“It’s not true.” Sophia sits up and huffs. “I did just as much of the seducing.”
Holden smirks at her, and Gunner winks. “I don’t know. I did almost flash my cock the first day we met.”
“But you didn’t. Everything we did was consensual, every step of the way. I’m not being taken advantage of or anything like that.”
“I know, Bambina.” I pull her against my side and rub over her belly. “We know.”
“Miles just has to get it all out of his system, that’s all.” Gunner shrugs. “He made some idle threats, but it will all blow over. No need to worry about a thing, sweets.”
“As if my mother isn’t enough to worry about,” She grumbles.
“Everything will be fine,” I promise.
I put on a movie, and soon enough, Holden goes back to work, and Gunner falls asleep on the couch. Sophia cuddles closer to my side. “You really think this will be fine? That my parents are just going to understand and be okay with what we’re doing?”
“I already told you, I don’t care what they approve of or don’t approve of. I care about you.” I shrug.
She nods and kisses me softly. “I better get upstairs. Tomorrow I’ll see if my mom wants to visit my dad after your very persuasive conversation.”
“I didn’t lie.” I steal her for another kiss.
She melts against me a little, and my heart tries to push through my ribs, pounding in my chest. I groan when she finally releases me. I want to follow her to bed, to curl around her, to kiss her until I get tired of it – which I’m not convinced will ever happen.
Groaning, I make myself go to bed and leave Gunner where he is. In the morning, I find Sophia talking to her mom in the kitchen. Sophia rubs her back. “It’s okay, Mom. Everyone gets drunk once or twice in New York.”
“Yeah, but I embarrassed myself. I’m supposed to be the responsible adult, and I made a mess.” Diana sighs. “Coffee?”
“We can stop for Starbucks. I know that’s your favorite. Then I can drop you off so you can see Dad and have a good day.”
“You can’t take any time off work? I’d love to get some actual family time.”
“I can join you after work.” She barters.
“Okay. We’ll have a nice dinner together after your father and I catch up.”
“Yeah, I definitely don’t need to be there for that.”
“I’ll go get ready.” Diana glances at me and goes red, then runs off quickly.
I wrap myself around Sophia and kiss along her throat slowly. “Good morning, Bambina.”
She melts against me and rubs my side. “Good morning, Roman.”
“How are you feeling? Any better than yesterday?”
“Yesterday ended pretty well.” I chuckle.
She laughs and kicks me lightly. I let her go, and we get on with our day.
Nick joins me in my office and glances out at the sales floor. He points. “Just as I thought.”
“What? Did you come up here to people watch again?”
“Neal.”
I feel bile rise in the back of my throat as I stand up. I join him and glare out the window as Neal goes into Sophia’s office. “Yeah, I don’t like that.”
“I learned through another person that Sasha and Neal were friends, kind of. They were friends in one sense or another, and I think she may have told him, which we’ll need to deal with.”