The Setup and the Substitute by Jiffy Kate

Chapter 40

Owen

“Come home with me,”I whisper against Sophie’s lips, my hands still tangled in her hair. “I can’t be away from you another night.”

“Okay.” She sighs, her body relaxing into mine even more, as if my request spoke to her soul.

Helping Sophie stand, I take her hand and we begin our walk back to her apartment, where my car is parked out front.

“Do you need anything from upstairs?” I ask, pausing in front of the door.

“I have everything I need.”

The way she says it—and the way she looks at me when she says it—makes me believe it’s true. And it’s more than just necessities. She’s content just being with me.

She wants me like I want her.

For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m the other half of someone’s whole. Sophie is my equal in every sense of the word. She softens my rough edges and makes me want to open up. I’m happier when I’m with her.

“God, I love you.” Gazing down at her in the dim streetlight, I skim the back of my hand against the soft skin of her cheek, memorizing every second of this moment. In fifty years, I want to be able to think back on this night and have it feel like it was yesterday.

“Say it again,” she quietly demands, her hands coming up between us to grip the lapels of my jacket.

“I love you, Sophie Callahan.”

“I’ll never get tired of hearing that.”

I kiss her again and this time, it’s slow and intentional. The taste of her on my tongue is exquisite and the feel of her in my arms is what I’ve been missing for my whole damn life.

When she tilts her head to the side and wraps her arms around my neck, I deepen the kiss, sweeping my tongue inside her mouth. There’s nothing like kissing Sophie.

It’s better than any strikeout I’ve ever pitched.

Better than Rocky Road ice cream with caramel on top.

Better than breathing.

And only second to being inside her.

“I need to get you home,” I mutter between kisses as she presses herself against me. “This flimsy little dress has been driving me insane all night and I need it to be on the floor and you naked in my bed.”

She pulls back and I can see that her lips are swollen and her eyes are glazed, but my statement breaks through the haze of the kiss and she nods.

“Let’s go home.”

Home.

That’s exactly what it is, now that Sophie’s in my life.

She makes everything complete.

On the drive home, I keep her hand in mine and try to focus on the road, instead of all the things I want to do to her. I’d like to take my time and remind her how amazing we are together, but I’m afraid that won’t happen tonight.

When we’re finally inside the house, I kick the door closed and lock it, while simultaneously devouring her mouth. Pushing her up against the wall, I start working her dress up and over her head, discarding it on the floor.

She kicks off her shoes and goes to work on my tie.

As we fumble up the stairs, her laugh echoing around the empty house is music to my ears.

“This reminds me of that first night together,” she says with a smile, still unbuttoning my shirt and moving down to the waist of my pants.

“When you said you saw no problem with fucking me all night long and being a damn good nanny to my kids in the morning,” I say, pausing to relive that moment in my head. “God, Sophie… the things I wanted to do to you. And I was trying so hard to be good and treat you with respect.”

“Oh, you respected me alright.” The grin on her lips is wicked and when her tongue darts out to wet them, I groan. Leaning in, I take her mouth as she flicks the button on my slacks and reaches in to free my aching cock.

“You respected me so good,” she mutters, her hand already working my shaft. “I’m ruined for life.”

Pulling away, I nail her with my stare, needing her to know how serious I am. “That’s good, because I’m it for you, baby. No one else will ever touch these,” I say, cupping her gorgeous breasts in my hands, “Except me.”

“This pussy,” I tell her, running my hand down her taut stomach and dipping inside her panties to find her slick and wet… and completely bare. “It’s mine.”

“It’s yours,” she moans as I dip two fingers inside and her head falls back against the wall. “Everything is yours.”

Unable to wait any longer to be inside her, I pull her panties to the side and line my cock up with her entrance, thrusting inside her.

“You were made for me.”

“I love you.” The words tumble out of her mouth as she holds onto me.

This. I want this for the rest of my life.

Her.

Us.

This undeniable connection and rightness.

I’m going to make her mine forever.

Hours later—after a few rounds of sex and a little sleep—the sun shines through the window, waking me up and I can’t help the instant smile on my face.

Sophie is still nestled into my side and her scent is enveloping me. When I lean forward to kiss her bare shoulder, she stirs, turning over to face me.

In her sleepy, raspy voice I’ve come to love so much, she says, “Good morning.”

“Good morning, beautiful.”

“You know, I loved getting those texts over the past week, but hearing you in person is way better.”

Chuckling, I wrap her in my arms and hold her against me, soaking in the feel of her bare skin against mine, something I missed so much when we were apart.

“Come to my game today?” I ask, kissing the top of her head. “I know Casey and Lola would be happy to see you.”

She pops her head back, looking up at me with the most beautiful smile. “I’d love to.”

