by Lee Winter
“No. I was hoping we could sit and have a chat?”
“Sorry, love, just had a new delivery. Gotta find space for it all. I can sort and listen, though. What’s on your mind?” She cracked the lid on a carton.
“Sam.”
“There’s a surprise.” She snorted. “Matters of the heart, hmm? Pass me the box of Jim Beam?”
“You know about us?” Alex tried to shove the carton Gina’s way but almost threw out her back.
The publican laughed. “You’ll never cut it in pubs, that’s for sure.”
“Highly doubt it, yeah.”
“And of course I knew. You two haven’t exactly been hiding those long looks. But before that, all your friends and Sam’s were in here, hatching up schemes late into the evening the night you two had your big dust-up.” She looked up. “Be glad they never got to releasing a wild pig on set. Breaker was sauced as hell and all ripe and ready to go trap one then and there!”
“Christ.”
“So what do you need, love? Everything okay?”
“I was wondering if Sam’s ever thought about leaving Ika Whenu?”
Gina paused. “She did leave. When she went off to do her police training and got posted in Auckland for a few years. But she came back when Kev got in strife.”
“Since then?”
“I suppose I don’t have to guess why you’re asking?”
“I’ve asked Sam to come back to LA with me. See some sights. She said she can’t leave.” Alex frowned. “She didn’t say she doesn’t want to, only that she has responsibilities here. Reading between the lines, I gather she made a promise to you once and she doesn’t break her word.”
“Are you implying I’m keeping her here? Because promises about Kev were years ago. That’s all in the past.”
“I know that. You know that. But I’m wondering if she does?”
“What are you getting at?” Gina’s eyes narrowed. “I’d never force her to stay.”
“That’s just it. You don’t have to force Sam. She does everything out of love and obligation. Because she made a commitment and she’s honorable. And sometimes, people want to do right by those they love or respect, and that matters more to them. You know her better than anyone. Tell me, does Sam strike you as that sort of person? Who’d put herself second over her own happiness if she thought it was the right thing to do?”
Gina’s jaw worked. “She’s always been the responsible one, even young. Always looking out for others. Me. Everyone. The whole town.”
“So when does she get to look out for herself? Has anyone ever told her she could?”
“Think you have it all figured out, don’t you?” Gina regarded her closely. “Sometimes people are a lot more complicated than you think. This isn’t about me.”
“I’m not saying—”
“Yes, you are. And it’s not about some old promise I asked for when I was at my wit’s end with Kevin. Sometimes things matter more to people than what’s best for them.”
“What matters most to Sam then?”
Gina sighed and leaned against the shelves. “As a girl, Sam was afraid of one thing: We’d stop wanting her. Didn’t matter how many times I told her she was stuck with us, that’s what terror was for her, that’d we’d toss her aside some day. So she made herself essential. I think in her head somewhere, she believed if she wasn’t desperately needed, she’s not wanted, either.”
Alex sucked in a breath. How sad.
“She’s always been this way,” Gina said. “So you asking her to leave out of the blue, to do something where she’s not essential to some vital thing will have her in quite a tailspin. She’ll be agonizing over it for sure.”
“Could you talk to her? Make her see this is a good thing?”
“I already did. And it’s no use.”
“I’m sorry?”
“It’s not enough for me to give her permission to go, though I can see you came here convinced it was. She has to give herself permission. Afraid I can’t help with that.”
Disappointment filled Alex.
“But if it makes you feel better, she’s still in two minds. Will certainly be brooding up a storm right now.” Gina studied her. “In the meantime, what of you?”
“Pardon?”
“Why are you inviting a woman you barely know overseas with you? That seems awful fast.”
“I know how it looks. But it doesn’t have to mean anything big. Sam’d come for a few months, see a bit of the world, and go home. What’s the worst that could happen? She’s gotten to tick off a few things on her bucket list? She’s always dreamed of traveling.”
