Yours Book 1: Losing My Innocence (4 page)

We pull into my mother’s driveway fifteen minutes before the guests should begin showing up. Of course Lucian had to make sure my mother is more than comfortable in California, otherwise she would still be in New York. This house is so over the top you would never know there was a time our family had questionable finances. Although when you step inside it feels warmer and more welcoming than our New York home ever felt.

The Spanish style home sits on two acres overlooking the ocean. There is wall to wall, floor to ceiling windows everywhere you turn. The view is quite breathtaking.

My mother appears from out of thin air, moving more gracefully than a dancer. Blowing air kisses and giving hugs to Kimmie and Mark before starting in on me. “I thought the guess would surely get here before you,” she sighs. “But Sophi… you look… I always knew with some effort you were my little diamond.”

Normally these words may have stung, but to hear the emotion in her voice as she says them leaves me feeling… confident I guess. If you haven’t already figured it out I have a few insecurities from growing up in this family as this woman’s daughter.

I have always questioned whether I belonged and felt different. My dad being white, his parents from Sweden and South Africa and Mom being African American, but always pretending to be anything but, left me really confused. If it weren’t for my grandmothers, I know it would be a lot worse. My mom’s mother always made me believe I was special inside and out, but when she died, I was left with more of my mother’s words in my head than hers.

When things got messy with my dad, my mother didn’t want us to see our grandparents on my dad’s side so it has been a few years now. My grandmother was born and raised in South Africa, and is as white as white can be. She would often tell me she could relate with a person not understanding me and how sometime I couldn’t understand myself.

However, right now I don’t feel like the adopted child I have been believing myself to be for years. Catching my reflection in the mirror on the wall I sort of feel like I may fit into this family. It makes me giggle at my mother instead of drawing back into my shell.

The dress I am wearing is simple enough, with a boat neck and an open back. The dress is pale blue with a grey and navy belt around the waist. The dress shapes to all my curves in the most flattering way. It goes perfectly with the navy heels Ettie insisted on.

It isn’t long before the house starts to fill with guests. Luke arrives with Nina not long after we arrive, but he seems to be giving me space trying to figure out what I am so pissed at. Just seeing him gets me all worked up again. I cannot wait to get him alone to give him a piece of my mind.

Just like the great friends they are, Kimmie and Mark pick up on my stale mood and come to the rescue. Kimmie is pushing champagne into my hand and Mark is by my side making up stories about everyone that passes by us.

“The blonde right there,” he nods toward the pool outside. “She doesn’t even know who you are or that this is a graduation party. She just followed all the cars into the driveway hoping to get lucky.”

I laugh so hard I snort. “She lives down the road Mark. That’s Monica.”

“Monica looks a little lost if you ask me,” Mark chuckles. “Oh, look at this guy. He was invited by Kimmie after a drunk night at her last frat party.”

“Shut up Mark, that one was not funny,” Kimmie growls.

“I think it was,” I snort.

“Traitor,” Kimmie hisses.

“What are you guys up to,” Luke croons as he walks over with two friends of his.

“Nothing,” I murmur, trying to keep the sass out of my voice. I will do my best not to embarrass him even if I am totally pissed at him.

“I want you to meet a few of my associates Sephora, this is Craig Hilton and George Ligal,” Luke offers.

“Hello, nice to meet you,” I chime.

“Very nice to meet you Sephora. Your brother told us of your intelligence, but seemed to leave out that you are stunning as well,” Craig smiles as he takes my hand and kisses it.

I of course blush like an idiot. Craig happens to be nice looking in that playboy way that all of Lucian’s friends are. Not as tall as Luke, Andrew or him, in my four inch heels I am an inch or two taller than he is. Craig has a nice smile that is welcoming.

“I didn’t see that as being your business,” Luke deadpanned.

“Well, I have to agree with Craig you are very lovely,” George laughs, “but having a sister your age I will agree with Luke as well, it is none of Craig’s business.”

“I like that guy,” Mark snorts and grumbles under his breath. It is the first time I have noticed how tense Luke and Mark have become, yet I still have no reaction for either of them other than an out of control blush that I hope no one can notice.

