by JoAnn Durgin
Even though her roommates acted curious, none asked any questions as they headed out the door to the bonfire. Throwing a wave over one shoulder, Rebekah called to her to have a nice evening. The grin on her face was interesting. Josh’s comment tipped Lexa off that he and Rebecca knew she’d been at the worksite. Which meant they probably knew Sam came after her, too. But their TeamWork director didn’t seem like a kiss-and-tell kind of guy.
A light rap on the door startled her. She saw the outline of Sam standing on the opposite side of the screen door. “Excuse me, but do you know where I might find a lovely lady by the name of Alexis Clarke?”
“She’s right here.” Lexa pulled her purse over one shoulder and stepped outside. Sam was clean-shaven and wore khaki pants with a red polo which brought out the intensity of his eyes. The thick, dark hair was combed back neatly with no black Stetson. Her eyes traveled to his feet and she tried not to laugh. At least he’d polished the work boots as best he could. Goodness, did this man ever clean up well. Lexa accepted his proffered arm with a shy smile. As they began walking, she caught a whiff of cologne. That surprised her somewhat.
“I like your hair that way.”
Lexa tucked the compliment in her heart, pleased he’d noticed. It took nearly a half hour to add a few curls to the ends of her stubborn, straight hair. She’d thrown the curling iron in her suitcase as a last minute afterthought. Kind of like her dad’s old police union newsletter. It didn’t really make any sense at the time, but now it did.
Maybe Sam meant he liked her hair down since he’d only seen the braid. She needed to stop second-guessing everything. It was time to enjoy a relaxing evening with a nice man. An incredibly handsome man. Lexa willed her pulse to slow down, but it was a lost cause. When she glanced his way, she caught his smile.
A few volunteers passed by, tossing curious stares their way. No doubt they’d be a hot topic of discussion and speculation. People liked to talk, even in a TeamWork camp. She reached for the car door.
“Allow me.” Sam hastened to open it for her.
She’d been doing it for herself so long, Lexa reminded herself to allow Sam to play the gentleman. It was nice to be pampered and treated like a lady. “If you’re trying to impress me, it’s working. You TeamWork directors are quite mannerly.” She climbed into the car and lowered her gaze.
Sam pulled his long frame into the car beside her. “I have to do my best to correct your impression of me. I’m not usually so . . . impetuous.”
“It’s good you can take a night off every now and then. I hope we don’t have any car mishaps this time.”
“Or run-ins with animals. Kind of gives new meaning to animal magnetism.” Sam laughed when she smirked. “Sorry. I can be pretty corny sometimes.”
“At least I know what a tire iron is now.” Lexa frowned at her slightly swollen thumb. “I just have to be careful with tools—especially hammers.”
“Does it still hurt?” He sounded concerned. Then again, maybe he wanted to kiss it and make it all better.
“A little.” She could literally feel the color creeping into her cheeks again. They always betrayed her.
“If it’s any consolation, you’re doing a great job out at the worksite.”
Lexa smiled, pleased by the unexpected compliment. It was too hot and stifling in the car to ride without the windows down. Three minutes down the road, her hair was straight again. Even at the relatively slow speed of the station wagon, and at this hour of the evening, it was still extremely hot and windy.
In stark contrast to the first time they’d been in the car together, Sam didn’t initiate conversation. But it didn’t feel awkward. The countryside wasn’t so bland and uninteresting as it had been a couple of days ago when he picked her up at the bus station. She looked at everything with a fresh, new perspective.
She was falling hard for Sam Lewis. Lexa tried to push the thought from her mind. Her imagination sure was fanciful since coming to the TeamWork camp. All those romance novels must finally be infiltrating her brain. Still, she was on a date with the man. And, in her heart, there was nowhere she’d rather be.
