Make Me Stay

by Jaci Burton

  Reid parked, and Sam grabbed her sweater and her purse, along with the gift she'd bought for Carter and Molly. They headed up the brightly lit stairs into the main foyer, where someone directed them to the ballroom.

  "Look at the hearth," she said as they walked inside the ballroom.

  The hearth appeared to be four times the size of a home's average fireplace.

  "Impressive," Reid said, taking her hand and leading her over to it, where a wood fire burned. "And these floors. That looks to be some kind of antique oak."

  "It's beautiful. Everything in here is amazing. I barely looked at it earlier because I was meeting my decorating deadline." Now she soaked it all in, from the colorful, medieval tapestry showcasing a warrior on a horse to the stained glass windows. It was a showpiece. Molly and Carter had chosen well.

  Speaking of the bride and groom, they made their entrance to a fanfare from the live band and much applause from all the guests.

  Reid and Sam found their assigned seats, though they didn't stay there for long. Sam wanted to see Molly's dress up close--it was a beautiful pale cream gown of satin and lace. It had cap sleeves and clung to Molly's curves. It looked as if it had been made just for her. Sam couldn't imagine a more perfect gown for Molly.

  "You are gorgeous," she said to Molly, then hugged her close.

  "Thank you."

  "You're also beaming. Congratulations."

  Molly laughed. "Thank you again. It's hard to believe we're finally married. After all these years."

  Sam squeezed her hand, so happy for her friend. Then she hugged Carter and moved off so others could offer their congrats as well.

  The bride and groom had to start their first dance, so everyone gathered around to watch. It put a lump in Sam's throat to watch Molly and Carter, to see the love reflected in the way they looked at each other as they danced.

  And then the bridal party all danced, and she watched all her friends dancing as well. They all looked stunning.

  After the dance, she found Emma and gave her a hug.

  "You look beautiful," she said to Emma.

  The bridesmaids' dresses were a gorgeous burnt sienna with cap sleeves and tight-fitting bodices that were snug to the waist, then flowed out in very elegant fashion to the floor. All the women looked amazing. Molly had kept it simple, with Emma as her matron of honor and Jane as a bridesmaid, along with Des and Chelsea.

  "I'm just happy they were able to alter my dress to fit my oh-so-quickly-expanding belly." Emma laid her hand over her lower stomach.

  "Well, those things happen when you have a baby growing in there."

  "Don't they, though?"

  "How are you feeling?"

  "Pretty fantastic, actually. And hungry--like all the time."

  Des came over and slung her arm around Emma's waist. "I think we're fighting each other to see who can eat the most bacon."

  Emma leaned against Des. "Oh, I'm definitely winning."

  "We'll see. We can pound down some bacon on the ranch. Plus, you have to work right now, having to run your vet clinic. So you're burning a ton of calories. Me? I'm on vacation. That leaves more bacon-eating time."

  Sam grinned. "I think you're both adorable. And you both glow, and you both look like you haven't gained a pound--except in your bellies."

  "This is why I love you, Samantha," Des said. "I'm going to start dragging you to all my movie sets after I have the baby. So you can tell my directors how fantastic I look."

  She laughed. "Well, the travel sounds fun."

  She made her way around to say hello to everyone. It had been a while since she'd caught up with all her friends. Megan was there--without a date--and looking absolutely stunning in a black-and-white dress that fit her perfectly. With her silver heels that showed off her legs, she didn't think Megan would be without a dance partner for long.

  "You didn't ask someone to come with you?"

  Megan shook her head. "No. This way I'm free to dance with all the available men tonight."

  "Smart move. And I see Brady is here--which makes him available. And he looks so good tonight."

  Megan smiled as she looked in Brady's direction. "Since Carter is his boss, this is one event he couldn't turn down. Either way, I'm happy to see him again. And I'll force him out on the dance floor with me tonight. That man needs to have some fun."

