Sophie’s face relaxed into a smile. “Yes, she does. It’s one of the things I love most about her.”
“And it’s one of the things that makes me worry about her the most.”
“I can understand that.”
“You don’t worry about her?”
Sophie’s smile grew. “I don’t have to.”
“No?”
“She’s got you.”
He couldn’t explain what was happening, exactly, but he felt something happening between them. Sharing a love for his mother—was that something that would make someone more attractive to him? Apparently. He had never met a woman who already knew his mother this well. Someone who was protective of her, even to the point of defending her to him.
“She’s talked about me a lot?” he asked.
Sophie laughed. “A lot. Colin too.”
“And you’ve known her for how long?”
“A little over a year.”
“She talks about you a lot too,” he told her.
“Clearly she doesn’t talk about how young and energetic I am,” Sophie said drily.
He laughed. “The funny thing is, she probably has. The image in my mind was of an older woman, but someone with tons of energy and enthusiasm.”
Sophie looked touched by that. “That’s really nice.”
But something was bugging him. The more he thought about how often his mother mentioned Sophia and how much time she spent with her, the stranger it became that he had never actually met this woman. “Do you think it’s odd she’s never introduced us?” he finally asked.
“No,” Sophie said.
But that was all she said.
“Really?”
“Really.”
He should probably leave it at that if she didn’t want to elaborate, but he was a Kelly. Kellys didn’t leave things alone. “Why is that?”
Sophie lifted a shoulder. “Because you have a great big family and your mom wants you to meet someone special and fall in love and get married and have a bunch of grandbabies for her to spoil.”
“Well, um, yeah. I guess.”
“And she knows that I don’t…do that.”
“Do what?”
“The whole family thing.”
Finn frowned. “So you think she just figured there was no point in introducing us if you didn’t want to get married and have kids?”
“And because I have pretty firm personal rules about getting involved with guys who are close to their families.”
“You like jerks who are loners?”
She smiled. “Kind of. Yeah.”
Well, that ruled him out. He was a nice guy—he couldn’t help it. And he hadn’t been alone since…he could barely remember. He lived alone, but between work and family things, he was rarely there when he wasn’t asleep. “But you do date?”
“Yes.”
“Even though you’re not interested in anything serious?”
“Yes. And most of the guys are fine with having a lot of sex and not introducing me to their mothers.”
Wow. Finn coughed slightly. “Okay.” Then he shook his head. “Really? You just date for sex?”
“Dating can be fun. Especially if the guy isn’t interested in getting married either. So I also date for…fun.” She smiled. “But I don’t really need a boyfriend. I have the theater and my friends here to share my work and interests, and I have my roommates for companionship, and so…yeah, mostly for sex.”
“And my mom knows this?” They were really good friends in that case.
Sophie laughed. “I’ve never said it quite that way. She just knows that I cut her off pretty quick when she started talking about her handsome, sweet, successful sons.”
“You specifically didn’t want to meet me?” He felt…offended, he supposed.
“Or Colin. Or any of her amazing nephews, if that’s any consolation,” Sophie said with a smile.
So she was…cold. Or incredibly introverted. Or shallow. But none of those really seemed right. Which was crazy. He didn’t know her. But Angie knew her. And, more, loved her. There was no way Sophia Birch was cold or shallow.
And what the hell did he care if Sophie didn’t want to get married or have kids? She was a beautiful woman with a kick-ass uppercut, but that didn’t override the rest. He hadn’t been serious about anyone in a long time, but he had definitely not ruled out marriage and kids and all of that. In fact, he had always just kind of assumed that would all happen. Eventually.
“Besides,” Sophie said, “you’re not into theater at all. Like to the point that your mom has never invited you to see a show she’s in. I own a theater. This is what I do for a living. We don’t have a lot in common.”
Well, that was a good point. But suddenly he had an urge to watch a musical or three. Yep, this day was really weird.
“I think I’m being judged unfairly,” Finn said.
“Oh?”
“I just think I haven’t had the right exposure to theater before this.”
“What’s your exposure been?” she asked, looking amused.
“Playing a puppy when I was six.” He couldn’t believe he’d admitted that. Again. “Crawling around on hands and knees, barking. Traumatizing stuff. So much so that I’ve blocked most of it out.”
She nodded. “I understand. You probably need to give it another chance.”
Maybe she’d give him a chance. The thought flashed through his mind. Maybe he’d like theater. Or maybe this was an opposites-attract thing. That seemed more likely. Or hell, maybe they could just date for the sex.
“Okay, yes, I’ll go to a play with you sometime,” he said. “I’ll even buy. But you have to sit close and explain stuff to me that I don’t understand.”
She looked confused for one second, and then her lips curled. “You thought I was asking you out?”
“Oh, you’re not dedicated to helping people learn about the theater and fall in love with your greatest passion?” he teased.
She tipped her head. “You like chocolate martinis?”
“Um…what?”
“Those are probably my greatest passion.”
He chuckled. “Never had one of those either.”
“Hmm, so many things to help you learn to be passionate about.”
