A Little Secret About Love

by Karice Bolton

  Dina’s gaze slid to Sam’s before darting back to her best friend’s.

  “I wouldn’t do that. Time purely got away from me.” She waved at Joel and smiled at Sam before taking a seat next to Autumn.

  Dina’s long, dark hair had been secured into a messy ponytail with a few stray pieces falling along her cheeks, which made her even cuter in Sam’s eyes. He’d gotten so used to women applying sparkles everywhere it was refreshing to see a woman go out for drinks just as she was.

  Her cheeks were rosy from the cold night air and her eyes bright from accomplishment, which only drew Sam deeper into an impossible situation. Judging by how little attention she’d given him in the last thirty seconds, his odds weren’t good that there’d be anything beyond tonight.

  “Did you use up all the pink fabric from earlier?” Sam asked, taking another sip of his drink, while he wondered where his flirting ability went.

  Fabric? Really? That was his first question.

  “Yeah. All used up.”

  “I’m really sorry about Oscar stepping on the edge with his muddy paws,” Joel added, and Dina smiled, resting her gaze on Joel.

  Sam shifted in his seat and called a server over to take Dina’s order.

  “It’s totally fine. I cut around that spot.” She grinned as she relaxed into the chair, her shoulders finally dropping from a hard day’s work. “And yes. All the fabric has been whipped into shape and sewn into a couple of really cute dresses. I only have to finish some embellishments tomorrow, and I can send them off to the bride for her bridesmaids.” She let out a happy sigh and finally turned her gaze to Sam’s.

  He suddenly felt like he’d won the lotto. In fact, he was almost certain he’d caught a hint of heat rolling behind her gaze when she finally let herself look at him.

  Or was it wishful thinking on his part?

  “I’m sure the dresses are beautiful,” Sam told her and pride filled her expression, which only made him like her more.

  “Thank you. I hope the bride loves them as much as I do.” Dina ordered her drink, and Autumn went into best friend mode asking how Dina liked the town so far, opening up the perfect opportunity for Sam.

  “I love Silver Ridge,” Dina gushed, answering her friend’s question. “Although, I haven’t had much time to actually snoop around. I see so many little restaurants and stores I want to go into, and I haven’t had the chance yet.”

  “There’s some great breweries too,” Joel said, glancing at his brother as if to prompt him to get in there.

  “Do you ski?” Sam asked.

  “I’ve tried.” Dina laughed. “And failed, but I still keep trying.”

  “The resort has an indoor snowless mountain that a lot of people learn on.” Sam sucked on his bottom lip and noticed that Dina’s eyes dipped straight to his mouth. “I could show you sometime before the snow comes.”

  Dina cleared her throat and thanked the server who’d just brought her drink over.

  “That would be really nice. It might be the only way I can stay upright.”

  Sam laughed and relaxed slightly. “There’s no guarantee there.”

  Dina chuckled and traded a funny look with Autumn.

  “Dina was actually engaged to a ski instructor,” Autumn blurted out while Dina’s cheeks reddened. “He’d spend the winters in Lake Tahoe and come back to LA for the rest of the year, right?”

  Sam clenched his teeth slightly and took another sip of gin. Autumn had failed to mention Dina had been engaged. Was she even ready to date? Maybe that was why she always ran in the opposite direction. She was still hung up on her ex-fiancé.

  “And he couldn’t get you up on the skis?” Sam asked, watching Dina shift uncomfortably in her seat. “What kind of ski instructor couldn’t get his own fiancée down the mountain?” Sam scratched the stubble along his chin as his brother laughed in agreement.

  “No, he could never get me going.” Dina sighed.

  Autumn chuckled and Dina rolled her eyes, realizing how that sounded.

  “We weren’t a good match on many levels. I didn’t see that until after the fact though.” Her fingers moved to the top button on her shirt, and she began fanning herself with the fabric. “Did it suddenly get hot in here?”

