Then & Now (16 page)

That took him by surprise. He didn’t realize they were that serious. “I
didna see a ring.”  He defiantly stated without dropping his gaze from her accusing one.

“Just because there isn’t one doesn’t mean they’re not.”  Stepping closer, she placed her hand on his arm.  “I don’t like John. In fact I was shocked to find out that she would even agree to marry him. But, trying to take his woman out from under him isn’t right.”

Of course she was right. Sophia was forbidden territory. But he didn’t know what stunned him more; that he was going against everything he was raised to believe or that he was more than willing to do it. He knew that her being engaged didn’t change anything.  Though it should have; it didn’t.  He wanted her.  Now, more than ever. And now that he knew that John was playing for keeps; he needed to act fast.

Sophia climbed out of the shower refreshed.  Changing into her flannel pajamas, she marveled over the spacious bathroom one more time.  His employee’s said Tristan’s trailer was the Hilton on wheels, and as promised it was nothing less.  The entire fifth-wheel was nicer then her apartment, maybe even a little larger.

She toweled her hair as she exited the bedroom and descended the short staircase to the main area of the vast trailer.  Tristan stood behind the dark mahogany counter, preparing something that smelt wonderful.

“Hello.  Feel better?”  He asked with one of his trademark smiles.

“Yes, very much so.
Thank you, again, for letting me use your shower.”  Whishing she had chosen something different to wear, she expressed her gratitude with a shy smile of her own.  She felt rather silly in her extra-large, flannel pajamas.

“Ye’re verra
welcome.  Would ye like a cup of tea?” He placed a mug of great smelling liquid in front of her.

“I can’t turn down something that smells this good.  What kind is it?”  Taking the warm mug into her hands she inhaled the rich aroma of spice.

“Brodies Tea.  My mom sends it to me every year.  She says it’s so I won’t forget Scotland.”  He chuckled softly. 

Taking a careful sip, she savored the taste.  “Oh, this is good.”

“I grew up on this stuff.”  Shaking his head he arched one eyebrow.  “My brother told me that it will put hair on my chest.  Which made me wonder about my sister.”

Laughing, she nearly choked on her tea. 

“Don’t worry.  She’s a model now, without a hair on her chest.”  He assured her.

“That’s good news.  I was worried for a moment.”  She grinned over the rim of the mug. 

Catching a glimpse out of the side window she could tell that the tent was still down.  She walked over to the blind and slightly opened it for a better look.  From the light of the fire and several lanterns she was able to see the flat area where the tent should be standing. 

“Is John back?”  She asked as she turned to Tristan, who had moved up behind her.

“No, they’re having trouble with some of the equipment.  I sent a few men out to bring them back.”  He explained while he studied her face.  “It might be awhile. His team went high up this time.”

Releasing a sigh, she set her mug down.  It was up to her to put the tent up.  She doubted it will be that hard.  If only she had more light.  “Umm…I hate to ask you after you’ve done so much already for me, but do you have a light I can use?”

“A light for what?”

“It looks like I’m putting a tent up for the first time.”  She laughed nervously, trying to sound confident.  “Do you think I can get away with a teepee?  I can do one of those.”

His mouth tilted upwards in attempt to laugh at her joke, but another emotion was tapping it down.  “I can’t let you put that tent up in the dark.  Even some of my men couldna accomplish such a goal.  Why don’t ye just wait in here until John gets back?  Then I can get several men to help.  Okay?”

“Are you sure I’m not imposing? 
I kind of feel like I’m in the way.”  She admitted.

Shaking his head he tsked. “If you f
eel that way, then I’m not doing a good job as yer host.”

“You’ve been wonderful.”  She said with a shy tilt of her head. 

“Thank you.” His voice was as thick and uneven which caused heat to fill her from head to toe.

She had never felt such a substantial amount sexual sensitivity. The air was suddenly dense; she seemed incapable of talking or breathing. Who needed a tent?
She had been in his bedroom.  His bed was by far big enough for them to share or do other activities.  She knew that he was thinking the same thing without a single word being expressed.

Backing away she felt her face redden at the realization.  “I think y-you’re right.”  With a hard swallow she tried to steady her voice.  “I should wait for John. I doubt I would even get a teepee out of it.”

“Ye’re more than welcome to wait here.”  He gestured to one of the large, plush recliners that looked like heaven.

Taking a seat, her body automatically slid into all the right comfortable places. After a moment she found that her eyes couldn’t stay open.  Falling asleep there was not a good idea. Turning her body more towards Tristan, who had taken the opposite recliner, she knew she had to keep talking.

“What part of Scotland are you from?”  She asked trying to get as uncomfortable as possible.

“
Aberdeen.  It’s more North.”

“My grandfather is from
Scotland.”  She yawned.  “I need to find out where.  He moved back there after he sold the ranch.” Yawning again she leaned back more into the chair.

“Maybe I’ll take
ye there, so ye can visit him.”  He offered quietly.

“That would be nice.  I would a highly appreciate it.”  She mumbled slightly incoherent.  Realizing that she needed to get out of the way to comfy chair, she tried to move.  Her muscles refused to cooperate.

“Tired?”

“Yes.”  She confessed.  “I can’t seem to move.  I blame the chair.”    

“Riding takes more out of ye than you’d expect.”  He grinned.   

“I guess so.”  She replied as the chair suddenly glided into its reclined position making it even harder to stay awake.  She was pretty sure she hadn’t been the one to recline the chair, but at that moment she didn’t care.

“Go ahead and rest.”  He whispered as he placed a soft blanket over her.

She wanted to say no, though at that point her body didn’t really want to hear what her mind had to say.  Snuggling deeper into the warm, cozy recliner she let sleep take over.  To her pleasure she let some wild fantasies about Tristan and his four-wheeled beast take over as well.

