Eric's POV:

I couldn't think of anything else to do but just watch her as she climbed into her car and drove away. What the hell just happened? Was I finally losing my mind? Did I really almost kiss my father's soon to be wife? I rake my hands through my hair in frustration, confusion, anger, lust, yes lust. Did that make me a tad bit disgusting? Lusting after a woman that my father was planning to spend the rest of his life with? Maybe... probably... YES! There was no doubt that I wanted to kiss her. Hell I wanted to do more with her than just kiss her. She was the most beautiful woman I had met and I had met a lot of women in my short lifetime. She was much more than just physically beautiful, but her heart and mind were equally unique.

A series of 'what ifs' run through my mind. What if I had gone that far? What would have happened next? I could imagine us driving off into the sunset together, despite how cheesy that sounded. But then a wretched feeling of guilt flows though me. In every scenario I knew the consequences would be dire. There would be no happily ever after without at least one person being hurt in the process.

I turn around and walk back towards my car. As I drive the short distance back to my dad's house, the turmoil still plagues my mind. I park the car and stare at the steering wheel for a few more minutes. I think back to Pam's plan on breaking up dad and Sookie which leaves me feeling even more disgusted with myself. I couldn't go through with that anymore. I couldn't imagine hurting Sookie like that. I could imagine betraying my father that way either. I loved him too much to do that. I probably even loved her as well. I made up my mind. If there was someone who was going to end up hurt, it was going to be me. I was going to start forcing myself to be happy for them and distance myself from Sookie. Fuck, just the thought of it left me clutching my chest in pain.

Eventually I get out of the car and head back into the house to find Pam and Amelia sitting on a sofa sipping on wine.

"You made sure the blonde bimbo left? I hope for good," Pam guffaws. Amelia looks at her sternly.

I was pissed off. "Pam, you will not talk that way about her anymore, do I make myself clear?"

"What the hell has your panties in a twist?" she retorts. "Serves the bitch right. I saw her 'car'when we pulled up in the driveway. Pretty hillbilly if you ask me. See, I knew I was right when I said she was nothing but a gold digging whore. She's probably angling for dad to buy her a new Mercedes or Porsche."

I was seeing red. I stomp up to her and pick her up from the sofa by the arms. "Shut the fuck up Pam! You don't know shit! You don't know anything about her!"

Any normal woman would probably feel fear and start crying with the way I manhandled her, but not Pam. She wasn't the type of woman that let anything scare her off easily. She stares at me with a smirk on her face. "You like her don't you? You really like her. You were gone for quite some time. Tell me, what happened between you two?"

I let go of her arms and I immediately feel guilt at the sight of her red arms. I step away from her. "Nothing happened but you really hurt her with your malicious words. She was only trying to be friendly towards you and the first words you have with her are nothing but insults."

She ignores my last comment. "Bullshit. I can see it in your face that you are keeping something from me. What happened? Did you kiss her or was it something even better?"

"I told you, nothing happened! She was completely devastated with the way you treated her!" I yell back.

"Pam..." Amelia says, trying to butt in, but she gets cut off.

"Liar!" she says eagerly. "You are making progress with our plan. This is great! Perhaps a few more days..."

"Fuck off Pam! There isn't a plan anymore. You will stay away from Sookie if you do not have anything polite to say to her." I storm off and head back to my room. I lie on my bed trying to clear my head. Maybe it would be best if I went back to Stockholm. I had taken so much time off work already. I had convinced myself that the reason why I had wanted to stay here for so long was because of my dad, but in reality, it was because I wanted to spend more time with Sookie. Fuck, if I was going to get over this whole thing, I needed to get the hell out of here. I call the bar and talk to my manager in charge who informed me that things were still running smoothly. I told him that I would back in a few days. After that phone call, I call my travel agent and get her to book me on the next flight back to Stockholm. My flight would be tomorrow evening.

Rather than going back downstairs, I stay in my room and fall asleep. I wake up several hours later to darkness outside the window. I grab my phone to check my messages. I wanted to call Sookie to make sure that she was alright, but decided against it.

After sending out a few texts, I head downstairs where I hear several voices in the living room. I could hear the sound of Pam's 'sobs' but I knew they were fake. She has never sincerely cried in her life other than when our mother died.

When I walk into the room, Pam and Amelia are sitting on one sofa facing my dad and Sookie. Sookie briefly looks up at me but turns her head away and stares at the fireplace. Dad's face looked grim while Pam had a few tears in her eyes.

