by Mary Calmes
"That's right," I assured him.
"Well, you guys want to come with me and get some dinner?"
"Actually," I said quickly." I've gotta go, but Abe is free."
"Well, not free," she teased me. "But dinner sounds like heaven."
Rick's smile was warm and he was obviously taken with her... with the energy that you could feel, taste in the back of your throat, the passion that radiated off her and the glowing smile that lit her face. The girl just had it. That it factor, where she was so animated, so there in the moment that you just knew that if you missed her it would be a shame. I was crazy about her already. I loved her hair—long and curly, the color of copper, red and gold at the same time, completely wild—and her freckled skin and smiling rosebud mouth. When she took the lacquered chopsticks out of her purse and put up her tresses, pieces tumbled out, stray curls falling down the back of her long neck and forward into her lovely pale blue eyes. Rick reached out and twisted a piece around her ear. He was drowning in her after only moments.
"I should cut it all off," she sighed, looking down and then quickly back up into his eyes. The long lashes looked like they had been dipped in gold.
"Oh no," he assured her, taking her hand again, this time slipping his fingers between hers, keeping her close to him.
"Never."
She grunted. "We'll see, Mr. Jenner."
"Yes, we will," he said quickly, pointing at me. "You're good?"
"Yessir," I said quickly, because I knew he wanted out. He was desperate to get the lady alone. Take her to dinner so she could see what a gentleman he was. Have her ride in his car so she could see he had money. Hopefully show her his house so she could see the life he could provide. At twenty-six, I knew love at first sight when I saw it. Cupid had just hit Rick Jenner with a Mack truck. It was funny that it usually happened that way. Some guy went along dating for years, a real catch—like my brother Dane, the eligible bachelor of the century—then suddenly he met the girl, the one that would be the mother of his children, and usually within six months they were married. Guys went from player to dad in like a year after meeting the one.
As I watched Rick walk out with Aubrey Flanagan on his arm, talking a mile a minute to her, I had an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment. It had nothing whatsoever to do with me, in actuality Adam had been the instrument of love and not me, but still, I felt good. I had introduced them after all. It was my lap she had been in.
"Jory."
I looked up at Adam. "Hey, I—"
He clapped my shoulder hard. "Thanks, man, you saved my life."
Funny that he had no idea how amazing the woman was that he had just let walk out of his life.
"No problem," I said softly, pulling on my jacket, turning to leave.
"Jory."
I let Brandon walk around in front of me.
"What a screwed-up evening. I'm so sorry for—"
I shook my head, pulling out my phone as it rang for the second time. "Don't worry about it." I smiled at him. "Thanks for inviting me. I'll see ya round." I finished before I stepped around him and answered my phone. "Hello?"
"J?"
"Oh hey, Sam," I said like I talked to him every day. Even after three years apart, I knew the man's voice as well as my own.
"Sorry to bother you while you're on your date and all but—"
"No, it's okay. I'm done."
"You're done? Whaddya mean you're—"
"It's a long story."
"I'd love to hear it."
I grunted instead.
"So then, you're doing what now?"
"You mean tonight?"
"Yeah."
"Nothing."
Quick breath. "Okay, so can I take you to eat?"
"Sure, but I'll buy. What do you want?"
"Where are you?"
"I'm downtown. You want just like a sandwich or something?"
"That sounds great. I'll just change and—"
"You're at home?"
"Yeah."
"Where's that now?"
"Don't laugh but it's in the exact same place."
"Oh, that's right, Jen told me that."
"Jen?"
"Yeah." I smiled. "You know... your sister, Jen."
"You still talk to Jen?"
"Off and on. Rachel too."
"Jesus Christ. Nobody says shit to me about anything."
"Why're you mad?"
"'Cause I just... I wanna know when somebody in my family sees you."
"Why?"
"I just do!"
That made no sense. "But it has nothing to do with you."
"It has everything to do with me! My whole family's still crazy about you."
"I wouldn't say they're—"
"I would. Shit. Nobody—"
"Did you know that Dane and your dad and Michael golf together?"
There was a long pause. "I'm sorry?"
I chuckled.
"What'd you say?"
"I said your dad and Michael and Dane golf together. Did you know that?"
"No, I—"
"Yeah. Just every three months or so."
"For crissakes, J, nobody tells me anything!"
"Why would they?"
"Why would they what—mention that they all see you and I'm the only one who doesn't? Oh I dunno, lemme think."
I had to laugh. He was so indignant. "You were gone a long time, Sam, we all got used to you not being around."
"But I've been back more than a year and nobody said shit to me."
"They probably didn't want to make your new girlfriend uncomfortable by talking about me."
There was a quick pause. "What?"
"Oh no, I'm sorry. Your wife then."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I saw a woman with you that day at the street fair. I assumed while you were undercover you probably met someone and—"
"You know you watch way too much TV. Undercover doesn't work like that."
"Huh."
He chuckled and it was a warm sound. "You sound disappointed."
"I'm a romantic at heart."
