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.

you filming in Royal again?”

“Maybe both,” he replied.

away from the door and took a slow walk around the open space. He didn’t say a

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

the decorating,” he finally said as

clutched her pad to her chest. “I am. I wouldn’t trust this to anyone

at what you do,” he replied. “They’re lucky

at his accolades, Sophie

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

dyed your hair back,” he murmured, reaching out to smooth a

and leaned in just enough to feel his warmth. “I wanted to get back to myself now that I’m

room. Seeing him again only reminded her of all that she’d had that she’d then thrown away...not that

her as he dropped his hand,

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