Page 78 of Saving Sophia

“Go into the bathroom and bring me your hairbrush if you’re done,” I instructed, taking her dishes away.

Her eyes turned wide as windows. “You said I wasn’t in trouble.”

The wholesome laugh she brought out of me was good and I wanted more of it in my life. I wanted more of her. All of her. “You’re not, silly girl. Remember the rules? Daddy does your hair.”

She padded off to the bathroom, but she looked over her shoulder at me. Twice.

So fucking cute.

When she returned, I patted the barstool and took the brush from her hand. Standing behind her, I drew the brush through her silky hair, reveling in its supple glow, watching it cascade down her back as I released it.

She let out a little moan and leaned her head back. “That feels so good.”

“It’s supposed to.” I leaned down to give her a kiss. I could kiss her all day. If my day wasn’t packed, I would. Especially since she’d shared her secret with me. But I knew they would be safe with Griff.

I forced myself to focus on the task. Her hair gleamed in my hands. “So beautiful,” I murmured. I split it in two, loving the silk of it in my fingers. I pulled two of the bands wrapped around the handle of her brush off to secure low ponytails that rested loose and wavy on her shoulders.

“You like it like this?” she whispered, tipping her head to one side.

“I like you like this,” I answered, kissing her again.

She pressed herself against me.

With perfect timing, Griff’s heavy knock rattled the door. She pulled away again, adorably pink-cheeked and breathless.

“Don’t think these interruptions are always going to save you, baby girl,” I teased. “Tonight, you are mine.”

* * *

I passed Evie’s car in the lot as I walked up the steps of the Mt. Tahoma Lodge House and headed up to our new office. “Morning, Evie,” I called out as I stepped through the door. “You’re here early.”

She hopped up from her desk, smoothing down her perfectly pressed charcoal gray skirt. I grinned at the thought of Sophia wanting to wear business-y clothes.

Evie held her hands out to collect my briefcase, setting it down on her desk. “You have a call starting in ten.”

I nodded. “What would I do without you?”

She smirked and shifted her eyeglasses. “Miss about a thousand meetings?”

I laughed as I headed to my desk. “Speaking of meetings, I need you to block off some time tomorrow. Hayden’s coming in and we’ll need the conference room.”

We’d spoken briefly, and he wanted to take Sophia’s statement in person. Evie pursed her lips and made a note on her tablet.

“And did you get an estimated completion time on that request I gave you?”

She tapped a finger on the side of the tablet, giving me her best skeptical face. “I did. But … the price was exorbitant. He’s the most sought-after glass artist in Seattle. He’s booked out for a year. I wasn’t sure you’d authorize?—”

“Do it. Cost doesn’t matter.”

She frowned. “But it’s a cheap glass statue, not worth?—”

“Whatever it takes.” The look on Sophia’s face would be worth it.

“Of course, Ethan.” Evie shook her head. “Anything else?”

“I need to go over some details before the meeting with Rook’s design team. Did we get it rescheduled?” I sat down at my desk and clicked open my email.

“About that.” Evie sat down across from me, reaching out to straighten a stack of folders. “Rook left a message. The design lead fired her main assistant, and one of the other two just quit.”

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