Page 15 of The Road Trip Romance

“Not sure. I’m in between projects, so maybe a few days,” I offer. I practically see little cartoon hearts shooting from her eyes. Dear God, I need to get away from her.

“Sophia, do you have some things you want to go over with me?” I ask.

She looks at me and then at Holly. I see her lips twitch with amusement. “Sure. Holly, maybe you can give Tate a tutorial on our e-filing system later,” she suggests.

“Oh, sure. Whenever you want, Tate,” Holly offers with enough enthusiasm to rival a sweets lover being chosen to win a lifetime supply of candy.

“Great. Look forward to it,” I lie. I follow Sophia back to her office, and when she shuts the door, I glare at her. “You suck, you know that?”

She giggles and shrugs. “I couldn’t help myself,” she says.

She motions to the small table in her office. “Have a seat and do whatever it is movie stars do and I’m going to get some work done. We can head back to the house at lunch and then I have to get the kids from camp this afternoon. Mark will be picking them up from my house at six.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I reply as I take a seat.

I glance over at Sophia who is studying something on her computer screen. She looks like a sexy librarian. But she doesn’t act like she knows she’s sexy.Does she not know that?

My gaze travels over her body. I love that she has curves. I miss women having curves. Every woman I’ve dated in Hollywood seems to be on a diet. Even Lacey is on the slender side and sticks to salads for most of her meals. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with eating healthy or being thin, but Sophia doesn’t seem to think about that at all.Does she?I hope she doesn’t. She’s perfect just how she is…or at least I think so…so far.

CHAPTERSEVEN

Sophia

True to his word, Tate had left me alone to work all morning. Then, he’d asked me questions about my book on the way home. And now he was helping to get the kids packed for their dad’s house.

Oh shit, Mark! He has no idea.

I pick up my phone and call him.

“Hey, are the kids ready? I can come over now,” he answers, and I can hear him rustling around with something, probably cooking.

“Almost. But that’s not why I’m calling,” I say. I bite my lip nervously.Why the hell am I nervous?

“Is everything OK?” he asks, and I hear him stopping whatever he’s doing as silence stretches between us.

“Sooo…here’s the thing. Tate Anders is here,” I blurt out, deciding just to rip that Band-Aid off immediately.

He laughs. “Right. And Rex Morgan is over here. Seriously, what’s up?”

I walk out to the deck, sliding the door shut behind me. “I’m serious,” I hiss.

Mark sighs. “Sophia, just tell me what’s going on. I have to finish dinner. I promised Cal we could have upside down pizza casserole tonight.”

I glance inside to make sure Tate isn’t there. “I. Am. Serious.” I groan. “Listen, I know this sounds insane. But yesterday, Marti told me she gave my address to Tate’s agent. Then, Tate Anders showed up on my doorstep. He said he read my latest book and wants to make it into a movie. He sort of seems to be having a rough time, and I think he might be hiding from the media or something. So, I sort of offered him a place to stay.”

“I’m sorry…come again?” Mark asks.

“Mark! Are you even listening?” I screech.

“I am, but you aren’t making any sense,” he grumbles, and I know he’s giving his kitchen cupboards a pointed look.

“Look, just get over here and I’ll introduce you. Just…be cool, don’t be weird, OK?” I plead.

“Wait! Are you fucking serious?” he asks, his voice rising an octave.

“Yes!” I scream and then clamp my lips together as I see my neighbor peer over the fence at me. I give George a wave and turn back toward my sliding door.

“Holy shit! Oh my God! Fuck!” Mark says, his words coming out in a long ramble of syllables as if his brain can’t compute speech and the fact that Tate is here at the same time.

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