"Son, you sister was just telling us about what happened with Sookie this afternoon," my dad says.

My heart starts racing in fear. What the fuck did she say to him? I take a huge gulp.

"Daddy..." Pam sniffles, dabbing a tissue on her eyes. "I am so sorry. I didn't mean to be rude to Sookie. It's just that I was so shocked when I saw her. It took me by surprise. I guess I'm not really over losing mom and I'm afraid of losing you too!" She starts to cry full-on. If she ever decided on a career change, she could probably win an Oscar with her dramatic range.

Dad gets up and goes to comfort her. "Shhhh... my baby girl," he says rocking Pam gently.

"It's alright Pam, I forgive you," Sookie says. "I know that I can never replace your mother in your father's life or yours, but I would like to be friends." She gives Pam a genuine smile. God she was beautiful... shit, I should probably look away.

"I feel really bad about it," Pam goes on. "Luckily you had Eric to comfort you."

I could feel my face turning red and my heart galloping. I look at Sookie to see that she was having a similar reaction. "Yes," she somehow says calmly. "I was glad that Eric made sure that I was alright. Thank you Eric."

I gauge my father's reaction but he doesn't seem to suspect a thing. He was still looking at Pam and had one hand on her back.

Suddenly, someone's cell phone rings. My dad takes his cell out of his pocket and looks at the message.

"Well I have an emergency with one of my patients," he says. "He has been taken to the hospital. I need to go."

He walks towards Sookie, "I will be back in a few hours. Please stay for the night."

She briefly looks at me, "Uhhh I'm not too sure that's a good idea. I got a ton of things that I need to do for Gran in the morning. I can just call Jason or someone to come pick me up."

"Nonsense, since I was the one that brought you here, I will make sure that you get home safely. Eric will drive you home," he says.

"I have a few things I need to do..." I say at the same time Sookie says, "No I don't want to bother him."

"No Eric will drive you home. I would give you my car to take, but I don't like the idea of you driving alone at night," my dad tells her.

"Alright," Sookie says with an uncomfortable smile on her face. "I'll just go and get my things."

I grab the keys and walk out towards the red corvette that I bought for my father as a gift. I could hear Sookie and my dad trailing behind me, talking gently to her.

I walk around the car to the driver's side. I look to see my dad opening the door for her.

"Honey I am sorry about tonight and for what happened earlier," he says to her soothingly.

"It's fine," she says to him. "She's your daughter. She just wants to protect you."

"I love you," he says to Sookie.

I look away suddenly feeling the urge to gag.

"I love you too," she says.

Before I could hear anything else from them, I climb into the seat, shut the door and turn on the engine.

Sookie gets into her seat and buckles herself in.

"Drive safe Eric," my dad says to me.

"Yes sir," I say to him.

We don't speak for at least 20 minutes. I fiddle around with the radio in order to deal with the uncomfortable silence.

"Look Eric..." Sookie says at the same time I say, "About what happened..."

"You go first," she says.

"No you can go first," I say.

"No thats..." she says.

"Sookie I insist, you go first," I tell her.

"Well, about what happened..." she says with a little shake in her voice. "I think that our emotions were just running so high. I mean after what Pam said to me and about everything else... I think we just got so caught up in things and we were both confused."

"Yeah, I think you're right," I lie. "I don't usually deal so well with crying women. I don't know how to react."

"Oh," she says with a hint of disappointment in her voice. "Well now that we have that clear, we can move on and forget about it. It won't happen again."

"Yeah it won't. I guess you'll be very busy these next few weeks planning the wedding and all. I'm glad to be finally heading back home. I've been neglecting my clubs this whole month. I need to make it up to my customers and especially my employees."

"Wait... you're leaving?" she whispers.

"Yeah, my flight leaves tomorrow evening. I figure it's time that I go home."

She doesn't say anything else but just stares out her window but I could tell that she was upset. The rest of the ride is silent and finally we pull up to her house. I rush out my door to open up the door for her.

She doesn't look at me but I can see the sadness in her eyes.

"Listen Sookie, you are a really great girl... woman. I'm glad to have met you and I am glad that you are going to be a part of our family. I wish for nothing but happiness for you and my dad," I choke out.

"Thank you Eric," she says. "I hope you will have a safe flight."

