“Are you trying to make a believer out of me?” Because you already did! She wasn’t ready to make that kind of confession yet. Sophie turned around to see his face. He leaned up on his arm to look down at her. His hair was messy and it made her smile how delectable he looked. His eyes were so bright blue and she wanted to know everything about him, all his secrets.

“Maybe.” He leaned down and kissed her arm before looking up at her from under his thick dark lashes. Sophie ran her fingers through his soft hair. “You look so beautiful in my bed,” he confessed as Sophie played with his hair.

“I like your bed.”

“I also want to know what you look like in my shower,” he said with a mischievous tone.

Sophie’s eyes widened before he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her off the bed. He carried her out of his room toward the shower. “Ashton! What are you doing?” Sophie laughed as he hugged her against his chest. Sophie wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her. She couldn’t resist taking the opportunity to nibble on his ear as she leaned in close to him. He grabbed his toothbrush off the counter and slathered it with toothpaste before he stuck it in his mouth and went to turn on the shower, all while refusing to let her down. Sophie laughed and squirmed in his hold as he kissed her with his toothpaste covered mouth. She grabbed his toothbrush from his mouth and placed it in her own and proceeded to brush her teeth. “That’s so fucking hot. I am never getting a new toothbrush,” Ashton commended. Sophie kissed him back, making him laugh deep. It was the perfect sound and it melted her insides. He walked them into the hot water of the large tiled shower. Under the soothing stream of water he kissed her passionately, deeply like he could never get close enough. She knew because she felt the same about him. This has to be real! I want to stay here forever.

After the shower that Sophie knew she would not soon forget, Ashton offered to drive her to work. She gladly accepted because it meant she could have that much more time with him.

When they got in the car, Ashton reached over and ran his hand over the bare skin of her leg. She was wearing her black skirt and white button up blouse, which was pretty much a standard for her work attire.

“Don’t start something you can’t finish, sir.” Sophie stopped his hand from reaching under her skirt.

“The backseat is roomier than it looks.” Ashton raised his eyebrows suggestively.

“You know you never did tell me how you ended up posing nude for my art class,” Sophie said when the question suddenly came to mind.

Ashton smiled. “Truthfully…I found out you were in that class and the opportunity arose. So I decided to go for it.”

“You did it to see me?” Sophie was shocked at his confession.

“You sound surprised.”

“Well, I am. Were you hoping that I would see your hot body and not be able to resist?”

“Yes. I told you I always had a thing for you,” he stated wickedly.

“What about the girl?”

“I was trying to make you jealous. Did it work?”

“That depends on if you slept with her.” Sophie raised her eyebrows.

“Naw. Not my type. She practically threw herself at me. I like girls to pretend they hate me.” Ashton pulled up to the front of the restaurant. “Do I need to go in and tell Sam that you’re off limits?” His mood turned suddenly serious as he looked past her into the restaurant.

“Nope. Not necessary. Things are good between me and Sam now that he knows I don’t want anything more than friendship.” Sophie leaned over and gave Ashton a kiss before she opened her door.

“Do you want me to pick you up?”

“No. I don’t know what time I’m getting off, but I’ll call you tomorrow before I go visit Margaret.”

“Sounds good.”

When Sophie walked into the restaurant she could see the beginning of the lunch rush start to accumulate, filling up the tables. She walked into the back room to put her bag in her locker when she was intercepted by Lori, who seemed slightly anxious.

“You look like you are going to say something I won’t like,” Sophie stated before Lori had a chance to speak.

“There’s something I wanted to tell you before you hear it from someone else.” Lori twisted her apron in her hands.

“Okay…” Sophie encouraged hesitantly.

“Well…I know Sam has had this thing for you. Lately he’s been sulking around. I’m not sure what exactly happened between you two but last night I asked him out for a drink. I felt bad for the guy…I had a great time and I think he did too. I just want to make sure it’s okay with you before I ask him out again. I’m not rushing into anything, especially since I know he’s still hung up on you, but I thought maybe I could win his attention if we spend time together…” Lori looked up at Sophie with an awkward smile, unsure of how to continue the conversation without some feedback from her. “I need to know that I’m not competing with you, because if that’s the case, I wouldn’t have a chance.”

“Nothing happened between Sam and I, and nothing will happen. We’re friends and that’s all it will ever be,” Sophie insisted. “I think it’s wonderful that this might be the beginning of something between you two. I want you both to be happy.”

“I feel so much better. I didn’t want you to get mad at me. There’s already enough drama with Megan having the hate on for you right now.” The relief was evident in Lori’s posture. “She’s convinced that you stole Ashton King from her, by the way.” Lori shook her head. “I have no idea what’s going on, but from the way that Ashton looks at you, I wouldn’t blame you for falling for him.”

“We are actually seeing each other.” Sophie looked at Lori guiltily. “How exactly do I break the news to Megan without her trying to kill me?

Lori’s mouth hung open. “I knew it was only a matter of time.”

“For what it’s worth, I had fallen for him a long time ago. I just didn’t know what it was then,” Sophie confessed.

“Megan has to accept it eventually—we can hope anyway.” Lori patted her on the shoulder.

Sophie worked up the courage through the rest of her shift to break the news to Megan. She felt like she owed it to her to let her know even though Sophie was fearful of how Megan would react. When their shift wrapped up, Sophie took the opportunity. Megan did not take the news well and Sophie had to dodge a few glasses before Megan stormed out of the restaurant.

“I don’t want to know what that was about,” Sam said as he came out of the back room to see what the commotion was about. “Please tell me no one is injured.” He looked at the broken glass on the floor.

“No injuries,” Sophie assured. “I’ll clean up the mess.”

“Give her a month or two, she’ll move on to her next obsession.” Lori tried to cheer Sophie up as she helped with the cleanup.

Sophie sighed dejectedly. “I hope so but until then I think I have to watch my back.”

“Megan is mostly bark. I wouldn’t worry too much about her bite.” Lori shrugged.

“It seemed more than just bark as the glasses were flying at my face. She barely missed me.”

***

When Sophie walked in her apartment after work she was met with a beautiful aroma. She let her purse slip from her shoulder and took in the flowers that were displayed throughout the apartment. The drama from work was suddenly forgotten.

“Do you have a magic vagina or something? Seriously, this guy is in love with you.” Mel came skipping over toward her. “Here.” Mel passed her a card.

Sophie,

A reason to believe in love.

Ashton

Sophie couldn’t help the excitement that coursed through her. It was a beautiful gesture. Sophie pulled out her phone.

Sophie: My apartment smells beautiful…thank you. A bit much but very much appreciated.