Sophie's Playboy (40 page)

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Authors: Natalie J. Damschroder

BOOK: Sophie's Playboy
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  • The next hour they hosted rants about smokers in restaurants
  • Until Desiree.
  • Melina's note on the computer said Desiree was a Cambridge c
  • "Desiree, you're our next caller. Did you want to complain a
  • "No, I want to complain about the lack of romance in yours."
  • Sophie cast a startled look at Melina, who grinned and nodde
  • "Yeah. You and Parker are made for each other. You gotta sto
  • Sophie laughed. Parker stayed silent. "Desiree," Sophie said
  • "Yeah, she agrees with me much more often during Rave."
  • "Finally, the man speaks," Desiree taunted.
  • Sophie had to laugh at the look on his face. He didn't seem
  • "I speak way too much," he covered. "I was giving Sophie fre
  • "If you two didn't have callers, your show would have been n
  • "What's your solution, Desiree?" It was a trademark question
  • "Go on a date or something."
  • "We have," Parker said, surprising Sophie again. "I took her
  • "Don't forget the lawn party at your dad's on the Fourth," S
  • Like anything was going to be secret in their lives from now
  • Stevie was going to be delighted.
  • They started the first rave hour and fielded a flurry of cal
  • "How's Parker in the sack?" one cheeky twenty-something aske
  • "When we enter the sack race at the county fair, I'll let yo
  • The next caller, male, commiserated with Parker. "Sorry, man
  • That made them both laugh and share one of those significant
  • They wrapped the show with a caller who urged them to keep t
  • "Lucy, you do realize we're on the radio? After today, we'll
  • "I'm so sorry, Diane." He paused. "I'll tell the boys. Let m
  • "Trina?"
  • He nodded. "She died this morning."
  • CHAPTER 13
  • Parker drew a ragged breath and tried to say more, but his v
  • "I'm so sorry."
  • He pressed his face to her neck and wrapped his arms tighter
  • "I have to go tell the boys."
  • "I'll go with you." She dumped her stuff in her cubicle and
  • He laced his fingers through hers and kissed her lightly. "T
  • When they got to Mare's, it was obvious Parker's sister had
  • "I'm sorry for our timing," Parker told her. "I have somethi
  • "Couldn't it have waited?" Mare shoved her hair off her fore
  • "No, it couldn't have waited. I was supposed to take them to
  • His quiet voice alerted her. "Oh." Her hand pressed against
  • Sophie couldn't swallow the lump in her throat. "I'll just..
  • "Boys!" Mare shouted. "Parker's here!" The boys raced into t
  • "Hey, guys, we've got to talk." Parker sat on the couch with
  • "I'll get something to drink," she managed to say.
  • Josh hung an arm over Sophie's shoulder and turned to look a
  • "You guys knew Trina was pretty sick, right?"
  • "Yeah, her heart was givin' up on her," Josh said. "She hasn
  • "Longer than that," Timmy corrected with the scorn of an old
  • Parker put his arm around his nephew. "Trina's not sick anym
  • Sophie waited for outbursts or questions. Timmy looked solem
  • Parker's face rippled as if he was trying to keep it from cr
  • "You mean she's gone? She's never coming back?"
  • "I'm sorry, son. She's never coming back."
  • Josh turned and buried his head in Sophie's chest. She held
  • Josh only cried for a moment. Mare re-entered the room, her
  • "Tell me about your friend Trina," she said softly. Timmy an
  • "She was real sweet, wasn't she, Mom?" He looked up, and Mar
  • "Yes, Josh, she was. Tell Aunt Sophie about the lollipops."
  • Josh twisted in Sophie's lap. "Trina's mom had ta go to the
  • "The tellers," she supplied.
  • "Yeah, the tellers. They gave her these red lollipops just n
  • "Wow. That was sweet." Sophie regretted that she'd never had
  • "Well, her favoritest thing was climbing trees. Timmy and me
  • "Thank you for coming with Parker," Mare murmured. "It's rea
  • "I'm just listening."
