Page 123 of Trying Sophie

“Nice to meet you, Sophie.”

In preparation for the party, I’d spent the morning studying Declan’s teammates and the positions they played. “Ah, the guy who goes for all the line outs,” I answered, extending my hand. “Nice to meet you too, Sean.”

“Ah, a lass who knows her rugby,” he answered and Declan snorted.

“I think you’ve just taxed the extent of her knowledge,” he answered good-naturedly and I pinched him.

“Shut it. I’ve been studying,” I admitted.

“Have you now?” he asked, his voice dropping a few sexy octaves.

It was obvious Declan was delighted I’d made an effort to learn more about his sport. I figured since it was important to him—and Declan was increasingly important to me—taking the time to learn the basics was a worthwhile investment.

“Yes,” I replied. “And I’m guessing that lot over there—” I pointed to three men best described as human tanks “—are your props.”

Declan and Sean’s eyes followed my hand and Sean chuckled, a deep rumbling sound. “Speaking of props,” he said, “that lightweight Mick needs someone to hold him up. Nice to meet you Sophie,” he repeated and walked away.

When he was gone, Declan kissed me, slow and deep. “Thank you,” he whispered in my ear.

“For what?”

“For showing an interest in what I do. It means a lot.”

I shrugged noncommittally. “I figured with all the matches we air at Fitzgerald’s it’d be more pleasant knowing what was happening and why everyone was screaming and cheering.”

His eyes flicked between mine. “Really, I mean it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Rugby’s important to you and you’re important to me, so …”

For the next hour, Declan introduced me to his closest friends on the team and their wives and girlfriends. Some of the women were nice and friendly, while others were … not so nice and friendly.

“Ignore her,” a woman named Claire whispered as she sidled up next to me with a glass of cider in one hand and one of those vaping sticks in the other. When she saw me eyeing it, she laughed. “Disgusting habit, I know, but it’s supposed to be better than the pack of cigarettes a day I used to smoke. I’m trying to wean myself off nicotine entirely and social vaping is my last concession to the party girl I used to be.”

“Good luck to you then,” I said. Then, eyeing the leggy red head across the room shooting daggers my way, I leaned close to Claire and asked, “What’s her problem anyway.”

“Oh, it’s nothing personal,” she answered, blowing out a puff of cotton candy scented vapor. “She had a thing with Declan and can’t stand the fact that he isn’t interested in going down that road again.”

With a twist of my gut, I asked as casually as I could, “How long ago was that?”

Claire scrunched her nose up and thought for a second. “Let’s see, maybe a year ago or so? Like I said, old news.”

Actually, she hadn’t said that, but I got her meaning. Translation: well before you came along.

While there were times I couldn’t recall my life before Declan, the auburn beauty’s dark looks were a stark reminder that up until very recently, he’d led a very different sort of life. Even though I knew being with him meant accepting his past, coming face to face with one of the women he’d fucked felt abysmal. Striving to hide my real feelings, I squared my shoulders and took a drink of my beer. Feigning disinterest, I said, “Right, old news.”

“A word of advice?” Claire asked, eyeing me thoughtfully.

I nodded, taking another sip of my beer.

“I’ve known Maggie a couple of years now, and women like her for much longer. She’s going to try to make trouble for you. Don’t let her.”

I dragged my eyes across the room and watched as Declan told a story that had everyone around him laughing. Sensing my gaze, he turned my way and smiled, raising his beer to me in salute. I grinned back then trailed my eyes to where Maggie stood in a corner, commiserating with three women. As they whispered frantically at each other, one of them cast me furtive glances.

“I have too,” I told Claire, remembering all the women who’d acted the same way around my dad. “I’ve been around them my whole life, in fact.”

Declan’s not your dad, the voice in my head rushed to assure me. I knew that, I really did. And yet …

“I sense there’s a story there,” Claire said, raising a curious eyebrow.

---