The next two weeks flew by, and Sydney saw very little of Cole. It was as if he was avoiding her. Maybe he thought that she believed that his kisses had meant more than they had, and with her parting comment she really couldn't blame him.

The trip from his parent's house to the hotel had been a tense one. Although Theresa had seemed immune to the tension since she talked the entire way back to the hotel. But why wouldn't Theresa be immune, she hadn't witnessed Cole's last devastating kiss or Sydney's almost admission of love at the end of it? She cringed again as she heard the words roll through her head.

Sydney couldn't help but wonder what Cole would have said if he had caught her as she fled the kitchen. She also wondered what his and Bridget's exchange had been. There were more questions now than there had ever been.

While Sydney's confidence was at an all-time low, Theresa was walking around as if she owned the site, and it made Sydney want to scream. Luckily, Sydney was able to avoid her almost as much as she was able to avoid Cole. She was seven weeks in, she only had three more weeks to get through, and the following weekend she was going to her parent's house for their anniversary party. It was an event that she was dreading.

Having fallen back into her routine, she was working at the diner for Stephanie, who had wanted to take Sam out on a date to see a new movie that had been released the previous week. Sydney needed to keep busy, so she was happy to help because it filled an otherwise endless Saturday.

She had been on duty since two that afternoon, and she only had another few hours to get through before she could go back to the trailer and check on the dogs. The dinner shift had been surprisingly busy, and she had made a decent amount in tips. It was gas money for her new car. Cole had left the title on her desk the previous week, and she was officially the owner.

It was the best gift anyone had ever given her.

The bell over the door rang, and Sydney turned to look at the new customer. He was a handsome man who wasn't from around the area. The few months that she has been working at the diner meant that she recognized most of the faces that ate there and she would have remembered seeing this man.

He sat in the corner booth and smiled as she approached him with a menu.

"How are you this evening?" she asked as she reached him.

"I'm fine, and you?"

"Fine, thanks." She looked at the man; he was tall and lean with dark brown hair and warm brown eyes. He also carried an air of authority about him, as if he was used to being in charge. "What can I get you to drink?"

"I'll have an iced tea, thanks."

Sydney nodded as she moved away from him to get his drink. She wondered if he was just passing through on a road trip. Although, if that were the case he was a little bit off the beaten track.

She returned with his drink and asked him if he was ready to order, he declined, saying he was waiting for someone. It was a few minutes later when she heard the bell over the door again, and she watched Cole enter the diner. His eyes met hers, and they took in each other's appearance without saying a word.

He looked good she noted as he nodded in her direction then moved towards the man in the corner booth. He had been waiting for Cole. Sydney followed Cole to the table with another menu plopping it down in front of him.

"What can I get you to drink." She couldn't hide the quiver in her voice. Why did he do this to her?

"I'll have a water, Sydney," he said with a smile.

Sydney nodded, noting that the man sitting across from Cole was unable to hide his look of surprise quick enough. She watched him as he looked between her and Cole, watching them.

Sydney turned and moved across the diner to get Cole's drink, taking the time to let her hands stop shaking in response to his sudden appearance. When she returned, she asked them if they were ready to order. They took their time, a good-natured teasing bouncing back and forth between them until, finally, they placed their order.

Again, Sydney left them, aware the man's gaze on her back as she moved back across the restaurant. She did her best to ignore the men as she worked around the restaurant, filling salt shakers and napkin holders, until the bell rang telling her that Eddie was finished cooking their order.

"Sit down with us," Cole demanded, pulling her down on the seat next to him as she delivered their food. The heat from his body warmed her entire being.

"Sydney, this is my best friend Sam Evers, Sam, this is Sydney Mitchell."

Sydney looked over at Sam who grinned at her.

"So, you're Sydney."

"And you're Sam." Sydney nodded, trying not to put too much importance on the fact that Cole had mentioned her to his best friend.

"I see my reputation proceeds me," Sam commented in a charming voice.

"Not at all, Cole only mentioned that you were his roommate in college, that you're divorced, and that you're as rich as he is."

"Sounds like an online dating profile, you interested?" Sam quirked an eyebrow.

"Only in the rich part." Sydney's sharp tongue spoke before she thought, but she was quickly coming to the conclusion that Sam knew more about her and Cole's relationship than she did, and she wanted to lash out at him.

"Ouch," Sam put his hand to his chest in mock pain. "Cole warned me about you."

"I figured as much." She moved to stand, and Cole grabbed her arm pulling her back down into the seat next to him.

"Sam's passing through this weekend and next, I thought you could join us for dinner one night?" Cole didn't let go of her arm, and his thumb had started to make little circles on the back of it.

"I'm sorry, I'm busy, in fact, you'll have to find someone else to watch the dogs next weekend, I'm going home." Sydney was pleased to have an excuse to say no.

Cole shot her angry look with a frown of frustration. "I told you, you can't go home," he said softly.

"Yes, I remember, the mysterious donor that's keeping me here, which you believe is another game my father is playing. Don't worry, I'll be back. I'm only going home for my parent's anniversary party." She pulled her arm away from his continued disturbing touch. "If you remember, it's always at this time of year."

