Page 38 of The Forces of Love

Mitch groaned and tipped his head back. “Don’t listen to him. It’s Greg. Or you can call him old man like I do.”

Greg swatted him with a dish towel and grinned. “That’s why I like this guy; he’s like a son to me.”

Damn. It was like seeing double.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Langford.”

“None of that. Just Greg. It’s lovely to finally put a face to the name, Sophie. I was starting to wonder if you really existed.”

Mitch slipped his hand into Sophie’s and tugged her toward the hallway. “Okay, that’s enough. Yell when the food arrives.”

“Door open, young man.”

“You’re not funny,” Mitch called, tickling Sophie’s ribs when she giggled. “And you’re not helping. He’s going to be insufferable now.”

“Huh, I wonder what that’s like,” she replied dryly.

“You love it,” came his usual reply.

And lord help her, she actually might.

* * *

MITCH

Mitch should have known his dad wouldn’t cool it after dinner. Clearly, he’d underestimated the guy. Barely minutes after clearing the dishes, he joined them in the living room with a guitar in each hand. Apparently, his dad’s mission tonight was to scare Sophie so badly that she never came back.

“Wow. You both play?” Sophie asked.

“Dad’s the one who taught me.” Mitch took the guitar with a glare.

Winking in response, Greg sat across from them. “You’re better though.”

“He’s lying,” Mitch said.

“I am absolutely not lying. Sophie, don’t listen to him.”

“Dad, come on.”

“What? I’m trying to make you look good.”

With a huff, he tried to shake off the mortification. This couldn’t be more embarrassing. “Just play the damn song already.”

“I’m trying to. I’m waiting on you.”

Sophie’s muffled laughter cut through the quiet. She looked incredible where she was curled up on the end of the couch. At least three sections of her hair were loosely plaited, and her fingers were starting on a fourth. The sweater she’d had wrapped around her waist earlier now covered her shoulders, and she had her feet tucked under her. It was a rare soft Sophie moment.

He never wanted it to end.

Mitch pointed at her. “Don’t you start.”

“Since when does the entertainment heckle the audience?”

“You tell him, Sophie.”

Great. They were bonding. Mitch cleared his throat and focused on positioning his fingers along the fretboard before he could say something stupid likeI love you.

* * *

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