* * *
Buttoning the cuffs of a new dress shirt—cuff links would probably be excessive for a woman like Susan—Sam looked in the mirror and thought of his teary departure from Mindy just a few hours ago.
Oh, Angelica had comforted her, all too well. It made him realize how much Mindy needed a female figure in her life. And while he wanted to go forward with his plan to be single, this whole camp thing had put him back in doubt. Mindy needed a mom.
And there was the additional question: with Mindy gone, what was he supposed to do with himself this weekend? He didn’t even get to go pick Mindy up because Troy was going to the camp to visit Xavier and had offered to bring Mindy home.
I’ll keep you company, Susan had said in her throaty voice. He used water to tame his unruly hair and then decided he should shave after all, and took off the shirt so he wouldn’t get anything on it. Man, he was acting like a teenager. He’d been on so many dates. Why was this one such a big deal?
Because it’s Susan.
Susan, who was completely inappropriate for him. Susan, who wouldn’t fall into line easily with any of his plans, for Mindy or otherwise. Susan, who was way too full of opinions and ideas of her own.
Susan, whose hair was like silk and whose laughter was like jazz music, rich and complex.
Susan, the very thought of whom made his heart rate speed up.
He had it bad.
* * *
Susan sat back in her soft and comfortable chair at Chez La Ferme. “You really want to hear that story?” she asked.
“I’m curious why your engagement ended, but if you don’t want to talk about it, it’s okay. I want this evening to be fun for you, not bringing up unpleasant memories.”
“No, it’s okay.” Susan was surprised at how comfortable she felt. Oh, there’d been a few awkward moments at first, like when he’d come to her door. She’d seen Sam in a suit before, but tonight, knowing he’d dressed up for her, she found him devastatingly handsome.
And when he’d seen her, he’d offered a simple “You look great,” but the way his eyes had darkened had sent the heat rushing to her cheeks.
Men didn’t usually look at her that way, as if she was gorgeous. It took some getting used to, but...she could get used to it. Could learn to love it.
Even so, she’d gone into the meal with her guard up, determined to keep her distance. But Sam, with his pleasant, non-threatening conversation, gentle questions and self-deprecating jokes, had ruthlessly displayed his charm, causing her to drop that guard right back down.
“So, your engagement?” he prompted.
She’d keep it light, in line with the rest of the evening. “We actually broke up in Infinite. That super-exclusive department store in LA?”
He looked surprised. “I’m familiar with it.”
“Well then, you can imagine the scene. Frank, his mother, the high-powered registry consultant and me, in their bridal registry salon.” She squirmed, remembering. “Not my kind of place.”
“You seem more the casual type.”
“Exactly. But he and his mom and the consultant were trying to get me to register for formal china and super-expensive linens, stuff none of my friends could afford.” She shook her head. “I saw my mom’s life flashing before my eyes, you know? Trying to live up to somebody else’s dream, trying to make a man happy when he couldn’t be pleased.”
He nodded, actually seeming interested in her rambling story. “What did you do?”
“Well, I...I’d read about how you can just have charitable donations at your wedding instead of gifts.”
“That’s usually something older couples do, right? People that already have what they need to set up housekeeping?”
She shrugged. “We had what we needed. Especially compared to the kids who could benefit from donations to Children International, which is the group I decided I wanted our guests to donate to. Frank made plenty of money.”
“Okay...”
“So I...kind of stood up and said we were done at Infinite, that we weren’t going to do a bridal registry after all.”
He arched an eyebrow. “I guess that didn’t go over well.”
“It didn’t.” She reflected back on the scene, the horror on the saleswoman’s face, the identical disapproval on Frank’s and his mother’s. “It wasn’t that they didn’t like charity, it was that such things weren’t done among their friends. We ended up yelling—well, I did—and I got kicked out of Infinite, and Frank was totally embarrassed, and then he didn’t want to marry me anymore.”
“And were you heartbroken?” he asked, the tiniest twinkle in his eye.
“No.” She’d been hurt, of course, and her mother had been furious, but mostly, she’d felt relieved. “It made me realize how different we were, and that I could never have made him happy.” And she was done talking about it and wanted to change the subject. “I ate too much tonight. That was really good.”
He waved for the check and smiled at her. “I overdid it, too. Maybe we need a walk?”
“Sure.”
“Was everything okay, you guys?” Tawny, their server, asked as she handed Sam the check. “It’s so great to see you guys here! I can’t get over it. And I’m learning how to stand up for myself better, Susan. What you did to that one jerk really made a difference to me.”
Sam’s pen, signing the check, slowed down, and he glanced up at Susan and raised an eyebrow.
She felt herself blushing. “I’m glad,” she said, smiling at the girl, who did seem a little more mature than at the beginning of the summer. “You did a good job tonight. You’re a better waitress than I’ll ever be.”
“Aw, thank you!”
Tawny hurried away as Max, the restaurant owner and Susan’s former boss, approached their table. “I trust everything was satisfactory, Mr. Hinton?”
He looked up, winked at her. “Ask the lady.”