Heat streaked through his gut. Yeah, he definitely wanted to try something new. Like dating for sex. In fact, that sounded like a hell of an idea. “So it’s a date.”
“Well, it would be, except for one very important detail,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“I don’t date guys with huge families who are involved in everything they do. And whose mother I adore.”
“Okay, I get it,” he said honestly. “That could be messy.” He sighed. “Especially with my family.”
“I haven’t met any of your family, but I’ve heard stories.” She was grinning again.
“They’re all true.”
“You should still really try a chocolate martini and a play sometime, though.”
“I have a feeling I won’t like either one without you.”
She gave a little snort. “You just met me.”
“Yeah, weird, right?”
“Yeah.”
He shrugged. “It’s been a weird day. I’m kind of getting used to it.”
“Do you always just say exactly what you’re thinking and feeling?”
“Do you mean am I always honest?” he asked.
She hesitated and then nodded. “Yeah.”
“Yes.”
She gave him another bright smile, but it was smaller than the one that had kicked him in the gut. It still made him feel as if there were less oxygen in the room, though.
“Then I’ll be honest too. This is the first time I’ve wished I didn’t love your mom so much.”
“Sophie! We’re here!” someone called from outside the office.
“Be right out!” she answered, her eyes still on Finn. “My friends. The cleanup crew I recruited,” she told him.
“Got it. My guys should be here any minute too.” He was disappointed they were no longer alone. Which was stupid. Then he thought about that. “Hey, were you here alone before I showed up?”
“Yes.”
He frowned. “You were here, all by yourself, front door unlocked, stereo turned up so loud that I was able to watch you for…a while…before you even knew I was here?”
She arched an eyebrow. “For a while? How long were you standing there, anyway?”
“Long enough. Doesn’t matter. It would have taken a fraction of that time to hurt you. Are you here alone often?”
She shrugged. “This is where I work. The rest of the people in and out of here are volunteers.”
“I don’t like it,” he said flatly. He felt his frown deepen. “Anyone could walk in off the street and do God knows what.” Finn was shocked by how tense he suddenly felt. Sophie could kick the stuffing out of her boxing bag, but he could have clocked her over the head or grabbed her from behind before she had even a prayer of doing any damage of her own. “You need someone here with you. Or the door locked. At least. Where do you park? Do you call someone before you leave so they know you’re on your way home?”
Sophie’s eyes were wide. “I…do lock the door. Sometimes. And I park on the street.”
“Do you know the people who run the other businesses nearby? And please tell me you’re not out after dark on your own.”
“Finn, I—”
“Do you always have the music that loud?” He scowled at the stereo. “That’s not safe. It’s better than earbuds, but keep it down. And lock the damned door.”
God, if she was anything like his mother, then she was a sunny optimist who believed the best about everyone else and went along in her own little world, never thinking something bad could happen to her. Fuck. He hated when his mom went out on her little missions, and now there was Sophie, his mom’s BFF, to worry about too.
“But…my friends were on their way,” she finally said carefully, as if anticipating another lecture.
“So they could be the ones that called the cops when they found your dead body?” he asked.
Her mouth dropped open, and Finn swore under his breath. Dammit. He was getting all worked up. He sucked air in through his nose and then blew it out slowly. “I just mean, you really shouldn’t be here alone with the door unlocked. As a cop, I need to say that.”
Right. But he hadn’t been talking as a cop. That realization was unavoidable. He would have likely said the same things to anyone, but he was pretty sure his heart wouldn’t have been pounding this way with anyone else.
There were several beats of silence, and then Sophie said, “So this is the real you.”
“What?”
“Last night when you were hauling me out of here, your jaw was tight like it is now and you were all bossy and growly. And now this.”
“I was doing my job—last night and now.”
She didn’t look convinced. “Last night you said you were sure the real me was the feisty side because when people react emotionally, that’s when they’re most true. So the real you is this bossy, protective side.”
Well, shit. He could hardly deny it. The flirting and asking her out had all been real too, but yeah, he was much better at being bossy than he was at being charming. “You really need to lock your door when you’re here alone,” he repeated.
“Yeah, I heard you.”
“Are you going to do it?”
“Are you going to come by and keep an eye on me every night if I don’t?”
As if someone had touched a match to a wick, something flared between them. Hell yeah, he’d come by and keep an eye on her. Both of them. Not to mention his hands. “You in the market for a bodyguard, Feisty?”
She looked him up and down. Slowly. Blatantly. “Well, that would be one way to see you that wouldn’t involve dating your whole family and potentially upsetting your mother.”
Damn. That was the best plan he’d heard in a really long time. “Couldn’t drink chocolate martinis if I was working.”
“Then I might just have to go further down my list of passions to teach you about then.”
“Sophie, let’s go!” a man’s voice yelled from the lobby. “We need the lights on!”
That seemed to shake her out of…whatever this was. She blinked and took a deep breath and then reached for a zippered hoodie hanging on the back of her desk chair. As she slipped into it, Finn realized he hadn’t taken a deep breath for several minutes. This woman had him all twisted up. And he’d known her for maybe a half hour. But Sophia Birch had been doing the unexpected since he’d first seen her in the crowd last night. “Maybe we should talk about this later,” he said, not quite ready to let it go.
