Page 59 of Back On Ice

Nicole: Hope you’re keeping the bed warm for me.

Sighing, I open the phone to read the rest of the messages.

Nicole: I miss you baby

Nicole: Can’t wait to see you

Nicole: I need to feel your hands on me

Nicole: I’ll be there to see you soon

Then a fucking ridiculous selfie of her biting her lip.

The messages are misleading and overly familiar, and absolutely make it look like we have something going on. I immediately dial Sophie’s number, but it goes straight to voicemail.“Hi, you’ve reached Sophie Hartwell. If this is in regards to Hart’s Flowers, please call?—”

Shit! I dial again.

“Hi, you’ve reached So?—”

Fucking damnit!

I try again, but don’t stay on past the “Hi”. She must have turned her phone off. I don’t think she was going through my phone, but if the sound of messages woke her up, I have no doubt she would have gone to turn off the volume and saw these messages instead. I shoot off a text that I hope she doesn’t just ignore when she turns her phone back on.

Me: Sophie, I can explain. Please call me.

Me: I know that’s what everyone says, but I mean it. There is NOTHING going on with anyone else. You’re the only one.

The urge to chase her down and explain that Nicole is just a puck bunny that can’t take no for an answer is nearly overwhelming, but I have to leave for that meeting in Boston with Jake, and if we miss that theneverythingwill go to shit.

Gut churning, I hurry and get dressed, trying not to think about how devastated Sophie must feel. She thinks I betrayed her.

My phone pings again, and I swear, if it’s another text from Nicole…

Jake: I’ll meet you outside in ten minutes.

Exhaling through my nose, I toss my phone back on the bed and finish getting ready. I need to focus. If I can just get through this meeting and sign with Boston, I can ensure that I stay in state and be with Sophie. Then, I can apologize when I get back tonight.

It’s not perfect, and not finding her right now is killing me, but if I want any chance of us being together long-term, I have to land this contract.

I’m nearly to my car when the sound of clacking high heels makes me look up.

Fucking Nicole.

Bleach blond hair, green eyes, and a body like a stick. She’s in a skirt that’s way too short, and she looks at me with heavily made up eyes in a way that I’m sure she thinks is sultry.

“Carter, baby, I missed you!” She approaches me with open arms and I take a step back.

“Nicole, what thefuckare you doing here?” I don’t keep the venom from my voice.

“Where else would I be?” Her voice is sickly sweet as she tries to latch onto my arm. “I’ve been waiting for you,” she coos, and my stomach drops. No woman besides Sophie should touch me like this.

My hand rips hers off my arm, and I ignore her sound of protest. “Lay off, Nicole. This is getting old. I’ve made it clearmultiple times that I’m not interested and things are never going to happen between us again.”

“But Carter…” She juts her lip out.

“No buts. You’re entering stalker territory, and if you don’t get the hell out of Ivy Glen, my lawyer will draw up a restraining order.” It’s a low blow, but I can’t take it anymore. I’ve basically been running from this girl since a very drunken, stupid mistake in college my sophomore year.

Her face contorts in anger. “Don’t worry, Carter. I know that I’m what you want. You’ll see.”

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