“Trust me, your mother can set you up with as many people as she wants,” Sophie went on. “I pity them. They have to have her as their mother-in-law. I’d rather join a convent.”
“It’s not that bad.”
Although I had considered running away more than once. And that was just in the last month.
“Hugo, the woman is going to name your children and then not speak to you if you refuse to use her choices.”
I laughed, dropping my head back. “Probably.”
Sophie paused. “I was kidding.”
“I wasn’t.” I met her gaze again. “But I hear you. You’re not jealous.”
“I am not.” She pushed off me and got up. “I have nothing to be jealous about. This is just sex. You’re at perfect liberty to see whoever you’d like.”
She was not convincing in the slightest.
It was kind of cute. I wasn’t sure who she was saying that to—herself or me, but it did confirm the one thing I’d feared.
I didn’t mind that she was a little jealous.
A part of me wanted her to be.
You didn’t get jealous if you didn’t care.
The draw I’d felt to her when I’d first seen her hadn’t eased over time, and the more time I spent with her, the more I wanted to spend with her. I’d happily never leave this cottage if I didn’t have to.
She was funny and quick-witted with a sharp tongue and a gentle touch.
I was in huge fucking trouble with Sophie Smith.
“And me, too.” Sophie turned around with a shrug of one shoulder. “I could do the same thing. I could go out with someone if I wanted.”
“Over my dead body,” I muttered under my breath.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” I tampered that hint of possessiveness down.
Her?
Go out with someone else?
Absolutely fucking not.
She folded her arms across her chest. “I was asked out this afternoon, in fact.”
Almost every muscle in my body tensed as I looked at her. “You were?”
“I was. By your brother.”
Ex-fucking-cuse me?
I jumped up off the sofa. “My brother asked you out?”
“That’s what I said.” She shifted from one side to the other. “I’m not sure it was the first time he’s done so, either.”
I stared at her.