Recaptured Dreams Page 4

  “The type? The type, is it?” Sophia threw her hands up in the air. “It’s always something with you, isn’t it?”

  “Don’t raise your voice, young lady.”

  “Please, why? Why do you do this?”

  “Because it’s my job to protect you,” Katherine said stiffly.

  “Really?” Sophia raised her voice. “Didn’t you just say earlier you didn’t protect me? That you do all of this out of love? Which is it, Mother?”

  Katherine lifted her chin but said nothing.

  “That’s what I thought.” Sophia’s voice was tired. “It’s both. Sometimes I think you fancy your lifestyle better than your relationships. I don’t need your guidance; I’m a grown woman. And if I wanted to date Xavier Cain, I would.”

  As the words rolled off her lips, Sophia realized the truth in them. Xavier was barely more than a stranger, but she wanted to be wrapped in his embrace. In his bed. She wanted to look into those crystal eyes—the ones she swore she saw her future in. Foolish? Maybe, but it’d be worth a risk.

  “Sophia—”

  “Please leave before we both say something we shall regret.” Sophia motioned for the door as Katherine stood with a blank expression on her face.

  “Well then,” Katherine finally said as she turned to walk out the door. “I’ll go—but don’t forget about the charity event tonight.”

  Sophia spun around and sprawled her body out across her bed. It sank beneath her weight and almost folded around her like a comforting touch. Something her mother never really gave her. It was like they were a hundred years apart instead of just twenty-five.

  Anne Marie broke the silence. “What was that all about?”

  “That,” Sophia said as she raised her hand up from the bed and waved it back and forth, “was the norm. We do that several times a day.”

  “I still think you should come stay with me.”

  “Maybe you’re right. It would be good for me to get out from under Mother’s roof for a while. This summer has been harder than the rest.” Sophia ran her hands over the silky comforter. “It’s irritating I won’t be able to touch my trust until I’m thirty. It makes it impossible to move out. I’ve been so focused on my studies, I can’t realistically work to earn enough to live elsewhere. Without my trust, I have to rely on my wretched mother. And if she had it her way, I’d be volunteering for those ghastly balls and dinners left and right or she’d arrange for me to have a job as a secretary for someone she knows who didn’t expect me to actually doing any real work.” She blew out an exasperated breath. “Getting a proper job and moving out of this place will have to wait until I finish uni.” To Sophia, it felt like her mother held her hostage.

  “Or…you could bypass all of that by coming to live with me.”

  “I don’t know why I didn’t think of that sooner, but you’re right. It’s time to get out from under her thumb. You won’t mind having an unemployed vagrant live with you?”

  “Ha, of course not, darling. Just so long as it’s you and not someone else. Which gives me an idea,” Anne Marie said as she sat next to Sophia. “I think we should go to Opal tonight.”

  “I can’t.” Sophia propped herself up on her elbows, pushing away all those sore feelings her mother always managed to drag up. “The last place I feel like going is a night club. Plus, I promised I would go to this charity dinner auction at the St. Pancras Renaissance.”

  “Do you think that’s a good idea after the way you two have been arguing?”

  “Not really,” Sophia said as she sat upright and pushed her hair out of her face, “but the auction is fashion-based, with designer clothing and such, so I’ll have fun no matter what.”

  “Well,” Anne Marie said with a smile, “I think you need some good, fashionable company then, don’t you think?”

  “Why, yes.” Sophia flashed a grin. “I think you may be right.”

  Chapter Four

  XAVIER SKETCHED ACROSS THE PAD of paper, seeking the perfect dress to finish off his collection for New York’s Spring is in the Air fashion show in a couple months. It was a show for people new to the fashion world, and since he was one of their “success” stories from years past, they’d invited him back to show others what determination and skill could do. Not that his mind was in the right place at the moment. He clenched his eyes, unable to concentrate on the design as much as the pounding in his head.

  He did a quick drawing with his eyes closed. Maybe the loss of his senses would help. Once he finished and opened them again, he growled his annoyance. The sketching pencil snapped between his fingers. Tearing out the page, he crammed it between his hands and threw it in the garbage.

