She gave him a warm smile in return. "I would like that very much."
Chapter 22
The sun started shining in through Sydney's windows, and she rolled over to avoid it — and hit something solid. Her body was begging her to just keep her eyes closed. Just a few more minutes of sleep. Just a little bit longer in this warm comfy bed. But the solid thing was too overwhelming, and she had no other choice but to rebel and open her eyes.
Yep, Andy was still there. In her bed. Without clothes on. Sydney smiled contently and snuggled closer to him, closing her eyes again to take in his scent as she laid her hand on his chest and attempted to go back to sleep. But her movements woke him up, and his moan that vibrated through her fingers as she threaded her leg over his made it very obvious that she wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon. She would have no complaints about that.
"What time is it?" he asked her as he rubbed his eyes.
Instead of answering, she started peppering his neck with kisses until she got to his earlobe. "Don't care," she whispered as she began to nibble on her ear.
His laughter traveled its way from his chest up her arm and to her heart. He rolled over so he was facing her and put his arms around her to pull her closer.
"So you think it's perfectly acceptable to just stay here for now?"
She moved back and reached over to push his hair out of his eyes. "Perfectly acceptable."
He smiled at her and tucked her brown hair behind her ear. "I have to admit I'm a little spent from last night."
"I have no idea how that happened," she said with a mischievous grin.
"Really?"
She shook her head. "Not really."
His fingers continued to play with the long strands of her hair. "Would you like to go get some food? You know, so we could perhaps continue where we left off last night?"
"I would like that."
Oh hell, would she like that. Sydney would remember last night for months to come — at least. Her body still ached from the things that Andy did to her the night before. She was thankful that as a trainer, he was well versed in his knowledge of the human body, and that he had no problem reminding her exactly what he knew that would make her moan with pleasure as she came. She was also thankful the walls were well insulated so her neighbors couldn't hear her repeating Andy's name at three o'clock in the morning.
She rolled out of bed with the top sheet wrapped around her body, leaving the rest to trail behind her like a train.
"You look like a queen," Andy said from his spot on her bed.
"You're damn right I do," she replied with a teasing smile. "And you look naked. Not that I'm complaining. At all."
He straightened up and gave her a loopy smile before checking the floor for his clothes. He seemed a bit flustered as he fumbled with his black boxer briefs and track pants. Sydney wasn't about to tell him where his shirt was (it was under her bed) since it gave her some extra time to appreciate his abs. He may not be an actual hockey player, but his body proved he was still quite the male specimen.
Meanwhile, she dropped the sheet, without turning around to see Andy's reaction, and grabbed a tank top and some yoga pants from her dresser. She didn't care that she had been wearing a version of that outfit for several weeks at this point. When she put it on this morning, it was different. It wasn't the uniform of a woman who was depressed about being screwed over. It was the uniform of a woman who wanted to show off all her curves to a man who had thoroughly screwed her.
She walked into the kitchen just as her phone on the counter buzzed with a text message.
Send help.
"You dumb child," she muttered under her breath as she typed I'm busy and pressed send.
This girl won't leave and I can't remember her name. Please?
"What are you smiling about?" Andy said as he walked behind her and looped his arm around her waist before nuzzling into her neck.
"Don't start that if you can't back it up," Sydney said with a teasing smile.
Andy put both hands up in surrender. "Fair enough," he said. "Now what's up with the smile?"
"Oh, um…"
Sydney remembered their conversation the night before. She remembered that there was a reason that Andy didn't trust hockey players. While he said he had no problem with her being friends with Ryan, she was suddenly aware of what her morning routine with the rookie may look like to outsiders.
"Is this about Ryan?"
She ducked her head and tucked her hair behind her ears. "It was that obvious?"
Andy grabbed her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. "You don't have to hide your friendship with Ryan from me. I'm friends with him too," he said. "Plus, we agreed to work on our issues together, right?"
She stared at him a bit longer before standing up straight, her eyes lighting up as she excitedly grabbed Andy's arm. "Do you want to help me with something?"
His eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out what she was up to. "I'm either really excited or really scared right now."
"Oh, you'll like this!"
She quickly sent Ryan a text back.
I'll be there soon
"Remember to give me a few minutes," Sydney whispered as they approached Ryan's door.
"Wait, one more thing."
Andy pulled Sydney towards him for a long kiss in the hallway. Sydney had to give herself credit. She was too happy with this man's arms around her waist and lips on hers to give a damn about any neighbors seeing them make out. But speaking of neighbors…
She pulled away slowly and smiled at Andy. "This is going to be so cool," she said.
"But after this, we are definitely getting food."
"Oh, definitely," she purred before reluctantly extracting herself from Andy's arms.
He gave her a wicked smile and leaned up against the wall to hide himself from Ryan's view. Key in the lock, lots of extra fumbling to announce her presence, and she was on.
"Hey, babe!" she yelled, closing the door behind her. "I was out for a run and thought I would stop by."
Ryan stood up quickly from the sofa, leaving some leggy blonde behind to get cold.
"What? What are you doing here?" he stammered.
