After the Dawn

by Francis Ray

  He was lost in the pleasure they gave each other. They went over together, with her name on his lips, his on hers.

  * * *

  Their bodies touching from breast to thigh, sharing a pillow, Dillon and Samantha stared at each other. He enjoyed the smile, the contentment, on her face. “I never thought we’d be together like this again.”

  “My fault.” She kissed his chin. “That’s behind us now. When it’s time for you to leave, I’ll be sad, but I’ll understand.”

  Unexpectedly, he felt a stab of annoyance. His eyes narrowed.

  She cocked her head to one side. “I’m almost afraid to ask why the scary face.”

  “We just got back together, and you’re ready to wave me good-bye.”

  Sighing, she stroked his chest with the pads of her fingertips. “I just don’t want you to feel trapped. Marlene helped me understand and reminded me that it wasn’t too long ago that the last place on earth I wanted to be was Elms Fork. Now, I can’t imagine being anyplace else, and I understand now why I never felt content anyplace else. For me, this is home.”

  “And I can’t imagine living here permanently.” His hand closed over hers as shadows darkened her eyes. He felt her tremble. “But no woman has ever had me as angry and as mixed up as you have. I certainly never wanted one more.”

  Sam grinned. “Really?”

  He smiled at the pleased look on her face. He liked making her happy. “Really, but don’t let it go to your head.”

  Stern-faced, she shook her head. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

  Dillon chuckled. “Somehow I don’t believe you.”

  She gave him a quick kiss on the mouth. “Shows how smart you are.”

  Dillon had always thought so, but becoming involved with a woman he couldn’t get off his mind wasn’t smart. Yet he was incapable of walking away from her and staying away. He worried about her almost as much as he wanted her. “Did you eat today?”

  Her gaze flicked away. “A dozen chocolate-chip cookies. And before you say anything, I was in a funk because we were at odds, and that’s how I handled it.”

  His hand tenderly swept over her hair. He liked touching her, holding her. “You never order them when we get take-out.”

  “Because too many will go straight to my hips.”

  Grinning, he ran his hand over her butt. “I’d say you don’t have to worry about that. It’s my favorite cookie.”

  “I know. You told me when we met for the first time at the bakery.”

  “You were with your mother.”

  Her eyes widened with delight, then narrowed in anger. “And you were with that shameless woman. She was clinging to you like wet tissue paper in those disgraceful short shorts and a nothing top.”

  “I can hardly remember her, let alone what she had on,” he said with a total lack of interest. “How can you?”

  She eyed him. “You’ll get an even bigger head if I tell you.”

  His eyes narrowed suspiciously as seconds ticked by. “You had a crush on me.”

  Sam lifted one shoulder in dismissal. “At thirteen, I was an impressionable young girl.”

  His finger turned her face toward his. “You were already growing into a beautiful woman like your mother. The night of your prom, even knowing you were trying to seduce me because you wanted to forget you’d lost your parents, it took a hard talk with myself to take you home.”

  Her eyes shut briefly, then opened. “I missed them, wanted to forget, but despite all the talk about you being related to me, I couldn’t get you out of my mind and I was just tipsy enough to be able to blame my seduction attempts on the alcohol.”

  “Your mom and dad were good people.” He screwed up his face. “Unlike Evan and his wife.”

  “I don’t think they even like each other,” Sam admitted quietly.

  “Probably not. They’re both selfish and think they’re better than anyone else. They let me know the first time I met them that I was dirt.”

  Gently, she touched his arm. “I’m sorry.”

  “Long ago and forgotten.”

  Samantha wondered. She might have gotten past her bad memories of Elms Fork, but she didn’t think Dillon had. “I’m hungry. Besides the grilled chicken, your mother baked an Italian cream cake.”

  Dillon threw back the covers and got out of bed. “I’ll go fix us something.”

  Samantha took a moment to enjoy the view of all those sleek naked muscles and prime butt before sitting up to hold the sheet over her breasts with one hand while she tried to move the covers around with the other. “I’ll help.”