“Oh, love.” Gina clucked her tongue. “I can see the lie all over your face. You want a lot more than a few months with her.”
“I…” Alex didn’t bother denying it. Yes.
The old woman didn’t speak for a few moments. “Y’know, I fell in love with my Albert in just two days. Silly old duffer had been hitchhiking through town barefoot in the middle of winter and I just had to know who he was. Loved every one of our twenty-three years together before he passed. Sometimes it happens that way.”
“That’s so sweet.”
“Mmm. So I can’t really judge what feels right to another person, even if it is fast. All I can say is, I need you to promise to look after my girl. She’s not nearly as tough as she acts.”
“I will,” Alex vowed.
Eying her thoughtfully, Gina said, “You know, when that daughter of mine commits to anything, she jumps in boots and all. If she agrees to go with you, remember that. This won’t be a casual thing for her. It’ll mean something. Something big.” Her expression sharpened. “And I think you’re the same, maybe.”
Alex shot her a surprised look.
“It’s in your eyes.”
Alex dipped her head. “I’d really love it to work out. I tell myself, maybe it will, maybe it won’t. But I can’t not try. Sam’s too…special…not to give it a go. I had to ask.”
“Yes, love, I guess you did. And she’ll decide before long. Be patient.” Gina pulled a box over and tore it open. “Now get on with you. I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than trip over my merchandise.” She waved her away.
Sam stared up at the enormous shape filling her vision with wide eyes as her hands crushed the brakes in a death grip. Anguished squeals of air brakes filled the air as the truck driver slammed on his, too.
It would be too late; they would never stop in time. Hemmed in on either side by trees and dense vegetation, there was nowhere to go.
This was it? She could smell the sheep manure, hear the panicked baas from the back of the truck, and taste a sharpness in her mouth.
In an instant, her life condensed into just the heartbeats thundering in her ears. Almost dispassionately, she saw the truck, the narrow black road, her reactions.
Time condensed again and warped, and suddenly she saw Gina’s eyes the night she’d found Sam behind the pub with her mother. A dog dying against her chest, and Sam crying for days. Realizing she was gay. Kissing Nicole. Gina’s plea for Sam to come home. Being named Ika Whenu’s police officer. Nicole dumping her. Hauling Kev out of Dino’s gang by the scruff of his scrawny neck.
Then nothing. Until Alex. A montage of Alex’s amused looks and bright eyes and soft, soft lips flashed into her mind.
The other driver suddenly hauled his rig off the road and into the brush, flattening shrubs and saplings, and bouncing over rocks, roots, and ferns. It was enough…barely. A hand’s breadth was all that separated them when she flew past the thundering metal giant.
The truck roared back onto the road with a sickening screech from clawing undergrowth scratching its sides and accelerated away again. A loud, obnoxious honk rang in Sam’s ears.
She swallowed back her bile and looked around for somewhere to pull over. After ano
ther few hundred feet, she turned off into a clearing, rattled to her core.
Trembling, she sat there and simply stared back at the road. Christ.
“Death by sheep truck, news at six.” That’d be some headline. She pulled off her gloves and wiped down her shaky, sweat-slicked hands. If she’d died like that, she’d probably be a standing joke in the pub for months. Well, until Gina gave them all clips around the ear.
God. Her heart thundered. The most exciting thing in her life for the past decade had happened in only the past three months. And she’d been prepared to walk away from it, for what? Managed fucking risk? Screw that.
I almost died.
She glanced around and choked out an almost hysterical laugh when she realized where she’d pulled over. At the end of the Forestry Road dirt trail. Just three feet from where Alex Levitin had almost cleaned her up the day they’d met.
That day came rushing back. The fright she’d had when Alex’s car suddenly appeared. The pain on impact. Huge, wide, apologetic eyes peering down at her as though nothing could ever make up for what she’d done. Then the horror and fear on Alex’s face when her tiny ass had failed in the mismatch of the century wrestling Tiger off Sam. If it hadn’t been for the agony in her hip, Sam might have laughed.
