by Kelly, Erika
“Okay, you know what?” her sister said. “I can’t deal with this right now. I don’t want to fight with you, and I don’t want to hurt you. But I’ll tell you the truth. This isn’t about what you want to do. This is about what’s best for Valentine’s. Once you’ve worked with us for a while your input will carry more weight, but right now you’re going to have to trust that the rest of us know what’s best for the company. And we certainly know our parents a hell of a lot better than you ever did.”
Way to plunge the knife in and twist. “Not to be a bitch or anything, but you don’t have a deal without my vote. So it’s time to move the conversation past that. You don’t care about Crazy Hearts, and you want the money from Nestlé to fund development of new products and build organic factories, so that’s going to be our starting point for future discussions. I can’t pay you a hundred million dollars, but I’ve talked to Barry and, between my savings from distributions and bank financing, I know I can pay you enough to allow you to pursue your objectives. And since Crazy Hearts doesn’t fit the new Valentine brand, then I’m asking for a shot at running it on my own. Because it matters to me.”
“Okay, stop it. Just stop it. We’ll talk about this when you get home. As a family.”
“I think we’re done talking. But I hope you’ve put a hold on your talks with Nestlé like I asked. Have you?”
“Sophie, what has gotten into you? We’re a family. And instead of talking to us about all this, you’re talking to Barry and Aunt Georgie?”
“I’ve tried talking to you. You keep telling me I’m an inexperienced outsider, which is good because it’s forced me to face the truth and explore options I never would’ve considered before. And one of those options is using the event building on Aunt Georgie’s property. She said I could use it for Crazy hearts.”
“You’re going to take Crazy Hearts and move to Montana and live with our crazy hermit aunt?”
Sophie’d never heard her sister sound so distraught. “She’s not a hermit. She’s very involved in her community. Always has been. And she lives near Bozeman. It’s a fun college town.”
“Your life is here, Sophie. Your family’s here. This is all you’ve ever known. You really want to start over in some remote mountain town? Think about where you live. My God, why would you ever want to leave?”
“What do I do in LA? Go shopping, go out to dinner? I don’t even like shopping. I hate the traffic, and I have to leave the city every time I want to have some fun.” She drew in a breath. She’d never told her siblings this, but she had to do it. “And I hate living in that house all by myself.”
“How can you say that? That’s our home.” Was Abby crying?
“It doesn’t hold the same happy memories for me.” A thousand flapping wings burst out of the cage in her heart. She couldn’t believe she was finally voicing thoughts she’d kept hidden for years. God, did it feel good.
“What are you talking about? We have all of our parties there. Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays. All five of us, our spouses, our children. We’re all there more than we’re in our own homes. And if you leave, we’ll wind up selling it.”
“I’m not staying so you can keep your childhood home.”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. What happens when you get married and have kids? You’ll want it, too. You can’t leave, Soph. Hannah will grow up without you.”
“It’s an easy plane ride away. I’ll come home all the time.”
“See? You said it yourself. This is home. We’re your home.”
“Oh, come on, Abby. I hardly you see you guys. Unless I’m babysitting.”
“Is that what this is about? I’m sorry if I rely on you too much, but I’m not sorry that you’re Hannah’s babysitter. You’re the only one in the world I trust to watch her.”
Her heart swelled. This is what she needed to hear. That she mattered. That she meant something to them.
“Don’t you want to watch her grow up? Don’t you want to be there for her? Taking her to swimming lessons, taking her to her first haircut, teaching her to put on make-up? You can’t miss out on all that. She needs you. I need you.”
“Of course I want to be there for all that. But I…” She’d waited a long time for Abby to need her.
“I love you, Soph. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She could hear her sister weeping. “You’re my sister.”
“I love you, too. But we have to talk about this. You can’t keep dismissing my ideas. Let’s just think about it, okay?”
