by Cate Beauman
Abby looked from Sophie to Stone. “Okay. I’ll see you inside. I think cake is happening fairly soon.”
Stone nodded as Abby started back up the steps. Seconds later, the door closed. “What’s your deal?”
Sophie stared down at the grass. Stone didn’t seem to miss much of anything. “I’m not sure… What do you mean?”
“You were a little cool with Ms. Peppy.”
She had been and it wasn’t right. Abby had been nothing but kind the two times they’d met. The almost-encounter at Stowers House was what worried her. What if Abby mentioned it in front of Stone or the others? Everyone knew the Stowers houses were refuges for abused women. She didn’t want the moment in the childcare center to ruin everything she was building now. No one needed to know she’d let Eric hit her and turn her into a helpless victim. She was guilty of Stone’s earlier observation. She’d let Eric take advantage, but not because she was too nice. She was weak and afraid—her own shameful secret. But that was in the past—if she let it be. If Abby would let it be. She loved where she lived and tolerated her work. It made living where she did possible. It made her fresh start a reality. “I didn’t mean to be. I’ll apologize.”
He shrugged. “Don’t apologize on my account. It was just an observation. Abby’s a good lady—exhausting, but very nice. Kind.”
She’d never heard Stone say anything complimentary about anyone. He didn’t talk about other people. “Being rude is never right.”
He shrugged again. “Am I taking you home or are you going back inside?”
There was a hint of challenge in his voice and eyes. It would’ve been easier to leave, but taking the easy route wasn’t always right either. “I’m going back inside. Are you?” She lifted her brow.
He flashed her a quick grin. “I guess I’ll follow you.”
She turned and started up the steps, realizing he’d maneuvered her—but maybe she’d maneuvered him right back. There was nothing to do now but go in and get through the next little while.
~~~~
Stone stood back from the crowd with a beer in hand, watching Sophie sit with Olivia and Kylee while they ate their cake. She smiled when Kylee said something and responded, making the girls smile in return. She was relaxed and easy with the four-year-olds but not so much with the adults. She’d tried mingling. He’d kept his eye on her for most of the last hour, watching her struggle to converse about anything more than the weather or great California scenery.
Everyone had been kind to her. Hailey had let her hold Preston, and Morgan had handed over Jacob. They’d all tried to ask her questions about herself, but she’d deflected each one, always changing the subject to something about one of the kids or moms. Sophie was a closed book, and she seemed to be avoiding Abby like the plague, which was interesting.
Ethan blew on a party horn, quieting the group as he held their daughter Emma in one arm. “My lovely wife needs to open her presents before she falls asleep in what’s left of her cake.” He touched his hand to her pregnant belly, then clasped his fingers with hers as the room erupted with laughter.
Kylee and Olivia scrambled down, rushing over to the present pile. “We’re your helpers, Mommy. Livy and I get to give you the presents.”
“Okay, sweetie. You girls can take turns.”
“I’ll go first,” Kylee declared.
Sarah raised her eyebrow at her daughter.
“Um, Livy, you can go first.”
“That’s very polite,” Olivia said, hugging Kylee. “You’re my best friend because you’re so polite.”
Stone smiled, shaking his head as everyone laughed again. Both little blonds were hot tickets. The Cookes and Matthews had their hands full with their daughters.
Olivia contemplated the pile, nibbling on her index finger, then handed off the small gift bag Stone saw Sophie fuss over at the table earlier this morning. “Open this one, Sarah.”
“Thank you.” She smiled at Olivia and turned her attention to the fancy pink floral bag. “This is from Stone and Sophie.” Sarah sent him a smile, then Sophie.
He had no idea what was in there. Sophie said she would handle the present, and he’d let her.
Sarah pulled a small white box free and opened it, gasping. “Oh my goodness. These are absolutely beautiful.” She held up a pair of earrings, delicate twists of silver and pale blue crystal dangles. She reached her hand back in the bag and took out a second bigger box, opened it, and gasped again. “Stunning. This is absolutely stunning.” Sarah looked at Stone as she held up a necklace in the same design.
