At the first lull in the conversation, Sam reached next to her and took Elizabeth’s hand in her own. “Honey, there’s something I want to ask you.”
“Okay.”
“How would you feel about living with Leo and me?”
Sam heard Leo’s sharp intake of breath and glanced at him. His expression was a mixture of relief and satisfaction. She smiled at him.
Elizabeth’s squeal directed her attention back to the little girl. “Yes, I do want to live with you!”
Sam smiled. “It will take a bit of time, but as soon as we get back, I’ll have Janice work on it.”
Elizabeth bounced up and down in her seat. “So you’ll be my mommy?”
Sam’s eyes smarted. “Yes, honey. I’ll be your mommy.”
Elizabeth cast a bashful, yet awed look at Leo. “And…and you’ll be my daddy?” She asked in a little voice.
“Yes, little one,” Leo said, his voice curiously gruff.
An hour later, they were dropping Elizabeth back at the orphanage and to Janice’s delight, Sam signed the necessary documents to get her adoption for Elizabeth under way.
As Sam drove away with Leo, she leaned back in her seat and sighed with happiness.
She had made the right choice and her life with Leo would officially start now.
Chapter Ten
Sam pointed to a spot on the curb. “Park right there, Leo. My shop’s two stores down. I hope Toni’s still there. Everyone is closing up now.”
Leo hadn’t seen his sister in one year and he was looking forward to spending some time with her. He gave Sam a quick, sideways glance and noted her calm countenance. Leo was pleased. Sam was happy with all the decisions they made today. His heart warmed as he thought of Elizabeth and he knew without a doubt he would love her as his own.
“This is a rather quaint little street,” he remarked, taking in the lamp posts and potted curbs.
“Mm, I love it here. The winters could be harsh, but there’s no chill a good cup of hot chocolate can’t cure.”
Leo parked the car. A few moments later, he opened Sam’s door and helped her out. He smiled down at her, but she wasn’t looking at him. She was smiling at something behind him.
“Ken!” she exclaimed. “How are you?”
Leo turned around and saw a tall, dark haired man with a grin pasted on his face, approaching Sam. The man hugged Sam and kissed her on the cheek. Leo stiffened.
Sam gazed up at the man, her eyes dancing with joy. “My goodness. I haven’t seen you in ages. Did you just get back into town?”
“Yup. Arrived from Boston last week to see my parents. Your shop was the first place I visited. Sorry to hear about the fire, sweetie.”
Leo’s tension mounted. If that guy called Sam sweetie again, he was going to clobber him.
Sam took Leo’s hand. “Ken, I want you to meet Leo Stefanos. Leo this is Ken Birks. His dad owns the hardware store next to my shop.”
Leo extended his hand and took in Ken’s brief moment of surprise. Was that also disappointment Leo caught on the man’s face. They shook hands.
“You’re Toni’s brother, right?” Ken asked.
“Yes, I am,” Leo replied.
“I can see the resemblance.” Ken smiled at Sam. “Hey, listen. I’m in town for a few weeks and I would love to get together with you.”
“That would be great. I’d like that,” Sam said, to Leo’s mounting annoyance. He kept his gaze fastened on Ken.
“I’ve been hearing people all over town mentioning they can’t wait for you to reopen your shop,” Ken said, grinning at Sam. “Don’t forget, you still owe me a dinner.”
Sam laughed. “Hey, that game was rigged. You had the clerk remove all the lighter balls.”
Leo lifted a brow. “My guess is bowling?”
Ken smiled at him. “You got that right. Our Sam here has never lost a game. I had to do something to even the odds.” Ken reached out and affectionately touched her arm. “I have to go, honey. I’m meeting some buddies at the pub.” He gave Leo a nod. “Nice to meet you, Leo.”
“The pleasure was all mine,” Leo said dryly, unable to hide his irritation. When Ken called Sam honey, he started to see red.
Ken nodded politely and glanced back at Sam. “It was great to see you.” He hugged her again and gave her another kiss on the cheek. “Call me.”
“Okay,” Sam said, smiling.
