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terrain, Sydney
replied, “Placed first, though Alana has a souvenir for her
troubles. Sprained her ankle during the last game.”
    “That’s what he said. Is she okay?”
    “She will be. Carlos is waiting on her hand
and foot.”
    Sam returned a sly smile. “Vic would wait on
me hand and foot if I asked him.”
    “I’m sure he would,” Sydney replied with more
than a pinch of longing. Victor Marin was head over heels in love
with Sam, the two meeting in the wake of personal tragedy for him.
It was a heartache she couldn’t imagine living through let alone
surviving with the ability to love again. What he had to endure was
yet another reason not to have children. But Vic had survived and,
with Sam’s help, found justice. And Sam was right. Vic would do
most anything she asked, his devotion deep and strong. Which gave
her pause. If only she could find a man like him. A man who meant
what he said, remained committed to a fault. She gazed at her
brightly-colored drink. In her life men didn’t have a great track
record when it came to fidelity or long-term commitment. They moved
in and moved on.
    “Well look who’s here,” Sam announced.
    Sydney heard the distinct drop in tempo. She
looked up and stiffened. Charlie .
    “And what to my wondering eyes should
appear?” Sam swiveled in her seat to face Sydney, pleasure
glittering within the rounds of her eyes. “But there’s a handsome
young thing with him.”
    “It’s his friend from South Carolina. I met
him during the tournament.”
    Sam perked at the mention. “Oh, really ... Then why is this the first I’ve heard of him?”
    Sydney cocked her head to one side and said,
“He’s a friend of Charlie’s —or did you miss that part?”
    “So what? Doesn’t make them identical twins,”
she said, her head turning back in the guys’ direction.
    “Close enough for me.” Sydney pulled her
drink close. Wrapping fingers around the base of her glass, she was
content on ignoring the duo. Charlie was a user, a womanizer. It
wasn’t a stretch to assume the two had things in common. Otherwise,
why would they be hanging around together?
    “They’re headed our way,” Sam informed her as
the bartender wiped the counter around them, openly ogling Sam.
    Sydney groaned and sought refuge in another
sip of fruity martini. “Great.” She looked over her shoulder. Sure
enough, Charlie and Clay were headed straight for them. As usual,
Charlie’s gaze was filled with conceit, as though she and Sam were
begging for his company. Clay on the other hand, wore an expression
of unguarded interest.
    Charlie strolled up to within feet and said,
“Hey Sydney.” He touched upon her friend. “Sam.”
    “Hello,” Sydney returned, purposely draining
her voice of cheer.
    “Who do we have here?” Sam asked, eyeballing
Clay like a bird on a worm.
    Always the direct one, Sydney mused, but had
to admit, she did enjoy seeing Clay again. The man was certainly
easy on the eyes and after putting Charlie in his place the other
day, had already scored a point with her in positive territory.
Dressed in jeans and white button-down, sleeves rolled up to his
forearms, his collar lifted ever so slightly, he appeared sporty
and fresh. Her gaze wandered down to his chest. And sexy. Recently
tanned by the Miami sun, she thought his skin set off the Puka
shell necklace within his open shirt rather well. Sydney lifted her
gaze and bumped into his smile. As though caught red-handed, she
gulped. Definitely sexy.
    Clay extended a hand toward Sam. “Clay
Rutledge.”
    “Sam Rawlings.” With an approving nod to
Sydney she took his hand and shook. “I understand you’ve already
met my friend here.”
    His smiled broadened. “I have. Good to see
you again, Sydney.”
    “Nice to see you, Clay,” she returned, as
casually as she could.
    “So what are you girls up to tonight?”
Charlie asked. “Any hot plans we should know about?” He waggled his
brow in what Sydney found to be a grotesque