Smith brought our drinks. I took mine, resisting the urge to snatch it but was happy to have something to hold and also something to help me with my nerves.
We stayed out back for an hour, having cocktails. I guessed that some people really did have a cocktail hour before dinner. I lingered on the perimeter and made small talk with Sam’s mom, Julia, whom I liked more and more.
“Dinner is ready in the main dining room,” Smith stated in his baritone voice.
Sam came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“How are you doing?”
I leaned into him. “I’m doing just fine, Mr. Andrews.”
He turned me around and kissed me lightly on the lips.
“I really like your mom.”
“Yes. She’s amazing. It’s hard for me to see her with Darren sometimes. He’s a great guy, but it always reminds me of the loss of my dad. I’d love to see him standing right next to her.”
“I know the feeling. I miss my dad every day too.”
He kissed me again, pulling me close for a long minute.
“Come. Dinner should be interesting.”
“I can only imagine.” I tugged nervously at my dress.
Sam held my hand as we walked in to dinner. I guessed there was a second dining room since this was called the main dining room. A large round table centered the room with leather high-back chairs, eight of them, arranged around it. A crystal chandelier glistened above, and candles were lit all around the room. It was positively enchanting—and quite ironic given the emotional tension that defined the family gathering. Name cards at each place setting indicated that I’d been seated between Julia and Sam’s grandfather. Sam sat opposite me, between Darren and his grandmother. Lena and Marcus were across from one another in the remaining seats. I sent up a silent prayer of thanks that I wasn’t sitting next to either of them.
“So, Sydney.” Lena sneered, her expression belittling. “What is it that you do?”
“I’m a real estate agent. It’s actually how Sam and I met. I had to fill in for his normal realtor, as she was on vacation.”
“Yes, and if you could have seen the contempt she had about meeting me on such short notice…” He laughed. “She tried to hide it but didn’t quite pull it off.”
I conjured a loving look at him. “Well, we all know Sam’s reputation proceeds him. I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. I’d heard quite a bit about the infamous Sam Andrews but, I’m happy to say, some of those rumors aren’t true.” I beamed at him, completely ignoring Lena’s sour expression.
“Well, isn’t that just wonderful,” Julia cried, “I’m glad you weren’t the tyrant you can usually be when it comes to business, Sam.”
“It’s hard to be a tyrant with someone as lovely as Sydney, Mom.”
She smiled at him. Lena rolled her eyes.
“Just be careful, Sydney. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He’ll devour you,” Marcus said with an air of benevolent patience—like he was talking to a child, I thought, a little indignant.
“Just as you take what isn’t yours, cousin. Although I’m happy you took some things. It saved me from a lot of grief.”
Marcus’ eyes bored into Sam’s.
“That’s enough, gentlemen. This is a family dinner. We’ll have none of that tonight. Please.” Sam’s grandmother admonished both of them and they subsided, though the mutual animosity glowered behind their polite expressions. Dinner was a mixture of conversations between the parties. Sam’s mom and I talked about my family, where I was from, and Bear, of course. When dinner wrapped up after what seemed like an eternity, Sam’s grandfather excused himself to retire for the evening.
“It was wonderful to have all of you under one roof. Thank you for making this ailing old man smile tonight.”
I said goodnight to the old man and excused myself to use the restroom. Smith showed me down a long corridor. “Here you are, Ms. Alexander. The door is there on the left. Can you find your way back or should I wait?”
“I can manage, Smith. Thank you.”
I walked inside to a beautifully appointed powder room with two vanities and a chaise lounge. Checking my hair and makeup in the mirror, I took a moment to collect myself. I didn’t need to use the restroom. I just needed a break from the atmosphere out there. There was definitely no love lost between Sam and Marcus, and I wondered that they managed even to be civil. Waiting a few more minutes, I steadied myself before heading back out. As I opened the door, I found Marcus in front of me.
“Marcus, excuse me. I’ll get out of your way, so you can pass through,” I said nervously.
He stepped closer to me, blocking me from passing.
“So, Sydney Alexander, the infamous Sam Andrews seems to have set his sights on you.” His voice thrummed with hostility as he touched my arm lightly, making me shiver uncomfortably.
“Marcus, please, let me through.”
He took another step closer. The last thing I wanted to do was step back into the powder room and be in there alone with him. I didn’t move, which brought him within inches of my face.
He lifted his hand up to the side of my face, touching it lightly.
“I can see why Sam fancies you. You are absolutely stunning. I could do things to you that would make you scream my name, Sydney. Things that Sam could never do to you. Just ask Lena.”
My pulse raced. I wanted away from Marcus as quickly as possible, but his bulk blocked my exit, and I could think of no way to escape without making a scene.
“Sydney?” I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard Sam’s voice. Marcus stepped back from me quickly, making it look like we were just passing one another in the doorway.
“Sam. I’m right here. Just making my way back to the dining room.” I was flustered, not wanting to draw attention to the encounter but desperate to get the hell out of there.
“Don’t forget what I told you, Sydney.”
