She couldn’t wait to see him again. Since when had she felt that way? It was dangerously like missing someone. Nowadays she made sure her happiness didn’t depend on other people. So how was it possible? And she’d only known him a few days.
And then it was Wednesday.
Jared was picking her up soon after lunch, which gave Sophie time to ransack her bag and cull unnecessaries. To add an extra jacket. At the last minute she fretted over today’s choice of attire. Casual or business? She eventually decided on something comfortable yet feminine. She was changing her monotone white trousers and blouse for a more vibrant silky knit dress when he knocked.
Her heart jumped into her mouth at the commanding sound. He was early again. She’d wanted to be super relaxed and in control when he arrived and she was anything but.
She sucked in a deep calming breath before opening the door. ‘Hi.’ Her voice still came out more breathless than she would have liked.
‘Hi, yourself.’
His eyes met hers and seemed to brighten to the colour of moss. She raised a hand to the door jamb. There really was something about that creased cheek that made her weak at the knees and tipped her off-centre. Which was why her gaze took a quick southern slide…
And ooh, yeah…what Jared did for a pair of jeans. Dark denim faded in all the right places and tight where it counted.
She dragged her gaze up—and over a blinding white Ralph Lauren polo shirt with Sanderson’s logo screen-printed in navy over one solid-looking pectoral. Top two buttons undone, a few wisps of dark masculine hair, prominent Adam’s apple, a tiny C-shaped scar where maybe he’d nicked himself shaving once upon a time…
‘Nice dress,’ he said, and she realised while she’d been eyeing him up he’d been returning the favour. ‘Orange suits you.’
‘Orange.’ She screwed up her nose and clucked her tongue—such a common and inadequate word for such a beautiful colour. ‘Stormy sunrise.’
‘Even better.’ He grinned. Another blinding moment. Then his grin sobered a bit and his eyes took on a sexy silvery glint as he reached for her rolling suitcase at her side. ‘Maybe we’ll see one of those together in the next couple of days.’
‘Oh?’ she replied, casually ignoring his meaning as she locked her door. ‘Did they forecast bad weather?’
‘Blue skies all the way.’ He smiled, then headed for the elevator.
She followed him inside the lift without comment. Ridiculous not to now when they’d already shared more than just air and were about to get even closer in the next couple of days.
A moment later she settled into his luxury convertible for the three-hour drive. It was, as Jared had promised, blue skies, and a lovely day to be on the road rather than stuck inside an office somewhere.
Before they turned onto the Pacific Motorway, which would take them past Brisbane and on to the Sunshine Coast, Jared asked, ‘Do you mind if we call in at Crystal’s place on the way?’
The question seemed to come out of the blue and jolted Sophie right out of her comfort zone. ‘No, of course not. Is she okay?’
‘Fine. She came home from hospital on Saturday and Ian took a few days off, but it’s her first day on her own with the bub and Ian’s working late tonight to catch up. She asked if I’d drop by.’
‘If you ask me, I think Jared just wants another look at his niece.’ Sophie smiled his way and saw his mouth kick up at the edge.
They pulled up outside a cream brick home surrounded by several palms and a high fence. ‘I’ll just wait here…’ She didn’t want to intrude, nor did she want to see a newborn baby and experience the associated emotions that went with it.
He turned in his seat to face her. A puzzled frown puckered his brow. ‘Crystal’s expecting to meet you. I told her we couldn’t stay long.’
‘You told her about me?’
‘I told her my temporary PA was accompanying me to Noosa, yeah.’
Oh. Of course. A tinge of embarrassment stung her cheeks and she smiled casually to cover it, glad she was wearing her sunglasses. ‘This is a family time…I mean there’s a million things she’ll be catching up on—sleep, or feeding…’
‘She’s not. I spoke to her just before I picked you up.’ He tossed his sunglasses on the dash and swung open his door. ‘Come on, five minutes.’
Sophie followed. What else could she do? She didn’t want to see the baby, or, worse, to be asked if she wanted a hold. And she just knew neither of them would understand. They would think her rude. Still, she could be lucky. New babies slept a lot. Didn’t they? Sometimes.