She had to give him credit since he was in fine acting form this morning.
"Who is that?"
"Um, listen I can explain."
"No!" Sydney yelled. "Who is that?"
She pointed directly at the woman, who looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there.
"I should go."
"You think?" Sydney responded with bitter sarcasm.
"Listen, baby. This is not what it looks like."
There was a knock on the door, and all three of them turned to stare at it. Ryan's perplexed look was not part of his little acting job while Sydney's stoic face was still part of hers — so far. She was trying really hard not to let on that she knew exactly who was knocking.
"Hey, man," came Andy's chipper voice from the doorway.
"An — Andy," Ryan stammered in surprise.
"What's up? Listen, I was in the area and thought we could get some cardio in before—"
Andy's eyes scanned the room. Barely clothed woman on the sofa. Shocked Sydney standing by the kitchen counter. Ryan's face with all of the color drained out of it.
"What's going on?" Andy asked apprehensively.
"No," Ryan replied. "No no no no no."
"Andy, what are you doing here?" Sydney asked.
"What am I doing here?" he said in an exaggerated tone. "I think the better question is what are you doing here."
Ryan's eyes started darting between Andy and Sydney, his face getting more and more sullen. "This is not what it looks like!"
The nameless woman quickly jumped off the sofa. "I should leave."
"Yeah, you should," Andy replied.
The woman hurried back to Ryan's bedroom, pulling his t-shirt as low as it could go to cover her ass without her boobs popping out of the stretched out neckline. Andy dramatically put
his hands on his hips and stared at Sydney.
"So explain this to me. You come to my place of work and say I should trust you, but then you come home and have a threesome with one of the players?"
"No, no," Ryan said. "I told you, this is not what it looks like."
"Yeah. This is just… I was just…" Dammit. Sydney should have thought the rest of this out. Then she realized her lack of preparation may help her acting. "Ryan isn't…"
"Yeah, I'm totally not!" Ryan yelled. "I would never have a one-night stand with Sydney."
The nameless woman came stomping out of Ryan's bedroom in her wrinkled clothes and high heeled shoes from the night before.
"Oh, but you don't mind having a one-night stand with me? Ass!"
The change in color on Ryan's face was quite dramatic as it went from pale to bright red. His hands fisted up in balls at his side and he actually stomped his feet like a petulant child.
"This. Is not. What. It. Looks. Like!"
"Whatever."
And with that, the woman was gone. Ryan's attention turned back to Sydney and Andy, who was standing in the middle of his apartment staring at him.
"Seriously, Andy. I swear this is not what it looks like," he pleaded.
The corners of Andy's mouth began to twitch. "I know," he said.
"You… you know?" Ryan stammered.
Andy's smile grew and a look of understanding finally crossed Ryan's face. He had been had.
"You assholes," he muttered.
The pair burst out laughing as the rookie collapsed on the couch, trying to recover from the shock and awe unleashed on him.
"Ryan, your face was amazing! 'This isn't what it looks like!'" Her impression of Ryan was horrible but still hilarious. "I almost felt bad about tricking you."
"Almost, but not quite," Andy added.
Ryan's head dropped and he covered his face. "I hate you guys," he said, his words muffled by his hands. "I hate you both so much."
Sydney walked over and sat down on the couch next to Ryan. "I'm really sorry," she said sweetly.
"No, you aren't."
She smiled. "OK, I'm not. But I have an excuse."
Ryan looked up at her. "This better be good."
"Well, it's just that Andy and I woke up and were going to get some breakfast when you sent your text so—"
"Wait!" Ryan held up his hand and stared at Sydney. "You and Andy woke up?"
"Yeah."
"Together?"
Sydney smiled. "Well, yeah."
Ryan gave her the goofiest grin she had ever seen from you. Then he started gleefully laughing.
"What did I tell you, Barton? I told you I would fix this, and I did."
"Well, I wouldn't give you all the credit," she said.
"I fixed it. Me. I did it."
Sydney looked over to see Andy rolling his eyes at the rookie.
"Anyways, you want to come get breakfast with us?" she asked.
Ryan shook his head dramatically. "No way. I am not going to be your third wheel."
"Suit yourself." She gave his arm a squeeze and stood up. "I'll bring you a bagel so you at least have something to eat."
He groaned in pain and clutched his abdomen. "No bagel. That's so mean."
She just laughed again and grabbed Andy's hand. "Fine. I'll talk to your trainer and see what he suggests you eat instead."
"Just remember one thing."
"What's that?" Andy said.
Ryan stood up and pointed at both of them with a smirk on his face. "I fixed this."
Sydney shook her head. "We're leaving. Goodbye!"
"Bye!" Ryan yelled. "And seriously, no bagel!"
The apartment door slammed shut and Sydney grabbed Andy's hand, dragging him to the elevator. As the doors closed with only the two of them inside, Andy cornered Sydney, his hands on her hips as his lips near hers. He was hovering so close, but he just wouldn't give her what she wanted.
"You're teasing me," she whispered.
"I am," he responded, his lips brushing hers as he spoke, his voice reverberating in his chest under her hands.
