by Candace Shaw
“I got it.”
“Thanks. I’ll meet you inside.”
Twenty minutes later, he found her sitting on her couch going through mail and tossing the majority of it on the floor.
“Pretty in Pink is secured in the garage.” He tossed the keys on the coffee table and glanced up at the roses on her fireplace mantel. He was surprised she hadn’t thrown them away considering they were pretty much dead. The coolness of her home had helped them stay alive a little longer.
“So you need a ride to pick up your car tomorrow?” he asked.
She looked somewhat startled at his question but shook her head. “Nope, Stan is sending one of his boys to pick me up or I can take the bus. Aren’t you going to check on Mrs. Thomas in the morning?”
“Yep, and I have an interview with an attorney who is interested in being a partner. Cool cat. We’ve played golf together for years, and we’ve always joked we should open a practice together.”
“That’s awesome. I’m sure everything will work out for you.” She yawned and stretched. “Excuse me. It’s been a long past few days.”
“Yes, it has, but I’ve enjoyed hanging with you and getting to know you... All of you.”
She laughed but still managed to avoid complete eye contact with him. “Me, too.” She stood. “I’ll walk you out. Text me when you get home.”
He wasn’t ready to go yet, but he knew they had to say goodbye. “Will do.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her slowly, savoring her lips one last time. “You want me to spend the night...you know, get it out one last time?” He didn’t have any more condoms, but he’d run to the store around the corner if she said yes.
“Uh-uh-uh,” she said, pointing her finger at his chest. “We left that in Vegas, but I promise you I’ll never forget it.” She reached up and returned the kiss before releasing herself from his embrace.
Sydney walked him to the front door. He ran his palm down her cheek and to her hand, squeezing it before bringing it to his lips and kissing it tenderly. “I’m very glad we got to know each other on another level, and while we agreed to leave the intimacy part of our relationship in Vegas, I truly hope we’ll remain friends.”
“Yes, of course. I definitely agree. You’re a great guy, Bryce. I’m glad we got to know each other, as well.” She finally rested her eyes on him, and the same passion he’d seen in them during the trip remained.
“Sweet dreams, Syd,” he said, kissing her forehead and strolling to the car.
Bryce wasn’t going to let her get away this easy. While she may have thought what they had would remain in Vegas, she was sadly mistaken. They may have completed one journey, but now it was time for another, except this time he wasn’t letting her go. He was going to give Sydney Chase the chase of her life.
* * *
It was the day after Sydney’s return from Vegas. Surprisingly, when her alarm went off at seven o’clock in the morning, she actually got out of bed and opened the blinds. She’d grown accustomed to the early-morning sun while hanging with Bryce. So when the phone rang punctually at eight o’clock, she was sort of hoping it was him as she ran and slid on her bed to grab the cell from the nightstand. But it was Stan from the auto shop letting her know he was sending someone to pick her up because her car was ready.
After everything was squared away with her car, she headed to the shooting range. When the phone rang again she hoped it was Bryce, but alas it was Megan. She pushed the button on her earpiece so she could keep her hands on the wheel.
“Hey, Syd,” Megan said. “Glad you’re back. We need to discuss the final plans for our thirtieth birthday party this Saturday.”
“Good to be back. So what else is there to discuss? I thought it was a casual, intimate dinner with family and close friends at your home.” She could only imagine what Megan had planned.
“It is, but the caterer called and wanted to know the final guest count. I received your email, and we pretty much have the same list considering we’re inviting close family and friends in the city. Is there anyone else you wanted to add before I call her back? A plus one perhaps?”
Syd thought about Bryce. Of course he would be there since Megan invited him to everything. If she had to add a plus one, it would’ve been him. But she reminded herself that they decided not to pursue anything further.
“Nope. No plus one. Is Bryce going to be there?” She couldn’t believe she’d asked that out loud and really wanted to retract her last statement. She never asked Megan about Bryce and hoped her sister wouldn’t realize that.
“No. I didn’t invite him.”
“Why not? You always invite him to family gatherings.” Okay, I gotta stop talking.
“Because you two only argue, and we don’t want bickering at our birthday party. It’s supposed to be a happy day.”
“True, but he is Steven’s brother. I know how to avoid him. I did so at your anniversary party a few months ago.”
“Yeah, surprisingly, but there were so many people at Braxton’s club, you weren’t even in the same vicinity. I’ll go ahead and invite him, though. I did feel bad about not telling him. He’s such a great guy, and I’m so happy I suggested that he hire Tiffani for the tutorial workshop at the community center on Saturdays. She needed the extra money.”
“So I heard,” Sydney said, exiting off the interstate.
“From whom? Tiffani said she hadn’t spoken to you in a few weeks.”
Oh, shoot, Sydney thought.
“Oh, um...she mentioned needing extra money for something she was saving for. This was a while back.”
“You know I was thinking about hooking Tiffani up with someone. It has been a few years now since Keith passed and even though KJ has his grandfather, Tiff’s brother and of course Steven, maybe it’s time she settled down with someone. She’s starting to date again but she’s so picky and says she’ll never marry again but wouldn’t mind having a companion. What do you think, sissy?”
