Page 37 of Love Me Sweet

“I realized something tonight,” he told her as they stood on the front porch and pulled out the key.

She stifled a yawn with her hand. “What is that?”

He stepped aside to let her enter first, then reached around her to flip the switch and flood the entryway with light. “We’d never been at a party together where we both had a good time.”

“What makes you think I had a good time?”

“Did you?”

She smiled. “I did. I like Keenan and Mitzi and most of the people there.”

“I enjoyed their company, too.”And yours, he thought, but didn’t say.

A clock somewhere in the house began to chime. Sylvie pulled out her phone and glanced at the time then back at Andrew. Her lips twisted in a wry smile. “I have to be up in three hours.”

He’d have to be up as well. After all, a promise was a promise.

Except when it wasn’t, he thought, recalling how she’d left him. Still, he gave into impulse. Without considering the wisdom of what he was about to do, he leaned over and pressed his lips to hers in a sweet, gentle kiss. “Good night, Sylvie. See you in three.”

Andrew sensed her eyes on him as he headed down the hall to the room he’d commandeered as his. He’d surprised her. That was good. But the victory was a hollow one. Because he was headed to his bedroom to sleep…alone.

* * *

While Sylvie added ingredients, put sheets of pastry items into the ovens and set trays to the side to cool, Andrew remained at the small table, eyes focused on his laptop.

He’d offered to help and actually had been rather persistent about it, but she’d told him she had a routine and having a helper, even a handsome one, would disrupt her rhythm.

She wasn’t sure why she’d added the handsome part, except maybe because she sensed he reallyhadwanted to help. The comment had brought a smile to his lips.

While she’d turned on the ovens, he’d powered up his laptop. Fifteen minutes ago, he’d risen from the rickety chair and moved to the ancient Mr. Coffee machine she’d picked up for a song at the big box store out on the highway. The delicious aroma of coffee soon mingled pleasantly with the sugar and cinnamon scents.

He brought her a cup once it was brewed, black, just the way she liked it.

After sliding a tray of scones into the oven, she accepted the chipped mug, curving her fingers around the warmth. A long sip jolted the last of the fatigue straight out of her system.

Sylvie smiled at him. Despite almost no sleep, he looked rested and alert. The blue of his long-sleeved Henley made his eyes look as soft and grey as a dove’s feather. “I could get used to having you around.”

The instant the words left her lips, Sylvie wished she could pull them back. “I mean—“

His hand closed over her shoulder, gently kneading the knots he found there. “Don’t apologize. I understand what you meant.”

He wandered around the small windowless room. “Sometimes it’s nice to have someone around.”

Sylvie sat down her cup and added some sugar to a huge mixing bowl. She considered his response and her own.

“I admit I was worried how these next three weeks would go.” She opened the huge refrigerator to retrieve some butter. “I’ve gone solo for a long time.”

Inclining his head, Andrew took a long drink from his mug. “We were together, not that long ago,” he reminded her.

“When you were free and when I was. We spent time together, sure.” She sighed. “Often it felt as if we were two ships passing in the night. At least to me.”

“I had my practice.” Though his voice remained easy, there was also a defensive edge.

“Understood.” She kept her tone equally offhand. “I had my work. When we were together, everything was fast-paced because it was shiny and new.”

“I don’t—”

“Just like when you flew me to Jackson Hole on your family’s corporate jet for a weekend.” The mixer creamed the butter soft as velvet before she added it to bowl. “That trip was like something out of a fairy tale.”

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