Trust In Love (A McCord Family Novel Book 2) (12 page)

Sophie smiled lightly. "I'm Sophie. I can't say I'm not upset by what you did because I am. If you stay here, I have to tell Austin and you have to pay him back. It's only right. I would very much like to be friends."

Sophie stepped back and gestured her inside. It was the right thing to do to make her pay Austin back. If she couldn't accept the terms, it was her choice to leave right now. To Sophie's satisfaction, Deja stepped inside looking around. Axel immediately jumped on her begging for a loving head rub.

Deja chuckled, obliging Axel as Sophie closed the door.

"That's Axel. He's Austin's dog. He's a real sweetheart," Sophie said, a bit wistfully.

"Which one? The dog or Austin?" Deja asked with a wry smirk.

Sophie cleared her throat and walked to the fridge. "Well, if you must know, both of them. Would you like something to drink? I have iced tea."

Deja glanced around, took a seat at the table, and nodded.

Sophie grabbed the jug of tea, snatched two glasses from the cupboard, filling them up quickly, and walked over to Deja. "Do you have any belongings?"

"I have what I'm wearing. I had a ton of clothes at one time, make-up, little treasures that meant something to me. Now all I have is my tire iron and my wits."

"Okay, well, we look to be the same size. You can borrow some of my clothes for now. No more stealing, though. You have to find a real job," Sophie said, taking a sip of tea.

"You're not going to pry into my life? Ask what happened to me?" Deja asked confused.

"No. Just as I expect the same courtesy. We may be two wounded souls living in this house, but it doesn't mean I wish to share it with you. I don't like talking about it. I don't know why I said anything. Austin says it would be good for me, but it's hard."

Deja raised an eyebrow when she said Austin's name again. "You must really like this Austin, especially since you have his dog. Is he gone on a trip or something?"

Sophie blushed. Was she that obvious? Did that mean it was obvious to him? Nothing but trouble would come out of him learning she liked him. "He's my neighbor, my friend. Axel left his farm the day of the burglary and came home here. He hurt his paw on the glass. Austin was worried he'd run home again, thinking he was coming here to me and asked if I would take him during the day while he worked. I don't mind. I like Axel. He's good company."

"He's a cute dog. I'm sorry for breaking into his house. I needed money for food. I didn't see Axel in the house. I'm sorry he got hurt."

"He's okay now. But thank you for the apology. I was thinking of ordering a pizza when Austin got here later, but if you're hungry now, I can whip something up," Sophie said, standing up from the table.

"I can wait. A shower would be nice. I imagine I smell. Not something I'm proud of," Deja said, hanging her head down.

"Of course, I can show you the bathroom upstairs."

Deja smiled warmly as she got up and followed Sophie out of the kitchen to the stairs. "So, I guess you want me to apologize to Austin when he gets here tonight?"

Sophie stopped, turning around on the bottom step. "He'll understand. He's a good man. And if he doesn't, I've lost all hope in men forever."

Sophie continued up the stairs, wondering where that answer came from. Probably deep down in the pit of her heart, she was nervous Austin would finally show his true colors, like every man always did. Or maybe she was just dumb for trusting someone who broke into his house, stole from him, and tried stealing from her. He probably wouldn't understand the more she thought about it. She held that small amount of hope he would see Deja for what she was. A woman in need of a friend, just as she had been in need of one. He happily became Sophie's friend. Why not Deja, too?

Chapter 7

Austin pinched the bridge of his nose, releasing a heavy sigh. "Sophie, please explain to me one more time why you have a woman in your house that broke into my home, stole from me, and tried stealing from you? Why am I not calling Ava to have her arrested? She could've hurt you today."

Sophie wrapped her arms around her stomach as the brisk wind whipped around them on her porch. She had stepped outside the moment he knocked and explained the situation. He wanted to take comfort that she didn't hesitate once to lay a gentle hand on him when he wanted to burst into the house to confront the woman. But he couldn't because he still wanted to bust inside the house.

"But she didn't hurt me because she's not like that. She'll pay you back for the broken window and the two hundred dollars she took. She will, or she needs to leave. That was part of the deal."

Austin whipped his hand towards the door. "You can't let her stay here. You don't know her. Maybe this is what she does and she's going to rob you while you sleep or...or worse! Kill you in your sleep."

"She won't hurt me. She—"

"Sophie, you don't know that. You don't know her. How can you possibly trust her when you just met her? You barely trust me and you've known me longer than an hour," Austin said painfully.

"I trust you. If I didn't, I would've never told you about her. I was hoping you'd understand. What do you see when you look at me?" she asked with a tremor.

"What do you mean?" he asked confused, yet shocked to hear the words
I trust you
uttered from her mouth.

"What do you see when you look at me? What impression do you get? I want an honest answer."

"Why? What does that matter?"

"It matters," she said defiantly, pulling her arms tighter around her.