Which put her former boss in the position of having to treat her as a valued customer. Ha! It felt so gratifying that she had to be gracious about it. “It was fantastic, Max. And it’s a lot easier from this side of the table. Tawny’s a good waitress.”
After another minute of small talk, Sam made some subtle sign of dismissal and turned to Susan. “Ready for a walk?” he asked with just the faintest hint of wolfishness.
Suddenly, she wasn’t sure, but she didn’t want to let her nerves show. “Sounds good.”
He held her elbow as she stood and helped her drape her lacy shawl around her shoulders. “How are your shoes?” he asked, looking down.
She held one out for him to see and was glad she’d painted her toenails to match her dress. “Wedges. Very comfortable.”
“Good.” He ushered her out of the restaurant with a hand on her back, nodding to a couple of patrons.
“You know,” she said as soon as they were out in the parking lot, “we might’ve just started a whole lot of gossip.”
“I didn’t see Miss Minnie Falcon,” Sam said with a smile.
“No, but that lady with the white updo? That’s one of Miss Minnie’s best friends. She’ll describe us, and the news will be all over the Senior Towers.” She frowned. “Not to mention that Tawny’s a talker.”
“You think people are that interested?”
“In you, yes. Everyone cares about who the local millionaire takes to dinner.” By unspoken agreement, they’d started strolling away from town, down a dirt road between two fields, one planted with corn and one with soybeans. The rural fragrances blew on a warm breeze, pungent.
“I’ve taken a good number of guests to dinner there,” Sam said. “It shouldn’t be that noteworthy.”
“Good to know I’m part of a crowd.” She meant the remark to be a joke, but it came out sounding hurt.
He heard it, clearly,
and put an arm around her shoulders. “I can truthfully say I’ve never had more fun.” He squeezed her to his side. “You’re a great conversationalist. I really like being with you.”
“Thanks.” Timidly, she put an arm around his waist, and her heart rate shot into the stratosphere, so she let it drop, pretending she’d just meant a quick hug. “I had a good time, too.” She hesitated, then added, “I’m glad we’re friends.”
He turned to face her and took her hands in his. “Is that what we are, Susan? Friends?”
She looked up at him, noticing the way the moonlight highlighted the planes of his face. “Aren’t we?”
He drew in a breath. “I’m...trying to figure that out.” He looked to the side, across the cornfield, for a long moment and then looked back at her. “The thing is, I can’t seem to get around this feeling I have for you. I’ve tried. I’ve told myself we’re opposites, that it wouldn’t work. I’ve tried to connect with women who are more my type. But it’s not working, and I’ve got to admit to myself...” He leaned in. “I’ve got to admit, I’m falling in love with you.”
Susan’s heart fluttered madly, like a caged songbird, and she couldn’t seem to catch her breath. This was the moment she’d never thought to have. Shouldn’t she be thrilled? Why did she feel so confused?
She replayed what he’d said in her mind.
“I know you’re your own woman and think your own way,” he went on, “but I’m wondering if you might put some of that aside for Mindy and me.”
The mention of Mindy pushed Susan’s questions away for a minute. Mindy was a wonderful little girl, so easy to love.
But Sam... She looked up at him, biting her lip.
His smile told her he already knew what her reaction would be.
Because after all, when did the poor teacher from a messed-up family say no to the handsome millionaire?
He leaned down as if he was going to kiss her, and she took a giant step back. Back from him, and back from the confusion he was causing her.
Having her hands free from his felt better. Safer. She propped one on her hip. “So you overcame your scruples and fell in love against your better judgment? And I’m supposed to be grateful, and give up being my own woman, and put my own needs and plans aside?”
“I didn’t mean it that way.” Behind him, clouds skittered across the moon.
Her heart was still pounding, almost as if she was afraid. But she wasn’t afraid, was she? She was angry. “Haven’t you ever read Pride and Prejudice?”
Her tone pushed the romantic expression from his eyes. “No.”
“Well, if you had, you’d know that this type of a declaration leaves a little bit to be desired,” she snapped.
He shook his head as if to clear it. “Wait. I did something wrong, and I have no idea what it is.”
“Seriously, Sam?” She put her hands on her hips. “You practically told me how bad you feel about...” She couldn’t say it. Couldn’t acknowledge that he’d said he was falling in love with her.
Couldn’t believe it.
“Wait a minute.” He put his hands on her shoulders, trapping her. “I’m not saying I was right to try to date a certain type of woman. I’m just saying that getting over my past tendencies has been a process. And at the other side of the process...” He bent his head to one side and a crooked smile came onto his face. “At the other side of the process, was you.”
She bit her lip. “I wasn’t just standing here waiting for you, Sam. I’m not going to fall into your arms just because you’ve figured a few things out.”
“And I wouldn’t expect you to.” He squeezed her shoulders, then let them go and took her hand, urging her to walk a little further. “I know it’ll take time and courtship and compromise. I’m just hoping we can do that, is all.”
And drat if she didn’t still hear that certainty in his voice. She could read his thoughts: there’s no way Susan could say no to me.
She walked along the dirt road beside him, fuming. This was exactly why she didn’t want to get involved with a man. All this scary emotion, all this confusion. All this feeling of hearing his words and trying to interpret what he meant. It made her stomach hurt.