  • "It's enough. I already know everything about Trina. You're
  • "They're handling it very well," Sophie commented. Timmy see
  • "I tried. They handle things better when they know they're c
  • Josh ran back into the room carrying a large piece of white
  • "That's Trina." Josh pointed at the angel. "She told me she
  • "She was right." Sophie studied the picture. "She was an exc
  • Josh grinned sheepishly. "That's my dog."
  • Sophie looked around. "Where is Moose?"
  • "He's at the vet," Mare explained. "You know." She made a sc
  • "He needs to have serg-jery so he can't make puppies." Josh
  • Sophie looked at Mare. "Well, if it's okay, maybe you and Ti
  • "Yeah! Can we, Mom, please?"
  • Mare looked grateful. "If it's okay with Sophie, it's fine w
  • "We should check with Parker. I rode with him again."
  • Josh ran over to ask, and Mare thanked her again.
  • "You look like you need a break," Sophie said.
  • "Oh, boy, do I. Two hours of silence will recharge me for mo
  • "How about we do dinner again, too?" Parker asked, standing
  • "Okay, but let me cook. I had some hamburger defrosting for
  • Mare hugged her and whispered, "I can't wait until you're my
  • Sophie started to protest, but Parker began to herd them out
  • She tried to ignore Mare's statement but could think of noth
  • When they got to the condo, she assigned the boys to take Hi
  • "Shoo!" Sophie yanked open the sliding door. "He's going to
  • Parker followed her into the kitchen after kids and dog had
  • Sophie snorted. "He has the bladder of a ... well, a miniatu
  • Parker took the tomato and cheese from her and set them on t
  • She handed him a knife. "He has, twice so far. He's a smart
  • "I get to do sprinkler day every Wednesday," Josh announced,
  • He knew his brother well. Timmy's lips tightened and he conc
  • Josh continued, "Sometimes after school when Uncle Parker pi
  • Timmy slammed his block of cheese on the table. "No, she doe
  • Parker sighed and looked after him. "I thought he handled it
  • "Do you want me to go talk to him?"
  • Parker kissed Sophie's worried brow. "No, thank you. I'll go
  • He found him in the corner of Sophie's spare room, huddled o
  • He positioned himself on the floor next to Timmy and just sa
  • "It's hard losing someone you love," Parker finally said. "E
  • Timmy nodded. His right hand kept stroking the little dog's
  • Hoo, boy. Zero right in on the hard stuff. He hoped he could
  • "No one knows, Tim. It happens a lot in life. I can't tell y
  • Timmy pressed his hand to his chest. "It hurts here when I r
  • "You know, Tim, that Trina's body wasn't working right. She
  • "Because she couldn't climb trees and stuff."
  • Parker knew getting tired easily was only one of the effects
  • The boy was silent for a long time. "Her death isn't a rewar
  • "No, no." Parker tightened his hold. "Everyone dies, Timmy.
  • "No! I'm glad I knew her, even if it hurts now." He thought
  • After a few minutes, Timmy stood. "Thanks, Uncle Parker."
  • "You're okay now?"
  • He shrugged. "I'll be sad sometimes, but happy sometimes, to
  • Parker sat in the bedroom for a few minutes after Timmy head
  • He was going to stop that right now.
  • * * * *
  • Dinner went well. The boys declared the tacos delicious, and
  • Mare came by at eight, just as they finished cleaning up.
  • "Mom!" The boys rushed to hug her legs and waist, and she gr
  • "I was afraid you two would want to leave me for your Uncle
  • Josh frowned at his mother. "They don't live together, Mom."
  • Heaven forbid went through Parker's mind before he could sto
  • "I was going to bring them home," Parker told his sister.
  • "I know. I thought you might appreciate being able to stay h
  • "You can practically read my mind, sis."
