From Boardroom to Bedroom

Seventeen

Sophie stared at her sketch pad and what she’d laid out so far, then she stared back at the nearly completed room. The architect and contractor had done a marvelous job of restoring the burnt portion of the clubhouse. Now she was trying to find a way to keep the decor true to the rest of the clubhouse, plus add in some special touches to really celebrate the reopening of this wing.

“Looks like some things still need decorated.”

Sophie nearly dropped her sketch pad as she spun around at the familiar voice. “Nigel,” she gasped. “What are you doing here?”

He casually leaned against the doorway that had yet to be trimmed. With a gray T-shirt and worn jeans and even a pair of cowboy boots, he fit in perfectly. She’d never seen him in boots and she couldn’t help but smile.

“Are you relocating to Texas?” she asked, nodding to his new attire.

With his hands in his pockets, he shrugged. “I figured I should at least try to look the part. I draw the line at the hat, though.”

How could he have her smiling when looking at him hurt so much? But as conflicted as she felt, she knew he was here for a reason. She only hoped she was that reason.

or are you filming in Royal

“Maybe both,” he replied.

didn’t say a word as he continued to survey everything...which consisted of drywall, paint cans and etched glass

him. Although, she didn’t know how much more

doing the decorating,” he finally said as he focused his

“I am. I wouldn’t trust this to

your videos—you’re good at what you do,” he replied. “They’re

accolades,

one step, then another, until he came to stand within inches of her. His eyes roamed over her face, her hair, before

he murmured, reaching out to smooth a strand behind her

enough to feel his warmth. “I wanted to get back to myself now

going to do this small talk and dance around the proverbial elephant in the room. Seeing him again only reminded her of all that she’d had that she’d then thrown away...not that she’d thought of

he told her as he dropped his hand, but

her recall laying against his chest and sleeping when they were in England. Making her remember when he’d first wrapped her