by Alicia White
Andrew had called every night, and they would talk for hours about the progress he was making to move. She had only talked to Sam a couple of times. She could tell that it upset him to chat on the phone, and the last thing she wanted to do was cause him additional pain. She knew that he felt the same way she did. He loved her and missed her, and the separation was killing them both.
The sound of a truck pulling up the driveway had Selena jerking her head up. She ran to the door, hoping that it was Andrew. She watched as he climbed out of his truck before she ran outside and jumped into his arms. She couldn’t remember the last time she was this happy to see his beautiful face. Their lips connected, and Selena moaned, wrapping her legs around his waist.
She had secretly hoped that Sam would be with him, but he wasn’t. She was glad that at least Andrew was back in Spirit. Rubbing her pussy against his crotch, she started to feel his cock growing hard. It had only been a week, but it felt like they had been separated months. Moving his hands, he gripped her ass, holding her tight against him. Their lips separated, and she hugged him, wrapping her hands tightly around his neck.
“It’s so good to see you again. One week away from you, my love, is just too darn long.” Andrew groaned, holding her tighter against his chest.
She closed her eyes and felt tears dripping down her cheeks. She had doubted that he would be back, and the feeling of relief swept through her body, calming her.
“I missed you,” she admitted, “so much that it hurt, literally hurt.”
“I know. So is it okay if I stay with you?” he asked, and she laughed. There was no way she would let him go.
“Well, look who’s back.” Ruth’s excited voice drifted out of the house, and Selena laughed louder. They wouldn’t get very many private moments, but she really didn’t care. Andrew slowly let her go, and Selena slid down his body until her feet hit the ground.
“Come inside. I’ll make you something to eat and then you and Selena can have some privacy.” Ruth held the door open for them. Wrapping his arm around her waist, Andrew pulled her into his side and together they walked inside the B and B.
Chapter 18
Sam sat on the couch, sipping a beer. The house was quiet without Andrew, and he knew that he was with Selena in Spirit. He tried not to focus on the empty feeling in his chest, on missing Selena, and the wonderful week they had spent together. That was all he thought about. Every day he woke up and went to work, missing them both. It had only been a week, but he knew that being separated from both his brother and now the woman he loved was too much.
Standing up, he walked around the house that they had built together. It was everything that he had always wanted, both of their unique tastes smashed together. Two large apartments pushed into one house and they shared the kitchen and living room. It was strange being in the huge house alone, and he wondered what his options were.
It was a hard decision. He had a thriving business, the house he had built with his brother, and friends in Santa Fe. Shaking his head, he realized none of that really mattered. He didn’t have his brother, his family, or the woman that completed their ménage. If he stayed, he was alone. If he packed up and moved, he could have everything he ever wanted.
Did Selena miss him? He missed her more than he was willing to admit. Sam went to his bedroom, sat on the couch, and turned the TV on. He needed some background noise. The silence was killing him. He thought back to the conversation he had with Andrew before he left.
“Sam, are you sure you don’t want to come with me? We can put the house on the market, get a mover in here and start over in Spirit with Selena,” Andrew pleaded, and although Sam wanted to leave, he just hated the idea of starting over. He didn’t want to pack up and change their lives. He liked Santa Fe, their business, and their friends.
“It’s not a good time, not right now. I do eventually want to move to Spirit and I do want Selena more than anything. I just can’t.” He looked around their home and thought about their thriving business. Without his brother to help run the company it would definitely give him more responsibilities.
“Damn it, Sam, don’t you love Selena? Think about her. She needs us both. This is our chance to have a family, to be together like our parents.” Grinding his teeth, Andrew grabbed another box and threw in his clothes. He had already scheduled a moving van to pick up his furniture. Right when they got home, Andrew had run to pick up boxes. He couldn’t get back to Spirit fast enough.
“Of course I love her. It’s just not the right time.” Guilt ate at him, and Sam stepped back and watched his brother pack up his clothing and belongings. He planned to be on the road after only being home a few days. How was it possible that his brother didn’t care about leaving him? How could he turn his back on their business, their lives in Santa Fe, and their home?
“No. If you loved her, you would be able to leave all of this behind.” Those words affected him more than he was willing to admit.
A few days after that conversation, the moving van arrived and loaded all of Andrew’s furniture and the boxes he couldn’t fit into the back of his truck. They didn’t talk much nor did they have a real good-bye. Andrew just left.
Sam drank the rest of his beer and then went to the kitchen needing more, needing something to drown out the silence. He downed a few more beers and then went back into his bedroom, lying on the bed. He couldn’t remember a time when he had felt so depressed or alone. He didn’t want to think about it. The room spun, and he closed his eyes, passing out.
* * * *
Sam woke up with the sun in his eyes. He groaned and covered his face, wishing he was still asleep. Head pounding, he rolled out of bed and staggered to the bathroom. He squinted as he rummaged through the medicine cabinet, looking for some aspirin. Finally locating the bottle, he pulled the lid off, dumped a couple in his hand, shoved his mouth under the sink, and swallowed the tablets.