  It reminded him too much of her. Everything reminded him of her. His Sophia.

  His entire line—hell, his entire life—had revolved around her. Every stitch of cloth. Every roll of fabric. Every color. Everything.

  Yet, for the second time, she’d run out on him without so much as an explanation. She had been within his reach. She had been in his arms. And now she was gone again.

  Granted, the first time hadn’t been her fault, but this time Sophia had scurried away of her own accord. And what was this business about her not knowing who he was?

  He collapsed in his chair and pressed his palms to his eyes.

  Why did it have to be this difficult? He’d thought he’d convinced himself to get her out of his mind. Obviously, Sophia had gotten him out of hers.

  Or had she? Maybe he had just frightened her. He thought he’d shown restraint, but hell, after all that time and thousands of miles, it had been all he could do to keep his hands to himself. It had been so long since he’d held her. Sure, maybe he shouldn’t have kissed her. Maybe he’d gotten a little carried away. But when their bodies had molded together as they had so many years before, the depth of what they’d shared reached a level Xavier had never known. The need that had flowed through him had sent him into a frenzy. He’d wanted her so badly he could have felt the pleasure at his fingertips. And he knew he’d seen longing in her beautiful blue eyes. He’d seen the spark of recognition.

  Xavier rubbed his hand on the back of his neck.

  In this day and age, one would think people would be easy to find. But even though he had stretched his powers to find Sophia, he’d come up empty-handed over the years. He had known where her parents lived in London and had tried—unsuccessfully—on numerous occasions to contact Sophia there. Each time he’d tried, he’d been met with a brick wall. Knowing the very people who took her away from him would not help now, he was left with nothing, not knowing where Sophia was or how to find her again.

  The ache in his chest returned as he realized the night before had just been happenstance, and because of her reaction to him, he didn’t know what to do. He’d thought she remembered him. He’d thought he’d seen a glorious spark of recognition in her blue depths. With a heavy sigh, he realized that couldn’t be true. If she remembered what they’d shared, she wouldn’t have run away.

  In letting her go, he’d let his one and only chance of reclaiming his love slip through his fingers.

  A thud of papers on his desk startled him.

  “A batch of orders for you to approve from the show last night,” Bryant said in a way-too-cheery voice. “Everyone loved the line.”

  Xavier rose from the desk and gave his brother a condescending stare. Bryant was smiling a little too hard. It made Xavier want to rip out his brother’s teeth.

  “You know I don’t have to do that,” he ground out. “Isn’t that what I pay you for?”

  He made his way to the credenza in the corner of his makeshift London office, which was no more than an extra room in his suite. In a matter of seconds, he poured a shot of whiskey from the decanter, downed it, had another, and then slammed the glass on the marble top. It clanked and nearly shattered in his palm.

  Xavier ran an unsteady hand through his hair and blew out a hard breath. “I’m sorry, Bryant. I didn’t mean that.”

&
nbsp; Bryant actually laughed. “Yes, you did,” he replied. “You tend to be more honest when something’s got you all bent out of shape. I’m guessing the fire last night wasn’t as hot as you thought it would be?”

  Xavier cast Bryant a sidelong glance and took yet another shot.

  “Be careful with that,” Bryant said as he crossed over to him. Without missing a beat, he took the decanter from Xavier and dumped the remaining contents down the sink.

  “What the—”

  “You’ve got a charity auction to be at in less than an hour, and this”—Bryant shook the empty bottle—“isn’t going to help.”

  Xavier’s head fell back. “I needed that.”

  “No, you don’t. Focus on the line and the things that make it great. If the inspiration is out of your physical reach, remember the memories that made it in the first place. You’re stronger than this. I know you.”

  As angry and irritated as Xavier was, he couldn’t really argue with his brother. There would be no benefit in the end. Xavier was a lost cause when it came to finding his head after obsessing about Sophia, and Bryant knew how to help him deal—by getting him to focus on his fashion line.

  It was the only way he had survived.

  “Xavier?”

