Complete Me

by Gray, Khardine

  "Well done, and there I was thinking you'd be watching those boring old films and eating biscuits." Zane looked fully amused.

  "Zane get out of here." Sam launched a pillow at him.

  "Geez I'm going, I'm going." Zane laughed as he left the room and locked the door behind him.

  "I'm really sorry," Sam apologized. "I need to change the locks."

  She didn't think she'd ever seen him look so embarrassed. He looked as embarrassed as she felt.

  "It's fine. I should go." She slid off the bed and started putting on her underwear which was on the floor next to the nightstand.

  "No, don't go."

  "I should go, and get ready for work." Even though work was the furthest thing from her mind.

  "Forget work." He got up too, pulled on his boxers and came over to her. "In fact. Let's just leave. We can sail to the Caribbean or ... Bora Bora. Anywhere."

  She laughed thinking he was joking but quickly realized he was serious. "Sam."

  "Come on Lexie. Too much happens when we're here to keep us apart. I can't stand it. Work is the main culprit. Come on, just think, you, me, and the open sea." Something sparkled in his eyes that she'd never seen before. Something that looked like it displayed the wealth of his feelings for her. It held her attention as she watched him. "You said you'd go sailing around the world with me. You meant it didn't you?" Hope filled his eyes.

  "I did." She nodded, touching his lips with a playful finger. Lexie definitely meant it. "I'll go wherever you want me to Sam."

  "Good, then let's go." Excitement lit up his eyes. "I'll pack, and we can go to yours and grab what you need." She couldn't believe how serious he was.

  Zane cleared his throat on the other side of the door, and she realized he was listening in. "Not meaning to be eavesdropping or anything. But you may want to know that Rachel and Alan were arrested in Switzerland three days ago and we recovered several million dollars in two offshore accounts. All embezzled from Cervantes. The team located another three accounts in Bermuda which have now been seized. Now's not really the time to go running off around the world, good as it may sound, and quite impressive Sam. Lexie, he's normally very boring."

  Lexie was stunned. Rachel and Alan were behind it all? Sure she had some suspicion that something had gone on but not on that scale. This was huge. Lexie looked to Sam immediately.

  "Zane, is there any way you can hold the fort?" Sam asked, there was a desperate tone in his voice.

  Lexie widened her eyes at him, surprised at his question after hearing such big news.

  He reached out and touched her face. "Even for another day?" He breathed. She leaned into his hands and closed her eyes, relishing the way he made her feel. She appreciated the effort he was trying to make to spend time with her.

  "Much as I'd love to help, Old Man St. John is beginning to get all worked up. I told him you had the flu and had lost your voice. He wants you to deal with it. I don't think I can hold him off anymore. Besides the financial world knows about it now. You're being requested for interviews of all kinds."

  Lexie opened her eyes to see Sam's shoulders slumped with defeat. He looked at her now with sad eyes.

  "We can go wherever you want when things calm down." She reached up and held his handsome face.

  "You promise?"

  Lexie nodded.

  The excitement returned to his bright green eyes. "Go out with me Saturday? On a date."

  She smiled up at him. "Yes."

  He pulled her in and held her close encircling her with his loving arms. She rested against him savoring the sound of his steady heartbeat and feeling her own heart ache at the thought of being away from him.

  * * *

  Being away from her felt like torture to Sam.

  It was unbearable and forced him to take a serious look at his life.

  Before he came to San Francisco, he'd gotten stuck in this routine where being alone was best. He'd wallow in his misery of not being Amy's father and the horrible life he'd had with Jessica. Being with Lexie had changed everything, again in a very short space of time.

  Two whole days had passed since he last saw her. Sam had gotten completely wrapped up in the news of the embezzlement and spent most of the time away from Cervantes. There was one interview after another and meetings were the same. He knew the situation at hand was very serious and required his undivided attention, but he just wasn't able to give it. His mind was purely focused on her, no matter what he did.

