He shook his head.
A few minutes later, they were seated at a booth inside.
She didn’t even need to pull out the menu. She knew she was getting a Margherita pizza with tomato, fresh mozzarella, parmesan, and fresh basil. She also knew Zeke would get the Supremo pizza. Lots of meat on that one. Pepperoni, Italian sausage, crispy pancetta with a few vegetables tossed on top to make it look like it wasn’t a meat lover’s pizza.
After they’d ordered and their Cokes arrived, Zeke said, “Tell me what’s going on with the house for Sam.”
“Sure. You know the place Mom and Dad were talking about the other night? The Wainwright place?”
He nodded and sipped his drink.
“It was just as wonderful as they said it was. Seriously. Barn, pastures, pool, theater room, and a beautiful layout. Really nice, like your place, but with more land around it for horses.”
“Does he like it?”
She studied her brother. He was asking much too casually. “That’s a definite yes.”
“Has he made an offer on it yet?”
“No,” she said, and explained about Virginia inviting them to lunch before she’d talk about selling.
“That’s kind of weird.”
“Virginia is kind of weird. She even offered to give Sam a psychic reading.”
“What did she say about him?” Zeke looked interested in any possible gossip-worthy news.
“He didn’t accept the reading.”
“It’s a shame he may have found a house, because once it’s Sam’s, he won’t have an excuse to hang out around you.”
“Hey, I thought he was your friend.”
“He is, and he’s a good guy. I just don’t want any guys hanging around you. You need some time without men. You’ve had a rough time of it.”
“It’s been eighteen months, Zeke,” she said gently. “I’m okay.”
“Just six since the divorce.”
“I’m still okay.”
“You’re always gonna be my little sister and I’m always gonna be protective.”
She smiled at her big brother. “Overprotective.”
“That, too.”
“And I think it’s time to set some boundaries between overprotection and controlling.”
Finally, he shook his head, ignoring that conversational gambit. “So, you’re not dating Sam?”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not even sure Sam likes me.”
“Oh, believe me. The idiot likes you.”
“Then why doesn’t he ask me out?”
“He has been. You’re a clueless real estate broker so you haven’t caught on yet.”
She laughed. “Overprotective.”
He scowled at her. “Whatever. I’m going to have another talk with Sam.”
“When was the first talk?” she asked, suspiciously.
“Right after I told him I had good news for him and told him he needed to move out.”
Sam tackled Zeke and they rolled and jumped back up. Some of the Wranglers had gotten together for some unofficial practice. Even during the off season, it was good to play football. And for Sam, who usually was the quarterback, it was fun to play other positions.
They’d been at it for almost an hour when a couple of the guys said they had to go. That signaled the end of the impromptu game.
His brother, Bobby, slapped Sam on the back. “Good to see you’ve still got those moves, Twister. It’s always good to have a quarterback who can twist and run.”
Sam grinned. “I’d rather throw the ball and let you twist and run.”
“Dude, if you get it anywhere near me, I’ll be down the field and in the end zone, doing a little happy dance.”
Sam laughed.
Zeke punched his arm. “You gonna let me drive you back to your place?”
Sam had jogged over to the field this morning. After the workout he’d just had, he didn’t mind riding with Zeke. “Sure.”
Zeke slid in to the Corvette and Sam followed on the opposite side. It fit both of them, but it was a tight fit. “Why don’t you get a real car? One that manly men fit in?”
“Like your Jeep?” Zeke shook his head, glanced both ways, and backed out. “No thanks. This car attracts women.”
“Women like my Grand Cherokee.”
“Yeah. Whatever, loser.” Zeke headed toward Sam’s small townhouse. “I thought I told you not to date my sister, dude.”
“I haven’t dated her.”
“Why not? Not good enough for you?”
Sam’s mouth dropped open in surprise.
“Well?” Zeke asked.
“What is wrong with you? You told me not to date her.”
“If you’re going to date her, you’d better ask her out.”
“Are you kidding me? Now you want me to ask her out?”
“Yes. I’m changing your nickname from Twister to Sloth. Ask her out, you idiot. Don’t let someone else grab her.”
“You’re crazy, man.”
Zeke shrugged. “At least I like you. And I can punch you if you cause her any grief.”
“It’s the punching that’s keeping me aloof,” Sam admitted. “Besides, I can’t do that. I’m taking it slow.”
“Don’t take it so slow that she walks off with someone else. You’d better man up, dude.”
Sam laughed. “I’ll ask her out. Just let me do it at my own pace. I’m going to lunch with her on Wednesday.”
“You’re gonna be too slow.”
“Then I won’t have to worry about you punching me, right? Win-win.”
“So now Zeke does want you to date his sister?” Knox stared at Sam. “Why would he change his mind like that?”
“Lower your voice,” Sam said, glancing over at the kitchen, where Knox’s wife, Amy, was preparing dinner.
Knox tugged Sam into his office and closed the door. With a grin, he said, “Is that better?”
“Yes.” Sam ran a hand through his hair. “I just ... don’t know what to do.”
