by Anna Sugden
“Then why the brush-off?”
“Uh, I’m not sure what you mean.” She looked confused. “I’m busy for the next month and will be traveling a lot. This is me. This is what I do. What did you expect?”
“A little more enthusiasm for seeing me again.” Crap. He sounded like a whiny adolescent. “I thought we had something more than a roll in the hay.”
Her eyes widened. “Trust me, you wouldn’t have lasted more than a few hours if it hadn’t been exceptional. I never allow men to stay the night, let alone a whole weekend.”
He threw up his arms in frustration. He was clearly missing something. “Then what’s with the ‘so long and don’t let the door hit your backside on your way out’ attitude?”
“Instead of what—a teary goodbye? We’re not ‘going steady.’”
Her use of air quotes really chapped his ass. “No, but I didn’t expect to be treated like a gigolo either.”
“I didn’t leave a tip on the bedside table.”
“Good to know I’m a cheap date.” He took some bills out of his pocket and laid them on her case. “My share of the room-service tab.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” She gathered the money and held it out to him.
He arched an eyebrow at her. “Just want to be sure you got your money’s worth.”
Sapphie tossed the money on the bed and sighed. “I don’t know how this got out of hand,” she said quietly. “I didn’t mean to offend you by being honest about the future. I’m sorry if you thought otherwise, but at no point did I suggest this was anything more than a fun time shared by two consenting adults.”
Her earnest apology made him feel like a petulant jerk.
She continued, “Aside from the fact that I don’t have the working life to date anyone seriously, I’m not interested in a relationship or getting married. I don’t have to answer to anyone and I do as I please, without feeling guilty.”
“I’m sorry, too. I didn’t mean to be a jackass. I don’t know why I’m ticked. I’m not looking for a steady relationship right now either.” He gave her a chagrined smile. “I told you I didn’t know the etiquette for sleeping with someone these days. I guess I expected...more than this.” He waved a hand to encompass the room.
Sapphie touched his arm. “You’re a great guy and this was fabulous. But that doesn’t change a thing. I’d be happy to see you when I’m in town. But if you can’t go with the flow and accept how it will be, then there’s no point in us getting together again.”
He wanted to tell her he could handle things this way—especially for another weekend like the one they’d just spent. But he’d be lying to himself, as well as her. He might not know what he wanted from dating, or whatever the hell this situation was called, but he knew he wanted to be more than an itch to be scratched whenever she was in town. However much fun that might be.
Still, he hesitated. Maybe over time he could convince her to change her mind.
No. He cut off that idea ruthlessly. He wouldn’t make the mistake of being led into something he didn’t want because of great sex again. Better to make a clean break. Pull off the bandage and take the hit.
Scott shoved his fingers through his hair. “Then I guess this is goodbye.”
Disappointment flashed in her blue eyes, making him want to snatch back his words. But he held firm.
She nodded once. “Your breakfast will be getting cold.”
“Can’t let good food go to waste.” He leaned down and pressed a hot, hard kiss to her lips, stealing one last taste. Then he turned and sauntered to the balcony. “Safe travels.”
He lifted one of the covers and breathed in the smell of bacon, hoping to replace her scent, which lingered in his nostrils. It didn’t work.
“Thanks. Good luck, Scotty.”
He didn’t watch her leave, choosing instead to focus on pouring maple syrup on a stack of pancakes.
When the door snicked shut, he set down the bottle and slumped onto a chair.
Scott sat for a long time, wondering how something so wonderful had gone so wrong. When he finally shook off the introspective mood, his stomach turned at the sight of the congealing breakfast. Like the arena horn sounding the end of a game, it signaled the end of the weekend.
Time to move on. Tomorrow was another day...and all the other crap he’d cited to himself after tough losses.
He rose, grabbed his jacket and, with one final look around the room, strode out the door.
* * *
“SO WHO WAS the lucky guy and did you have a fabulous time?”
Sapphie hesitated before answering Issy’s question. She wasn’t sure what to say about the weekend with Scotty—especially the awkward, unsatisfactory way it had ended—and she knew her best friend wouldn’t settle for anything glib.
Thankfully, the waitress in the airline’s first-class lounge stopped to ask if Sapphie would like anything to eat.
“Hold on a sec, Issy.” She smiled at the waitress. “I’d love a club sandwich and a glass of Pinot Grigio. Thank you.” She returned to the phone conversation. “Sorry, but I’ve been on the go since Marty called this morning and this is the first chance I’ve had to eat something other than an in-flight packet of pretzels.”
“No wonder you stay slim,” Issy said. “I’d have gnawed the seat in front of me.”
“Trust me, you wouldn’t have if you’d seen the man in that seat. He was the epitome of an aging lothario, from his coiffed hair to his shiny suit and patent shoes, with lifts. Not to mention the eye-watering cologne.”
“Eww. Even your description of him is enough to put me off my food.”
Sapphie laughed. “This life isn’t as glamorous as you think.”
“You sat a couple of seats away from Aidan Turner last month.”
“And he was very charming.”
“Speaking of charming, you never said who whisked you away from the reception. I know it wasn’t Taylor. He left early, too, but he was alone.”