  On Thursday he hoped to take her to lunch, but the first thing he encountered that morning was a phone call from his father.

  "Sam I need you back here for two weeks. Micro Moto is proposing an acquisition, and I need your expertise."

  No.

  He couldn't go away for two weeks. He had a date on Saturday.

  "Wouldn't Zane be more suited to go, especially with everything going on?"

  "Zane can take care of things there for two weeks. I need you, Sam. You know how important rebuilding Cervantes is to me. I wouldn't ask you to come if I didn't really need you."

  Sam stifled a frustrated sigh. He wanted to throw in some more suggestions but decided he'd oblige his father. It was true. He'd only request Sam's presence if he truly needed him. Maybe he could take Lexie out tonight.

  "When do you need me?"

  "Tonight would be good. There's a meeting at eleven tomorrow."

  Tonight. Of course, he would be needed tonight. It was just his luck.

  "Okay. I'll book my flight."

  * * *

  "You're seriously not going to tell us anything about Sam?" Tim challenged Lexie.

  She'd been doing a good job at glossing over the subject all week, but one of them would keep bringing it up. It didn't help that she kept accidentally calling both he and Gina Sam.

  Lexie looked across the work station at them both, and her cheeks warmed. Gina's eyes were wide with anticipation as she sipped from her mocha, and Tim looked equally anxious.

  "Tim. I..." she didn't know what she was supposed to say. Even though people were allowed to date here, she didn't think Sam would appreciate everyone in the office knowing that they were seeing each other until they discussed it first.

  Gina shook her head in dismay. "I told you everything about Zane."

  "Yes, you told me too." Tim rolled his eyes at Gina and shook his blue mane of hair. "You told me too much."

  Gina looked at him and smirked. "Hey, at least I shared, and just to update you we're going away this weekend." She giggled. "And the next three weekend's after that too."

  Lexie smiled at that, happy that Gina was getting on so well with Zane. Tim scowled at her as if he tasted something bad.

  "Gina, you and that Armani poster boy make me sick. I'm glad you're happy though." Tim grimaced. Lexie laughed at them.

  "Thank you." Gina cooed. "Now back to Miss I'm totally dating the damn head boss or whatever Sam is, and I'm not going to tell my friends anything." She glared at Lexie.

  Lexie held up her hands. "It's not that I don't want to tell you anything," she began. To be honest she'd been in her own bubble since Monday. Her body was in the office, but her mind was completely on Sam. She was just barely able to function on auto-pilot by signing a document here and there. At a push, she could probably look over a report, but no more than one. Her brain couldn't handle it. She couldn't wait for their date on Saturday.

  "I'm sorry."

  "No, you aren't." Tim narrowed his eyes. "You haven't even thought about us. We can see you thinking about him, even now. First, you didn't tell us that you knew him eons ago, and now you can't give us the details of your obviously dirty little week long trip."

  "It wasn't dirty." She protested.

  "So all you did was drink tea and eat biscuits?" Tim shot back, sending Gina into a fit of giggles. "You said his mom's English. They drink lots of tea in England."

  Even Lexie had to laugh.

  "No, Tim. We did not drink tea and eat biscuits."

  "So
for God sakes woman tell us what happened or you'll be my next test subject." Tim raised his fists and shook them. "I'll change you into aqua frog girl."

  Lexie laughed again but felt bad she hadn't said anything. Of course, she told her sisters all that happened, and maybe Tim and Gina deserved a little more than the lack of explanation she'd given.

  "We -" she was interrupted by Sam himself. He opened the lab door and came in. The words drained from her mind the minute she saw him, and she had to restrain herself from rushing into his arms.

  "Hey guys." He addressed them all then focused on her.

  "Hey Sam," they both cooed sounding like a choir. Tim made some comment, but she couldn't quite hear him. Her mind was completely fixed on Sam. Her brain was only in tuned to hear him.

  "Do you have a minute?" Sam asked.

