Pat took him on a tour. There was a queen size bed in the bedroom, which pleased him, along with a small fireplace with a white marble mantelpiece and hearth.
“Charming room. Does the fireplace work?”
“I don’t know. We never got around to trying it out,” Pat responded.
An image of making love to Pat in the large bed with a fire blazing flashed through his mind momentarily and a smug smile crossed his lips.
Pat disappeared into the kitchen to make coffee. One living room wall had sliding glass doors leading onto a deck overlooking Linden Lake. Sam went outside to look at the stars. In a few minutes Pat joined him, carrying two mugs of coffee.
“Milk, no sugar, right?” she said, handing him a steaming mug of coffee.
“You’re observant,” he said, impressed.
“I have to be in my work.”
“It’s a beautiful night. Do you ever look out at the stars?”
“Of course. We have a perfect view. There’s the Big Dipper,” she said, pointing.
Sam put his mug down.
“Where?” he asked, feigning ignorance so she would move closer to him.
Pat put her mug down and got up close to him, raising her arm up and pointing.
“Right…over…there. See?” she said, turning toward him.
Sam pulled her closer to him with one long arm and looked up.
“I see it now,” he said, easing her into his arms.
He kissed her sweet and slow. She softened against him.
“You’re lovely tonight,” he whispered.
“Thank you,” she whispered back then brought her mouth to his for another kiss.
He wanted to take it slow but it was becoming harder to rein himself in. She was pretty, sweet, smart and he wanted her. Pat parted her lips and Sam moved his tongue in slowly, not wishing to scare her again. She let out a little moan. He tightened his arms around her bringing their bodies closer. His lips tugged on her lower lip, his tongue possessed her mouth. The kissing got intense.
Pat stepped back, breaking away to catch her breath. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were shining. Sam glanced at her breasts, covered by a pretty, coral-colored lightweight sweater and his fingertips tingled. But he wasn’t going to rush her and the second date was too soon to be touching her…which often led to further exploration… and to lovemaking. He knew she wasn’t ready. He needed to slow down. He took her hand in his and kissed it, keeping his hands safely occupied.
“I’d better go, Patsy,” he said, reluctant to leave but knowing if he didn’t go soon, his self-control would crumble and he might wreck the warm relationship they were building. He didn’t want to lose Pat, especially over something as stupid as pushing her for sex. Hell, I’m not a kid. He liked Pat more than anyone else he’d dated…more than other women he’d had sex with since Ellen’s death.
“Okay. It is late. Thank you for dinner and the movie.” He thought he detected a note of regret in her voice. Wishful thinking?
Sam walked to the door, kissed Pat goodnight then stopped when she put her hand on his arm, pulling him back slightly.
“Oh, before I forget. I found our two favorite Cary Grant movies at the video counter at Randolph’s. Would you like to come over next weekend? We could have our own Cary Grant double feature and I’d make dinner to eat between the movies. Does Saturday work for you?”
“Damn. I promised to babysit for Mac’s kids on Saturday night. He and Callie don’t get out much. How about Sunday, if we start in the afternoon?” Sam suggested.
Pat smiled.
“Sunday works for me. Can you come around three?”
“Three’s fine. I look forward to it,” Sam said, his lips curling into a warm grin.
He kissed her goodnight and got in his car and drove home. Peter was asleep when he arrived. Sam released a sigh of relief for being able to avoid his son’s third degree about his date. He tiptoed quietly into his bedroom and went to sleep.
* * * *
Peter, Lara and Sam were invited to Callie and Mac’s on Saturday night for an early dinner. Afterward, Callie and Mac were to go out dancing, leaving Sam with Jason and Kitty while Peter and Lara returned home.
This was Lara’s first time at Mac and Callie’s house so Callie went out of her way to make the blind dancer feel at home. She explained to the children before Lara arrived what blind meant. Callie reserved a task for her to help with in the kitchen, to make Lara feel like part of the family. Peter kept an eye on Lara so whenever she needed anything he was there.
“Dad, I hear you’re giving Casanova a run for his money,” Mac said, raising his eyebrow, grinning.
Peter made a face at Mac, trying to warn him to drop it but he was too late.
“None of your business, son.”
“Grumpy and defensive! I’m admiring your success with the ladies,” Mac teased.
Standing behind his father’s back, Peter shook his head vigorously at Mac.
“Don’t go there, Mac,” Sam said, his temper rising slowly.
“Boy, what happened to your sense of humor, Dad?” Mac asked, offended.
“Can’t I have a private life? Do I question you about your private life with your wife?” Sam asked.
“You’d better not.”
“Show me the same courtesy, will you?” Sam slammed his beer bottle on the coffee table.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I’m impressed you’ve found someone you like so quickly. I’m sure you miss Mom,” Mac said.
“You’ll never know how much.” Sadness leaked into Sam’s voice.
“Dr. Weiss is special to me, Sam. Please don’t break her heart,” Lara said.
“I won’t, Lara,” Sam chuckled.
“Now there’s an image, Pete, Dad as a heart breaker!” Mac said, unable to resist teasing his father.