  Autumn laughed, but Sam couldn’t keep his eyes off of Dina as she tried to cool off using her own shirt. Sam noticed the fabric wrinkle slightly along the curvature of her breasts with each pull and tug of the fabric. It was simply the most seductive thing he’d seen in a long time.

  “Was the breakup recent?” Sam asked, and Dina’s lip turned up slightly as her gaze snapped back to his.

  “Well, he didn’t show up on our wedding day and that was about a year ago next weekend, actually.” She slid a dirty look in Autumn’s direction as if to thank her best friend for bringing up such a wonderful topic.

  “You got stood up at the altar?” Sam sat up straighter, and her fingers left her shirt.

  There were a lot of awful ways to end a relationship with someone, but that had to take the cake. Granted, Sam didn’t actually do relationships, but there had to be a better way to break it off than that.

  “Wasn’t the first time either,” Autumn chimed in, and Dina kicked her under the table, making the silverware rattle.

  “You’ve been engaged more than once?” Sam was completely intrigued. “Have you ever been married?”

  “No marriages and no divorces.” She laughed. “But more failed engagements than I care to admit.”

  “Aren’t you at four or five?” Autumn asked right before ordering some appetizers.

  Sam couldn’t hide his surprise, which Dina immediately caught and blushed.

  “I’m not as crazy as that number might lead you to believe.” She took a sip of her drink only the sip lasted until the glass was empty. “Just have bad taste in men.”

  “Nothing wrong with a little crazy.” Sam smiled and glanced at his brother. “I don’t think there’s anyone at this table who isn’t a little on the edge.”

  Dina laughed and slid her tongue along her bottom lip as if to get every last drop of alcohol into her system, and the gesture made Sam want her even more.

  “Speak for yourself.” Joel laughed.

  “Dina’s a hopeless romantic. She loves love. I mean she’s a wedding dress designer for crying out loud.” Autumn took a sip of water and locked her gaze on Sam’s, totally avoiding Dina’s dirty look. “She even faithfully follows some romance blogger or is it a love blogger?” She turned her attention back to Dina.

  As all eyes fell on Dina, she attempted to turn her frown upside down, but her lips didn’t budge. Sam could only spot a little quiver at the corner of her mouth.

  “It’s just a fun lifestyle blog about love and romance. Sometimes she dishes out advice, or she discusses couples she’s encountered who inspire her. I don’t like it purely because of the love aspect, by the way. I think the woman has good insight on life in general.”

  “It makes complete sense that a woman who deals with weddings day and night would be interested in the concept of love.” Sam smiled. “No reason to be embarrassed.”

  “I’m not embarrassed.” Dina shifted in her chair. “I just don’t think this conversation is helping my street cred in the town of Silver Ridge.”

  Sam chuckled. “I think the tumble in the streets earlier today already took care of that.”

  Dina nodded and flashed Sam a grin, and her heart skipped a beat. There was something about the way he was looking at her that made her entire mind nearly go blank.

  “Okay,” Joel began. “Give us a bit of her love advice.”

  Dina drew a breath and thought hard. “One piece of advice is to wait thirty days before you have sex with someone.”

  Joel whistled. “No three date rule?”

  Sam laughed and shook his head. “Whew. That’s a tall order.”

  “Is it?” Dina’s brows rose.

  “Well, around here anyone I might meet, tends to be gone in thirty days.�
�� Sam’s wry grin only grew.

  “There’s that.” Dina chuckled.

  Dina’s second drink and a couple plates of appetizers were delivered.

  “So maybe you’ll take me up on the ski lessons?” Sam asked, and Dina traded a worried glance with Autumn, which Sam immediately picked up on. “I promise I won’t bite.”

  “That’s a shame.” Dina chuckled, and Sam’s heart nearly tumbled out of his chest.

  “Is it?” Sam’s brow quirked up slightly, and Dina took another long sip of her drink.

  “A real shame.” A flash of heat darted through her gaze, and he couldn’t help but smile and shake his head.

  Autumn hid a chuckle while Dina took a bite of bruschetta and closed her eyes before letting out a moan of delight. “This is fabulous.”

