They finally entered Sunrise Meadow, which boasted a car-sized boulder, two picnic tables, a two-person swing hanging from an oak tree, and a gazebo beside the stream running alongside the edge of the square-shaped meadow—this stream had a pool big enough to skinny dip in. Around the meadow’s edge, clumps of flowers concealed the solar-powered lights planted in the ground. Giant rose bushes of red, white, yellow, and pink grew in the corners of the glade. Cushioned lounge chairs lay beside several long boxes for storing those cushions, and in the center someone had laid out a large picnic blanket. On top of it sat an array of fruits, jams, breads, croissant sandwiches, and cheeses, all wrapped to keep the bugs out. A bottle of Comus champagne stood in a silver decanter beside a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling cider for Victoria.
The riders dismounted outside the flowering hedge and trellis flanking the meadow’s entrance. Sophia appeared delighted, and Connor felt encouraged that she liked another piece of what he had to offer.
Sophia gazed affectionately at him and asked, “You set this up, didn’t you? When in the world did you have time?” She paused. “You know what? Don’t answer.”
“Okay.” Connor nodded his thanks at Kris, who’d arranged everything, including riding to the winery and retrieving the food from his trunk to lay it out. She’d learned a thing or two from Connor about entertaining people over the years. Now she alternated between playing fetch with Piper and tending to the horses, their reins now looped over a branch, while the couples sat on the blankets.
As Tristan poured drinks for everyone, Sophia asked, “What are we celebrating?” She moved to sit between Connor’s legs and lean back into him.
“Being cheesy romantics,” Connor replied.
“I think we can all drink to that,” she said, popping a grape into his mouth.
As they sat talking, Riley strode out from under the forest surrounding the mountain, wearing little more than a shirt, shorts, muddy boots, and a bottle of water on one hip. And a gun tucked under his shirt in back, though no one noticed that except for the pair of eyes watching from above. Those eyes had seen Kris setting up earlier and the eyes’ owner had thought to come down and ruin whatever she’d been planning, pissing on the food and kicking over lawn furniture, maybe yanking out some plants. But then Seth had seen Riley, who’d flashed the gun to his sister while talking to her. If you fucked with any Kendall, Riley fucked with you. Seth knew it and had stayed put, knowing better than to try messing with the Marine—although he knew how to use Mark’s gun, which he’d gotten his hands on only this morning, there was a good chance he’d miss with it. The chances of Riley the trained sniper missing, with any gun, were slim to none.
“This can’t be coincidence,” said Tristan to Riley as his brother neared. An American Fox Hound named Coby trotted beside the muddy-booted Marine.
Riley nodded at them. “Yeah. Figured I’d keep an eye on everyone.”
Connor gave him a look of gratitude and Riley turned to join Kris and Piper.
Sophia admitted, “I don’t know the first thing about Marines, but doesn’t he have to be with his unit or something?”
“No,” Connor answered. “He left the service after his contract was up.”
She remarked, “When you told me he is and not was a Marine, I thought....”
“Marines have this ‘once a Marine, always a Marine’ thing where they never refer to being one in the past tense.”
“Ah.”
“Besides, he’s got that alpha-male sniper thing going,” said Tristan. “The rest of us are a little more laid back.”
Victoria nudged him. “This coming from a sport-bike racer.”
“Former,” he corrected.
“What made you quit?” Sophia asked.
Tristan patted Victoria’s stomach. “Junior here, and not wanting to be away from everything I love.” He kissed his fiancée on the cheek. With a sly look at Connor, Sophia presented her own cheek. Feeling competitive again, he kissed it longer than Tristan had.
Victoria said, “New rule. If one couple kisses, the other has to.”
“Great idea!” said Sophia, squeezing his hand.
“You know,” Connor began, “we could take that rule further. You guys are getting married, having a baby...”
Sophia gasped.
