by T. L. Haddix
Sydney swallowed hard, closing her eyes. It was bad enough to be stuck in a bathroom stall, listening to women talk who, at least the one, had intimate knowledge of Sawyer. But the pregnancy speculation stung, as did their dissection of her. In light of his confession to being sterile, the mere thought of his child made her ache. Deciding she could wait or find another bathroom, she left the stall and the room, heading back to where she’d parted from Sawyer and Lee.
“At least I know now why they’re so eager to chase him down. His reputation precedes him.”
She also had something of an answer to her doubts about Sawyer’s willingness to have one-night stands. Presumably that’s what had happened with the woman in the bathroom. Despite Lee’s words to the contrary, casual sex was on Sawyer’s menu.
“It’s none of your business,” she told herself as she wound her way through the crowd. “He’s single. You shouldn’t be offended by his sexuality.”
But she was, at least a little. Not so much because he’d indulged in apparently knock-your-socks-off sex with the unknown woman, but—if she was being honest—because she knew she’d never get to experience the same for herself.
That evening, she didn’t think twice about choosing the sexiest outfit in her arsenal to wear to dinner. She donned it with a battle-ready mindset. A one-shoulder, cleavage-baring ruched red dress that clung like a lover’s breath to her curves, the garment was made from slinky fabric that allowed her to wear only the subtlest of lingerie beneath. The hem ended halfway down her thighs, ensuring that she had to be very careful how she moved in order to keep from revealing more than she wanted. Lace-topped thigh highs barely covered by the dress’s hem, three-inch heels, dangling gold-hoop earrings, and three sparkling bracelets completed the ensemble.
Instead of the usual subtle makeup she wore for work, she used a heavier hand, going for smoky eyes. Blush highlighted her cheekbones, high arches she’d inherited from her mother and grandmother. And merlot-wine lipstick stained her mouth with a just-kissed look, matching the dress almost exactly. She finished with subtle touches of perfume at various pulse points.
“That should do very nicely,” she told her reflection as she stood back, turning this way and that. The dress dipped down to her mid back, barely concealing the strapless bra she wore. She’d questioned her judgment when she’d packed the outfit but now she was glad she’d included it. Even though the dress wouldn’t do anything to Sawyer, she felt a hundred times sexier wearing it.
She didn’t kid herself into thinking he might see her and fall head over heels into anything, not even lust. But she’d feel powerful tonight, more than a match for Sawyer or his women. He might not end up wanting her after tonight, but by God, there’d be no doubt in the man’s mind that she was a woman. And in the end, she decided, that was what mattered.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
When Sydney came downstairs, ready to go to dinner, the only thing that kept Sawyer from dragging her back up to the nearest bed was Lee’s presence. And from the grin on the other man’s face, he knew it.
“Damn, but you clean up nice, Sydney. Not that you were a slouch to begin with, but damn.” Lee kissed her on the cheek, taking her hand to twirl her around. “Isn’t she gorgeous, Sawyer?”
Sawyer wanted to punch him. Instead, he gave a single nod. “You look very nice.”
Sydney acknowledged the compliment with a regal inclination of her head. “You two don’t look so bad yourselves.”
They were wearing casual sports jackets with dress shirts and pants. Thank God, ties weren’t required for the restaurant their reservations were at.
“We should go,” Sawyer said. He’d been looking forward to the evening, but after seeing the way Sydney looked? He fully expected the next few hours to be an exercise in pure torture, especially considering that they had to pretend to be engaged.
Lee slapped him on the shoulder as he passed by where Sawyer stood on the way to the door. “This is going to be a fun dinner. Sydney, you’ll get to hear all kinds of war stories tonight. Some of them are bound to be good blackmail material.”
“Oh, I already got to hear some this afternoon,” she said, casually twisting the bracelets she wore around on her wrist. “The woman from this morning? Charlene? She and a friend were in the bathroom, and they were expressing their regrets over Sawyer’s being unavailable. Apparently, you left quite an impression one of them three years ago, lover boy.” She breezed past him without a glance, leaving a trail of sultry perfume in her wake.
Lee grimaced at Sawyer as Sydney passed him. “Ouch.”
“Oh, it’s not a big deal. It isn’t like we’re really engaged,” she said as she got in the car. “Though hearing my boss’s prowess in the sack discussed so freely wasn’t something I enjoyed.”
Sawyer could have gone through the floor with shame. The second woman would be Monique, then. They’d flirted casually at several of the conventions, and in a moment of weakness, he’d taken her up on her offer. That had been the last time he’d had a one-night stand, and if he could go back and undo it to spare Sydney the embarrassment of hearing the conversation, he would have. He hated men who bragged about their bedroom conquests, and he’d always taken care to keep his professional life and personal life separate. He’d never expected something like this to happen.
Lee made a concerted effort to break the tension in the car as they drove down the hill. Sawyer was glad—he was too rattled to add much to the conversation. He mostly stayed quiet and let Lee and Sydney talk.