“What happened? He sent a text saying the night was a disaster, but I haven’t had the chance to catch up with him.” After arriving from New Jersey, she’d rushed to her apartment in Chicago to switch suitcases before heading back to O’Hare for her flight to LA.
“From what I understand, there was some macho male posturing between Taylor and Lizzie’s date, which turned into shoving. One of them knocked into a waiter carrying a tray of drinks—which the date ended up wearing.”
Sapphie winced. “Poor Mad Dog.” That hadn’t worked out quite as he’d planned.
“Lizzie was embarrassed and gave him a piece of her mind. He stormed out of the party. You missed all the fun. But then, I’m guessing you were having your own fun.”
She might as well tell her, before Issy applied the thumbscrews. “I was.” Sapphie paused, then said in a rush, “With Scotty Matthews.”
There was a moment of stunned silence. “As in the recently retired Ice Cats captain?”
“The very same.”
Issy giggled. “If I wasn’t a happily married woman, I’d be so jealous. That’s even better than your Aidan Turner story. Scotty Matthews is totally and utterly H-O-T.”
Sapphie rolled her eyes. “I don’t think my goddaughter is old enough to understand hot, let alone in that context.”
“I’m not so sure. The way she batted her eyelashes at all the Ice Cats at our reception has J.B. threatening to lock her up until she’s fifty.”
“To protect her from guys like him. Or rather, how he used to be.” The hotshot hockey star had been a real ladies’ man before he’d fallen in love with Issy. “No wonder he’s concerned. She’s inherited his charm, as well as his good looks.”
“Excuse me. Her good looks came from my side of the family.”
“Of course they did.”
“Speaking of gorgeous, Scotty has that whole handsome, brooding, hidden-depths thing going on. I bet he’s intense in bed.”
Desire tugged deep in her belly. “He’s very...focused. Single-minded.”
“Ooh, that’s a delicious thought.”
The memory was making Sapphie’s body hum with need. She tamped it down, then changed the subject. “Anyway, Marty wants me in LA for a meeting. Apparently, something big is going down. If it’s another acquisition, it could result in a major new contract.”
“That’s great. I’m so proud of you. We’ll have to celebrate when you’re next in Jersey.” Issy paused. “But what aren’t you telling me about Scotty?”
Damn it. Sapphie should have known Issy wouldn’t let the subject drop so easily. “Nothing.”
“Uh-huh. What’s the opposite of ‘the lady doth protest too much’? You’re not normally so close lipped about your dates. Did he turn into a jerk when the weekend was over?”
“Of course not.” Sapphie couldn’t blame Scotty for how he’d reacted. She’d gone about the goodbye all wrong.
It hadn’t been deliberate. She’d been swimming in unfamiliar waters and gotten scared. Instead of being cool, calm and collected, she’d blustered her way through it. And screwed up royally.
It had started going belly-up when she’d awoken, wrapped in Scotty’s arms—his body curved around hers, her butt cradled in his groin, their legs entwined and his hand cupping her breast. The heat from his bare skin had seared the length of her body. And she’d loved it. She’d snuggled closer and savored the sensation of being cocooned with him.
Until she’d panicked. Because she’d loved it. Because she hadn’t pulled away, as she would normally have done.
Sapphie wasn’t a cuddler in bed. Sex was one thing, but sleep required space. Which was why either she left or she asked her partner to. Perhaps her habit was a leftover from sharing a bed with her sister, Emerald, for years until she’d figured out a better situation—a discarded bunk bed that she’d rescued from the side of the road and repainted. Since leaving home, she’d always had her own space and guarded it ruthlessly. Any invasion of that space was by invitation and never permanent.
The realization that Scotty had made her react differently had set off alarm bells. And the downward spiral had begun. She hated that instead of exiting gracefully, she’d blown it all up.
But she didn’t want to explain that to Issy. At least, not right now. “I can’t tell you anything more. I’m in an airline lounge, surrounded by business travelers.”
“Hmm.” Issy clearly wasn’t fooled by her excuse. “Tell me one thing—are you okay?”
Sapphie cursed the hesitation before she answered. “I’m fine.” She added hurriedly, “Just got a lot on my mind, preparing for tomorrow.”
“Are you planning to see each other again?” Concern edged Issy’s tone.
“I thought you said one thing.” Sapphie’s light laugh sounded forced.
“It’s a clarification.”
She sighed. “No. The weekend with Scotty was a one-and-done.”
“For both of you?”
Another damn hesitation. “Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“That’s the way it goes sometimes.” She cleared her throat to mask the sudden tightness. Thankfully, the attendant brought her dinner. “I should go. My food has arrived and I need to eat before they call my flight.”
“All right. But you know where I am, if you need to talk.”
“Thanks.” She couldn’t bring herself to say there was nothing to talk about. “Kiss my goddaughter good-night.”
Once she’d hung up, Sapphie ate and went over the weekend with Scotty. Even though it was for the best, she couldn’t help wishing that their goodbye hadn’t been so fraught. So final.
