Stealing Second: Sam's Story: Book 4 in the Clarksonville Series

by Clanton, Barbara L.

  She gestured for Lisa to throw her gear next to hers. “I’ll drive you home later after we visit the yacht.”

  “Cool.” Lisa shot her a suggestive look that made Sam’s insides shake.

  Marlee and Susie walked up after storing their gear in Marlee’s van. Susie leaned back against Sam’s car.

  “My wonderful girlfriend is going to drive me home after our trip to the marina,” Lisa said to Marlee, “so you’re off the hook.”

  “Cool. Call me if anything changes.”

  “I will,” Lisa said. “Let me get my wallet and phone from your car.”

  “Okay, c’mon.” Marlee spun on her heels and they headed back toward her van.

  Sam watched Lisa walk away admiring her strong athletic gait and the swing of her dark braid. Lisa looked back over her shoulder as if feeling Sam’s eyes on her. She raised one eyebrow and smiled suggestively. Sam almost dissolved.

  “Hey, Sus?” Sam said to her friend. “Yeah?” “Can you keep falling in love with the same person?” “I think maybe you can,” Susie said. “I do it every day.” Sam nodded in agreement. “Me, too.”

  Chapter Two

  With You, I'm Sam

  SAM PULLED THE Sebring into the marina parking lot and angled the car toward the sunset. She wanted Lisa to have the best view through the convertible’s open top. The sky glowed orange tinting the few remaining clouds and trees on the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence River.

  “It’s so beautiful tonight.” Lisa leaned her head back against the headrest.

  “Mmm. So are you.” Sam smiled at Lisa. She knew it was cheesy, but it was true. Her stomach clenched as a wave of desire spread through her. She cleared her throat. “C’mon. Let’s sit on the deck and watch the summer sky for a while.”

  Lisa nodded and opened the passenger door.

  Sam desperately wanted to hold Lisa’s hand as they walked to the yacht, but she couldn’t risk being seen. Word would definitely get around that the daughter of Gerald and Mimi Payton was seen holding hands with a girl. Not that people spied on her, it was just that being Samantha Rose Payton in Clarksonville County meant that everybody knew who she was.

  Sam led the way past fishing boats and pleasure boats on their way to the tri-level Marquis-720 motor yacht. Sam stepped on board and held her hand out to help Lisa step from the dock onto the deck.

  “Thank you,” Lisa said with a nod as she stepped on board.

  “You’re welcome.” Sam unlocked the door to the main cabin, and they headed toward the lounge area in the stern. They had come to the yacht before, but Sam hadn’t felt comfortable going beyond kissing Lisa below decks. Maybe this time would be different.

  Lisa stopped and picked up a formal photograph of Sam and her parents. “Look at you. So formal with your pearls.”

  In the picture Sam and her father were standing stiffly behind Sam’s mother who was seated in a high winged back chair, and if it were possible to sit stiffly, her mother was. Sam grimaced. She hated that picture. With her pearls, her mother’s diamonds, and her father’s tailored suit, the pretentious picture wreaked of money and the fact that her family had plenty of it.

  Sam snorted. “That girl? The one with the pearls?” She pointed to her image in the photograph. “That’s Samantha Rose Payton, the perfect princess and heiress to the Payton family fortune.”

  Lisa put the photo back and turned toward Sam. “So who are you?”

  “I don’t know.” Sam grunted. “All I know is that when I’m with you, I’m Sam.”

  “I like Sam a lot,” Lisa grinned, “but I’m still not sure who Samantha Rose is.” Her hand gestured to the surrounding yacht.

  “That makes two of us.” Sam shrugged and led the way to the head cabinet so they could freshen up.

  They each took a moment to wash their hands and use the bathroom, and after grabbing two Sprites from the refrigerator in the galley, Sam led them to the leather couch on the upper deck.

  “Here you go.” Sam handed Lisa a can and then plopped next to her on the couch. She left plenty of space in between them since it was still light enough for anyone to see.

  “Thanks.” Lisa popped open the top and took a sip. “Mmm, this is so amazing.”

  “Mmm,” Sam agreed, knowing Lisa wasn’t talking about the soda.

  They watched the orange sky fade to red and then to a mixture of grays. The seagulls squawking overhead at the incoming fishermen completed the scene.

  Sam lowered her voice. “I wish I could cuddle with you out here.”

  “Me, too.” Lisa smiled sympathetically. “Someday.”

  “That would be nice, but...”

  “I know,” Lisa said. “You can’t.”

  Sam nodded and looked back at the twilight sky. They sat in silence for a while drinking their sodas enjoying the end to a beautiful August summer day.

  Sam set her soda down on a side table and turned her head slightly to take in Lisa’s profile. Lisa had the cutest little nose and high solid cheekbones. Her long dark braid was pulled in front of her shoulders making her look like a Native American princess. Her eyes were a delicious light brown that melted Sam with every glance. Her lips were pouty and oh-so-kissable. A low-grade hum settled across Sam’s body. She silently reached for Lisa’s soda and placed it next to hers on the table. Lisa turned toward her and sent a silent message of yearning with her eyes.

