River of Love

by Melissa Foster

  She rolled her eyes. “Condoms?”

  “Well, there is that.” He held up a box of condoms. “But I thought you might like this even better.” He held open the bag and she peeked inside. “Biodegradable toilet paper, biodegradable baby wipes, and…” He withdrew a bottle of hand sanitizer.

  She placed the guitar on top of the tent roll and hugged him. “I think you might be the best boyfriend in the history of the universe.”

  “Who knew toilet paper had so much power?” He dropped the bag and kissed her longingly.

  The sun began its slow descent, casting an ethereal hue over the site where they’d chosen to spend the night, and a gentle breeze rustled the trees. After a few more toe-curling kisses, they reluctantly parted and began setting up camp. Faith did more watching than helping, because her highly capable man whipped through the process of erecting the tent and digging a fire pit with lightning speed. They gathered firewood together, and Faith’s mind began to wander.

  “We don’t have to worry about bears, do we?” She picked up branches to use as kindling.

  “Nah. I’m pretty sure bears can take care of themselves.” He patted her butt as she bent to retrieve another branch.

  “Seriously, are there bears around here?”

  “Sure, bears live in the woods, but the chance of you seeing any is slim.” He stepped over a rock and picked up a thick branch. “You’re more likely to see snakes, spiders—”

  She spun around. “Sam!”

  He tugged her against him with his free hand. “Stop worrying. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” He sealed his promise with a kiss.

  When their arms were full, they carried the wood out of the forest and set it beside the fire pit.

  Sam brushed the slivers of wood and bark from her shirt. “We need to get you out of these wet clothes.”

  “Are you being thoughtful, or is that another ploy to get me naked?”

  He answered her with a devilish grin as he crouched and began steepling the wood into a teepee in the center of the fire pit. She didn’t know why she’d worried about what to pack, or even where to go to the bathroom. Like always, Sam had everything under control. And to him, having everything under control meant paying attention to what she needed first. She smiled with the thought, her mind drifting to their earlier conversation. When I think of tomorrow, I see you there with me, and I want to think about these things and where we’re headed. Sam was everything she could ever hope for in a man, even if he was the last man she’d ever expect to fall for. Unexpected Sam, she mused. My unexpected future? Her heart swelled with the thought.

  When he glanced up at her, his wet shirt and shorts clung to his chest and legs and his eyes clung to her. He blew her a kiss, and she lifted her hand and caught it, pressing her palm to her cheek. She disappeared into the tent to change before her heart spilled out in words. Sam had set their things beside the sleeping bags. She picked up a clean, fluffy towel he’d laid out for her and hugged it to her chest, reveling in his thoughtfulness.

  After changing, she stepped from the tent in the clothes Sam had bought her from Chelsea’s Boutique. The fire crackled and sparked in the dim evening light, and the reflection danced in Sam’s dark eyes. He turned, drinking her in as he rose to his feet and stripped off his shirt. He held it in his fist and gathered her in his arms.

  “There’s my sexy girl.”

  “Thanks for the towel.”

  “I’ll always take care of you.” He kissed her tenderly. “I love seeing you in this outfit. It reminds me of the night you chose me.”

  “How could I resist? It wasn’t like you’d back down, so I figured I might as well go with the flow.”

  “Is that what you’re doing? Going with the flow?”

  “I’m way past going with the flow.” I’m falling over a cliff. The words hung on her tongue. She changed the subject before they could fall out. “I half expected you to maul me when I was naked.”

  “I thought about it. ‘Fantasized’ might be a better word. But I knew you were nervous about big bad bears and thought I’d give you privacy.” He kissed her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. “The only wild animal you need to fear is the one inside me, begging to come out and play.”

  “That animal doesn’t scare me at all.”

  He leaned back and searched her eyes. She recognized the look in his eyes. He was looking for the clarity they’d spoken of earlier on in their relationship. He’d given her complete transparency from the very first moment he’d asked her out, and finally she was able to give him the same. She trusted him wholly and completely. How could he see anything else?

