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  Tracy groused, “I'm sure you've noticed that the woman never orders anything from us. Granted, we're doing okay, but business would be through the roof if she brought in orders for all of those town functions and committee meetings she’s in charge of.”

  Sophie wouldn't mind the steady boost in business but wouldn't hold her breath either. Dot Sutton refused to go to either one of their shops, ordering from the Madison Falls Market instead.

  Righteously, Tracy continued, “You call a woman a bitch one time and she holds a grudge forever! I could have called her worse for what she said about you.”

  Sophie cringed at the memory.

  It was during their senior year of high school. Tracy and Sophie had stopped for gas after going out to the Pizza Palace with a group of friends. Admittedly, the main reason she went was because Reed was supposed to be there.

  Sophie was practically giddy on the way home because Reed had spent most of the evening talking with her. All of the booths were full so they ended up sitting together at a table. Her little teenage self was on cloud nine.

  After paying for gas and peanut butter cups, the girls came out of the Gas N Go and heard the tail end of Dot’s conversation with her friend, Elaine Newman. Word traveled at the speed of light in Madison Falls because Elaine was already gossiping about her.

  “Sophie who?” Dot had stridently questioned her friend.

  In one long spiel, Elaine stage whispered, “Sophie Brandon. You know, Lucy's daughter. She goes to school with Reed. She's a pretty little thing but no bigger than a minute. Short like her mama. Anyhow, I saw them eating together at the Pizza Palace. Just the two of them right there in the front window! It looked like they were getting all cozy too. You ask me, I think that girl has her eye on your son.”

  Reed’s mother scoffed and practically screeched her denial. “Her? That Brandon girl? I don’t think so! Definitely not for my son. Reed has much better taste than that. I bet he only felt sorry for her.”

  Dot must have known Sophie was standing there because she looked straight at her and finished loudly with, “Some might find her pretty, but trust me, she’s not so great.”

  Sophie stood speechless and mortified, her adolescent ego crushed. Considering she really didn't know the lady, Sophie couldn't believe what she'd heard!

  While she was frozen with humiliation, her best friend had no problem moving. Tracy marched right up to Dot and said, “For your information, Mrs. Sutton, Sophie isn't just great, she's the greatest!”

  Dot stood ramrod straight and faced Tracy. Sophie knew she was about to give the girl one hell of a set-down, but Tracy didn't give her a chance. She raked Dot with a disgusted look and gave a parting shot. “Oh, and FYI, your roots are showing.”

  Tracy dragged Sophie to the car in a grand exit. When she started the ignition, they both did what all teenagers did when they thought adults couldn't hear them. They muttered, “Bitch!”

  Who knew Dot Sutton could read lips? She could also hold a grudge for a very long time. So, go figure on not getting any orders from the Madison Falls Ladies Improvement Committee.

  Chapter 2

  Standing under the shade of an old sycamore tree, Reed was ensconced in his parents’ backyard learning the finer arts of grilling a hamburger from his dad. Since coming home from being overseas, his parents made a routine of having a family get together at least once a week.

  Jack, an older, heavier version of Reed, puffed out his barrel chest and imparted his words of wisdom in a loud, booming voice. “You see, son, most people try squeezing the juices out of the meat by pressing down with the spatula. Don’t do that. All the flavor is in the juices.”

  Reed tried to look duly interested, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Since seeing Sophie Brandon today, he couldn't stop thinking about her. He wondered what she was doing now. Did she get her chocolate chips? Was she still at the shop? Had she eaten yet? With her owning a cookie bakery, you'd think she'd be bigger.

  Thankfully, the physical demands of his job kept him in shape. His mom’s goal in life was to not only feed him but overfeed him, when he came for a visit.

  Keith, who was taller and bigger framed, traits apparently passed on from some twice-removed uncle, ate everything she put in front of him. Reed, on the other hand, had to put his foot down before the third or fourth serving. If you didn’t come back for seconds, Mom thought you were sick or on a strange diet.