  “Let’s go inside,” Sam said huskily.

  “To your cabin?”

  Sam nodded.

  “Okay.” Lisa stood up.

  They made their way inside the yacht. They’d gone to Sam’s cabin before, but somehow things felt different this time. Sam’s body hummed as she led the way down the spiral staircase to the lower deck and headed for the bow. Before they even made it to the cabin, Sam turned and flew into Lisa’s arms. Their lips met in a fury of passion. Sam moaned as a wave of desire shot through her. She lived for Lisa’s sensuous kisses.

  Sam pulled back, her breathing heavy. Forehead to forehead, her lips barely touched Lisa’s.

  “Sam,” Lisa whispered, “you’re killing me.”

  Sam answered by pressing herself against Lisa and searing her with another kiss. After a moment, Sam led the way into her cabin. She remembered what Susie said about Lisa needing to feel safe and secure, so she locked the door behind them. She turned and wordlessly pulled Lisa’s uniform jersey off. She ran her fingers along the outline of Lisa’s sports bra. Lips replaced fingers, until Lisa tugged at Sam’s jersey demanding equal time. Sam pulled her own jersey off and threw it on the floor. They fell together on the bed.

  Sam trailed slow and tender kisses from Lisa’s neck to her delicious cleavage.

  Lisa sat up and gently pulled Sam’s bra off. Reaching for Sam's waist, she rolled Sam onto her back. With a quick tug, she removed her own bra before lowering herself on top.

  Sam’s body hummed its pleasure at Lisa’s kisses. When the sensations threatened to overwhelm her, she rolled Lisa to her side, and they lay face to face. Lisa kept her eyes closed while Sam softly trailed a finger across her sensuous lips. Lisa kissed the finger and then opened her eyes, her lustful gaze making Sam whimper.

  Lisa whispered, “I love you.” She leaned closer and nibbled on Sam’s earlobe.

  “Same,” Sam squeaked as shivers ran down her body.

  A creak in the floorboards overhead sent Sam sitting bolt upright.

  “Did you hear that?” Sam whispered.

  Before Lisa could answer, they heard another footstep above them.

  “Oh, shit.” Sam leaped off the bed. “Someone’s on the yacht.” She frantically searched for their shirts and found them on the floor near the door. She tossed Lisa hers. Without bothering to put on her bra, Sam tugged her uniform jersey over her head.

  “Geez, geez, geez,” Lisa mumbled in panic as she fumbled with her clothes.

  “Shhh,” Sam motioned at Lisa to remain quiet and still. She wanted to hear where the intruder was.

  “
Samantha Rose?” came a booming voice from just outside her cabin door.

  Sam and Lisa squealed in panic.

  “Daddy?” Sam dislodged her heart from her throat. “Is that you?” She thanked her lucky stars she had locked the cabin door. A quick glance told her that Lisa was now fully dressed.

  “Yes. Are you all right?”

  “Yes, Daddy. I’ll be right out, okay?”

  “What’s going on in there?” His voice was all-business. He jostled the locked doorknob. He was trying to get in.

  “Nothing. I was just giving my friend a tour of the yacht.”

  The doorknob rattled again. “Why is this door locked?”

  “Oh, is it?” Sam said innocently.

  “Open this door immediately.”

  “Hang on.” Sam mentally thanked Lisa for smoothing the bedspread so it didn’t look rumpled. She kicked her bra under the bed and then unlocked the door. “Hi, Daddy.” Her heart was pounding.

  He burst into the room. His eyes scoured the small room as if looking for something or somebody. “Oh,” he said after taking one look at Lisa. The disappointment in his voice was obvious. That’s when it dawned on Sam. Her father thought she was in the cabin with a guy. She bit her bottom lip to stop a laugh. If he only knew.

  “Daddy, this is Lisa. She plays on my summer softball team.” She kept her arms folded across her chest because she didn’t want her father to notice that she wasn’t wearing a bra.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet one of Sam’s friends.” He cleared his throat obviously embarrassed by his presumption.

  “It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Lisa said. “Sorry about the locked door. I think I locked it by mistake. I don’t know much about boats.”

  “That’s all right, young lady.”

  “And this yacht is absolutely gorgeous. Sam was giving me the nickel tour.”

  “Indeed. Carry on then.”

  “Daddy?” Sam said.

  “Yes, Kitten?”

  Sam cringed at the pet name he used for her. “I thought you and Mother were still in Albany.”

  “We got home a little while ago.”

  “It’s okay that I’m on the yacht, isn’t it? I mean, you said I could.” She pretended to be ignorant about why he had burst in on them.

  “Of course it’s okay. As long as you don’t take her out to sea, that is.”

