carrying on, Ben and I were there to get an estimate for a construction job.”
She didn't need to know about his impromptu picnic or the sugar mishap. Reed didn't kiss and tell, especially to his mom, no matter how spectacularit was.
Dot looked relieved. “So, there's nothing going on between you and…”
Reed filled in the sentence. “Sophie. Her name is Sophie.”
His mom tried putting another serving on his plate. “It doesn't matter since you aren't seeing her.”
He bristled at the satisfaction in her tone. “Now, I didn't say that. I said I was there on business. If I were seeing her, it wouldn't be anyone else's businessanyway!”
Dot took his plate and began scraping it off in the trash with quick, agitated motions.
He took the plate from his mom and placed it in the sink. Reed put his arm around her. “Look, Mom. I appreciate your concern, but I'm a grown man. My private life is private.”
She appeared forlorn. “I only want what's best for you.”
Smiling, he led Dot back to her seat and helped push in her chair.“Now that that's settled. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
She eyed the coffee pot with indecision. “Is it fresh?”
Reed had no idea how old the coffee was. Yesterday? To be on the safe side, he dumped out the carafe in the sink and started a new pot.
Chapter 7
Sophie stood in front of her closet, fruitlessly trying to figure what the heck to wear. She didn't want to dress up (again) because it would look like she was trying too hard. If she went with her normal Sunday evening at home outfit of yoga pants and a tank top, Sophie would look like she hadn't bothered with her appearance at all. Unfortunately, Reed had already seen Hobo Sophie.
Max wasn't much help in choosing an outfit either. She had sixty-five pounds of puppy dog lounging on her queen-sized bed, contentedly watching her.
“ You know this would be much easier if Tracy were here.” He put his head on his paws and whined in what almost sounded like an apology.
“ It's okay, buddy, you can't help it if you're not fashion forward. I'll just have to find something somewherebetween too much and not enough.”
He perked his ears up in agreement, then yawned.
Four outfits later, she decided on a pair of white shorts with silver-toned embroidery at the hem and a raspberry colored scoop neck T-shirt. The shorts went right above mid-thigh and the shirt was form fitting without seeming too tight.
She turned to ask Max what he thought, but he had already fallen asleep.
The sound of the doorbell chiming startled her. Sophie hadn't realized that she'd taken so long getting dressed. Max woke up with a loud bark and leaped off the bed.
She did a quick hair and makeup check in her dresser mirror before leaving her room. Sophie was actually wearing makeup and her hair was down and brushed. She called it a win and went for the door. Max managed to walk circles aroundher while moving down the hallway at the same time. He barked the whole way while she tried not to trip over him.
Please, Sophie. Don't break your neck before you get to the door.
Through the frosted, beveled glass on her front door, she saw the outline of Reed highlighted by the setting sun. One hand was on his hip and the other appeared to be holding a clipboard. His face was turned in profileas he waited. The wood casing around the oval of glass framed him almost perfectly.
As soon as she opened the door, Max stretched up and put his big paws on Reed's chest. With his tongue lolled to the side, he panted hot and not so fresh dog breath straight into Reed's face. Reed took a step back in surprise, then gave Max a good scratch behind the ear.
“ Hey there, boy. Aren't you friendly?”
Sophie pulled her dog by the collar in a Herculean effort to get him off her guest. “I'm sorry! He normally isn't this exuberant, but he is a bit of a dog slut. He'll treat you like his best friend for a belly rub or a scrap of food.”
She finally got the dog to move away
She didn't need to know about his impromptu picnic or the sugar mishap. Reed didn't kiss and tell, especially to his mom, no matter how spectacularit was.
Dot looked relieved. “So, there's nothing going on between you and…”
Reed filled in the sentence. “Sophie. Her name is Sophie.”
His mom tried putting another serving on his plate. “It doesn't matter since you aren't seeing her.”
He bristled at the satisfaction in her tone. “Now, I didn't say that. I said I was there on business. If I were seeing her, it wouldn't be anyone else's businessanyway!”
Dot took his plate and began scraping it off in the trash with quick, agitated motions.
He took the plate from his mom and placed it in the sink. Reed put his arm around her. “Look, Mom. I appreciate your concern, but I'm a grown man. My private life is private.”
She appeared forlorn. “I only want what's best for you.”
Smiling, he led Dot back to her seat and helped push in her chair.“Now that that's settled. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
She eyed the coffee pot with indecision. “Is it fresh?”
Reed had no idea how old the coffee was. Yesterday? To be on the safe side, he dumped out the carafe in the sink and started a new pot.
Chapter 7
Sophie stood in front of her closet, fruitlessly trying to figure what the heck to wear. She didn't want to dress up (again) because it would look like she was trying too hard. If she went with her normal Sunday evening at home outfit of yoga pants and a tank top, Sophie would look like she hadn't bothered with her appearance at all. Unfortunately, Reed had already seen Hobo Sophie.
Max wasn't much help in choosing an outfit either. She had sixty-five pounds of puppy dog lounging on her queen-sized bed, contentedly watching her.
“ You know this would be much easier if Tracy were here.” He put his head on his paws and whined in what almost sounded like an apology.
“ It's okay, buddy, you can't help it if you're not fashion forward. I'll just have to find something somewherebetween too much and not enough.”
He perked his ears up in agreement, then yawned.
Four outfits later, she decided on a pair of white shorts with silver-toned embroidery at the hem and a raspberry colored scoop neck T-shirt. The shorts went right above mid-thigh and the shirt was form fitting without seeming too tight.
She turned to ask Max what he thought, but he had already fallen asleep.
The sound of the doorbell chiming startled her. Sophie hadn't realized that she'd taken so long getting dressed. Max woke up with a loud bark and leaped off the bed.
She did a quick hair and makeup check in her dresser mirror before leaving her room. Sophie was actually wearing makeup and her hair was down and brushed. She called it a win and went for the door. Max managed to walk circles aroundher while moving down the hallway at the same time. He barked the whole way while she tried not to trip over him.
Please, Sophie. Don't break your neck before you get to the door.
Through the frosted, beveled glass on her front door, she saw the outline of Reed highlighted by the setting sun. One hand was on his hip and the other appeared to be holding a clipboard. His face was turned in profileas he waited. The wood casing around the oval of glass framed him almost perfectly.
As soon as she opened the door, Max stretched up and put his big paws on Reed's chest. With his tongue lolled to the side, he panted hot and not so fresh dog breath straight into Reed's face. Reed took a step back in surprise, then gave Max a good scratch behind the ear.
“ Hey there, boy. Aren't you friendly?”
Sophie pulled her dog by the collar in a Herculean effort to get him off her guest. “I'm sorry! He normally isn't this exuberant, but he is a bit of a dog slut. He'll treat you like his best friend for a belly rub or a scrap of food.”
She finally got the dog to move away
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