Sea Glass Castle (The Carolina Coast Series Book 3)

by T. I. Lowe

  Sadly, they weren’t finished just yet. The women followed Sophia around the salon like an overbearing shadow, spilling details of the dates—one where he took the woman to Sunset Studio and Gallery and then out to eat.

  “Well, I caught him at another cooking class,” Trudy, Miss Private Eye herself, chimed in.

  Sophia glanced at Opal and Josie where they stood by the nail polish display, but neither one of them would look at her, and that was all the confirmation she needed to know it was true. Wes had been by her and Collin’s side nearly every waking hour. How he managed working in some dates was beyond her, but he had every right. She was sure news of her date with Ty had reached him just as it had that nosy mother at the park. The last weeks were such a mess, leaving too much unsorted.

  “Heard he’s bringing another woman to the dance tonight.” Bertie sucked her teeth, not finding the idea any more pleasant than Sophia.

  “I hope they have a good time,” Sophia said in an even voice, actually meaning it to some extent. If ever a man existed who deserved to be peacefully happy, it was Weston Sawyer. He certainly didn’t deserve to be mixed up in her chaos.

  By the time her nails were trimmed and lacquered a shimmery red that Josie picked out for her, Sophia had reached her limit. The Sand Queens wasted no time hurrying out the salon and back to the condo. Sophia seethed while Opal and Josie looked guilty for some reason.

  “It’s not your fault he’s dating,” Sophia snapped at them, sounding like it was entirely her two friends’ fault. “He should date!” She paced around the obstacle of toys in front of the couch where Josie and Opal were sitting. “He’s done nothing wrong.” A hiccuped sob pushed through her resolve.

  “Oh, honey, I thought y’all were together before Ty came in to town. What happened?” Josie leaned forward and tried catching Sophia’s wrist in passing.

  Sophia skirted out of reach. “We sort of were; then he kissed me after the mud run and then we quarreled about it. . . . Then I found Ty in my house and then and then . . . and then everything fell to pieces!” She tossed her hands in the air and stomped her foot. When her foot came down on a toy truck, it sent both feet flying from underneath her. Crashing against a few more toys on the descent, her back collided with the floor in an audible thump.

  Josie and Opal gasped and after a moment both were hovering over her.

  “Are you okay?” Opal asked.

  After regaining her breath, Sophia rasped, “Clearly I’m not.” Nothing physically hurt per se, but she was quite bothered by whatever damp thing was stuck to her backside. She pushed a fire truck with its lights flashing and the siren blaring away from her ear and rolled to her side. “Please tell me what that is on my butt.”

  They answered with a fit of giggles.

  “It looks like the remains of a banana.” Josie snickered. “Or at least I hope that’s what it is.”

  Sophia didn’t have the energy to move, so she just lay there and enjoyed the fresh scent of her clean hair covering her face. “Someone want to be a peach and get it off for me?”

  After some debate, Josie volunteered to remove the squished piece of banana. She even helped to pull Sophia to her feet. By the time Sophia changed into a clean pair of yoga pants, she’d calmed down enough to join them on the couch and share everything that had transpired in the last month.

  “Wes has been through enough. He doesn’t need my baggage bringing him down,” Sophia concluded, staring at her glossy red nails until tears blurred her vision.

  “Now that’s just a bunch of hogwash.” Opal grunted, wiggling to get comfortable beside her on the couch. “You and Wes are great together.”

  Sophia shrugged. “I think Wes and I are still friends, but I think the other part we were developing fell to pieces.”

  “We just need to put it all back together,” Josie said, making it sound so easy.

  “Honey, it’s doubtful it’ll all fit back together.” Sophia gave her a sad smile.

  “Ooh! I have an idea!” Opal chirped enthusiastically, sending both downcast faces of Josie and Sophia to look over at her.

  “Your ideas always make me nervous,” Sophia admitted.

  “No worries.” Opal shooed the concern with a flick of her wrist. “Answer me this: What’s the one thing Wes has been after you about since the get-go and you have given him a hard time about it since then too?”

  “The public dates,” Sophia answered, wondering where this was headed.

  Opal nudged Sophia’s knee with hers. “Exactly, so why not give the poor guy what he’s wanted and stop making it more complicated than what it is.”