Knox laughed. “A good woman will do that to a man.”
“Like Amy did to you.”
“Exactly. So, what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I really like her, but...” He trailed off.
“Zeke has now given you his blessing to date her, so there shouldn’t be anything holding you back, right?”
“Only the normal fear of rejection.”
Knox put a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Go for it, bro. You’re meeting her for lunch at the Wainwright place tomorrow, right?”
“Yes.”
“Just ask her out as you’re leaving. Maybe plan somewhere you can take her afterward.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
There was a knock at the door, and Amy peeked in. “Want to stay for dinner, Sam?”
“Sure,” Sam said. “Is that a trick question?”
“Come on then. Anything you need to talk about, you don’t have to worry about me. I don’t repeat stuff.”
Knox shrugged. “It’s true.”
Maybe getting a woman’s take on things would be helpful.
Embarrassing, but helpful.
8
Tell Katie About Your Date
Virginia Wainwright smiled across the dining room table at Savannah and Sam. “You two make such a cute couple. I can see you being very happy in this house.”
The older woman’s words made Savannah wish for more than she ought to, considering she had no claim on Sam Reid’s affections. Still, she smiled back. “Does that mean you’re accepting our offer?”
Sam reached over and took Savannah’s hand, squeezing it. That didn’t escape Virginia’s notice, and her smile widened even as she shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s too early to answer that yet.”
Savannah looked at Sam. “Is this the house you want?”
He lifted his eyebrows. “That depends on whether you see yourself in this house or not.”
Far too much so, but she couldn’t tell him that. She fe
lt like she was straddling an ethical line. “I can easily see myself in this house. It’s beautiful.” She turned to Virginia. “It’s obvious you and your husband loved this place. It shows in every detail.”
“We sure did.” Virginia sipped her lemonade. “Now, finish your meal before we talk business. I’ll go slice the pie.”
“You made pie?” Sam said, placing a hand on his heart. “I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
Virginia laughed. “Pecan pie.”
“My favorite, ma’am,” he declared.
When Virginia headed toward the kitchen, Sam grinned at Savannah and whispered, “This feels a little weird. Maybe we should tell her the truth about us.”
She shrugged. “We could count this as a date.”
He tipped his head. “Is that all it would take to make me feel like we’re not lying to this sweet little old lady?”
She nodded her head.
“What if we went one step closer to the truth and you go out to dinner with me?”
Her heart did a little flutter. Calm down. He just wants the house.
She knew that, after he bought this house, he might forget all about her. A lot of guys would. But she could hope, right? She found herself saying, “Sure.”
His smile ratcheted up her heart beat. “Tonight?”
Warmth filled her. “After this big meal?”
She motioned around at the pot roast and gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans.
“I’ll be ready to eat again by six or seven tonight. I’m still growing.”
“Is it just guys in general? Or football players, specifically?”
“That what?”
“Eat like horses.”
“Both.”
“I can’t make it tonight or tomorrow, but how about Friday?”
“It’s a date.”
She chuckled. “I can meet you at the restaurant.”
“You don’t know which one. I’ll pick you up.”
That felt more like a real date and she had to remind herself that he just saw her as a friend.
And, when Virginia returned with a gorgeous pecan pie, Savannah sighed. “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven, too.”
After they told Virginia goodbye, Sam walked Savannah out to his car. He’d driven her here, and now spending more time with him in his car made her antsy.
They hadn’t even ever gone on an actual date — yet — but she felt more connected to him than she ever had to her scumbag ex. She could talk with him easily and he made her laugh.
He finished telling a story about one of his teammates getting drunk and wanting to ride horses. So, Sam and Frank had taken him to their grandfather’s ranch and saddled up. The guy was too drunk to stay in the saddle and ended up on the ground. Gramps had laughed the most.
“Was he hurt?” Savannah asked.
“Not from the fall. But then a dog came racing through the fence and he mistook it for a wild boar and he started screaming for help.” Sam laughed. “It was our neighbor’s German shepherd, who is the biggest sweetheart ever, but she did come out barking and can look sort of fierce. But a wild boar?” Another laugh.
“Do German shepherds look at all like wild boars?”
“No. That’s why it was so funny. And then he started to run and the dog ran him down and grabbed his pant leg and took him down again. And then she just licked his face.”
“The vicious thing.”
“Exactly.” He paused. “Back to the office?”
“Zeke’s. I’m done working for the day. I started early today.”
“You got it.”
He pulled onto Zeke’s street and she wondered if she should invite him in. No, she decided, she should most definitely not. Zeke would give her heck for it. Plus, she didn’t want to do something stupid like try to kiss the man. He exuded chemistry. He looked sexy in anything he wore — jeans, football uniform, suit. It didn’t matter what he clothed himself in, he was a handsome man.
He parked and looked over at her. “So ... the day after tomorrow...?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
“Good. I’ll find a good restaurant and maybe we can do something else, too. An escape room or something unique.”
She laughed. “I can’t wait to see what you come up with.”
“What other hoops do you suppose Virginia will make us jump through before she agrees to sell us the house?”