“So who all are we meeting?” Sydney asked as they reached the restaurant’s parking lot.
“My old captain, Gene from this morning, a couple of other people probably. All in all, maybe ten? Twelve people?” Sawyer cringed as he realized Monique or Charlene might be some of those other people. He hadn’t thought to ask Gene who was coming, and the women had hung out with their group in the past.
Lee’s smile was tense as he helped Sydney out of the car, and he shot Sawyer a look over her shoulder. He shrugged as though to ask what to do, and Sawyer gave a subtle shake of his head in response. He didn’t have a clue.
“I’ll head on in and see if our table’s ready,” Lee said as Sawyer came around the car.
Sawyer held his arm out, and after a brief hesitation, Sydney walked to his side.
“I’m sorry,” he told her in a low voice. “If I’d had any idea… I’m sorry.”
She studied him closely, evaluating him with a wariness he’d not seen from her before. “You don’t have a thing to apologize for. Your sex life is none of my business.”
He wanted to protest that it was her business, but she was right. As much as he was drawn to her, for all intents and purposes, they were just co-workers and very casual friends. And unless he wanted to make a formal offer to change that, he had to grin and bear the fallout from what she’d heard.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Sydney could tell by the tension in Sawyer’s body as they approached the group at the table that there was someone there he’d not wanted to see. Her money was on the attractive blonde whose eyes were shooting virtual daggers in her direction.
“Monique or Laurie?” she asked Sawyer under her breath, touching his chest while she spoke as though she were imparting a secret.
“Monique.”
“Three-year girl?”
His lips compressed as he stared down at her, lost for words. After a second, he shook his head and slid a kiss across her temple. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
She couldn’t help but feel bad for him. He was clearly embarrassed. She touched his chin. “I know.”
They took seats on the outside of the table. There were nine other people in the group, and Sawyer made the introductions all around.
“This is Sydney. She’s… um, we’re engaged.” His arm was around her shoulder, and
his thumb brushed over the bare skin of her arm under the drape of fabric from the dress’s single sleeve.
Sydney moved closer to him in the booth, clasping the hand he’d laid on the table with hers.
Dale Jameson, the man he’d introduced as his former captain, seemed skeptical. “When did this happen?”
“Honestly? On the way down here” she replied. She glanced up at Sawyer, then quickly away with a smile. “I wasn’t expecting the proposal, but we stopped for lunch at a park in London, and he sprung it on me.”
“You’re kin to Rick Browning, am I right?” Jameson asked.
“I am. He’s my mother’s cousin.”
“He never mentioned the two of you were seeing each other.”
“How’d you meet?” Monique asked, no friendlier now than she’d been when they’d first walked up. Her gaze told Sydney she clearly found her lacking.
“Sydney’s my assistant,” Sawyer said. “But I’ve been friends with her family for a long time now.”
Sydney laughed. “I think the first time we met was when I was six years old. Best I recall, I puked all over your shiny dress shoes. And you avoided me for about ten years after that.”
Sawyer squeezed her arm gently, his body relaxing some. “I did. Until she stole her dad’s car and drove halfway across the country when she was fifteen.”
“I didn’t know that,” Lee said. He was beside Sydney in a chair at the table’s corner. “What in the world possessed you?”
“That’s a long story, and not worth getting into tonight.”
“I almost arrested her when she was nineteen,” Sawyer added.
“I was unaware of the laws pertaining to the carrying of concealed weapons,” she protested. “That’s all. I’ve been a good girl ever since.”
“For the most part,” he teased. Between the words and the heated look he gave her, there wasn’t a person at the table who could doubt his meaning.
“Sawyer! Hush!” She covered her face with her hands, laughing softly as she peeked at him between her fingers.
He touched her cheek with the back of his hand, leaving it at that.
By the time dinner was over two hours later, Sydney was strung as tight as a bow. Between the jealous sniping coming at her across the table and Sawyer’s attentiveness, she was ready to run screaming into the night.
From the careful eye Lee was keeping on her, she figured he was aware of her discomfort.
“Sawyer, can I borrow your girl for a dance or two?”
“I guess. If you want to,” Sawyer said to Sydney.
“That’d be nice. I’m not used to sitting for so long.”
Once they were out on the dance floor, she sighed. “Thanks for that. I was about to lose it.”
“I was afraid of that. I could almost see steam coming out of your ears.” He twirled her around absentmindedly. “You’ve done really well tonight. So well that Sawyer might find himself on the wrong side of your dad’s shotgun when you get home.”
She chuckled, truly amused. “I can see it now. And Daddy wouldn’t use a shotgun. He’d use his hands, wrapped around Sawyer’s throat. I guess I should send a text or two and let them know not to believe everything they hear.”
Lee smiled. “I wish it were the truth. The two of you together… you’re something else.”
“You’re building castles in the air, you closet romantic.”
It was his turn to be amused. “Oh, I’m freely out and about with my romanticism. It’s part of my charm.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but why couldn’t we have fallen for each other?” she asked him wistfully. “It would be so easy, so uncomplicated.”