“No. Don’t think about it. You’re not moving to Montana. We’re not selling the house. God, all I wanted was to build a company we can be proud of that will live on for future generations, and now I’m losing my sister and my family home? Is it worth it, Soph? Just to hold onto some processed, unhealthy cookie that doesn’t fit our brand anymore? Family first. That’s what mom and dad would’ve wanted.”
“Okay, okay. We’ll talk in person as a family. Listen, I’ll be home on Saturday, and I’ll take Hannah for a few hours and you can catch up on your sleep, okay?”
“Oh, thank God. I’m dying.”
“I know you are. Give my little punkin a big kiss on that gorgeously fat cheek.”
She hung up, letting the feelings settle in. Her sister loved her. Her family needed her.
But did they love her enough to hold onto Crazy Hearts for her?
She wasn’t sure she wanted to find out.
******
Dropping his duffle bag at his feet, Ryan looked up at the monitor to see five names listed on the standby screen. His came first. A quick scan of his gate made him think he had a good shot of getting on the flight. Not too many passengers. If he got in tonight, he’d be on the field for tomorrow morning’s game.
The band around his chest tightened, and anxiety raced through him.
Block it out. Grabbing the handle of his pack, he headed for the plate-glass window overlooking the tarmac. A baggage handler wheeled a cart, a plane rolled back from the terminal, and a man in a neon yellow vest read the screen of his cell phone.
When he closed his eyes, he saw Sophie. Riding him in the back of the Jeep, her silky hair brushing over his arms. Everything in him pulled to go back to the island to be with her.
What was it about her that drove him so crazy? She was feisty and fun. He loved her spirit and her sense of adventure. He loved the way she cared enough to push him. Everyone saw what he wanted them to see—and built their expectations based on that. Not their fault—he didn’t let them in. But that shit didn’t fly with Sophie. She dug deeper with him. She got him.
Just thinking about her made his skin heat up, his blood simmer. He wanted his hands on her. Her mouth—kissing had never felt like that before.
Dammit. Shut it down. Enough about a girl he’d never see again.
In fifteen minutes they’d start boarding his flight. He’d get on that plane and go back to his life. He wouldn’t crap-out before he got his home run.
Pulling out his phone, he sent a text to his coach.
At airport, hope to get on standby. Should be at game tomorrow.
There. It was done. He touched his forehead to the cool pane of glass. He’d just sealed the deal. No going back to the island now.
Restless energy kicked up his pulse. And not the good kind. Not the kind that pushed him to work out instead of partying with his friends. Not the kind that gave him the will to shove down his impulses and call on that prized self-discipline.
No, the kind that caused him to jump on a plane for a singles resort and bail on his teammates.
Pushing off the window, he headed to the row of stores. He’d grab a drink and something to read on the flight. But not two minutes later he heard the announcement for his flight. The sound of his name over the PA system shrieked like a whistle in his ear.
His phone buzzed. Coach.
Where are you?
He dropped his duffle to reply. San Juan.
Meet in hotel dini
ng room tomorrow at 7:30 AM.
See you then. Adrenaline pumped through his system. Wiping his damp palms on his shorts, his vision narrowed, and he went light-headed.
Fucking face it, man. You don’t want to go back.
He reminded himself of his dad’s advice, about staying the course, sliding into home. Make the majors, play a few seasons. Makes total sense.
When he reached the desk, he found a soldier and a harried woman with a baby in a car seat waiting for the gate attendant to get off the phone.
When she did, she looked up. “Mr. O’Donnell?”
“Yep.”
“We’ve got a seat for you.” She gave him a smile that told him he’d won the lottery.
When he glanced up to the monitor, he saw Lt. James Wilson in the second waiting position.
Hands clammy, he handed over his boarding pass. Beads of perspiration popped out on his forehead, and his stomach rolled. If he took this flight, he’d redeem himself in the eyes of his coach, team, and scouts. He’d recover from his lapse in judgment.
