Page 68 of Love Me Sweet

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

CHAPTERNINETEEN

Andrew rolled out of bed the next morning at nine o’clock. He decided he’d never again take for granted sleeping past three am. It had been nearly that time when he and Sylvie had fallen into an exhausted slumber.

Instead of heading straight for the shower, he glanced down at the bed. Sylvie lay sprawled on her back, one arm crooked over her eyes as if shielding them from light. The pretty curls disheveled from last night’s love-making only made her more beautiful.

He wanted to wake her, to make love to her again and feel that connection, the bond they’d forged. Andrew knew the difference between making love and having sex. Last night had been all about love.

He’d come here to get her out of his heart. Instead, his love for her had only grown deeper. He knew she loved Jackson Hole, but if she gave Boston a chance, he knew she could love it there, too.

She could start a bakery there. His family had connections, lots of them and could steer business her way until she got a good foothold. He understood her passion for creating now and would encourage those efforts.

If she liked his condo, they could live there. If it didn’t suit her, they would shop around until she found a place that felt like home to her.

Andrew thought of his conversation with Gabe and Joel about building a home in Spring Gulch. That had just been a pipe dream. His life was in Boston. His future was with O’Shea Sports.

It wasn’t the life he’d have chosen, but running the company would be his tribute to Thomas.

Sylvie stirred and for a second he thought she was waking up, but she merely rolled over and snuggled into the pillow. Giving up medicine would be difficult, but at least he would have Sylvie to ease the transition.

They would have a good life. He tried to imagine her back in Boston, but the image remained fuzzy.

After his shower, he dressed then made coffee. He’d wait to make breakfast until Sylvie was awake. He was scrolling through his email when his phone rang. His father’s picture flashed on the screen.

“Dad. How are you?”

“Very good.” Despite the almost twenty-five hundred miles that separated them, the excitement in his father’s voice came through loud and clear. “Excellent, in fact.”

Andrew found himself smiling into the phone. “What’s going on? Did that new technology the engineers were working on pan out?”

It was an educated guess. Though his dad loved his family, nothing got him more revved up than business successes. And Andrew was aware that the R&D department had been working on several ways to refine the engineering and performance of their best-selling running shoe.

“That project is coming along nicely,” his father said, almost as if they were talking about a minor change of little consequence. “This is bigger. That’s why I need you back. I’ve sent the Gulfstream.”

Andrew took a drink of the Ethiopian blend he’d just brewed. Obviously, his brain wasn’t yet firing on all circuits. “You sent the Gulfstream where?”

His dad was very particular about the use of the corporate jet. If he’d sent it out, the news had to be big.

“To Jackson Hole. Weren’t you listening to me?” His father’s voice lashed like a whip.

Andrew resisted the urge to chuckle. His father must be revved up to use what Corinne called his ‘head honcho’ tone with a family member.

“I heard you say something big is happening.”

“Not big, huge.” The excited tremor returned to his father’s voice. “We’re about to finalize the acquisition of a European mobile fitness startup.”

“Wasn’t that the deal Corinne had been working on?” Andrew vaguely recalled his sister mentioning something about a company with a GPS fitness tracking app. If it was that particular deal, it was worth about 240 million dollars.

“Your sister made the initial contacts, was involved in the preliminary negotiations, but I want you here to close the deal.”

Andrew wondered what his sister thought about being tossed out during the sprint to the finish, but shoved the thought aside. He’d attempted to advocate on Corinne’s behalf but his father could not be swayed. O’Shea men had run the company for the hundred years since it was founded and that’s the way it would continue.

If only he hadn’t hounded Thomas into coming to that game with him, it would be his brother closing the deal. Thomas would have been as excited as his father and Corinne over all the possibilities. Andrew would have to dig deep to find even a modicum of enthusiasm for the project.

After confirming he would indeed fly back to Boston that afternoon, Andrew clicked off and laid the phone on the table.

He hoped Sylvie would be able to make the trip with him today, but he would understand if she had to stay behind for a few days to close up her business here.

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