Leo watched her stare after Ken’s back as he strolled away.
“A friend of yours?” He asked.
“Yes. A dear friend. I haven’t seen him in ages. He moved to Boston on business four months ago.”
“What does he do?”
“Ken’s an Engineer. Oh look, the light is still on in my shop. I think Toni is still there. You’ll get to see her,” she said, walking to one of the stores lining the sidewalk.
Leo would have liked to discuss this Ken in more detail, but Sam was already walking through her door. He followed her in, the door chimes tinkling above him.
“Toni, are you here?” Sam called out.
Leo looked up and saw his sister come out from a back room. For a brief moment, he forgot about the man who had his paws all over his woman and stared at his sister. He missed her, he thought, watching her walk toward them with a smile on her face. His gaze dropped to the cast on her arm and he tightened his jaw when he heard Sam’s quick intake of breath. He snapped a concerned gaze to her face. The cast was a result of one of Sam’s less than perfect readings last week. He drew an arm around her shoulder and she looked up at him with a flash of shame in her eyes. Leo’s concern for Sam almost made him forget the dinner Ken thought he was going to have her. Almost, but not quite. Hades would have to freeze over before he let that man take Sam out for dinner.
“Sam. Leo. What a nice surprise!” Toni hugged them with her good arm. “Oh, stop it, Sam. I can see it on your face you’re still bugged about the cast. Forget it. I told you it wasn’t your fault.” She looked up at Leo, her forehead furrowing. “What’s wrong?”
Leo tensed. “Nothing.”
“Don’t give me that. I’m your sister. I know when something is bothering you. Now, tell me what’s wrong?”
Sam looked up at him, her expression showing concern. “Come to think of it, Toni’s right. Your face is a deep, dull red.”
“Nothing, only irony at its best,” he said, almost to himself. Dammit. He was jealous for no blasted reason. The irony was not lost on him that his reaction to Ken was no different than Sam’s reaction had been to Veronica.
“What do you mean?” Sam asked, placing a gentle hand on his cheek as she searched his face, her expression worried.
His hand covered hers and he gently removed it from his face. “Your dear friend, Ken, got under my skin.”
Toni’s laughter filled the shop, annoying Leo. “No. Leo you’re not jealous of Ken Birks, are you?”
“I was,” he replied dryly. “I am not now,” he added slowly, fastening his gaze on Sam’s surprised face. “I am sorry. It was an immediate reaction when I saw him hug you and then kiss you.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Sam said softly. “And I understand your comment now on irony at its best.” She gave Toni a look filled with embarrassment. “I’m afraid I accused your brother of having an affair with Veronica, but don’t worry. We cleared all that up.”
Toni smiled. “Ronnie’s a gem, Sam.”
“I know. I like her.” Sam took a deep breath. “Toni, your brother and I have news for you. We’re getting married and we’re adopting Elizabeth.”
Toni’s eyes widened. “You’re getting married? For real?”
“For real, sis,” Leo said. Amused, he watched Toni attempt a group hug with one good arm.
“I’m so happy for you two,” Tonia said. “And for Elizabeth! My God, Sam, it’s about time.”
“I know.” She smiled up at Leo and his heart softened at the happiness lighting up her face. “Leo, would you like a tour of my shop?”
He
leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. “Of course.”
By the time Sam had taken him all around the front of her shop and in the back parlour where she gave out readings, he was impressed. She sold everything from antique shawls, meditative crystals, and scented candles. He raised an amused brow when he noticed the scrolls of spells in one glass encased corner.
Sam smiled. “Those are strictly for amusement purposes. There’s no witchcraft on these premises.”
He nodded, glancing briefly at his watch. “Toni, how are you getting home? We can give you a lift.”
“John’s picking me up. He should be here in ten minutes.”
“You guys go on ahead,” Sam said. “I’ll meet you two outside. I’m going to lock up.”
Toni nodded and slid her good arm through Leo’s. “Come on, bro. It’s time to meet my husband.”