As the woman typed, the soldier beside him tapped the keypad of his phone.
“You need to get on this flight?” Ryan hoped like hell he’d say the family he hadn’t seen in eight months was waiting for him.
“It’d be great, but I can’t say I need to.”
Ryan nodded, ridiculously disappointed not to have an excuse to give his seat away.
But something the guy said struck him. Can’t say I need to. Because Ryan did need something. Strip away the expectations, the guilt, the fear of repercussions, and Ryan knew exactly what he needed. Jesus Christ, what was he doing going back? He’d risked everything for this break and instead of taking it he’d listened to messages, responded to texts, and taken phone calls. He should’ve powered down his phone and locked it in the hotel room’s safe.
He knew in his gut if he woke up tomorrow and walked onto the field, he’d be just as fucked up as when he’d left. Not only would he let his teammates down, but the scouts would wonder what the hell had happened to Ryan O’Donnell.
His dad thought he should see it through—and, yeah, that rang true, and he would. But right now, for whatever reason, what he needed to see through was this week. This break that he absolutely needed.
“Hang on.”
The attendant looked up.
Was he really going to do this? He’d just told his coach he was on his way back. He had a chance to recover from his one and only act of rebellion. He had a chance to slide right back into his life as though nothing had happened. He doubted his coach would give him much of a consequence if he showed up tomorrow.
But if he took the full week?
If he gave himself the gift of Sophie Valentine?
Elation spread through him like fresh, clean air. “Give him my spot.”
His room had been taken, but he’d upgraded to a suite for his remaining two nights. He’d changed his ticket back to his original flight, though he’d lost his seat beside his friends.
Now he just needed her.
Rougher sea made for a rocky ride, but Ryan’s focus was on the glittering yellow lights of the resort, the palm trees swaying in a semi-circle around the beach. He’d texted her several times since giving away his seat, but she hadn’t responded. He wouldn’t let it wind him up. She could be off on another adventure.
When his phone vibrated in his pocket, he whipped it out. But it wasn’t Sophie.
A stab of guilt hit him when he saw his coach’s name. But, fuck, when had he ever taken something for himself?
Damn the consequences, he was going to take his tiny slice of happiness by spending two more days with Sophie.
As the engine decelerated, and the boat bumped into the dock, Ryan reached for his duffle bag.
A deckhand stopped him. “We’ll bring it to your room, sir.”
He pulled a bill out of his pocket and handed it to the guy. “Great, thanks.”
And then he jumped off the boat and headed for the hotel. Once he reached the pavement, he shook the sand out of his boat shoes. He checked the time on his phone. Eleven-fifteen. She’d probably be back in her room. Or on the beach—in a chaise? But a quick scan of the area—a couple strolling along the shoreline, a group gathered around a bonfire—came up empty. He doubted she’d be at the bar. Her friends partied, so she never stayed with them this late.
That meant she’d be in her room. He hurried around the pool and entered the hotel. Once at the elevator he texted her again.
Here. On my way to your room. U there?
He boarded the car, then jabbed the button for the sixth floor. She didn’t respond. He didn’t care. He’d find her.
She wouldn’t have gone back into town, would she? Why the hell hadn’t he asked her plans? He couldn’t believe he hadn’t tried to stay in touch.
He strode down the hall and knocked on her door. While waiting for her answer, he checked his phone. Nothing.
He’d find her friends. He pounded one more time, waited, and then took off.
Instead of taking the side exit that led directly to the bar, he went out towards the pool. The humid air clung to him, as he passed by a bunch of people in the shallow end, their bodies rippling silhouettes against underwater lights. On a chaise, a woman sprawled atop a man. He had his hands under her short skirt, squeezing her bare ass cheeks.
No sign of Sophie or her friends. He checked the beach one more time, but he still didn’t see her. So he entered the bar. Right away he saw Jake with a blonde, her arms slung around his neck, her body swaying against his.
