Trust In Love (A McCord Family Novel Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

drink that much. We have no choice right now, Sophie. He's a good man deep down. We just have to see that part of him. You're not dumb. I'll help you set the table."
    Sophie nodded as she followed her mother to the dining room. She knew it was inevitable, the ensuing rage that would end the night.
    ***
    "Oh, you fanuzeling piece of crap!" Sophie exclaimed, as she whacked her wrench over the lawn mower with brute strength, not making one tiny dent.
    She had been working for hours, or at least in her mind it had been hours, trying to fix the lawn mower with no luck whatsoever. She had no clue what she was doing and neither did the internet. She was about to give it another huge whack with the wrench when a slobbering kiss melted her senses.
    She turned her head to the side, receiving another slobbering dog kiss and giggled at the intrusion. "Well, hello there. Thank you for the kiss and the much-needed distraction from demolishing this horrid device," Sophie said as she ruffled the dog's hair.
    "He's an expert kisser, that's for sure. Learned none of it from me, but he has good skills," said the voice of the man she had wished for earlier.
    Sophie turned towards him with a look of surprise. Yet, she couldn't explain why. He had been with the dog the last time she saw him. Suddenly, without thought, she said, "And you know how to kiss well, is that what you're saying?"
    His lip curled with delight. "I would like to think so. Would you care to find out?"
    Sophie grimaced in horror at his words—and her loose lips. Why couldn't she control what came out of her mouth with him?
    "Or Axel and I can leave you to finish demolishing your lawn mower. Sorry about interrupting you," he quickly said with an apologetic smile. "Come on, Axel. Let's go, boy."
    He patted his leg for Axel to follow, turning to leave, when Sophie said, "How did you know his name was Axel? Did you find his owners?"
    He glanced back at her. "No, I didn't. I called around to the local Humane Society and a few other animal shelters, but no one put out a missing report for him. I'm not really surprised with the state he was in. We bonded that first night and I couldn't bear to part with him, so I named him."
    "Axel? That's different," Sophie said hesitantly, petting Axel, who hadn't moved from her side.
    "It was the first name to pop into my head. I like it," he said with a shrug.
    "I like it, too."
    "Thanks. You'd be the first to like it. I'm sorry about what I said to you. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I tend to joke around and just have fun sometimes. I didn't mean to offend you."
    Sophie stood up, wiping her hands on her pants. "It did surprise me. I don't mean to be rude either. I'm sorry."
    He took a step towards her, making her instinctively step back. Either he noticed her retreat, or hadn't planned to come that close to her, but he stopped moving.
    "Well, now that we got that awkwardness over. I'm Austin. I live next door," he said with a friendly smile, gesturing his head towards his house. "Offer still stands to mow your lawn, just as a neighborly gesture. I can see you're struggling with yours. But if not, that's okay, too."
    Sophie shuffled her feet slightly, hating that she wanted to accept his offer. He seemed so nice, so genuine. They always acted like that at first. She had a horrible intuition when it came to men. The longer she looked him in the eyes, the harder it was to resist.
    "Well, the fanuzeling machine just won't work, no matter how hard I try to fix it," Sophie said, irritated, kicking the lawn mower, hoping to jumpstart it that way.
    Austin laughed. "Fanuzeling? I'm not sure what that means."
    "You know—fanuzeling," Sophie said with a shrug, embarrassed.
    "No, I don't know. It sounds cute coming from your lips, though."
    Sophie blushed. "Another version of swearing. I hate foul language. It sounds better to me to say fanuzeling."
    Austin grinned. "It's a pretty word when it leaves your lips. I like it."
    Sophie's blush crept