Page 30 of Connected By Love
“Thanks, Max.” He gets busy coloring again as she sits down next to me.
She’s wearing a simple black dress tonight that hugs her curves with a crop jean jacket. Her hair is down her back in loose, dark curls and my fingers itch to feelthem. My body instantly reacts to her as her floral scent hits me. “So I guess you found my brother and all of my friends,” she says, looking my way.
“Noah came over and said hi when they came in, and when Maverick and Bella arrived, we decided to push the tables together.”
“So you must be the Sophia we keep hearing about.” She breaks eye contact with me to look at Jake.
“That depends. Was it good or bad?” She asks him.
“All good. Definitely all good,” he laughs.
I clear my throat and change the subject before Jake says something he shouldn’t. “Sophia, this is my brother Jake and my other brother Ryder.”
“It’s nice to meet you both,” she says, smiling at them.
“The pleasure is all ours,” Jake says, winking at her. What the hell, Jake?
Ryder laughs at Jake before smiling at Sophia. “It’s nice to meet you too, Sophia.”
The band starts playing, and the waitress comes over to take our drink orders. “Have you eaten yet?” I ask Sophia.
“I ate before I came. I’ll just have a margarita.”
“I’ll have a margarita and another beer.” She nods before taking the rest of the orders from our table.
“You don’t have to buy my drinks.”
I look at her and grin. “What is it with you and not letting me buy you drinks?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’m just used to paying my own way.”
“Well, get un-used to it because I like buying your drinks.”
“Stubborn much?” I hear Jake and Ryder chuckle next to me.
“I could say the same about you, wildcat,” I say softly under my breath.
Her eyes shoot up to mine, the green so vibrant against herblack hair. She remembers the name I gave her that night while I was deep inside her. Desire shoots to my core as her intense gaze pierces my very being. She breaks the gaze, and I see her swallow hard before looking at Bella. “I’ll be right back. I need to use the bathroom.”
I see Bella mouth,are you okay?Sophia nods and leaves the table. My eyes follow her as she disappears into the crowd.
“We’ve got Max. Go after her, Trav.” Jake looks at me and jerks his head toward the restrooms.
I look at Ryder, and he gives me a small smile. “Don’t end up like me. She’s right here, right now. She wants you just as much as you want her. Take the risk.”
I don’t give myself a chance to second guess it. I get up from the table and make my way to the restrooms. I glance down the hallway and don’t see any sign of her. Leaning against the wall, I decide to wait for her to come out. The need to speak to her has me tied up in knots. The door opens, and I push myself off the wall, but it’s an older woman who appears.
“Is there anyone else in there? I’m looking for my friend.”
“No, dear, I was the only one in there.” She smiles at me before walking away.
Where the hell did she go? I scan the restaurant before I see black hair blowing in the breeze down by the water. I take the stairs leading to the beach and walk up behind her.
Chapter Thirteen
Sophia
I feelhim come up behind me as I watch the surf crash against the shoreline. Something has changed between us ever since I texted him Thursday night. The texts he sent back have been seared into my mind, and a sliver of hope has wedged its way inside that this could be the start of something that I’ve longed for.