He shrugged, pointing his beer bottle toward Sophie.
“Sophie, I’ve never seen anything so lovely. Where did you get these?”
“I made them.”
All of the women started talking at once as they leaned in for a closer look.
“Dear god,” Stone murmured, glancing at Jackson and Austin at his side. They sounded like a bunch of excited teenagers. Sophie made nice stuff. He’d given the earrings and necklaces and whatnot she created a glance more than once. She wasn’t without her talents.
“Are you able to make more of these?” Wren asked.
“Yes. Definitely.”
“I’d like to order a set if I could,” Abby said as she stood next to Sarah, fingering the pretty jewelry.
“Me too,” Morgan said. “And one for my mother if you can do something in a dark green.”
“Sure.” Sophie nodded.
“I’d love a bracelet and earrings,” Hailey added. “But I have no idea what would work.”
“I know just the thing,” Sophie stood, stepping closer to the group of women. “We could do ambers or similar tones, something to play up your coloring.”
Stone narrowed his eyes, studying his roommate. Her voice suddenly projected well. The shy woman had vanished. He stared at the confident beauty as the group fired off question after question, asking her for advice on how to select the pieces they wanted her to make. She answered each one, describing how each piece of jewelry could be, enticing her eager new customers with promises of Swarovski crystals, sterling silver, or gold. Why the hell was she wasting her time cleaning when she could do something like this? She’d make a killing.
“Do you think you could make me a dozen sets for my boutique?” Sarah’s mother asked. “I think these would go in a snap.”
“Uh, yes, sure. When would you want them by?”
“Is next week to soon?”
“No, no. I can do that.”
“If they sell the way I think they’re going to, I’ll order more.”
“I’d like to show this to Lily,” Abby chimed in again. “Can you get me another set by Wednesday? It’s her birthday.”
“Yes, absolutely. I have other designs I can do as well—several, actually.
“Just make whatever you think would work best.”
“I can do that. I’ll be coming out with a catalog soon for anyone interested in hosting a home party. Hostesses get free gifts.”
“I’ll host a party,” Hailey piped up.
“If you’d like to jot down your e-mail address I can send you some information as soon as I have it available.”
“Great.” Hailey turned in her chair. “Austin, do you have a pen?”
Stone pulled another sip from his beer, realizing there was a business shark beneath Sophie’s quiet eyes and sweet smiles.
~~~~
Half an hour later, Sophie sat toward the back of the room making a list of all the orders she had to fulfill along with small notes about colors and design ideas that would work well for each of her new clients. In one day she’d managed to score requests for twenty-four beaded sets and a potential jewelry party. Hopefully her new customers would show off their pieces and their friends and families would want something too. If she could knock Sarah’s mother’s socks off, she might be able to get something steady going there.
Her juices started flowing as a mini business plan began taking shape. She was good at her craft
and she’d been a semester away from her business degree before Mom’s diagnosis. She’d planned to take Mom’s small shop to another level when she graduated but that’s not the way things worked out. She’d made her little booth at the mall work until she’d stupidly signed papers she barely paid attention to and unwittingly gave everything she and her mother had worked so hard for to the man who’d happily stolen it all away. With an order of this size, she was going to have to dip into the money she’d brought with her. The idea frightened her. Her emergency fund was meant for a quick escape and eventually her own place, but there was no way around it if she planned to fulfill two-dozen requests. She would easily recoup the loss with a decent profit, she reassured herself.
“Hi.”
She attempted to relax her shoulders as Abby sat down in the chair next to hers. “Hi.”
“Looks like you’re going to be busy for a little while.”
She tried a small smile, remembering her conversation with Stone. “Yes it does.”
