Sunset Seduction - By Charlene Sands Page 0,37
decisions have been taken out of my hands. Luke’s still treating me like a kid, telling me what’s best for me. Pushing me away for my own good.”
“Does he know how you feel about him?”
She shook her head. “No. I mean, I haven’t told him. But we’ve…we’ve had a night…or two.”
Sophia took her eyes off the road to give her a long look. “A night or two? Are you saying…?”
Audrey nodded. She was tired of holding everything inside. Sophia was her friend and she trusted her. She spent the rest of the drive home confessing to Sophia what had happened between her and Luke these past few weeks. Most of it rushed out of her mouth, unpracticed and brutally honest. Sophia asked a few questions here and there but by the time they’d driven through the gates of Sunset Ranch, her friend had gotten the whole picture.
“Wow. That’s an amazing story,” Sophia said. “Now it’s all beginning to make sense.”
“I know. I should have told Luke the second I saw him that it was me in the cabin.”
“Luke does like honesty.”
“He wasn’t thrilled with me. We had an argument about it. So do you think I should tell him how I feel?”
Sophia wrinkled her nose and thought about it a second. “Yes, but only when you know the time is right.”
“How am I supposed to know that?”
“Well, if he tells you first, that would be a good time.” She grinned.
Audrey rolled her eyes. “Like that’ll ever happen.”
“Don’t be so certain it won’t. Luke might surprise you.”
“I’ve loved him for so long and now that I’m here living under his roof, I’m no closer to getting what I want than when I was a kid, except I’ve got a few great memories to take to my grave.”
Sophia’s eyes warmed with sympathy. She set her hand on her arm. “I’m going to stop by the cottage. I have something you might need, Audrey. I hope you don’t think I’m meddling.”
“I’d never think that. You’ve been so good to me since I’ve been here and I really value your friendship. So what is it? A magic love potion? The key to Luke’s heart?”
Sophia’s shook her head and didn’t laugh at her attempt at levity. “Nothing like that. Luke’s my good friend, too, and we’re family now. And well, just remember I want what’s best for both of you. And again, I hope I’m not out of line here.”
“Okay. I’ll remember that.” Sophia’s serious tone made her clamp her mouth shut and wait.
Sophia parked the car in front of the cottage, which was now under renovation to add on several rooms to enlarge the house. “Logan’s not home. I’ll only be a moment.”
When Sophia returned with a small white bag in her hand, she sat in the driver’s seat and handed it over to her. “I hope this is…whatever you want it to be.” There was joy in her eyes and caution, too. “Open it in the privacy of your bedroom, Audrey.”
A shiver rode up and down her spine.
Audrey looked down at the drugstore bag in her lap and knew what it was. The shape of the rectangular box inside removed any doubt she’d had. “I take it this isn’t lubricating jelly.”
Sophia cracked a smile. “No.”
Denial had been her constant companion and now Sophia was making her face the music. Audrey didn’t want to think about the possibilities, but the signs—or should she say, symptoms—were all there and Audrey, coward that she was, had done a good job of ignoring them.
“I keep a few on hand. Logan and I have been trying. No one knows that but you now.”
Audrey lifted her eyes to Sophia. “Thanks for trusting me with that. I hope it happens.”
“It will,” Sophia said, a confident glow in her eyes.
She nodded. “You’re right, of course. I should find out.” She grasped the edges of the bag, rolling them up tight and taking a swallow. “Luke deserves to know the truth.”
Sophia leaned over and wrapped her arms around her. She spoke with sincerity. “My concern is for you, Audrey. You need to know the truth. But only when you’re ready.”
Tears burned behind her eyes. Emotions overwhelmed her. With a lump in her throat and her belly churning, she couldn’t get the words out she wanted to say. Finally, she managed, “You’re…a…good friend, Sophia.”
* * *
That night, Audrey tossed and turned in her bed. The home pregnancy test sat on the bathroom counter, still unopened, still in the bag. She wasn’t ready. She