  The picnic went off without much fuss. Reed and his brother listened and laughed while their dad told his latest fishing tale. Jack had a gift for exaggeration, like any true fisherman. Keith housed any food in sight, which had his mom beaming with pride.

  Reed was taking another bite of cake when Dot interrupted him.

  “Reed, I told you to get the white cake, not the yellow cake.”

  Reed was nonplussed. “No, Mom, you said to get the cake they advertised with the strawberry filling. What’s the difference between white cake and yellow cake anyway?”

  “Besides the color?” Keith added.

  Dot gave a much put-upon sigh. “I wanted the white cake, but this will do, I suppose. You want another slice?” She eyed Reed’s half-eaten piece, looking for room to add more food.

  Reed rose and gathered his paper plate and plastic fork before he felt obligated to have more dessert. His mom had a way of, well, getting her way.

  “Actually, I need to get going. If I don’t get those invoices done tonight, I’ll have to get up extra early in the morning.”

  Dot pouted, but Jack gave him a manly slap on the shoulder.

  “I remember those days. Better you than me, sport.”

  In an attempt to appease his mom, he asked for some leftovers to bring home with him. That instantly cheered her up. In no time, she began putting potato salad and what turned out to be pretty tasty hamburgers into plastic containers for him.

  Struck by inspiration, Reed offered, “You know, Mom, next week I could bring over some cookies.”

  His mom looked surprised. “Since when do you bake?”

  He shook his head. “I don't. I was going to stop by the Cookie Jar and pick up a dozen or so. Sophie Brandon makes some killer chocolate chip cookies.”

  Dot sniffed, “Don't be ridiculous. Save your money. If you want cookies, then I'll make them.”

  “It wouldn't be a problem. I could swing by and…”

  "No. Let me make them. I haven't baked for you since you lived at home. It will be my treat for you.”

  His mom looked like she wasn't going to budge on this so he gave in. He looked at his dad, but Jack turned away quickly and started picking up napkins and clearing away extra plates. Reed had a feeling Mom didn't know about Dad's side trips to the bakery.

  “Sure, okay, that sounds good. Thanks.”

  He didn't have the heart to tell his mom that her baking was awful. She could cook like a dream but her cookies always came out like hockey pucks. Come to think of it, hockey pucks probably tasted better.

  With hugs and a promise to call later in the week, Reed left. While his truck idled at a stop sign, he made a choice. Instead of turning left and going home, he turned right and headed for town. He was hoping Sophie was still at her shop and that she didn't mind seeing him again so soon.

  Reed took a chance and decided to see if Sophie would be willing to trade some cookies for a hamburger.

  * * * *

  The shops in Madison Falls closed up early on Sundays. His father always joked that after six, they rolled up the sidewalks. It was inconvenient, but Reed wouldn't change his small town.

  He'd moved around a lot during his enlistment in the Navy. His involvement with the Construction Battalion, or CBs, took him around the country. His last assignment deployed him overseas. He saw a lot of the world, but no matter where he lived, or how long he was gone, Madison Falls was still home.

  Reed had driven the company pickup truck with the Sutton Construction logo on the side. The black T’s in Sutton angled together to look like the ga
ble of a roof. It was a carryover from when his Dad ran things, but it worked for him for now.

  He parked in the shade on the tree-lined street in front of the bakery. It looked closed, but he could see a faint light or two streaming in from the back. Reed left the blessedly cool air conditioning of his pickup truck and got hit with air so humid, it felt like a warm, wet washcloth smacked him in the face. It was early in the evening, but the temperature was still in the mid-eighties and not going down anytime soon.

  With this heat, Reed prayed he wouldn't start sweating on the short walk around the building. At the back of the shop, he saw a purple VW Bug parked next to a deep red PT Cruiser. To him, they were both girl cars so either one could belong to Sophie.

  Reed knocked on the back door and waited. He smiled when Sophie opened the door and the rich scent of chocolate and vanilla greeted him.

  Heaven.

  She looked tired but adorable with her flour-streaked apron and wilted ponytail. When her apple green eyes met his, they widened in surprise. Her plush, Cupid’s bow lips formed a silent O.