  • "Okay, you ragamuffins. Say goodbye to Hippo and Sophie and
  • They protested all the way out the door. Hippo had disappear
  • "Silence. Privacy. I wonder what we can do with those?" He b
  • "Mmmm. I can think of a few things." Sophie pressed her lips
  • "No." He thrust one hand into her hair and held her in place
  • "Okay."
  • He liked her breathlessness and the fact that he left her qu
  • * * * *
  • Sophie couldn't help herself—she looked at the clock. Ten fi
  • Right now, he seemed content to draw lazy circles on her ski
  • "Do we need to talk now?" she asked. She was afraid of the a
  • Parker's smile was reassuring. "No, we don't need to talk. I
  • "Where do you want it to lead us?"
  • He shook his head. "Not even that much talking, Soph. I have
  • Sophie liked that, so she left it alone.
  • Parker bent to kiss her again and she reveled in the heat of
  • After the second time they made love they did talk, about th
  • "How's business?" she asked at one point. "You're spending s
  • Parker shrugged. "Joe is increasingly angry at me, but in tr
  • "Don't you miss it?"
  • "Nah. It was something to do." The smile he gave her made So
  • "Else? Not better?"
  • "Well..."
  • Sophie growled. "You'll pay for that one, mister."
  • And she proceeded to make him pay.
  • * * * *
  • They made breakfast together the next morning, pancakes and
  • "I checked my messages while you were in with Timmy last nig
  • "Why'd Brianna back out? She still in LA?"
  • Sophie grimaced. "No, she's going white water rafting tomorr
  • "It's been a long time since I've been interested in loud mu
  • Sophie laughed. "It's Bon Jovi. He's our generation, not the
  • He looked at her suspiciously. "Are you sure?"
  • "There's a Simpson concert tonight, too. I'm sure."
  • "Okay." He lifted her fingers and kissed them. "I trust you.
  • Sophie fought smugness the rest of the day.
  • * * * *
  • Parker knew Sophie was a middle child who defied stereotype
  • "So, you're Sophie's playboy," she said, eyeing him speculat
  • "I'm Parker Cornwall. Whether I'm Sophie's is yet to be dete
  • She fell into step with him as they walked from Sophie's con
  • "Not so pure, I think." Kira pointedly noted his Italian loa
  • "I worked hard for every penny I earned. Some of it I made o
  • He expected anger or at least a "hmph" and toss of the head.
  • "You'll do." She swung up into the driver's seat. "Come on,
  • The drive to the concert took no time at all. The parking to
  • "Where's Joey tonight?" Sophie asked.
  • "He's with my parents," Jake answered. "They don't get enoug
  • "That baby's all sweetheart. You guys don't know what you're
  • Kira and Jake just laughed harder.
  • "How old is he?" Parker asked.
  • "Just over ten months," Kira said. "He's learning to walk, s
  • "I know what you mean," Parker said. "My nephews were hellio
  • "I haven't seen your townhouse," Sophie murmured. She winked
  • Parker usually felt trapped at this point. When a woman he w
  • She was now married to an old college buddy of his, but Park
  • But now, with Sophie angling for an invitation and providing
  • He cleared his throat and looked out the window, relieved to
  • They followed the crowd into the Tweeter Center and found th
  • At one point Sophie teased Jake about some childhood event a
  • Parker had never had that kind of relationship with his sist
  • Finally, the concert started. Parker had to admit he enjoyed
  • When the concert was over, the others chattered about Jon Bo
  • He was brooding when they arrived at Sophie's condo. Jake an
  • "Kira can't be away from Joey that long," Jake said. His wif
  • "I would stay here in a heartbeat if I didn't think I'd be i
  • "Did I tell you Jake is Brook Hollow's mayor?" Sophie laced
  • As opposed to Parker the Playboy, who did everything for per
  • "So, how about it?"
  • He realized all three of them were staring at him. "Sorry, h
  • "Sunday dinner at Mom and Dad's?"
  • Sophie looked so hopeful he couldn't say no, though he doubt
  • * * * *
  • "So, what did you think of the concert?" Sophie asked after
  • "It was decent."

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