by Dyanne Davis
“He’s going to be fine, Rebe.”
“That’s what they told me about Jamie, only he wasn’t fine, Chase. He died.”
“Come on, Rebe, not every accident results in death,” Chase snapped.
For a moment Rebe was stunned unable to utter a word, her eyes watered and the first tear fell.
“Don’t cry, Rebe. I wasn’t trying to be harsh. I’m just trying to get you to stop worrying.”
“I know.”
“You really do love him don’t you?”
“But I’ve never told him. I’ve told Kandi, my parents and you. But I haven’t told Sam. I’m so worried that…”
“You know this is a bit odd that you’re talking to me about this right?”
“I know, but I also know you’re my friend and I think you care about me. I know you don’t want anything bad to happen to Sam.”
“You’re right I don’t,” Chase sighed. “I hope he’s okay. He has to be. I want you to have your hero. I know he’ll be a much better boyfriend that I ever was.”
“Chase, you are a hero. I realize what you did for me. I was being a coward. I was having a hard time saying the words that needed to be said. But I have to tell you this. I do love you Chase.”
“Wow you are scared aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I am. But I also realize that I’ve waited too long to tell Sam how I feel and I don’t want to do that with you.”
“Rebe it’s not necessary. I’m okay. I promise.”
‘It’s not okay. I may never get the chance…I have to tell you all of this.” She glanced out the window and thought of Sam and all the things she hoped she’d still get a chance to tell him. Then she turned toward Chase and spoke softly.
“I love you as a dear friend of mine. And I really meant it when I told you I’d enjoyed the time we’ve spent together. I also appreciate your wanting to try to have something more. The thing of it is we had almost three years of a devil may care relationship. We didn’t demand nor did we need anything from the other. That made it almost impossible to transition into an adult relationship.”
“But why? Haven’t you ever wondered why we couldn’t make the switch?”
“You’re an only child and that alone makes you innately selfish and self-centered. I on the other hand had three people fawning over me, the youngest in the family, and a girl to boot. That made me selfish and self-centered. It would seem we should have been perfect for each other.”
“Are we really that bad?”
“Yes.’ Rebe smiled then and touched Chase’s arm. “I’ve thought about it and I want you to know none of his had anything to do with you, or that you were, or were not a good boyfriend. You were as a good a boyfriend as I was a girlfriend. I was in love with Sam long before you came along. I just didn’t want to admit it because I didn’t want it to be true. Sam is so different from either of us. He challenges me to be more, to want more, to think about others first.” Rebe laughed. “All the things I hate. I like the way I am, or rather I thought I did. I just want you to know a couple of things. I think you’re good boyfriend material. You stepped up when you decided to change. Keep doing that and you’re going to find the right woman for you. Had I known how deeply I was in love with Sam…I don’t know… I probably would have never admitted it. So, I’m sorry for the last few months. And I’m sorry for kissing Sam and hurting your feelings.”
“Stop, Rebe.”
“I’m almost done. The other night at the restaurant, neither Sam nor Kandi understood what you were doing. They thought I was being stupid, again. Kandi wanted to kill you, but I knew you were giving me the opportunity to end things and it tells me you are heroic. You are, Chase.” She gave his hand a squeeze.
“I think we should say a prayer for Sam,” Chase whispered.
The moment Chase dropped Rebe at the emergency room entrance she ran into the building and straight to the desk asking about Sam. They didn’t have any information about him and said no one with that name had been brought it. She was worried to death that Kandi had gotten the information wrong. Within minutes Chase joined her followed by Kandi. They rushed into each other’s arms.
“I don’t have any news on Sam. They don’t even have his name listed,” Rebe wailed. “They said no ambulance had called in about anyone with that name. What the heck is going on? Kandi, are you sure he was brought here?”
Kandi began pacing. “I’m sure. Let’s just stay here and wait.”