  Sophia mulled over the idea, thinking it sounded pretty simple. When Ty showed up last month, it made her finally grasp how unhealthy their relationship was, even when fists were not involved. Relationships weren’t supposed to be riddled with complications and stress to the point of causing anxiety and bouts of nausea. “How am I supposed to do that if Wes is dating someone else?”

  “I heard he’s miserable but doing it to give you space to decide how you feel,” Josie said quietly, squeezing Sophia’s arm.

  “This is what I propose,” Opal began in a stern tone. “You get dolled up, go to that dance, and stake your claim. Show Wes he’s worth putting yourself out there for, and show the rest of this town that nothing and no one is going to keep the fiercely amazing Sophia Grace Prescott down!”

  Sophia scoffed, not returning any of Opal’s zeal. “Soon to be Sophia Grace Gaines. I filed the paperwork to change back to my maiden name.”

  “Good for you, but what about the dance?” Josie whispered. “We’re all going, so you won’t be in this alone.”

  Sophia shook her head. “I have nothing to wear, and I’m thinking about heading over and staying at the farm tonight with Collin.”

  Opal huffed. “Give that poor kid a break from you. Seriously, you’re as close to a perfect mother as it gets, but all children need some space.” She placed her gold-glittered fingers on top of Sophia’s hand. “Honey, to be honest, you’ve been smothering him since the surgery.”

  Sophia glanced at Josie and she nodded timidly in agreement. “Fine. I’ll stay home tonight.”

  “No, you’re going to that dance. I think I have a dress that’ll work.” Opal scooted off the couch and went over to her tote where she’d left it on the dining table. “I’ll have Linc bring it over.”

  A shiver of terror hit Sophia’s shoulders. There was no telling what Lincoln would show up with if Opal had picked it out. “No, no, no. That’s okay.”

  “It’s done.” Opal sent another text. “He’s on the way. Now we just need to look through your shoes . . .”

  A few hours later, Sophia stood at the entrance to the community center. Even though the night was chilly, it wasn’t close to cold enough to produce snow. Yet the small yard was glistening in a white blanket.

  “Is it real snow?” Sophia asked, glancing at Josie, who looked like a live version of Elsa from Frozen, wearing a stunning ice-blue gown with her platinum-blonde hair styled in a loose braid.

  “Yes, it’s real machine-generated snow. Hurry up. We’re already late.” Josie walked with a determined stride, making it a chore for Sophia’s shorter legs, underneath the poufy ball gown, to keep up.

  Sophia was still baffled that Lincoln had shown up with the most sophisticated gown she’d ever laid eyes on. Layers upon layers of luxurious fabric fit like it was specially made just for her. The A-line princess gown would make the most romantic wedding dress if it weren’t for the deep-red color.

  “Slow down, Jo,” Sophia mumbled as they practically jogged down the corridor. As soon as they entered the dance hall, Josie let go of her arm and almost caused Sophia to stumble. “Seriously?” She was about to grumble when the room caught her attention. “Wow.”

  “Right?” Josie beamed.

  “Did y’all tear the old place down and rebuild?” Sophia asked while gaping at the sparkly room. Icicles dripped from the ceiling until meeting
the white centerpieces on the all-white tables. She took in the white candles, white snowflakes, and spindly trees painted white with white twinkling lights.

  “Nah. The old place is still here. Just hidden behind the winter forest.” Josie giggled.

  “It’s exquisite, Jo. You and August are magicians,” Sophia said softly as she continued to peruse the enchanting scene before her. The room was dusted in a frosty array of decor and she half expected to see her breath in a cloud as she huffed heavily. Everything was white and everyone was dressed in a mix of silver, icy blue, and white. Everyone but her. Red in a sea of white.

  Sophia glanced to her left to complain to Josie about it, but her friend had conveniently disappeared. Embarrassed, she clutched each side of the dress skirt, lifting it slightly so she could perform her own disappearing act. Turning around on her silver stilettos, she bumped smack-dab into a solid chest.

  “Whoa, gorgeous. Where’s the fire?” Seth gave her a once-over, playing it up with a low growl. “Hmm . . . think I have the fire in my arms. Sweetheart, you’re killing it in that dress.”