Abby tossed a glance over her shoulder. “I just thought I should take a moment and let you know that the goal of my company is to provide courageous women the chance to start their lives over again. I’m very proud of what Lily Brand and the Escape line have been able to accomplish so far. Anyone who passes through the doors of any of our Stowers House facilities has a right to their privacy. Everyone who comes and goes is bound by the same ethics: to protect each other’s identities.”
Sophie understood what Abby was getting at; she wouldn’t say anything about seeing her at Stowers House. She nodded. “I appreciate that.”
“I hope you’ll come back and visit with all of us again. There’s always some sort of party going on around here—wedding showers, baby showers, birthdays, holidays. You name it, it’s happening.”
“That’s very nice. I’m glad Stone invited me. Everyone’s so kind. Maybe we can throw a little party when he gets his house finished.”
“That sounds fun. I don’t mean to pry.” She smiled. “Okay, maybe I do. Are you and Stone dating?”
Sophie’s eyes popped wide. “No. No.” She chuckled at the idea. Surely Stone would too. He wasn’t exactly her type, not that she actually knew what her type was. “He was kind enough to offer me a room in his home.”
Abby’s brows rose. “You live with Stone?”
“Temporarily. I pay rent, cook, and clean.”
“Does he actually talk to you, like say words, or does he grunt?”
Sophie smiled. “No, he talks. Not a lot, but he does.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it. I know you’re going to be busy, but would you like to have lunch sometime?”
Abby was offering an olive branch. She was offering her friendship. She hadn’t had a friend since Dylan, and that had been more of a helper/helping relationship than a true friendship. What would it be like to live in the area and become part of this group? What would it be like to walk into the Cooke’s home and fit in like everyone else did? She’d always wanted this, and Abby was giving her a chance. “Okay. I—I have to go downtown for some supplies tomorrow before I go to work. I could come early.”
“Sure. We can meet at Yoshoris.”
Yoshoris’ dress code required something more upscale than the three outfits she had. “I don’t think I can wear jeans there. That’s all I have,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing with her confession.
Stone walked over, stopping at her side. “You ready to go?”
The room was noisy as everyone talked and laughed around them. Oddly, she didn’t want to leave. “Sure.”
“Actually,” Abby said. “I have to head downtown. I thought Sophie might like to come. I can show you where I work, and we can get to know each other better.”
“Oh, uh, all right.” She looked at Stone. “I guess I’m going with Abby.”
Stone shrugged. “I guess I’ll see you when I see you then.”
She’d half expected him to tell her she couldn’t go and remind her it was her job to make his dinner. She nodded, still trying to get used to the idea that her life was truly her own again. “I’ll see you when I see you.”
“Come on.” Abby stood. “Let’s go.”
She got to her feet and grabbed her list, smiling, thrilled that for the first time in years she had impromptu plans.
Chapter Eight
“So how’s work?” Abby asked as she sped down Interstate Ten toward the Lily Brand offices.
“Good.” Sophie unclasped her hands she gripped in her lap, commanding herself to relax. Abby had talked non-stop for the last forty minutes, bombarding her with question after question. She’d tried her best to answer instead of spin Abby’s inquiries back at her—the new form of evasion she’d gotten very good at over the last couple of months.
“Jerrod told me his office looks great—very polished and clean.”
Sophie smiled.
“I still can’t get over how beautiful Sarah’s new necklace set is. I can’t wait to have one of my own.” She wiggled her brows.
Sophie smiled again. “Thanks. I’m hoping to get back to jewelry making full-time as soon as possible.”
“You made jewelry for a living?”
“Yes, my mother and I had a shop. Then I downsized a couple years ago and had my own booth at the mall.” She swallowed, realizing that was the most she’d told anyone about herself in so long. Somehow it was easy to share little bits of who she was with Abby. Stone was right: Abby was extremely kind. Plus it didn’t hurt that Abby had assured her she would keep her time at Stowers House a secret.
“You certainly have talent. Your creations are amazing. I’m sure you’ll be back at it in no time at all.”
