by Nicole Smith
Tomorrow he planned to take Anna shopping. He'd already contacted Holly who would join them for part of the day. Both he and Holly were determined to find the perfect dress for Anna's big night.
* * * *
As Anna walked into the hotel room that evening she felt like her senses were overloaded. A day filled with art of so very many different kinds, intensity, and most of all color, had overwhelmed her. It also made her feel slightly crazy for even thinking of having a showing of her work. Looking at the masters definitely didn't help her self-confidence about her paintings. But it had been magnificent.
"Do you want to see the menu?" Sam asked holding it out to her.
She waved it away. "I want a bath in that nice big tub," she said and walked away stripping off her clothes. That, she thought, should be a clear enough invitation. The water had almost filled up the tub when she heard a knock on the main door to the room and the murmur of Sam's voice. She'd just stepped into the bubbles and slid down until she was covered when Sam walked in holding a bottle of champagne.
"It seems like a night for bubbles." He poured the wine into glasses and leaned over to hand her one and kiss her. Pulling back, he said, "Careful, I don't want to fall in."
"Now you're just tempting me," she said with a grin. "Mmm. This is delicious. And I think you're wearing too many clothes, sir."
"Ah yes, that I can fix."
She watched him undress and step into the tub, feeling a shiver of anticipation run through her. His body was amazing. She regretted now not going into sculpting. Still perhaps she could paint him...
"Anna--you in there? One minute you look like you're about to gobble me up and the next minute you've got this faraway look in your eyes. What's up?"
"Sorry, sorry--I just had the most interesting idea for a painting. How would you feel about posing in the nude?"
"As a prelude to sex?"
"No," she laughed. "A real painting."
"Let me think about that," he said, taking a big gulp of champagne. "Here, turn around."
"What for?"
"So suspicious! Now where's the soap--ah here it is." He began to lather the soap onto her back and shoulders, massaging her skin.
"Oh my...that feels...incredible. Your hands...I have no words."
He whispered in her ear, "Just the beginning. I have so much else planned."
She felt the warmth inside her building at the promise in his words. His hands were firm on her shoulders and gliding down her back. She felt herself relaxing against the pressure, a melting away of all stress, letting herself focus only on sensations.
He continued in the quiet until he told her to lean back. He got her hair wet and then began to shampoo it. She'd thought she knew what it was to relax in his hands but this! His fingers massaging her scalp made her both want him madly and at the same time not want to move. She'd never imagined such a delicious yet delicate sensual experience.
When he began to rinse out her hair, she felt some regret--but not much because she knew the best was yet to come.
She turned to face him and gave him a languorous yet arousing deep long kiss. "I'm all yours, you know. For as long as you want me."
"I'll always want you, love. Always," he murmured against her lips.
* * * *
A day of shopping with Holly and Sam nearly did her in. Anna was at one point ready to leave the two of them in the stores and go sit in the SUV. Each of them seemed to feel that she needed stylish, expensive clothing, especially for the night of the opening of the show. Apparently jeans and t-shirts were a thing of the past if they had their way.
They can both just go and--she stopped herself from continuing that thought. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate their help or their confidence in her ability to wear styles she'd never worn before. It was just that they saw something in her she didn't see. Granted, living with Sam, having sex with him, these had made her feel more confident in the attractiveness of her body. But it was still hard to put on what she considered 'dress-up' clothes and not feel like a fraud.
She was currently waiting at the door of the last place they'd gone into. A small exclusive shop, where they'd immediately recognized Sam as Tom Anders, the place had offered nothing that Anna was interested in even looking at. Sam and Holly had been talking for a few minutes to the saleswoman--or whatever you called them in such a fancy place--and now they came walking toward her looking chagrined.
"We're sorry, Anna," Holly began.
"Yes, we totally screwed up," Sam said.
"The thing is, we think we know where to go. Millicent here has kindly told us of a new place with a very bohemian style. Can you stand to go to one more place?" Holly gave her a look of pleading.
"Ach--you are so aggravating! I never can say 'no' to you."
Sam smiled at her. "I think you'll like this next place."
"But no pressure," Anna said.
"Come on, Sis, let's get to the car. This shop is a few streets over."
Anna prepared herself to yet again hate everything, but as soon as they walked in she felt she was home. "Look at that top--it's beautiful!"
Sam and Holly gave each other congratulatory grins.
"Just shut up you two."
"We said nothing," Holly replied.
"Yeah, I could hear you saying nothing."
The shop turned out to be owned by a fabric artist and designer. He painted designs on fabric as well as designing clothes that were uniquely different. The shaping, color and texture of the materials--everything felt right to Anna.
The owner was in and came to help them. "Look at that hair! I have a copper-colored shift that would be perfect on you. Hello," he said extending a hand. "My name isMelvin. What are you looking for?"
"We need a dress, or some kind of outfit, for her show at the Stanley Walters Gallery," Sam told him.