Us? The word tugged at her heart. After a pause, she said, “Who knows. But if she makes us pecan pie again, I’ll jump.”
“Me, too.” He laughed. “Okay. I’ll see you in two days and if you hear good news from Virginia before then, you’ll let me know, right?”
“Of course.”
She opened the door. He put a hand on her arm and caught her gaze. “I had a good time.”
“Me, too.” When he released her, she climbed out. He waited until she’d gone inside and closed the door, making sure she was safe, no doubt.
Through the window, she watched him drive away. She pulled out her phone and pushed Selena’s number. In a moment, her friend answered, “Savannah, how are you doing? Are you getting settled?”
“I am. I’m still at my brother’s house for now.”
Selena laughed. “One of these days you’re going to have to introduce me to your rich, good-looking brother.”
At that moment, Savannah’s rich, good-looking brother padded into the kitchen and nodded at her. She smirked at him and said, “Oh, you don’t want to date Zeke.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Why not?” Selena and Zeke said at the same time.
“He just hasn’t been himself since the accident.”
Zeke put a hand on the counter. “Who are you telling these lies to, anyway?”
“Selena,” she mouthed to him.
“Accident?” Selena asked. “You didn’t tell me about any accident.”
“It was tragic. It was when our mother dropped him on his head when he was a baby.”
Zeke snorted and opened the fridge door, pulling out sandwich makings.
She said, “Hey, Selena, let me call you back. I need to give Zeke a hard time.”
“Okay. Talk with you soon.” The phone clicked.
Zeke motioned to the food on the counter. “Want some?”
“No, thanks. I just had a big meal at the Wainwright place.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “With Sam?”
“I am his broker.”
“So why on earth is Virginia Wainwright inviting you two to lunch at her place?”
“She’s deciding whether she wants to sell to Sam or not.” She shrugged. “And she makes the best pecan pie in town, so we weren’t about to say no.”
“We.”
“Yes. We. Sam and his real estate agent.” She pointed a finger at her brother. “Back off, buckwheat. I’m selling him a house. That’s all.”
“Make sure it is.”
“You’re not the boss of me,” she said, and then she laughed.
To his credit, Zeke laughed, too. “Even if I wanted to be, I couldn’t make you do anything. You’re the most stubborn person I know.”
She crossed to him and gave him a hug. “I love you, bro.”
He sighed and patted her shoulder. “I love you, too, punk. So, make sure you stay out of trouble.”
“I will.”
“Whatever,” he said, shaking his head.
She went to her room and called Selena back to finish their conversation.
“So, you’re dating Savannah?” Sam’s mother asked him. “She sounds like a nice girl. At least Zeke is nice.”
“Zeke is not nice, mother. But Savannah is.” He reached out to take a cookie dough ball off the cookie sheet. His mother smacked his hand. “Mom, I’m a grown man. I can eat cookie dough if I want.”
“If you make it, you can.”
When she turned to get something from the fridge, he snatched the cookie dough and popped it in his mouth.
She turned back around
and scowled at him. “You’ll get salmonella.”
“It will be worth it.”
Katie, his younger sister, came in and grabbed some dough and popped it in her mouth.
Their mother sighed and pulled out small bowls, dropping cookie dough in and placing one before each of them. Katie pulled out two spoons and handed him one.
“Thanks,” he said and dug in.
“Tell Katie about your date.”
Katie looked at him. “You’re dating someone?”
“Well, not exactly dating.”
“What does that mean?” Katie said, in between bites.
“It means she’s finding me a house and I’m trying to take her on a date but we haven’t actually been on one yet. I think she likes me, but she’s kind of friend-zoned me. So, I have no clue.”
“Messed up, as usual,” Katie said.
He poked her lightly in the shoulder. “Says the woman who’s dating someone new every week.”
She shrugged. “Dating is learning what you want and don’t want in a spouse, right? I consider them learning experiences.”
“What have you learned so far?” their mother asked, putting the cookie sheet into the preheated oven.
“That I like good-looking guys.” Katie laughed.
“Sounds like a very mature learning experience,” Sam said dryly.
Katie tipped her spoon in his direction. “Says the man who may or may not be dating someone.”
“Point taken.”
“So, when is your next date?” their mother asked him.
“Did you miss the point where we haven’t dated yet?”
Their mother paused. “Are you taking her out?”
“Yes. To dinner and maybe a movie or something on Friday.”
“A movie. Bring her here and we’ll have a family night with a movie.”
“Oh, I think that would be a bad idea,” Sam said, shaking his head.
Katie gave an evil laugh. “It’s a great idea.”
“I’ll bring Savannah if you’ll bring a guy,” he shot back.
“I’ve actually been dating a guy for a few months now.”
“And you haven’t brought him home to meet the family?” Their mother looked appalled.
Katie shook her head. “Okay. Fine. I’ll bring him over to the family movie night and introduce him.”
SAM: A Best Friend's Sister Sweet Romantic Comedy (Waco Wranglers Reid Brothers Book 3) Page 5