  "Yes," she replied mindlessly and felt her body float towards him as if she were under some kind of spell.

  Tim and Gina both looked on with eager expressions. Sam seemed to guess what was going on because there was a slight grin on his face as she approached him, and he confirmed everything anyone needed to know when he took hold of her hand and led her away.

  As they left the lab, she noticed the curious looks they got from colleagues that passed by. Some even gave them little smiles of approval. She looked up at Sam and felt in awe at the proud look on his face like he was happy to be with her. He looked back at her and smiled pulling her to a stop just outside the staff room.

  "I'm sorry, I probably should think first before holding your hand like that here." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

  "No, don't apologize. I like holding your hand." She smiled up at him.

  "Good, and I hope you're okay with people knowing we're dating because I seriously need to kiss you. It's a matter of life and death." He chuckled.

  "Kiss me." She breathed melting into him as he pulled her closer and smoothed his lips over hers for the sweetest kiss imaginable. They didn't care where they were or who was passing by.

  "I missed you." He said against her lips.

  She giggled as he brushed his nose against hers. "I missed you too."

  When a concerned look returned to his face, she realized that it must have been bordering on eleven, the busiest part of the day for him and he'd come to see her. Not that she wasn't glad to see him, but she hoped everything was okay. He reached out and took a lock of her hair, circling it around his thumb. She could tell from his eyes that something was up.

  "You ... look like something's wrong." She tried to be cautious just in case she was wrong.

  "I have to reschedule our date on Saturday," he replied with sad eyes. "I have to go back to Chicago."

  She gasped as her heart stilled. This was it? Panic filled her instantly. She'd been so absorbed in the thought of being with him that she hadn't given any thought to being without him.

  It was expected with the whole investigation finished that everything would change. Sam was only here to fix the situation. Then he'd go back to Chicago.

  "No. No, it's too soon." She said before he could continue.

  He cupped her face and smiled. "It's just for two weeks. I'll be back."

  Oh. Two weeks. Relief washed over her, but then the longing returned at the thought that two weeks was still a long time. Two weeks felt like forever when you...

  Felt the way she did.

  She would never fool herself into thinking that this was some kind of temporary thing for her. It had never been.

  "My dad needs my help with an acquisition," he explained. "I'll do what I need to do, and I'll be back in two weeks. Will you go out with me then?"

  "Of course I will." She nodded.

  "I think we're due for some dancing too." He tried to joke, but his eyes looked sad.

  "We can definitely dance." She was trying to sound chirpier than what came out but couldn't help it. Two weeks was a long time, but in reality, it wasn't just these two weeks she had to worry about. Sam had done a great job here and in the business world that meant moving on to something else.

  "Lexie." He said her name like he'd called her before.

  She blinked a few times to clear her mind and focused back on him. With a determined look in his eyes, he said, "I'll be back very soon, and I'll make it all up to you. I promise." He smiled wider revealing his gorgeous dimples.

  She nodded and offered a small smile as he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it just as Janine was passing by with Simon. They were coming from the café. Simon looked over at them with a very pleased smile while Janine frowned and held her folder closer to her chest.

  "I leave tonight. I'll call you when I get there."

  "Okay." Her awareness of where they were returned when he kissed her, and she looked up to see Mags glaring at them in that old school marm way. Lexie widened her eyes while Sam stared at Mags, feigning innocence.

  "I knew it." She drawled in an accusatory tone pointing at them.

  "Come on Mags give me a break." Sam offered a cheeky smile and released Lexie. "She's the perfect woman and beautiful. What did you expect me to do?" Sam looked back at Lexie.

  Mags shook her head and smiled tight-lipped. "You can buy me a mocha for working my butt off last week."

  "Sure thing boss." Sam smiled. Before he left, he turned back to Lexie and winked. "Call you later doll."

  "I look forward to it."

  As she watched him leave with Mags, walking to the café, she felt empty at the thought of him leaving for good. Two weeks was two weeks, but the day would come when he'd have to go back home to Chicago for good.

