just figuring herself out.
She sat up to sip from her glass of wine. "So what's she doing to Brie?"
"Remember the six boxes of your stuff I grumbled about having to bring to you?"
Sophie nodded. That was during their mother's cleaning out phase.
"Brie had sixteen. She's still trying to figure out what to do with everything. Mom won't let her throw any of it away.
Becoming a grandmother has made her ruthlessly sentimental."
The front door opened and Jake walked in. He smiled at Sophie but went straight to his wife, bending over her chair to give her a thoroughly tender kiss. A kiss that said not only how glad he was to be home, but how much he cherished the woman he'd dreamed of for years.
The vague ache Sophie had noticed earlier bloomed to sudden intensity in her chest. For a second she thought it was a heart attack. But heart attacks didn't cause a lump in the throat. The envy was back, less angry but more wistful.
She wanted what they had.
57
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
Suddenly, unexpectedly, the image of Biff Cornwall flashed in front of her. His mouth moved, and Parker's voice came out. "Will you have dinner with me?"
What was wrong with her? Why was she shoving Biff Cornwall away? So he was a playboy. That had never bothered her before. She'd dated plenty of men who weren't serious about anything , never mind settling down, even since she decided that was what she wanted. She'd never been afraid of any of them.
Now she was. Why? Did she think she could get serious about him, then get hurt when he acted like she knew he would?
Could she get serious about a guy named Biff?
She could if his name was really Parker. If there was more to the man than money and fun. Unfortunately, he wasn't going to ask her to dinner again. She'd have to make the next move.
She watched Kira and Jake murmur to each other as if no one else was alive, much less in the room with them. She hadn't met anyone else with the potential for that kind of focus. Biff/Parker might not have it. If not, so be it.
It would be fun to find out.
* * * *
Parker wondered what had ever possessed him to bring Vanessa Whitehead to a family function. He spent the entire dinner at the French restaurant avoiding her wandering hands and promising glances.
58
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
One look at his father gave him the answer. Biff Senior was holding court at the head of the private room, thanking everyone for helping him celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of his main company. Parker had no respect for the man and spent his life trying not to be like him.
But he still sought his approval. Coming alone to a pseudo-family, mainly business function would bring disappointment.
Bringing a woman like Vanessa brought approval.
"How much longer do we have to stay?" Vanessa's hot breath burned his ear. He cringed. It was time to pass her off.
"Chipper!" Parker motioned to one of his cousins, a young realtor working for Biff Senior. The boy was hungry, and his success showed how much. He knew the value of an ambitious woman.
"Chipper, I'd like you to meet my friend, Vanessa. Vanessa Whitehead, Chipper Cornwall. Chip, Vanessa has some property in Falmouth she wants to sell. I have something to discuss with my father. I'll just be a minute."
Another successful save, he thought as he strolled away while the two fell into an intense conversation about square footage and location. He didn't go to his father but instead sat next to his stepmother at her table.
"Not having too good a time tonight, huh?" He slid his hand over hers and felt the iciness of her skin ebb. The younger woman's wounded gaze didn't leave her husband where he flirted with the wife of one of his executives. Parker blocked the anger that threatened to well.
59
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
"Oh, I'm having a lovely time," Fawn protested mildly.
Despite her age, she'd been well trained in society manners.
Parker only saw the hurt because he
She sat up to sip from her glass of wine. "So what's she doing to Brie?"
"Remember the six boxes of your stuff I grumbled about having to bring to you?"
Sophie nodded. That was during their mother's cleaning out phase.
"Brie had sixteen. She's still trying to figure out what to do with everything. Mom won't let her throw any of it away.
Becoming a grandmother has made her ruthlessly sentimental."
The front door opened and Jake walked in. He smiled at Sophie but went straight to his wife, bending over her chair to give her a thoroughly tender kiss. A kiss that said not only how glad he was to be home, but how much he cherished the woman he'd dreamed of for years.
The vague ache Sophie had noticed earlier bloomed to sudden intensity in her chest. For a second she thought it was a heart attack. But heart attacks didn't cause a lump in the throat. The envy was back, less angry but more wistful.
She wanted what they had.
57
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
Suddenly, unexpectedly, the image of Biff Cornwall flashed in front of her. His mouth moved, and Parker's voice came out. "Will you have dinner with me?"
What was wrong with her? Why was she shoving Biff Cornwall away? So he was a playboy. That had never bothered her before. She'd dated plenty of men who weren't serious about anything , never mind settling down, even since she decided that was what she wanted. She'd never been afraid of any of them.
Now she was. Why? Did she think she could get serious about him, then get hurt when he acted like she knew he would?
Could she get serious about a guy named Biff?
She could if his name was really Parker. If there was more to the man than money and fun. Unfortunately, he wasn't going to ask her to dinner again. She'd have to make the next move.
She watched Kira and Jake murmur to each other as if no one else was alive, much less in the room with them. She hadn't met anyone else with the potential for that kind of focus. Biff/Parker might not have it. If not, so be it.
It would be fun to find out.
* * * *
Parker wondered what had ever possessed him to bring Vanessa Whitehead to a family function. He spent the entire dinner at the French restaurant avoiding her wandering hands and promising glances.
58
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
One look at his father gave him the answer. Biff Senior was holding court at the head of the private room, thanking everyone for helping him celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of his main company. Parker had no respect for the man and spent his life trying not to be like him.
But he still sought his approval. Coming alone to a pseudo-family, mainly business function would bring disappointment.
Bringing a woman like Vanessa brought approval.
"How much longer do we have to stay?" Vanessa's hot breath burned his ear. He cringed. It was time to pass her off.
"Chipper!" Parker motioned to one of his cousins, a young realtor working for Biff Senior. The boy was hungry, and his success showed how much. He knew the value of an ambitious woman.
"Chipper, I'd like you to meet my friend, Vanessa. Vanessa Whitehead, Chipper Cornwall. Chip, Vanessa has some property in Falmouth she wants to sell. I have something to discuss with my father. I'll just be a minute."
Another successful save, he thought as he strolled away while the two fell into an intense conversation about square footage and location. He didn't go to his father but instead sat next to his stepmother at her table.
"Not having too good a time tonight, huh?" He slid his hand over hers and felt the iciness of her skin ebb. The younger woman's wounded gaze didn't leave her husband where he flirted with the wife of one of his executives. Parker blocked the anger that threatened to well.
59
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
"Oh, I'm having a lovely time," Fawn protested mildly.
Despite her age, she'd been well trained in society manners.
Parker only saw the hurt because he
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