  Dina blinked her eyes back open to see Sam watching her with a coy smile. She innocently shrugged her shoulders and giggled.

  “Enjoying the resort’s food?” Sam couldn’t get enough of Dina, and he suddenly wished he could banish his brother and Autumn from the table.

  “What can I say? I love food, which is why the fall earlier didn’t hurt me one bit.” She took another bite and Sam glanced at Autumn, who looked completely amused by her best friend.

  “You still haven’t answered whether or not we have a date.” Sam propped his elbows on the table and leaned in.

  “Would it be an official date?” Dina asked, her smile only growing.

  “I think it would be only fair to treat you to dinner after you fall on your face a few times on the indoor mountain.” He took a sip of his drink. “So yeah. Let’s call it official.”

  Dina circled her finger around the saltshaker and nodded. “Then it’s a date, but it can’t be until after my store opening.”

  “And when’s that?”

  “After today, it’s only two days away.” Satisfaction slid across her face. “I have a veil order to send off, and then I can finish up the details for the party, but I wouldn’t be able to concentrate a minute before all of that is done.”

  “Do you need any help with the party?” Sam asked.

  “Nah. I got it handled.”

  “Like you did at the hardware store, two trips later?” Sam’s brows shot up and Dina laughed.

  “The hardware store delivers so I don’t have to worry about that anymore.” She took another sip and that’s when Autumn and Joel stood up.

  “I think it’s time for us to get back home.” Autumn bent down to hug a stunned Dina, who had her mouth full of bruschetta.

  “Are you sure?” she asked in between swallows, nervously glancing between Sam and her best friend.

  “I’m exhausted.” Autumn feigned a yawn and stretched her arms toward the ceiling. “Plus, I have the entire B&B rented out to a family tomorrow for a reunion. It’ll be an early morning.”

  Dina slid her best friend the look of death, which only made Sam laugh as his brother and Autumn trundled away.

  “So this was Autumn’s master plan all along?” Dina polished off her drink.

  “What in particular?” Sam asked, noticing Dina flag the server over again.

  “Bring up all my dirty secrets and take off leaving us alone?” A flicker of uncertainty dashed through her gaze and Sam’s chest tightened. She was obviously embarrassed over her failed engagements, but she shouldn’t be. At least she’d managed to have long-term relationships. “Hearing how many times I’ve been engaged probably freaked you out.”

  “Not really.” Sam steepled his hands as the server brought over another drink. “I haven’t even been in a relationship since college, so I bet that freaks you out.”

  She laughed. “Not really. It’s kind of refreshing.”

  “Refreshing?”

  “Yeah. I seem to always fall for the guys who think they want a relationship and then panic as it gets real. To meet a guy who’s just not into relationships in the first place is…refreshing.”

  “I suppose.” Sam watched Dina take a scoop of calamari and drop them on her plate.

  “I mean, truthfully, I’m beginning to think the whole marriage, pets, kids routine is overrated.” She plopped a piece of calamari into her mouth and sighed another happy sigh. “This place is going to make me fatter.”

  Joy fell across her features, and Sam couldn’t help but think how gorgeous she was when she was happy.

  “But you obviously wanted marriage and family at some point, or you wouldn’t have accepted marriage proposals,” Sam suggested, and she merely shrugged.

  “Or I was too nice to say no, or I didn’t really understand what I was getting myself into, or I’m too flighty.”

  Sam laughed and tossed his napkin on the table. “I doubt that any woman who owns her own business is flighty, and while I think you’re really nice, I don’t think you’re that nice…” He grinned and she chuckled. “After all, every time I’m around you either run away or ignore me.”

  “You noticed?” Her brow arched and she took another bite of calamari.

  “Hard not to.” A wry grin spread across his lips.

  “But seriously. Don’t feel weird about the engagements. It’s no big deal to me.” He reached for her hand and caught a shudder, which made him wonder what all was running through her mind. “You don’t have to worry about me putting you in that situation.”

  “So I don’t have to worry about you shoving a ring on my finger?” She teased and his heart skipped a beat.