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his scruffy chin. “Crystal clear?”

  “You have no idea how much it means to me.”

  Fighting the lump in her throat, she said, “I do. It’s big to me, too.”

  “I’ll never let you down, baby.”

  “I know.” She pressed a kiss to the center of his chest. “Your skin is cold.”

  “I took my shirt off so I wouldn’t get you wet. Sit by the fire and warm up. I’ll change and make dinner in a few minutes. Oh, and see those bushes over there?” He pointed off to the right, just past the edge of the forest. “I put all the bathroom stuff back there. Dug a few holes, too, so if you had to go you wouldn’t have to dig.” He said it like only a man would, as if it were no big deal.

  She covered her face with her hand. “I’m blushing, aren’t I?”

  “Like a Christmas light.” He moved her hand and kissed the tip of her nose. “I won’t say anything more about bathroom stuff. We’ll pretend you never go.”

  She playfully pushed him toward the tent, planning to take advantage of the privacy and take care of her bathroom needs while he changed—and silently thanking the camping lords for making him so wise.

  **

  SAM GRILLED SAUSAGES and vegetables and served them over rice, earning bonus points from Faith with his campfire-cooking skills. The sun set in the distance as they ate, streaming ribbons of blues and purples through the darkening sky. Sam had always loved camping, but having this time alone with Faith, away from the demands of work and the confusion of family members and outside influences, made him cherish it even more.

  The river licked at the shore, and a cacophony of tree frogs, crickets, and other wilderness sounds joined the melody of Sam’s guitar as he strummed out James Otto’s “Groovy Little Summer Song.” Faith swayed next to him on the blanket beside the fire as he sang about a song they could dance to, one they could romance to, and fall in love to. His chest was full of emotions, playing out in his deep voice, and he realized he wasn’t just singing one of his favorite country tunes. He was singing it to Faith. Her gaze was also full of emotions—and clarity. The clarity he’d longed for was there all the time now, and it brought him to his feet. He felt the need to move, but not with the same restlessness he’d always felt. This was different. It was a deep-seated, unstoppable urge to move with Faith, to bring her further into his world. He reached for her hand, bringing her up beside him. His fingers fell back to the strings like they were coming home, and he picked up where he’d left off, dancing with Faith as he sang the words that were meant for her.

  She moved gracefully, with a hint of embarrassment in her beautiful eyes. He blew her a kiss and brushed his shoulders to hers, and her momentary shyness disappeared. Faith picked up on the chorus, singing softly with a voice so sweet Sam wanted to climb inside it and bed down for the night. He continued strumming long after he’d finished the song, just to see her move with the moonlight kissing her cheeks.

  “I’ve never heard that song before.”

  “No?” He set the guitar on the blanket and took her in his arms, lacing their fingers together, and continued dancing slowly to the beat still thrumming inside him.

  She tipped her face up to him, smiling. “I could listen to you sing all night long. Your voice is so soothing.”

  He touched his chee
k to hers and closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of their bodies moving as one. “It sounds that way to you because of how you feel about me.”

  “Does it, oh wise one?”

  They danced in silence for a few wonderful minutes without the need for more.

  “You calm the restlessness in me.” His words came unbidden, and once they started, they flowed like the river. “You center me in a way I don’t fully understand. When I’m not with you, I’m thinking about you.” He took her hand and they sat on the blanket. The warmth of the fire illuminated her beautiful face. He brushed her hair from her shoulder, unable to think any solid thoughts as words continued to come out. “When we’re together, I don’t want the time to end, which sounds cliché. But I’ve never felt these things before.”

  “Sure you have,” she said with a playful smile. “When you were sixteen.”

  He laughed under his breath. “Not even close.” He thought about that for a moment. “This is bigger, more real. What I feel for you isn’t hormone driven. Maybe it was at first. At sixteen I felt invincible. I never thought anyone would choose someone else over me. At almost thirty-one I know how wrong that is. People come along every day. Doctors, lawyers. People who are more a part of your world than I am.”

