I narrow my gaze. “Your turn. Shane Fletcher?”
“There is nothing going on between him and me. He’s paying for his sister’s wedding and I’m making the wedding cake and the desserts for after the dinner.” She shrugs. “No big deal.”
“Hmm,” I mumble. “It is a big deal, so spill. Now.” I give her my sweetest smile. “Your embarrassment is taking my mind off Seth.”
“He’s cute okay. Happy now?” She glares, and I stay silent knowing there is more going on. “You’re not going to leave it, are you?”
I shake my head.
“He’s handsome and a really nice man. He keeps to himself mostly, but wants to make sure his sister has the wedding of her dreams. He isn’t sure if her fiancé wants his sister or his money, which keeps throwing the planning out of whack. I think he’s wrong.” She sighs. “His sister, Monica, is twenty-two, like me, and her fiancé is a few years older. Anthony looks at Monica as though she’s his world, I really believe that they’re meant to be together and that it has nothing to do with money.” She pauses. “Shane said he wants me in his bed until after the wedding.”
“What?” I gasp, surprised.
“You heard me correctly the first time.” Sofia blushes but looks close to tears.
“You really like this man, huh?”
“Is it that obvious?”
I smile softly. “It’s the way you talk about him.”
“He’s,” she groans, “I’m not sure, but there is something about him that endears him to me. He also has women throwing themselves at him because you know he has money and he’s handsome as sin.” She smiles, lost in a dream. “The way his thighs move beneath his slacks makes my belly quiver. He doesn’t work out, but he runs miles every day. His smile derails my train of thought and the devil knows it too. I get nervous when it’s just him and me.”
“I’m enjoying this. Don’t stop now.”
“He flirts when we’re alone, but when others are around he more or less ignores me.” She shrugs as though it’s no big deal, but I can see it bothers her. “Sometimes I think he’s using excuses to talk to me, and other times I’m not sure at all.” She comes out of her dream state. “The wedding is in a month, so we’ll see. I think it’s best not mixing business with pleasure. Not that I’d ever know what to do with the man. The man is a rake!”
I burst out laughing. “You’ve been reading those historical romances you like, huh?”
She rolls her eyes and giggles. “Of course.”
“If anyone’s a rake, it’s Dylan,” I drawl, hearing the apartment door opening. He’s the only one to unlock the door with a thud.
“I’m not a rake,” he grumbles. “I’m a handsome devil who has pus—,” he clears his throat, blushing, “—women throwing their little panties at me. What am I to do in those situations?” He smirks.
“Ignore them,” Sofia replies, sweetly.
Dylan pretends surprise, his hand going to his chest as he staggers backwards into the wall. “Blasphemy.” He laughs, straightening up. “Okay, fun’s over.” He glances at me. “Bumped in to Seth on the way into the building.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“He understands you Paige, but he also wants to say, ‘Hey, this is the woman I love, so deal with it.’ He loves you and thinks it’s better to get it over with. I think it bugs him that he’s met all of your family and they accept him just fine.”
“I desperately want to be everything he wants, but I can’t suddenly like his mother after how she treated me. She hasn’t even tried to apologize.” Groaning, I add, “I need to pull my big girl panties up and go tonight.”
“Big girl panties?” Dylan questions, and then holds his hands up. “Never mind. I’m not sure I want to know.”
“Stop being a baby,” Sofia scoffs. “It’s a reference.”
“Whatever. I’m going to grab my gear and join Seth at the rink.” He crosses to his room.
When he comes back out, I ask him, “Will you pass a message on to Seth for me?”
He pauses and nods.
“Tell him I’ll be ready at seven.”
“He’ll be happy, but he’ll also be there for you this time, Paige. Don’t worry.” Dylan waves and leaves us.