She smiled. “Hmmm. I guess. If you promise to never propose, you might even get me to lock the door.”
CHAPTER FOUR
What the hell was she doing? Sophie wondered as she stepped past Finn and out into the lobby where Kiera, Maya, Rob, and Zach were gathered. She hadn’t even wanted to meet Finn. For a year she’d avoided him and his whole family on purpose. And now she was flirting with him? Stupid, stupid, stupid.
“Hi, guys,” she said, pulling the zipper up on her hoodie. “I’ll get the lights on.”
But no one moved. They were all looking over the top of her head. At Finn. She sighed.
“Hey, everyone,” he greeted. “I’m Finn Kelly.”
His deep voice made Sophie want to sigh in a whole different way. Which took her right back to how crazy she was acting. One minute she was telling Finn all the reasons she couldn’t have chocolate martinis with him—all very legit, honest reasons, by the way, including that she didn’t know how to do the family thing and Finn Kelly, by all accounts anyway, had big-loud-overly-involved family in his blood. And the next minute she was telling him she’d be happy to be locked inside the theater with him after hours. Which was also honest.
What. The. Hell.
“Hi, Finn. I’m Zach Ashley. You look familiar,” Zach said as he stuck out his hand for Finn’s.
“I’m with the BPD,” Finn told him, taking his hand. “You’re an EMT, right?”
And the cop thing did it for her too, Sophie acknowledged.
Zach nodded. “Yep, that’s it. I don’t think we’ve ever met formally, but I’ve seen you around. Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
“So what are you doing here?” Zach asked. “Are you investigating the fire?”
Finn glanced at Sophie. “No, but have you heard anything? I can make a call to see who was assigned to it.”
She shook her head. “The insurance adjuster and the fire investigator have both been here, but I haven’t heard anything back from either of them.” She’d been eager to get the visit over with. She needed that insurance check. She’d been surprised when the investigator said that it was going to take a few days to finish his report.
“I’ll check into it when I get back to the station,” Finn promised. He frowned slightly but didn’t say anything more.
“So if you’re not here about the fire, why are you here?” Maya asked.
Sophie shot her a look. She could hear the tone of Maya’s voice. The tone that said Maya had her own ideas about why Finn was here.
“He is here about the fire,” Sophie said. “Kind of. He was here last night, and he came by to offer some help in the cleanup.”
“My brother is a firefighter,” Finn added. “We both got some buddies to come and help out.”
“Wow,” Zach said. “That’s really great of you.”
“It is,” Maya agreed. “But why? Do you guys do this often?”
“My mom is really involved in the theater,” Finn said. “She was pretty upset about all of this and the fact that Sophia—Sophie—might have to push some shows back.”
Sophie caught Maya watching her with round eyes. Yeah, yeah, Finn was really hot. She knew exactly what Maya was thinking. “This is Angie’s oldest son
,” Sophie said, giving Maya the big round eyes right back.
Everyone knew Angie. And Maya and Kiera would understand why it didn’t matter that Finn was big and hot and bossy. They didn’t know all the details of her childhood and her father’s shenanigans, but they knew about her mom and her stepmoms. They also knew that the one thing she wanted more than anything else was a mom-daughter relationship. And that she’d found it with Angie.
“You’re Angie’s son?” Kiera asked with a little laugh. “Well, that explains a lot.”
Sophie frowned at her, but Kiera was watching Finn. Sophie wanted to watch Finn.
Thankfully, he was behind her, so she wouldn’t embarrass herself in front of her friends by acting all starry-eyed over him. Because she would have. And they’d have noticed. It just figured that the first guy she’d been attracted to in way too long would be Angela Kelly’s son.
Actually, it did figure. Angie was wonderful. Of course her son would be wonderful. It was startling how many things Sophie knew about him already, both from what Angie had told her and from things she just assumed because she knew Angie.
“It explains a lot?” Finn repeated. “Uh-oh.”
Sophie could tell he was smiling. She’d known him for a little over an hour total and she could already hear the smile in his voice? Crap. She could not develop a crush on Angie’s son.
Kiera shook her head. “I mean that as a total compliment. Your mom is always taking care of Sophie. It doesn’t surprise me that she asked you to come and help out.”
Angie was always taking care of Sophie. And Sophie loved it. After not letting anyone take care of her for years, Angie had swept into Sophie’s life and loved her in spite of Sophie’s insistence that she didn’t need it or want it. How Angie had done that still baffled Sophie. When she’d met Angela Kelly, she hadn’t been a vulnerable little girl who just wanted a mom to read her bedtime stories. She’d been a jaded adult who had convinced herself that she was better off without family. But Angie didn’t stay at arm’s length. Literally or figuratively. She’d enfolded Sophie in a hug within five minutes, and Sophie had felt her cynicism and stubbornness melt away.
So she absolutely could not risk breaking Angie’s son’s heart…or falling for him and having her heart broken. Which was a crazy thing to think was even a chance after just meeting him, but yeah—it seemed possible. Very possible.
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