  “What are you looking for?”

  She felt her face heat, but she answered, “Lingerie.”

  Dillon grunted, picked up his shirt, and handed it to her. “You won’t need that until morning.”

  * * *

  When dawn came, Dillon quietly let himself out of the cottage. He would have liked to wake Sam up, but that would have led to another round of lovemaking. A kiss on her bare shoulder had to do. There was no way he was taking a chance that Evan would find out about them.

  In his car, he slowly turned around and drove with the lights off until he hit the street. He wasn’t ashamed to be with her, but if Evan found out, he’d give her grief. If it was in Dillon’s power, he was going to make her life happier. He’d never felt this strong need to protect and keep safe any other woman except his mother.

  He wasn’t going to worry about his feelings or try to analyze them. He had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to.

  Turning into his mother’s driveway, he drove around back. In all of his craziness while in high school, he’d always managed to drag his behind home before dawn. Cell phones weren’t as popular in those days, and with his reputation, he knew she’d worry.

  In college he might hang out all night, but never when he came home. He was too aware of the neighbors waiting to crucify him and tell his mother that he was still headed to jail. She had defended him enough to last two lifetimes.

  Roman was right about one thing, people in the town really liked her. She’d been able to overcome their harsh and unfair belief about her. He didn’t plan to do anything that might change their minds.

  Getting out of his car, Dillon wondered if Roman had stayed last night, then decided he didn’t want to go there.

  He unlocked the back door, went through the kitchen and started for his room, then switched direction to the other wing of the house, to his mother’s bedroom. She’d known why he’d torn out of there last night, wouldn’t have worried, but still …

  The flameless candles were off. The little alcove lay in shadows; the bedroom door was open.

  He wasn’t sure he wanted to go in. He was a grown man, but she’d know what he’d been doing, whom he’d been doing it with. Strangely, his concern was for Sam. It wasn’t likely his mother would treat her differently or think less of her. They were both single adults.

  The thought had no more formed than it ran through his mind that his mother and Roman were single adults.

  “Dillon.” Light chased away the shadows in the alcove.

  “Yeah.” Dillon entered the bedroom. His mother sat up in bed, her eyes searching his. “Is everything all right?”

  He sat on the side of the bed, stared down at his shoes. “Sam and I worked things out.”

  “I’m glad.” She brushed her hand over his head as if he were a little boy. “I like Samantha. She’s a wonderful and beautiful young woman.”

  His head came up and he was grinning. “She is, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, she is,” his mother said. “I’m glad you were able to work things out.”

  “For now.” He came to his feet, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “One day I’ll leave.”

  “Then enjoy to the fullest every second you have with her,” his mother said. “Make it count.”

  He stared down at her. “Is that what you’re doing with Roman?”

  She glanced away.

  He reached fo
r her. “I didn’t say it to embarrass you. I just don’t want you hurt.”

  Finally she looked at him. “He’s already told me that when the job is over he still plans to see me.”

  “He said you make him happier. I think it’s the same way with you.”

  “He annoys me at times, and then…” She lifted her shoulders helplessly.

  “The same with Sam. She tried to outstare me, challenge me, in Vegas,” he recalled. “I was ready to leave her in the hotel, but I couldn’t.”

  “You really like her.”

  “Yeah. You really like him.”

  “Yeah.”

  Dillon stared at his mother; she stared back. A word leaped into his mind, but he refused to say it aloud. From his mother’s huge eyes, she was thinking the same thing.

  “Don’t worry about breakfast. I think I’ll call Sam and see if she wants to grab a bite at the Golden Griddle. You want to come with us?”

  “Roman is picking me up at seven thirty for breakfast there, and then bringing me home after work.” She seemed almost embarrassed.

  “What? No lunch date?” Dillon teased, enjoying his mother’s blushes.

  “It’s Billy’s birthday. We’re having pizza.”