"Thanks. I guess I shall see you at the wedding," I say. I debate whether or not to hug her, but she makes the decision. She wraps her arms around my neck and automatically I wrap mine around her waist.

"See you later Eric," she says quietly. She removes herself from our embrace and runs into the house. I knew I was doing the right thing, but why did my chest have that same painful feeling?

Sookie's POV:

I run up to my room as I try to hold back the tears, but a few come out. I had made a decision that the incident that occurred earlier was a mistake caused by emotional stress. I liked Eric a lot. I enjoyed spending time with him. I loved listening to his stories and jokes. I loved the way that he made me laugh. I loved a lot of things about him. To top it off, he was absolutely gorgeous. Much more handsome than any movie star.

I listen to his car driving down the road and a few sobs escape my throat. I always knew that he would eventually leave but it still hurt. I didn't want him to go. It hurt a lot more knowing that I couldn't say that to him.

I walk towards my bed and sit down, letting the tears run down my face. I shouldn't be reacting this way. I was engaged to another man, his father. I start to feel disgusted and ashamed of myself all over again. I twist my engagement ring around my finger. I wipe the tears from my eyes.

"This is for the best," I whisper to myself. "I made a promise to Mikael that I would marry him. Despite my confusion over Eric, I know that I love Mikael. That's probably why I like Eric so much. He reminds me of his father."

I put my nightgown and climb into my bed, crying softly until I eventually fall asleep.

Eric's POV:

I could still feel her hot minty breath on my neck. I thought my dream with Sookie as the main star was over and that I was waking up but I still felt her hands caressing my back and one hand was making its way to my stomach, towards my morning wood. Hell I guess my fantastic dream wasn't over.

I think I had a stupid grin on my face as I bring my hand over hers as she starts to glide it lower. I kept my eyes closed not wanting to disrupt this awesome moment.

As her hand is finally reaching my cock, she speaks up, "Oh Eric, I missed you soo much," she says in a sultry tone.

I am about to answer back... wait... wrong voice! I quickly open my eyes and sit up backing away from the woman in my bed. I blink my eyes a few times to make sure I wasn't seeing things especially the 90 pound, 5 ft. 3 inch redhead that I didn't want to be near right now.

"What the hell are you doing here," I snap at her.

She responds by chuckling as though I had made a hilarious joke. "I came here to see you silly. I haven't noticed you anywhere around at home. I had to ask a few people until one of your bartenders told me where you went. So I decided to surprise you by coming. I figured you must be very lonely here in this backwater town. And judging by your hard cock, I was right," she says trying to grab me but I push her hand away from my penis which was now slowly deflating.

I get up from my bed to look for my shirt on the floor. "Sophie, I don't know why you bothered to come here. We are not together anymore. I meant what I said to you, I don't want to be in a relationship right now. I have too many other things that I need to focus on right now."

"But Eric," she pouts. "You always do this at least once a year and I always give you time to yourself when you ask for it. But it's been four months since we were last together. I thought it was time for us to get back on track again."

"Well I don't feel the same way. I don't want to be with anyone right now. You're a terrific woman Sophie. Any other man would be lucky to have you in their life."

She stands up and walks towards me with an angry look on her face. "I don't any other man Eric, I only want you. I love you."

She puts her hands on my chest trying to get close to me, but I gently push her away.

"I'm sorry Sophie but I don't want you," I say gently.

Tears form behind her eyes. "I don't believe you Eric. We have been together for eight years! We have so much memories and history between us. That just doesn't go away overnight." She walks out the room and slams the door.

I let out a huge sigh and head to the bathroom to take a shower. After my shower, I go downstairs and hear laughter coming from the kitchen. When I walk in, Sophie and my father were sitting at the breakfast table.

"Sophie..." I say.

"Hey Eric. I was just telling your dad about how our eight year anniversary is coming up. He wants to throw a small party for us here," she says happily.

"But..." I say shocked.

"Eric, you didn't tell me that Sophie-Anne was arriving today. I am glad to see her and I have told her that she is more than welcome to stay," my dad says, grinning politely.

"She isn't..." I start to say but my dad speaks again.

"And since she will be staying, then I hope you will be staying for at least a few days more," he says. He walks up to me and pats me on the shoulder.

I see the hopeful look in my dad's eyes. I knew I couldn't refuse. "Of course dad, I will stay an extra few days."