“And then I can take you out again?” I ask. “It might be late, but we could hit up one of those food trucks you were telling me about.”

“Okay,” she says, sitting up and taking the sheet with her.

Wanting to see all of her, I pull it from her grasp, causing her to laugh. But she doesn’t try to take it back, just sits there in her full, naked glory for my perusal.

“And maybe tomorrow night we can do something fun. We play another early game and I should be free no later than five.”

She nibbles on her bottom lip, something I’ve noticed her doing when she’s hesitant about something or worried.

“What is it?” I ask, reaching up to take her hand in mine.

“Callahan Family Dinner,” she states, expression wary. “It’s at six and I told my brother, Bennett, I’d be there. Before I started working for you, I never missed. Well, nobody misses unless they’re sick. My mother is a stickler—”

“Soph,” I say, cutting her off and ending her rambling. “I’d be happy to go with you.”

“Really?” she asks, her eyes lighting and then falling. “Are you sure? Because my family is a lot. I mean, like a lot a lot. First, my mother, Kitty, can make anyone feel an inch tall with just a look. Then you have my sister, Eleanor, who is an ice queen. And don’t even get me started on my grumpy brother, Liam. But Harrison and Bennett are great. And Theo isn’t bad when he’s on his best behavior.”

“I want to meet them all,” I assure her. “The good, the bad, and the likewise.”

She lets out a pent-up breath and smiles. “Okay,” she says, nodding like she’s trying to convince herself of that statement. “Yeah, this will be great.”

* * *

Two nights later,I’m sitting beside Sophie at the large oak table in the Callahans’ dining room, feeling a lot more relaxed than I probably should.

Sophie was very upfront about her family. I know her mom has been planning her wedding to Gavin Winthrop for years, and that I’m not an acceptable candidate for his replacement.

But fuck that, because I know Sophie and I are meant to be together.

I know she loves me.

And I love her.

And that’s all that matters.

However, even though I don’t need her family’s approval, I would like to at least get through this first meal without ruffling too many feathers, especially Kitty Callahan’s.

Kitty Callahan.

I’ve never met anyone with that name and it reminds me of someone from an eighties’ movie.

“Sophie tells us you play baseball,” Kitty says from across the table as she daintily cuts a piece of chicken. Her matching ensemble, paired with her perfectly straight hair, is such a contradiction to Sophie’s carefree style.

Everything about this house and the people in it are a contradiction to Sophie. Where they’re all stuffy and formal, Sophie is a breath of fresh air and the most laid-back person I know.

Nodding, I swallow a bite of food before answering. “Yes, ma’am. I’ve been playing baseball since I was seven years old.”

Honestly, being here and seeing it all for myself, I’m in even more awe of her. A lot of people, my ex being a good example, who grow up with everything given to them, are entitled and self-absorbed.

Sophie is nothing like that.

“The Revelers are doing well this season,” her dad says. “Heard y’all have a good chance of playing in the World Series.”

I’m a bit superstitious about bringing up the World Series at this point in the season, but I can’t ignore her dad’s statement, so I go with, “We’ve got a shot, as long as we keep playing like we have been.”

Another thing I don’t like to talk about is the fact we’re on a nice winning streak. Since the All-Star break, we’ve won six out of eight games.

“And your children,” Kitty muses. “Where are they?”

“With my parents.” I’m not sure how much Sophie’s told her family about Lisa, so I don’t want to stick my foot in my mouth by oversharing. “They wanted to keep them until close to school starting since they don’t see them much during the year.”

Everyone eats in silence for a few moments, until Eleanor clears her throat.

“Since you’re no longer needed at the Thatcher household, maybe it’s time for you to get a real job, Sophie?”

Between her condescending tone and the way Sophie stiffens beside me, it makes my hackles rise.

“She’s had a real job,” I say, keeping my tone even. “My children have been taught, taken care of, and loved by Sophie. It doesn’t get more real than that, in my opinion. I’m not sure what I would’ve done without her over the past few months.”

When I glance up, Eleanor is watching me and I think I see a hint of approval cross her face. Like maybe her jab at Sophie was a test for me.

She needs to know I’ll always come to Sophie’s defense, regardless of who it’s against.

Bennett gives me a half smile and a nod as he dips his head and continues eating.

After a while, everyone breaks into random conversations and I’m relieved to have the spotlight off me, if only temporarily.

“Sorry about them,” Sophie whispers.

“There’s nothing to apologize for,” I assure her, tilting my head to catch her eyes. “I’d sit through a million of these dinners as long as you’re by my side.”

“I love you,” she says with a sweet smile.

Not caring that we’re sitting in her parents’ home and surrounded by her family, I lean over and brush my lips across her cheek. “I love you… so much.”