Read Online No Reservations Required by Ellen Hart - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ellen Hart
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know it upsets Bram, and when that happens, it upsets me.”
“Then you’ll be happy to hear the news. I wanted to tell you this afternoon, but when I bumped into Margie, she said you weren’t around. I figured it was the kind of news you’d want to hear in person, but now I’ve got no choice. You need to hear it from me first.”
“Hear what?” She sat down on the chaise and picked up Bram’s half-finished glass of wine.
“I’m getting married.”
For a moment, she was knocked off balance. “You’re serious? To Elaine?”
“Are you happy for me?”
Sophie wanted to shout “No!” Elaine Veelund was the last person she wanted to see marry Nathan. Not that Sophie didn’t think the world of her, but when it came to men, Elaine was a horror show. She ground men up and spat them out. She’d already been married four times. She’d started dating Nathan when she was on the rebound from her last divorce. Didn’t he have a brain in his head? “Have you proposed to her?”
“Tonight. I’ve got the ring and I’ve even got the honeymoon all planned.”
Sophie had no business meddling in his affairs. If she felt proprietary about him now, it was just because he was a friend. She’d warned him about Elaine, so what more could she do? “Well then, that’s . . . wonderful.”
“You really think so?”
“Sure. If it’s what you want.”
Silence. “You already know what I want, Sophie. But I’m never going to get it, right?”
“What is this? You’re calling to give me one last chance to accept your proposal?”
“What if I said yes? That no matter how hard I try, I still can’t get you out of my heart.”
“Nathan, I love my husband. How many ways can I say it?”
“But you love me, too.”
“Not the way you want. Not anymore.”
More silence. “Okay. Then I guess I’ll marry Elaine.”
“You make it sound like you’re standing at a candy counter, deciding which candy bar to buy. Have you really thought this through?”
“Of course.”
“You don’t have to marry anyone, you know.”
“But I want to. I’m sick of being alone. I’m settled here now. I have a great restaurant and I want to share my life with someone.”
“And Elaine and I are interchangeable?”
“I didn’t say that. I care about Elaine, but I’ll never feel for her what I feel for you.”
“You’re aware of her track record with men.”
His voice grew hard. “Your concern is touching, but I can take care of myself.”
This was a guilt trip, pure and simple. But it was so obvious, it was pathetic. He was calling so that Sophie could save him from the clutches of an evil femme fatale. But the only way she could do that, the only way he would change his plans, was for her to choose him over her husband. In the past year, Sophie had thought long and hard about her feelings for both men. The conclusion she’d come to was clear and firm: Bram was the only man she wanted. Perhaps the only man she’d ever really loved. The feelings she had for Nathan were all wrapped up in teenage angst and adolescent melodrama. She couldn’t even say she knew him—not as an adult.
Nathan’s voice suddenly brightened. “Elaine said that your stepdaughter is a wedding planner. She just started a business.”
Now Sophie grew wary. “That’s right.”
“I may contact her.”
“Nathan, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Why not? Might as well give her the job. Keep it in the family, so to speak.”
“Nathan—”
“I was also thinking that getting married at the Maxfield might be cool.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
“No? Well, I’ll find someplace else, then. Listen, Soph. I’ve got to get back to work. I’ll call and let you know if Elaine accepts my proposal.”
“Please, Nathan, don’t call me here.”
“Well, I’ll catch you one way or another.” He laughed. “Freudian slip. Bye, Sophie. Wish me well.”
12
It was the eye of the storm. Anika was certain of it. Ever since
“Then you’ll be happy to hear the news. I wanted to tell you this afternoon, but when I bumped into Margie, she said you weren’t around. I figured it was the kind of news you’d want to hear in person, but now I’ve got no choice. You need to hear it from me first.”
“Hear what?” She sat down on the chaise and picked up Bram’s half-finished glass of wine.
“I’m getting married.”
For a moment, she was knocked off balance. “You’re serious? To Elaine?”
“Are you happy for me?”
Sophie wanted to shout “No!” Elaine Veelund was the last person she wanted to see marry Nathan. Not that Sophie didn’t think the world of her, but when it came to men, Elaine was a horror show. She ground men up and spat them out. She’d already been married four times. She’d started dating Nathan when she was on the rebound from her last divorce. Didn’t he have a brain in his head? “Have you proposed to her?”
“Tonight. I’ve got the ring and I’ve even got the honeymoon all planned.”
Sophie had no business meddling in his affairs. If she felt proprietary about him now, it was just because he was a friend. She’d warned him about Elaine, so what more could she do? “Well then, that’s . . . wonderful.”
“You really think so?”
“Sure. If it’s what you want.”
Silence. “You already know what I want, Sophie. But I’m never going to get it, right?”
“What is this? You’re calling to give me one last chance to accept your proposal?”
“What if I said yes? That no matter how hard I try, I still can’t get you out of my heart.”
“Nathan, I love my husband. How many ways can I say it?”
“But you love me, too.”
“Not the way you want. Not anymore.”
More silence. “Okay. Then I guess I’ll marry Elaine.”
“You make it sound like you’re standing at a candy counter, deciding which candy bar to buy. Have you really thought this through?”
“Of course.”
“You don’t have to marry anyone, you know.”
“But I want to. I’m sick of being alone. I’m settled here now. I have a great restaurant and I want to share my life with someone.”
“And Elaine and I are interchangeable?”
“I didn’t say that. I care about Elaine, but I’ll never feel for her what I feel for you.”
“You’re aware of her track record with men.”
His voice grew hard. “Your concern is touching, but I can take care of myself.”
This was a guilt trip, pure and simple. But it was so obvious, it was pathetic. He was calling so that Sophie could save him from the clutches of an evil femme fatale. But the only way she could do that, the only way he would change his plans, was for her to choose him over her husband. In the past year, Sophie had thought long and hard about her feelings for both men. The conclusion she’d come to was clear and firm: Bram was the only man she wanted. Perhaps the only man she’d ever really loved. The feelings she had for Nathan were all wrapped up in teenage angst and adolescent melodrama. She couldn’t even say she knew him—not as an adult.
Nathan’s voice suddenly brightened. “Elaine said that your stepdaughter is a wedding planner. She just started a business.”
Now Sophie grew wary. “That’s right.”
“I may contact her.”
“Nathan, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Why not? Might as well give her the job. Keep it in the family, so to speak.”
“Nathan—”
“I was also thinking that getting married at the Maxfield might be cool.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
“No? Well, I’ll find someplace else, then. Listen, Soph. I’ve got to get back to work. I’ll call and let you know if Elaine accepts my proposal.”
“Please, Nathan, don’t call me here.”
“Well, I’ll catch you one way or another.” He laughed. “Freudian slip. Bye, Sophie. Wish me well.”
12
It was the eye of the storm. Anika was certain of it. Ever since
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