A Moment Like You (The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #2) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,29

time I think she’s the part of myself that I’ve been missing all along.

Sophia creates chaos in my perfectly planned life, and it frightens me that I prefer to live in the anarchy of her presence than continue living what is now a miserable existence.

“Good, at least you are aware of what’s happening. We thought you were oblivious to that ownership you claim to have over her,” Hayes says once I finish talking. “More like she owns you, and you pretend it’s the other way around. This might sound contradictory, but you need a plan if you want to get the woman.”

“She’s not coming for almost two weeks,” I inform him. “She needs time. I think I came on too strong Saturday, and we couldn’t discuss any of it the next morning because she ran away. This isn’t a conversation we should have over the phone. While she’s away, I plan on focusing my energy on fixing Merkel. In that way when she’s back, she can concentrate on her parents and Aldry’s Sweets.”

“Sounds like a smart move,” he agrees with me. “Speaking about Mr. and Mrs. Aragon, we spoke with her mother’s doctor earlier today. We all decided that the change of atmosphere might help with her depression. There are plenty of clubs she can join around town. You might have to fly Mrs. Aragon to Portland because the therapists won’t come all the way to Baker’s Creek, but we’ll try our best.”

“Thank you for doing this for me.”

“I won’t lie to you. Blaire is doing it for Sophia, not for you. Grovel so she’ll forgive you, because if my woman is upset, I’m not going to be happy either. Also, her being unhappy with the Aldridge boys is making it harder for me to convince her to marry me now.”

“What are they doing to her?” I understand my part on this whole I hate your brothers, but apparently, I’m not the only one.

“Pierce is on her shit list because of Leyla, Vance doesn’t want to tell her anything about Crawford, and you are an asshole. That’s enough to hate us as a unit.”

“She adores you,” I remind him.

“But my brothers are infuriating.” He takes two more beers out of the case just as Pierce makes his way to us.

“Am I allowed to sit with you?” He shows us a bottle of single malt that he’s carrying along with three tumbler glasses.

Hayes and I nod, and we change the subject. I try to concentrate on the conversation, but my thoughts go back to Sophia. Her shallow breathing after kissing her in the elevator. Her pupils dilating as I buried my finger inside her. And the poisonous thought that keeps pushing its way through my head when I think that maybe, just maybe, she could learn to love me.

Who the fuck are you kidding, Henry Aldridge? You have to force a woman to be your wife. Your mother couldn’t be bothered with you when she realized her boyfriend was never going to become her husband. No one has ever been with you because of you, but because of your value. The only reason Sophia tolerates you is because you pay her well. If she had it all, she wouldn’t give a fuck if you live or die.

Would she?

Ten

Sophia

I’m not that different from Henry Aldridge. We both like to peer over the horizon and ponder about the future. Believe me, it’s easier to look at the future than try to fix the present. Maybe it’s a way to escape, or just the way my brain is wired. I’ve always said, if you can’t control your present, at least create something new for your future.

Though it’s a great motto, I don’t use it much in my personal life. I focus mostly on work. Sometimes I get lost inside my head while planning a better product, a better campaign, and a better…world. Concentrating all my energy on one single problem can keep me in the zone for hours.

To my despair, at the moment I can’t focus on anything that has to do with work.

Why am I obsessing about my boss?

I touch my lips and close my eyes thinking about the kiss. Sliding my hand down, it travels between my legs. I recall his long finger dipping inside me as his heel brushed my mound and almost made me come. I let out a loud sigh and open my eyes. This isn’t happening. I refuse be attracted to a man who is making me uproot