  “But I don’t want a doctor or lawyer—”

  He pressed a kiss to her lips. “I know that. I’m just saying that I’m no longer invincible. I have faults and weaknesses, and our relationship has brought home the reality of them. Faith, I’m falling in love with you.”

  Her eyes dampened as he let those words sink in, not just for her, but for him, too. He hadn’t expected the confession, but he wouldn’t have stopped it if he had.

  “Sam,” she whispered breathlessly.

  “You don’t have to say anything, but I couldn’t hold it back. You’re my weakness, my hidden fault line. I’m nowhere near perfect, and I know I’ll make mistakes.”

  Her brows knitted, and he knew she thought he meant the kind of mistakes she never wanted to be hurt by again.

  “I don’t mean cheating. I told you, those aren’t mistakes at all. Cheating takes a cognitive decision to hurt someone, and I’ll never do that to you. Ever. I mean mistakes people make every day. Telling you I’ll be home at a certain time and getting caught up at work. Or beating the daylights out of someone who says something disrespectful to you.”

  He’d added that last part to earn the smile she shared, but he also knew it was the truth. He’d do anything for her.

  “When you turned me down at the wedding and you asked if I’d already run through all the women there, it was like something inside me clicked. I didn’t want any of those women, Faith. I wanted you, and you made me question everything I knew about myself to earn your trust.”

  She dropped her eyes, and he lifted her chin and kissed her again.

  “I’m glad you did. You were right. I wasn’t worthy of you when I was running around. I didn’t know it then, but I needed you to turn me down, because in here”—he covered his heart with his hand—“I knew you deserved a better man than I had been up to that point. You deserve to know without a shadow of a doubt that you can count on your partner for anything—a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold. A friend to discuss your career and hobbies with, to laugh and tease and make love with under the stars. A man who will love you whether you gain fifty pounds or fall prey to terrible illness. A man you’ll never have to worry about lying, or cheating, or breaking your heart.”

  He took her face in his hands and gazed into her eyes. “I am that man, Faith. I am your man.”

  Serenaded by the sounds of nature and the sure and steady beat of their hearts, she reached for him. Love played in her soulful eyes, in the tenderness of her touch, as their mouths and their bodies came together, sealing his vow with their passion.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  FAITH AWOKE TO the mattress sinking beside her. Sam. It had been a week since the night of their camping trip, when Sam had given his heart over to her completely, and she’d been floating on a cloud ever since. She’d been too overwhelmed with emotions to tell him she was falling in love with him that night, and ever since she’d been waiting for the right moment. She wanted to give him as wonderful of a romantic memory as he’d given her. And over the past blissful week of evening walks, watching movies—and missing the endings because they were too lost in each other—and talking about their hopes and dreams, she tripped over the edge. She loved Sam, wholly and completely, and tonight was the night she was finally going to tell him, after his event was over, when he was still riding the high. She had every romantic second of it planned.

  She reached for him without opening her eyes.

  “Morning, beautiful.” He pressed his warm lips to hers as her eyes came open.

  He smelled like soap, and sunshine, and Sam. She blinked the sleep from her eyes, and his handsome face came into focus.

  “Hi. You showered without me?”

  “I went for a run and didn’t think you’d appreciate six miles’ worth of sweat.”

  “I love when we earn that sweat together,” she teased. Sitting up, she caught sight of her name above the Rough Riders logo in the center of his black tank top. Her heart kicked in her chest. She tugged at his shirt so she could read it more clearly.

  “’Faith’s Man?’”

  “I got you one, too.” He held up a matching tank top that read, Sam’s Girl.

  “Ohmygod, Sam.” She snagged it from his hands, grinning so hard her cheeks hurt. “I thought I was ‘Braden’s Girl.’”

