt every single day.” She petted Gertie, who still leaned against her leg.

“See? You get it.” Connor bent at the waist, scrubbed the dog’s head one final time, and then leveled his eyes with Sofie’s. “You’re hardening up, too.”

He was right. She was.

Conversation over, he moved for the exit. “Mind if I prop the door open?”

“Not at all. Let me put Gertie in the back, and I’ll help.”

“No, I got it. You and Gert take a walk,” he instructed. “Take some time.”

At the “w” word, Gertie launched out of her relaxed lean and dragged Sofie, still attached to the other end of the leash, for the door. Connor chuckled, maneuvering out of the way as Gertie dashed outside and Sofie scrambled to keep up.

Take some time, he’d said. Sofie knew he’d meant take some time to think about what he said.

She did—she thought about what he said for the next two days.





“Lacey, honey, make sure you rinse the soda cans before putting them into the recycling bin,” Sylvia instructed.

Lacey rolled her eyes and Kinsley laughed. Sofie may have laughed, but there wasn’t a single part of her capable of levity at the moment. Kinsley and Sylvia went out back to admire her mother’s herb garden, leaving Sofie and Lacey alone in the kitchen.

Sofie took the now rinsed cans from her sister’s hands and dropped them into the bin next to the trashcan.

Lacey dried her hands on a dishtowel. “Thanks.”

“Sure.” Sofie nodded and walked to the window overlooking the backyard. Gertie dashed after a squirrel, barking. When she successfully treed it, she sat on her haunches and waited for the rodent to come down.

“Why do you have a dog?” Lacey asked, coming to stand next to her.

“She belongs to a client. How goes the wedding plans?” Sofie hoped the question about her sister’s upcoming nuptials would bring the dog discussion to a screeching halt.

Her prim sister pushed her smooth, straight brown hair behind her ear. “Jeff was a jerk.”

Shocked, Sofie blinked over at Lacey. She was in agreement, of course. Lacey’s first fiancé was a completely wrong fit for her, but hearing her admit that? Flooring.

“I never thanked you for being honest.” Lacey offered a chagrined smile. “Too proud.”

Lacey was that. Type A, perfectionist, and afraid to make a mistake.

Her sister’s eyes, a pale shade of green, met hers. “I don’t want you to plan my wedding, Sofe.”

Well. That nice talk went south quickly.

“I want you to be in it.”

“What… what about everyone dating the groomsmen…”

Lacey nodded at the dog who was now getting a tummy rub from Kinsley. “Is your tall, dark, and sexy client available?”

Sofie’s mouth dropped open. “How did you…?”

“I read the Gazette, Sofie. I recognized that dog the second you walked her in here. And don’t think I didn’t notice the owner of Pate Mansion and every inch of his fineness.” She stroked Sofie’s arm. “Whatever happened, I’m sorry. I can see things didn’t go the way you wanted.”

“You could say that.”

Moment over, Lacey stepped outside, turning to face Sofie before she let the screen door shut. “Oh, and I can keep her for you for a few days. Kenneth’s house has a great yard.”

“Thanks, Lace.”

Oddly enough, it didn’t feel strange to have the tension lifted between them. Things felt like they’d finally snapped into place—like everyone was where they were supposed to be.

Maybe Donny was where he was supposed to be. Maybe her destiny didn’t involve him at all.

With a sigh, she turned from the chattering females outside and tracked down her father, who was in his basement retreat. Golf played in the background, and Sofie plopped down into the recliner across from the couch.

Her dad hit the Mute button.

“There she is,” he said, his gentle tone suggesting he’d picked up on her sour mood as well. She really had to get better about hiding her devastation.

“Here I am.” She watched the TV without watching it, feeling his eyes on her. Finally, she turned her head.

“Are you going to tell me the real reason behind you bringing a giant dog that is obviously half yours to our house?” he asked.

“Why are you so smart?” She gave him a wan smile.

“You’re welcome. You inherited those smarts.” He tapped his head.

“Sometimes I’m not so sure.”

“Did the fellow who owned Pate Mansion give you the dog?”

She grunted. “Guess that Gazette article made the rounds.”

“Hid it from your mother,” he said. “She’d ask questions. You know how she is.”

So Lacey must not have mentioned it, either. Huh.

“He… um. He had to go to New York… permanently. He left the dog. Here. And I’m… uh, watching her.”

Her father’s eyes crawled up his forehead. No doubt sensing she’d left out a few pertinent details.