Saving Sophie: Book Seven In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series (18 page)

“Okay.”

“See ya, Stone.”

“Bye.” He shook his head as Abby hurried out the door. “Christ, she’s exhausting.”

“She’s wonderful.”

“And exhausting. Let’s grab the stuff and get out of here.”

She didn’t feel right taking the presents, but she said nothing and followed behind Stone as he put the envelopes on top of the prettily wrapped box and opened the door for her.

An hour later they pulled into the drive after a quiet ride home. Neither had said much as the miles passed them by. This wasn’t the way she wanted things to be. Stone had assured her everything would stay the same, but they were already different.

He turned off the car and stared out the window.

“Are you sure you don’t want to get started on the kitchen?”

He shook his head. “Next week.”

She nodded and opened her door, more than ready to escape the undercurrents of tension. “I guess I’ll get some work finished up before I start dinner.” She got out, carrying the box of cupcakes, not bothering to grab the items they put in the trunk. She didn’t want to deal with cards and well wishes. Work was what she needed. It would help her settle, and maybe she could squeeze in a walk on the beach with Murphy before she started supper.

“Hey, Soph.” Stone walked up behind her, grabbing her hand.

She wanted to tug free and keep going, but she turned, looking into Stone’s dark glasses.

“I think newlyweds should definitely play to twenty on their wedding day.”

“You do?”

“I do.” He smiled, lifting his shades.

She grinned as she studied the challenging light in his eyes. Suddenly everything was okay. “Five minutes to change. First one out to the court gets the ball.”

“You’re on.”

She rushed to the front door, laughing, relaxed for the first time in hours.

Sophie forked up another bite of her salad, staring
at the band circling Stone’s ring finger. He picked up his third fajita, bit in, then shook his head with a short groan.

“Damn, this is good. I think you should give up the jewelry thing and open a restaurant instead.”

She gave him a small smile, glancing at his left hand again as the silver glint caught in the harsh light from the ceiling.

He paused with the next bite at his lips. “What?”

“I was just looking at your ring.”

He grunted, sinking his teeth in for more green pepper, onion, steak, and cheese wrapped in the soft flour shell.

She twisted her own band round and round her finger. “You don’t have to wear that.”

He frowned. “Why wouldn’t I?”

She jerked her shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess it’s kind of silly if you think about it.”

“Did you marry me today?”

“Yes, but it isn’t real.”

He wiped his mouth and set down his napkin. “It’s real for the next year. I said I would do this, so I will. I’m all in.” He swiped at his hair, still damp from his after-game shower. “I guess the better question is are you?”

“Yes. Yes. It’s just—” She set down her fork. “This morning when we woke up we were Stone and Sophie—roommates. Now we’re Mr. and Mrs. McCabe.”

“So it’s a little weird. We’ll get used to it. Kind of like you’ll get used to me kicking your butt on the court the way I did today.”

She narrowed her eyes. “By two points.” She’d fought to the end, but his last minute steal and excellent shooting skills made him the winner of their grueling, late-afternoon game.

He shrugged. “Two points is two points.
Winning
points.”

“Anyone can win when they travel more than dribble.”

“Bullshit. What about your elbow to my stomach? That was a technical—easy.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she answered primly, avoiding eye contact as she fibbed.

He grinned. “Dirty pool, Soph.”

She laughed. “Maybe.”

“Definitely.”

She stacked her bowl on her plate, chuckling, feeling easier after their banter. “Do you want one of the cupcakes the caterer sent home with us?”

“Not yet. I want you to open the gifts.” He gestured to the box and envelopes on the counter.

She nibbled her lip with the small wave of guilt. “I don’t know—”

“They did this for us. We can’t give them back.”

“I just feel like we’re lying.”

“We’re not
lying
, Soph. We’ve got a marriage certificate and rings to prove it.”

Technicalities, but she sighed, relenting. “You’re right.”

“I know I am.” He reached over, tipping in his chair, and grabbed the items, setting them in front of her.

“You open the card from the office.”

“All right.” He took the envelope from the small pile and tore it along the top crease, whistling through his teeth as he held up the gift certificate. “Looks like you and I will be dining in style at Domain. I hear the food is excellent.”

“That was very kind.”

“I say after we rip up the kitchen next week we go out for dinner.”

She smiled, liking the idea. “It’s a date.”

“Your turn. Go ahead and open the box from Abby.” He pushed it closer.

Nodding, she ripped the pretty paper. “Abby told me she had something for me a couple days ago. At this point I don’t think I’ll ever have to buy clothes again.”

“She definitely keeps your closet full.”

