Page 34 of Tell Me the Truth

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Turn the page for a sneak peek of my next book, scheduled for release on July 1st, 2023! Enjoy!

~Love, Sofie

Sneak Peek

Untitled Release: July 1, 2023

After an incredibly busy day at the bakery, utterly exhausted, I finally return home with one goal in mind: to relax with Theo, go to bed early, and sleep like a log. I’m so tired that I might let Theo have sex with me, but only if I don’t have to move.

As I step inside my apartment, the warm scent of burning candles greets me. They provide the only light in a room hushed with darkness.

"Oh, no," I whisper to myself, feeling a sinking realization. The chaotic rush of customers at the bakery had completely made me forget to bring a gift home to Theo for Valentine’s Day.

The candlelight and floating aroma of vanilla, rosemary, lavender, and lasagna create a cozy and inviting ambiance. On the dining room table, I can see that Theo has set out a bottle of Zinfandel. I’m pretty sure we picked the bottle up when we were out wine tasting together a month ago.

I hear Theo singing to himself from my kitchen while preparing his favorite lasagna. Taking advantage of the moment, I quietly slip into the bedroom, hoping that he doesn’t notice.

I feel a pang of guilt for not having anything to give him tonight, especially since it seems like he has put in a lot of effort to create a special evening. I put on a beautiful black dress that accentuates my curves, but then think of what I can give him instead of this dress for the perfect Valentine’s gift.

When I emerge from the bedroom, I have let my hair down loose from its bun and am wearing a black mesh negligee with creatively placed lace details and black stilettos. Walking into the living room, I can't help but feel a bit embarrassed at the state of my messy apartment, however, Theo went above and beyond my expectations, transforming it the best he could into a truly enchanting space.

Theo is standing by the dining room table dressed in tan pants, a crisp white shirt, and a navy-blue blazer. When he sees me, I notice a flicker of appreciation display across his face.

As I walk over to him, I’m taking in the scene he has carefully crafted. The table is adorned with flickering candles, casting a warm and romantic glow throughout the rooms. The air is filled with the scent of candles and the irresistible aroma of lasagna and freshly tossed salad, making my stomach rumble with hunger.

“I’m suddenly not feeling like lasagna,” Theo remarks as he grins and mischievously licks his lips. He moves from around the table and stops at arm’s length, taking both of my hands in his and stretching them out to the left and right, allowing him a full view of my scantily clad body.

“Hmmm, mmmm!” He hums as he releases my hands and pulls me in close for a kiss. Our tongues play a push-and-pull game, bringing us further into one another.

I can feel his excitement in his kiss, the thump of his heart in his chest through his shirt, as well as the hardness on my hip, coming through from the front of his pants.

“Do you want what I got you for Valentine’s Day?” I ask as I pull just far enough away from his kiss so that I can speak. I’ve obviously just gotten a second wind. I then reach back to bite his bottom lip softly between the front of my teeth.

***

“You can put your pants back on, but leave your tie on, please,” I tell Theo after he’s had his way with me, having leaned me over the dining room table and finishing me off against the wall.

I have taken my seat at the table, hungry. And, not wasting time putting back on my flimsy piece of mesh and lace, that is basically the equivalent of being naked anyway.

Theo has delicately arranged the salad in a bowl that I remember as being special. We picked the bowl up last month when we were wine tasting in the Amador Valley and shopping in Sutter Creek. He serves a hefty serving of salad onto my plate, then serves a smaller portion for himself. I can appreciate that he knows that I prefer three-quarters of my plate to be vegetables and only a quarter of it anything else. Ihaveto eat this way because half of the day that I’m at my bakery is also spent nibbling on my high-carb baked goods.

While we are talking and eating our salads, I can see a mix of excitement and nervousness on his face and in his voice. He has planned this surprise Valentine's Day dinner to show me just how much he cares. I silently hope to myself that my little present was enough to match the effort he’s made this evening to make it truly memorable.

"Thank you for all of this, Theo,” I tell him as I wave my hand around to show him I mean the dinner and all he did in my apartment to set the mood. “I’m sorry I didn’t get you a gift." With a coy smile, I play at being fully apologetic. But I know he’s perfectly happy with the present he just received as well as the gift of me sitting naked next to him at the table.

He chuckles, and his touch gently caresses my cheek. "You being here, looking like a vision, is more than I ever will want. And, there are plenty more surprises in store for tonight, which I have a feeling you're going to love."

"Happy Valentine's Day, my Love," Theo's voice fills the room and the happiness I feel explodes into a million starbursts.

A sweet smile graces my face as I reply, "Happy Valentine's Day to you too, babe." And I lean over to give him a kiss.

He then gestures toward the wine, silently inviting us to indulge. I nod, feeling grateful for this special moment with him. As we savor our meal, we share stories from our day, cherishing the simple joy of being together. It dawns on me that Theo has devoted the entire day to creating this perfect evening, and my heart swells with appreciation.

His words carry deep meaning, expressing his gratitude for our relationship and the love we share. A flutter of excitement stirs within me, as I sense something more significant unfolding. He is about to propose.

Nervousness tinges on my thoughts, reminding me that I’m still unsure of how to respond to such a life-changing question.I didn’t have time to stop to think about how I would respond if he asked me to marry him. What will I say? How do I think about the whole thing? Am I ready to be engaged?

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