Recaptured Dreams by Justine Dell Read Free Book Online

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
    S OPHIA A ND A NNE M ARIE R USHED 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