Patient after patient was wheeled in. As Rebe watched her thoughts were of her brother and she began to cry. Within seconds she was surrounded by Kandi and Chase. Chase held her in his arms lighting caressing her back and neck. “Don’t worry, Rebe, Sam’s going to be okay.” She wanted to believe Chase. She even wanted to believe Kandi, but her friend has a strange look in her eyes that she’d never seen before. Rebe was positive it was because she was trying to get her not to think about Jamie. It wasn’t working.
For an hour they paced. Rebe was facing the door when the hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she turned around. “Sam,” she yelled and raced toward him.
“Rebe,” Sam stopped at the sight of her racing toward him wondering why she was there, if there was something wrong with her. Then she hit him with a thud landing on his chest and began crying. “Rebe, are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“It wasn’t me, it was you. You were the one in a three car pile-up.”
“Me?” Sam glanced toward where Kandi was standing with Chase and the picture became clearer. He’d not told Kandi he was injured, nothing close. In fact he’d told her it was a minor fender bender. But he’d followed the ambulance to the hospital because his friend had complained of neck pain and they’d taken him in to check him out.
“Rebe, stop crying. I was never in any danger and I told that to Kandi. I didn’t ask her to call you. I only wanted her to know where I was because the two of us were meeting for lunch.”
They both turned and glared at Kandi. When Rebe began trembling Sam threw her close loving the feel of her in his arms, but not like this. “Rebe,” he whispered. “This isn’t anything at all like what happened to Jamie. I promise.” Still she cried.
“Kandi,” he called and glared in her direction. Instead of answering him or helping him reassure Rebe he watched as she turned to Chase.
“Chase, how about if you show me that mural in your office. I’ll follow you. I think Sam and Rebe can handle this.”
“I need to make sure,” Chase answered.
“Chase,” Kandi laughed. “You really are dense aren’t you? Go ahead, make sure Rebe’s okay.”
Chase tilted his head and glared at Kandi before sighing as he looked on at Rebe in Sam’s arms. She was in good hands he realized. Still he asked. “Rebe, are you going to need ne to take you home?”
Rebe stopped her tears and smiled at Chase, so did Sam and Kandi.
“Okay,” Chase admitted. “I get it. I’m no longer needed. I’ve been replaced. Come on, Kandi, I’ll show you the famous mural,” he said and headed for the door. “We’re going to have to have a talk though about your part in trying to replace me with Sam in Rebe’s life.” With a wave to Rebe and Sam, Chase and Kandi headed for the door.
Sam used the pad of his finger to tilt Rebe’s chin up and looked deeply into her eyes where a few tears remained. “Are you okay now?”
“Sam, I don’t know what I would have done without you…I need you in my life. You’re you’re…” she threw herself in his arms and began crying again. “They didn’t have your name listed anywhere. I was beginning to panic.” She felt his fingers caressing her back then he moved her from him.
“Rebe, why can’t you live without me?” he asked glancing toward the door where Chase and Kandi’s had just existed.
“I love you, Sam. I’m in love with you and I want you to be in love with me. I want you in my life.”
“I thought you were afraid.”
“I was. I still might be. I don’t know, but I’m more afra
id of not having you in my life than I am of what could happen.”
“Why now, Rebe, because Chase cheated on you again?”
“Are you crazy?”
“No, but I don't want to just start a rebound relationship with you.”
“Chase didn’t cheat, Sam.”
“Yeah, right.”
“He didn’t. I talked to Chase─”.
“Chase doesn't deserve to have you say one word to him. He's going to beg you and give you the puppy dog eye and you're going to think about the heroes in your book and take him back. I can be your hero, just take a better look.”
“I have taken a better look. You are my hero. You were always that. I want us to be together.”
“I think you need to officially break things off with Chase. You’ll have to, before we can be together.”
“You’re not listening to me, Sam,” Rebe laughed. “I already broke things off with Chase. Didn’t you notice that Chase brought me here? He wasn’t cheating on me last night. He was…he knew I was in love with you and he knew I was trying to honor our agreement. He really was being a hero. He wanted to make things easy for me to leave him.”