Austin raked a hand through his hair, frustrated his early night off was going horribly from the onset. "I see a strong, courageous woman who has had to fight through life struggling. I don't know with what, obviously, because you won't share it with me. But I see the fight in you. I see the strength. You shy away from me, your space is important. I imagine it's because you—" He muttered under his breath, trying to find the right words. There weren't any.

"You were abused. Abused by the hands of a man, which is why you don't trust any and why you don't like them. It's why you back away when I get near and jump at the slightest noise or tremble at certain words. You said you had to escape or die and I took that literally. I'm telling you right now, Sophie, if I knew who put one hurtful hand on you, I'd make him see the error in his ways. I can't stand to think of anyone hurting you. I won't let anyone hurt you, especially that woman inside."

"Is it that obvious?" she whispered.

Austin took a step towards her as she instinctively took a step back without thought. He gave a small laugh in defeat. "Yeah, it's obvious. I still can't step towards you without you stepping back. Those other times you let me touch you must have been a fluke. You just said you trusted me. Do you honestly trust me?"

Sophie glanced at her feet, then glanced back at him. He couldn't keep the hurt out of his eyes. Maybe that's why she took a few steps forward, barely an inch between them when she finally stopped. "Yes, I trust you. I don't give it lightly either. When I saw her today, I can't describe to you what I felt because I can't explain it to myself. But when I look in her eyes, I see me. You knew I needed a friend and have willingly taken the time to be my friend. I know I haven't made it easy. She needs one now. I know how it feels to be alone and scared. She feels bad for what she did. Please, give her a chance, Austin. I told myself not to trust you. That all men are the same. You're not like any other man I've ever met. You're different and despite my frequent hesitations, I trust you. Don't make me see how dumb I've been for trusting you because that's how I will feel."

Austin had to clench his teeth from grabbing her mouth to his. Just a breath away, the temptation to wrap her up in a desired frenzy, swirled around him like the night wind. He ignored all that as he muttered, "Fine. I won't have her arrested and I'll let her pay me back. She took two hundred dollars and it cost two hundred to fix the window. Just how is she going to pay me back?"

Sophie shivered. Whether it was from their close proximity or from the wind, Austin couldn't be sure.

"She's going to find a job. I can help her get back on her feet. I have no clue how. I know this is stupid, but I have to try. I...I am dumb."

Austin put a warm hand on her cheek. "You're not dumb. You're a kind-hearted woman who wants to help another lost soul. I get it. I'll give her a chance, but we have to protect ourselves here before we fully trust her. I don't want her in this house with you."

"She has nowhere to go. That's the whole point here, Austin. I'm trying to help her."

"Stay with me."

"I can't stay with you."

She tried to take a step back, but he moved his hand from her cheek to her waist, stopping her movement with one gentle touch. No protest hit her lips.

"I may have dug myself a hole when I first met you, Sophie, but I'm going to attempt to dig myself out right now. I don't do relationships. I enjoy women and they enjoy me. We have an agreement upfront what kind of guy I am. I do this because I was hurt one time and I never wanted to feel that way again."

"I will not be one of your women, Austin," Sophie said, offended.

"I'm not doing a very good job of digging myself out right now. The damn dirt is suffocating me," he groaned, as he pulled her firmly against his body, cradling her perfectly to fit his frame in every delicious corner.

"I don't want you to be one of my women. I would never put you in that category. Never. You are special, so special. I can't even describe it correctly. I never touch a woman who has marriage written all over her and you shine brightly with that. The problem I have now is, I want to try the whole relationship thing, and I want to try it with you. I told myself to take it slow with you because I know you have trouble trusting. I don't know what the hell I'm doing because I don't do relationships. This is totally new territory for me. I have no clue how to act with you or what to say. I asked you to give me a chance to be your friend and what I really wanted to ask was for a chance to be your man. What are my chances here?"

"But I'm not—"

Austin put a finger to her lips, rubbing it softly back and forth, loving the way a sharp quivering sensation jolted throughout his body. He felt himself getting harder each second he held her. "If you're about to say something I'm not gonna like, stop right now. I won't have you belittling yourself, damn it. You're beautiful. You make me come undone with the littlest thing. Just a sweet, tentative smile from your face makes me happy. I love your smile. Do I enjoy sex? Hell, yes. Do I want that with you? Of course, but I wouldn't necessarily call it sex with you, more like making love. Would I be happy just holding you like this all night? Definitely. What I feel for you goes beyond the physical stuff. That's why I want to try a relationship with you because you make me feel things I've never felt before. I'd be dumb not to see if we could work. I only hope you see that, too."

"You keep swearing you know. You shouldn't swear."