Sam joined them a few minutes later just as John was getting out of his car to greet them. Leo immediately sensed strength and confidence in her brother. A protector, he thought, and surmised his little sister was in good hands. They shook hands and John greeted Leo politely before he gave Sam a hug.
John gave her a curious look. “I can’t put my finger on it, but something looks different about you.”
“Oh?” Her stomach tripped. Could he tell she was a lycan? That was ridiculous, she thought. “I’ll take that as a compliment…I think.”
John smiled. “You should. You’re glowing and unless you’re pregnant, my guess is, it’s Leo who put that glow on your face.”
Leo snapped his gaze to Sam’s face. She couldn’t be pregnant, could she? Wasn’t it too soon, he thought, frowning?
Besides, Sam was on the pill.
****
Leo pulled into her driveway twenty minutes later and glanced up at her house. “You have a nice home.”
Sam smiled. “Let’s go inside. I’ll show you around.”
He emptied the trunk and carried the bags to her front porch as she unlocked the door. He followed her inside and deposited the bags on the floor as he looked around.
Sam’s gaze followed his and she hoped he liked her home.
“Nice place. I can see you love plants.”
“I have my mother’s green thumb, I’m afraid.”
He walked into her living room and looked around, stopping at a framed photograph on her mantle above her fireplace. Sam smiled, recalling taking that picture last Christmas.
Leo gave her an impressed look. “This is your family?”
She nodded. “All eighty of them, and that’s just my immediate family with my parents, my foster brothers and sisters, and their children.”
“The holidays must be a special time for your parents to have everyone together again.”
She went to his side and looked down at the photograph. “It is. We’re all very tight and there’s nothing anyone of us wouldn’t do for one another.” She gave him a curious look. “Kind of like your family,” she mused. “Minus the guns and secret drawers.”
Leo gently placed the photograph back on the mantle. When he looked down at her, Sam could tell he had something important to say. “Speaking of families, I would like us to start ours. Are your ready to set the wedding date?”
Sam nodded. “A month from now?”
She could tell Leo was relieved as he released a satisfied breath and dragged her in his arms, holding her tight. “Sounds about right,” he said gruffly over her head.
“Elizabeth could be my flower girl.” She looked up into his face. “There’s still things we need to work out. Where will we live? Elizabeth’s schooling?”
“We can live anywhere you want. As for the little one’s schooling, I will hire the best private tutors.”
Sam agreed with his logic. She knew Catherine would peer into her crystal ball soon enough and see Elizabeth. Sam was still terrified of Garos kidnapping Elizabeth, but she was more secure knowing Leo would be her sole protector.
She thought about Alek and her face fell.
“What is it?” Leo asked.
“Alek.”
“Sam, I told you we could adopt Alek,” he said gently. “I will make a few calls and start taking care of the arrangements tomorrow. With a sizeable donation to his orphanage, I can speed up the process.”
Sam was overjoyed. “I would like that very much. Leo, are we really doing this?”
Leo smiled. “Yes, we are. All of it.” He kissed her on the mouth and withdrew slowly, glancing down at his watch. “It is getting late. Did you want us to have a night cap before we retire?”
“I’m too excited to go to bed. Let me show you a beautiful spot down by the lake. At this time of night, with the moon’s glow over the water, it’s quite lovely.”
“It sounds charming.”
“My car’s parked in my garage. Do you mind if we take your car?”
“Not at all.”
****
They drove along the small, winding road lining the town’s wooded park. Sam stared out of her window, her thoughts everywhere—getting married, Elizabeth, Alek, Garos and Catherine. She needed another vacation just to catch her breath from all the wild events she’d experienced the past couple of weeks.
Sam couldn’t deny she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Leo. She loved him and the thought of how kind and caring he’d been with Elizabeth still drew warmth from her senses.
Leo was a man with so many sides to his character. She’d seen the brave and courageous warrior, the sensual and sexy lover, the kind and gentle man. She’d even seen the cold and arrogant brute, she thought with amusement, recalling their rocky beginning two weeks ago when he’d surprised her by picking her up at the airport when she’d landed in Greece.
Her thoughts were still focused on him as they drove along the park, when she heard a faint, “Mom, I’ll be home in ten minutes. I’m taking a short cut through the park.”
