“Wow, you girls can be brutal to each other.”

“Hey, I have never said anything remotely that rude or callous to another female,” I say in defense.

“I agree with you, those are some pretty catty comments,” he says, looking none to happy about what I just shared about his precious Cassie.

“She definitely has a mean streak, so I would be careful,” I warn. I feel bad telling him, but he should know what she is capable of and to be honest, I sense that she isn’t as into him as he seems to be into her.

“Warning heard loud and clear,” he says, stretching his legs out.

“How are you feeling, tired from the long flight?”

“Yes, I hate long flights, they kill me.”

“Marcus will be home in a couple of hours and we will have dinner if you last that long,” I laugh.

“I’m going to take a shower and take a short nap, if that’s alright?”

“Go ahead, be my guest. Make yourself at home and let me know if you need anything.”

Chapter 5

Marcus

Damn, my girl is sexy.

“How did I get so lucky?”

“I don’t know Mr. Hunter, why don’t you tell me.”

“We’re sickening, aren’t we?”

“I never thought I was capable of loving someone as much as I love you.”

“I feel the same way, Marcus. It scares me sometimes.”

“Sophie, it still amazes me how similar we are when it comes to relationships. Early on I though you were a female version of me.”

“Oh really, I’ve never been a playgirl!”

“Hmmm, the way you bedded me, but kept seeing another guy, I would call that being a playgirl, sweetheart.”

“Would you now,” she says, brushing my lips with hers and rubbing her body up against me.

My little minx is in the mood and who am I to ever deny her a session of hot sex.

*****

The next morning Christopher and I are heading into work, Carlton is driving.

“Hey man, you guys are loud,” Christopher teases.

“Oh yeah, sorry, I was afraid you might hear Sophie. She can be a little minx.”

“You’re a lucky man my friend. You know that, right?” he says.

“That I do my friend, that I do. How’s it going with Cassie?” I ask.

“I like her, things are going well I think.”

“So what’s with the I think?”

“Sophie told me some cutting remarks Cassie has made to her and they were just mean and catty. To be honest, it turned me off to know she could take a dig at Sophie like that.”

“I’m not sure she’s the girl for you, Christopher.” The way Cassie would come onto me, even right in front of him wasn’t cool. She screams opportunist to me, but how do I tell him that?

Chapter 6

Sophie

Marcus and I are taking Christopher out to see Belgravia Underground tonight so he can experience the London club scene.

I love Belgravia Underground and am excited that I will get to feast my eyes on that Richie Stone. He is amazing on stage, inside I swoon like a groupie, but I play it cool in front of Marcus. I wouldn’t want him getting jealous on me.

We walk into the dark club and Christopher takes in the scene once we settle in at a table up in front, to the side of the stage.

“You’ll love this band, they are fan-freaking-tastic!”

“Wow, they impressed you?” Christopher replies.

“Hi, I remember you,” Julia says, coming up to our table. She is Richie’s girlfriend and she must remember us from the last time we came to see them play. That was almost a year ago. I certainly remember her.

“Hi again, it’s Sophie,” I say, reminding her of my name just in case she forgot.

“Yes, I remember. Hi, Marcus,” she says. She remembers Marcus because he has come to see the band a few times when we weren’t together. Marcus introduces Julia to Christopher.

After we rock out and enjoy the music, the other half of the fun is hanging out backstage afterwards and partying with the band. I can catch up with Julia too. I really liked her the first time we met and could use a friend now that we will be in London for a few months.

While the guys are bonding over drinks, we find a somewhat quiet table where we can chat.

“So, you are back together with Marcus?” Julia asks me.

“Yes, we are actually engaged now,” I reply beaming.

“Wow, that’s great. Congratulations! I knew you guys were meant to be, I could tell the last time I met you two and saw him with you. It just took you guys awhile to realize it.”

“I know, it was me, I thought someone else was the one I should be marrying. Then I realized my heart was with Marcus,” I say, looking over at him standing afar with Richie and Christopher. Eyeing him from across the room still makes my heart flutter.

“When are you getting married?”

“This summer probably, we haven’t set a date yet.”

“Where are you thinking of having the wedding?”

“I am considering having it here in London. I want something small and intimate. If we have it at home it will turn into some lavish, over-the-top, affair his mother will no doubt orchestrate.”

“Why, is she a handful?” Julia asks.

“You could say that. I call her the ice maven,” I reply and we laugh at my nickname for his mother dearest.

“Do you have any suggestions as to where would be a good place to get married and have a reception? The Savoy is kind of our special place. I was thinking of having the reception there.”

“The Savoy is lovely, it would be a wonderful place. It’s really classy.”

“I believe it would meet the Hunter family’s standard.”

“You have a stunning ring on, are you and Richie engaged now?”

“We are married now!” Julia exclaims.

“You’re kidding me, congratulations! It seems sudden, but I guess it has been almost a year since I last saw you. A lot can happen in a year,” I reply and don’t I know it. I’ve had a roller coaster twelve months myself.

“So what’s been going on in your life since we last met? If I recall correctly, you were set on not being with Marcus. But I knew better from watching you two together,” Julia says with a gleam in her eye.

“Yes, you pegged us right.”

“After I came to visit Marcus, I went back to LA and started seriously dating the husband material boyfriend. He ticked all the boxes, he was loyal, and hunky, successful and he loved me. We got engaged, planned a wedding and then fate intervened,” I divulge all the gory details.

“You mean Marcus intervened?”

“Yes, I ran into him at a money manager convention. We kept trying for one last night together, when I realized I wanted more than just one last night with him. I wanted every night with him,” I say wistfully.

“Awww, that is so romantic. That’s passionate love at it’s finest.”

“I know, I came to my senses and called off my engagement. Marcus has made me the happiest woman, although I still can’t help but feel like it’s all too good to be true,” I admit.

“I know that feeling, I used to battle it too. The whole idea of marriage used to sound so final to me, I wasn’t sure it was something I wanted to do. But when you meet the right person, the one that makes your heart flutter, then marriage doesn’t sound scary anymore. It becomes something you want because you want to be with that person forever.”

“Exactly,” I say in agreement.

“Are you working at Hunter Investments now that you live in London?”

“I will resume work next week. I have just been settling in the last couple of weeks,” I reply. My thoughts return to losing the baby and it fills me with sadness. I try and remind myself that it will happen for us. I wasn’t sure I wanted kids, but once I found out I was pregnant and after I got over the shock of it, I started to want the baby very much. Plus seeing Marcus so excited warmed my heart.

“What’s wrong, Sophie?” Julia asks.

“Oh nothing.”