Chapter 11 – Bonding
Connor hadn’t really meant to suggest marriage and children. Well, he sort of did. But he knew the instant he said it that he’d gone too far. He’d screwed this up, like Kris warned him not to. Sophia’s gasp confirmed it and a jolt of terror stabbed straight through him. She was going to bolt like a horse hearing a gunshot.
But she didn’t. Sophia gripped his hand, interlocking their fingers as she turned and gazed up at him. She murmured around a smile, “We’re getting ahead of ourselves just a bit, aren’t we? You haven’t even asked me to be your girlfriend.”
Surprise and relief washed over Connor. The look in her eyes wasn’t fear, but something akin to a thrill. Maybe he’d gone mad, but he thought her eyes said “yes” even though that’s not what she’d said. In an instant he rebounded and took the hint. He kissed her gently, as if to apologize. Then he asked, “Will you be my girlfriend?”
Sophia reached up to his cheek and whispered “yes” before kissing him again.
Smiling, Victoria said to Tristan, “I’m starting to feel like we’re intruding.”
He asked, “We weren’t that sickening, were we?”
“Oh, yes, you were,” Kris called from where she sat with Riley. “Still are!”
In the minutes after, Connor tried to gauge the situation. How badly had he stuck his foot in his mouth? He still felt flushed, especially since Tristan smirked when their gazes met, and then winked as if reading his mind. Victoria didn’t seem to think anything of it anymore, nor did Sophia, except for the new spark in her eyes. He tried to hold onto the women’s reaction to keep himself from going sick with worry. His gut told him that he and Sophia were fine. Better than fine. He could hardly believe it. Maybe he should stick his foot in his mouth more often.
As the next hour passed, his feeling of competitiveness with Tristan and Victoria faded. He reminded himself that those two had a far longer history and so he really had no business making comparisons. His jealousy of Tristan wasn’t a new thing but had never reared its ugly head so much. He really needed to let that go. He felt embarrassed.
Shortly before everyone left, Riley hiked with Coby to the winery to get Connor’s car, which he drove to Quinn’s house before jogging back to the winery and doing the same with Tristan’s. Riley lived in the guest house a hundred yards from the main house, not too far from the barns that were also behind the house a ways. He headed home for a shower just as the others rode by on the horses to Sugarloaf Stables.
Connor gave Sophia a quick tour of the horse facility, which included the smaller original barn and newer state-of-the-art one that included an indoor riding ring they used during winter. The multitude of indoor stalls were half-filled, the remaining horses out in the fields or being ridden in the rings. Kris spent most of her time here and technically lived in the apartment above the new barn, but she often stayed at the big house with Quinn because that was far more comfortable.
That’s where Connor led Sophia next, as they had a big family dinner planned in a few hours.
“I was hoping to get you to myself for a few minutes,” Sophia whispered to him as they followed Tristan and Victoria inside, where Quinn could be heard clattering in the kitchen.
Connor squeezed her close. “Let’s head upstairs.”
She leaned up and planted a kiss on him. She meant to be brief but found herself pushing hard into his soft lips. She’d seen that look of fear in his eyes after he blurted that comment about marriage and a baby. She’d been shocked by the suddenness of his suggestion, that it was too soon, that it was crazy, that it was inappropriate. And yet it hadn’t seemed the least bit wrong. Not to her heart. Her head was saying all those other
things but her heart said otherwise. Said Comfortable. Happy. And she wanted to let him know that he hadn’t screwed up. Not really. Maybe a little, but she was all in the forgiving mood and didn’t want him to worry, as she could tell he’d been doing.
You have not screwed up, Mr. Kendall, she meant her kiss to imply. When she pulled back, he seemed bemused, surprised, and happy. Maybe that kiss had worked, but she still felt the need to talk privately for a minute, just to make sure they were on the same, wonderful page. She suddenly realized he might be an emotional loose cannon and might need her help with some stability, and it occurred to her that this impression had been there a while. That made her wonder more about him. Okay, she really needed time together with him and looked forward to it.