“You’re telling me. I told her I have plenty—
more
than plenty, but she assures me I’m fun to dress.” Chuckling, she lifted the lid, pulling the beautiful apricot-colored satin and lace slip from the tissue paper.

Stone raised his brows as their eyes met.

“Uh, I don’t think—” She shoved the gorgeous nighty back into the box, certain her cheeks were bright red. “I—”

“Not bad.”

“Yes, but—” She cleared her throat. “I don’t think she meant to—I’m sure she wasn’t suggesting—I can’t wear this—”

“Relax, Soph. Sexy nighties don’t obligate you to a roll in the sheets.”

She swallowed with the rush of heat, glancing at his mouth, remembering the way his lips had moved against hers while his rough, calloused hands teased her skin. Her new sleepwear didn’t force her into a roll in the sheets, but it reminded her that she was more than a little curious. “Right.”

He opened the last couple of cards, holding up more gift certificates, this time for her favorite department store. “Our friends got us some nice stuff.”

“Yes, they did.”

He leaned in, resting his arms on the table. “So, what’s up with the sad eyes?”

She held his gaze, still surprised he could read her so easily—that he cared enough to try and figure her out. “I’m not sad. I think uneasy is a better word. I’m so glad Ethan was able to help us get the license filed today, and the certificate. And it’s a relief knowing the social security card is on the way, but now I’m on the radar again. I can’t stop wondering how long it’ll be before Eric’s private investigator figures it out. He’ll come.” Her breath shuddered out on a rush of fear. “Eric will come as soon as he knows.”

“And we’ll be ready. Or we can put ourselves out of our misery and head up to Maine.”

“No.” She pushed back in her chair, ready to end the conversation.

“Easy, Soph.” He hooked his ankles around the legs of her chair, pulling her back in. “You and I both know the best defense is a good offense. We’ll lawyer up, get the charges dropped, and make Eric disappear. We have more control over the situation if we act first.”

Everything Stone said was right, but the thought of seeing Eric again, of knowing what was in store if their plan didn’t work, was almost too much. “I’m afraid,” she admitted.

“I know.” He touched her hand. “I’m not. We’re officially in this together now. Let’s take this asshole down.”

“I just…” She huffed, hardly able to believe she was actually considering going back. “When would—when would we leave?”

“Ethan said he can give me until Sunday. We could catch the first flight out tomorrow. Maybe Murphy can stay with the Cookes, or Abby can keep an eye on him. We can deal with the bullshit and catch the redeye back.”

“We could come home tomorrow?”

“It’ll be a long day. We’ll pack a bag just in case, but I don’t see why we shouldn’t be able to. You didn’t do anything wrong, Soph.”

Being in the same zip code as Eric for any amount of time was too long, but Stone would be with her.

“I’ll contact the attorney Ethan suggested when I spoke to him at the reception deal Abby put together for us, and we’ll see what he wants us to do.”

She couldn’t truly move on with her life until she put Eric and her warrant behind her. She nodded, still hesitant. “Okay. I guess it doesn’t hurt for us to hear what he has to say.”

“I’ll call him right now.”