Sydney snickered. “I think I find it odd that this is coming from the person who hated all the blind dates me and Tiffani set up for her years ago. Now you want to return the favor?”
“Shall I add you to the list? Steven has a lot of nice friends and associates. At one point, I thought about Bryce for you, but you can’t stand him. Oh, I know. I’ll set him up with Tiffani. He did say she was a blessing to the program and a really sweet girl. Hmm...that could work.”
Sydney’s heart sank all the way to the floor mat of her Mustang, and she slammed on the brakes when she realized the light was red. Luckily, no one was in front of or behind her.
Bryce and Tiffani would never work. Tiffani was the sweet, pretty third-grade teacher who saw everything through rose-colored glasses like a Disney princess. She was into arts and crafts, kiddie activities with her son, baking cupcakes and her flower gardens. Everything in her life was pretty and perfect. She wouldn’t be caught dead on the back of a motorcycle, especially if she had to wear a helmet and mess up her waist-length thick hair that she made sure was in place no matter what. And she certainly wouldn’t let Bryce do the kinky things he’d done to her in Vegas. While Tiffani wasn’t a prude, whenever the word sex was brought up in a conversation, she’d wrinkle her nose and say she didn’t talk about her and Keith’s sex life. Of course, that had been when he was alive.
No, Sydney didn’t see a match made in heaven between the two of them. Bryce was too much of a man’s man for Tiffani.
“Mmm...I don’t think they would work out, but I’m sure one of Steven’s friends would be a good idea,” Sydney answered, not believing there was a tinge of jealously in her mind. That wasn’t like her at all. Bryce could date whomever he wanted. So could she. Her stomach twisted into a big tight double knot.
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right. Bryce prefers more of a challenge. Did you run into him in Vegas?”
She and Bryce had agreed if anyone asked—which she knew Megan would—that they would say they had bumped into each other briefly. Made a few cordial pleasantries and that was it.
“Yep, I saw him for a quick moment.”
“Glad you finally went on a vacation. So back to the party plans. Just to clarify, you’re fine with green pea soup, Waldorf and green salad, followed by beef brisket and salmon with the sides you selected. And for dessert crème brûlée and assorted cupcakes made by Tiffani.”
“All this food talk is making me hungry,” Sydney said as the time Bryce made breakfast for her popped into her head. “Think I’ll stop off to breakfast someplace before I go to the shooting range.”
“Well, enjoy the rest of your day. I’m going to head to the office. I have a meeting with a celebrity who wants all white everything for her penthouse. Thank goodness she’s a neat freak and doesn’t live in Atlanta full-time.”
“Cool. Have fun.”
After hanging up, Syd decided to skip breakfast and head straight to the shooting range. She wasn’t really hungry. She’d had an apple and coffee before she’d left the house. Besides, she was anxious to get to the range. It released stress and kept her trained for her job. She rarely had to shoot a gun because of her position, but she always had to be prepared. Plus, she needed to release some pent-up energy and the withdrawal she was having due to Bryce’s absence. She’d heard of such a thing but had never experienced it. Her emotions were all over the place thanks to him. Luckily, when she arrived at the range her favorite booth was available, and she spent thirty minutes shooting off rounds from her gun as well as some other firearms available at the facility.
Taking her ear protectors off, she heard her cell phone beep from inside her purse. It was a text from Bryce about twenty minutes earlier.
Good morning. Just making sure everything is okay with your car.
Yes, it is. I’m at the shooting range.
Where are you headed afterward?
Home to eat.
How about I take you to lunch after my meeting, say around 11:30?
Sydney glanced at her watch. It was after ten o’clock. She glimpsed down at her Clarke Atlanta sweatshirt and old jeans with the hole in the knees. The ones that didn’t come that way. They were worn-out. When Stan had called earlier about her car, she’d thrown on the first thing she’d grabbed from the drawer.
I’m not dressed.
Perfect. I like you like that.
Very funny. I meant for lunch, and I’m nowhere near home to change.
I don’t care what you have on. Meet me at Tin Drum at Atlantic Station.
Okay.
She placed her ear protection back on and shot off more rounds. She couldn’t believe she’d said yes to lunch. But they’d never agreed not to speak or hang out anymore. They’d decided no more sex since they got it all out of their systems in Vegas. However, she hadn’t really, she thought as she reloaded and unloaded her gun two more times. Too bad she didn’t drive her motorcycle. A nice long, hard ride was exactly what she needed to get it all out before she saw Bryce and jumped him in the Asian restaurant.
At a few minutes before the appointed time, she walked through the doors of Tin Drum. Her eyes zoomed on him right away speaking with another gentleman who had a take-out bag in his hand. As they stood near the bar Bryce was standing tall and handsome, exuding an essence of power and confidence. There were other businessmen in the place, but none of them had the same charismatic nature as he did. His presence outshone the others, along with his smile, charm and the delicious way his manly physique fit in the suit that more than likely was custom made for him. Her thoughts trailed to the day she’d first seen his bare chest and felt the beating of his heart on her breasts. She’d never experienced such a connection with a man. Her body shivered and her pulse raced from just being in the same room with him. Of course, this was always what happened when she was near him. But it was usually because she was ready to give him her two cents on any given case. Or was it?
