Page 71 of Wrapped in You

Instead of reaching for the napkin on the end table, Sophie leaned forward and kissed the foam from his lips, pressing the foam onto her own upper lip. The air in the room intensified. Their hot chocolates were abandoned, and suddenly, their arms were around one another, and their kisses were more and more passionate. Sophie's thoughts drained away, and all she was, now, was his. Their hearts beat as one.

When they came up for air, their arms and legs were wrapped around one another on the sofa, and it was nearly eleven thirty.

Derek pressed his nose against hers. His breath was sweet from the cocoa. "Tell me more about you, Sophie. Tell me about your business. Nobody can stop talking about it. You're expanding! You're going to take over the state!" He smiled, but his eyes were sorrowful. "You know, it's strange. When I firstheard about your business expanding, I was jealous. I thought, 'She'd never have time for me.' Isn't that so stupid? So selfish?"

Sophie felt a strange shift in her stomach.

It's true, she thought now.

"I can't believe I made you jealous," Sophie offered.

"Are you kidding? I was mad with jealousy every time I heard someone else make you laugh," he said, smiling.

Sophie pressed her cheek to his chest and listened to his heart's steady beat.

"I don't know if I really want to expand," Sophie said softly.

"Why's that?" He sounded curious and worried about her.

How could Sophie explain? She sat up and tucked her hair behind her ears.

This is what couples do, she remembered. They share private problems. They whisper secrets.

"All year, Culinary Tastings has been struggling," she confessed. "I worked hard to get contracts here in Willow Creek; I took weddings and birthday parties; I tried to market us; I created brand-new recipes. But it wasn't enough until my colleague Randy started helping me."

Derek's eyes lit up. "Randy. He's a great guy, isn't he?"

"He's incredible: a savvy business partner and a real go-getter," Sophie said. "In fact, his eagerness to grow the business has proven something to me. Something hard to admit."

Derek took her hand and gazed into her eyes as though to say,You can tell me.

Sophie closed her eyes. Once she said it, it would be real.

"I don't know if I want to stretch myself so thin," she offered. "I think my sister's right about me. I've been a workaholic. I've been obsessed. And Randy's vision for the future will demand so much more of me. Maybe it's more than I can give."

Derek stroked her hair. "It's good you know that about yourself."

Sophie shook slightly. "I don't know. Maybe it's wrong."

"How does it feel when you say it? Does it feel like the truth?"

Sophie thought for a moment. She felt her confession settle in her stomach. "It feels like the truth. For better or worse."

Derek brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed them. The act was so tender, so gentle. Sophie's eyes filled with tears.

"Why don't you tell Randy how you feel?" Derek suggested.

Sophie's lips parted. "Close the door on his dreams? He's buying a house! He's asking his girlfriend to marry him! I don't want to interrupt that."

Derek furrowed his brow. "You said Culinary Tastings is in the black now, right?"

Sophie nodded. "For the first time in years. And we're growing."

"Why don't you let it grow?" Derek suggested. "Give Randy as many responsibilities as he can handle and assess what you really want."

Sophie's lips parted with surprise.

This plan was bizarre.

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