“Well, I for one feel left out. I’m Kimmie, Sophi’s equally beautiful and awesome best friend,” Kimmie chimes in to fill in for my awkwardness.

“Yes, I would have to agree with that one myself,” Craig chuckles.

“Once again wrong,” Luke almost growls. I am totally thrown off by that one. Luke just glares at Kimmie as his posture becomes more ridged.

“I’m Mark, Sophi’s… well, I guess her other best friend. Luke, I think you would agree that I’m quite the looker,” Mark adds to ease the tension.

That gets every one’s attention as we all fall into relaxed laughter. “I’m not touching that one,” Luke chuckles. Two more friends of Luke’s join our little group and we start to discuss Mark, Kimmie, and my college experience. Being that most of Luke’s friends are entrepreneurs, they were very interested in our majors. The technology and web encoding fields are hot right now and we are all looking at great futures.

I could talk coding all day so I have no problem fitting into this conversation. Luke seems to be really proud of me, despite the sharp looks I am still sending his way when I think no one is paying attention.

“Hey, there you are, I thought you weren’t going to make it,” Luke cheers as he raised his glass to someone coming up behind me. I am in the middle of helping Mark explain a great program design we created for our final project.

“Wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” I hear the deep, rich, sexy voice say from behind me. Suddenly, I hear nothing anyone else is saying. I can feel the moment he stops just a foot behind me. There is no mistaking it, this is
him
. My body knows him somehow; Nicholas Lincoln is here. “Sorry, I had to leave the ceremony in such a rush.”

“No problem, I understand,” Luke smiles to his friend standing behind me.

“Well, where is our star? I want to congratulate her,” Nick croons in that silky smooth voice.

Luke laughs as I stand here frozen in my spot. Nicholas Lincoln is here for me, looking for me. I have to remind myself to breathe. Oh God, Ettie did wonders on the outside, but they forgot to makeover my social malfunction. This is bad, very bad.

Luke laughs as his eyes meet mine and he smiles warmly. “She is standing right in front of you,” Luke nods in my direction. I groan inwardly and turn slowly to face the man of my dreams.

I turn to find his warm smile and amazing jade green eyes framed by the thickest, longest lashes I’ve ever seen. S
o not fair on a guy. Oh for crying out loud, how can he possibly look more mouthwatering than I remember.
All six feet and more of him are just delicious to look at. He is clad in a perfectly tailored black suit that tells an amazing tale about the broad shoulders and tight muscles underneath. His hair is much longer than it had been when I met him four years ago, in one of those hot I just got out of bed, but it looks sexy as sin on me faux hawk hair styles.

But that is not what gets my attention. It is his sharp intake of air as his eyes meet my face and then his eyes slowly travel down my body to my blue heels and back up playing a slow game at my hips and once again at my breasts. I am so grateful to Ettie. This little dress is now my favorite of all time.

The pale blue sheath dress is tight in all the right places, cut across my collarbone without drawing the wrong type of attention to my breasts. At the last minute Kimmie found the belt to accent my slim waist and overly shapely hips. As Nick shifts on his feet, I silently thanked Ettie and Kimmie. Only that is short lived because his smile turns to almost a look of pain when his eyes meet mine again.

He clears his throat and lets the smile slap back into place so quickly I thought I may have imagined the other look. He closes half of the distance between us and looks over my shoulder to Luke, then shakes his head at whatever he was going to say to my brother. Instead, he addresses me.

“Congratulations, Sephora. You more than kept your promise. Your academic career has been quite impressive to say the least,” Nick says.

He remembers, he remembers my promise.
I smile to myself as I look down to studying my shoes. I love these shoes and my feet surprisingly aren’t hurting the way I thought they would. It is all I could do to hide the blush that for some reason I believe he can see.

That is until I feel him close the distance and reach to lift my chin. “I’ve just offered you a position as an executive at my company. I’ll have to insist you gain control of this charming little habit, Sephora.”

I feel his words warm the bottom of my tummy. His fingers are sending a fierce hum through my body. Nothing like the touch from Mark, this is a storm waiting to happen.

“Oh, sorry, Mr. Lincoln,” I murmur. “I won’t be able to take that offer.”

