Seriously?
Sophie didn’t know what to say to that remark. She’d never known Miranda to want to help her out. Of course, there was all those people who sang her praises and swore that Miranda was practically a saint, but Sophie hadn’t experienced that side of her. Truth be told, they’d never really interacted much, not even when Miranda and Buck had still been married.
“What did she say?” Sophie asked.
Nigel smoothed a hand over his jaw and the back of his neck. He seemed so exhausted, which only matched her own situation. She hadn’t slept for replaying the past few weeks over and over in her head. She wondered if he’d been awake all night thinking of her, too.
“She basically said that you had valid reasons for coming to New York.”
How the hell had Miranda known Sophie was in New York? Had she seen her that day?
“I found out that Craig mentioned my new consultant when he was chatting with Miranda,” Nigel went on. “I had actually talked to her about meeting you, obviously not knowing the truth, and then Craig was talking about how amazing you were and how you could be on the show because you’re just as stunning as the others. I mean, you know how Craig gossips. He ended up showing Miranda a photo.”
“She could’ve called me out right then,” Sophie murmured. “Why didn’t she?”
“I’d say she knew why you were there at that point,” he told her. “But when she called me, she explained how you and your brothers feel cheated with the will and everything.”
“We were cheated,” Sophie reiterated. “We still don’t understand why we were cut out.”
“I get that.” Nigel gave an understanding nod. “I don’t get why you continued to lie to me, not once we started getting so close, but I know why you initially came to New York. You were trying to save your family’s legacy. Believe me, I above anyone else understand the importance of showing family loyalty.”
“I still don’t understand why she came to my assistance,” Sophie thought out loud.
Nigel reached for her arm and slid his fingers down to hold her hand. “Maybe because she’s not the monster you all think she is. Maybe because she wants to see you happy. I truly believe she wants to fix her relationship with you and your brothers.”
Sophie wasn’t so sure about fixing things, but she also wasn’t so sure that Miranda was out to take everything. She’d seemed just as surprised at the will as the rest of them. Maybe that hadn’t all been an act.
“And her call made you come?” Sophie asked.
He squeezed her hand. “Her call made me think a little more about what this must have been like from your point of view. For years I’ve been somewhat of a black sheep for leaving England and not marrying or settling down. Family is important to me, even though I’m not jumping in to produce heirs.”
Sophie smiled. After having met his grandmother and sister, and seeing where he came from, the archaic sounding trait wasn’t so bizarre after all.
“Honestly, I couldn’t stand be
ing without you,” he finally said. “The office was lonely, even though my staff is bustling all over the place. Every time I looked at events for the show coming up, I wondered what you would think or how you would change things. I can’t even go up to my penthouse because I see you displayed on that couch. And now I can’t go back to England because Nana thinks we’re a couple.”
Sophie smiled. “Is that all?”
Nigel took another step forward until they were toe-to-toe. He framed her face with his hands and leaned in, barely a breath from her mouth.
“No, that’s not all,” he whispered. “I love you and I want you. I won’t ask you to give up your life here. I’d never do that. I’ll fly back and forth if need be. I don’t give a damn at this point, I just need you.”
Sophie’s heart nearly exploded. She never thought he would forgive her, and she sure as hell never thought Miranda would be the one to turn him around.
Had Sophie been wrong all this time? Was Miranda really just misunderstood and wanting to make things right?
Sophie wrapped her arms around Nigel’s waist. “I need you, too. I’ve been miserable knowing that I hurt you. I just, I didn’t know what to do and my loyalty was so torn—”
Nigel covered her lips, cutting off her sentence and any other thought she may have had. Nigel was here, he was holding her, kissing her and loving her. None of this was a dream and while she didn’t deserve his forgiveness, she wasn’t going to turn him away. She’d never take him for granted again.
Sophie eased back, sliding her fingers through his hair. “I swear, I’ll never lie to you about anything ever again.”
Nigel smiled. “That’s good, but I hope you know what you’re getting into with me.”
“I have a pretty good idea.”
“Maybe we’ll need to make you an extra on the show,” he stated. “I’m sure ratings would skyrocket with the most sought-after designer.”