I tried to compose myself, but I was completely off my game. I never wanted to be alone with Marcus again. Sam looked from me to Marcus. His brow furrowed, and I could read the concern on his face.
“Sydney? Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine, Sam. I’m ready to go home, though.”
“You don’t look fine.”
“I’m fine. Really. I’m just tired and ready to go.”
“Okay, let’s go say our good-byes.”
He wrapped my hand in his, and I immediately steadied. He had a way about him that made me feel safe and cared for.
“You sure you’re okay, Sydney?” He kept his tone low, but I carefully avoided looking at him. The last thing I wanted was for him to have an excuse to confront Marcus. “You seem a little off. Did Marcus say something to you?”
“I’m fine, Sam, but it’s been a long day. I’m ready for my pj’s.”
“You do love your pj’s.” He grinned, pulling me close. I wrapped my arms around him and took a deep breath. I loved the smell of Sam. He had an intoxicating, masculine scent about him, with hints of amber and sage and something deeper, something raw and undefinable that whispered around the warnings in my head. It was a romantic scent that made me burrow my face into his neck. He held me there for a few moments before whispering in my ear, “Come. Let’s get you home.”
I remained quiet and contemplative on our drive home and wrestled with telling Sam what happened with Marcus. There was already so much animosity between them, and this would add fuel to the fire.
“You’re awfully quiet. I feel as though there’s something you’re not telling me.”
I sighed. How could I withhold this and still demand that he be open and honest with me about the things I knew he was keeping from me?
“C’mon, Sydney. We’re in this together remember? You have to be honest with me.”
“It’s Marcus.” Instinct told me he wouldn’t give up, but it was my own need to be honest that gave me the courage to speak. “He makes me extremely uncomfortable. He’s slimy…blocked me fro
m leaving the bathroom and said some things that made the hairs rise on the back of my neck.”
“Did he touch you, Sydney?”
I remained quiet.
“Sydney? I’m asking you a question. Did he touch you?” He was visibly angry, and I immediately second-guessed the wisdom of honesty.
“He did. He slid his hand down my arm and then stroked my face while saying he could do things to me that would make me scream. Things that you would never do. Then he said I should just ask Lena.”
I could see the anger rising up in Sam. His jaw was clenched, his hands tight on the steering wheel, and as he shot me a swift glance, I saw that his eyes had turned a mesmerizing green.
“Sam?”
“Why didn’t you tell me this when it happened, Sydney?”
“I… I-I don’t know. I was scared, I suppose. He scared me, and then I was worried it might cause a scene. What did he mean by just ask Lena? Were you two an item?”
Sam let out a slow breath. “We’ll talk about that another time. Right now, I want to get you home.”
Holy shit. Was he mad at me? What the hell? I hadn’t done anything except be honest with him about what had happened—which he’d asked me to do. Crossing my arms over my chest, I stared out the window. The silence was anything but comfortable now. He seemed distant and cold, and I felt mired in my own conflicting emotions of resentment, indignation, and fear that I’d overstepped some invisible line, however inadvertently.
Ten minutes later, Sam drew up in front of my house. I let myself out of the car as quickly as I could and rushed to the front door. As I fumbled with getting my keys out of my purse, I pushed back a semi-hysterical giggle. In a stupid flash of logic, I saw Sam’s point—if I had keyless entry, I’d already be inside.
“Fuck!” I yelled. Bear started barking when he heard me, a friendly but infuriatingly insistent presence on the other side of a door I couldn’t seem to open.
“Let me help you,” Sam whispered as he took my keys from my hand.
“It’s fine, Sam. Just go home.”
“I’m not going home and leaving you like this. We can talk inside. Besides, Bear has already heard us, and he’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t see me.” He smirked jokingly, but the attempt at humor simply bounced off my brewing tantrum.
“Fine.” I rolled my eyes, storming into the house as soon as he swung the door open. Bear must have sensed something was wrong because he turned and followed me into the kitchen without acknowledging Sam.
“Hey, buddy. Let’s get you outside.”
Looking from me to Sam, Bear evidently resigned himself to going out back alone.
“Sydney.”
“Go home, Sam. I’m fine. Really. I’m tired. It was a long night.”
I felt him behind me and stiffened instinctively. Wanting nothing more than to turn around and curl myself in his arms, I willed myself to keep it together. He touched my lower back with his hand, and I immediately relaxed, responding to him despite my mood.
“Sydney, I’m sorry. I’m not upset with you. I’m upset with Marcus for pulling this shit with you. You have no idea the evil in that man. I don’t want him near you.”
Turning to face him, I noticed how his jaw twitched as he tried to contain his anger.
“I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to cause a scene in front of your entire family.”
“Sydney, they all know Marcus. He’s a snake in the grass. Not one of them truly trusts him, not even my grandfather. I wish you had told me while we were there. I would have loved nothing more than to punch him in his fucking face.”
Taking a step closer to him, I wrapped my arms around his waist. He hugged me back tightly.
