Page 24 of Love Me Sweet

CHAPTERSEVEN

Sylvie rose extra early the next day to bake. In addition to the normal desserts and pastries requested by the restaurants, cafes and coffee shops she had contracts with, she made up little cake-bites and decorated them with the Star Wars characters that were so popular now.

Since today was Labor Day, anticipating bigger crowds, most of her clients had requested extra.

As Andrew hadn’t made an appearance by the time the baked goods were ready to be delivered, Sylvie loaded up Ethel with bakery boxes and began her deliveries.

She wondered what had delayed him. Did it have something to do with the phone call he’d received last evening? As the Sweet Adeline’s event was winding down, he’d received a call from a patient back in Boston.

Sylvie told herself to relax and enjoy the morning solitude but her thoughts kept drifting to how he’d looked at the piano, fingers flying over the keys. Then, there was that ‘almost’ kiss in the alcove…

Her thoughts were on anything but business as she made her final delivery to a local coffee shop. Hill of Beans in Jackson Hole was the only store in the coffee empire begun by Cole Lassiter where you could often find the man himself working the counter.

From what she’d heard, Cole was a local boy who’d left town with nothing but a high school education and had returned home a success. As Sylvie opened the side door, she spotted him behind the counter, coaching an obviously new employee on the fine art of making the perfect cup of cappuccino.

Cole looked up when the bells chimed. He smiled and lifted a hand in greeting. In many ways he reminded her of Andrew. Both had lean, athletic builds, dark hair and grey eyes. But there was a wariness and a hardness in Cole’s eyes that said he’d survived the worst life had to offer.

Sylvie recognized the look because when she gazed into the mirror every morning, she saw that same wariness, yet Cole had climbed that steep mountain and was now happily on the other side. He was married and had two children with his wife, Meg, a physical therapist.

Sylvie had gotten to know Meg fairly well. She was one of the owners of Body Harmony Inc., the multi-therapy specialty clinic where Josie worked as a massage therapist.

Setting the tray of scones, cinnamon rolls and other goodies on the counter, Sylvie smiled at the teenage employee Cole was coaching.

Something in the girl’s eyes told Sylvie this was another person who’d had a rough start in life. Sylvie wasn’t surprised Cole had hired her. He was known for giving others a helping hand up.

He’d done that for her, for her business. When she’d stopped in to discuss providing the treats people loved to have with their coffee, they’d sat and talked for the longest time, simply getting acquainted. Despite the fact that she’d had bills to pay and no income at that moment, Sylvie had tried not to let her desperation show.

She remembered the strong shake of his hand when they’d come to an agreement. His kindness and faith in her were something she planned to pay forward one day.

Cole’s gaze skimmed the tray’s contents. He gave a nod of approval. “These look great, Sylvie.”

The girl—Amber—according to her name tag, stepped forward, her brown eyes widening at the sight of all the goodies, settling on the mini-cakes. “You made these?”

Sylvie nodded.

“How’d you know what to do?”

She understood the puzzled look. Her mother hadn’t been handy in the kitchen either.

“I taught myself. YouTube videos, online tutorials, sites dedicated to baking. You name it, I watched or read it. I experimented. I learned what worked…and what didn’t.” Sylvie smiled wryly, recalling those early disasters. “After high school, I received a scholarship to a culinary institute in New York City.”

A look of awe blanketed the girl’s face. “You must be really smart.”

“I simply loved baking.” Sylvie shrugged off the praise. “Creating feeds my soul.”

The girl nodded then shifted her gaze to a spot behind Sylvie. “May I help you, sir?”

A prickle tickled Sylvie’s spine. She didn’t need to turn her head to know it was Andrew. If she hadn’t been so focused on the conversation, on the girl’s enthusiasm, she’d have felt his presence sooner.

How long had he been standing there, she wondered? Then again, what did that matter?

“I’m with her.” He gestured with his head toward Sylvie.

She saw Cole’s gaze sharpen and his expression turn speculative. Keeping her own expression bland, Sylvie shifted and smiled at Andrew.

When he placed a hand on her shoulder, she felt the heat of his touch all the way through the thin cotton to the skin beneath. “I got caught up on a call.”

Andrew switched his focus to Cole and Amber. “Any chance we can get a couple of cappuccinos to-go?”

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