She hadn’t been able to bring herself to be too annoyed with her in that moment…at least, not until she’d realized where Alex worked.
But that was then. Now that impossible, beautiful, amusing woman who’d almost run Sam over had offered to show her the world. And what had she done? Almost caved in to fear, before coming a hand’s breadth away from having her life reduced to a pub punchline.
Way to go, Sam.
She yanked her gloves back on. Fuck that.
CHAPTER 28
Much Ado About Something
“Cut!” Alex said briskly, pleased with the scene. Chloe and Melody were really nailing their interactions now, and it was seamless, needing little intervention from her. “That was excellent, ladies.” She glanced at her watch. “All right, let’s set up for the last scene before lunch.”
Alice waved to get her attention. Alex’s newly reinstated production assistant pointed toward the gate. “Alex? Someone’s here to see you.”
Alex looked over to see the dashing figure of Sam Keegan in motorcycle leathers striding toward her. Her heart did a merry little flip. How did Sam always manage to look so good? Alex straightened, and anxiety rocketed along her nerve endings, remembering how they’d left things.
Sam’s mouth opened when she got within three feet of Alex. Then shut. A blush feathered her cheeks. “Yes,” was all she said.
“Yes?” Alex asked, confused.
“Yes.”
Oh! “Yes!”
Sam nodded. “I’m kinda scared, I’m not gonna lie. But it’s a big yes.”
Alex pulled Sam into her arms and kissed her soundly. An assortment of whistles and cheers went up behind them. Alex was more focused on Sam’s soft lips parting in surprise, then moving under hers.
Coming up for air, Alex waved away her boisterous crew with a dry “yeah, yeah,” and added “Let’s break early for lunch, people.”
Predictably, that earned more catcalls.
Sam darted a narrow look at their audience. “Loud, aren’t they?”
“Enthusiastic, I believe. Let’s find some privacy.” Alex led Sam back to her trailer. Once inside, she gathered Sam’s hand in hers and asked the only thing that mattered. “You do want to travel with me?”
Sam drew in a breath. “Yeah.” She met Alex’s eyes.
“Why?”
Sam’s lips curled. “I may have a pesky case of feelings for you.”
“Pesky, hmm?” Alex smiled as her heart lifted. “What kind of feelings would those be?”
“Oh, the big ones. They’re the ‘let’s try out the beds in hotels all over the world’ feelings. Let’s watch sunrises in hotel robes on balconies like a romantic movie cliché, and talk about stuff that matters to us. And I want to try the most interesting local foods with you.”
“And your responsibilities?” Alex asked with a hesitation. “What happened to them?”
“I think I’ll always feel responsible for the people in this town, and my family. But a certain bossy publican recently pointed out that I don’t lose my place in her family by doing what I’ve always wanted to.”
Alex’s grin spread wide. “That’s huge.”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re feeling okay?”
“Aside from a few fears, I know what I want now.”
“What are your fears?”
“What if I don’t even like traveling? And what if I love it, but maybe you’ve gotten bored with me? Then what?”
“That’s the risk of any relationship.” Alex squeezed her hand. “But I admit I’m having a really hard time picturing it.”
“Good.” Sam took in a deep breath.
“And you’re really, really sure this time? You’ve decided?”
“Yes.” Sam met her gaze evenly. “Look, I know me, and I don’t exactly love uncertainty.” She gave a self-deprecating smile. “But you’re worth it. So why don’t we stick with the original game plan? For as long or as short as this lasts, let’s give it a chance. Assuming you still want to, too.” Uncertainty filled her expression. “Do you?”
“Sam,” Alex said with a wide smile, “in case it hasn’t been blindingly obvious, you’re for me.”
“Oh.” Sam’s answering smile started tiny and spread until it wreathed her face and reached her eyes. “Okay. That’s, um, good. Works out better that way.”
Alex laughed. “Yes, it does.”
