Read Online Her Fill-In Fiancé by Stacy Connelly - Free Book Online Page B

think about. She’d seen and even served at plenty of high society parties while working for the Dunworthys. Not that she planned to turn her parents’ anniversary into a star-studded gala, but she’d learned a thing or two from Mrs. Dunworthy when it came to delegating duties and hosting an awesome event.
    â€œOkay, Sam, why don’t you and Drew handle drinks and food? We can talk to the manager here and see if they’ll cater. I bet we could even hire some of their waitstaff to man a buffet table and make sure the food stays hot and the serving trays stay full.
    â€œIf we can come up with an excuse to get Mom and Dad away from the house for a few hours the morning of the party, that should be enough time to bring in the tables and chairs. Drew, maybe you can take them out to one of your construction sites,” she mused. “Instead of gifts, I think we should set up a donation fund for a charity…”
    Sophia’s voice trailed away when she realized her brothers were staring at her in slack-jawed…something.
    â€œWhat?” she asked, somewhat defensively.
    â€œNothing.” Drew shrugged. “This is just—a new side of you.”
    The non-screwup side, Sophia figured was what he meant.A side she hadn’t shown nearly often enough growing up. “I—I’d like this party to be special for Mom and Dad.”
    In an uncharacteristically sweet move, Sam reached over and tugged at the ends of her short hair, the way he used to pull at her pigtails when she was young. “You’re here, Fif. That’s better than a party as far as Mom and Dad are concerned, and you know it.”
    She did know it, just like she knew Sam was trying to make her feel better. But instead his words only added to her guilt for having been gone so long—and for knowing she wasn’t going to stay.
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    â€œI can’t believe Sam and Drew thought they could have a party without planning anything! ” Sophia complained over the ringing bell as Jake held the diner door open for her.
    It had to be his imagination, but as she brushed by, Jake thought he caught a hint of the strawberry cheesecake she’d ordered earlier. Sitting next to Sophia, he’d regretted his own decision to forgo dessert. Wishing he’d gone for it, too, as if that might somehow curb the craving that had come over him when she licked a syrup-coated crumb from her lower lip…
    â€œCan you?”
    Hearing the demand in her voice, Jake forced himself to focus on what Sophia was saying as she turned to face him. The morning haze had burned off enough while they were in the diner for the hint of sunlight to strike sparks of red in her short, dark hair. Her brown eyes snapped with frustration, but not even that fire could hide the panic in her expression.
    â€œMaybe they were waiting for your input,” Jake suggested.
    He had his own opinion about her two brothers. While he was willing to bet neither had much party planning experience, he also suspected they were more on the ball than Sophia realized. They knew she wouldn’t allow their parents’anniversary to be a total failure, and he didn’t think it was a coincidence that they’d put Sophia in charge.
    â€œIf my brothers were waiting for anything, it was to stick me with doing all the work.”
    â€œThey did say they’d handle the drinks and entertainment,” Jake pointed out.
    â€œRight. Leaving me to take care of the invitations, food and decorations.”
    â€œWhich will be amazing, thanks to you.”
    She gave an inelegant snort. “I totally know Sam and Drew were buttering me up so they don’t have to do any more of the work than absolutely necessary, but why are you?”
    Jake definitely did not want to think too hard about buttering Sophia up, at least not if he was expected to continue any kind of conversation. Clearing his throat, he said, “I’m just telling it like it