up? What if I lose her? Why are you still laughing? Shit Molly.”
“You aren’t going to screw it up. Don’t be such a pansy. She’s perfect for you. And she is obviously bright because she is falling for you too. Although, she is meeting Ryan for lunch today. You may have some competition.”
Mark’s face went blank. “Ryan? Why?”
Molly shook her head. “Stop worrying. They are talking about his birthday party. Caleb was supposed to go too but his book deadline is next week and there’s no way he can get away from the office.”
“Thanks, Molls. That makes me feel so much better. I think I would have liked it better if Caleb were going. Ryan is a player.”
Laughter from the doorway drew their attention away from the conservation. “Did Mark Moretti just call someone a player?” Rich’s laughter was contagious and Molly followed suit. “I was worried since you were taking so long. I didn’t realize Mark was telling jokes. Let me have a seat. Tell me another one.”
“Nice to see you too Bro.”
“No seriously. I heard you calling Ryan a player and I wondered if maybe you had amnesia or something terrible like that.” Rich kicked his feet up onto the desk.
“You guys think you are really funny don’t you.” He pressed the buzzer on his desk. “Mary, can you make me an appointment with Neil Lane for Monday?” Staring at his shocked friends, Mark laughed. “Who’s laughing now?”
Molly covered her mouth and a tear slipped down her cheek. “Are you serious? Are you doing what I think you are doing?”
Mark sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Is it a bad idea? Am I crazy?”
“Marco, what are you doing?” Rich sat up straight. “I was joking. Don’t do anything drastic just to be a jackass.”
“I don’t think it’s drastic. I think it’s romantic.” Molly jumped from her chair and landed on his lap. “This is the best news. Are you seriously going to ask her? Oh my God, mom is going to have a heart attack.”
“Molls, you can’t tell anyone. You need to promise me. You too Dickerman. If I am really going to do this, I am only going to do it once. It needs to be in my own time. Got it?”
Rich stood up and shook his hand. “I am shocked man. But your secret is safe with us. Now don’t screw it up.”
As Molly and Rich headed for the door, Mary entered his office. “You have an appointment with Mr. Lane at 3:00 on Monday. I have already cleared your schedule.”
“Thank you Mary. Now if you will show my guests to the elevator I can get some work done.” Mark laughed as Rich flipped him the bird. Was he crazy for doing this? Possibly. Could he imagine even one day without Sophie? Absolutely not.
Chapter 12
“Thanks for picking me up.” Sophie climbed into the front seat of Caleb’s car. “Mark is going to try to get by but if he doesn’t, will you be my hero and take me home?”
Caleb laughed. “I’m surprised Mr. Perfect is letting me pick you up. Considering it’s Ryan’s birthday and he knows Ryan so well, I am sure he will show up. He’s not going to let him get anywhere near you.”
Sophie punched Caleb in the arm and settled in. “Very funny. Ryan is harmless.”
Caleb raised one eyebrow at her. She was so lucky that he still wanted to remain a big part of her life despite the crash and burn in Jamaica. “Keep telling yourself that.” His laugh made her smile.
They rode in silence the rest of the way. Caleb breathed her in. Her perfume awakened every part of him. He knew she would never be his. But in that single moment in time, it felt right to be with her. They pulled into a parking spot. He looked over at her and leaned his head back on the headrest. “You look good, Soph. I guess whatever this is with Mark
“You aren’t going to screw it up. Don’t be such a pansy. She’s perfect for you. And she is obviously bright because she is falling for you too. Although, she is meeting Ryan for lunch today. You may have some competition.”
Mark’s face went blank. “Ryan? Why?”
Molly shook her head. “Stop worrying. They are talking about his birthday party. Caleb was supposed to go too but his book deadline is next week and there’s no way he can get away from the office.”
“Thanks, Molls. That makes me feel so much better. I think I would have liked it better if Caleb were going. Ryan is a player.”
Laughter from the doorway drew their attention away from the conservation. “Did Mark Moretti just call someone a player?” Rich’s laughter was contagious and Molly followed suit. “I was worried since you were taking so long. I didn’t realize Mark was telling jokes. Let me have a seat. Tell me another one.”
“Nice to see you too Bro.”
“No seriously. I heard you calling Ryan a player and I wondered if maybe you had amnesia or something terrible like that.” Rich kicked his feet up onto the desk.
“You guys think you are really funny don’t you.” He pressed the buzzer on his desk. “Mary, can you make me an appointment with Neil Lane for Monday?” Staring at his shocked friends, Mark laughed. “Who’s laughing now?”
Molly covered her mouth and a tear slipped down her cheek. “Are you serious? Are you doing what I think you are doing?”
Mark sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Is it a bad idea? Am I crazy?”
“Marco, what are you doing?” Rich sat up straight. “I was joking. Don’t do anything drastic just to be a jackass.”
“I don’t think it’s drastic. I think it’s romantic.” Molly jumped from her chair and landed on his lap. “This is the best news. Are you seriously going to ask her? Oh my God, mom is going to have a heart attack.”
“Molls, you can’t tell anyone. You need to promise me. You too Dickerman. If I am really going to do this, I am only going to do it once. It needs to be in my own time. Got it?”
Rich stood up and shook his hand. “I am shocked man. But your secret is safe with us. Now don’t screw it up.”
As Molly and Rich headed for the door, Mary entered his office. “You have an appointment with Mr. Lane at 3:00 on Monday. I have already cleared your schedule.”
“Thank you Mary. Now if you will show my guests to the elevator I can get some work done.” Mark laughed as Rich flipped him the bird. Was he crazy for doing this? Possibly. Could he imagine even one day without Sophie? Absolutely not.
Chapter 12
“Thanks for picking me up.” Sophie climbed into the front seat of Caleb’s car. “Mark is going to try to get by but if he doesn’t, will you be my hero and take me home?”
Caleb laughed. “I’m surprised Mr. Perfect is letting me pick you up. Considering it’s Ryan’s birthday and he knows Ryan so well, I am sure he will show up. He’s not going to let him get anywhere near you.”
Sophie punched Caleb in the arm and settled in. “Very funny. Ryan is harmless.”
Caleb raised one eyebrow at her. She was so lucky that he still wanted to remain a big part of her life despite the crash and burn in Jamaica. “Keep telling yourself that.” His laugh made her smile.
They rode in silence the rest of the way. Caleb breathed her in. Her perfume awakened every part of him. He knew she would never be his. But in that single moment in time, it felt right to be with her. They pulled into a parking spot. He looked over at her and leaned his head back on the headrest. “You look good, Soph. I guess whatever this is with Mark
Similar Books