He and Peter cracked up. Sam left the room in frustration.
“Don’t tease your father so much. He’s precious,” Callie called from the kitchen.
“He can take it, Callie,” Peter said, toasting with his brother with his bottle of beer.
“But I’m not sure I can,” she said.
Sam came back into the room.
“Actually, I have broken a few hearts in my day, boys. Any time you want some pointers from me, feel free to ask,” Sam said, his eyes twinkling.
* * * *
Callie and her friend Eliza Maine hijacked Pat one Friday afternoon and gave her a makeover before her next date with Sam. They brought her wardrobe up to date and threw out her white cotton underwear. Along with hip hugging jeans, she bought bikini underwear and matching lacy bras with good support, to give her the cleavage needed for her sexy new tops. By the time they got through with her, she felt like the sex goddess of the sixty set.
The new clothes took ten years off Pat’s appearance. Without the oxford shirts, sensible bras and navy blue skirts, Pat became alluring. A new hairstyle completed the transformation. Eliza and Callie guaranteed Sam would notice.
When she opened the door wearing her low cut, layered tank tops in shades of green showcasing plenty of cleavage and her tight-fitting, hip-hugging jeans emphasizing her slim hips and legs, Sam was momentarily speechless.
“Patsy, you look beautiful and so…sexy,” he said, dropping his voice an octave on the last word.
Pat blushed and smiled. The new clothes made her feel sexier too. The lacy underwear was like having a sexy secret. When she reached for something, a little bit of the lace from her bra peeked out.
“Callie and Eliza took me in hand and brought my wardrobe up to date.”
“You’re absolutely irresistible,” Sam said, stepping inside and immediately taking her into his arms for a long kiss. Pat enjoyed his attention, relaxing in his arms and opening her lips to his kiss. His hands wandered down to her bottom and gave it a squeeze. She was a little shocked, but she laughed.
“I couldn’t resist, it’s so cute,” Sam said, releasing her.
“Maybe we should
get to the movie.”
“Good idea, before I lose my head completely.”
Pat shot him a flirtatious smile and brought in a bowl of popcorn. She popped the movie in and handed the remote control to Sam.
After she doused the lights, Sam took her hand and turned on the movie. She offered him the ottoman for his feet while she tucked hers under her bottom and cuddled up to him, putting her head on his shoulder. Sam put his arm around her and pulled her in close.
Dinner was spent talking mostly about the movie. Pat set up a table on the deck with candles where she served her best meatloaf recipe. Sam complimented her on the meal and couldn’t take his eyes off her, especially the neckline of her top. She noticed him staring and chuckled to herself about how much men stay the same, no matter how old they are. During dessert Pat probed for more information about him.
“What did you teach in South Africa?” she asked him.
“Ornithology.” He sipped coffee from a beige and brown mug.
“Do you have a doctorate?”
“In biology. I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate on some books about the birds of Africa. I was also fortunate to get some freelance assignments over the summers and holidays traveling to different zoos and game preserves to study and write about birds. I find birds fascinating.”
“You’re a doctor too, medical or PhD?”
“PhD but I don’t use it much, especially now I’m not teaching. It wasn’t as hard to get as your doctorate.”
“I don’t know much about birds, but I think they are beautiful.”
“Maybe you’d like to come birding with me one morning.”
“I’d love to.”
“Don’t be too hasty, we’d leave the house at five thirty in the morning.”
“That early?”
“Of course, it’s less of a problem if you spent the night with me,” Sam said, his eyes twinkling, his eyebrows raised.
“We’ll see,” she replied, giving him a shy smile.
“At least you haven’t ruled it out,” Sam said. He spooned some of the apple concoction Pat baked into his mouth, rolling it around on his tongue, savoring the flavor.
Pat laughed. Cuddling with him was fun and sexy; she began to think of making love with him as more of a when than an if.
Sam helped to clear the table and started the dishes.
“In our house we have a rule, if you cook, you don’t do the dishes,” he said.
Pat felt funny having Sam wash dishes in her house, but he insisted. So she cleared the table, put a bowl of mints out and cued up the next movie. Once they were settled on the couch, Sam pulled her close to him, his arm around her. She put her arm around his middle and cuddled into him. He kissed the top of her head and they watched Cary Grant win Katharine Hepburn again.
When the movie was over, Sam leaned over and kissed Pat, teasing her tongue with his. She sighed and melted in his arms. He moved his lips to her cheek and down her neck and chest to her breast, causing a tingle to go up her spine. He kissed the top of one breast peeking out of the tank top and moved his hand up underneath to cradle it. Pat sighed. His touch was light and gentle. Then he sat up.
“I’m sorry, but you are too irresistible tonight, especially wearing that shirt…”
“Tank top.”
“Whatever you call it. It’s calling to me. I should go home.” Sam stood up, his hands returning to his sides.
Pat couldn’t hide her disappointment. She didn’t know if she was ready to make love with Sam, but she didn’t want him to go home either.
