I Only Have Eyes for You (The Sullivans #4)(21)

Just as he hadn’t been able to stop himself from jumping her when she was naked and offering herself to him in the living room, he couldn’t stop himself now from moving to the edge of the bed and kneeling down. With infinite gentleness, he ran his hand over her hair, then down to her face. She nuzzled her cheek into his palm even as she slept and he had to close his eyes on a sharp pang in the center of his chest.

One day she’d have a husband and kids. She’d belong to someone else, to someone who would love her and take care of her the way she deserved.

But for a few stolen hours, she’d been his.

* * *

Sophie woke up alone in the big bed at first light, still able to feel the imprint of Jake’s hands, his mouth, on her skin. She listened for the sound of the shower running, but the rental house was suspiciously quiet. Maybe, she tried to tell herself as she sat up, he’d gone out for donuts. Because he couldn’t have just left like that, could he? Last night had meant something, she was sure of it. Otherwise she never would have declared her love for—

Her thoughts stuttered, then stopped entirely, when she realized his clothes, his shoes, his bag were all gone.

He’d left her.

Sophie pushed the sheets back and stepped, naked, onto the hardwood floor. The splendor of Napa Valley rolled before her as she stared out the large bedroom window, but she didn’t see the beauty.

All she saw in the glass was a woman who should have known better than to love the one man who wasn’t capable of loving her back.

He’d tried to push her away, tried to convince her to go, but she’d been so sure there was something more beneath his kiss. Something bigger than just desire, a deeper emotional connection than she’d ever had with another man. The kind of love that existed between Chase and Chloe. Marcus and Nicola. Gabe and Megan.

She’d been wrong.

Chapter Nine

Two and a half months later...

“Gabe and I are engaged!”

The women in Lori’s living room exclaimed in surprise as they jumped up to hug Megan. Sophie smiled and gushed along with everyone else as her friend gleefully showed the group of women her new diamond engagement ring from Gabe. But even through all the laughter, the joy, Sophie remained numb. Cold all over as the conversation went on around her in a buzz.

Of course she was happy for her good friend and her brother. Sophie was absolutely thrilled that they were about to embark on a new life together as a family, along with Megan’s seven-year-old daughter, Summer.

But right now Sophie wasn’t able to feel much of anything at all.

Lori jumped up off the couch in her living room and came back from the kitchen with a bottle of champagne. “Time to celebrate!” She held a smaller bottle of sparkling apple juice in her other hand for Chloe, who was looking more gorgeous than ever with her baby bump.

Lori filled a glass for everyone as they all sat down. The five of them—Lori, Megan, Nicola, Chloe and Sophie—had begun to have these girls’ nights a few weeks before Chloe’s wedding. Sophie loved spending time with a group of women this amazing. On paper, they didn’t necessarily make the most sense: a choreographer, a CPA, a pop star, a quilter, and a librarian. And yet, they were totally in tune with one another.

“To Megan and Gabe!”

Sophie reached for her glass and was just raising it to her lips when she stopped and quickly put it down. The sweet, bubbly liquid splashed out against the rim and onto the coffee table.

“When did he ask you?” Nicola asked. “We need all the deets, right, girls?”

Megan blushed. “Actually, he asked me at Chloe’s wedding.”

Everyone blinked with surprise. “But that was, let’s see, how long ago was it?” Lori paused to calculate.

“Two and a half months,” Sophie said, the number burned like a hole into her brain.

“That long?” Lori turned on Megan. “Why didn’t you tell us that night?”

“We didn’t plan on keeping it a secret for so long, I swear.” Megan looked at Chloe. “Gabe took me out into the vines and dropped to one knee. He told me he’d been carrying the ring around for weeks, that he wanted everything to be perfect when he asked me.” Megan couldn’t contain her glow. “He had already asked Summer if he could be my husband. And her daddy.” She sniffled and giggled at the same time. “The two of them are already keeping secrets from me. I’m in such big trouble from here on out,” she said, but it was clear to all of them how happy Megan was, not only to have finally found the love of her life, but also to have a true partner and father to help raise her daughter.

“That is ridiculously romantic,” Lori said, “but you still should have told us. Right, Soph?”

Sophie nodded, hoping her smile looked natural. “Right.”

“It was your day,” Megan said to Chloe. “And then I guess we were enjoying keeping it to ourselves for a little while.”

“No problem,” Chloe said, “just as long as you tell us the second you get pregnant.”

Sophie choked on the breath she’d been taking. Her eyes immediately started watering as she fought to breathe normally.

“Sorry, the champagne must have gone down the wrong pipe,” she said before jumping up from the couch and heading for Lori’s guest bathroom.

Ten weeks, two days, and fifteen hours; that’s how long it had been since those hours in Jake’s arms when he’d given her more pleasure than she’d ever dreamed was possible...then disappeared in the middle of the night.