Sophia turned to head into the house and nearly collided with a young, smiling blonde woman about her height.
“Hi,” said the blonde, whose green eyes were just like Tristan’s. She exuded vivacious, sexy energy while simultaneously seeming innocent, girlish and carefree, as if she had no idea men fell over themselves to protect her and make her happy, or that some men had practically broken their necks on seeing her, their heads had whipped around so fast.
“Hi,” replied Sophia, extending her hand.
The blonde wrapped arms around her. “From the way you two were kissing, I think we’re at the hug stage. I’m his sister Chloe.”
Sophia flushed and smiled. “Sophia.”
“I hope so, or he’s putting the moves on two women.”
With a coy look at Connor, Sophia asked, “Oh? Is that something he does? Should I be worried?”
Chloe took her hand. “Let’s go talk about him behind his back.”
“Oh! Perfect!” That would be the second time today, as Victoria had made the same joke, but then they had a good rapport with Connor from what she could tell. Maybe they often made that comment.
“Great,” muttered Connor. “Remember, Chloe, I know where you live.”
She winked and led Sophia onto the front porch, where they began shucking corn together while sitting on a white swing hanging from the ceiling. Two ceiling fans slowly twirled overhead and a couple of cats pawed at the loose husks and threads of cornsilk that missed the paper bag Sophia and Chloe were aiming for. A desire to win Chloe’s approval came over Sophia, who felt nervous for the first time around Connor’s family. The others hadn’t caused that reaction, but then she’d never been alone with one of them before.
“I just moved back from veterinary school in the last year,” Chloe said, putting a stripped ear of corn in a big bowl, “so I’m still living here at the house, which used to be my parents’, if Connor hasn’t told you.”
Sophia asked, “Where did you go to school?”
“Cornell, up in New York.”
“Really? I’m up at Syracuse.”
“No kidding. That’s an hour from Cornell.”
“So does that mean you’re technically a doctor?”
“Yep. No one calls me Dr. Kendall, though, mostly because it still feels weird to me. Except my brothers, who like to tease me.”
“That doesn’t surprise me, from what I’ve seen.” With her mind still on Connor, Sophia joked, “Meet any studs at school?”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “That weren’t horses out to stud? Not exactly. Some thought they were hung like one. Sent me pictures of their junk, the idiots.”
Sophia laughed that they had this in common. “I know! What’s up with that?”
“I don’t know. It’s gross. Besides, where’s the mystery if you’ve already seen it?”
“Really. It’s so presumptuous, too.”
“Yeah. I mean if I asked for it, that would be one thing. And it might be different if I’d already seen it in person, but before? After the initial shock, I just laugh about it but never talk to the guy again.”
Sophia said, “My friends and I used to pass those pictures around to each other and dissect every inch, literally, of the guy’s tool. I mean shape, size, grooming, the artfulness, or lack thereof, of the pic. Everything. I could never talk to those guys with a straight face after that, if I happened to run into them.”
Chloe laughed. “That’s great. I once took a picture of one particularly well-hung horse and sent that back, telling the guy to try again when he looked more like that. He called me a ‘size queen’.”
They broke into gales of laughter, making so much noise that Kris and Victoria came out to see what they were missing and join in, leaving the men standing inside wondering what the women found so hilarious.
“Should we be worried?” Connor asked, his arms folded.
“Probably,” replied Tristan.
“Should we go out there?”
“Not on your life,” said Riley, putting hands on their shoulders from behind. “I’m a Marine, and armed, and even I wouldn’t go out there.”
Connor watched a moment longer after the others walked away, thinking how well Sophia fit in with them. His family had always been pretty welcoming, but he felt a new appreciation for them. If he’d asked them to help bring his love into the fold, they couldn’t have done a better job, but then maybe they didn’t need to be told.