The problem was that they were bound to see each other again. It was almost impossible for their paths not to cross, given their mutual friends and her season ticket for the Ice Cats. It was hard to imagine bumping into him and not being able to spend time with him again. Maybe they could...
Sapphie cut herself off. Scotty had made it clear that he didn’t do casual, and she didn’t want anything else. So why was she tempted to break her own rules for him?
What was it about Scotty that turned everything upside down for her?
The announcement that her flight was boarding was almost a relief. Sapphie gathered her belongings and headed out of the lounge toward the departure gate at a brisk pace. She was able to get on the plane and into her assigned seat right away.
Though she worked on the flight, during the limo ride to her building and for an hour when she arrived at her apartment, Scotty hovered in the back of her mind. She gave up trying to read documents, because she wasn’t able to concentrate enough to take in the information. Instead, she wrote and planned. Presentations, emails, anything to keep her brain active and on task.
Anything she could do without being affected by thoughts of the weekend and Scotty.
Sapphie hoped that exhaustion would lead to a deep, dreamless sleep. No such luck. Steamy, erotic dreams took over the minute her eyes closed. Frustrating dreams that ended with her jolting awake before she reached completion. That left her drenched with sweat, aching with need and desperate for relief. Restless, she tossed and turned until her sheets were a twisted mess.
She was awake before her alarm the following morning and had to press an icy washcloth to her eyes to soothe the puffy results of her disturbed night. After a long, pounding shower, artfully applied makeup and her favorite shoes, she finally felt ready to face the day’s meeting. She reviewed the latest status of her projects for Marty Antonelli as she wolfed down juice and toast. By the time she headed out the door, briefcase in hand, to the waiting car, she was almost back to normal.
Which was critical; she had to be at her best for Marty. Not just because he was her biggest client, but because he constantly kept her on her toes. He gave the impression of being a genial, bumbling Italian, but he was one of the sharpest businessmen she’d ever met.
The upside of rearranging her schedule for this meeting was that he’d promised this would be worth her while. Given that her current project with the NBA team he owned was now in the implementation stages and required less of her oversight, that likely meant a new project for one of his other businesses.
She wondered which one he wanted her to look at next. His baseball team? His NASCAR team? His movie complexes? All would be interesting challenges. It was a shame he didn’t own a hockey franchise. Now that, she really would enjoy.
Arriving at the Antonelli headquarters, she strode through the lobby toward the elevators, greeting the security guards. On the executive floor the receptionist told her that the meeting was in the boardroom and gave her a heads-up that it was a full house.
“Any clues as to what’s going on, Sally?”
The elegant redhead shook her head but said in a lowered voice, “The lawyers were here working with Mr. Antonelli over the weekend. Jenna was also here, but you know she’d cut out her own tongue before saying anything.”
Marty’s secretary was notoriously protective of her boss’s business.
Sally continued, “I’ve been asked to get A-1 fueled and ready for Thursday. The flight plan is for Teterboro, via Chicago to pick you up. Mr. Antonelli wants the whole team to arrive on the corporate jet.”
“I wonder why he’s flying to New Jersey when he was in New York a week ago.”
“I guess all will be revealed shortly.” Sally smiled. “I got some of your favorite pastries, so don’t let the vultures in the boardroom grab them all.”
“Thank you.” Sapphie waggled her fingers. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
Entering the packed boardroom, she noted that all the department directors were seated al
ongside the legal team. There was definitely about to be a major announcement. Excitement bubbled through her.
Marty bounded over, his dark eyes alight with excitement. “Ah, good, you’re here, Bella Sapphire. Before I forget, Gloria said to tell you that you’re to come to dinner tonight. No excuses or I’ll be in big trouble.”
Sapphie smiled. He might act as if Gloria was a scary harridan, but Sapphie knew better. His sweet, diminutive wife adored him. And while he might be a ruthless Rottweiler in business, Marty was like a spaniel puppy when it came to Gloria. “I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble. Besides, it’ll be lovely to see her again and catch up.”
“Excellent. I’ll let her know. Now, grab a coffee and we can get started.”
She’d barely settled in her chair, midway down the long mahogany table, when Marty took center stage in front of the enormous plasma screen showing his corporate logo. The room quieted instantly.
Rocking on his feet, he brought up his first slide. “We’ve had a successful year. Our current portfolio is strong, profitable and growing ahead of market projections. It would have been nice to have done better in the NBA play-offs, but we made it to the party for the first time in five years.”
Around the table, everyone smiled and nodded. As Marty went on to praise the management team, highlighting the roles key departments had played—which included a generous acknowledgment of Sapphie’s work—a sense of anticipation built.
He didn’t keep them in suspense too long. “I’m not one to rest on my laurels and I’m always seeking new opportunities. I like to acquire businesses where I see great synergy, as well as potential for growth and improved profitability. I also kinda like sports.”
Everyone laughed on cue; Marty’s desire to own a full complement of sports franchises—major and minor—was well-known.
“So, I’m pleased to tell you that on Friday we will be in New Jersey announcing to the media that I have bought the Ice Cats. Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a hockey team. And not just any team, but the current Stanley Cup champions.” Marty rubbed his hands together. “This is going to be fun.”