~~**~~
“Not much to look at, is there?” Something about Lexa brought out Sam’s teasing nature. Other than his little sister, Caty, and sometimes Beck, he rarely teased a woman. It seemed too intimate and familiar. Shelby didn’t like teasing. Then again, her temperament was as opposite from Lexa’s as night and day. But Lexa—well, Lexa was different. He liked teasing her.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” The way Lexa scrunched her nose and her cheeks turned pink was adorable and could get addictive. The woman was witty. She didn’t miss a beat and could probably meet him at every turn in conversation. Keeping up with her was a challenge he welcomed. Lost in thought, Sam drove them onto the main road leading into town. From the corner of his eye, he saw Lexa shift her position to turn toward him. She anchored one hand on the open window.
“Sam, should we maybe talk about that kiss?”
It was hard to hear with the rumbling of the engine, but he heard her question. Maybe he didn’t have a decent answer. He opened his mouth and then closed it. What was there to talk about? Why did women always have to talk about these things? The kiss was better than good. It was so great, it actually blew his mind. Lexa must feel the same way. She was sitting beside him in the car, wasn’t she?
He cleared his throat and hoped for the best. “I think that’s one of the reasons we’re sitting here in the car together right now. Before you can ask the question, yes, it really happened. I won’t deny it this time. If you’re asking me if I want to try it again sometime . . .”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Sam knew he’d have to avoid looking at Lexa if he didn’t want to get distracted while driving. His senses—all of them—were reacting to her. He needed to be in full control of his faculties. “Just tell me what you’re thinking, Lexa.”
“Aren’t there TeamWork rules against such things?”
“Not specifically, no. Granted, there are plenty of rules, but none that prevent kissing.” A vision of Shelby popped into his mind, but he pushed it to the back of his mind, wanting to bury it so deep it wouldn’t resurface. Not while he was with Lexa. Shelby was long gone, but Lexa was here, flesh and blood, sitting beside him. Looking all pretty and sweet, but still feisty as ever. He liked that about her. He liked her independence. Her intelligence was obvious. He liked flirting with her. Especially liked that shy little smile that surfaced every now and then.
“Aren’t you kind of like my boss while I’m at the camp? Not to mention we haven’t known each other very long.”
All of a couple of days, as a matter of fact. It seemed like much longer. “Is that a problem?”
“What?” Lexa shook her head, confused. “The boss part or the not knowing you long part?”
“Listen, we don’t need to overanalyze this. We’re just going to share some dessert and conversation, get to know one another better.”
“Don’t you worry. I’m not overanalyzing anything.” She sounded huffy now. “I want you to know I didn’t come to the TeamWork camp to find a man, Mr. Lewis.”
Sam bit his lip not to laugh. “Well, that’s a relief.” He paused for effect. “If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t sign on for this mission specifically to find a woman either, Miss Clarke.”
Surprising him, Lexa laughed. “Good. As long as we understand each other.” He wasn’t sure what to think about that statement. She slid down in the seat again. Maybe she needed to tighten her seat belt.
“Believe it or not, I’m thinking of your reputation. I don’t want to get you into any trouble, that’s all.”
“I’m a big boy. I can handle trouble.” That was an understatement, especially when it came to the woman sitting across the seat from him. “Besides, TeamWork is a volunteer organization. Like everything else, kissing is voluntary.” Sam avoided looking at her, swallowing his grin. But he caught her smile.
~~**~~
Drinking in the sounds and charming ambiance of the festive Riverwalk, Sam walked beside Lexa as they descended the stone steps to the walkway bordering the canal. Slow-moving tourist boats floated through still waters beside them.
It was a bit crowded, but the pace was conducive to quiet, shared conversation. Sam shoved his hands deep into his pockets to stop from capturing her small hand with his. It was too soon for something like that. That struck him as odd since they’d already shared that unbelievable kiss. It hadn’t been ordinary by any stretch of the imagination. Holding hands with Lexa now seemed almost as intimate. The woman beside him was reawakening needs, emotional as much as anything else. If he reached for her hand now, he might not relinquish it—ever.
A wistful smile crossed Lexa’s face. She waved back with enthusiasm and smiled at a little boy in one of the boats.
“Judging from your expression, I’d say you’ve been here before.”
