“Is that what you really think, Sophie?” he asked. “Do you you really think she’s here because I just fucked her? Or can you slow down a second and let me give you the truth?”
As she looked up at him, tears rolled down her cheeks.
“There’s really no reason to cry,” he said. “You’ve got it all wrong, my darling wife. Nothing is happening with Julia or any other woman. She did stay the night—downstairs. And she did take a shower in the guest bath. That’s it. We were up late talking, having a laugh. That’s all.”
“Thanks for being so … sensitive,” she said. “I guess I was stupid to fear the worst when I came home to find your ex-girlfriend here—especially after the fight we had where you threatened to not even wait for me.”
“I,” he started and stopped. He struggled to come up with the right words to fix this.
His sudden lack of communication abilities was the thing to send Sophie moving toward the door, and it made him panic.
“Where are you going?” he asked, grabbing her hand.
She pulled away from him. “Just don’t,” she said softly.
He followed her out into the hallway and grabbed her from behind, wrapping his arms around her tightly. “Sophie, I’m sorry,” he whispered into her ear urgently.
“Let me go,” she said, prying at his hands.
“I can’t do that.”
In desperation, he lifted her in his arms and carried her back to the bedroom, releasing her on the bed.
“What are you doing?” she asked, letting her tears flow.
“I don’t want you running out. I just can’t have you leave like this,” he said.
She threw up her hands in defeat. “Fine. I’m here. You tell her to leave, though, or I will.”
“I’ll be right back, then.”
Gavin ran out of the room and down to the kitchen where he found signs of an egg breakfast being started, but did not find Julia. She had clearly, finally, realized she wasn’t wanted there. Back up in the bedroom, he found Sophie at the window seat looking out at the backyard.
“She’s gone,” he said and was disturbed when Sophie kept her eyes away from him. “I swear to you, Sophie, though it may look bad, that’s all it is—appearance. I know you know that in your heart.”
“Were you trying to punish me for taking that work trip?” she asked.
“What? No, of course not. I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t even know you’d be back today.”
Sophie glanced at him with watery eyes. “I wanted to make up with you. I wanted to surprise you.”
Gavin went to her and kneeled by her side. “I’m glad you did, darlin’. Honestly. And I’m sorry about all this. About how I reacted. I was happy to see you and then you got the wrong idea and I just reacted badly. I’d never do anything to jeopardize us. You do know that, right?”
She took a shaky breath and watched him. It seemed she always had the ability to read him, to read what was in his heart. Sophie was the one who could do that, not Julia. Hell, Julia hadn’t even been able to read whether he wanted to fuck her. If she couldn’t understand that, how could she know anything else about him.
“I really hate that she was in my kitchen,” she said with a pitiful laugh.
Gavin smiled as relief coursed through him. “I’ll burn the whole thing down and we’ll start from scratch, yeah?”
She nodded with a weak smile.
Pulling her into his arms, he held her tightly, vowing never to be so petty and stupid again.
End of Excerpt
About the Author
Lara Ward Cosio is the author of the Rogue Series - books that feature complex, flawed, and ultimately redeemable rockers, and the women they love. When not writing, Lara can be found chasing her daughters around the house or at the beach, always with music on in the background.
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Also by Lara Ward Cosio:
Tangled Up In You: A Rogue Series Novel
Playing At Love: A Rogue Series Novel
Hitting That Sweet Spot: A Rogue Series Novel
Finding Rhythm: A Rogue Series Novel
Full On Rogue: The Complete Books #1-4
Looking For Trouble Page 22