  In his eyes, she'd never looked better.

  * * * *

  Sophie had never looked worse.

  How could Reed Sutton be here now? She lifted her hand to her hair and grimaced when she realized her hairdo was sinking faster than the Titanic.

  Reed’s deep voice greeted her. “Hey there, Sophie.”

  Her brain was multitasking with a plausible lie of why she really wasn’t here right now and trying to figure out the odds of something like this happening to her twice in one day. Before she could get her mouth moving, Tracy came up behind her and pulled her back a few steps. Her best friend greeted Reed.

  “Reed Sutton! What a surprise. What brings you here?”

  Sophie nodded dumbly and looked back at Tracy, who was casually trying to dust her off.

  Snapping out of her daze, Sophie found her voice. “Hi, Reed. What brings you here?” Wait, didn’t Tracy already ask that? Damn. Okay, take two.

  She shook her head and tried again. “Come to get your cookie?”

  Reed held up what looked like a bag of food. “As much as I would dearly love a cookie, especially from you, I thought you might be hungry. I remember your saying that you've been swamped with work. Have you eaten?” He looked over at Tracy and respectfully added, “I have plenty.”

  Tracy, traitor that she was, declined. “Thanks, but there's some leftover ribs in my fridge with my name written all over them.” Looking at her wrist where there wasn’t a watch, she exclaimed, “I didn’t know it was getting so late. Gotta go, kids!”

  With that, she was out the door before Sophie could say goodbye.

  Reed’s grin grew wider as he stepped inside and closed the door.

  “Hi,” Sophie murmured.

  “Hi. So, I come bearing burgers. Are you hungry?”

  Sophie’s stomach took that moment to growl in an embarrassingly long gurgle. Reed laughed. She knew he was laughing with her and not at her but that didn’t stop the hot blush creeping up her face.

  “Um, that would be a yes.”

  She moved some cookie boxes out of the way so Reed could set down the food. “I have some soft drinks in the fridge if that’s okay with you? Or would you prefer bottled water? I'm sorry; I don't keep any beer here.”

  Reed glanced up as he was taking out containers of leftover picnic food. She knew Dot would probably have a cow if she knew he was feeding it to Sophie.

  “Whatever you're drinking is fine.”

  * * * *

  When Sophie turned away to get their drinks, Reed admired the view. He was trying to be a gentleman, but he was a healthy guy and honestly couldn’t help himself. Some guys were boob men and some were into long legs. Reed had always had a thing for a cute, round butt. Right now, it was an extreme fondness for Sophie's cute, round butt.

  From the front, her T-shirt and shorts were covered by her pink apron. With her facing the fridge, he had an unimpeded view of the back. She inadvertently bumped into the refrigerator door, then used her hip to close it. Reed quickly glanced up before Sophie caught him staring at her ass. Damn. Those cutoff shorts are a thing of beauty.

  Reed had always had a thing for Sophie. From the day he saw her accidentally walk into her locker door, senior year, he was a goner. She was still a bit clumsy, but he found that endearing.

  Back then, he wanted to ask her on a date until Brent Francis told him that he was taking her out. Reed was sort of friends with him since they were neighbors, so he backed off. It was difficult, considering Brent had the IQ of a rock and the personality to match it.

  He really didn’t know what Sophie saw in him. When they went out in a group to get pizza, Brent didn’t even talk to her. As a matter of fact, he didn't even sit with her. He spent the evening trying to flirt with her friend, Tracy.

  Reed thought it was a prick maneuver on Brent's part but oddly, Sophie didn't seem to mind.

  Considering all the booths were taken, he and Sophie ended up sitting together at a table by the window. To keep her from feeling left out, Reed did his best to entertain her. His jokes were lame, he knew, but she laughed anyway.

  As they ate, they talked about everything from their favorite movies and music to their plans for the future. Sophie was an honor student so he wasn't surprised to hear that she was going to college in the fall. She wanted to major in business.

