Page 23 of Redeemed

"Sorry," she mumbled.

"No," JT responded, his eyes flashing. "I like it. I'd like to eat all my meals off of you."

Sofia suppressed the urge to fan herself and took another sip of juice. She somehow managed to pull her eyes away from his and took a bite of bacon. When she picked up her fork again and looked back up, JT still hadn't eaten any of his food.

"I thought you needed food for fuel," she said, motioning to his full plate.

"I did say that," he said, his voice suddenly gravely. "But maybe I was wrong. Maybe you're the only fuel I need."

Sofia's face heated and she put down her fork. She wiped her mouth slowly and revealed a grin beneath the napkin. "Let's test that theory then." She slowly pushed back her chair and stood up. "If you can catch me, it's true!" She laughed and took off down the hallway, JT following close behind. He chased her once around the almost empty living room, both of them laughing, before he grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder.

She smacked him on the ass as he carried her back to the bedroom. "Put me down you caveman!" She tried to sound stern but the giggles escaping took all heat out of her words.

The t-shirt she was wearing had rucked up when he picked her up, and now her tempting bare behind was lying next to his cheek. He couldn't resist giving it a bite in retaliation. She squealed. "I think my theory is correct. You're much tastier than pancakes, and I think I've recovered completely."

"Oh, really," she joked. "Prove it."

A predatory grin spread across JT's face. "Your wish is my command," he growled as he carried her back to the bedroom.

Sofia grabbed the waistband of his pants and pulled as he unceremoniously dropped her to the bed. The grey sweatpants she had been admiring only a short time ago were soon just a memory as he pressed her back down into the mattress.

"You have recovered," she murmured into his ear as she felt the hard length of him pressing into her belly.

She sucked in a sharp breath as he nipped her earlobe before his teeth, tongue and hands started a downward exploration of her body. "All I need to eat is you, baby."

"Dios mio," she gasped, her body writhing under his mouth.

The pancakes were quickly forgotten.

Chapter twenty-one

Dreams and Opportunities

Thenextcoupleofmonths felt like a dream to Sofia. She and JT took every opportunity to sneak touches and kisses throughout the day at work. Her concentration was suffering a bit, she knew, but being in a real relationship with JT was so much better than she had ever imagined. She'd known what a good man he was and had frequently seen his playful side that was quintessentially JT, but this sweet, thoughtful side was a pleasing surprise. And he was a definite Alpha in the bedroom, though he never failed to make sure he fulfilled her in every way imaginable. She couldn't imagine how her life could get much better right now. Even her family had backed off and she was no longer worried about random men showing up at the café looking for dates! She could tell her mother was still not on Team JT but she had been showing restraint in her criticisms of him which Sofia appreciated, especially since he was no longer her 'fake boyfriend' but a real one.

And when they weren't at work, they were together doing other things. Taking a walk in the nearby botanical gardens turned into a make-out session behind some weeping willows. They'd been to three or four movies, but she couldn't remember anything about them between JT's clever hands tracing over her arms and legs, and stolen kisses in the balcony. She'd finally moved some clothes and her necessities to his house and spent most nights there in his king-sized bed. He'd even bought new soft-as-silk sheets for it as he told her he didn't want anything but the best for her.

She dropped her chin to her hand and released a contented sigh. "Everything going well with my brother, I see," Maggie said as she waddled into the office and sat down on the loveseat propping her swollen ankles on the coffee table. "I recognize that look."

Sofia straightened up and grinned at her boss and friend. "That obvious, am I?"

Maggie gave her a grin over her ever-expanding belly. "I've known for years you had a thing for him," Maggie admitted, "but I was always concerned about it. We all work so well together. I didn't want anything to ruin our working relationship. I wanted to make sure you knew that, Sofia. My worries about y'all's relationship were never about you as a person but only about what might happen if you didn't work out." She let out a happy woosh of air. "You don't know how glad I am to see him so happy, though. You've given me my brother back, Sofia, and I can't thank you enough for that!"

Sofia moved from the chair to the loveseat and wrapped her arms around her friend. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice suddenly caught in her throat. "All I want is for him to be himself again." The women hugged and wiped away a few tears that had escaped with the current of emotion.

"Now," Maggie announced. "Let's get to work and finalize the plans for this last-minute wedding reception! I love that you brought them in, but we've got lots of work to do and not a lot of time to do it! I understand the bride has lots of specifics."

Sofia grimaced a bit. She had been thrilled when Jesse had called her in a panic as his cousin's caterer backed out at the last minute due to Covid and he had talked Amy into hiring Common Grounds for the job. It was going to be a big event and would be a wonderful way to get their name out to a wider audience, but she also knew Amy. She had heard the girl had become somewhat of a bridezilla and Sofia wasn't at all surprised.

"Amy has always had very strong opinions on style and what she wants," Sofia told her boss. "I hope I haven't gotten us in over our heads, but it seemed too good of an opportunity to pass up."

"I have faith we can get it done. JT is always wanting to do all that fancy stuff and rarely gets a chance around here. I'm sure he'll be thrilled about it!" Sofia knew that was true but wasn't sure what his reaction would be when he found out it was for Jesse's cousin. Though she and JT were obviously together now, she knew he didn't want her around her old boyfriend. This was business, though, and he would surely understand that.

"Do we have a meeting set up with the bride to pick out all the linens and place settings and things?" Maggie asked, opening her calendar.

"Tuesday afternoon," Sofia confirmed. "We're supposed to meet them at the venue. You good with Tuesday?"

Maggie nodded, writing in her planner. "You need to get with JT and see when he needs to meet with the couple about the menu. He needs to do it by the end of the week, if possible. I don't want to take any chances on us being unable to get the things in that she wants with the difficulties in the supply chain recently."