  Xavier looked at his brother. “Yeah?”

  “Did you hear me?”

  “Every word.” He hung his head. “Thank you.”

  Bryant spoke with more care. “Something happened with Sophia last night, didn’t it?”

  “She said she didn’t remember me.” Xavier’s chest constricted painfully. He loosened the necktie suffocating him. He needed to get some air. He needed to get a grip.

  Hell, he just needed Sophia.

  “Wait…what?”

  “I said,” Xavier spit out, “she doesn’t remember me.”

  Bryant at least showed the courtesy of covering his mouth as he laughed. After he recovered several seconds later, he spoke. “Guess that means she wasn’t the one after all?”

  “You know, you really are a pain in my ass.”

  Bryant flashed his white smile. “I know. But someone has to keep you on the straight-and-narrow. Just repaying the favor, bro.”

  “Pick another time to do it.”

  “Seriously, Xavier, stop this. How can a girl who said she didn’t remember you be the right girl? Based on all the calls I’ve had to field over my lifetime for you, I’d say you’re hardly a forgettable man.”

  Xavier frowned. Bryant had a point. A small one.

  “So then,” Bryant continued in his I’m-right-and-you’re-wrong voice, “I’m guessing she only resembled your teenage hottie and got all hot and bothered by your attention or the party or whatever. Women do stupid things. Then I’m guessing she got all frigid when she realized where the night might lead. She’d wanted attention, but not that much. Either that, or it is the girl and she’s crazy. In either case, you wouldn’t want anything to do with her. Am I right?”

  Again, Bryant had a point. Maybe Xavier had been mistaken. Maybe he’d just wanted to see Sophia so badly. Come to think of it, it was after he’d called the woman “Sophia” without having asked her name that she’d frozen up.

  He exhaled loudly. “Do you really think I’ve become that delusional, Bryant? Honestly?”

  Bryant chuckled. “Yes. But, hey, I can’t blame you. If I was as googly-eyed as you were, I’d probably have the same problem. Love tends to stick with ya.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  Bryant went back to Xavier’s side and patted his shoulder. “For tonight, I’m begging you to get yourself together. This charity auction is important for the XS philanthropy junk. And it’s your job as the better-talking—not better-looking—brother to go and show face.”

  A rumble grew in Xavier’s chest. “Talking like that is not going to win you any favors.”

  “Just for tonight. Tomorrow, before we leave, we’ll work out what to do about your other problem.”

  Xavier brushed passed his brother. “Sophia’s not a problem. Never has been and never will be.”

  He took long strides, bypassing the elevator and heading straight for the stairs. He needed to keep moving to keep his mind from focusing on the only thing on his radar.

  Taking the steps two at once, he made it down four flights in no time. Pushing open the door, he stopped as he came to face-to-face with a mirror in the lobby.

  He looked like shit. His hair was shaggy, and his shirt was halfway un-tucked and wrinkled from being restless all day. He’d spilled coffee down the front when he’d gotten distracted—which had happened a lot. And it looked like he hadn’t slept in days. He didn’t want to clean up before going to the charity auction, but judging by the way he looked, people would run for the door if he walked in like that.

  Grumbling, he turned and jogged back up the stairs to get ready for a night he couldn’t care less about. Maybe then he could get some sleep and wake to deal with his illusion of Sophia.

  He hoped like hell the girl he’d met hadn’t actually been one.

  Chapter Five

  SOPHIA AND ANNE MARIE RUSHED down the stairs, their dresses swooshing around their legs, ready and anxious to go to the charity auction. For the clothes, of course. Not the amount of time Sophia would have to spend with her mother for the night.

  “Right on time,” Sophia said as she grabbed the front doorknob.

  “Where are you going?” The voice, steely and calm, stopped both girls in their tracks.

  Sophia cringed before straightening her shoulders and turning toward it. Her grandmother Elise stood poised and regal in the doorway to the sitting room with Sophia’s mother by her side.

  Sophia plastered a smile on her face. “To the charity auction, of course.”