“Yes, but it’s been years. I was only eight when we visited. Right before my mom died.”
“You haven’t been back since then?”
Lexa shook her head. “No. But I remember the open-air markets and all the terrific southwestern art and pottery. I also remember this annoying little boy who kept following us around and wouldn’t leave me alone.”
He chuckled. “So, you had male admirers even then.”
Lexa smiled. “No, I don’t think it was that. He just wanted to get my parents to go into his grandfather’s tourist shop. If I recall correctly, they did, and spent a small fortune.”
“So, the boy’s plan worked. Pretty crafty, I’d say. Should have hung on to that guy, Lexa. He’s probably the president of an ad agency or Fortune 500 company.”
Lexa shot him a sidelong glance. “No, I’d rather hang out with a missions group for no pay, get all dusty, dirty and sunburned, smash my thumb with a hammer and get accosted by an armadillo. Not to mention ridiculed by the heartless leader of the group.” She darted another quick glance at him before lowering her gaze. “Even if most of those things were my own doing.”
“I wouldn’t agree that I’m heartless.” Sam met her eyes. “I think there’s a heart deep inside me. As a matter of fact, I know there is since it’s beating pretty fast right about now.”
“Glad to know the old ticker’s working.”
Lexa’s humor and sarcasm must be her defense mechanism, protecting her from getting too close—or allowing anyone to get close to her.
“Why don’t you tell me why you’re a financial planner, Sam.”
Putting a hand on her elbow, he steered her to one side of the walkway as a throng of senior citizens passed by them. Standing directly behind Lexa, he caught a whiff of her sweet-smelling hair. It reminded him of his mother’s roses. He nodded and smiled at a few tourists as he guided Lexa back onto the walkway. His eyes strayed down to her feet, and he grinned when he spied pink nails peeking up at him. Again, he was being way too obvious.
“Like you, I enjoy numbers and moving them around so they make sense for someone’s future. It’s thrilling to help people discover how sound financial planning can enrich their lives instead of confining them. I like to show clients how to embrace what’s ahead by careful planning and foresight. Expand their horizons by highlighting the possibilities.”
Lexa stared at him like he had three heads. “Did you memorize that from some kind of financial planners’ guidebook?”
“Yep. Financial Planning for Dummies.” Sam’s grin widened. “You know what I mean. In some ways, it’s very similar to the work I do for TeamWork. Instead of planning finances, I’m working on securing eternity and helping people see that what’s ahead is something to look forward to. It isn’t frightening. At least it doesn’t have to be. Don’t you agree?” He shot a curious glance in her direction. Lexa didn’t answer. Judging by her furrowed brow, she found it thought-provoking.
“Tell me more about yourself, Lexa.” They sat across from one another at a small table in one of the charming cafés bordering the Riverwalk. A gentle breeze lifted her hair, and a long, blonde strand blew across her cheek. Even though the braid was practical for the worksite, Sam liked her hair down. It looked shiny, feminine, soft. Touchable.
Lexa didn’t try to mask her beauty, but she had no idea how gorgeous she was. That faint sprinkle of freckles across her nose and the rosy bloom in her cheeks made her look younger than her age. Unlike before, she wore some kind of lipstick. Probably to keep him at bay. When Lexa hesitated, Sam wondered why this woman found it difficult to talk about herself. He wanted to know everything about her—her past, her dreams, and especially about her relationship with the Lord.
“What do you want to know?” Her voice was soft, and those lovely eyes avoided his.
“What are you afraid of?”
She looked up at him for a long moment. “You don’t beat around the bush, do you? I’m afraid of armadillos, I guess. I just never really knew that until yesterday.”
Sam chuckled before his eyes narrowed and his smile sobered. “I’ll tell you my greatest fear.”
Lexa raised her head with a gleam of renewed interest shining in her eyes. “I find it difficult to believe you could be afraid of anything.”
Leaning closer, he lowered his voice. “I’m afraid I’ll somehow miss God’s true calling in my life.”
