by Candace Shaw
“I just want you to rest and eat properly,” Megan said, squeezing her hand. “Whatever makes you happy I’m all for it.”
“Awww...sissy.” They stopped in the middle of the mall and gave each other a hug. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.” Megan pursed her lips together and slid her finger under Sydney’s Pandora bracelet that she’d forgotten to take off. “I still think there’s something you’re not telling me, but I won’t press the issue until you’re ready to discuss it.”
“Thank you. I sincerely appreciate that,” she said. Sydney knew that Megan knew that she would’ve never bought the bracelet for herself.
She figured one day she would have to confide in her sister but not until she knew for certain what she and Bryce had was real.
* * *
Later on that evening, Sydney was hungry again, considering she only had a salad she had barely touched. She ventured out to The Iberian Pig, a Spanish and tapas restaurant in downtown Decatur that was a few blocks from her house. She had a craving for their braised veal ravioli and grilled pork tenderloins with Swiss chard.
She’d hoped to talk to Bryce just to hear his voice in her ear when she’d left the mall earlier, but he’d sent a text saying he was in meeting and had another one that evening. However, he said he’d call after his last meeting.
Sydney parallel parked her car across the street from the restaurant. She grabbed her purse from the passenger seat and rummaged around, looking for her cell phone. At first, she was going to eat at the restaurant. No big deal. She ate alone often. She wasn’t one of those women who had to have a date or group of friends in order to eat out. But she decided to take her food to go as she fished around for her cell phone. She figured she’d just order and then pick it up inside. It shouldn’t take longer than thirty minutes. In the meantime, she could walk around downtown. She had a lot on her mind that she needed to sort through and the cool March air would do her brain some good.
Megan’s story about Bryce possibly still being in love with his ex didn’t sit well with her even though they weren’t in an official committed relationship. They were just friends with benefits, even though it didn’t feel like it with him. She’d had relationships like that before, and that’s all they were. But he made her feel real emotions that she hadn’t experienced with any man. Not even her ex, who she had thought she was in love with. No, this was different. She’d fallen for the man who at one point she’d despised. Now she knew what a wonderful, caring person he was. He was kind-hearted, warm and giving. Yet Megan’s words kept playing in her head, and she wanted to casually ask her again was she sure about his ex Linda. However, because no one knew about them, she couldn’t. Megan would’ve found it odd that she would ask anything about Bryce. Plus, until she knew were they stood, she wasn’t going to get carried away. Sydney was the logical, practical one. She always thought things through before making any rash decisions, especially with men. Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a Mercedes that looked like Bryce’s pulling up to a parking spot in front of the restaurant.
Her heart beat sped up when Bryce emerged, wearing a dashing smile, and walked around to the passenger side of the car. She slid down in her seat and glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It was seven o’clock on the dot. The time he mentioned for his business dinner. Okay, he’s just grabbing his briefcase. Darn it. Where are my binoculars when I need them? No big deal and I did tell him The Iberian Pig had excellent food. Her heart stopped and then sank when he opened the door and a lady emerged. It was Stephanie, Megan’s old friend from college.
Sydney pressed the button for the window and let it down a few inches so she could hear the conversation, but the cars passing by stopped any words from floating her way.
Stephanie placed her hand on Bryce’s shoulder as she giggled about something he’d said. Was it that funny? Probably not. Syd had never cared for her in college because she was a big flirtatious tease, especially with the boys who came from privileged families. Now she had found the big prize. A Monroe man. They entered the restaurant laughing like two old friends as he held the door open for her, and she strolled in with a slight swish of the hips and a sexy glance over her shoulder.
Sydney didn’t know what to think. She couldn’t be mad because they’d never said they were in a relationship. They were supposed to end their tryst in Vegas, but that didn’t happen. Now it would. She turned the ignition and headed home. Her stomach no longer felt empty. Now her heart was, but she couldn’t be mad at him. She could only be mad at herself for thinking they had something more.
* * *
“Thank you again for picking me up,” Stephanie said, getting out of Bryce’s car in front of her apartment near Stone Mountain. He closed the door and walked with her to the edge of the sidewalk.
He pulled his coat to him. It was a chilly evening, but he knew where he would be warm and was itching to get there. “No problem. I’m glad I was able to pick you up on the way instead of you taking a cab or something.”
“Well, the tow truck guy did offer to drop me off at the restaurant so I wouldn’t miss my interview. I can’t believe my starter just gave out.” She extended her right hand, and he shook it firmly. “Thank you so much for the opportunity, Mr. Monroe.”
“You’re welcome,” he said in the same professional tone he’d used all evening. “I have a few more candidates to interview for the position, but I’ll have my assistant call you either way.”
“No problem, and if you don’t hire me—” she paused and stepped into his personal space, which he hated “—then we can always go on that date that Megan suggested.”
He cleared his throat and stepped back. “Well, as flattering as that is, I’m seeing someone.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.
She seemed taken aback and pursed her lips as if he was lying. “Interesting. Megan said you weren’t.”