Out on the porch, talk soon turned to Victoria’s wedding.
“Now that you’re officially Connor’s girlfriend,” began Kris to Sophia, “he should bring you to the wedding. I thought he’d show up alone like he does to everything, but you’ve rescued him from that for next weekend, at least.”
That Connor was doing things alone saddened her. He deserved far better than that. And what about his friends? Surely he had some. How little she really knew about him suddenly reared its head. She’d been too distracted by her problems and his amorous affections to think about the merits of a relationship with him, or anyone, given the uncertainty Seth had just injected into her life. Still, she doubted that whatever she’d learn about his social life would change her estimation of him. They had a lot of getting acquainted to do. As for this wedding, she hadn’t even thought of it, never mind expected to go.
“Oh,” began Sophia, “I didn’t know it was so soon. Thank you for the invite.”
“Technically that should come from Connor, I guess,” Kris admitted.
“Or me,” remarked Victoria, “but you’re certainly welcome.”
“And if he doesn’t invite you,” said Chloe, ripping off a corn husk, “I’ll kick his ass.”
Amid the laughter, Victoria suggested, “You could be a bridesmaid! We’re sort of short one, not that this is why I’m asking you.”
Sophia couldn’t hide her surprise. Bridesmaids weren’t people you’d just met. Did Connor’s whole family move so swiftly? Was this getting out of hand? It wasn’t nearly as big a deal as his suggestion of marriage and a baby, but she felt like she shouldn’t accept Victoria’s offer even though refusing would be an affront. She didn’t know what to say. This was Connor’s call, not hers.
“Connor’s doubling as best man,” explained Kris, her tone and gaze seeming to acknowledge Sophia’s lack of comfort with the whole idea.
Sophia nodded, thinking he’d make the title live up to its name. His toast would probably be very sweet.
“We have three groomsmen and just two bridesmaids,” continued the bride, “so you’d make three, with Chloe and Kris, who’s also maid-of-honor.”
“She likes symmetry,” joked Chloe.
“But,” she began, “well, I’m very flattered, but I don’t have anything to wear. My hair’s probably a mess. And I definitely need my nails done, too.”
Seeing her look flustered, Chloe said, “Don’t worry. We’re all getting our hair and nails done next week and we’ll just bring you along. I know the salon won’t mind. We’ve been going there for years and know them. As for your dress, I’ll take care of it.”
“How?”
“I know the woman who made the bridesmaids’ dresses. I know she could pull a favor for me. Let’s go have a look at our dresses. You’ll love it!” Chlo
e rose and led her inside before Sophia had a chance to protest. Her distressed eyes scanned for Connor, but didn’t see him until she mounted the stairs. He saw her gaze and followed, finding them looking at Chloe’s dress and shoes. It was all getting a little much for Sophia, who turned in relief when Connor interrupted.
“Well, I think you’ve done enough talking about me behind my back,” he joked on entering the room.
Chloe turned and saw a look pass between the couple. She took the hint and put the dress away before leaving with a sisterly pat on her younger brother’s arm. Sophia breathed a sigh of relief and went straight into his arms.
“Can you just stand here with me a moment? I need some quiet time. I’ve been wanting you to myself all day,” Sophia pleaded
“Sure. Dinner won’t be ready for another hour, so we can stay up here together.”
“Great.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just a little overwhelmed, I guess. I’m coming to the wedding, by the way, in case you hadn’t been informed.” She chuckled.
“You don’t have to come. I mean, I’d love you to—”
“I know. It’s okay.” She pulled back. “I’m also going to be a bridesmaid, apparently.”
“Ah, that’s what that was about?”
“Yeah. Your sisters are going to work some magic to get me a dress in time.”
“They’re good at that.” He gave her a look. “It’s not too much, too soon, is it?”
Sophia smiled. “Not any more than you suggesting marriage and a baby.”
Connor (The Kendall Family Series Book 2) Page 10