  "Did I tell you Reid and I ran into him at a biker bar a week or so ago?"

  Megan slipped her arm in Sam's. "You did not. And what were you and Reid doing in a biker bar? I didn't even know Reid had a bike."

  "He doesn't. We were out for a ride, and apparently the place we stopped at is one he used to frequent. It has very good cheeseburgers." She told Megan about Brady stopping in and having lunch with them.

  "Good to know the guy gets out and around and doesn't hang out in his bell tower above Carter's shop like the Hunchback of Notre Dame."

  Sam laughed. "I'm going to tell him you said that."

  Megan shrugged. "Go ahead."

  The band had started up a fun song--one of her and Megan's favorites. She saw Reid--and Brady--hanging around the bar. Of course. She took Megan's hand and walked over toward them.

  Megan tugged at her hand. "What are you doing?"

  "Getting this party started."

  "Sam. No."

  She ignored her friend and dragged her to the bar, where Reid saw her coming and mentioned something to Brady, who arched a brow.

  Sam took Brady's hand and put it in Megan's. "Hey, Brady. Ask Megan about the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Also, she wants you to ask her to dance." She turned to Reid. "How about you and I hit the dance floor?"

  Reid pushed off the bar. "Sure."

  Reid walked with her to the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. The music was a little fast, but he had good rhythm and kept up to the song--and wow, did it feel good to have a partner who knew how to lead.

  "What was that about?" he asked.

  "What was what about?"

  "That whole hunchback thing?"

  "Oh. Something Megan mentioned to me that I thought Brady might be interested in."

  Right now Megan and Brady were dancing--and talking--and Megan wasn't shooting her death stares, so she supposed her idea had worked out. She'd find out later, she was certain.

  Sometimes people just needed a push in the right direction.

  Like her friend Chelsea, who was on the dance floor with Bash, the two of them so wrapped up in each other they didn't even notice anyone else. It wasn't long ago that Chelsea was convinced Bash was the absolute wrong man for her. And now? He was the love of her life.

  Yeah, sometimes people just needed a push.

  Reid tipped her chin with his fingers, drawing her gaze to his. "What's going on?"

  She smiled at him. "Oh, just thinking about friends of mine."

  "Yeah? Thinking what?"

  "About how sometimes people need a push in the right direction. Chelsea and Bash for instance. She was convinced she'd never end up with someone like him. And it all turned out perfectly for them. And Molly and Carter--they had their struggles getting together."

  His lips curved. "Thinking about happily-ever-afters tonight, Sam?"

  That thought made her smile. "Maybe."

  "Everybody deserves one."

  She tilted her head back, meeting his gaze. "Even you?"

  "Sure. Why not? But I was thinking more of you. You do so much for everyone you love. I can't think of anyone more deserving of a happily-ever-after than you."

  It was times like this that he made her heart squeeze. Being in Reid's arms, feeling his body close to hers, and hearing him saying all the right things made her realize how much she was falling in love with him.

  Which only made her desperate to run far and fast away from him.

  But she also realized it was too late now. She had already fallen--and he'd caught her. She was going to have to ride this out until he finished his project and returned to Boston.

  And add anot
her heartbreak to her list.

  So she stayed quiet, not knowing how to respond to what he'd said. The best she could give right now was to be with him, soaking in his touch and the way he made her feel. She needed it, and she'd take it for as long as she could.

  REID COULD TELL something was off with Sam tonight. Maybe she was tired. He knew she'd worked her ass off all week prepping for the wedding. It showed, too. The flowers were beautiful. Not that he knew a hell of a lot about flowers, other than they were pretty. But he'd hung out at the mercantile long after he needed to, watching her work late nights. He'd brought her dinner, making her take a break to eat. He'd stopped by her grandmother's house to check in and hang out, though Faith had been there as well.

  Now all that wedding prep was over and she should be able to relax and have a good time. Still, there was something.

