Chapter 6

As Sophia sang into the mic she couldn’t help but think about the look on Nate’s face when he held her back before they took the stage and told her he had something he wanted to say to her. The look on his face was different but she knew what it was he wanted to talk about. She just wished he would let it go. She wasn’t ready to let anyone in yet. Maybe not ever. She wished she could explain why she felt that way but he wouldn’t understand even if she tried. Besides, she wasn’t ready to unload her insecurities on him. He and everyone else saw her as strong, mature, strong-willed but she feared what they would think if they saw the real her. The real Sophia that held everyone away from herself.

As best as she could she pushed her worries aside. She would just have to let Nate know once and for all that she wasn’t the one for him, if she had to hurt his feelings to do so then so be it.

Like always, singing Seal’s Kiss from a rose did things to her. Made her yearn for something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

There is so much a man can tell you, so much he can say.

You remain my power, my pleasure, my pain, baby.

Matt’s brows raised at the depth of her voice and the ranges she reached. The passion on her face as she sang was mesmerizing. The stage was raised in such a way that he could see her shorts that stopped mid-thigh. She swayed her hips slowly as she sang. He sucked in a deep breath as he watched. Oh, the things he would tell her if she came close enough.

The rhinestones dangling from her shorts reflected the lights and flashed, her top lifted when she raised her hand giving him a view of her slim waist.

He knew Ricky was studying him, he also knew that the old geezer could tell that he was drawn by the brown-skinned goddess that sang her soul out in a song that spoke of addictive love. She sang as though she could feel the lyrics of the song in her heart. Was she in love? Was her love in the crowd listening, grinning from ear to ear?

“Who is she?” he asked Ricky.

The man hid a knowing smile. “Sophia. She’s the lead singer for the group.” He turned around his seat to look at Sophia then turned back to Matt. “You will have to get in line for that one.”

Like hell he would.

He should be angry with himself that he stared long enough for Ricky to notice but he couldn’t care less. He was mesmerized by her slow dancing. He wasn’t the only one affected by her sensual voice, the clubbers were now dancing in tandem with her. Couples held each other as they swayed in time to the music.

Sophia.

A delicate name. She looked delicate.

As delicate as the rose she sang about.

She opened her eyes and scanned the crowd even though she couldn’t see the faces of people under the glare of the lights centered on the stage.

Much to his disappointment, the song finished too quickly and she flashed a pearly smile at the crowd that hooted and cheered.

“Will you be going back to your office now?”

Matt glared at Ricky and waved a dismissive hand at him. “I will leave whenever I want. You can leave now.”

He barely noticed Ricky leave, his eyes darted back to the delicate rose called Sophia. They were performing another song then another until they were too tired to do another. Laughing she and the other members of the band high-fived each other and stepped off the stage. Matt stood up ready to make his move when he saw her being pulled by one of the band members towards the backroom, a tall good-looking brunette. Curious he followed.

Sophia resisted the urge to pull her hand free from Nate’s hold. She was already going to hurt him tonight with the words she prepared to tell him so why not let him have this moment of peace before the storm?

He took her to the backroom to the place where Luis kept supplies. There he turned and faced and the look he gave her almost made her change her mind about telling him off. But she had to do this because she couldn’t bear to watch him pine for her when she did not return his feelings.

“Hi,” he said softly gazing at her with pure affection.

Sophia tried to smile but her face was frozen.

“Sophia,” he started drawing close to her as he held her hand gently in his. She looked away. “You look beautiful.”

She nodded.

“I know I have tried many times with you and you have turned me down but…” he stopped in front of her. “I can’t stay away from you. I can’t get you out of my head.”

Sophia shook her head. “You have to get me out of your head, Nate,” she said in a cold voice. “My answer hasn’t changed a bit. We can’t work out.”

“Why?” he demanded. “What is so wrong about us that you won’t give us a chance? Is it me?”

She started to say no but held herself. “Yes. Yes, Nate, it is. I’m sorry, I have tried to make it obvious to you every time you do this. I don’t have feelings for you and I’m sorry you feel something for me but I never asked you to feel them.” She snatched her hand from his and dared to look up at his face. His look of hurt there almost made her change her mind again. “You will find someone else, Nate. I know Stella and Rosa put you up to this and I’ll have a talk with them later. I want you to stop trying to ask me on dates. We are friends and let’s remain that.”

She turned to leave.

“What do you keep running from, Sophia?”

She stopped short at the question. When she spun to look at Nate again he was looking right at her with his hands shoved into his pocket. “What?”

“You are running away from something and I can tell. What is it?”

When she made no response he walked up to her, he didn’t make any attempt to hold her hand.

“I told Rosa that if you rejected me for the last time I will let you go but I am your friend, we have been friends since med school and I can tell. What it is?”

She sucked in a breath. “Nothing. I’m not running away from anything." She bit her lip. "We are friends?”

He nodded and smiled without a trace of malice. “Always.”

She smiled gratefully at him, happy that he wasn’t trying to question her further. “Thanks, Nate.” Maybe she should have just said no instead of trying to hurt his feelings in the first place. “I am so sorry for what I said. You are not a problem...”

He smiled. “I know. Can we go back and join the rest?”

“Actually I need a moment I will join you guys later.”

He nodded and went out. Sophia slumped against the wall and closed her eyes. Thank God Nate was understanding this time. She didn’t deserve him, he was a good guy with a good heart. There was no way she would live with herself if she hurt their friendship.

“Regretting your rejection already?”

Her head came up with a start. Her eyes fell on a tall imposing figure, he didn’t look familiar and neither did he look like he had been clubbing with his heavy wool coat and black leather designer shoes. She cocked a brow.

“You are?”

With a smile tipping up his full sensuous lips he held his hand out. “Matt Wolffe.”

She glanced down at his hand and back at his face. “Okay…”

“Sophia.” It was Rosa and her voice sounded close by.

Sophia glanced up at the stranger. “Nice meeting you Matt Wolffe. I’m sorry I have to meet my friends. See ya.”

Before he could say anything else she left the backroom, leaving his hand out.