by Maddie James
“Lucki, look. . ”
“No, Sam. You look. If you want Missy, then fine. Just don’t come to me after you’ve been with her. In fact, don’t come to me at all. Don’t talk about us being a couple. Don’t talk about kissing me any more. And don’t send substitutions for dates with me. Ever. You understand that?”
Taken aback, Sam stared at her. “What?”
“Don’t play dumb, Sam. I hate that. You know what I’m talking about.”
He shook his head. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Oh, yes, you do.”
“Tell me, Lucki.”
“I shouldn’t have to.”
“Stop playing games here and spill it. What’s on your mind?”
If he weren’t mistaken, he would swear there were tiny tears welling up in Lucki’s eyes. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen Lucki cry before. His heart swelled. “Lucki, what’s bothering you?”
“You were with Missy this morning.”
He nodded. “Yes, that’s true.”
She turned away.
“Reverend Halcomb told you there was an emergency, right?”
“Oh, yeah, some emergency, Sam. Don’t give me that crap and don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not lying, Lucki. Missy was ill. Or thought she was anyway.”
She turned back and looked at him, her eyes all ablaze. “Like hell! I’m no fool, Sam. I just saw her! Dressed to the nines. A body to die for. All made up. Gloating about spending the morning in bed with you. . ”
Sam put up his hands. “Whoa! Stop right there. I did not spend the morning in bed with Missy.” His stomach turned.
“Oh, so she lied?”
Sam again nodded. “Yes, Lucki, she lied.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes, Lucki, I do. She lied about that. She lied about being sick this morning.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it.
“Lucki,” he began softly. “Who do you believe? Me, your best friend, who has never lied to you in your life? Or Missy Hawkins, who hasn’t the greatest reputation in town for honesty.”
He watched her think on that one.
After a moment, she nodded slightly. “I believe you, Sam.”
He felt relief wash over him in a torrent. “Let me tell you what happened.” After a minute, he’d relayed the entire story. He could see and sense Lucky mentally relaxing.
“So, it was another of Missy’s tricks. I didn’t intentionally back out on you this morning. I wouldn’t do that, Lucki. Hell, I’ve been trying to woo you for the past few days. Why would I pull a crazy stunt like that?”
Lucki shook her head and glanced away. Her eyes were still misted with tears. “I don’t know,” she said. “I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“Lucki, I think you know how I feel about you. I’ve said that often enough lately. Let’s start over today.”
She looked at him, square in the eyes, and held the connection for a while. “Sam,” she began, “just let me say one more thing.”
“Okay.”
“I have to say this, have to clear this up, before I can go any further with anything between us.”
“Okay, Lucki.”
“I want you to know who much it hurt me when you dumped me at my Senior Prom. I want you to know how much it hurt me today when I saw Reverend Halcomb standing there this morning on my porch, telling me that you’d sent him instead of you. I want you to know that I don’t ever want that to feel that again, you understand me?”
Sam let her words soak in a minute. Senior Prom? Vague remembrances slipped back into his mind. Oh, hell. .
“Lucki, I. .I don’t know what to say. Are you still upset about that?” Actually, he’d never known whether she was upset or not. He’d never talked to her about it.
She glanced away. Looking irritated. “Let’s get back to the picnic, Sam. Forget it.”
“Lucki, we need to talk about this.”
“Another time, Sam. I’m not up to it. Let’s go.”
Sam hesitated, watching the side of her face, then decided to drop it. Obviously, there was something there Lucki was hiding. Something had been bothering her for a long time. And even more obvious, he was going to have a lot more wooing to do before he won her.
This thing was bigger than the incident with Missy Hawkins this morning. He’d hurt her. A long time ago.
And she didn’t trust him.
* * * *
It was difficult to know exactly what she was feeling. The fact that she’d gotten a couple of things off her chest felt really good. The fact that she’d actually spoken words about that prom thing felt doubly good. But somehow she’d also felt silly bringing up something that had happened so long ago in their pasts. It seemed so juvenile somehow. So high school. So immature.