  Sophie had listened intently to him as he told her about wanting to enlist in the Navy so he could join the CBs. She smiled when she heard the name so he explained how the initials meant “construction battalion.”

  After everyone was done eating, Sophie said goodbye to him and left with Tracy. She hadn't said a word to Brent, who obviously wasn't taking her home. Reed saw that development and renewed his plans to ask her out.

  The following Monday, however, something had changed. Sophie wouldn't look at him and dodged him when he tried to talk to her. It frustrated him, but after a week of being treated like the plague, he gave up. A guy had his pride after all.

  They graduated a few months later. By the end of summer, Reed was off to boot camp and on with his life. Eight years in the Navy had kept him away from home more often than not. Sometimes he wondered what became of Sophie, but after her rejection, he was too proud to ask anyone.

  Seeing Sophie today was a complete surprise. At least, after all this time, she was talking to him again. That was a step in the right direction. He glanced at her hand and noticed that she wasn't wearing a wedding ring. Of course, that didn't mean she wasn't dating anyone.

  Reed guessed now was a good time to test the waters.

  When Sophie set down the drinks, he asked, “I didn’t interrupt any plans for the evening, did I?”

  Sophie tried her best not to look incredulous. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility that she could have plans. It was just that she didn't have the time or inclination lately. She shook her head. “No, I’m free tonight.”

  Reed was glad to hear it. “No one's waiting at home?”

  She shrugged, “Just Max.”

  He tried not to look disappointed. “Max?” Who the hell was Max?

  Sophie explained. “Max is the love of my life…and my dog.”

  “Your dog is the love of your life?” Lucky dog.

  With a smile, Sophie nodded. “Absolutely. He's the perfect guy for me.”

  Reed leaned toward her. “I have to hear this. How is Max the perfect guy for you?”

  “Well for starters, he's a beautiful bronze color so he has a tan year round. He doesn't hog the bed and he's incredibly affectionate.”

  She paused, waiting to see if he wanted to hear more

  “Go on. How else is he perfect?”

  “Max listens attentively when I talk and does so with adoring puppy dog eyes. But most importantly, he's housebroken and doesn't cheat on me.”

  Reed held up a hand to interrupt her. “I was going to ask who you dated that wasn't housebroken but I think I
'll skip it and ask something else. Who the hell would cheat on you?”

  She made a cute scrunched up face. “He sort of tried to use me to cheat on his girlfriend. Bryce failed to mention that he was already seeing someone. I had no idea that he wasn't exactly single until she confronted him while we were on our first date.”

  Reed winced. “Ouch! What happened?”

  “We were having dinner at a nice restaurant. I even thought things were going pretty well until said girlfriend showed up. She walked up to Bryce, my date, and threw his drink in his face. To be honest, I thought they only did that in bad movies!” He chuckled at that. “Anyway, she called him a two-timing asshole, gave me a scathing look, then left in a fit of anger. Bryce, completely soaked in Merlot, got up and chased after her.”

  “What did you do?”

  Sophie sighed. “The much wished for hole in the ground didn't swallow me up, so I got stuck with the check. I had to pay for everything, including the Merlot he was wearing.”

  Reed was offended on her behalf. “That guy really was an asshole.”

  “You're telling me! He'd ordered the most expensive steak on the menu too!” She shrugged. “At any rate, that was the last of Bryce. Now you see why I like Max better.”

  Sophie took a seat and opened her pop can. “So, Reed, how about you?”

  Reed joked, “I don't have a dog.” When she rolled her eyes, he amended that with, “or a girlfriend.”

  He dipped his head to get eye contact and gauge her reaction, but she changed the subject.

  * * * *

  “Thank you for bringing over dinner. You didn't have to do that.”

  He smiled warmly. “I wanted to. Besides, as you can see, I have more than enough.”

  Reed continued to put food in front of Sophie until she couldn't eat another bite. She sat back and looked at all the empty containers.

  “I can't believe we finished it all! I must have been hungrier than I thought. Plus, the food was delicious. Did you grill the hamburgers?”