Page 53 of Love Me Sweet

“Good-night, Sylvie.”

“Good night.” She called out but he didn’t turn as he strode from the room.

The urge to follow him into his bedroom was nearly overwhelming. Sylvie moved to the window on the far side of the room and pressed her forehead against the cold glass.

Something was happening between them. She only wished she knew what in the heck to do about it.

* * *

Andrew wanted to help Sylvie work her station at the Taste of the Tetons, but long before he’d arrived in Jackson Hole, she’d enlisted several of her friends to help with the event that ran from eleven until four pm. After helping her carry in her goodies, which included cupcakes that looked as if the Wicked Witch was buried in the frosting to ones that resembled beautiful flowers. There were bouquets of ‘cake pops’ and for the more traditionally minded, there were tiny desserts that looked so much like flowers he couldn’t tell them from the real thing.

Though it appeared he wasn’t needed, Andrew was reluctant to leave. “Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do to help?”

He saw Josie glance curiously in his direction before she returned her attention to arranging the Wicked Witches on a cupcake tower made to resemble a winding yellow brick road.

“Thanks for the offer.” Sylvie looked up and smiled. With a true artist’s eye, she’d interspersed the lavender and white hydrangea cupcakes on an elegant tower where real flowers and greenery were strategically interspersed. “But we’ve got this under control.”

On the other side of her, Poppy kept moving one of several elegant ‘cake pop bouquets’ around, looking for the perfect spot on the linen clad table.

Of all the items on display, however, Andrew’s favorite was the couture cupcake stand of the upper body of a mannequin in a sleeveless black dress, surrounded by mini cups filled with cake pieces and chocolate mousse.

The whole display, including the clothesline across the front of the booth, with tiny clothespins holding her brightly colored handmade business cards. He plucked one off the line and dropped it into his pocket.

“I’ll be back at four to help clean up.”

Sylvie looked up and smiled. “That’d be great. Have a good afternoon.”

Seeing no choice, Andrew walked away. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t capable of amusing himself. But amusing himself wasn’t the issue. He wanted to share this day with Sylvie, wanted to stroll down the aisles and consider the food options. But he reminded himself she had work to do. He respected that fact…and her talent.

Because he knew if he stayed in the Taste of the Tetons tent, he’d have eventually wound his way back to Sylvie’s booth, he stepped out and over to one holding the Wine Tasting and Silent Auction.

He was sampling a particularly fine Syrah when he was punched in the shoulder. “Hey, Boston, what’s that you’re drinkin’?”

Andrew recognized Keenan’s voice even before he turned. Even though the day was mild in the mid-sixties, the man looked ready for a lumberjack festival in a flannel shirt, jeans and boots.

“Syrah.” Andrew lifted his glass holding a red so dark you couldn’t even see through it.

Keenan lifted the glass from his hand and took a swig. A thoughtful expression crossed his face. “Tastes like smoked meat. I like it.”

With that pronouncement, he downed the rest of the contents then handed Andrew the empty glass.

“It’s particularly good for you because it has a high level of tannins.” Andrew set the glass down on a nearby tray. “Lots of health-benefiting antioxidants.”

“It tastes like smoked meat.”

Andrew grinned. “That, too.”

“Mitzi is working the clinic today,” Keenan told him before he had a chance to ask.

“Sylvie’s got a booth in the other tent.”

Keenan’s gaze sharpened. “You two seem to be seeing a lot of each other.”

Realizing that when he left, Sylvie would be left to deal with the speculation and questions, Andrew kept his reply simple. “We were friends back in Boston.”

“If I had to speculate, I’d say you were more than friends.” Keenan paused to order a bottle of the Syrah before turning back. “But I don’t speculate.”

Andrew found himself liking Keenan McGregor. Somehow, without a word being said, he and Keenan explored the tent together.

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