Damn. She was a grown woman. She should be able to get over stuff like that. She shouldn’t have even brought it up. Now, he was going to think her an over-grown adolescent. Well, just let him. There was nothing she could do about it now. Fact remained, it had hurt her. Hurt her badly. And she was glad he’d gone back to summer school for the rest of the summer. Glad she didn’t have to face him. Geez, the humiliation.
And she’d felt it again this morning, faced with Reverend John Halcomb on her front porch. And then with Missy.
Well, she was a big girl now. She had to brush it off and get over it. And she would.
She’d voice her feelings and she really didn’t care to discuss them further. With Sam. With herself. But the biggest feeling she’d experienced in the past few minutes was relief. Suddenly, she knew that Sam was telling her the truth. He didn’t want Missy Hawkins.
He wanted her. Lucki.
He hadn’t said it in so many words.
He didn’t have to.
It was in his eyes. She saw it. He wanted her.
Maybe he even loved her.
Like she did him.
Chapter Eleven
“Lucki! Dammit! Get over here and quick! Where are the trophies? What did you do with the volleyballs?
Who did you call to referee? No one has shown up yet! The tournament starts in ten minutes and we don’t have one thing ready! Rick is about to blow a gasket!”
Pinky grabbed Lucki no sooner than she had stepped out of Sam’s car, and herded her toward the tournament registration table. She glanced briefly back at Sam as he was exiting the driver’s side, gave him a weak shrug, then turned back to Pinky.
“The volleyballs are in Matt’s truck, Pinky. We put them there yesterday. The trophies are locked in the cab of my truck. We can get them later. Hank Snider is coming to referee and he’s bringing someone with him. He’s always right on time, never early, never late. He’ll be here, don’t worry. And as far as Rick is concerned, cool it. He blows a gasket every other hour, you know that.”
Lucki settled her gaze on Pinky and sighed. Geez, what would they ever do without her? Could no one around this joint function without her leadership?
Hey, maybe she was good for something, after all, she chuckled to herself. Despite the fact that she was a clumsy leg-breaker. Seems like neither Matt nor Pinky could take charge of anything without her direction. She should have been back here an hour ago.
“Just relax Pinky, okay? Everything will be fine. Are the teams registered? Everyone get their shirts? Read the rules?”
“Yes, yes, and yes.” Pinky shuffled through a stack of papers.
“Everyone has their time slots? Know when to show up here?”
Pinky nodded. “Yes and yes.”
Lucki grinned. “See? You didn’t need me after all, did you?”
Pinky’s eyes grew wide. “Damned tootin’ we need you! What if something goes wrong? What if. .?”
Lucki laid a hand on her arm. “Pinky, relax. Everything is going to go just fine.”
At that statement, she heard a shrill whistle. She glanced at her watch. Two o’clock. Time to begin. And Hank Snider had arrived. Quickly, she gathered the first two tea
ms together, comprised of employees, their family members, and friends, explained the rules one more time, deemed Hank referee omnipotent, the final authority, and let the games begin.
As the first volley was served, she glanced to her left and saw a smiling Sam watching her. A funny little tingle tripped up her spine, swirled around her neck, and caught in her throat. Something dawned on her then. She liked him watching her with that saucy little grin on his face. Liked it a lot.
****
Four hours later Sam stepped up behind Lucki and grabbed her around the waist. She jumped, then turned in his arms, facing him.
“The tournament is over, Lucki. Let’s go home.”
And to bed.
Startled at the look in Lucki’s eyes, he tightened his grip on her. Immobilizing her. “You in a hurry to get home?” she asked.
“Well, I don’t want to leave J.J. and Spud together too long. You know the shenanigans they can get into.”
“We should have brought him with us. Both of them. They would have had a ball.”
Sam nodded. Yes, he should have. But with Missy’s so-called emergency messing up his plans that morning, he’d opted for J.J. to stay at Spud’s. “Couldn’t be helped.” Leaning closer, Sam touched the tip of his nose to Lucki’s.
Immediately, she jumped back and pushed at his arms. “Sam. I’m working.”