He knew that he was late for work, but he couldn’t really find the energy to care. Turning, he went to the shower and turned on the cold water. He needed the jolt to wake him up. Standing there, he stripped off his clothes from the previous day and stepped in. The water had a quick effect. His eyes sprang open and he grabbed the soap, cleaning his body as fast as he could.
When he was done, he jumped out of the shower, grabbed a towel and quickly dried off. He actually expected Andrew to walk in and yell at him for being late but then realized that he would never be doing that again. Shaking his head, Sam went back into his bedroom and got dressed.
On his way out of the house, he decided to treat himself to a specialty coffee instead of making his usual swill. Making his way outside, he went to his truck, got inside, and headed out of the driveway. He had a million things to do, and he knew that he was running late. Normally that would’ve stressed him out, but today, he just didn’t care.
* * * *
Sam ignored his cell phone. He had been living in Santa Fe for years and he never realized all the wonderful things that Santa Fe had to offer. He spent the day going to museums and exploring downtown. It was late March, which in Santa Fe meant that it was a time of transition from winter to spring. The weather in a single day could change from sweltering hot to freezing cold, so he was always prepared.
As he walked around downtown, he really looked around and took some time to think about what the future held for him. Morning turned to afternoon, and then the sun began to set. Sitting in the park on a bench alone, he realized that he hated being alone. He didn’t want to have his business and his home if it meant he couldn’t share it with anyone.
His phone kept ringing, and Sam decided he should probably answer. “Hello.”
“Sam, man, where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you at the office,” Charles, his now second-in-command, asked. He really liked Charles. He was a hard worker and a good employee and friend.
“Is everything okay?” Sam asked, hoping that none of their jobs were having issues.
“Yeah, I was just a li
ttle worried. You never miss a day.” He could hear the concern in his voice.
“I know. I just didn’t feel like coming in.” He hadn’t been able to stop think about Selena. He missed her a hell of a lot.
“Let me guess. It’s about a woman,” he said knowingly, and Sam leaned back against the park bench he was sitting on.
“Yeah.”
“I know what you’re going through. I was the same way when I met my wife.”
“What did you do?”
“I moved to Santa Fe. It was easy for me, though. I’m a romantic just like Andrew. You’re more of a realist like my brother. I met Rosan when I came here to visit my brother and fell in love instantly. I decided to move so that I could be close to her. I just couldn’t be away from her. She held my heart. Is that the way you feel about your woman?”
“Yeah.” His voice broke. That was exactly how he felt. Selena held his heart, and he didn’t feel whole without her.
“Then you should go be with her. Is that where Andrew is? Did he move back to Spirit to be with the woman you met?” Charles knew that they shared women. They didn’t keep it a secret that they liked being with the same woman.
“Yeah.”
“What are you waiting for?” Charles asked, and Sam didn’t know what was keeping him in Santa Fe. He really did want to be in Spirit with Selena in his family.
“The business, I can’t just up and leave when we’re in the middle of projects.” Sam shoved a hand through his hair, wishing that he could leave but he didn’t want to leave anybody high and dry.
“You can always leave me in charge here, Sam. There are a few projects, but I can handle it. If there are any serious issues, I can always call. You’ll only be six hours away. Put the house up for sale and pack your things. Go to your woman.”
“Thank you, Charles. It really means a lot to me that you’re here, helping me. We’ll figure it out. I’m going to head home now and start packing. Andrew left me a few boxes.” They said their good-byes and Sam headed to his truck, feeling a lot better. He could start packing right when he got home. Then, tomorrow morning, he planned on calling a moving company, and a realtor. There really wasn’t anything holding him here in Santa Fe any longer.
Chapter 19
One Month Later
Selena sat folding napkins, thinking about Sam. She loved having Andrew here at the B and B with her, but she couldn’t help but feel as though something important was missing. She knew exactly what that was. Sam. He had left and wasn’t going to be coming back for such a long time. Their good-bye ran through her mind, and she felt her eyes fill with tears. She hadn’t spoken to him for at least a week, and although she wanted to call, she didn’t want to be a bother.
She missed him, and she knew that Andrew felt the same loss. Everything is great. At least that’s what she told herself, repeatedly. She loved Andrew and was so glad that he had come back to Spirit like he promised, but she also loved Sam. Knowing that he was in Santa Fe, six hours away, made it hard to breathe.
Andrew had moved into the B and B while they were discussing if they should move into a house or possibly build on the property so that she wouldn’t have to commute. Every morning they kissed good-bye and he went off to work with his dads doing various construction projects around town. Every night they made love and cuddled, limbs tangled together. Sam, however, was always in her thoughts and close to her heart.
Andrew strolled into the kitchen, and she stopped to stare at him. He was so beautiful. Every time she saw him, he took her breath away. It was late April now, and the weather had warmed up a bit, melting some of the snow. She couldn’t wait until summer, three more months and then Sam would be back.
“I was wondering if you’d like to go horseback riding with me today.” Andrew smiled, and her mind went back to their wonderful little game and, of course, to Sam.
“Um…sure, that sounds good.” She knew that he probably had a plan and she didn’t want to ruin it by being sad.
