newsletter. It seemed like a worthwhile cause. I’m surprised more people from work didn’t volunteer.”
“Well, it’s not too late to add yourself to that list. We can always use more volunteers. Plus, I guarantee Sophie will be there.”
He nodded, smiling once again. “I’d love to help you out.”
Holly chuckled. “I’m sure the Korby kids will appreciate your altruism.” She looked over her shoulder again. “I’ll, uh, e-mail you the details.” She looked at his crisp tailored clothes. “Oh, and you should dress down …way down.”
They took a few minutes to finish up their coffees, and had just stood, ready to go, when a dark haired man strode over purposefully.
“Crap, Ryan. It’s Nick, that guy I’m sort of seeing.” Her speech grew hurried. “If I don’t get to say it later, thanks for the evening, it’s been great. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you and Sophie. I think you’ll be good for her.”
“Can we talk for just a second?” the Nick guy asked brusquely. He cast a quick disapproving glance at Ryan. “Alone.”
Sensing that the conversation Nick and Holly were about to have was for their ears only, Ryan took that opportunity to step away. “I’ll just arrange things with the valet. See you outside, Holly.”
When Ryan came back to take Holly home, it was clear that she and Nick were in their own universe and didn’t look for the world like they needed to be disturbed. But he wanted to make sure she was okay with that. It was the right thing to do.
As he approached, he heard her say, “I owe it to him to see this night through.”
Ryan cleared his throat. Nick dropped his hands and stepped back from Holly, their intense stare broken.
“Holly, you don’t owe me a thing. I had a very nice time with you tonight, but it looks like you have your hands full. So if everything’s okay here… ” She gave a reassuring nod. “I’ll see you at work sometime.” To Nick, he said, “You’re a really lucky guy. Make sure you get her home safely.”
With that, he turned on his heel and headed toward the line of shiny late model cars the valets had lined up for the patrons leaving the restaurant and got in to his Acura, smiling. Whether it was God, karma, kismet, or fate, Ryan would not look a gift horse in the mouth. People were right when they compared the entertainment industry in Los Angeles to high school. It was the most intimate circle of people. And it had led him straight to Sophie. Sure, the date hadn’t gone well. It had been a freaking disaster. Nonetheless, he grinned like a fool the whole way home. By the time he met Sophie next weekend—He rolled the name around. Sophie. It suited her—he’d be ready, with a plan.
Chapter Four
Sophie stared into the rainbow -hued jumble that was her closet. What in the heck was she gonna wear today? That was the question of the seven o’clock hour. There was nothing the least bit subtle or understated about her clothing—or her life for that matter. She would probably never admit it to her friends, and never to her family even under the threat of death, but a small but growing part of her was tired of all the bright, attention-getting outfits and outrageous colored hair. Wrapped in a gray silk kimono that matched her eyes perfectly, she wondered if her friends would recognize her if she came to the Equia volunteer event in a plain white Gap t-shirt and jeans. Probably not.
The multicolored hair, multiple piercings, and attention-grabbing garments which made up Sophie’s signature style had started in high school. She’d begun coloring her strawberry blonde hair because she’d always hated the color, and it was easier to color her hair in bright hues than continue to live with the perpetual teasing that befell redheads. The other accouterments—the piercings and the tight, bright clothes—had started as a rebellion against her parents and her conservative upbringing. Her parents never acknowledged her
“Well, it’s not too late to add yourself to that list. We can always use more volunteers. Plus, I guarantee Sophie will be there.”
He nodded, smiling once again. “I’d love to help you out.”
Holly chuckled. “I’m sure the Korby kids will appreciate your altruism.” She looked over her shoulder again. “I’ll, uh, e-mail you the details.” She looked at his crisp tailored clothes. “Oh, and you should dress down …way down.”
They took a few minutes to finish up their coffees, and had just stood, ready to go, when a dark haired man strode over purposefully.
“Crap, Ryan. It’s Nick, that guy I’m sort of seeing.” Her speech grew hurried. “If I don’t get to say it later, thanks for the evening, it’s been great. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you and Sophie. I think you’ll be good for her.”
“Can we talk for just a second?” the Nick guy asked brusquely. He cast a quick disapproving glance at Ryan. “Alone.”
Sensing that the conversation Nick and Holly were about to have was for their ears only, Ryan took that opportunity to step away. “I’ll just arrange things with the valet. See you outside, Holly.”
When Ryan came back to take Holly home, it was clear that she and Nick were in their own universe and didn’t look for the world like they needed to be disturbed. But he wanted to make sure she was okay with that. It was the right thing to do.
As he approached, he heard her say, “I owe it to him to see this night through.”
Ryan cleared his throat. Nick dropped his hands and stepped back from Holly, their intense stare broken.
“Holly, you don’t owe me a thing. I had a very nice time with you tonight, but it looks like you have your hands full. So if everything’s okay here… ” She gave a reassuring nod. “I’ll see you at work sometime.” To Nick, he said, “You’re a really lucky guy. Make sure you get her home safely.”
With that, he turned on his heel and headed toward the line of shiny late model cars the valets had lined up for the patrons leaving the restaurant and got in to his Acura, smiling. Whether it was God, karma, kismet, or fate, Ryan would not look a gift horse in the mouth. People were right when they compared the entertainment industry in Los Angeles to high school. It was the most intimate circle of people. And it had led him straight to Sophie. Sure, the date hadn’t gone well. It had been a freaking disaster. Nonetheless, he grinned like a fool the whole way home. By the time he met Sophie next weekend—He rolled the name around. Sophie. It suited her—he’d be ready, with a plan.
Chapter Four
Sophie stared into the rainbow -hued jumble that was her closet. What in the heck was she gonna wear today? That was the question of the seven o’clock hour. There was nothing the least bit subtle or understated about her clothing—or her life for that matter. She would probably never admit it to her friends, and never to her family even under the threat of death, but a small but growing part of her was tired of all the bright, attention-getting outfits and outrageous colored hair. Wrapped in a gray silk kimono that matched her eyes perfectly, she wondered if her friends would recognize her if she came to the Equia volunteer event in a plain white Gap t-shirt and jeans. Probably not.
The multicolored hair, multiple piercings, and attention-grabbing garments which made up Sophie’s signature style had started in high school. She’d begun coloring her strawberry blonde hair because she’d always hated the color, and it was easier to color her hair in bright hues than continue to live with the perpetual teasing that befell redheads. The other accouterments—the piercings and the tight, bright clothes—had started as a rebellion against her parents and her conservative upbringing. Her parents never acknowledged her
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