Sam leaned over and gave her a kiss so sweet that Alex discovered, to her embarrassment, that swooning was in her wheelhouse.
“I can’t wait to show you my world,” Alex murmured. “But it’s more than that. I want you to meet my friends. See my home. My life.”
“Seems fair since you’ve already seen mine. Surprised you didn’t die of boredom.”
“Don’t speak too soon. I warn you my world involves a lot of nerdy party nights and Shakespeare.”
“I anticipated that. Come over tonight? I’ll order in Monza’s Pizza and I’ve bookmarked Much Ado About Nothing on Netflix to see what the fuss is all about. How about we watch it together? Also, you’ll get to have me naked at some point.”
“What an offer.” Alex smirked. “I’d never say no to Emma Thompson.”
That night in Sam’s bedroom, Alex lay in her arms as Much Ado About Nothing’s end credits rolled up the small TV screen Sam had hauled in from the lounge. The film had a lot of charm.
Contentment filled Sam. Tonight, everything seemed right. She felt lighter, and now, with Alex snuggling against her, she had no regrets about what lay ahead, even though her fears remained. Maybe they’d always exist. It was in her nature, after all.
“What a great closing shot.” Alex sighed happily. “All one take at the end. Did you see that? That’s Kenneth Branagh for you.”
“Did you just watch that whole movie with your director’s hat on?” Sam asked.
“It’s impossible not to. Doesn’t mean I can’t love it, too. Did you like it?”
“I did. Funny and clever. And I related to the brothers…one’s black, one’s white. No one even questioned that.”
Alex regarded her. “Do you get questioned much about your family?”
“As a child, a lot. People are nosy. When I became a police officer, the uniform came with a lot less of an invitation to discuss non-police matters.”
Alex considered that. “How does it feel now? Not wearing your uniform anymore?”
“Weird. It’s all I know.”
“Well, that’s not entirely true, is it?”
“I don’t follow.”
“B
reaker Bob came to see me this afternoon,” Alex said. “Apparently there’s some crazy rumor you might be going to LA with me.”
Sam rolled her eyes at how fast gossip spread. “What did Bob want?”
“He’s of the view you’d be an excellent film stunt rider. He offered to fix you up with some of his contacts.”
Sam frowned. “I can’t do that.”
“Who jumped Dry Creek? Imagine doing kick-ass stuff on a motorbike every day. Oh, and they take stunts very seriously on sets, so your safety would be paramount. Anyway, once he said it, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it first. He also pointed out they’re looking for more highly skilled female riders these days, as more female-focused action movies get made.”
Sam’s eyes were wide as saucers.
“I turned him down,” Alex continued. “For now.”
“What? Why? You just said I could do it.”
“And that’s true. But while Breaker’s references are good, I can go one better. Skye’s partner is Brock Hayes.”
“Who’s he?”
“A legend. And if Brock likes you, he can give you the world when it comes to stunts. Like Skye, the man knows everyone. I’ll introduce you. We can keep Breaker Bob’s contacts in reserve.”
“I haven’t said yes yet. How do you know I don’t want to become a librarian or something?”
Alex laughed. “Call it a hunch. I see Sid wasn’t kidding about that puppy story. You really do have a contrary streak.”
Sam opened her mouth to protest, but Alex jumped in first. “Sam, you can do anything you want, from tap dancer to street cleaner, and I’ll back you. It’s just something to think about. Okay? But maybe you are destined for movie-making greatness, as Breaker Bob thinks.”
“It’s unnerving thinking he’s sitting there, mapping out my future.” She folded her arms.
“Bob means well. He thinks very highly of you, and it was obvious he cares about you.”
Sam absorbed the words, reminded of what Gina had told her. No one’s laughing now. They wanted the best for her. “Maybe,” she admitted.
Alex laughed. “So many wins tonight: Shakespeare and a concession people care about you.” She snuggled tighter against Sam. “On that note, all those locals can appreciate you as much as they like, but right now, you’re mine.”