Sophia awoke to John’s voice.  Her eyes flipped open expecting to find him standing over her. 
Blinking quickly she took a moment to take in the morning rays that filled the lush trailer. She had slept in Tristan’s chair the entire night. Oh, man.  She could only imagine what John had to say about that.

When she realized that John was right outside she pushed the chair into a seated position and listened carefully.  The walls of the trailer muffled most of the sound enabling her to hear anything clearly.  Getting up from her chair she listened for the direction of his voice.  Out of the small window over the dining table Sophia could see John speaking to one of the other men in the camp.  He looked irritated.

She could see Tristan on the other side of the camp hunched over a laptop.  Realizing she had the trailer to herself she scrambled up the stairs, and quickly changed into a new pair of jeans and a heavy sweater.  She ran a brush quickly through her hair, then pulled it back into another ponytail. Without giving herself another glace she hurried outside.

As she stepped out of the trailer her eyes connected with Tristan’s.  With a quick wink and an amiable smile he went back to work.  It was strange that a simple gesture from someone that she knew for only a short time would have more of an effect on her than someone she had promised herself to.

Shaking off the thought she walked slowly up to John.  He was assembling the tent with jerky movements and frustrated grunts.  She tried to picture him in his tux and what her wedding dress would look like.  What flours did she want? 
Lilies. Calla Lilies would be very pretty.  Maybe she should get orange ones for the fall.  She liked the purple ones better, though John thought they would look better at a funeral. She bet Tristan would look good in purple; it would bring out his eyes.

Oh, man
!  She reprimanded herself.  She couldn’t even think of something sacred without thinking of John’s boss in an unsuitable way.

Watching her fiancé, Sophia stood silently unsure of how to approach him.  He kicked some of her belongings out of his way and let a few profanities fly.
A quick glance in her direction let her know that he was aware of her but could have cared less. She remained motionless allowing him to make the first move.  Sadly, he continued to build the tent without another look in her direction.

“So, you’re mad at me?”  She asked in a small voice.

“Damn right I am.”  He grunted harshly.

“Why?”

Dropping what was in his hand he came at her.  He took her arm and led her away from the ears of the camp.  “Do you have any idea how stupid you made me look?  Instead of putting the tent up you went off with
my
boss leaving the tent down and making me look like a total fool.”

Glancing at the tent she felt the rush of guilt. “I’m sorry he asked me to go for a ride.”

“Yeah, I guess that is more important than putting up our tent.  Do you have any idea what time I got to camp last night?”  Pausing briefly he dropped his voice to a nasty sneer. “No.  You wouldn’t have, would you?  Instead of putting up a tent you weaseled your way into someone’s trailer.”

Guilt instantly gone she folded her arms and eyed him carefully. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” He growled.

“Let me get this straight.  While you went off into the mountains—leaving me alone—you expected me to build a tent in which I have never done in my life!”  She felt her anger getting the better of her.  Her ears burned with rage as her voice cracked.  She knew this was going to be a bad weekend.

“What you can’t read instructions?”  He asked with a spiteful glare.

“Is there a problem?”  Tristan’s accent caused them both to fall silent.  “John?
Is there a problem?”  He repeated when neither one of them answered.

“No, sir.
  Just a lover’s quarrel.”  John’s answer had a definite condescending undertone.

Without looking at either one of them Sophia kept her eyes glued on her shoes.  As tears threatened to spill she cleared her throat.  She was so tired; tired of everything. Emotionally drained and mentally exhausted. She wanted to go home.  

“Okay…Then when you’re done with yer tent, I want ye to lead the team back to where you were located yesterday.”  Tristan ordered with distinct authority.

“You want me to lead?”  John asked with the hostility suddenly vanishing from his voice. 

“Aye.  Trent told me about yer quick thinking that saved most of the equipment.  I need someone like you to be running my teams.”  Although he spoke to John, Sophia could feel his eyes on her. “Of course, this will be a higher pay.  However, the days will be longer and travel will be farther.  Will this work for you?”

“Yeah.”
  John exclaimed obviously pleased with Tristan’s offer.

“Good.  When you’re ready assemble a team and head out.” He turned to face her fully catching her and John off guard he asked.  “If I could, I would like to use
ye today in one of our testing runs.”

Her eyes shot up to meet his heavenly ones.  “Me?  How can I help?”

“Our new off-road vehicle claims that it is easy for anyone to use on all terrain.”  He gave a slight shrug.  “The way ye drove yesterday I think you’d be good at it.”

Glancing at John, she noticed his quizzical stare at the two of them. She shouldn’t go anywhere with Tristan.  Taking another ride with him will only make things worse.  She would never be able to stop thinking about the one man she should stay away from. What she should do was go home and give her and John’s relationship a hard look over.

“I will pay you.  If that is what ye wish.” Tristan offered, sounding anxious.

“Do it, Sophia.”  John urged.  “You need the money, and that way you won’t be left
alone
.”

“I…”

“Say yes!”  Angela called from only a few feet away.  “I don’t want to be the only girl going up with these Neanderthals.”

Smiling at her new found friend, Sophia nodded.  “Sure.  It will be fun.”  

After several hours of ridding and constant laughing, Sophia had officially marked this as one of the most entertaining days she had in a long time.  It was almost shocking to think that she could be comfortable this far out of civilization.  Hanging out in the intimidating forest once terrified her, now for the first time in her life she felt at home. 

Munching on the best tasting candy-bar she had ever consumed, she strolled along a make shift trail waiting for the team to figure out where they were headed next.  She spotted Angela sitting on a log looking worn-out.