“You just made my point. That’s the only reason you decided you’re in love with me, because Chase made it easy for you, and Kandi exaggerated. Oh hell, she lied to you, thinking you’d rush here and fall into my arms. She was right because that is exactly what happened.”
“Does it really make a difference how or why I got here? I’m here. I love you, Sam. Are you saying you don’t want me?”
Before Sam had a chance to answer her, his lips were on hers, his kiss hard, demanding. “Let’s go,” he commanded and pulled Rebe toward the door and into his car.
“What about your friend? Doesn’t he need you to take him home?”
“His wife is here. Did you really break up with Chase?”
“Yes.”
“And you did it because you want to be with me?”
“Yes,”
“Rebe, please tell me you did this before Kandi liked to you that I’d been hurt. I’d hate to think that your thinking about Jamie and worrying about me is what made you do it.”
“Sam, I did it because I finally came to my senses. Now why don’t you kiss me?”
After several passionate kisses Sam put the car in drive. Every time they got to a light he kissed Rebe again. It seemed it was taking forever for them to reach her apartment. The moment they got to Rebe’s apartment she ran up the stairs and opened the door. And at that moment her cell rang.
“Chase.”
“Since Sam is okay I wanted to tell you the good news. Mr. Stone is flying back to L.A. He has appointments with two other law firms. He said if we can give him a lift to the airport we can have our meeting with him in the car.”
“Are you serious?’ Do you still think we have a chance to get the account?”
“I do. He didn’t sound too upset. I think he may even be a big intrigued that we’ve stood him up twice. Do you think you can make the meeting? Mr. Newton wants us both to handle this. Of course if you can’t, I’ll make an excuse.”
“I’ll do it.”
“So have you told Sam that you dumped me?”
“That wasn’t the way it happened.”
“It was exactly the way it happened. Give me an hour and I’ll pick you up. That should be long enough for you to talk to Sam. I’ll admit I don’t want to give you time to do more.”
“You know if that’s what we wanted it would be more than enough time.”
“If that’s true maybe you should reconsider your choice. The two of us would never be finished in an hour.”
Rebe started laughing. “Come and get me in an hour.”
“Was that Chase?”
“Yes, we have an important meeting, Mr. Stone, the client we were supposed to meet when I ditched the meeting to meet your family. He rescheduled for today and I got the call from Kandi and ran out. Now Chase says he’s intrigued and wants to give us another chance. We’re going to take Mr. Stone to the airport. Chase is picking me up in an hour.
“Rebe, call Chase back, tell him I’ll bring you to the office. What I have in mind might just take longer than an hour. Tell him you have a new hero now.”
“Sorry, Sam. Chase has been covering for me a lot lately. I like my job with the firm. I’ll continue this with you later”
Rebe looked into Sam’s eyes and his gaze locked on her like a radar. Sam was kissing her before she could take her next breath. She wanted him to stop. She had to tell him the many things she’d held inside. She wanted him to know he'd long been her hero.
But Sam was making it difficult for her to tell him anything. Before she knew what was happening his hand was undoing the button of her slacks and he was pushing them down with one hand while his other stayed firmly around her waist
“Sam, no, I don't have time for this.” He stopped and a pained look crossed his face. “Not you, Sam. I can’t blow this meeting with Mr. Stone a third time. I have to get out of here, and knowing Chase he’ll be here well before an hour.”
"I'll be quick,” Sam whispered in her ear.
“I don't want quick.” That brought a smile to his face.
“I'll be good.”
“Sam.”
“Don't you want to? I've wanted you so long, Rebe. I know it hasn't been the same for you, but I think we'll be good together. In fact I know we'll be good together. I love you, Rebe.”
His mouth moved over hers and this time the kiss was different. It told her what his words didn't. It told her that he loved her. But he was moving so slowly and she really didn't have time.