I take a seat on one of the stools at the kitchen island and pour myself a glass of orange juice.

My dad is still chatting with her. "I hope you found Eric's room easily. I'm not very traditional and won't object to you staying in his room with him."

I was about to suggest that Sophie-Anne sleep in a different room when she comes up behind me and wraps her arms around my waist.

As I am about to remove her arms from me, Sookie walks into the room. She looks at me and Sophie-Anne with a mixture of shock and hurt.

Sophie unwraps her arms. "Hello, I am Sophie-Anne, Eric's girlfriend," she says as she walks up to her.

Sookie still looks hurt but she quickly recovers. "Hi, my name is Sookie," she says as she shakes Sophie's hand.

"Sookie is my fiancé," my dad adds as he stands beside her, putting his arm around her waist. I struggle to hold back the jealousy.

"Oh congratulations!" Sophie says. "Eric didn't mention that you were getting married Mikael. I guess it must have slipped his mind."

"Our relationship and engagement is fairly new," my dad tells her.

They chat for several more minutes before I finally decide to take Sophie away and ask her what the hell she was doing until Sookie speaks.

"Mikael, I have to go to Jackson for an overnight trip tomorrow for my cousin Claudine's wedding anniversary party. She moved it up one week because next weekend Colman will be taking her to New Orleans. Will you still be able to come with me?" she asks.

I grip my hands so hard that my knuckles were turning white. I was raging with jealousy right now. The only thing that I could see was her and my dad in a room in some fancy hotel, white candles all over the room, Sookie wearing a red negligee, my father kneeling before her pulling down her lacey red thong...

"I'm sorry Sookie but I can't. The patient that I went to see last night needs emergency open-heart surgery. It cannot be postponed," he says to her.

"Oh," she says disappointed. "That's okay, the surgery is much more important. I can drive up there by myself."

"What about Tara? Can she go with you?" my dad asks her.

"Ummm no, she's working tomorrow and the day after. It'll be fine, I can go there alone."

"Nonsense Sookie," he says. "I don't want you driving all the way there alone. Maybe Pam or Eric can go with you."

"Mikael there's no need..." she says.

"I will take you Sookie," I blurt out. Shit, did I just say that?

She looks at me shocked. "But I thought you were leaving tonight."

"I had a change of plans," I respond.

"Oh that's a wonderful idea Eric!" Sophie says. "Now I can see what this side of the country has to offer. I love road trips!"

I glare at Sophie-Anne. "Dad, Sookie, could you excuse us? I need to talk to Sophie privately."

I put my hand on her back and drag her up to my room.

I shut the door. "What the hell are you doing Sophie? I told you that I didn't want to be with you!"

"Yes I heard you what you said, but like I said, I don't believe you. I know you need time Eric. I think if we spent time together then you will remember how happy we are together and how much we love each other."

"But I don't love you!" I yell.

"Why are you acting this way?" she retorts. "Is it because of blondie downstairs? I saw the way you were looking at her!"

"Sophie..." I clench my fists in frustration. "This has nothing to do with her. I don't know what else to say to you because it seems like you're ignoring what I am saying. You need to leave. You can stay here tonight but I want you to leave tomorrow. If you need money for a plane or bus ticket then I will be happy to give it to you."

"But Eric..." she says.

"No more, Sophie," I say exasperated as I walk out the room.

I walk downstairs to the terrace and see Sookie on the ground tending to her little garden.

I walk towards her and she look up, giving me a sad smile.

"I didn't know you had a girlfriend," she says sadly.

"I don't," I respond. "She was my girlfriend until we broke up, but for some reason she still thinks we're together even though I have told her time and again that it's over between us. I didn't know that she was going to show up here."

"Oh," she says. Her expression changes to uncertainty. "Did you really mean what you said inside? That you would come with me to Jackson tomorrow?

"Yes, that unless you don't want me to come?" I ask uncertain as well.

"No, of course I would like you to join me," she says with a smile on her face.

"Okay, I'll pick you up in the morning."

She nods and goes back to tending her garden.

I walk back to the house. Pam was standing by the door with a shit-eating grin on her face. "One whole night alone with her... I guess you're back in the game. Good work brother," she says before walking away.

I groan out loud. One whole night alone with her... I was so fucked!

A/N: Finally an update with this story! I apologize for not writing a chapter. I had to re-read what I wrote (because I forgot) LOL in order to figure out what should happen next.