  “No. I’m not a family man kind of guy.” Sam shook his head and let out a deep sigh. “It didn’t really work for my parents, and I don’t really see it working for me.”

  “What a relief.” Dina's smile only widened. “Now I can quit drinking myself silly.”

  Sam shrugged and shook his head. “You don’t have to quit. You’ve had a long day and were forced to come out to see a guy you’re not really into. I’m sure that would make anyone drink.”

  Her big brown eyes widened in horror.

  “Not into?” She muffled a hiccup with her hand. “On what planet are you from? You’re the hottest guy I’ve ever laid eyes on, and if you weren’t my landlord—” she stopped herself, turning bright red.

  Sam chuckled not thinking of himself as her landlord or that she’d even given him a second thought in the looks department.

  “I really need to eat more or drink less right now.” Her eyes connected with his, and he felt a surge of longing run through his veins. There was something so endearing about her.

  She was so beautiful, funny, vivacious and just…real.

  And at the worst possible moment, a woman walked by, tripping and spilling an entire glass of red wine down the front of Dina’s shirt. The fabric immediately clung to her breasts. After the endless apologies from the woman, and the wait staff dashing over to help, all Sam wanted to do was strip those clothes off her and help her into bed.

  “I think that means the date has officially ended.” She giggled as a tiny hiccup escaped her lips as she held the equally drenched napkin up to her chest. “I think this is a sign.”

  “A sign?” Sam asked, helping her from the table as she took the last few sips from another glass she’d ordered.

  “A sign to strip out of my clothes and crawl into bed.”

  The image alone made Sam come undone.

  She let out a happy sigh as she leaned forward, revealing a bit of lace beneath the wet fabric, and tossed the napkin onto the table. She didn’t notice the rush of desire filling his eyes or if she had, she didn’t let on.

  “I’ll help you home,” Sam offered, his voice more gruff than usual, and she merely nodded as he looped his arm around her waist and led her out the back entrance. The exit was closer to the cottage she’d leased. The moment they hit the outdoors, he felt her shivering in his embrace and quickly took off his flannel shirt, layering it over her shoulders.

  “Thank you,” she said, nestling into his arms a bit as they walked. “But you’re probably freezing in only an undershirt.”

/>   “I run hot.”

  She giggled. “Yes, you do.”

  The sound of her laughter nearly undid Sam, and by the time they got to her door, all he could do was think about kissing every inch of her body, but he was a gentleman.

  Or at least he was tonight as she unlocked her door and turned to face him. Her eyes were dopey with the same longing Sam felt rushing through his body, but he refused to kiss her now, not in this shape. He had a hunch the only reason she was feeling anything for him was because so much alcohol was running through her veins, and he’d never been that guy.

  Dina stood on her tiptoes and pecked his cheek before running her finger along his chest, sending even more desire through him.

  “Thank you for making an awkward situation fun.” Her voice sounded loopier than before, and he knew she’d have a rough morning. “It was a lot of fun tonight.”

  Her eyes stayed on Sam’s, and with every ounce of strength he had, he only kissed her forehead before helping her inside.

  Chapter Three

  Dina squinted her eyes open as the light blazed through the sheer curtains in her bedroom. The pounding between her ears made her extremely concerned about last night, especially since she couldn’t quite remember how she got back to her house.

  She never should have had two glasses of wine before she left her shop, but she’d been a nervous wreck about seeing Sam and wanted to loosen up before she got to the lodge.

  And now she was paying for it.

  She let out a groan and rolled over as she thought about how she’d probably made a fool of herself. She was nowhere near ready for whatever the day had in store for her and pulled the comforter over her head. She felt the sheets slide over her naked legs and belly until she felt something strange…

  Really strange.

  She immediately bolted upright in bed and stared at herself in the mirror across the room. She was wearing Sam’s unbuttoned flannel shirt and nothing else.

  Her eyes fell to the floor where her pants, shirt, bra, and underwear were all tossed around the room from a wild night she couldn’t remember.

  She had slept with him.