"Well, that's unacceptable."
She grabbed his shirt and pulled him in, getting a moan of approval from him. The elevator dinged, and Sydney quickly pulled away, brushing her hands over his firm chest to straighten his shirt out. Then she gently pushed him out of the way and walked out of the elevator with Andy following in her wake. She could hear him shuffle a few extra steps to catch up with her before sliding his hand into hers.
"So where are you taking me?" he said in a low voice.
"Just a diner on the corner," she replied. "Their service is really fast, so we can eat quick and then get back here."
He raised an eyebrow in her direction. "Do I get to come back here with you?"
"Oh, most definitely," she told him.
They walked out into the cold of Detroit, the wind whipping off the river again, causing the light dusting of snow from the night before to swirl through the air. Normally, this would make Sydney curse Mother Nature for making her live in such an inhospitable place. But today, she pulled herself closer to Andy, letting his warmth fill the cold grayness surrounding them.
Chapter 23
Eighteen months later
"Hey, Sydney! Do you want to see this?"
Sydney pulled on her Detroit Pirates t-shirt — given to her by her fiancé who worked for the team — and headed into the living room where said fiancé was sitting on her sofa watching the television.
"Has it started yet?" she asked as she sat down next to him.
"Nope. They haven't led him out yet." Andy grabbed her hand and ran his fingers over her new ring. "How are you feeling about all of it?"
"It'll be nice to have some closure," she said quietly.
Last week, Lucy called her on a random warm fall afternoon to tell her that after more than a year, the case against John Martin was done. Sydney's former boss had been able to successfully negotiate a deal with the Securities and Exchange Commission. He would still have to go to jail, but the number of years were less than what he would've received if the case had gone to trial and he lost. And he would've lost. Sydney had worked with Lucy to help the S.E.C. put together its case against John. After all he had done to his clients, she felt it was the right thing to do.
Plus, she got a job out of it. She was now an independent forensics accountant and was actually pretty in demand. In addition to Lucy's firm, she had several other law firms as clients, particularly those dealing with family cases like divorce and inheritance. There was the occasional dirty case or two when people were hiding money from their spouses during divorce proceedings — those were never fun. But most of the time, Sydney helped families sort out bank accounts and funds when grandma died or helped couples unwind their shared finances. It actually felt good to help people, especially after what had happened at her office with her former boss.
Sydney especially took pride in the case of a couple who used to be her clients and needed to get their accounts unfrozen after the S.E.C. somehow forgot to take care of finishing their paperwork after her financial firm had been shut down. When they left with all their accounts in order, they made a point to thank her and tell her they never lost faith that she had always done right by then.
A breaking news banner flashed across the television screen, and Sydney sat up a little straighter. The news report showed a live picture from the courthouse in downtown Detroit as John Martin was led outside for about ten seconds and into a waiting van to take him off to jail. It was just a short shot, just a small moment, but it was a big one for her. That part of her life could finally be put to rest.
Andy squeezed her hand in support. "You did a good job helping the government with that case."
It may have been a good job, but that didn't make it any easier knowing that her boss was a crook, had ripped off a bunch of his clients, and was going to jail for it for the next two decades.
But she couldn't dwell on that now
. She was hungry and knew exactly what Andy wanted this morning. Well, besides her.
"We need to eat," she said, her voice plastered in cheerfulness as she hopped off the couch.
Andy followed her lead towards the door. "Yes, we do, which is surprising considering how much food we ate last night."
The pair went out last night with Lucy and Ryan to celebrate their engagement after the hockey star had finally returned from spending the summer up north. It had only been two weeks since Andy proposed to Sydney, getting down on one knee by the fountain on Belle Isle during one of their summer afternoon picnics. But she had been so excited to finally celebrate with her friends, even more than celebrating with her parents, who were trying to convince her to have the wedding in the Upper Peninsula. Sydney loved that Andy knew it wasn't what she wanted and would do anything to make that not happen.
Sydney was reaching for her phone on the counter when it beeped with a text from her next door neighbor.
Send help. I need donuts.
She sighed. "Speaking of Ryan and food, he needs our help."
Andy's face lit up. "Oh, I love when Ryan needs our help!"
"We should stop doing this at some point," she said. "Like, once we get married, we won't bail Ryan out anymore, right?"
"I hope not." Andy's eyes lit up. "Oh! What if I walk in with our baby strapped to me and do my whole 'What is going on?' thing?"
Sydney gave him a surprised look. "Our baby?"
He ducked his head. "Perhaps we should leave our hypothetical children out of this."
"We can include whatever hypothetical baby there is." She walked over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "But maybe we should worry about planning the wedding first."
He turned and kissed her, his lips warm on her own. She could stay like that all day with him. But then her phone bleeted again.
Donuts! Pleeeease!
She typed out a quick response that they would be there shortly and hit send. But something about this morning seemed a little off.
"Who do you think he picked up if he was alone when he came home with us?"
Andy shrugged. "Don't care."
"You're not the least bit interested in who is in his apartment?" she asked.
Buried Treasure (The Detroit Pirates Book 2) Page 15