Best to just be alone. She’d always said it, always known it about herself, and here was exhibit A.
She walked faster.
Until she felt a hand on her shoulder, pressing down, stopping her. “Susan. Wait.”
“What?” she asked impatiently without turning around.
Sam stepped in front of her so she couldn’t proceed. He looked down at her. “What I really want,” he said, “is to kiss you.”
She opened her mouth to refuse, and she was going to, for sure. But then she saw that a muscle was twitching under his eye.
Was he nervous?
Sam, the millionaire, nervous?
She cocked her head to one side, looking at him. He’d certainly put on a good show of being the dominant, successful male, but now that she studied him, she could see other signs. The hand he brushed through his hair. The slight uncertainty in his eyes. The way that when his hand reached out to touch her cheek, she could see it trembling just a little.
Now that was different. Sam was so accustomed to putting on a show of confidence in the business world that maybe he didn’t know how to conduct himself in the personal world. Maybe he was used to pushing and acting cocky because that’s what worked in doing deals. Maybe he didn’t know how annoying that trait was when you were trying to declare your feelings to a woman.
“Do you...do you have any of those feelings for me, too?” He was still touching her cheek. And there was still a slight quiver in his hand. “Look, I don’t pretend to understand you, or to know exactly how to make this work—”
She reached up and pulled his face down to hers and kissed him.
At least she started to. She started to assume the leadership role, but he quickly took it back, and their connection was a give and take, sweet and intense and...electrifying.
Susan didn’t want it to stop, but she felt as if she might pass out if it went on, so she took a step back and stared at him. “Wow.”
He nodded slowly, never letting go of her eyes. “Wow.”
Then he pulled her to his side and put an arm around her shoulders and they walked together in the direction of the car.
Just like before, only everything was completely different.
Everything was new.
Driving home, the air in the car felt pregnant with possibilities. Susan had never felt anything like those moments with Sam. Not when she was engaged; not on any other dates. Not ever.
And the slight bit of insecurity that he’d shown made her feel as if she knew him better than ever before. That she’d gotten to know another side of the arrogant millionaire. A side she liked better. A side she wanted to know better.
When they pulled up to the house, she wondered if he’d kiss her again. Wondered if her heart could stand it, or if it would race right out of control.
But there was no chance to find out. Because there, sitting in the glow of the headlights, was a familiar figure. “Sam?” she asked, hearing the shrillness at her own voice. “What on earth is my mother doing here?”
Chapter Ten
Still reeling from the intensity of kissing Susan, from the emotions that swelled his heart, Sam climbed out of the car, looking from Susan to her mother and back again. Two more different women could scarcely be imagined.
Where Susan looked funky and individualistic, her mother looked perfectly proper. Hair in a neat, curly style, impeccable makeup, nails done.
He opened the car door for Susan and reached down to help her climb out. Sports cars weren’t always the easiest for women to navigate in a dress.
“I’m sorry to just show up here,” Mrs. Hayashi
said, hurrying toward them, then stopping a few feet away. “I tried to call when I got in to Columbus, but I couldn’t get through.”
Susan fumbled in her purse for her phone. “I’m sorry, Mom. It was off.”
“You’ve been out? Somewhere dressy?” There were questions in the older woman’s voice. “What have you gotten on your shoes, Susie?”
Susan looked down, and so did Sam. “We took a walk,” Susan said, coloring deeply.
The two women still hadn’t hugged.
Mrs. Hayashi shot him a quick glance, and heat rose in Sam’s face, too. Of course, a mother would wonder where her daughter’s employer had taken her, and why, and what his intentions were.
If only he knew the answers.
The moon cast a silvery light, making jewels across Susan’s dark hair. A chorus of cicadas chirped in rising and falling waves, punctuated by a dog barking somewhere down the road. New-mown grass sent its tangy summer smell from next door.
“Well, I’m forgetting my manners.” The woman approached Sam and held out her hand. “I’m Madolyn Hayashi, Susie’s mom. It was so kind of you to send me that airline ticket—”
“You sent her an airline ticket?” Susan’s jaw dropped.
“I had the extra miles,” Sam tried to explain. “And I overheard you talking about how you wanted to do that. I just thought I could speed it up a little and give you a nice surprise.”
Susan shot him a glare, and he had the feeling that, if her mother weren’t here, she’d have kicked him. “Mom,” she said, “I was going to send you a ticket next week. I’ve been saving. You didn’t have to take his.”
“It was no problem.” Sam wasn’t sure what he’d done wrong. Was Susan upset that he’d sent her mom a ticket without telling her? Or was it that she didn’t want her mom around?
“It was supposed to be for you to take a vacation,” Susan went on. “For you to do something relaxing, now that you have a break from Donny.”
“Oh, honey, I wanted to see you, not go to a spa!” Almost hesitantly, she stepped closer.
And then the two women lurched into a hug that started out awkward and then lingered long enough to get close. “I missed you so much,” Mrs. Hayashi said finally, stepping back to hold Susan’s hands. “Especially since Donny’s away. I started thinking about things, things I’ve done wrong.”
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