Behind The Proposal novel Chapter 31

Jasmine had fallen asleep on the couch and Tom suspected Sophie had fallen asleep herself given she'd been gone far longer than it usually took her to shower.

"What are you doing with my sister?" Kim finally asked

"I'm sure you can guess," he teased, not wanting to get into the reasons behind the marriage. He had a feeling Kim could see a lot more than he wanted her to.

"No, why did you marry her so fast? You're this highly successful, eligible bachelor dude, and yet you met and married my sister in under two weeks. That's not normal. Why did you do it?"

Tom was getting uncomfortable, not that he'd show it. "Why not?" He raised one eyebrow at Kim's shrewd gaze. He was not intimidated by her. He wasn't intimidated by anyone. Spinning a few stories to convince Sophie and her family that his intentions were honourable should be no problem at all. After all, he did care about Sophie and Jasmine. "I really do care about them."

"I care about my dog. I don't just up and marry him."

Tom clenched his jaw as he swirled the coffee around his cup and took a long sip. He didn't look up when he spoke, preferring not to meet Kim's gaze. "Sophie is unlike any woman I've ever met..." He trailed off, not knowing what else to say because that was the truth of it. It was why he'd chosen her.

Thankfully, Kim didn't have time to grill him any further as they heard a car pull up outside. Kim glared at him once and went to glance out the window. "Our parents are here," she announced. "Can you please go and tell Sophie, while I let them in?" Kim demanded frostily.

"Truce?" he asked.

"I suppose so. For Sophie's sake," she reluctantly agreed

That was fine with him. "Soph?" he opened the bedroom door to find her lying on the bed, her eyes closed. She'd been so different since arriving home. He hoped it was just the jet-lag and tiredness from the long journey, but suspected it had a lot more to do with her family. She opened her eyes slightly and looked up at him. "Tired, huh?" he murmured as he sat on the edge of the mattress next to her and ran his hand over her still damp hair.

"Oh and who is this?" Her mother eyed him curiously and with disgust as he walked out of the bedroom. Tom stilled momentarily taken aback at both her rudeness and the differences between Sophie and her family - Sophie was blonde, curvy, gorgeous, with happy blue eyes, whereas her mother and sister were both thin, dark haired, brown eyes and angular features. She looked nothing like them.

"Um, Mum, Dad, this is..." Sophie's timid voice trailed off as she looked at him. She'd turned white as a sheet as she stood on the other side of the hallway to him. He should've been standing beside her, holding her hand when she told her parents - like they'd been with his family.

"I'm Tom," he introduced himself to her parents. He held out his hand to her father, who reluctantly shook it, but that was about the warmest gesture he got from them - a stark contrast to his family and their reaction to meeting Sophie and Jasmine. They hadn't even bothered to introduce themselves. At least he already knew their names, Gordon and Mary Foster.

"And what exactly were you doing in Sophie's bedroom? That's a little inappropriate, don't you think, Sophie?" Mary glared pointedly at Sophie.

She shrank back and he actually saw her legs wobble as she leant against the wall. He was by her side in an instant, wrapping his arm around her waist. He wanted them gone, at least for tonight. Sophie was too tired for this, and so was he. The previous few days had been hectic to say the least. They should be curled up together in bed, not entertaining her parents.