  Then what would she do?

  Chapter 19

  Sam had completely forgotten what life was like at St. John & Co.

  Busy, fast paced, and always on the go. The slower pace at Cervantes had highlighted that to him.

  He couldn't believe that he'd ever been comfortable here, and what was worse was his house had that feeling again. Like it wasn't his as if he was just visiting.

  He didn't realize last time why it felt this odd, but this time it was glaringly obvious. It was because his life had changed. The house was also a reminder of the life he had with Jessica, and like an allergy, his body was repelling it from his system.

  The only time he felt comfortable was when his mother visited with her chocolate gift basket when he spoke to Zane, but even more so when he spoke to Lexie.

  He couldn't wait to get back and see her, especially since she'd looked so worried about him leaving. He knew she was probably thinking about what would happen to them when he returned to Chicago officially. He'd thought about that too, and he honestly wasn't sure what to do. The one thing that was certain was that he couldn't and wouldn't be without her.

  Sam wanted more from his relationship with Lexie, more than just the time spent with her when he was in San Francisco. That brought him to his next worry. His worry over Amy and Jessica.

  Being with Lexie highlighted the fact that he had to move on. It was time, way past it.

  Amy wasn't his, but he would always love her like she was and that would never change. It shouldn't also stop him from living and... starting over. Aside from the hurt and heartbreak, Jessica caused him, she'd also robbed him of a life.

  On Sunday when he thought he was definitely on the verge of madness from missing Lexie too much, he got a surprise visit from Amy.

  "My babysitter dropped me off." She enunciated babysitter with distaste. "Mom insisted."

  Jessica had always dropped Amy off, so it was a mystery as to how she'd allowed the babysitter to do it now. Sure she had no qualms leaving her with some strange types, but for any meeting like this with Sam, she'd come on her guard, as if she thought he would sink low enough to steal Amy away. He wished he could. If he could have, he would have done it long ago. Just take his daughter and sail somewhere far away, but running like that was no life to live.

  "Amy, you're safer with a babysitter." He told her giving her the biggest hug. It really was great to s
ee her.

  "Dad I'm going to be twelve in a few weeks."

  "Months." He corrected. He'd only just gotten used to her being in the double digits.

  He'd had a panic attack when she first turned ten. After twelve came thirteen. She'd be a teenager, and he'd have to lock her in a tower somewhere where no evil boy creatures could get to her.

  "Months then." She humored him with a sweet little smile that revealed the dimples in her cheeks. Her bright blue eyes beamed up at him.

  They made pizza and watched the first two Harry Potter films. After that, they watched music videos and ate marshmallows.

  "Dad you are so cool," Amy commented stuffing her mouth with two more marshmallows.

  Sam smiled at that. "I'm glad you think so, and hope that's not your way of buttering me up." Amy didn't need to do anything like that because Sam spoilt her rotten.

  "Well, actually."

  The cheeky little look she gave him told him he could be wrong. She smiled widely with a mischievous glint in her eye.

  "What's up?" Sam narrowed his eyes and leaned back on the sofa.

  "I wanted to talk to you about something." It sounded serious. He straightened up again. "When you came to my play, you seemed different, and you seem even more different now."

  He wasn't sure what she meant. "Different good or bad?"

  "Oh, it's a different good." As she chuckled her bright blue eyes sparkled, and the ends of her ponytail bobbed. "You always seemed cheered up when you see me, but this was different. You looked genuinely happy like you weren't just putting on a brave face for me."

  He felt touched that she noticed he did that. Amy was a smart girl, very wise beyond her years, so there was no point denying that he was different. He felt sad to admit it was learning that he wasn't her real father and the nasty divorce that forced her into growing up faster than she should have. He never wanted that for her, and it would always bother him.

  "I was um... I was hoping that maybe you were seeing someone," she said shyly, blushing a little and suddenly looking uncomfortable. This wasn't the kind of stuff they talked about.