  He gathered her against him. “There are going to be quite a few Bradens at the barbecue. I want it to be perfectly clear which one of us is lucky enough to be your man.”

  Her heart was so full of Sam she must be smiling like a lovesick fool. She didn’t care that Vivian would have a field day teasing her about their shirts or that every woman there would probably think she’d forced Sam to wear one. The fact that Sam would not only think of something like that, but proudly wear one himself, made her tumble head over heels for him anew.

  “You’re not going to be embarrassed to wear it at the barbecue with all your clients, friends, and family there?”

  “Baby, I’d wear you if I could.” He kissed her again, and she clung to his shirt, keeping him close.

  “Thank you for being so patient with me from the very first time you asked me out and for putting yourself out there in so many ways.”

  “We’ve both put ourselves out there.”

  “Not in the same way.”

  “Don’t minimize my girl’s efforts. You took a chance on the riskiest guy in town. That’s putting yourself out there. All I had to do was be the man I was born to be—only I never realized it until you came along.” He tugged her up to her feet and hugged her.

  “I need to get down to Rough Riders and you need to get home to meet Vivian or she’ll cut my balls off for monopolizing you. The barbecue starts at six. You sure you guys won’t be too busy gallivanting around town and forget?”

  “Not on your life, Mr. Braden.” She snagged the tank top from the bed. “Especially now that I have a swanky new shirt to wear.” She went up on her toes and kissed him. He latched on to her waist and took the kiss deeper.

  “I’ll miss you,” he said.

  “I’ll miss you, too. You sure you don’t want me to come earlier? I can have Vivian meet me there.”

  “It’s going to be complete mayhem during the day. Teenagers and young families, with no room to breathe on shore or in the water. Eight of Patrick’s friends are helping for the afternoon. Between them, Lira, Tex, and me, we’ll be fine, but we won’t have time for anything other than keeping kids from getting into trouble. Enjoy your time with Vivian. But I would like you by my side when the real event starts.” He looked down at his shirt. “You won’t leave your man hanging, will you?”

  My man. “With you is the only place I want to be.”

  **

  “THERE MUST BE two h
undred people here.” Vivian flipped her blond hair over one shoulder and scanned the crowded beach. They’d arrived at Rough Riders half an hour early and the beach was already packed.

  Faith scanned the crowd. She’d seen a number of motorcycles in the parking lot and wasn’t surprised to see Bullet and Dixie standing with a group of people by the boathouse. As they moved through the crowd, she saw Bones talking with Cole and Leesa. The polo shirt Bones wore covered his tattoos. Without his ink on display, or the rugged jeans and leather boots, he looked more like a doctor than a guy who hung out in—and owned—a biker bar. It was nice to see that side of Sam’s life mingling with the more public side.

  “How will you find Sam?” Vivian asked. “Maybe he should have had blinking lights sewn into those shirts.”

  “Shut up.” Vivian had been teasing her about her Sam’s Girl shirt all afternoon. “I’ll find him. Come on.”

  They wound through the crowd surrounded by the aroma of grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, sounds of laughter, and the hum of excited conversations. Faith listened for Sam’s voice. If only she were taller, she could look over the crowd, but as it was, she was staring at chests and backs and tops of children’s heads.

  “Faith! Vivian!”

  Faith whipped her head around. Lira waved and pushed through the crowd. She wore a Rough Riders T-shirt and a wide, beaming smile that made her look like a whole different person than she had at the car wash. Her skin was radiant, and she no longer looked broken. Faith hugged her, trying to keep threatening tears from falling. Sam really had given Lira a new lease on life.

  “Isn’t this amazing?” Lira said. “I can’t believe how many people turned out. Sam said it’s the biggest event yet by at least eighty or more people, and he attributed it to my efforts.” She squealed and hugged Faith and Vivian again. “Thank you so much for having that car wash! That day changed my whole life. Sam offered me a full-time job this morning.”

  “Congratulations!” Faith hugged her again. “I’m so happy for you. So you’re really going to move here?”