“My sister-in-law doesn’t need to know all of my business, but I am seeing someone.” He had been thinking about Sydney all day, which was why he had selected a restaurant so close to her house. He was supposed to swing by after dinner, not drive to Stone Mountain. But he was a gentleman, and Stephanie was a friend of Megan’s.
She smiled, tearing her eyes away from him. “Oh...well, this is awkward. I had an offer with Miles and Morris earlier today. I think I’ll tell them yes in the morning. You don’t need to have your assistant call me, either way.”
He nodded. “It was a pleasure meeting you. Good luck with Miles and Morris. I’ll see you in court, Counselor.”
“You, too.”
Bryce watched her walk up the sidewalk to her apartment before getting in his car and driving off back in the direction he’d just come. He breathed out a long sigh, glad the interview was over with. All Stephanie did was causally flirt and bat her long, fake eyelashes the entire time. He was simply doing a favor for Megan, hoping that her friend would be professional. However, with her experience and law background, she wouldn’t have been a good fit for his practice. Turning onto interstate, he was relieved Stephanie decided to take a job offer somewhere else.
The drive to his original destination after the interview was less than twenty minutes now that rush hour traffic had ended. He pushed a button to let all four windows down to allow in some fresh air and push out Stephanie’s perfume. It was too loud, like her makeup. He preferred Sydney’s soft ambrosia scent and less-is-more approach to wearing makeup. He let the windows up and was glad the overkill smell was gone.
“Call Sydney,” he said to his car’s hands-free system.
Her phone rang through his speakers as he neared the interstate junction that would take him to her home.
“Hello?” she answered in a curt tone.
“Hey, Syd. I’m done with my meeting. I’m not far from you. Is it okay that I stop by?”
“No, not tonight,” she an
swered in a cool, even tone.
“Are you all right? You don’t sound well.”
“I’m fine. I just don’t think you should come over tonight or any other night.”
“What?” He clenched his jaw and had to slow down a bit.
“You heard me. I think it’s best that we stop sleeping together. It’s not going anywhere, and there’s no need to waste each other’s time.”
“Syd, I wasn’t wasting my time with you. I like you. A lot,” he said sincerely.
“I’m sure you do for sex purposes. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed our time together. I needed an outlet. Plus, it’s been a while since I’ve had sex, and you definitely put out the drought. However, we can’t continue like this, and I think it’s best to stop before one of us gets too caught up. Besides, we’re single. We may meet someone and end up really liking that person and want to go out with him or her. You know, someone to laugh at your corny jokes. Can’t be in a friends-with-benefits kinda relationship, or at least I can’t. I’m not that type of woman. So it’s best to end this now.”
“Sydney, I’m not seeing anyone but you.”
“Mmm...maybe not yet, but you will eventually.”
“I don’t think you understand, babe. I only want to be with you.”
She laughed sarcastically. “Bryce, stop. Just stop. Okay? Don’t dig a hole for yourself.”
As he approached the fork in the road, he knew he had to make a decision. “Syd, how about I drop by, and we can discuss this in person.” He slowed down to wait for her answer.
“Please don’t. I gotta go. Take care.”
The buzzing of the phone remained in his speakers, and he drove like that halfway home until the computerized operator told him to hang up and please place his call again. He pushed the button on the steering wheel to end the call.
He honestly didn’t know what had happened, but it didn’t mean he was going to let her go so easily.
Chapter 13
Syd sat at her desk on her first official day back from her vacation, studying pictures of different crime scenes over the course of three years from possibly the same serial killer. She was looking for similarities in each while waiting for DNA samples to come in, but her thoughts kept shifting to Bryce. It had been over a week since their last conversation after she’d spotted him with Stephanie. He hadn’t called back or shown up, and she was glad he hadn’t. He’d become her weakness. To see Bryce would be to crave him, which was why she hadn’t wanted him to come over that evening. She knew he’d play attorney, giving her evidence A through Z on why they should continue whatever it was they were doing.
A tap on her ajar door pulled her from thoughts of being in the warmth of Bryce’s arms again. She immediately pushed her thoughts aside when she saw Mumford standing there with his glasses on his nose and his blue eyes peering over them.
“Chase, welcome back. I’m surprised you weren’t here at seven o’clock this morning.”
“Nope, I’ve decided since my schedule says nine to five. I’m going to try my best to follow that unless it’s a drastic situation.”
He strode in with his coffee and sat in the chair in front of her desk, nodding his head. “Vacation finally opened your eyes that you needed to relax, huh?”
She took her reading glasses off. “Yep.”
“You had fun?”
She thought about all the fun she’d had, mostly with Bryce. “I’ll say. I had a blast but now it’s time to get back to reality and my life as I know it—without the extra hours at work, of course.”
“Good. You know you have two more weeks saved up.”
“I know. I’ll take one this summer and one in the fall or winter.” She’d already started making plans for a five-day Caribbean cruise for that summer.
“Great.” He rose and checked his watch. “Debriefing in thirty minutes.”
“I’ll be there. Oh, and I brought some fresh fruit. It’s in the break room.”
He stopped and turned back around. “So you’re the one who brought the fresh fruit? Hmm...well, I did have an apple even though I was looking for a doughnut.”