"Fanuzeling just doesn't have the same ring to it as the other words, but for you I'll try harder to remember next time," he said with a sly grin. "You're ignoring everything I just said. I'm pouring my heart out here, Sophie, and this is why I hate doing this sort of thing. You're probably—"

Sophie cut him off by pressing her lips hesitantly onto his. Austin needed no further response as he kissed her back, edging his tongue to make her open further. As soon as she did, he dove in fiercely, tangling with her in sweet delight. She moaned as she wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him with desperation. He grabbed her tighter, trying to seep in as much pleasure from her as he could. He loved feeling her in his arms. Even if it crossed his mind to compare her to another woman, which he wouldn't, he could never compare her.

One of a kind. No woman would ever match his beautiful Sophie.

She was his. He wasn't letting her go without a fight. She was giving in to him now, but he had his doubts, knowing she would pull away again with fright. Patience was his new middle name.

His hand slid to her bottom, pressing her gently into him, even as he did, knowing he needed to slow down. But he had difficulty pulling away as she felt more delectable in his arms than he ever imagined. When he felt himself wanting to reach higher for her breast, he finally pulled away. "Sophie, we need to take it inside. But later. We do have other pressing issues at hand. I want you so bad, you have no idea."

Her heavy breaths took a while to slow down as she adjusted her senses back to the problem they were discussing. "Right. You're right. I can't stay with you."

"Damn it, Sophie! I won't—"

"You're swearing," she said with a smile. God, he loved her smile.

"Well, when you talk such nonsense, my memory of not swearing flies out the door. I said I would give this woman a chance, but I refuse to let you stay alone in this house with someone you just met an hour ago. She could hurt you."

"You're not my keeper, Austin. I will not allow a man to run my life any longer, including you."

He inhaled a patient breath, knowing this is where he needed to tread lightly with her. "I'm not trying to run it, or tell you what to do."

"That's exactly what you're doing. You just said you
refuse
to let me stay alone in this house. It's my house. You have no say."

"Okay, wrong choice of words. Will you pretty please stay with me so I know this woman will not hurt you?"

"No."

He ran another frustrated hand through his hair. "Can I please stay with you in your house so I know you'll be safe with an unknown woman who could possibly hurt you? We don't know anything about her."

Sophie glanced down at his chest. Could she see the way his heart beat madly at the fear he held for her? Could she feel his worry as he held her in his arms?

"I can't sleep with you."

He lifted her head gently, her soft cheek falling into his hand. "I don't expect anything to happen. I enjoy having you in my arms, but I would never force you. I can sleep on the floor if it makes you feel better. Until we get to know her better, we need to be safe about this. Please, Sophie. Pretty please."

She giggled at his goofy grin when he said the last part. "Why do you make me laugh so?"

"Because I'm adorable, irresistible, and all so charming. And because I love your smile and your sweet, sweet laugh."

"I'm scared, Austin. I do trust you, but I'm also apprehensive. Everything you say is valid and I should be smart about letting her in my home. I honestly don't fear her."

"But you fear me?" he asked, the pain lacing his voice again.

"No, I don't." She bit her lip, silent for a moment. "Okay. Until we get to know her better, you can stay with me. I feel better being in my own home. I can ply the floor with blankets so it's not uncomfortable."

Austin sighed inside. She took his offer for the floor to heart. He instantly felt better knowing he would be there if this woman tried anything. "Then it's settled. I'll sleep on the floor in your bedroom just to make sure she tries nothing. And about us? Just so we are clear because I found with Zane and Ava, well, they never were very clear about their feelings in the beginning. Is there an us? Will you give me a chance at a real relationship? You can set the pace."

"Yes. I would like that very much," Sophie said with a shy smile, blushing slightly as he grabbed another quick kiss.

"Good. I thought this night was going to end horribly. It's starting to look up now. Let's go meet this woman," Austin said, apprehension mingling in his tone.

She nodded, stepping out of his embrace and grabbed a deep breath as she opened the front door. He decided he needed a deep breath as well.

He wanted to make Sophie happy as much as possible, but trusting this woman—not really something he wanted to do. Twenty minutes later, he still didn't want to trust her.

"I really am sorry. I've never done anything like that before. I'm not proud of it either," Deja said, avoiding eye contact like the plague as she sat at the kitchen table across from Austin and Sophie. The pizza had arrived, but it sat in the middle, getting cooler by the minute as they tried clearing the air.

"Sophie seems to have a very kind, trusting heart, but I can't say mine is that great. If you hurt her in any way, I will not hesitate to report you. My sister-in-law, Ava, works for the police department and she's quite a shark when it comes to her work. She'll take care of you with a snap of her fingers. That all being said, I'll give you the chance Sophie asked of me. I expect to be paid four hundred dollars. How do you imagine you're going to do that?" Austin asked, trying to keep his anger in check. He could feel Sophie tremble next to him and he hated that it was because of him. But he couldn't help it. He wasn't about to trust this woman because of a few heartfelt words and apologies.

"I'm not sure. I guess I'll look at the ads tomorrow for any jobs around town," Deja said quietly.

"I'll help you. I told you Austin would understand. Everything will be okay," Sophie replied, glancing at Austin when he grabbed her hand, squeezing it in reassurance.