Sam had been taking a drink, and he choked on it when he heard her reminder.

Sydney looked at him and then angrily at Cole. He had obviously told him about the incident in the pool as well.

"And you haven't told Paige?" he accused, catching the meaning of her look.

Sydney huffed, knowing he was right and turned to leave, only Sam stopped her this time.

"I have something to say, something that might help."

Cole and Sydney looked at him with similar looks of disbelief that he could help in any way.

"I'm the one that is making the substantial donation, but only if Sydney stays for the entire summer." He bit into his sandwich as he watched his words take effect.

Cole cursed, and Sydney's mouth fell open in shock.

But before either one of them could say anything the diner door opened and Stephanie and Sam entered, Sam charged her, wrapping his arms around her waist and talking a mile a minute about the movie. Sydney smiled and looked over at Stephanie. "I think the movie was a hit."

"It was," Stephanie agreed, looking questioningly at Cole's Sam.

"Oh, sorry, Stephanie, this is Sam and Cole," Sydney introduced.

"Sam!" Sam yelled, "My name's Sam!"

"I'll be Big Sam, and you can be Little Sam," Big Sam said as he held out his hand and Little Sam gripped it.

Little Sam smiled and looked pleased with the new development.

"Come on Little Sam," Sydney said, motioning towards the counter, "I'll buy you a milkshake."

Stephanie, Sydney, and Little Sam retired to the other side of the diner where they talked all about the movie.

*******

"Why would you do that?" Cole asked Sam when they were out of earshot.

"Because, I could tell by our phone conversations that she had gotten under your skin, and no woman has done that since Bridget. I thought it might take some time for you to work it all out in your mind, which by the way you looked at her when you arrived, I guess you did." Sam grinned as he bit into his sandwich and Cole cursed him again, but he didn't deny it.

"How was Bridget's visit by the way?" Sam watched his friend closely and was pleased to see that he seemed unfazed by the question.

"Uneventful as far as she was concerned," Cole's fingers drummed against the table.

"Who was it eventful for?" Sam asked.

"Aunt Viola," Cole said drily.

Sam leaned back with a laugh. "Good ole' Aunt Viola. Does she like Sydney?"

Cole couldn't help but smile. "More than me, I think."

*******

"It's totally unfair. The one night I take off Mr. Handsome over there wanders in." Stephanie kept shooting glances over at Big Sam.

"Don't worry. He'll be back next weekend."

"He will?" Stephanie looked hopeful.

"He will," Sydney agreed as she glanced back at their table. The two men were more handsome than they had a right to be, and their different looks played well off of each other. Sam was tall and lean, and Cole was tall and broad, but they both had a confident and commanding presence that made one look twice.

Sydney now knew that Cole had told Sam all about her, even the bad stuff. She inwardly cringed as she thought about what he must think of her. She couldn't help but wonder if the phone call Theresa had overheard was between Cole and Sam, and if it was, how much had she heard?

Cole looked up at her and frowned as he caught her watching him.

She wondered who else was going to find out about that humiliating night.

"Syd," Little Sam grabbed her attention and started talking about the movie all over again, this time with sound effects while he finished his milkshake. Stephanie eventually said that they had to get home and pulled Little Sam along behind her with a wave at the two men.

Sydney prepared the bill and delivered it to Cole and Sam without a word, and when they got up to leave, Cole was the one who approached the register with the bill while Sam stepped outside.

"You looked upset earlier," Cole said as he pulled out his wallet.

Sydney shrugged, not saying a word as she took his cash.

"Please, tell me?" he asked softly.

"It was something Theresa told me at your parent's house."

"What?" He grabbed her hand as she passed him his change.

"I know you didn't tell her about me."

"I hear a 'but' in there." Cole squeezed her hand.

"She said she overheard you on the phone, and I'm guessing it was a conversation with Sam. I'm worried about exactly what she overheard." Her voice grew very soft on the last words, and she wondered if he even heard her. Sydney watched as he frowned, looking at their linked hands, trying to recall the conversation.

"What didn't you want her to overhear?" he asked.

"Most of it doesn't bother me, not really, but the incident in the pool, it wasn't my most shining moment. I only glossed over it with Paige. She doesn't know I threw myself at you."

"Neither does Sam, I told him only that you had surprised me and that there were a few naked moments or two, but I also told him this right after it happened, and if we've mentioned it since then it hasn't been in any detail. The only ones who know all of the details are us Sydney."

She looked up at him, feeling tears building behind her eyes at his gentle voice.

"It wasn't my best moment either." He gave her a crooked grin that tugged at her heart. "O.K?"

She nodded, pulling her hand from his.

"Meet me at the Babcock house tomorrow evening, about five?"

Sydney looked at him surprised, "Why? You've been avoiding me for two weeks."

"Not because I've wanted to Sydney."

They looked at each other for a long moment, and when he gave her a gentle please she nodded, too weak to resist.

"I think it's time I made the first move, don't you?" He dropped a quick kiss on her lips then left with Sydney staring after him open-mouthed with shock.

What was that supposed to mean?