Sam parted her lips, giving Leo a curious look. “Did you hear that?”
“What?”
“A young boy is talking to his mom from his cell. He’s telling her he’ll be home soon. He’s taking a short cut through the park.”
He gave her a swift, sexy smile. “I was too deep in thought about marrying you in one month to notice. Do I stay on this road, by the way?”
Sam smiled at him and rested her head on her headrest. “The lake’s not far from here. Take the next right.”
“Mom, stop worrying. Nothing is going to—Mom, I…can’t talk…right now.”
Sam frowned, jerking forward in her seat. She drew her gaze in the direction of the dimly lit park. The boy’s voice sounded frightened.
“Mom, there are three wolv—”
The distant sounds of snarls and growls drowned out the rest of his voice and Sam gasped. Wolves!
“Leo, stop the car!”
He shot her an astonished glance. “What is it?”
“Please, stop the car!” She was frantic as she stared at Leo. “That boy’s in trouble. There are wolves in the park. Can’t you hear them?”
His face was grim. “I do now. The sounds are coming from the east side.”
He pulled along the curb and parked the car. She heard a snarl followed by the boy’s terrified scream and Sam’s heart stopped. Her sense of smell picked up the sickeningly sweet scent of blood and she inhaled a sharp breath. Before she knew what she was doing, she opened her door and bolted out of the car as Leo roared behind her.
“Dammit, Sam! Stop!”
She knew he was angry, but she couldn’t help it. What if that boy was about to be mauled? The scent of blood became more pronounced and she ran toward it, fear of what she’d discover making her ill.
The park was dark, the trees dimming the glow of the moon. She came to a dead halt when she saw the young boy, a teenager, being surrounded by three enormous wolves. The hair at the back of Sam’s neck rose. They weren’t real wolves. A rush of primal instinct blasted her senses and she gasped. It was kin meeting kin, she realised. They w
ere either lycan or werewolves.
Her gaze darted to the boy’s hand, and she saw blood dripping from his fingers. One of the wolves must have lunged for him. She caught something glinting in the boy’s hand as he waved it frantically in the air. It was a pocket knife. Was it made of silver and the wolf retreated? Sam heard a deep, menacing growl and was shocked to realize it had come from her own throat. She squeezed her eyes, trying desperately to shift into her wolf form, but nothing happened.
The boy screamed as all three wolves advanced on him. Sam’s mind couldn’t register what she was seeing. This was a quiet, little town in Maine.
Suddenly, one of the advancing wolves bared its fangs and snarled as it sprung in the air toward the terrified boy.
Something wild snapped within Sam as a wild rush of adrenalin coursed through her veins. She raised her face to the dark sky and released a long howl, her thoughts on the boy. And then she felt it, her transformation. Her line of vision grew lower, her torso became parallel with the ground, and she growled, realizing she was on four paws. Fur covered her body.
She lunged forward, her clothes lying on the grass behind her, and sprang between the wolf and the boy. The wolf snapped its head forward, its jaws crushing Sam’s foreleg and she released a painful yelp.
The wolf growled and lunged at Sam again when a ferocious sound reverberated through the air. She snapped her snout behind her and saw a massive, black wolf charging toward them.
Leo!
He pounced on the wolf closest to her, his jaws snapping with rage, as he wrestled the wolf away from her. She didn’t know where one began one the other ended as they rolled and wrestled, and gnashed each other. She saw the other two wolves circling Leo, their jaws snapping.
Sam looked at the boy and she released a series of sharp barks, willing the boy to run, but he remained frozen where he stood.
She had to use another tactic. Sam rose on her haunches and growled ferociously at him. The boy looked at her, his face chalk white, and he ran away.
She snapped her gaze back to Leo and saw he had injured the first wolf as it lay whimpering on the ground, while the other two were bracing for an attack. She had to help him! She took a step forward and a fierce stab of hot pain ran up her foreleg. With a whimper, she fell back on the ground.
Tall Dark Handsome Lycan, Book 2 Page 11