She nodded, knowing that once they got the ball rolling there was no turning back.

~~~~

“Sounds great. Thanks, Jeremiah.” Stone hung up. He’d been on the phone with the lawyer for nearly two hours. He walked down the hall from the living room to Sophie’s bedroom and knocked on the doorframe.

“Come on in.” She set down her book and sat up. The skimpy pink tank top she wore accentuated her small, perky breasts, driving him crazy. She’d twisted her hair into a loose bun, exposing more of her soft skin.

“Sorry that took so long.”

“That’s all right.” She pulled back her covers, revealing shapely legs in her striped pajama bottoms.

“Don’t get up.”

“Okay.” She settled herself so she leaned against the wall. “What did he say?”

He sat on the edge of the cot. “That we’re all set. The police in Bangor have been contacted. They’ve agreed to suspend the warrant until we can get there and straighten this out.”

She bunched her hands in her lap. “The attorney doesn’t think we can handle things from here?

He didn’t miss the nervous gesture or the way her voice tightened. He hated that the bastard made her so afraid. “Jeremiah is strongly encouraging us to come. It shows the police that you’re fully willing to cooperate and have nothing to hide. Plus, it’s easier to clear things up in person.”

“What if they don’t believe me? What if they put me in jail and release me to Eric?”

“They’ll believe you because you’re telling the truth. They have no proof otherwise. If worse comes to worst and they do put you in jail, which is incredibly unlikely, they’ll release you to me because I’m your husband.”

“I’m liking this marriage thing more and more.” She gave him a small smile as she looked at him with worry in her eyes.

“This is going to work out, Soph. They’ve got nothing but his word over yours.”

“His accountants can make it look like I took the money. Clearly they already have.”

“But you didn’t.”

She shook her head. “No I didn’t, but I—I drugged him.”

His brows winged high. “What?”

She licked her lips nervously, staring at the bed, plucking at her sheets. “I put sleeping pills in the beer I gave him so I could get away.” She flicked him a guilty glance.

What the hell was he supposed to do with that? “You might’ve wanted to tell me that before now.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” She hooked her arms around her knees, wrapping herself in a tight ball. “My car was fitted with a tracking device. So was my cell phone. I had a strict schedule. He called me every hour. If I didn’t answer by the second ring, I got in trouble. It was impossible to make a move he didn’t know about. I didn’t know what else to do. I was desperate…” She sighed. “It wasn’t right.”

“You did what you had to do.” He gripped her ankle, giving a gentle shake. “We’ll keep that to ourselves unless they bring it up.”

She nodded.

“Is there anything else I should know about?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so. I can’t think of anything.”

“Let me know if you do.”

“Okay.”

“I booked us the first flight out—seven ten. We’ll drop Murphy off at Ethan’s. Bear and Reece will run heard over him until we get back.”

“What time are we coming home?”

He held her gaze, already knowing she wasn’t going to like his answer. “I didn’t book our return flight yet.”

She frowned. “Why?”

“We need to see how things go.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means we have to see what Officer Abney has to say.”

“
Clyde
? Eric’s
buddy
?” She rushed to her feet and let out an exasperated laugh. “I can’t do this. I can’t go to Maine.” She moved to the window, staring out.

“Soph.” He stood, sighing as he walked to her. They had to go. They had to get this resolved.

“You have no idea what you’re asking of me.” She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes hot and miserable.

He settled his hands on her tense arms. “I don’t exactly, but I can try to imagine. I’m going to be there with you.”

“The idea of being there at all makes me ill. Being able to tell myself it’s only for a couple hours makes the whole thing slightly tolerable. I need a timeframe. I need to know I get to come back to Los Angeles and the life I’ve started here.”

“You will.”

“You don’t know that,” she murmured, looking straight ahead.

Hesitating, he wrapped his arms around her, settling his cheek against her temple, needing to give the comfort she hadn’t allowed him to last night. “Yes I do, because the lawyer we just put on retainer is supposed to be one of the best in Maine, and I’m not coming back here without you.”

Her body relaxed as she settled her hands on his forearms.

“We’re going to get through this.” He pulled her tighter against him, breathing in her scent, feeling the softness of her skin pressed to his. “Together.”

She slid her palms to his wrists, holding on. “How do I thank you for all that you’ve done and are doing?”

“You don’t.”

She turned, facing him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you anyway,” she said quietly, smiling

He wanted to pull her mouth to his and draw out the tenderness, but he smiled instead, tucking the hair escaping her bun behind her ear. He’d never been like this with anyone. No one had ever caught him up the way Sophie did. It was so easy to be gentle and soothe. “You’re welcome. Try to get some sleep. I’ll see you soon.”

She nodded and walked to the cot, pulling her covers back.

“We need to do better than that.”

“What?”

“The cot.” He gestured with his head.

“Oh, I don’t mind. It’s actually comfortable. But now that your room is almost finished we should probably think about me moving to the trailer so you can buy yourself a bedroom set.”

As he stared at his pretty wife in the dim light, he had no intentions of buying anything until he knew he wouldn’t have to sleep in here without her. “Let’s worry about that after we get home.”

“Okay.” She settled herself under the covers. “Good night.”

“Night.” He walked out when he wished he could stay.

~~~~

Eric lay in bed, reading through David’s latest report, swearing at the lack of anything new. Their lead on Sophie had fizzled. Dylan Matther’s ID hadn’t been used again after the purchase of the bus ticket in Los Angeles. If David didn’t come up with something in the next day or two he was going to be forced to board a plane and fly west. Searching for Sophie on foot was bound to warrant more results than the useless crap David had produced. He crumpled the papers into a tight ball and threw it across the room.

“Damn it.” This was getting him
nowhere
. Where the hell
was
she? His phone rang at his side, and he frowned when Bangor Police Department popped up on the screen. “Hello?”

“Hello, Eric, this is Clyde.”

“Clyde?” He smoothed out his voice. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m sorry to be calling so late.”

“No, you’re fine. I was looking over a couple of documents for the gallery.” He glanced at the wads of paper on his floor.

“Look.” He sighed. “I shouldn’t be telling you this. I could lose my job, but I’m going to anyway.” He sighed again. “Sophie’s coming to town tomorrow.”