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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 alongside 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.”
There was a moment of shocked silence as the news sank in. Then the room erupted with applause and chatter.
Sapphie was stunned. Although he’d asked her to assess the viability of owning one of the NHL’s expansion teams versus acquiring an existing franchise, the Ice Cats hadn’t been mentioned—other than as a pipe dream. Marty had grown up supporting the Ice Cats, but as far as she’d known, they weren’t for sale.
Sure, there had been rumors of the Scartelli brothers’ financial trouble following some unwise investments, but they’d always managed to brush the speculation aside. Obviously, their most recent highly publicized refinancing deal wasn’t as sound as they’d led everyone to believe.
Marty waved his hands, silencing the room. “I’m glad you’re as enthusiastic about this new venture as I am, but we have a lot to do before we leave on Thursday. So let’s get down to the nuts and bolts.”
For the next couple hours, he and his vice president of business development took them through the acquisition. What soon became clear was that although the franchise was highly successful on the ice, it wasn’t making nearly enough money. Its profitability had declined considerably during the Scartellis’ ownership, driven largely by the brothers’ whims. Splashy promotional initiatives with poor returns, which at the time Sapphie, as a fan, had thought were unwise, had left the business in a weak financial condition.
The Scartelli brothers, realizing they were in trouble and unwilling to let the National Hockey League take over the team, had approached Marty, who’d been only too willing to buy his favorite team—for a knockdown price, naturally.
When they finally broke for lunch, Sapphie approached Marty. “Congratulations. That’s one heck of a move.”
“I told you this would be worth rearranging your schedule.” Marty grinned. “I want you to be my right-hand woman with the Ice Cats. Given what you’ve helped me achieve with my basketball team, I know you can do the same with this team. And you’ll be happier advising me on a sport you like, yes?”
“Of course. But I warn you, I’ll be adding a pair of season tickets to the terms and conditions of the new contract, and they won’t be in the nosebleeds.”
He laughed. “Taken as read. Now eat. We have a long afternoon ahead of us. I want as much out of you as I can get before you have to head to Chicago.”
“Yes, boss.” She gave him a smart salute, then headed over to the trays of food on the mahogany credenzas.
As she filled her plate, Sapphie’s mind whirred with all that she’d have to do. Not least, alert her team, in the Chicago office, that they were about to get doubly busy. In fact, she should look into hiring more staff. She could afford the added expense because this new contract would cement her business’s success.
Looked like she’d be spending more time in New Jersey after all. That would be great for seeing Issy and Sophia. And, of course, watching games.
She’d just bitten into a sandwich when it occurred to her that it also increased the possibility of seeing Scotty again. Sapphie chewed determinedly, even though she might have been eating one of the handouts for all that she could taste the food. She swallowed hard, then drained a small bottle of water.
What was she worried about? Scotty wasn’t with the team any longer. Not that she’d deal with the players on a daily basis anyway, but she always believed in talking to the whole organization as part of her evaluation process. Besides, although it was inevitable that she’d run into him, it wouldn’t be on this initial trip or even for a while.
She’d cross that bridge when she came to it.
