Page 22 of Love Me Sweet

“I’ll toss out the first song. The rest of you be thinking what you’d like to request next.” Kathy turned to Andrew and surprised them all by requesting Friends in Low Places.

Sylvie was shocked when Andrew’s fingers settled on the keys and he began to play the country classic.

Sylvie hadn’t expected to sing. She was only here to do the catering. But when Kathy looped an arm through hers and smiled, she sang along to the Garth Brooks’ hit.

Instead of simply following the melody, Sylvie found herself harmonizing with Kathy. The older woman’s smile of pleasure encouraged her to continue.

The moment the song ended, someone in the audience requested Country Roads. Sylvie considered stepping away to check the desserts, but decided what would be the point? Everyone at this party had forgotten all about food, except for Noah and Josie who appeared to be doing more sampling than singing.

After a half dozen, Kathy clapped her hands once again and announced the sing-a-long portion of the evening had come to an end.

Andrew rose from the piano bench to a rousing chorus of applause.

When Sylvie turned, intending to check on how many desserts, Josie and Noah had left, Kathy restrained her.

“You have a lovely alto, my dear. Have you thought about joining our group?”

Sylvie cocked her head. Was the woman joking?

“I believe she’s serious.” Andrew stepped to her side. “I heard you harmonizing. You’ve got a nice voice.”

“I’m flattered.” Sylvie shifted from one foot to the other. “But growing my business has to be my priority.”

“Of course, it does.” Kathy nodded understandingly. “But I believe you’ll discover the more involved you become in the community, the more referrals you’ll receive. In Jackson Hole, who is picked to cater events is often as much a result of personal connections, as it is the person’s talent with food. Just think about it. You don’t need to decide tonight. I’ll be in touch.”

“She’s right you know,” Andrew said as Kathy walked away.

“I don’t have time to sing.” Sylvie wondered why she sounded so cross when she’d actually enjoyed the interlude. “What are you doing here, anyway?”

She’d counted on having this evening to get her head on straight. Seeing Andrew, making love with him had thrown her off-balance. Dear God, what had she been thinking?

She hadn’t been thinking, that was the problem

For the past three months she’d convinced herself she was over him. Her reaction to him yesterday said that had been only wishful thinking. Getting over him was obviously still very much a work-in-progress.

When he’d played several love songs with those clever fingers that had played across her body less than twenty-four hours ago, her heart had ached with longing for the life with him she’d once envisioned.

It wasn’t fair for him to come here, all handsome and talented, and remind her of what she’d lost. But then, hadn’t she learned long ago that life was seldom fair?

“This is better.”

She blinked and realized he’d maneuvered her into a tiny room filled with Native American artifacts. Andrew, by his mere presence, stood so close she could smell the subtle spicy scent of his cologne and see the tiny gold flecks in his blue eyes.

“We can talk here.” His gaze remained on her. “I ran into Noah downtown.”

The area was so small, and for a second, Sylvie was confused. Why had he brought up Josie’s fiancée? Then she realized he was explaining why he was here tonight. Or attempting to explain.

“Just because he was coming here to see Josie didn’t mean you had to accompany him. Men aren’t wolves. They don’t run in packs.”

He flashed a quick grin, seemingly not disturbed by her petulant tone. “Noah mentioned his fiancée was helping you with your catering duties this evening. He told me he planned to stop over and see if he could lend any assistance.”

“Still doesn’t explain your presence.”

“He knew I wasn’t busy. Since you and I will be seen together in the next few weeks, I decided it might look odd if I didn’t offer to come along.”

As far as logical arguments went, it was a sound one.

“I didn’t know you played the piano so well,” she said abruptly.

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