  Dillon laughed, leaned down, and kissed his mother on the cheek. “Whoever gets there first will save a table for four. Deal?”

  “Deal.”

  Seventeen

  Samantha and Dillon arrived first because he’d called her at six-thirty on her cell phone to make sure she didn’t oversleep. They’d quickly decided they’d rather talk face-to-face.

  After Samantha disconnected the call, she had hurriedly showered and dressed, glad she’d had the forethought to bring clothes and toiletries to the cottage. She got in her car and hurriedly drove to the restaurant. When she pulled up she saw Dillon, his long, muscled jeans-clad legs crossed, arms folded across a wide chest, waiting for her.

  She parked beside him, got out, and he was there. She didn’t think, she just curved her arms around his neck and enjoyed the kiss. “Good morning.”

  “There went keeping this from your uncle.” Dillon didn’t have to look around to know they’d been seen. The restaurant was a popular place for breakfast.

  “Last night I might have wanted to keep this between us, but not any longer.” She grinned. “Besides, you’re too yummy to resist.”

  “Something tells me that you might be a handful.”

  “Make that two.” Taking his hand, she led the way inside the restaurant.

  The hostess stared from her to Dillon. Samantha felt like sticking out her chest and saying, “Mine.”

  “Table for two?”

  “Four,” Dillon told her. “Another couple will be joining us.”

  “This way.”

  Samantha felt Dillon’s hand at the small of her back, the stares of the people. Talk of them would be all over town by midday. She couldn’t care less. She took the seat he held and accepted the menu. “Marlene and Roman joining us?”

  “Yeah. They have a breakfast date. He’s also taking her home from work,” Dillon said. “I’m not sure if they’re going out or staying in.”

  “Doesn’t matter as long as they’re together.”

  “Yeah.” He understood that now.

  “Good morning. You folks ready to order?” the waiter asked.

  “Sam?”

  “The breakfast supreme with pan sausages, hash browns, large orange juice, coffee, and lots of strawberry jelly.”

  “I’ll have the same.” He handed his menu to the waiter.

  “How was the trip yesterday?” Samantha asked, with a grin. “I forgot to ask last night.”

  He grinned back. “We had our minds on other things.”

  “I picked up a new client who wants me to work on his Lamborghini and another I hope to see for the last time.” He folded his arms on the table and told her about the wife sneaking to drive her husband’s car when he was out of town.

  “Your drinks.” The waitress placed their water, juice, and coffee on the table. “The food will be here shortly.”

  “Thanks.” Sam picked up her juice, slipped off her shoe, and ran her foot up Dillon’s leg. He barely kept from jumping. “Surely she can find a time to ask him to drive the car when he’d find it difficult to refuse.”

  Dillon snatched up his glass of water and took a long swallow. Heaven help him if Sam asked to drive his car while they were in bed. “You wouldn’t do that, would you?” She smiled, and he knew if she did, he’d be in danger of giving her anything she wanted. “Sam?”

  She placed her glass on the table and sat back in her chair. “I believe in playing fair. You’ll let me drive the Ferrari because you want to, not because I asked you in a weak moment. Especially knowing there will be times I’d be just as vulnerable. You can be quite impressive.”

  “The same goes for you,” he told her. She made him hard with just a look.

  “Then I’d say we’re two lucky people.” Sam nodded toward the entrance. “I’d say they’re lucky as well.”

  Dillon followed the direction of her gaze and saw his mother and Roman approaching. While she was smiling, Roman looked annoyed. Dillon stood, holding the chair for her. “Hi.”

  “Good morning,” Sam greeted them.

  “Good morning, Samantha,” Marlene returned as she took her seat.

  “Everything all right?” Dillon asked. His easygoing friend had yet to smile.

  “Good morning. Depends.” Roman took his seat. “Go ahead and tell him.”

  Marlene glanced sideways at Roman. “His engine light came on in his car a couple of houses down from mine. It took some doing, but I finally talked him into letting me take a look.”