He released her.
“When are you finished?”
“About an hour,” she replied.
“Then I can take you home?”
She hesitated. “Sam, I’ve got my truck. I’ll probably be late. You can head on home whenever you need to, all right? I’ll probably come later, after we’ve gotten everything cleaned up.”
Sam thought about that. He could stay and help Lucki, be next to her, wait for her. But perhaps, he should go on. Fetch J.J. Feed the kid dinner. Get him settled for the night. And then wait for Lucki’s return. Perhaps. .
An enticing thought came to mind.
“It’s been a long day, Lucki. I think, that I will go on home. Maybe I’ll see you later?”
He knew the grin on his face was a sly one. Couldn’t help it.
Lucki shuffled papers, rifled through a box of trophies, then shoved back a loose lock of hair and looked at him. She was tired. So, tired. Probably needed a hot bath. Bubble bath, maybe. And a massage. And something nice and relaxing to drink. .
“Okay, Sam. I’ll see you later.”
She turned away, shouted something to Pinky, then hoisted the box of leftover trophies to her hip. He gave her a small wave and turned to leave.
“Later, Lucki.” But not too much later, my dear.
“Sam?”
He turned back. “Yes?”
“Thanks for being here this afternoon. Even if it didn’t actually work out as planned. It was still nice having you here.” She offered him a tired smile.
“No problem, Lucki.” He grinned back.
No problem at al .
****
It was much later when Lucki got home. So much so that she opted to skip an invitation for a late fastfood dinner with Pinky and Matt, and head on home. She was exhausted. Smiling, she shook her head at the irony of the afternoon. Absolutely nothing had gone as planned. Reverend Halcomb had broken his leg. Missy had come to fetch him. Sam had smiled at her with that come-hither look on his face the entire day. And Pinky had made goo-goo eyes at Matt every chance she got. Thing was, he was doing the same thing back at her. It was nauseatingly sweet. Secretly, Lucki was glad for the two of them. They both needed someone. And she, herself, was glad to have Matt Farmer off her tail.
Exhausted, she pulled into her driveway, drove around back, and killed the car’s engine. Silence. Blessed silence filled her ears. Perhaps she should just slink down in the seat and sleep here, she told herself. The thought was almost enticing, too tired to walk from the truck to her back door. But she didn’t. Dragging herself from the vehicle, she slowly made her way across the back yard, onto her back porch, into her kitchen, up the back stairway, down the hallway, and toward her bedroom without turning on a single light.
She blinked.
A soft murmur of light spilled from her bedroom door into the hallway. A soft, flickering of muted light. Somewhat radiant and sensual at the same time. Puzzled, she stepped inside. A dozen or more lit candles graced her dresser, her bedside tables, and a bookshelf. Her bed was turned back, her pastel green sheets inviting in the dim light. A black lace negligee, not hers, lay dark across the bed. On one bedside table sat an ice bucket containing a bottle of chilled champagne. Two fluted crystal glasses graced its left. A bowl of strawberries and another of chocolates to the right. Behind them all sat a dozen long-stemmed roses. By morning, they would be open and flowering, she knew. By morning, she wondered if she’d be the same.
There was no doubt in her mind who had set up this scene of seduction. No doubt. And at the moment, she was too tired to fight it.
He stepped inside her bedroom then and she turned to look at him. No words were spoken as Sam slowly came toward her, reaching out his hand. She lifted hers, their gazes connected, and he grasped her fingers and gently pulled her closer. Still, without words, he led her out of the bedroom, down the hall, and into the bathroom.
More candles graced the large bathroom. The antique clawfoot tub, her mother’s pride and joy, was full of bubbles and what she hoped, hot water. Fluffy towels were stacked by its side. Incense burned and mingled with the scent of the candles.
Sam turned to her, stared longingly into her eyes, then reached to the bottom of her T-shirt and slowly pulled it up and over her head. She let him.