  “Uh. No, I look like a fool in this dress. I didn’t get the memo about the color theme.” She stepped out of his reach and straightened the skirt.

  “Well, I, for one, am glad you didn’t get the memo. You are just . . . hmm.” He grunted again with a good bit of emphasis. “Don’t touch anything in this icy room, ’cause you’ll make it melt.”

  Sophia reached over and popped him in the stomach. “Knock it off.” She huffed and looked around but wished she hadn’t when her eyes landed on Wes. He wore a silvery-gray suit, looking handsome as ever. A woman with raven hair and wearing a white sequin dress was chatting him up. On another huff Sophia turned her focus back to Seth.

  The salacious look on his face was gone and had been replaced with a degree of seriousness. “How’s Collin today?”

  She smoothed her thumb against the anchor ring. “Apparently he’s well enough to run away with his grandmother and leave me abandoned.”

  “Love that kid.” Seth grinned.

  “Where have you been the last few days?” Sophia asked Seth. He’d accompanied his brother on almost every visit to check on Collin. “I thought maybe you’d skipped town.”

  “No skipping town. I’m actually looking for a place of my own. You know of any vacant condos?”

  “Umm . . . no.” Sophia wasn’t so sure she wanted Wes’s twin brother for a neighbor.

  “Will you let me know if one comes available?” Seth asked, looking like he was holding a secret within the depths of his greenish-gray eyes. It was the first time Sophia had noticed his irises held more green pigment than Wes’s.

  “Is that what’s kept you so busy?” She looked away and found herself staring in Wes’s direction again. Thankfully, his back was turned to her, so Wes didn’t even know she was there, but she knew it wouldn’t take long for him to spot her. The dress looked like a red beacon in a sea of white.

  “Nah. My active dating life has kept me busy,” Seth said, smugness slipping back into his tone.

  His answer had her sneaking a quick look at him before she scanned the crowd. “Oh, well, good for you.” Sophia pulled on a smile, although it was superficial. Seemed the Sawyer twins were growing in popularity with the ladies once again around Sunset Cove.

  “Yep, went to an art gallery for the first time and even took a cooking class. I’ve had a lot of fun.”

  Sophia cut Seth a sideways glance, thinking through what he just divulged. It sounded prosaic enough, but he had added a weight to it. One that said, Pay attention to me. And then it clicked. It was Seth in the pictures and not Wes, but why did he admit to it?

  She pointed at the woman with her hand on Wes’s shoulder. “Wes has a pretty date for the evening.”

  Seth snorted. “Heck no. That woman has been circling him like a vulture over roadkill. He keeps trying to shake her, but she just keeps circling back. I think you need to go rescue him.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because he’s gone to some really elaborately dumb efforts to get you here tonight. He purchased you a beauty certificate so you could get your hair and nails done. He sent those old ladies to fill your ears with nonsense about those dates he set up for me. But I must say, he sure does know how to pick out a dress. Paid a pretty penny if you want to know.”

  Sophia’s mouth popped open on a gasp. “What? Why would he do all that?”

  “Men do dumb stuff when they’re in love.” Seth shook his head and wrinkled his nose. “Shoot, I told him all he needed to do was just show up with a box of Whitman’s Sampler and be straight up about being in love with you, but he said you deserved better than just chocolates.”

  “But those are really good chocolates,” Sophia mumbled, her feet already moving toward Wes.

  “That’s what I said,” Seth replied from behind her.

  Sophia kept moving until she was a few steps away, hearing the woman saying something about really wanting to dance. Not about to let that happen, she laid her hand on Wes’s shoulder. “Sorry I’m late, honey.”

  Wes turned away from the woman dismissively. He took in a stuttered breath as his eyes coasted Sophia’s body. He mouthed, Wow, as he wrapped her in his arms. “My very own Italian princess.”

  Sophia smoothed her fingertips along his silk tie. It and the pocket square were the same deep-red hue as her dress. “Why red?” Sophia couldn’t help but ask as she settled into his arms, moving her fingers to link behind his neck.