“Perfect.” Andrew pulled her from the barstool.
“Mom, we’re going to head out for a few hours. Can you hang around for a while and watch the B and B?” Andrew asked, and a small part of her wanted Ruth to say no. She hated that all their memories together included Sam. Going back to the ranch would definitely bring up some of those memories.
“Go ahead, you two. Have fun.” She waved, and they headed out toward his truck.
* * * *
They pulled up to the Double Spur Ranch, and Selena smiled when she saw both Wyatt and Austin come out of the barn with two horses already saddled and ready to go. She jumped out of the truck and walked toward them.
“Thank you for letting us come out here again to ride. You have such a beautiful place.” Selena went over to Shadow, the horse she had ridden before, and rubbed his muzzle and shoulder. She was glad that Andrew brought her back. She needed the fresh air.
“No problem. I hope you two have a nice ride.” Austin helped her to mount the horse.
She watched as Andrew took the reins from Wyatt. He stepped in the stirrup and mounted gracefully. He looked as if he belonged on a horse.
“You’ve been so sad lately.” Andrew brushed his leg against hers and Selena tried to smile, but she knew she probably looked pathetic. He was right. She wasn’t herself.
“I’m sorry, Andrew.” Her shoulder dropped. She felt so guilty. He had been so wonderful, and here she was missing Sam.
“It’s okay. You miss Sam. I understand.” Reaching over, he touched her cheek, and Selena nuzzled his hand. She decided to change her attitude. She would be happy and focus her attention on Andrew, her friends, and the B and B. Sam would be back, so there was no reason to dwell on the fact that he wasn’t here with them.
The sun beating down helped to warm her from the cool wind. Taking slow, deep breaths, she relaxed her body and looked around, enjoying the scenery. They rode in silence for a bit, and Selena knew that the cabin would be coming into view soon. She felt a little sad and tried to think of ways to get Andrew to change his plans.
“Andrew,” she called out. He stopped, turning his body around so that he could see her. “Um…I’m not sure I want to go to the cabin.” She pulled the reins, stopping her horse. “I–I’m sorry. Going there will make me remember Sam, and I really don’t want to think about him. Let’s go somewhere else and do something different. Is that okay?”
“I want to make you happy. Let’s go inside the cabin. I have a surprise for you.” She cringed. She really loved him, and it sucked that she was hurting him in the process of missing Sam.
“You make me happy, Andrew. I’m sorry. It’s okay. Let’s go to the cabin.” He really did make her happy, and she loved him. She had to move on and focus on the future with Andrew. Sam would come around. It was just going to take a little while.
“Are you sure?” he asked, concern marking his face.
“Yes, definitely.” She nodded, smiling widely.
Andrew gave his horse a gentle nudge, and they moved forward toward the cabin. It didn’t take long to reach the valley, and Selena looked at the picturesque place, loving it more. She would love to have a cabin way outside of town. They stopped when they reached the large wooden post out front, and Selena got off her horse and tied the reins around the post.
Andrew swept her up in his arms and walked inside the cabin. The lights were dim, reflecting a glow around the small space. Moving to the bed, he sat her down and knelt in front of her, kissing her lips gently. He backed away and removed her shoes and socks. Next, he unzipped her jacket and pulled it off, then lifted her long sleeve T-shirt over her head. Selena sat in her jeans and bra, panting, waiting for him to strip her bare.
“Are you ready for my surprise?” He winked, and she looked down, noticing the large bulge in his jeans. Andrew threw back his head and laughed. “No, not that. Not yet anyway.” He shook his head and winked at her, and Selena couldn’t help herself, she laughed. It felt good.
“What then?
” she asked, curious. Would he tie her up again? Would he want to play another game?
“Me.” Sam walked out from the bathroom, and Selena stared at him in complete shock. He was only wearing his jeans, and she looked him up and down, loving the view. She briefly wondered how long he had been in town.
“I missed you so much, baby.” Sam walked toward her, and Selena’s heart froze in her chest.
“Wh–what are you doing here?” she asked, and Andrew gave her shoulder a kiss as he moved away, letting Sam take his place in front of her.
“I had a plan. I was going to have Andrew tie you up and then I heard your voice, and I couldn’t wait another minute. I love you. I missed you so much, and I realized that I don’t need my business or that house in Santa Fe. What I need is you and my family. Spirit is where I want to call home from now on. Can you forgive me? I shouldn’t have left you.” She stared into his eyes and knew that his words were sincere.
Leaping off the bed, she threw herself against his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck. This was the best surprise she had ever had. Every day she hoped and prayed that Sam would come back, and here he was, holding her. Looking over at Andrew, she saw that he was smiling as well. This was the relationship they both needed to have. They had been missing Sam.
“Does this mean you forgive me?” Sam whispered, and she could only nod. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she moved so that she could kiss him.
Their lips met in a frenzy, smashing together, tongues dancing. Tasting him brought back so many wonderful memories, and it felt like he hadn’t been gone at all. Standing once more, she kissed her way down his body. When she reached his jeans, she unbuttoned them and slid them down his legs, trapping his feet. Once on her knees in front of him, she grabbed his cock.