Were they in this together? When Nero introduced himself, she hadn’t made the connection between him and the guy who had helped organize the wedding expo.
But now she had made the connection. Now she knew Nero was Finn Thornberg’s brother... That would sure give Nero a motive to make the kind of scene that would go viral on social media. It would certainly give the wedding expo the kind of exposure money could not buy.
She’d been set up. Used, again.
“I should get this all cleared away,” Sophie said, needing to compose herself, needing time to think. Had the recent events with Tito made her read more into this, to see something that wasn’t there?
“I’ll give you a hand,” Nero said. He hadn’t even touched the food she’d given him.
“No, please, eat. It would be a shame to let it go to waste.” She gave a tight smile.
“Oh,” Nero looked down at the food.
“It’s good,” Finn said, “Really good.” Then he looked across the room. “Oh, I’m needed over there.” With that, he gave Nero a quick look. “Your food is delicious, Sophie.”
“Thanks,” she replied, still not sure if they had set her up. “Eat,” she said to Nero. Not just because he looked as if he needed to eat, but because she wanted him to try her dishes. She wanted him to like her recipes.
Goodness, why did it matter to her if this particular man liked her food? But it did matter.
Her eyes lingered on him as he took a bite of her prosciutto-wrapped fig with honey drizzle.
Nero gave her a small smile and then took a mouthful.
His eyes widened as he savored the flavors, and she found herself smiling, happy that he liked it.
As she watched him, there seemed to be an openness to him.
When she’d spoken to him earlier, she’d found him earnest. She’d believed him in her gut.
“You like it?” Sophie asked, wanting to hear him speak.
“It’s one of the best things I have ever tasted. Pair it with a Thornberg Rosé and it would be heaven.”
“You know your wines,” Sophie said.
“My parents own a vineyard,” Nero said.
“Really?” she asked, and then she made the connection. Wow, she was slow today. That marriage proposal sure had knocked the sense out of her. “Thornberg Vineyard,” she said. “Of course, it’s here in Bear Creek.”
“It is,” Nero said. “It’s in the mountains. I grew up there.”
“What’s it like?” Sophie found herself asking, genuinely curious despite her reservations.
“Beautiful,” Nero’s face lit up with pride.
“Rows of vines stretching across the mountainside, catching the light at sunset. The main house is this old hacienda-style building my great-grandfather built. And the air…” he closed his eyes briefly, “…you can smell the earth and the grapes and the pine trees all at once.”
“It sounds wonderful,” Sophie admitted, momentarily forgetting her suspicions.
“You should come see it,” Nero said, his expression hopeful. “I could show you around. Maybe you could even do a tasting?”
Sophie hesitated. The invitation was tempting…professionally, it would be interesting to see a local vineyard, and personally...well, there was something about Nero that drew her in despite her better judgment.
Her phone beeped in her pocket. She pulled it out, seeing a notification that she’d been tagged in a post. When she opened it, her stomach dropped.
There it was, Nero on one knee before her, ring box in hand, her shocked expression captured perfectly.
The video already had hundreds of comments and shares.
She groaned inside as color flooded her face.
“No,” she said, “Thank you. But I am only in town for a couple of days.”
“Is everything okay?” Nero asked, noticing her sudden change in demeanor.
Sophie turned her phone toward him. “It seems our little moment has gone viral.”
Nero winced as he watched the video. “Sophie, I’m so sorry. This isn’t what I wanted.”
“Isn’t it?” The words came out sharper than she intended. “Your brother runs this expo, you show up with a ring...it all seems a bit convenient for a ‘mistake,’ doesn’t it?”
“That’s not…”
“I’ve had enough of being made a fool of,” Sophie cut him off, gathering her demonstration materials with quick, efficient movements. “First Tito, now this.”
“Tito, is he the one…?” Nero asked, his brow furrowing.
Sophie paused, realizing she’d said too much. “No one important. Just another man who thought it would be fun to play with my feelings.”
“I’m not playing with your feelings,” Nero said, his voice low and intense. “Sophie, look at me.”
Against her better judgment, she did. Those dark eyes held such sincerity that for a moment, she almost believed him.
“I know we just met,” he continued, “but I would never deliberately hurt you. What happened was an accident, a strange, unlikely accident—but I’m glad it happened because it meant I got to meet you.”
Sophie felt her resolve wavering. There was something about the way he looked at her, something that made her want to trust him despite everything.
“I need to finish packing up,” she said finally, neither accepting nor rejecting his explanation. “I have another session later.”