“Well, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
“Yep, and so does the baby aspirin I take once a day, but I’ll add the apple just for you, Syd.”
“Thank you, old man,” she said with a sincere smile.
“Great to have you back. See you in a few,” he said, closing her door all the way shut as her cell phone rang.
Pushing aside the gory files on her desk, Syd grabbed her phone and saw her sister’s face on the screen.
“Hey.”
“Hello, Syd. I wanted to make sure you were still coming to Savannah this weekend for the ribbon cutting of the Claire Monroe Community Center.”
Sydney had forgotten all about that. She’d agreed to go but that was before she’d ended her affair with Bryce. She wasn’t ready to see him so soon yet. She thought by the time the summer rolled around with family cookouts and other events she’d be long over him.
“Oh...thank you for the reminder.” But how can I get out of this?
“Remember to stop by Tiffani’s house to bring the cupcakes since she isn’t able to make it. What time are you leaving again on Saturday morning?”
Guess I’m going. “After I pick up the cupcakes.”
“Perfect. Thank you so much for doing this for me. I’ll be flying in from Destin, Florida, late Friday night. We’re decorating a beach house for the summer edition for the show.”
“No problem, sis. So who all’s coming to the ribbon cutting and the cocktail party at the Monroe family home?” The Monroe family home was where the Monroe children grew up until they’d moved to Atlanta. The house—located in the historical district of Savannah—was now owned by Bryce and Steven.
“Let’s see. You. Me and Steven. His parents. Some business associates. Honestly, no one we really know, so you can keep me company. Oh, and I’m making sure your favorite room that faces the park with the Jack and Jill bathroom is ready, but you don’t have to share it with anyone since Tiffani isn’t coming. His parents have the master on the main since his father sprained his ankle playing golf. Steven and I are in the in-law suite upstairs.”
“What about Bryce?”
“He’s not attending even though he did donate half the money for it, but he just told me a few minutes ago he couldn’t make it. Work-related things with the new practice opening soon and what not. Plus, Bryce doesn’t like being in the limelight. He just wants the children to have a safe place to go after school and during the summer.”
Syd exhaled and swirled her chair around. “How nice.” Yes, how nice indeed.
“Oh...and wear that straight black dress with the spaghetti straps. You know, the one you wore to my engagement party.”
“Megan...”
“It’s an after-five affair. The men will be in tuxedos.”
“Oh. Just checking. No more blind dates!” she warned.
“Now you know how I felt,” Megan said teasingly.
They said their goodbyes, and Sydney headed off to her debriefing, glad that Bryce wouldn’t be at the ribbon cutting this weekend even though a part of her was sort of disappointed. However, she was just having withdrawals and in time she’d be fine. She couldn’t believe that at one point she’d actually thought she’d fallen in love with Bryce. The idea was totally absurd.
* * *
Saturday morning, Sydney headed to the Steven R. Monroe Community Center in Atlanta to pick up the cupcakes from Tiffani. The last place she wanted to meet her was there, but Syd had overslept and Tiffani needed to be at the center by 7:45 a.m. to set up for the tutorial workshop. The cupcakes were already packed, so all she had to do was transfer them from Tiffani’s backseat to hers and be on her way without running in
to Bryce.
When Syd pulled up, she parked next to her cousin’s car and sent a short text for Tiffani to come outside with the keys. Syd got out and leaned on her car. She saw Bryce’s motorcycle—the one they’d made love on—parked right outside the door. She sighed as she remembered that day. He’d held her and looked at her as if she was the only girl in the world for him, but she knew that wasn’t the case, and she was fine with that. At least that’s what she told herself. Last night, she’d barely slept thanks to him showing up in her dreams and taking her on a late-night motorcycle rendezvous and making love in front of the fireplace with rose petals scattered about.
Her eyes and thoughts shifted as the double doors of the center opened. Her breathing became unhinged as Bryce strolled out with Tiffani’s keys. He was ruggedly handsome in a pair of khakis and a black golf shirt that showcased his muscular arms. Arms she missed being snuggled in. His goatee was neatly trimmed around his yummy lips. Lips she yearned to feel on every inch of her skin just one more time.
“Good morning,” he said in his deep baritone voice, pressing the remote twice to unlock the back door of Tiffani’s Honda. “Push the driver seat down so I can slide the cooler on your backseat.”
“Okay,” she answered quietly, doing as he asked and stepping out of the way so he could place the container in her car.
He pushed the seat back and held her door open. “So you’re going to the ribbon cutting of the new center in Savannah, huh?”
“Yes, and I’m running late,” she answered, getting into the car and trying her best not to make eye contact with him. His smoldering gaze was on her, and every part of her being wanted and needed to kiss him. “So I may miss that depending on traffic, but I’ll be at the cocktail party tonight at the Monroe family home.” She started her Mustang but couldn’t close the door because he was holding on to it. She caught a glimpse of herself in the rearview mirror. She was still wearing her hair wrap. How freakin wonderful! If I’m going to see him, I should at least look incredible and not like I just rolled out of bed. Which I just did in his darn sweat-pants. Great. Just great!