  He sat with her and all their friends and family, and she should be having a great time. Her grandmother was having fun--she'd even gotten up and danced. That should have made Sam happy.

  They'd eaten, and Sam had had several glasses of wine, which should have relaxed her.

  But he sensed a melancholy in Sam that she couldn't seem to shake.

  While everyone at their table was on the dance floor, he took her hand. "What's up?"

  She pulled her gaze away from the dance floor. "What?"

  "You seem unhappy."

  "How could I be unhappy tonight? My friends got married, I'm hanging out with people I love. Even Grammy Claire is shaking her bootie on the dance floor with Faith. I'm having a great time."

  "But . . ."

  "No, really. It's a perfect night."

  "But," he said again, giving her the opening again.

  "But I realized that someday I'm going to get married. And Grammy Claire will either not remember me by that point, or won't be there to see my wedding day."

  He saw the tears glittering in her eyes. He stood and pulled her to stand. "Come on. Let's take a walk."

  He led her outside the ballroom and up the stairs, ignoring the No One Admitted sign on the second-floor balcony.

  The night was clear, it was warm outside, and the supersized stone balcony gave them a perfect view of the manicured lawns and full moon.

  "We're not supposed to be up here," she said.

  "So if someone comes, they'll throw us out." He pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arm around her.

  "It's nice outside," she said, but instead of feeling her relax, he felt the muscles in her body tighten.

  "When my dad died, my mom had been gone for a long time already," he said. "And I felt alone for the first time in my life. I still had my brothers, but I felt alone. Really alone. I realized--like you did--that there were going to be major milestones in my life that my dad wouldn't be a part of. Like me getting married--and if I had kids, my kids would never know how awesome their grandfather was. And they'd be cheated out of a grandmother because my mother was--well, you know."

  She pulled away from his embrace to face him. "I understand."

  "Life doesn't come with guarantees, Sam. And family is what you make of it. I got lucky that I had Ben and Martha in my life. And they may not be blood family, but they're like parents to me and always have been. I have Carter and Deacon and a lot of other friends I've made over my lifetime here in Hope. And when the day comes that I walk down the aisle with the woman I've chosen to spend the rest of my life with, Ben and Martha will be by my side. And my brothers will be there, as will friends I've grown close to--people I consider my family."

  He swept his knuckles over her cheek. "Family isn't just blood relatives, Sam. They're the people who hold your heart, the people who know you better than you know yourself. You might think you're alone, but you aren't. You're well-loved, Samantha Reasor, by a lot of people in this town. You will never be alone as long as you're loved."

  Sam held her breath. It was a beautiful statement. And while he hadn't put the two of them together in that equation, and not once had he said that she was the woman he loved, she could envision her future now in ways she hadn't been able to before.

  He was right. She had so many friends, so many people in her life whom she loved, and whom she knew loved her in return.

  And maybe she was going to slowly lose her grandmother--a fact that made her heart ache in ways she couldn't explain. But she wasn't going to be alone. She had Megan and Emma and Chelsea and Jane and Des and Molly and Logan and Luke and Carter and Bash and so many other people who'd always have her back.

  Those people were her family, too.

  And she wished--God, how she wished--that she had Reid, too. But she could wish as high as the moon and that wasn't going to happen, so she'd have to settle for what she did have--which was a lot. So much to be grateful for. And she had to concentrate on that.

  She lifted her gaze to his, laying her palms against his chest. "You're right, Reid. I'll never be alone. Thank you for reminding me of that."

  He slipped his hands along her neck and pressed his lips to hers. And for a moment, she felt like a princess, here on the balcony, stealing a kiss with her secret prince. She melted against him, overcome by so much emotion she didn't know what to do with all of it. She clutched the lapels of his suit, not caring at all that she was probably wrinkling him. She sure wanted him to wrinkle her, to touch her intimately. She needed to feel him close to her--closer than they were right now.