  “Because you are one exceptional woman who should be set apart.” The corners of his lips curled, producing those dimples she loved so much. “Plus, after tonight I want it to be perfectly clear to the town of Sunset Cove whose arm you belong on.”

  Her eyebrows rose in tease. “Oh yeah?”

  “Yes. It’s mine.” Wes presented his arm and she didn’t even hesitate to wrap hers around it. He led her to the very center of the dance floor just as Sam Hunt’s “I Met a Girl” began playing.

  Sophia glanced over at the DJ station and found Lincoln giving Wes a not-so-subtle thumbs-up. Opal sat beside him chowing down on cake, lifting the fork in a wave. “What’s up with that?”

  “Lincoln and August helped me come up with a plan to woo you. They said it had to be over-the-top like the cliché twin switcheroo, so if you want to punch someone, it should be one of them. We even came up with a playlist to help my cause. I picked this one because of your beautiful laugh.”

  Awestruck, tingles raced along Sophia’s bare shoulders. “I can’t believe you did all this . . . even having the Knitting Club doing your bidding.”

  “They owed us that much. Finally put their meddling to good use.” Wes smirked, mischief whirling around his hazel eyes.

  “Tricking me is considered good use?”

  “Just this once.” He pulled her closer, and she melted into the embrace.

  Sophia tipped her head, catching her favorite meddlers, Josie and Opal, staring her way with giant grins. “I should have known those stinkers were in on this.” The dress fitting too well should have been a dead giveaway.

  “You’re not going to pinch them, are you?” Wes nuzzled her neck, sending the warmth much deeper than the surface of her skin. “They were helping my cause to win you over.”

  Sophia combed through his soft hair and angled slightly away to catch his gaze again. “It was never a competition you had to participate in, Wes. I’ve been yours ever since you sang with my son at church for no other reason but to make him happy.” She gave him a spirited look, lips twisting as she winked an eye.

  He tilted his head, chuckling deeply. “And you won me on our first date.” A groan rumbled deep in his chest. “The moment you laughed, Sophia, I swear my world tilted and I really never want it to right again.”

  The warmth reached her eyes, sending tears to wash over her view of him. “Where were all these smooth words the night we were covered in mud?”

  The smile wobbled into a hal
f one. “You rattle me with all your sass sometimes. I wanted to say it all, all at once, so it came out wrong.”

  Wes led them in a slow dance, both falling into a trance in the middle of a winter wonderland. It reminded Sophia of a fairy tale her mother loved reading to her when she was a girl. Letting go of all the stress, she allowed herself to finally believe the fairy tale could come true.

  As they made a languid circle, Sophia looked up and locked gazes with Wes. “You have these amazing gold flecks in your eyes . . . and they seem to wink out of the creamy mocha more prominently when you’re overwhelmed. Like right now.”

  Wes blinked slowly, the edges of his alluring eyes softening. “I’ve always thought they looked like the color of sand. . . . But your eyes.” He cupped the side of her face and angled closer. “God must have dipped some water straight from the Caribbean and used it to color in your eyes. Tranquil, peaceful . . . You’re my ocean.”

  She sniffed back the tears. “You can’t say that while we’re in the middle of this dance floor.”

  “Why not? I want everyone to know how I feel about you.” He dipped his head until his forehead touched hers. “We’ve kept our feelings hidden long enough. From the world and from ourselves.”

  The solemn gesture of their foreheads touching in silence said more than what they could articulate in words. Love was there. It didn’t need to be placed in a word to bring it to life.

  As they gently swayed to another song, Sophia placed her lips close to his ear and whispered the words anyway. “I love you.”

  Wes’s hold on her tightened as he released a heavy sigh. “I really like the sound of that.” He angled just enough to meet her eyes. “I love you, too.”

  The night moved along as song after song declared how Wes felt about her. As they danced, he would explain how. And when the song “Born to Be Yours” began filtering through the icy landscape, the subdued mood transformed into a more celebratory vibe. The rhythm had a more upbeat tempo, and when Wes’s hip kept time with it, Sophia let go of her inhibitions and joined in. She tossed her hands in the air and boogied with a freedom she hadn’t felt in years. August danced over with Josie and the guys jokingly showed off some pretty impressive dance moves.