Page 31 of Spiritwarrior (The Colemans’ Legacy #2)

Chapter Thirty

S he was sitting on the couch, blow drying her hair, when she heard a knock on the door. Turning the blow dryer off, she went to the door to crack it open.

“What do you want, Jody?”

“We need to talk.”

The firm tone he used sent tingles down her back.

“Talk to me in the morning.” She started to shut the door.

Jody put out a hand, grasping the door and preventing it from closing.

“I’m not dressed.” Sophie used her weight against the door to prevent him from pushing inside.

“Go get changed. I’ll wait here.”

She could tell from his expression that there was no use arguing. Jody was determined to come inside. She could let him in, or he would come in regardless.

“Great,” she told him sarcastically. “Give me a couple of minutes.”

Jody removed his hand, allowing her to close the door.

She went to the bedroom and removed her nightgown to put on a pair of baby blue sweatpants. Not able to bear the thought of putting a bra back on, she chose a thick black sweatshirt. When she left the bedroom, she was tempted to lock the door and go to bed. If she wasn’t certain he had a key to the door, she would have.

Sophie opened the door. “You can come inside.” Folding her arms over her chest, she watched him. “I’m tired. I’ve been up since five and was about to go to bed. What was so important you wanted to talk tonight?”

Jody shut the door. “I want to know why you threw that water at Chastity?”

“I didn’t. The bag hit the glass, and it spilled.”

“You did it deliberately. You certainly didn’t act upset that you did.”

Sophie gave him a careless shrug. “I wasn’t.”

“So, it wasn’t an accident?”

Stomping to a chair, she threw herself down. “Of course it was. Why would I deliberately spill water on her?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

“Then you’re wasting both of our time. It was an accident, plain and simple.”

“I don’t think it’s simple at all. I think it was premeditated. I think you knew what you were going to do when you brought the water over.”

Sophie laughed at him. “How was I supposed to know she was going to place a to-go order?”

“You would have found another way.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you were jealous,” he said with raised brows.

“Over whom?” She deliberately played obtuse.

“Me.”

“You’re so full of yourself,” she scoffed. “I wasn’t jealous over you.”

Jody’s expression showed his disbelief. “If you changed your mind about us being friends, all you had to do was say so.”

She narrowed her eyes on him angrily. “I haven’t changed my mind. As unbelievable as it sounds to you, I’m not attracted to you—I proved that to you.”

“Yes, you did.”

Her hands went to the arms of the chair, preparing to rise.

“Unfortunately for you, I can’t say the same. I’m very attracted to you.”

Shifting her gaze away from his, she lowered herself back into the chair. “So, you’re reneging on our deal?”

“No, there’s nothing wrong with being friends and lovers.”

“You’ve made an art of doing that, haven’t you?” she said snidely.

Jody tilted his head to the side, as if listening closely. “There it is again.”

Confused, she frowned at him.

“The jealousy.”

“I think it’s time for you to leave.”

Jody made no move to do so. “I’m not trying to be a nuisance, but we need to get this settled tonight, before you lose any more customers.”

Sophie kept her face deadpan. “There is nothing to settle.”

“I think there is. You just want to pretend that you’re not attracted to me. I get that. You saw me with Baylin at the apartment, and then the next morning, I was cutting her loose. I can wish I were more like Matthew and not have to confess to being with other women, but I can’t. What I can say is I didn’t take what wasn’t willingly offered.”

“I bet you didn’t,” she said, unable to hide her disgust.

Jody’s eyes narrowed on her. “Careful. People in glass houses shouldn’t throw missiles.”

Sophie shot up from the chair, clenching her hands. “What does that mean?”

Jody took a step forward. “It means, unless you’re a virgin, don’t condemn me for not being one.”

“In this day and age, you’re going to throw up my lack of virginity?”

“Only in regard to me not being one either.”

Her jaw locked; she was determined to go to the bedroom and lock the door so she wouldn’t have to continue the conversation. Unfortunately, Jody had roused her temper, and she was well past walking away.

Turning back to him, she stared at him in fury. “I don’t live in a damn glass house,” she snarled. “They’re expensive. My house is made of bricks, so I can shoot as many damn missiles at you as I want. I’ve been too busy working since I was old enough to reach a busing station. Men don’t normally go after women who look like me, especially when I keep my wallet and my thighs closed tightly. Men are predictable, if nothing else. When they can’t get to one or the other, they stop returning your texts. I’ve never met a man whom I’ve come close to breaking my rules for.”

His brow furrowed. “What rules?”

“Are you listening to me?”

“I think so. If you mentioned any rules, I think I would have remembered them.”

“Let me make it easier for you. My rules are no cheating—”

“I’ve never cheated on a woman.”

“Really?” Sophie gave him a satisfied smile. “Ginny told me all of her brothers have soul mates; did that include you?”

Jody hesitated, but he eventually answered. “Yes.”

“Was Baylin, Mina, Chastity, or the numerous women you’ve been with your soul mate?”

His long pause was extremely gratifying for her. “No.”

“You cheated on your soul mate with each of those women. You’re a cheater. Strike one.” Satisfaction poured out of her tone. “Rule two: he can’t be too good looking.”

“You’re not serious?”

“I am. If they’re good looking, nine of ten times, they’re conceited. We know which side of that scale you fall on.”

Jody didn’t try to defend himself on that score.

“Rule three is for me rather than the man.”

“Whew, that’s a relief.”

Sophie ignored the droll way he spoke.

“Rule three is to trust my instincts. Would you like me to tell you what my instincts are telling me about you?”

“Go ahead.”

“My instincts are telling me not to take you seriously—you’re only being helpful to lay the new girl in town.” Condescendingly, she took a step toward him, no longer afraid of the feelings he aroused in her. How many times had she learned it was no use to run? Too many to count.

“I’m not blind to the friction between you and Joel. I’m not a na?ve high schooler who is so impressed with the star footballers paying attention to her not to wonder why. I’ve lived in numerous states, worked in jobs where I came into contact with men daily, yet I’ve never had two extremely handsome men make a concentrated effort to spend time with me. I don’t find that a coincidence. Do you?”