His eyes finally caught hers, and he smiled. Wide. Beautiful. Promising. She gulped and barely heard the hostess ask how many would be in her party. Bryce continued to chat with the other man, who, though handsome, wasn’t Bryce. He wasn’t the man she yearned for and who had kept her up last night tossing and turning with images of them making love embedded in her brain.
She followed the hostess to a booth and ordered a glass of water with no ice or lemon for the both of them. Bryce had finally shaken his associate’s hand and moved her way.
He slid into his seat with his briefcase. “Hey. Sorry to keep you waiting. I ran into a friend of mine.”
“No problem. He looks familiar.”
“Broderick Hollingsworth, the real-estate developer and investor.” He opened the menu and perused through it. “He’s looking for a new attorney.”
“Oh, I think I met him at the fund-raiser a few years back for the community center.” Sydney opened her menu to the appetizers. “The one Megan arranged for Steven at Braxton’s restaurant. That’s the night they fell in love. That’s how I remember it for she always says it.”
“I remember that night, as well,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “We argued about a case I’d just won. You called me an ass and stormed away in your sexy stilettos, swishing those curvy hips of yours in a black dress. I remembered thinking if I just kiss her maybe she’d be quiet for once.”
“Why didn’t you?” she asked seriously with a raised eyebrow.
“Because you probably would’ve slapped me.” He closed the menu and pushed it to the end of the table.
She laughed. “You’re probably right.”
After they ordered their food, Bryce opened his briefcase and took out a few books, handing them to Syd.
“These are some of the up-to-date books to help you study for the Georgia bar. And there’s some information that I’ll email you about classes and workshops you can take, as well, to help you prepare.”
Sydney turned the pages of the book on top and became a little overwhelmed with all of it. She closed it, and set the books on the booth seat next to her purse. She groaned in her head. She’d woken up that morning ready to go back to work but then remembered she was on vacation for another three weeks. While she looked forward to the rest of her break, she wasn’t sure anymore if she really wanted to study for the bar.
“Thank you. I’ll look over all of it.”
“Megan called earlier inviting me to your birthday dinner this Saturday. She said it was your idea,” he mused with a cocky smile.
“I told her I’d behave. She didn’t want you and me arguing on our birthday.”
He nodded his head, stroking his goatee. The waitress dropped off their lunch along with a glass of juice for Bryce. He waited to respond until after the waitress left. Scooting his pad thai out of the way, he leaned in toward her. His eyes turned jet-black, holding her in a smoldering gaze.
“What if I don’t want you to behave?”
She lowered her eyes as she tried to muffle a smile and twirled a noodle around on her fork. “We agreed that ended in Vegas.” Even though now she was having second thoughts as she crossed and uncrossed her legs to ward off the tingling that arose just from his tempting stare.
“You know our families are going to find it weird that we aren’t bickering, and we get along just fine now. What do you think we should do?”
“I honestly hadn’t thought about it. It’s not like we see each other except at family events and that’s only, like, three or four times a year. We’ll just keep it cordial.”
He slid his plate back over and began eating. “Okay. Unfortunately, I can’t stay too long, but I wanted to give you the material for the exam and to see your beautiful face.”
“Bryce...” She couldn’t believe she was actual
ly blushing. She was sure of it since her cheeks were burning. She took a sip of her water to cool herself down.
“Just telling the truth. You do look in the mirror every day. Right?”
“Eat your food and stop drooling,” she teased.
They continued the rest of their lunch, discussing his plans for the practice. Before long he had to run to a meeting with his accountant and left.
Sydney stayed to do some shopping since she was in Atlantic Station, an outdoor mall in the heart of midtown Atlanta. She rarely shopped for clothes unless she needed something in particular, and she decided to buy a new dress for her birthday dinner. She became increasingly frustrated with herself when she kept trying on things and deciding against them because she didn’t think Bryce would like it. Who cares what he likes, she thought before settling on a peach dress with a flared skirt that ended right above her knees. It was fun, flirty and sexy, and for a moment she thought she was Megan when she looked in the mirror. She took it off and tried on another dress that was similar with a wraparound straight skirt and in the same color. Much better, she thought. They were identical in looks but not in style of dress. She put the other dress back on and took a picture for her sister and texted it to her.
Syd bought both dresses plus a few more things she needed. Her cell phone beeped in her purse twenty minutes later. It was Megan.
Love it! Please, pretty please get it for me. I can wear it Saturday.
Already bought it. Will drop off at your office since I’m near.
Thank you, sissy!
On the way home, Sydney thought about her dilemma with her career. Since being away from work, she didn’t miss it because she needed the break to be able to clear her mind and think. Bryce had suggested she do some soul-searching while on vacation. However, now she had two things to think about, the other being Bryce. Her life was so much easier and simpler before she wound up in the hospital. Sure, she was exhausted at times, but a lot of that she brought on herself because she was the one who chose to work around the clock. Not Mumford. He was always the one telling her to go home and rest, but she never saw the point of going home because no one was there. She lived alone, and besides hanging out with her family and friends and the occasional date, work was her life.