“Seriously, Sam, I don't have the time. …” Rebe gasped as Sam’s fingers found their way inside her body. A nice haze filled her and she wanted more. “Five minutes,” she ordered.
“You are taking all of the fun out of this seduction,” Sam complained.
“I don't have time for seduction,” she pushed away from him. “Maybe next time.”
“Maybe next time? I don't know if I should be insulted or pleased. Here I am thinking of myself as the hero. I don't think that's how this little scene is supposed to go. You're supposed to be panting with desire right now.” He saw the smile on her face grow wider. “You'd better not laugh at me, or I swear─”
“You've been reading my books. That's one down on me finding out things about you. How long?”
“I thought we had to make this quick.” Sam planted his body and bent his knees putting his arms around Rebe only to be stopped
“You’re kidding right? I am way too tall for you to lift. You're going to hurt yourself.”
“Remind me again why I want you. That is definitely not something the heroine says to the hero.”
“But I'm not a heroine. I’m a flawed, half-crazy, self-centered woman who has been too afraid to accept a real grown up love. Perhaps that’s why romance writers write about heroines and heroes. I don’t know if anyone could live up to the expectations in real life. I don’t know anyone who could pass the test. I know I never would. Then again there is something to be said about real life. It’s so darn unpredictable. Sometimes there are no happy endings. Sometimes there are no lessons learned. Sometimes we just keep making the same mistakes over and over again.”
“If that’s the case why do so many women read romances?”
“To escape. They want to believe in the happily ever after.”
“And you?”
“My thinking is too analytical for that. I see all the bumps in the road ahead, and sometimes I hope for the best.’
“And me.”
“I think you’re a romantic and see the happily ever after. I also think you’re a hero, a true hero.” Rebe tilted her head to the side. “But I'm not sure that you're the kind of hero who can lift me.” She ignored him rolling his eyes. “It's not necessary to prove anything to me, Sam.”
“I know Chase lifts you, and I know you don't complain or tell him to stop. You squeal
with delight.” Sam lifted her in her arms and looked down into her face. “Where’s my squeal, Rebe?”
“Don't drop me.”
“You're very bad for my ego.”
“Two minutes, Sam.”
Shaking his head, Sam carried Rebe into her bedroom and unceremoniously dumped her on the bed, pulled off her pants then her panties, and then he stood staring at her
“Stop staring and let's get on with this. I have a meeting.”
“You're ruining the mood because you’re afraid. I'm not afraid of us. I'm sure enough of this for both of us.”
Opening the drawer, Rebe pulled out a condom and held it out.
“I don't want to use condoms you have on hand for Chase.”
“Do you have one?”
Snatching the condom from her fingers Sam pulled away his clothes feeling a bit vulnerable hoping Rebe didn't say anything else, no wise cracks. She was staring at him. “I swear if you're doing a comparison you'd better stop.”
“No comparison. If I were, you’d be doing okay. By the way when we're done you're going to have to remake my bed. I won't have time and I refuse to finish this and leave the house with my bed unmade.”
Stopping with his hands positioned on either side of Rebe’s body, Sam looked down at her. “Do you think you could at least pretend that I'm not forcing you?” He opened the condom and rolled it over his erection. “I'm not forcing you am I?” She shrugged.
“Rebe?”
She pulled the covers back. “Would you come on?”
“Are you afraid I won’t satisfy you?”
“Sam.”
He'd never imagined in all the times he'd dreamt of making love to Rebe, that he would be doing it with one eye on the clock and her rushing him. He wanted to taste every inch of her body, make her cry out with passion. He saw a tiny smile curving her lips. She was teasing him.
Jumping into the bed Sam pulled Rebe into his arms and kissed her long and hard and very satisfyingly until she stopped fidgeting and rushing him, and began moaning. When his hand found her, she was wet.
“Please,” Rebe whispered.
Sam wanted to believe she wanted him to hurry because she couldn't wait to have him inside her. But that would be plain foolishness. Rebe wanted it over and done with so she could get to her meeting.