Page 64 of Wrapped in You

Sophie stared down at the stew. It was suddenly and horribly clear that he did not want her here. He didn't want her, period.

She felt so stupid.

"I'm really sorry to bother you," she said.

Derek hesitated, then reached out to take the stew. He couldn't look her in the eye. Behind him, she could make out a suitcase on the ground, clothes strewn over the top. It was clear he hadn't properly unpacked, although he'd been living here for a while now.

He can't relax into his life.

Give him space.

It's what he wants.

"Anyway," Sophie offered. "No hard feelings, okay?"

Before he had a chance to say anything, she twisted around and hurried toward her car. She cranked the engine and was gone in thirty seconds, whipping down the road ten miles over the speed limit. Tears drained from her eyes.

Over and over again, she repeated to herself, "I don't love him. I don't love him. It was all pretend."

On the radio, the DJ played "Silver Bells." It added insult to injury. She turned it off.

Chapter Twenty-One

Sophie made up her mind after that: no more romance. Just Culinary Tastings, Willow Creek, family, and the Christmas Festival. It was enough.

She was and would always be a workaholic. Thank goodness for that. Work didn't kiss you and run away. Work didn't ask you to marry it and then abandon you when things got hard.

Work offered immediate rewards. It gave back what you put into it.

To Cindy, Sophie said, "No more talking about Derek Brownlee."

Cindy pretended to zip her lips and throw away the key, but her eyes stirred with questions. Sophie prayed Cindy would keep those questions to herself.

Sophie's new resolve didn't diminish her excitement about Christmas. In fact, she went overboard on Christmas flair at the catering table on the set ofSilver Bells, making an even better round of Christmassy croissants, having the catering staff sing carols for the cast and crew, and hanging mistletoe overhead to catch them off guard.

Natalie and Brent welcomed the mistletoe. Their love was electric, and they wanted everyone to know it. Over and overagain, they pretended to "forget" about the mistletoe and kiss for all to see. "Oh no! How did we forget about it again? Ha ha!"

Brent had begun calling Natalie "My Christmas Bride!" and Natalie called him "My Dashing Christmas Husband!" Mike, Isaac, and Beck pretended to throw up each time.

Sophie was happy for them. She still believed in romance, but only for other people.

Beautiful people like Natalie and Brent deserved each other. In time—maybe this summer or next—their wedding would probably be featured in a major celebrity magazine. Natalie's face would go viral on social media. Brides would emulate her for at least a few wedding seasons after that.

Derek Brownlee only missed a single day of work due to illness. After that, he was back to his professional and intense self on set, taking all breaks in his trailer and never daring to come to the catering stand.

Cara was on set intermittently. She wasn't aware of what had transpired between Derek and Sophie, although sometimes Sophie suspected she knew more than she let on.

"I've been working a lot from the cabin," Cara explained. "Derek has another movie lined up in California after this, and I'm trying to secure another gig for summer. Derek's happier when his career is moving forward."

"Aren't we all?" Sophie said with a fake smile.

"That's right," Cara said. "You're expanding Culinary Tastings! Congratulations."

Sophie's smile hurt her face. "It's really exciting, right?"

Cara touched her shoulder. She looked like she wanted to say something. Maybe it was up to her, as Derek's assistant, to apologize for him?

Instead, she just said, "It's been so nice getting to know you, Sophie. I'll be sad when we have to head home."

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