She looked surprised. “Isn’t that why you’re here in San Antonio, directing the TeamWork camp?”
“Yes, but I feel there’s something more to do. I just don’t know what it is yet. I’m thirty-one, but I don’t believe financial planning is what I’m meant to do the rest of my life.”
Lexa nodded. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out soon enough. But I know how you feel. I’m twenty-five, and one of the reasons I came here is to try and figure out who I am and what I want from life. I know there’s more to it than working all the time and going out to eat with my friends once a week.” She inclined her head toward one of the boats gliding through the nearby canal. “I’d say in some ways we’re pretty much in the same boat, you and me.”
Sam leaned one hand on his chin and noted how Lexa lowered her eyes. Was she afraid he’d somehow see too much? That he wouldn’t like something he discovered about her? The waitress approached their table. Lexa ordered strawberry cheesecake and coffee, and appeared amused when he asked if they served anything with peaches.
“Sounds like one of your passions in life is peaches.” Lexa graced him with that shy little smile. It got his heart pumping, that smile. So pretty.
“How can you tell?” Sam chuckled. “Is there anything better? I love them and always have. Any way they come. For the record, what’s your favorite fruit?” His eyes trailed to her lips, and he tried not to stare. It was difficult to look at her and not remember those lips, the way she sighed, the feel of her in his arms. He shifted in his chair. He was quickly becoming the romantic fool.
Lexa thought about it for a moment. “I believe I’d have to pick . . . the apple.”
“Good choice. Just not as good as the peach.” Sam’s smile sobered again. “Come on, Lexa. Name one thing you’re afraid of.” Sitting back, he waited. He’d wait all night, if needed.
She seemed unaware he watched her every movement. Her profile was lovely. Yes, Lexa was beautiful in her own, unique way, but didn’t know it. That in itself attracted him. Something stirred inside. A woman like this could make him change his mind on any number of things. In some ways, it thrilled him. In other ways, it scared him to death. Oh, yes, he was lost all right.
CHAPTER 13
Everything about Sam Lewis screamed of deep honesty and integrity. The man wasn’t lying when he said he wanted to get to know his volunteers. But Lexa doubted he asked the other new volunteers the same questions he asked her. The TeamWork director viewed her in a different way or she wouldn’t be sitting across this table from him now. On a date. Answer the man.
“I’m afraid,” Lexa began, swallowing hard, “of not making a
difference in the world.”
Sam’s eyes softened. “Are you thinking TeamWork will help you make a difference?”
Lexa nodded. “I’m hoping it will.”
“Are you talking about making a global difference, or a difference in the lives of a few people?”
Lexa held his gaze. “I’d like to think my life means something to someone else. Whether it’s one person, or a few people, or more than that—it doesn’t really matter.”
“Why is it so important to you to make a difference in the world?” Sam’s voice was quiet, his expression thoughtful.
“Because it’s not all about me. I want to impact someone else’s life. I hope that doesn’t sound selfish on some level.” Lexa shrugged. “I suppose it will help me feel closer to God, more worthy of His love, if I’m doing something to help someone else other than myself.” There. She’d said it. Let him deal with that statement however he wanted.
Sam surprised her by smiling. He moved his arm so the waitress could put their dessert and coffee on the table. When she asked if they wanted cream, both nodded. “Do you mind if I ask a blessing?”
People pray before dessert? Lexa bowed her head and listened to Sam’s rich voice, struck again by his depth of reverence, this man’s deep faith. It practically radiated from him. She was surprised he wasn’t the pastor of a church.
Finished with his prayer, Sam eyed the peach pie. He looked like a child anxious to open his biggest birthday gift. He was an intriguing man, and it was more than obvious he wanted to get to know her better. The thought warmed Lexa from the inside out.
“Sam, why did you ask me what I’m afraid of instead of, say, something I love?”
He took his first bite of the pie. “You can learn so much more about someone when you discover the root of their fears. Don’t worry,” he added, “I’ll find out what you love soon enough.”