I watch the smile fade from his eyes and his face. “And why is that Sephora? Was the offer not to your liking? I informed my staff to make sure it was more than comfortable for you. Is there something more we can offer?”

“No, it was a very generous offer, Sir. I just want to find my own way. Luke should not have interfered in my finding a job. I wanted to do it on my own and he knows this.”

The confidence in my voice at the end of my words surprises me. I’m not sure where it came from, but standing here in front of Nicholas Lincoln makes me want to demand what I want for a change, the way I imagine he would. Luke needs to know I can take care of myself.

“Is that what you thought,” Luke grumbles from beside me now. “This is why you have been behaving like this today?”

“Yes, you knew what I wanted –,” I start.

“You think Luke asked me to hire you,” Nick asks sounding amused. “Actually, it was the exact opposite. Luke and I had quite the fall out over my decision, but I will have you.”

I know we are talking about a job, but the way he says those words sounds so much like he is referring to more. I shift uneasily as the fire that was just a warm glow in my tummy starts to drop lower and breaks into a brush fire. I’ve never felt anything like it, but I know it is something only Nicholas Lincoln could cause.

“Idiot,” Luke murmurs half teasing, but also with a clear disapproval in his voice and pasture. “She wants to do this for herself, I thought we agreed you’d give her the month I promised her.”

Nicholas laughs and pats Luke on the shoulder as he places a hand on the small of my back, as if it is the most natural thing to do. I feel my pulse hammering in my ears. As if he can read my body’s reaction, Nick splays his fingers on my back and applies more pressure. I melt into his touch arching into the feel of the contact.

“I promised nothing my friend. This is strictly a business decision. I am not interested in handing over such potential to another firm. I plan to be very aggressive in closing this deal,” Nick replies and tightens his fingers ever so slightly before relaxing his hand again.

“I’ll side with Lincoln here Emilsson. Just listening to Sephora has made me interested in hiring her and her friends here if they can produce half of what they explained,” George replies.

“Giving away secrets already,” Nick beams as he looks down at me.

“We were just explaining a basic –,” I choke.

“Relax Sephora, it was a joke and you have signed nothing yet. However, please introduce me to your friends that it seems I should get to know,” Nicholas interrupts as he smiles and slides his hand around my waist to turn us toward Mark and Kimmie.

“This is Kimmie, my best friend and a great forensic coder, she can find a problem blindfolded after a week of partying nonstop,” I beam at my friend.

Nick laughs, “Nice description.”

“And nice to finally meet you in person. I feel like I know you,” Kimmie purrs.

“Kim,” I snap.

Nick gives me a questioning look, but I avert my gaze. “And this guy is the greatest hacker I know, Mark,” I chime.

“Once again she is not giving herself credit. I’m a proud close second to her at best, but she won’t openly admit to hacking,” Mark teases and winks at me.

All open playfulness disappears from Nick’s face as his hand on my waist tightens possessively. I watch him scowl as he sizes Mark up. I am not sure what is happening, but it is clear that things have changed. “I’m sorry, but your introduction failed to give Mark’s status in your life,” Nick states firmly.

“Oh, sorry, Mr. Lincoln, Sir, Mark has been my study partner and is my other best friend I guess you could say.”

“Nick, Sephora,” he turns to me and replies sharply. The look in his eyes has me baffled, they are almost black with no green to be found. “This is not the place for such a formal address.”

“I think it’s sexy as hell,” Craig chuckles under his breath.

In that insistent both Nick and Luke react in a way I don’t understand. I’m not sure why what Craig said has drawn such a reaction, but it is clear neither my brother nor Nick approves of his words.

Luke has a tight hold on Craig’s shoulder leading him from the group while Nick now shields me with his own body. I try to peek around his large frame to understand what just went over my head, but I have no clue.

“O-kayyy,” Kimmie whistles. “TMI.” She looks at Nick with a knowing smile, then peeks around him at me and winks.

Obliviously she knows something I don’t know, as usual. I am starting to become impatient with it all. I step from around Nick to Kimmie’s side and nudge her. She just looks up at the ceiling and starts to whistle.