Sophie's Playboy Read Online Free PDF

seemed to know he didn't need her response to that.
    "Thanks for picking them up tomorrow."
    "No problem."
    "Now, tell me how things are going for you."
    "Well, I picked up some stock in...."
    "Nooooo!" Her screech nearly cracked his wine glass, never mind his ear drum. "Anything but stocks! No investment talk!
    Something else, quick!"
    Parker smiled. "There is nothing else."
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    Sophie's Playboy
    by Natalie Damschroder
    When she didn't respond, he could almost hear her eyes narrowing. "What do you mean, there's nothing else? There's always something else. Some woman trying to get her talons into you, providing you with a great story to cheer me up with."
    "Nope. Vanessa took a powder."
    "You dumped her."
    "Wasn't anything to dump. I told her weeks ago I wasn't interested. She just doesn't like to see me coming on to someone else."
    "Ah-ha! So there is someone else!" she said gleefully.
    "Mare, you've got to stop living vicariously through me."
    "Nonsense. Give me the goods."
    Parker tried to think of something to tell her. He didn't want to deflate his Sophie bubble, but he knew his sister's persistence.
    "She doesn't like playboys," he finally admitted.
    Mare snorted. "Leaves you out, then."
    "Not necessarily."
    "Yeah. We'll see. There are few enough women who aren't after you, the ones who aren't are tough . You won't change her mind."
    "Am I that bad, Mare?" He knew he sounded wistful. She didn't answer for a minute, and that made him doubt himself even more.
    "She must be something, Park, to shake that famous Cornwall confidence."
    "She is, Mare. She is."
    Sophie was something, all right. He just didn't know why.
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    Sophie's Playboy
    by Natalie Damschroder
    CHAPTER 3
    Sophie climbed out of her vintage Mercedes convertible and tugged the skirt of her red slip dress into place. She sighed wistfully as she closed the car door and activated the alarm. Bugger was a luxury she may have to do without, now that her pay had been cut. She could live frugally, if she had to, but the car was high maintenance.
    As was her former employer, she grumbled silently as she crossed the country club parking lot. She hadn't expected to ever return here. But Chuck had invited her to be his guest at some party, and had done such a good job groveling and flattering that she hadn't been able to refuse. She had, however, insisted on meeting him here.
    Chuck was waiting in the lobby, his trademark whiskey sour and unlit cigar in one hand, the other held out to her.
    "Ah, my lovely, my gracious Sophie." He grabbed her hand and bent over it, but Sophie pulled it away.
    "Give it up, Chuck. You aren't refined enough for that."
    He grinned. "I was hoping practice would make perfect."
    She snorted as they walked toward the Patriot Room.
    "Well, then, you need a lot more practice."
    Chuck's response slipped past her and she froze near the entrance to the parlor. A discreet sign next to the door announced the event—a Cornwall Foundation Cocktail Hour.
    Sophie managed not to turn on Chuck and tried to sound disinterested. "Cornwall Foundation? I didn't know that's what this was for."
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    Sophie's Playboy
    by Natalie Damschroder
    "Sure. Biff gets approached for money all the time, now it's his turn." He sipped his drink. "Actually, tonight is more of a thank you to past patrons and a chance to see where the money goes."
    "Hm." Sophie let Chuck steer her into the room, her gaze sweeping it for Biff Cornwall. After their last encounter, she'd prefer not to have to talk to him.
    "Tell me again why you needed a date for this?"
    Chuck grinned wider. "For an opportunity to talk you into coming back."
    Sophie groaned. "Chuck, I told you I was done with MMT."
    "Even if your show flops?"
    Something flipped in her stomach. "What do you mean?
    Did you hear it? You think it's a flop?" They had done four shows, and everyone at the station thought things were going well. But the listeners were who counted.
    "Well...."
    "Sophie!" Darlene rushed up and gave her a faux