Nero nodded, respecting her need for space. “Can I at least help you carry these to the kitchen?”
Sophie hesitated, then nodded. “All right.”
As they walked side by side to the kitchen backstage, Sophie couldn’t help but notice how people watched them, whispering behind their hands. The video was spreading fast.
“Ignore them,” Nero said quietly, as if reading her thoughts. “People will find something else to talk about soon enough.”
“Easy for you to say,” Sophie muttered. “You’re not the one whose professional reputation is at stake.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve worked hard to build my brand as someone relatable and drama-free,” Sophie explained. “Eat it Simple with Sophie isn’t just a catchy slogan—it’s how I live my life. Or try to, anyway.”
They reached her stall, and Nero carefully set down the containers he’d been carrying.
“For what it’s worth,” he said, “I think your fans will understand. And if they’re true fans, they’ll care more about your amazing recipes than some viral video.”
Sophie couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. “You really liked the appetizer that much?”
“It was incredible,” Nero confirmed. “And I’m not just saying that.”
Their eyes met again, and Sophie felt that same inexplicable pull toward him. It was maddening how her body seemed to ignore all the warning signals her brain was sending.
“I should go,” Nero said reluctantly. “But Sophie? I meant what I said about the vineyard. The invitation stands whenever you’re ready.”
As he walked away, Sophie found herself watching him go, wondering if she was making a mistake. But then her phone beeped again with another notification. More comments, more shares, more people talking about the proposal .
She sighed heavily. No, she’d made the right choice. The last thing she needed was more complications in her life. Eat it Simple with Sophie. That was the plan, and she was sticking to it.
Even if a small part of her wished things could be different.
She turned on the faucet and filled the sink with hot water, then added a generous amount of dish soap, wishing she could wash away her worries.
And in a way, she did.
Sophie plunged her hands into the water, letting the heat seep into her skin. She began methodically washing each item, taking her time with the mixing bowls and whisks that had been used in her demonstration. The repetitive motion was meditative, allowing her thoughts to settle.
There was something deeply satisfying about this simple task. No cameras, no fans, no handsome men with dark eyes making her question her judgment. Just warm water, soap, and dirty dishes waiting to be transformed.
This was what she needed: normalcy. Routine. The very essence of what had made her brand successful.
As she rinsed a measuring cup, she found herself humming softly. The tension in her shoulders began to ease. By the time she reached for a towel to dry the first batch of clean utensils, she felt more centered than she had all day.
Sophie arranged the clean items in neat stacks on the counter, organizing them for her next demonstration.
She would be making her signature rose-petal panna cotta with fresh berries—simple but elegant.
Perfect for a wedding dessert that wouldn’t overwhelm after a heavy meal but would still feel special.
The thought brought a genuine smile to her face. This was why she did what she did. She created moments of joy through food. To show people that creating something beautiful didn’t have to be complicated or intimidating.
Her phone pinged in her pocket, but she didn’t reach for it immediately. Instead, she finished drying the last spoon, placing it carefully with its companions. Only then did she dry her hands and check the notification.
Another tag. Another comment about the proposal . Someone had even created a meme with her shocked face and the caption “When things get extra spicy!”
Sophie stared at it for a moment, then, surprisingly, found herself chuckling. It was actually kind of funny, seen from a distance. And really, was it so terrible? No one was being cruel. People were just entertained by an unexpected moment.
She smoothed a hand over her hair and took a deep breath. This would pass. Tomorrow, there would be another viral video, another meme, another moment capturing the internet’s fleeting attention.
Maybe she could even use this somehow. An “Eat It Simple, Even When Life Gets Complicated” campaign? A special series on comfort foods for emotional moments? The possibilities were endless.
As for Tito...well, that wound was still fresh, but standing here in this quiet kitchen, Sophie realized something. His betrayal had hurt not because he was irreplaceable, but because she had trusted him. Maybe that capacity for trust wasn’t gone, just temporarily bruised.
Her heart would heal. She would heal. And when she did, perhaps she would be ready to trust again.
As she headed back toward the expo floor, Sophie felt lighter. She had two more hours to get through, one more demonstration, and then she could return to her hotel room for some much-needed solitude.
And if a certain dark-eyed jeweler happened to cross her path again? Well, she would handle that with the same grace she handled everything else. One step at a time. Keep it simple.
The door to the main hall loomed ahead. Sophie squared her shoulders and pushed through. What didn’t kill you made you stronger. Wasn’t that how the saying went?
Soon she’d be the strongest person in the world!