"I know," he sighed heavily. "Lemme come get you."
"So who was the girl?" I asked before I could stop myself.
"I dunno—probably one of Jen or Rachel's friends... why?"
"No reason."
"You sure?"
I would not be drawn back in. "You know what, Sam, maybe this isn't such a—"
"No, it's fine. C'mon."
"You don't get to decide what's fine or not, Sam," I said fast.
"No, I know," he sighed. "But just c'mon."
I was silent, thinking about what I should do.
"Please, J. Just eat with me."
What could it hurt? "Okay, fine. Do you know Carmine's?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Great. I can meet you there in fifteen minutes?"
"I'm leaving now," he said and hung up on me.
I walked to the curb as I heard my name called. Brandon Rossi was jogging toward me as I opened the door of the cab.
"Jory, please don't—"
"Thanks again for inviting me," I indulged him as I got in the cab and closed the door behind me. I didn't look back.
* * * *
I was leaning against the wall to the side of the hostess station, where I had checked in, when I felt a hand on the small of my back. It was a very familiar place to touch, and when I looked up from texting Dylan I found Sam.
"Hey."
"Hey." He smiled back, gesturing me close.
"What?"
"I dunno, what do I hafta do to get a proper greeting from an old friend?"
He was right. I pocketed my phone and stepped into him, reaching up to wrap my arms around his neck. I squeezed tight and, instantly, he hugged me back. He buried his face in my shoulder, his arms holding me close, pressing me against him, and he breathed in deeply before the long exhale.
"It's good to see you, J."
I hugged him because I
used to love him and he felt good in my arms.
"I missed you," he said, and the shiver ran through him fast.
Better to gargle glass than respond.
He pulled back and looked down at me, into my eyes.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine," I said, stepping free.
"You look good," he said to the floor.
"Yeah?" I fished because he was not one to dish out compliments.
"Yeah," he said under his breath, his eyes flicking up to mine. "Really good."
"And you look tired," I passed judgment as I looked him over. "Maybe we should do this another—"
"No," he cut me off, his brows furrowing.
"Have you been sleeping?"
"I wanna sleep with you," he said slowly, his voice deep and gravelly. "Come home with me."
It took me a second to respond, as my heart was in my throat, but I forced a dry chuckle. "Just like that?"
"Could we maybe have a summit meeting tomorrow? Right now I'm beat, I want you to come home with me and lie down so I can lie down with you."
I watched his eyes, heavy-lidded, as he stared down at me.
"I swear to God I haven't really slept since I saw you last."
"I thought you would have...." I trailed off because I had started speaking without thinking.
He let out a deep breath as I took a step back. "Would have what?"
I shook my head.
"Talk to me."
"I just figured you'd go back to your life."
"Meaning what?"
I cleared my throat. "C'mon, let's eat." I smiled, gesturing to the hostess who was trying to get my attention. "I'm starving and I had a lot to drink."
"You did?"
"Oh hell, yeah."
"Tell me all about your date."
I smiled as we followed the hostess to the table. We were in a booth toward the back, and I wondered if Sam had requested that or if she was just trying to tuck us away because we looked like trouble.
"So talk," he ordered me, sliding over until his knee bumped mine.
I chuckled as I recounted my adventures at Brava.
"The girl sounds nice."
"She's the kind of girl you need."
"I got what I need right here," he said flatly.
I tipped my head to look at him. "It's been a long time, Sam."
"So what? You told me there was nobody special."
"Maybe I lied."
"Well, I don't see a ring on your finger."
Ridiculous argument. "Gay men don't wear—"
"Oh the fuck they don't," he dismissed me. "Who says what they can or can't do?"
"Sam—"
"You're gonna wear a ring for me."
I rolled my eyes and turned my attention to the waiter. I ordered a club sandwich and soup and Sam ended up having the same. Alone again, Sam slid closer, putting an arm around the back of the seat.
"Listen, J," he began, the deep sigh making me smile.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"What? C'mon."
"I just never in my life thought I would see you again."
"That is funny," he squinted at me. "'Cause I never once doubted that you would."
I was silent before I went at him from another angle.
"Sam, isn't your life good right now?"
"Yes, it is."
"See, so why you wanna—"
"Only you give me this much crap," he cut me off. "You're the only one who fights with me."
"We're not fighting."
"But you're trying to, and you're the only one I know who does."
I squinted at him.
His deep rumbling laughter, "I don't scare you at all, huh, J?"
"Are you kidding?" I scoffed.
His big lopsided grin then, eyes twinkling as he stared at me. "I scare a lot of people, J."
"Okay," I indulged him.
"Hey."
"What?"
"You cut your hair."
"Yeah." I smiled at him. "Long time ago." My hair, that used to hit my shoulders, was now short like everyone else's.
It was still longer on top, strands fell into my eyes, got tangled in my lashes occasionally, but it was not the mane it had been.
He made a noise in the back of his throat and I looked at him.
"Sam?"
"It's just good to see you," he said, his voice deep and low, his eyes so very dark.