“I don’t want to begin something you may decide later you don’t want to do. I’m getting tangled up here,” Sam said, embarrassed.
“I understand. You’re perfectly clear and you’re right. I have to make up my mind and sooner rather than later,” she said, rising to stand next to him.
“I’m glad you understand. I like you, Patsy, I enjoy your company…we have so much in common. But to be completely frank, I’m not interested in being only friends with you,” he said.
“I appreciate your honesty, Sam, and its fine…I don’t want to be only friends, either,” she admitted, “I’m almost ready for a more romantic relationship.”
Sam smiled at her with affection and desire in his eyes and took her hand.
“I’m glad.”
He leaned over and kissed her warmly.
“It’s time to go,” he said, moving toward the front door.
Before long, he was home, undressing for bed in his room and planning where to take her and what to do on a fourth date when the phone rang.
“Sam, it’s me, Patsy.”
“Hi.”
“I’m sorry to disturb you, I know it’s late, but I thought maybe you’d like to come to a crafts fair with me next Saturday and then come back here and we could make dinner together,” she said.
“Sounds great. What time?”
“The fair starts at noon, can you pick me up about one o’clock?”
“See you then.”
“Goodnight.”
“Sleep tight, pretty lady,” Sam said and hung up the phone. Maybe next weekend, I’ll get lucky. Cripes, I sound like Peter!
Chapter Seven
Lara was uncomfortable taking so much from Sam and not giving anything back. She felt useless and depressed. Sam invited her for breakfast and taught her how to make toast, coffee and frozen waffles in his kitchen. Lara decided she could pay Sam back by making breakfast for him. Besides, it’d be good training for her and make her more independent.
Sam neglected to tell Peter about this arrangement. But one morning, Peter arose early and wandered into the kitchen looking for food, surprised to see Lara washing dishes. The running water prevented her from hearing him. She didn’t expect him either so when she turned around she ran smack into him. Peter was only wearing boxers. Lara gasped as her hands came up against his bare chest.
“It’s me,” Peter said quickly.
“Oh!” She froze.
Peter put his arms around her and held her loosely, afraid to frighten her. She moved her hands up through his chest hair, feeling his muscles for a moment, drinking in his male scent sweetened with the aroma of sleep before she regained her senses and moved away. Flustered, she turned toward the counter, her hands searching for more dirty dishes.
“Why are you up so early?”
“The smell of toast seduced me.” He watched her for a response.
“Seduced your stomach, maybe,” she said, smiling.
“Right, right.”
“I’m making breakfast this morning. I can do toast, cereal, coffee and frozen waffles. What’s your pleasure?”
“Do you want an honest answer?” he asked, bending over to whisper in her ear.
She felt heat rise in her cheeks at his suggestion and moved away from him.
“Can I have coffee and toast?”
“Toast and coffee, coming up.”
He sat down at the table while Lara concentrated on the task at hand. She carefully picked up the pot of coffee and stuck her finger just inside the rim at the top of the cup. When the coffee reached the tip of her finger, she stopped pouring.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to have coffee I’ve touched. It’s the only way I can pour a cup without overflowing it.”
“The touch of your hand is most welcome.”
“Peter!”
“Oh, sorry, sorry. Didn’t mean it the way it came out.”
“I’ll bet. Want butter, jam or both on your toast?”
“The works, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all.” Lara busied herself moving back and forth between the jar of jam and the butter dish.
She put the food and drinks on the table.
“This looks delicious,” he said, taking a sip of his coffee.
Lara threw the dish towel over her shoulder, leaned back against the kitchen counter and smiled.
“I’m going to be making breakfast for Sam every morning.
I hope soon to do eggs…a real challenge.”
“You can handle it. You’ll be here every morning?”
She nodded.
“Gives me a reason to get up early,” he said.
The sudden clatter of dish against dish alerted Lara to Peter’s attempt to clear the table.
“I’ll take those,” Lara said, colliding with him again as she went for the table and he for the sink.
This time he grabbed her to keep her from falling and pulled her close to him. Her hands came up against him again. This time she rested her cheek on his chest, only for a moment, while his fingers played with the ends of her hair.
“Lara…” he murmured, closing his eyes and kissing the top of her head.
She pushed off from him and stood back, gripping the counter to steady herself.
“Don’t you like touching me?” he asked.
“I like it…too much,” she replied, “Give me your dishes.”
“We have a rule, he who cooks doesn’t do dishes. I’ll do them.”
“But I can do them,” she said, her voice a little shaky.
“I’m sure but a rule is a rule.”
“I’ve got to go,” she said, lingering by the doorway, her hands smoothing her hair.
“Library day, today?”
She nodded.
“Do you want a lift?” He turned on the water in the sink.
“Please…are you going to your office?”
“I have some slides to view. I’ll be about two hours. Should I pick you up then?”
“If it’s not too much trouble.”
“Can I take you out to lunch?” Peter put the last of the washed dishes in the drainer to dry and turned toward Lara.
“That isn’t necessary.” She stepped back two steps.
Now and Forever 5, Love's Journey Page 8