“And so boring. As individuals, you and I are complex human beings. Put us together and we’re quite pedestrian. You and Sawyer, however, you make the room spark. It’s quite sickening, really.” He crossed his eyes and batted his lashes, causing her to burst into laughter. “Oh, that drew us a nasty look. He’ll be over here soon. Better run while we can. Chasing you will be good for him.” And with that, he danced her to the opposite side of the room from where Sawyer was sitting.
The band was quite good, a smooth jazz trio that covered classics as well as modern hits. It was just the kind of place Sydney would have visited when she lived in Savannah.
Once they’d slowed back down to normal speed, she spoke. “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”
“Would it matter if I did? You’re full of curiosity, and I don’t think I could stop you.”
She gave in to temptation and poked him in the shoulder. “Smart ass.”
“Yeah, so? Ask away, madam.”
“You have an odd turn of phrase here and there. I don’t mean that as an insult. I’m just… curious. Where are you from?”
“I was born and raised in Letcher County, Kentucky.”
Sydney peered up at him, not sure she believed him.
He grinned. “My father, however, is British. He teaches—don’t laugh—English at a private school in Knott County.”
“And your mother?”
“World-renowned quilter from Letcher County. They met while she was touring Ireland during summer break from college one year. He followed her here and you can guess the rest.”
“Brothers, sisters?”
“Two older sisters who do their best to make sure I never see a moment’s peace.”
Sydney wasn’t surprised. “I knew you’d have to be the baby.”
He scowled down at her. “What’s that mean?”
“Not a thing. You just have that air about you.”
“You know, I’ve heard that before. And here comes a man who isn’t the baby, unless I miss my guess.”
He turned them so that Sydney could see Sawyer, who was weaving across the floor toward them.
“Green looks good on you,” Lee told him. He kept Sydney in his embrace.
She happily stayed put for no other reason than it seemed to irritate Sawyer.
“Game’s over, kids. We should head out.”
“But we’re having so much fun…” Sydney pouted. When his scowl intensified, she burst out laughing. “Oh, your face.”
Sawyer held out his hand. “Come on.”
Lee released her with a heartfelt sigh. “Well, so much for running away together.”
Ooh, Sawyer really didn’t like that. Sydney wondered what had happened at the table to turn his mood so sour. She took his hand.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine and dandy.” He started back toward the door.
Sydney drew him to a stop, though, when the band started playing “Make You Feel My Love.”
“Dance with a girl once?” she asked, her smile winsome.
For a moment, she thought he was going to refuse. “Sure. Why not?” he capitulated.
“I’ll be in the bar,” Lee said. “Call me if you can’t find me.”
“I thought we were trying to convince people we were engaged,” Sawyer said as they started dancing. “You and Lee looked pretty cozy out here.”
Sydney stared up at him, incredulous, and drew back. “Excuse me? I didn’t sign up to be a sitting target for your damned girlfriend all evening, Sawyer. The more she drank, the worse she got. Lee saw that and got me out of there before I went across the table on her. Don’t you dare snarl at me.”
He pulled her back to him. “Sorry. I’m sorry. You’re right.”
After a few seconds, she relaxed into him. They didn’t speak for the rest of the song, or during the song after that. Sydney was glad. The mood on the dance floor was intimate, heady, and being in Sawyer’s arms… They were tucked as close together as they could get and still dance. With her head on his shoulder, nestled under his chin, she was in heaven and hell.
>
Sensations threatened to overwhelm her. When she felt the press of his lips on her bare shoulder, she gave a quiet gasp. She lifted her head to stare at him. “Who’s watching?” she whispered.
“No one.” His mouth brushed across hers lightly, then came back to settle warmly over hers in a deep, slow kiss.
Currents of electricity shot down her spine, running out in every direction, circling into her breasts and between her legs. Her hands curled into the fabric of his coat, clinging tightly as he drew back and pressed his forehead to hers.
“We should go find Lee. It’s getting late.” His voice was rough, full of emotion.
Sydney carefully uncurled her fingers, smoothing down the cotton where she’d wrinkled it. “Probably.” But she didn’t move.
Neither did he.
“He’ll be looking for us,” she whispered.
“Yeah. Damn it.” Sawyer shook himself. He stepped back and drew in a breath. “It’s probably a good thing he’s with us tonight. Don’t you think?”
“I suppose it depends on your perspective,” she answered softly. “From the common sense side of things? Yes. From the risk-taking daredevil side? Not in the least.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.” He touched her cheek. “Let’s go.”
Instead of pulling away from her as she’d expected, he kept her hand closely in his as they went to the bar and got Lee. And the whole drive back up the hill, they held hands in the front seat, out of sight.
When they got back to the cabin, she grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. “I think I’m going to turn in,” she said. “It’s been a long day and I’m tired. What time are we leaving in the morning?”
“Seven thirty or eight,” Sawyer said.
“Okay. See you both then. Goodnight.”
“Night,” they chorused.