  He pulled his lips from hers and she saw the need on his face, mirroring how she felt.

  He took her hand and led her from the balcony. He stopped at the exit from the room, looking down the hallway.

  "This way."

  "You know your way around here?" she whispered.

  "I might have looked up a blueprint when I found out we were coming here. I was curious about the history and architecture."

  That was so Reid. He'd have to know all about the place they were going.

  She loved that about him.

  He led her around a corridor and down a dark hallway, into a very elegant ladies' room, the kind with wallpaper and velvet sofas. He flipped on the light, then closed and locked the door.

  She arched a brow. "Kidnapping me?"

  He grinned, moving forward to capture her in his arms. "Yeah. Got a problem with that?"

  "Not at all. Though I have this fear of being arrested."

  "Relax and only think about my hands on you."

  He slid his hand down her spine, making her grateful that, despite the cool fall weather, she'd chosen a dress with an open back. Because his hands on her bare skin were just what she needed, coaxing that fire out of her that always obliterated every other thought from her mind.

  He pushed her up against the wall, smoothing his hands along her rib cage.

  "Your heart is beating fast. Still thinking about being arrested?"

  "No, that's not what I'm thinking about anymore. I'm thinking about you touching me."

  His fingers teased inside her dress, roaming ever lower. "Here?"

  She moaned. "Yes. Anywhere. But especially there."

  He led her over to one of those elegant velvet settees and sat her down on it, kneeling in front of her to remove her shoes.

  "Let's get you comfortable," he said, sliding his fingers under her dress as he raised the hem and spread her legs.

  She leaned back, so lost in him, in the way his hair fell over his forehead, in the wicked desire she saw reflected in his heated gaze.

  And as he reached under her dress and drew her underwear down her legs, she was feeling more than a little heated herself.

  He lifted her leg, kissed her calf, then the other, looking at her as he draped her legs over his shoulders.

  And then she started feeling very hot as he shouldered in between her thighs, lifted her dress, and pressed his mouth to her sex.

  Oh. The only word she could think to come up with for what was happening right now was scandalous. Here they were, locked in a forbidden room in this mansion, while all the wedd
ing guests partied downstairs, and Reid was . . .

  She lost her train of thought, because his mouth and tongue had become the most prominent thing on her mind, a swirling, delicious delight to her senses.

  She gave herself up to his mastery of her body, not caring at all where they were, because all she wanted was the orgasm he led her to. And when she came, she lifted against him, needing more and more of the wild waves of climax that washed over her.

  She'd barely caught her breath before he'd put on a condom and slid inside her, her body still quaking from the aftereffects of her orgasm. He cupped her butt and tilted her toward him. She wrapped her legs around him and met his thrusts, reaching for him, needing to hold on to him as she was besieged by a storm of sensation and emotion.

  Reid leaned down to kiss her, a desperate meeting of lips and tongues as he held tight to her and ground against her. She felt the stirrings of another orgasm and moaned against his lips. He groaned in answer and slowed the tempo.

  The sweet, slow, sensual movements, the way he pulled back and looked at her as he moved within her, were her undoing.

  She looked up at him, reached for him as if he were her anchor in this wild maelstrom.

  "Reid." His name fell from her lips in a whisper.

  "Yeah. I know."

  Her orgasm burst from her, making her cry out as she came. Reid gathered her close, took her mouth in a kiss and came with her, his body shuddering against hers as they both flew through these amazing sensations.

  She was trembling. Or maybe that was Reid. Possibly it was both of them.

  "I'm not sure I can move," she finally managed.

  "I know I can't. You've got me in some kind of wrestling lock."

  She laughed, and they untangled their limbs. He pulled her to a standing position, and held on to her, thankfully, because her legs were a little wobbly.

  They righted their clothing, and Sam took a look in the mirror.

  Not too bad a disaster. She fixed her hair and reapplied her lipstick. If her dress was a little wrinkled, she didn't much care about that.