  “Wearing that?” The willowy woman, while late in her years, was still able to pin Sophia to her spot with her stern voice. And even though her blue eyes were aged and dark, Sophia didn’t miss their disapproving flicker.

  Sophia pressed a shaky hand to her glittering gold and chartreuse gown. It was cut low, but not too low. The hem was high, but not too high. And it was only semi-tight.

  “What’s wrong with it?” she asked.

  Elise smoothed out her flawlessly pinned gray hair. “Need I even answer that?”

  Sophia, feeling like a child, lifted her chin. “No, because there is nothing wrong with it.” She turned to Anne Marie. “What do you think?”

  Anne Marie opened her mouth to answer, only to quickly snap it back shut from Elise’s determined scowl.

  “Well?” Sophia said, elbowing Anne Marie in the ribs.

  “Um,” Anne Marie’s eyes darted between Sophia and her grandmother. “I think it’s lovely and shows a great deal of personality.”

  Elise chortled in a high pitch. “Oh, yes,” she agreed, surprising Sophia. She took a step forward. “But I believe it shows quite a bit more than just personality. What do you think, Katherine?”

  Sophia stood even straighter. It was like she had a stick-straight two-by-four glued to her back. “Yes, Mother,” she said as pleasantly as she could without hissing. “What do you think?”

  Katherine hands fluttered as she clasped them together in front of her. “I think we should go.” She took several steps forward. “If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late.”

  Elise’s forehead wrinkled. She pointed at Sophia and Anne Marie. “You shall be riding with us.”

  “What?” Sophia’s stomach knotted. “Why? I’ve already sent for our car.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Elise said, breezing toward the girls. “I’ve canceled it. Your mother and I have done some chatting whilst we waited for you, and I believe we have some things to discuss.”

  Sophia took a step back and cast her eyes away as Elise brushed past, her chin high. “As you wish, Grandmother.”

  “Come, then, everyone,” Elise called. “A night of dinner, dancing, and charity waits.”

  Sophia clamped her mother’s elbow and d
ragged her away from her grandmother and Anne Marie as soon as they walked into the Renaissance. “I want you to know that I thoroughly enjoyed that lesson in manners and my family duties during the ride over. Why did you invite her?”

  Katherine brushed Sophia’s hand away. “I didn’t.”

  “Really? She happened to show up at your doorstep the same night we were attending this function?”

  Katherine sighed quietly. “Something like that.”

  Sophia’s hold loosened. “Why didn’t you tell her we had plans? Or company? Or something?”

  Katherine curled her fingers around Sophia’s hand, giving her a gentle, pleading squeeze. “Please, dear. Your father—God rest his soul—was her only child. We are the only family that connects her to him. The least we can do is appease her.”

  Sophia took the hint to heart. She didn’t dislike her grandmother, and a part of Sophia did love her. But she couldn’t help but be bitter about how pushy and in-her-face her deceased father’s mother was. Something Sophia’s father wasn’t. Her grandmother was like Katherine—only ten times worse. And Sophia didn’t have the patience for it anymore.

  They stepped through the glass door together.

  “Fine,” Sophia agreed. “But if she starts lecturing me about getting married again, I’m not promising anything.”

  Katherine nodded. “Believe me, I understand. Please do your best to act like you were raised.”

  Sophia hid her snort. Wasn’t that part of her problem?

  Hansom Hall, the largest event room inside the St. Pancras Renaissance, sat just beyond the lobby. The expansive room was flanked on both sides by brick walls with arched windows. Glass walls on the other two sides enclosed the airy space. A two-story-tall ceiling drew Sophia’s eyes up to beams, blue girders, and a glazed roof. Normally used for casual seating, it was now decorated to the extreme and transformed into an eating area that included a large stage surrounded by huge Greek-style columns wrapped with gold and red silk. The spicy scent of expensive perfume assaulted Sophia’s nose. The numerous round tables and chairs were draped with white linen, and the chairs each had a gold taffeta bow tied around the back. Polished red plates adorned the tables, with crystal wine glasses that held neatly folded gold napkins. Huge bouquets filled with red and gold flowers sat at the center of each table.