She absorbed the quick thrill of Abby’s compliment. Many people told her she made beautiful pieces, but coming from Abigail Quinn, fashion designer extraordinaire, that meant something. “Thank you. I hope so.”
“I’m really glad we’re getting this chance to get to know each other.” Abby slid into the right lane and took her exit. “I hope you’ll still have lunch with me tomorrow.”
She didn’t know how to be around a woman so different from herself. Abby was extroverted and sure of herself, but as she sat next to the energetic woman belting out the tune playing on the radio, she suddenly and desperately wanted this fledgling friendship to work. It would be so nice to have a real girlfriend, someone she could confide in and laugh with. “Do you still want to eat at Yoshoris?”
Abby nodded. “They have excellent food. It’s an experience all in itself. I think we’ll have fun.”
She wasn’t worried about fun. Abby was exciting enough for the both of them. Her lack of clothing options was what had her concerned. She slid a glance at Abby in her designer jeans and adorable lemon-colored chiffon flounce tank, envying her breezy style. “Do you have any suggestions on where I might be able to pick up a couple of new outfits for a reasonable price?”
“Absolutely.” Abby pulled into a parking spot along the side of a huge building. “Right here.”
“Oh,” she said as she glanced at the sweeping Lily Brand Headquarters sign. Her idea of “reasonably priced” was clearly different than Abby’s. Lily brand and the Escape line were high-end all the way.
“Come on.” Abby unbuckled. “It’s probably still pretty busy inside. Lily had a shoot today.”
Sophie closed her door, hesitating on the sidewalk. “I don’t want to be in the way.”
“You won’t be. I promise. Chaos reigned earlier this afternoon, believe me. That’s why I was so late for Sarah’s party. Let’s go. I’ll introduce you to some of my favorite people.”
She nodded, less than thrilled that she was going to be walking around with one of the world’s biggest fashion names in her tired clothing.
Abby moved up the steps, swiping them into the side entrance with her keycard. The door closed behind them as they started down the long carpeted hall. “Swinging by the office after a shoot is a great opportunity to snag some cool l
oot. Hey, Monique.” Abby stopped to hug a tall, beautiful woman Sophie recognized from several magazine advertisements. “Monique, this is my friend Sophie. Monique is one of my models. I don’t know what I would do without her.”
“Aren’t you sweet.” Monique held out her hand. “Hi, Sophie.”
Sophie smiled, taking the model’s hand, praying her cheeks would stay cool and her tongue wouldn’t go thick as she grew more uncomfortable in the unfamiliar setting. “Hi.”
“I helped myself to a bunch of stuff.” Monique held up a bulging Lily Brand bag. “I love the post-shoot grab. I really do. I’ll see you next weekend.” She hugged Abby again. “Nice to meet you, Sophie.”
“You too.”
Monique left and two women waved at Abby as they walked by with similar bags in their hands.
“See what I mean?”
“Where does all the stuff come from?”
“All over the place. When the makeup and hair companies get word that Lily’s got something in the works, they send over all kinds of stuff—shampoo, conditioner, blusher, nail polish, hair dryers and curlers. The list goes on and on.”
“Why?”
“Tit for tat. If they send stuff, our makeup artist and hairstylist might use it, then the magazines might give them a mention. It works well for everyone, and we send out the leftovers to the Stowers Houses. There’s always plenty to share.” Abby led her into a large hair and makeup room with a long row of vanity mirrors and salon chairs. “Do you want something?”
“Wow,” she whispered, staring at the two huge tables jammed with every beauty product she could possibly think of. “Look at all of this.” She laughed. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Abby smiled. “Help yourself.”
“I don’t—I don’t even know where to start.”
“I’d start with a bag.” Abby handed over one of the Lily Brand bags.
“Yes but look at all of these foundation options. There’s powder or liquid, matte or original. And the blush colors and eyeliners. It’s overwhelming.”