  Dillon was puzzled. Roman wasn’t a chauvinist. “Mama is a great mechanic.”

  “I didn’t want her getting dirty,” he explained.

  “That was hardly going to happen,” Marlene said. “Your car’s engine looks as if it just rolled off the showroom floor.”

  “Dad taught all of us to take care of our cars on the inside and outside,” he murmured.

  “It shows,” Marlene said. “Without putting it on the machine I can’t be sure, but my money’s on the alternator.”

  “If Marlene says it’s the alternator, it’s the alternator,” Sam said. “She diagnosed my problem in no time.”

  “Is that why you’re out of sorts?” Dillon asked. “Because Marlene knew what was wrong with your car?”

  Roman asked a passing waitress for two menus before slanting a look at Dillon. “I thought you knew me better than that.”

  “Then what?”

  Roman grimaced. “You should understand. I don’t like my car being down. I’m used to driving it, enjoy driving it.”

  Marlene patted his shoulder in sympathy. “A flatbed wrecker is coming to pick up the Porsche and take it to his dealer.”

  “The car has never given me a moment’s problem since I special ordered it two years ago. Now, when I need it most, it decided to stop,” Roman muttered. “Marlene and I had plans for tomorrow. We were going to the nursery after she looked at my yard. I thought we might go the Arboretum. I need my car.”

  “I can just as easily drive up and we can use my car.”

  Roman was shaking his head before she finished. “You are not getting on the highway after dark to drive back home.”

  “I’ve driven from Dallas after dark before,” she said.

  He faced her. “You’re not doing it this time.”

  Marlene blinked and her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t refute what he said.

  Dillon coughed to disguise a laugh and saw Sam trying to disguise her own laugh. His mother usually had her way. It was clear that when it came to her safety, Roman was having his. “I’ll take you by the car rental agency before we go to the plant. Hopefully, they’ll have an SUV.”

  “Here’s some menus for you folks and water.” The waitress took their orders and left. Almost immediately Dillon and Samantha
were served their food.

  “Please eat while your food is hot,” his mother told them.

  Sam said grace and picked up her fork. “The rental selection here is not going to be that good.”

  Roman nodded. “You’re probably right. If I can’t get what I want, I’ll take anything. In the meantime, I’ll reserve an SUV in Dallas to use while we’re there, then drive the rental from here back.”

  “Men and their cars,” Marlene said.

  Roman turned to her. “You think I’m overreacting, don’t you?”

  “No. You planned the weekend, and now there’s a glitch. But things happen,” Marlene told him with quiet understanding. “You shouldn’t worry. We’re not going to let car problems ruin our day. We’ll do everything you planned and then some.”

  Roman’s gaze narrowed on her face, then a slow smile spread across his. He took her hand and kissed her fingertips. “You know, you’re amazing.”

  Dillon fully expected his gossip-conscious mother to snatch her hand away and snap at Roman for the public display of affection. He almost fell off his chair when her fingers curled tenderly over Roman’s fingers.

  “You’re just now figuring that out?” Marlene said with a lifted brow.

  Roman laughed and leaned toward Marlene. Dillon cleared his throat. His mother blushed. Roman straightened and grinned.

  Dillon couldn’t hold back his own smile. Sam was right, his mother and Roman were lucky as well. He couldn’t be happier for them.

  * * *

  Shortly after dark, Roman’s day was only marginally better. Elms Fork’s only car rental agency wouldn’t have a car available until closing at nine—if the person returned the car on time. Since he couldn’t get a rental till then, he decided to work through lunch to try to finish the audit.

  Leaning back in his chair, he stared at the name on the computer screen. The thief who’d systematically stolen over a million dollars from Collins in the past three years. Roman had already called Dillon to let him know the report was finished. He and Samantha were on their way.

  Roman reached for his cell phone and punched in Marlene’s number. Just the thought of hearing her voice, seeing her later, made the stiffness in his muscles fade away.