Still, a little in awe of all this attention, but not questioning, she kept contact with his eyes. Slowly, gently, caressingly, he undressed her. Her silky bra, her denim shorts, her plain old cotton bikini panties, her Nikes, her athletic socks. .
And then she stood before him. Naked. Shivering. Wanting him. Still watching his eyes. Still waiting. Finally, his gaze played down over her body, perusing, sensually massaging. She shivered more intensely under his scrutiny as his eyes devoured her. Then he stepped closer, one-half step, and kissed her lips. Ever so lightly. Nibbling. Tasting. Their bodies still not touching. Only their lips. Then he broke away and led her to the tub.
He motioned for her to step inside and with a bashful glance his way, still holding onto his hand, she lifted first one foot and then the other into the tub’s warmth. Within seconds, she slipped beneath the water and leaned back against the rear of the tub. A sigh escaped her lips unwillingly. Then Sam was there, a folded towel in hand, urging her to lay her head back.
She looked up at him.
“Relax, Lucki,” he whispered. “Just relax. I’ll take care of everything.” He stroked several loose locks of hair from her forehead, then reaching back, undid the elastic holding her ponytail and let her hair fall free. Lucki searched his face and her breath caught in her throat. That he would go to this length to please her, to woo her. .what did it mean? Was Sam, the boy-next-door, real y in love with her. Was this forever?
Or was she just another conquest. Another woman to coo and woo and wine and dine. God, she hoped not. Because after this night, she knew, there would be no turning back for her. For the first time in her life, she felt like being swept away. Transcended. Blissfully held and pampered and made love to. And when all this was through, she knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, she would be in love with Sam Kirk for the rest of her life.
And probably always had been.
The only question: would he remain in love with her?
It was a risk she was willing to take.
And as she eased her head back again the tub, sliding deeper into the sensuous warmth of water and bubbles and Sam’s gaze, she knew she would take that chance.
She closed her eyes.
A ripple bounced against her chest and she opened them again briefly. Sam had dipped a washcloth in the water and was wringing out the excess. Settling down beside h
er outside the tub, he stroked the warm cloth over her face and Lucki closed her eyes again. She felt the tiny nubs of the cloth scrape slightly over her skin, behind her ear, around her neck, and down over her collarbone. The water sloshed again, and the she felt the same cloth being rubbed over her shoulders, first one, then the other, dipping slightly down her back, then again across her chest and down her arms. Relaxed, so relaxed, Lucki felt herself falling into a dizzying state of another world as her senses took over and her tired body surrendered to Sam’s caresses.
She slid deeper into the water.
Within seconds, it seemed, the water sloshed again, only more, and she opened her eyes to see a now naked Sam stepping inside the tub with her.
“Sit up, Lucki,” he whispered.
She did.
“Turn around.” She did that as well. And Sam sat down behind her, the water sluicing up slightly over the side. Then he pulled her back down against his chest and wrapped his arms around her.
“Umm. . ” he purred in her ear.
Lucki turned toward his coo and settled her head into the crook of his neck and shoulder. Sam tightened his embrace around her chest. Then his legs wrapped around hers, holding her close. Lucki fell into a complete state of bliss.
Candles flickering. Incense burning. Bubbles caressing. Sam’s hands and fingers and arms and legs all along the length of her. Bliss. Pure bliss. There was no other way to describe it. She felt herself being lulled into near state of sleepiness.
“Tired honey?”
Lucki nodded into his shoulder. When had Sam Kirk felt so good? Became such a tender and sweet lover?
His hands started their search then, gently, slowly caressing over her chest, her breasts. He tweaked her nipples, rolling them between his thumb and forefinger. He lightly tickled her ribs, the pads of his fingers grazing. He spanned her waist, dipped lower past her naval, and then finally slide both hands between her legs where Lucki knew she was hot, and it wasn’t from the warm bath. He gently caressed her with fingertips and palm, holding her there, slowly increasing the pressure. Never urgent, just lazy, swirling touches. Lucki didn’t know when touching had felt so good. He rubbed his legs along hers all the while like a cricket in mating. Gentle sloshes of water periodically swept over the side of the tub.