He’d leave his friend to it. Shooting another text to Sophie—Looking 4 u. Where r u?—he pushed through the crowd of grinding bodies on the dance floor. Recognizing the height and toned body of Sophie’s friend, he tapped her shoulder.
She pulled away from the guy she was kissing, and it seemed to take a moment for her vision to clear. “Ryan? What’re you doing here?”
“Where’s Sophie?”
“She went up to her room about an hour ago. Why?”
“I need to see her.” He started to go, when he felt a hand on his shoulder tug him back. “What?” he snapped.
“Did you come back for her?”
A slow smile spread through him. “Yep.”
Heading to the elevator bay, he found a crowd of people, laughing, drinks in their hands, but he didn’t want the company. So he ducked into the stairwell and took the six flights up to her floor.
Once there, Ryan banged on her door. “Soph? Sophie?”
Where was she?
A door swung open down the hall, and a guy with a towel wrapped around his waist leaned out. “What’s going on?”
Ryan raised a hand in apology. The guy shook his head and retreated, closing the door.
Turning his back against the wall, he scrubbed his face. He’d shaved before taking off for the airport, wanting to show his coach and teammates he’d cleaned up his act. Was back to being the guy they’d always known.
But he wished he hadn’t.
Because as much as he’d like to be that guy, he just wasn’t.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
With her French doors thrown open and a strong breeze riffling the bed skirt, Sophie danced like a wild thing all over her suite. Pharell’s song Happy played in her earbuds, and she lost herself in the ocean-scented air and uplifting beat.
Spinning around, she hit a high note and her face cracked. The weird sensation made her burst out laughing. Guess it’s time to wash off the mudpack. Flipping on the bathroom light, she turned on the faucet and let the water warm up before splashing it on her face.
With her eyes closed, Ryan came to mind. He’d still be on a plane. Was he happy to be going back?
Did he feel relieved he’d pulled out of this tailspin?
It didn’t feel good to get so close to someone and then never talk to him again. They could have at least kept in touch through social media. But, no, she really didn’t want to see pictures of him wi
th other women. Or back with Emma. That would hurt.
But for now she could send him a text. Just to see how he was doing. Would he like that? Or had he already moved on?
Yeah, probably moved on.
Actually, she’d like to get Jake’s contact information. She wouldn’t talk to her sister again about Crazy Hearts until she had an actual plan. And to make one she needed to find out whether or not running the business herself was a viable option.
Quickly rinsing off the mud, she patted her skin dry, smoothed on lotion, and then went to grab her phone off the nightstand.
The moment she popped the buds out, she heard pounding at the door. Grabbing her phone, she caught the robe in a fist at her collarbone and peered through the peephole.
All she could see was a light blue button-down stretched across a broad, muscled chest. “Ryan?”
“Soph? Open the damn door.”
Joy sparked and crackled under her skin. That deep, sexy voice thrilled her. She unlocked the door and threw it open.
He barreled inside, lifting her off the ground. Feet dangling, she had to grab onto his shoulders. He breathed her in. “Why didn’t you answer?”
He was back. He’d come back. “What’re you doing here?” Had he missed his flight?
But instead of responding, he closed and locked the door, and then walked her back into the room. Licking into her mouth, hands gripping her ass, he tumbled them down onto the bed. Immediately, he rolled to his side, bringing them face-to-face.
She scraped the hair at his temples, tucking it behind his ears. “You’re here.” Leaning in, she rubbed her cheek across his smooth skin. “You shaved.”
“Yeah. Wanted to show my coach I was back.”
“You’re too gorgeous to walk around like this, you know.”
Lifting the back of her thigh, he draped it over his hip. Then, he cupped her chin and kissed her in the sweetest, most desperate way. Like he’d missed her. Like he couldn’t believe he had her back in his arms.
He pushed the robe off her shoulders, but the material caught between them. “Get this off.” His gruff voice heated her.