"Whoa! Stanley Walters? So you're the new artist he's been raving about around town. Well, well, well, this is interesting. I have a dress, full-length in a fabulous green. I've only just finished it. Bronze and gold highlights painted on it. It was to be the prototype but--"
He whirled away and walked quickly to a back room. His hands were filled with the dress when he came back. He pulled Anna into the dressing room and stayed in there with her, over her protestations, to arrange the draping. It had a fitted bodice and fell in exquisite folds down her body, showing off her curves.
She saw herself in the mirror and her breath caught in her chest. She couldn't believe how good she looked. After a few tucks in various places and a few pins, she carefully walked out to show the others.
Sam's mouth fell open and Holly brought her hands together at her chest.
"Oh Anna," she breathed. "It's perfect."
"Sexy, stylish," Sam said as he walked around her. "This makes a real statement. Do you like it?"
"I love it," she said. "Let's get it."
Melvin said, "For wearing this at the gallery, I won't even let you pay. Just mention my name when they ask where you got it--and they will! Believe me. You must come back here to get an entire wardrobe. Your body type is the kind I always want to design for, not these anorexic, tall models. You are a real woman. Plus you have the sensibilities of an artist. Anyone could see that."
She thanked him profusely as the dress was wrapped and boxed up. She went ahead and bought the copper shift and the top she'd first been drawn to as well. When Sam paid, a figure in the thousands, she didn't even flinch.
They made one more stop to buy shoes for the dress. Then Holly left them to go to an appointment. She kissed Anna on the cheek and gave Sam a hug when she left. "I can't wait until Friday," she said.
"Only one day away, so you don't have long," Anna told her. "Thanks for coming with us to do this today."
"Any time, and I mean that very literally. Bye-bye!"
She caught a cab and they watched her leave. Sam said. "When we get back to the hotel later on why don't you put on that new copper dress. We can go out to dinner to
night."
"You mean, in public?"
"Yep."
"You'll probably be recognized. They'll wonder who I am."
"Let them. I'm tired of hiding in our suite. We're letting Patrice control us."
"I do agree with that. Okay, dinner out sounds good. Now what else do I need to buy today? Am I done?"
"Jewelry. You'll need at least some earrings. Maybe a bracelet."
"How do you know so much about fashion anyway?"
"My mother was a designer, remember? With her and three sisters I couldn't help but soak up some information."
"Right, I had forgotten. Okay, onward for jewelry."
When they pulled up outside Tiffany's she turned to stare at Sam. "I should have known."
He tossed a grin at her and led her out of the car and into the store. Within moments they were at a counter looking at earrings. They both saw the bronze and gold earrings at the same time.
"Those are perfect," Anna said to the man helping them.
"Excellent choice," he removed them from the case and offered them to her. The bronze and gold were twisted together into an interesting abstract shape.
"Let's get these," she said to Sam.
He nodded and said, "If you could hold those for us, we also need a bracelet."
The bracelet took longer to choose, but they finally had one that would complement and not distract from the dress. When they had their packages they headed out and passed by the cases with the diamond engagement rings. Anna shook her head.
"What?" Sam asked.
"To me those solitary diamonds always look a little bare on a woman's hand. They should have another stone at least, or one on either side of the diamond in color, just to complete the ring.
"Hmm. I see your point."
"What now?" Anna asked.
"Believe it or not, we're finished," he said and laughed at the look of relief on her face.
* * * *
"You're Tom Anders! I mean, Sam Carter--the writer--right? I told my husband I thought that was you when you walked in."
The woman had come over to their table and was now asking for an autograph. Anna was appalled. Someone interrupting their dinner like this was incredibly rude. She glared at the woman's back as she walked away.
"Now don't go scaring off my fans," Sam said with a grin.
"I can't believe she did that."
He scooped up a mouthful of blackened sea bass. Before putting it in his mouth he said, "You learn to live with it."
Anna ate her pumpkin ravioli in cream sauce and thought about the idea of fans. She'd always been a fan of Sam's books, but she would never have thought of approaching him as a stranger in a restaurant. "I guess you must learn to live with it, but it still seems rude to me."
He shrugged. "So--feeling ready for Friday?"
"I'm basically not thinking about it. I'm sure I'll be nervous that morning and for the whole day. Why rush it?"
"You'll do fine."
They finished up in silence and she was about to ask him if he would share a dessert with her when Leo came up to their table.
"Sorry to bother you, but we've had news. Are you ready to leave?"
Sam looked at her and she nodded. "Let's go."
Once they were in the SUV Leo began talking. "Someone, we think it was a guy hired by her, tried to get into the rooms at the decoy hotel. A maid came down the hall before he could open the door and he took off. We had people in the room all ready to get any intruder. The outside team caught the guy, but she wasn't with him. They caught a glimpse of her driving away in a red compact car. We know she's not staying at her apartment, but we have no idea where she's living at the moment."
"It means she's still after us then," Sam said glumly.
"You know she's not going to give up," Anna told him in a soft voice. "She's bound to come to the gallery. We need extra guys there."
"Already planned out, ma'am. Nobody is going to get at you there."
That night she clung to Sam as the fear swamped her. "I can't lose you," she whispered when she thought he was asleep. "I can't, I just can't." Finally she rested her head on his chest and, listening to his heartbeats, fell asleep.
