Page 73 of Love Me Sweet

“The earring Mitzi lost.”

“Ah, like an earring.”

Men, she thought with an exasperated smile. “I mean, is it a hoop or a stud or—”

“Silver hoop,” he said quickly. “With some scroll work on the hoop.”

“I would have thought I’d have seen it…”

“But you will go over and check.”

“I will.” She paused. “Can you meet me there? We can both look.”

She thought she heard him mutter something about three being a crowd but knew she must have misheard.

“I’m tied up at the airport. Just call me if you find it.”

“Okay.” Then, because he sounded so stressed, she added. “I’ll head over there right now.”

When they ended the conversation, she stared at the phone in her hand for a long moment. Likely, it would be a wasted trip but it would pass the time.

And she would be helping a friend. Wasn’t that what life was all about in Jackson Hole?

* * *

Sylvie drew the van to a stop in front of the house. The lights were on inside and a car she didn’t recognize sat in the driveway. Whoever was inside wasn’t trying to be sneaky, which ruled out a burglar. That left only two possibilities.

Andrew’s friend had returned to Jackson Hole. Or, he was letting another friend use the home.

If Keenan hadn’t sounded so desperate, Sylvie wouldn’t have gotten out of her van. But she’d promised. Perhaps whoever was living in the home now had found the earring. Not likely, but possible.

She glanced down at her jeans and sweater, wishing she’d dressed up a bit more. But it was too late now. She’d driven all the way out here and she was going to see it through.

When no one came to the door after she knocked, Sylvie rang the bell. The music playing inside abruptly stopped and she heard someone moving inside.

Straightening her shoulders, she pasted a smile on her face.

The smile froze when Andrew opened the door.

Maybe she was hallucinating. Maybe it wasn’t him standing there in grey pants and a white shirt rolled up to the elbows. Maybe it wasn’t him staring at her with solemn grey eyes.

“Hello, Sylvie.” He stepped back, pushing the door further open. “Won’t you come in?”

No mirage.

She fought to find her voice. “I-I, Keenan said Mitzi lost something here. An earring, a silver hoop with some scrollwork. I told him I cleaned before I left the house but he was so adamant I stop over and check—”

She was babbling. Without him saying a word, she suddenly understood there was no lost earring.

“Mitzi didn’t lose an earring, did she?”

“No. No lost earring.” He smiled. “I wanted to see you.”

“You’re here.” Her gaze searched his face. “What are you doing here?”

“I can’t be anywhere else but where you are. I’ve missed you, Sylvie.”

Tears stung the back of her eyes, but she blinked them back. “What about your job?”

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