I couldn't speak around the lump in my throat.
He chuckled softly. "Nothing to say?"
"It's good to see you too."
He reached out and ran the back of his fingers up and down my throat, stroking over my skin so lightly. "Eat your food so I can take you home."
"You don't know where I live," I teased him, trying to steady my pounding heart. The familiar response to Sam Kage flared through me.
"No, baby." He exhaled. "You're coming home with me."
"Sam—"
"J—"
"I'm not your baby," I assured him, brushing his hand away. "I'm nobody's—"
"You belong to me," he said flatly. "Always have, always will. Deal with it."
I was silent.
"Speak... you look like you've got—"
"Screw you, Sam. You left me. You left, period, and it's fine 'cause I understand why ya did but... make no mistake, I will never step back into that shit with you again. I'm done."
"Is that right?"
"Yeah, that's right. In fact, I have a date on Friday."
He nodded. "Huh."
"You don't get to decide my life for me, Sam."
"Okay." He grinned quickly. "Don't flip out right here. Eat your food."
I was stunned and it probably showed on my face. He was being so reasonable, and if I was being honest, I was disappointed that he wasn't going to fight with me, for me. It was for the best, but still, it stung that he would give up so easily.
He made the conversation I was used to providing, telling me about his family and what it had been like to come home after two years away to his old life. He had friends to reconnect with and a job to relearn and all that had taken time. He wanted to focus on all his external priorities before he came for me.
"I'm sorry, what?" My thoughts had been drifting but I had caught the last part.
"You heard me, J."
"You're actually sitting there telling me that you want us to get back together."
"Yep. I told you what I wanted before we sat down."
"Yeah, but I thought you were just playin' around."
"No, you didn't, but you're pretending you did."
He still knew me well. "Okay, but just a second ago you...
I thought you were letting this go?"
"When did I say that?"
"But—"
"I wanted to wait to see you until I had my life back. Now I do, so here I am."
I squinted at him. "Life doesn't wait until you're ready, Sam. You—"
"Are you done?"
"No, I'm not done. You think you can just—"
"With your food, dumb-ass," he cut me off.
"Oh... yeah." I deflated, reaching into my jacket for my wallet.
"I invited you, I'll buy." He smiled at me.
"No, I said I would. I'm not a charity—"
"Anything to fight me," he teased me, leaning forward to kiss the side of my neck.
I tried to slide away from him, but his hand under the table, like a vice on my thigh, kept me where I was. His lips on my skin were scalding. When my eyes flicked to his, he smiled lazily. It was very sexy.
"Three years look good on you, J."
To keep from responding to him, I tried to provoke him.
"You don't want me, Sam. You're just like all those other guys that just wanna get laid."
"Is that all I want?"
"Yeah."
"Huh."
I shrugged.
"It's lucky you're pretty because you're not real bright."
I stood up, pulled two twent
ies out and dropped them on the table. "I'll see ya."
He coughed and I looked at him. The smile had fallen out of his eyes.
"I can get home my—"
His voice was low and flat. "So you know, if you try one of your usual dramatic exits, I will grab you, throw you over my shoulder, and take you right outta here."
I just stared at him.
"If you don't want to be the floor show that they'll be talking about for years, I suggest you stand there and wait for me and walk out of here like a grown-up."
I crossed my arms and waited.
He smiled up at me. "You're cute when you pout."
I smirked at him, and the snort of laughter almost made me smile back.
Outside the front door I realized I was faced with his monster car, the SUV from hell.
"Okay," I sighed, shoving my hands down into my pockets.
"So it was good to see ya."
His scowl could not have been any darker. "I was serious inside. I wanna take you home."
I shrugged. "Well I was serious too, so... no."
We stood there staring at each other, and when he finally took a step toward me I took one back.
"I can make you if I want."
"Sure," I agreed.
The muscles in his jaw corded tight. "Can I just say something before you walk away?"
I stared into the smoky blue eyes and he stepped closer, his hand lifting, going to my chest and settling over my heart.
"I want you, only you, and not just for tonight."
I was silent.
"Did you hear me?" he asked, his hand sliding around behind my neck as he stepped in against me, staring down into my eyes. "I want you."
"But—"
"I did what I said I would. I made sure you were safe and then I came back. I figured out what I can do, what I can't, and it took a while longer than I thought."
"Sam, you—"
"But now I'm done. I've got everything I want except the one most important... I want you."
"But you've been back, Sam, and you never came to—"
"I came as soon as I could."
"Bullshit." I tried to step back, but even though I was bigger than I used to be, more muscular, I was still no match for his strength. His grip was like steel and he had me.
"I did. Everything had to be settled and now it is."
I shook my head, tried to pull back again.
"And I'm lucky 'cause that guy Aaron pushed too fast too hard and you ran."
My head snapped up. "That was just 'cause it was—"
"Don't say it was too soon, J, 'cause we both know you've got no problem with too soon when you know something's right. You didn't love him, so you didn't move in. Simple as that."