* * * *
Sam felt her relax against him into sleep. He'd heard the desperate whisper and in some way was reassured by it. She loved him, even if she wasn't ready to say it yet.
He wondered what form the attack by Patrice would take. Would she start a fire? Set off a bomb?
Resting, his arm around Anna, he laid awake a long time. He couldn't lose her either.
Chapter 12
Friday dawned into a gray drizzle. "Lousy weather," she told Sam, pouring coffee from the pot provided by the hotel. "Figures."
"The forecast is for it to change and be clear by tonight."
"Like we can trust the weather forecast."
She sat down at the table and sipped coffee when she wasn't picking at a croissant. "When did Holly say she'd be over?"
"Around four. And your Dad and Cody should be arriving today by noon. Everyone is on schedule."
"You know, you sound just a little patronizing--" She stopped talking and reviewed the past few minutes. "Okay, rewind. I'm being a total grump aren't I?"
Sam put down the newspaper and grinned at her. "Yes, love, you really are. Now are you going to rip apart all the croissants or can we eat some too?"
She stared down at the mountain of crumbs in front of her and sighed heavily. "What a basket case."
The previous day they'd gone to another museum and spent the day immersed in art. Anna felt calmed when she was surrounded by paintings, but once they came back to the suite at the hotel, the anxiety had begun. Sam had evidently decided the best way to deal with her nerves was to overwhelm her senses with his lips, hands and body. She'd finally fallen asleep, snuggled up next to him feeling very satisfied and unafraid of anything.
This morning was a whole other story. With the show ready to go at the gallery tonight she felt like she was standing on the edge of an abyss. Before she could think about that analogy too carefully, Sam came over and squeezed her shoulder.
"Don't make yourself crazy today. Stanley has the gallery under control and he's done this hundreds of times. You have a great outfit to wear and will look gorgeous. And you've got me all to yourself for the day--what more could you need or want?"
She laughed. "Don't think you can tempt me back into bed--I'm still amazed by last night. But what will we do today?"
"I have one idea. Hang on." He picked up the phone and called down to the desk. "Yes, we'd like a game of Scrabble...Yes, that would be fine...And could you send up some more coffee...Thanks."
Anna stared at him. "You aren't going to tell me that they'll go out and buy us a Scrabble game, are you?"
"Yes. I told you, they cater to their guests."
"Nice. This place really is spectacular." Once they'd moved into the suite yesterday, she'd realized why Sam had felt cramped in the other room. They now had a good-sized living room with a larger table for eating, a couch with loveseat and two chairs with an ottoman. The bedroom seemed huge with a king-size bed. She liked the tiny blue flowers on the cream background of the silk wall coverings. Fresh flowers adorned a table and the fireplace mantel--a profusion of roses, tulips, and dahlias.
She looked at Sam and felt a sense of peace flowing throughout her body. Being with him today was all she needed. But a game of Scrabble could be fun too. "Get ready to be beaten, Sam Carter."
"Ha. I'm the wordsmith here. You'll soon be begging for mercy."
They cleared the dishes and put them on the room service cart. Anna went in the bedroom and changed into some black wide-leg palazzo pants and pulled on a stretchy turquoise top. Sam had already showered and dressed before she woke up.
"Why did you wake up so early today?" She walked back into the living room, barefoot on plush cream carpeting.
"A dream woke me up so I decided I'd slept enough and got up."
She
peered at him, noticing the tightening around his lips. "Bad dream, huh? Patrice?"
He nodded. "I'll be damn glad when this is finally over."
"Me too. I know our lives keep going on around this, but it also feels like we're stuck waiting to get past this hurdle."
"So true. Let's--"
A knock on the door revealed a hotel employee handing them a Scrabble game with another wheeling in fresh coffee and mini pastries on a silver tray.
"Okay, that's what I call service," Anna said to Sam. "Wow."
"Let's get this tournament started. I'm already thinking of words beginning with a 'Q' so be prepared."
"Ooh, I'm scared."
* * * *
The Scrabble tourney had been a stroke of genius. They'd focused their attention on it exclusively and as a result were surprised when lunch time arrived along with Frank and Cody.
"Fancy digs, Sis. Are we staying here too?"
"No, sorry. You guys are going to be at a very high-class place however, so don't feel slighted."
Cody grinned at her. "Ready to become famous?"
"No--don't say that. I'm just hoping to get through the night with as little embarrassment as possible."
"Don't worry, Anna, I've got your back."
Frank hugged his daughter after a quiet few words with Sam. "All set for tonight?"
"No, not really."
"You'll do fine, kiddo. Now let's go get some lunch. I saw a diner just around the corner from here that's convenient. Go find your shoes and let's go."
The security team loaded them up in the SUVs even though the diner really was just around the corner. Lunch was a time of forgetting about possible dangers and nerves about the showing. Instead Frank and Cody regaled them with all the latest gossip from Sully Point. And the news that Kayla had tried to make coconut donuts with disastrous results.
"Oh dear," Anna said. "I was hoping she'd be ready to take over there."