“My knight in shining armor,” I teased, releasing my hold on him a little so I could look up at him. Being in Sam’s arms made me feel safe. With him smiling down at me, those green eyes staring directly into mine, the air around us shifted until it seemed electric currents danced seductively around us.
I wanted nothing more than for Sam to take me in his arms and carry me to my bedroom, but I didn’t dare move. Not wanting to ruin the moment, I continued to stare into his magnetic eyes. What if he wasn’t feeling what I was? The tension mounted between us, something almost painful in its intensity throbbing with a life of its own. Thankfully, just as I could feel myself falling into my need to be with him, Bear came bounding back into the house He sidled up to us, barking for attention. Timing really was everything. We both laughed and broke our embrace.
“What do you have planned for tomorrow?” he asked.
“I have a few clients but should wrap up my day around three. What are you up to?”
“I have plenty of things to keep me busy, especially with this new acquisition happening. How about a sunset cruise?”
“I’d love one. That sounds perfect. It’s just what I need right about now.”
“Why don’t you come over after work and bring Bear? He can start to familiarize himself with the house, since it will be his home soon. We can relax by the pool before heading out on the boat.”
“Really? You’d want Bear at your house?”
“Sydney, can you not see how much I like Bear? I think he feels the same way about me. Besides, he’ll be living there in about a month. I think a visit to his new home is in order.”
“Okay.” I grinned up at him, happy that he wanted Bear there.
“Well, I’ll leave you to get in your pj’s then. Lock the door behind me.”
“Sam, I’ve lived on my own for a year now. I know how to lock down my house.”
He raised his eyebrow, as if questioning my own ability to keep myself safe. “I suppose you’re right but humor me. I want to know you’re safe, Sydney.”
“I’m safe, Sam. Thank you for this evening. It was definitely interesting. And don’t think I have forgotten about Lena. I can’t wait until you let me in on that tidbit of information.”
He flinched.
“And I can’t wait to fill you in,” he responded sarcastically, his face revealing nothing except for distaste. “Now lock the door.”
Chapter Seven
Emily was at the office when I arrived.
“How did it go last night?”
“It was interesting, to say the least,” I replied, wanting nothing more than to fill Em in on all the details. Still, I hesitated because I was afraid I’d slip and let out the confidential information about our arrangement.
“Yeah? How so? I want all the nitty gritty details.”
I gave her enough details to keep her happy. “Actually, most of his family is quite normal. They are warm and embraced me immediately. His cousin Marcus and wife Lena, not so much. They are terrible people.”
“I’ve heard a little bit about Marcus here and there. You’re right. From what I hear, he’s soulless. He’s only out for himself and will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. Even if it’s illegal.”
“What do you mean, Em?”
“I’ve heard his business dealings are not always on the up and up. I don’t know anything concrete, merely rumors, but people don’t like working with him. He’s alienated a lot of people in this town. He also does business with those who are less than desirable—meaning drugs, strip clubs, and I heard—though only once—prostitution.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I’m not kidding you, Syd. Ask Sam. I’m sure he knows way more than I do.”
“That explains why he gives me such bad vibes. The guy is creepy, Em. He makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I wouldn’t want to find myself alone with him, that’s for sure.”
“Well, make sure you don’t. From what I hear, he isn’t opposed to pushing himself on people and knocking women around.”
“What do you mean? He’s married, isn’t he?”
“His marriage is a sham. Well, I mean, they’re legally married, but he cheats on her constantly. I think she puts up with it because of the lifestyle he provides her.
Kind of pays her off to keep her quiet and look good on his arm.”
“He’s even worse than I thought.” I groaned.
“Yeah, he’s a real gem.”
“Ugh. I hope we don’t have to see too much of him. Sam can’t stand him. After last night and what you just told me, I can’t stand him either.”
I spent the rest of the afternoon with my clients, house hunting. I loved looking at houses and showing them the possibilities. South Tampa had so much to offer young families, as well as singles, with its shops, restaurants, coffee houses, and movie theaters. Many of these amenities were in walking distance to a few of the homes they were looking at, which made a nice change from being out in the suburbs.
My day wrapped up earlier than expected and I decided to treat myself to a new sundress. A little shopping was good for the soul, and I could certainly use some me time. I wandered happily in and out of the stores in Hyde Park Village and found a great little sundress for that evening. It was perfect for our sunset cruise, and I also picked up a new bathing suit. I figured if we were spending time by the pool, I could at least wear something presentable instead of the same swimsuit I’d had for the last five years. As I made my way down the sidewalk, I heard someone calling my name.
“Sydney? Is that you?”
I groaned inwardly, recognizing the voice immediately. Then, drawing a deep breath and pasting a smile on my face, I turned toward the voice.
“It is you. What a nice surprise.”
“Hi, Lena. Nice to see you again,” I lied.
“I can’t say the same, Sydney. I’m just here to warn you. Stay away from Marcus. He told me what happened last night. Keep your hands to yourself. He’s a married man, after all.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, he told me all about it. How you tried to get him alone in the bathroom and had your hands all over him—that is until Sam interrupted your little moment.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. That is not what happened.”
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