  “Not on your life,” Sam said with a laugh. “You’re the captain of this ship.”

  Her father beamed, his blue eyes twinkling in the dim light. His sandy blond hair made him look younger than his true fifty-three years. “Don’t stay out too late.” He headed out of the cabin.

  “I won’t,” Sam said. “Thanks for making sure we were all right.” Of course, she wondered how he knew they were even there, but she didn’t dare ask. Someone from the marina office must have called him and said Sam was on the yacht with someone tall. Did they think Lisa was a guy? Far from it.

  Sam turned to Lisa and mouthed, “Sorry.” She retrieved her bra from under the bed and quickly put it back on. Out loud she said, “So, this is my cabin. Let’s go back up to the main deck and get our sodas, okay?”

  “Sure.” Lisa fell into step behind Sam.

  Once on the main deck, Sam spotted her father on the dock. “Bye, Daddy.”

  “Bye, Kitten. Be safe, okay?”

  “I will.”

  He headed toward the chauffeured Lincoln Town Car idling in the parking lot.

  Sam watched until the Town Car was well out of sight. She turned, not sure what she’d see in Lisa’s face. Lisa smiled back at her with so much gentleness that Sam melted. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be. It’s okay.” Lisa blew out a sigh. “Thank God he didn’t catch us. My nerves are shot.”

  “Me, too.”

  “But you know what?” Lisa said.

  “What?”

  “My father would have done the same thing.”

  Sam laughed. “Which father?”

  Lisa chuckled. “Both.”

  “C’mon,” Sam pulled her keys out. “Let’s go to our usual spot on Raymond Road.”

  Lisa nodded. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at this yacht in quite the same way again.”

  “Same,” Sam said with a laugh.

  They headed back to the upper deck to get their sodas, turn out lights, and lock doors.

  Once in the Sebring, Sam put the top up, and they headed back toward the secluded farm road in East Valley. It was dark when she pulled the car far up the deserted road.

  Sam undid her seatbelt. Lisa did the same.

  “You were kind of quiet on the drive over,” Lisa said. “Are you okay?”

  Sam wondered how she was going to explain her father’s paranoia about protecting her. “We almost got caught.”

  “I know. That was close. I guess the yacht isn’t an option anymore.”

  “I guess not.”

  “How did your father even know we were there?”

  “Someone from the marina must have ratted on us.” Sam shrugged and then snuggled into the softness of Lisa’s shirt. She chuckled.

  “Why are you laughing?” Lisa asked softly.

  “Me.” Sam gestured to her front. “I was standing there braless in front of my father.”

  “At least it wasn’t topless.”

  “No kidding.” Sensing that things had cooled off considerably after her father’s intrusion, Sam kissed Lisa on the forehead. “Baby, I

  know we were about to, you know, but...” “Yeah, we should try another time. I’m still freaking out a little.” “You look so calm and cool.” “Not a chance.” Lisa shook her head. “My heart is pounding.” Sam laid her ear on Lisa’s chest. The familiar heartbeat was smooth and rhythmic. “I think you’ll live.” “Oh, thank God.” Lisa stroked Sam’s head. “Hey,” Sam sat up, “do you want to get some ice cream instead?” “I thought you’d never ask.” “I hope you’re not too disappointed.” Sam started the engine, turned on the headlights, and headed back toward Raymond Road. Lisa took a long time answering. “I am disappointed, but not with you. Just with the circumstances, I guess.” “One of these days we’ll find a place of our own where no one will interrupt us. Do you still love me?” Sam asked playfully. “Of course I do, doofus.” Lisa’s answer was accompanied by a light-hearted smack on the arm. Sam beamed. It was the best smack in the world.

  Chapter Three

  The Puppet Show

  SAM TOUCHED HER eye. The bruise was now a spectacularly fading yellow and just looked weird instead of cool.

  “You look like you’ve been playing hockey,” Helene said.

  “Watching it on TV is as close as I’ll ever get to playing hockey,” Sam said to her nanny.

  Helene smoothed in the cover-up makeup under Sam’s eye. “Good as new.” She stood back to admire her handy work. “The ladies who lunch will never know that Miss Samantha Rose was in a fist fight.”

  “I was not in a fist fight,” Sam protested. She groaned at Helene’s teasing smile. “Bree hit me and then I fell down. End of story. A fighter I am not.” She chuckled. “If Susie hadn’t held everybody back, I think Lisa would have killed Bree.”

  “You really like her don’t you?”

  “Lisa?”

  Helene nodded.

  “Yeah. Do you know we’ve been together for three months and a week already?”

  “You’re counting the weeks, eh?”

  Sam felt her cheeks flush. Talking to Helene about Lisa was cool, but Sam had to make sure her parents didn’t overhear. They didn’t know their only child was gay, and there was no way in hell she was going to let them find out. The thought made her head hurt, so she changed the subject. “Are the ladies here yet?”

  Helene checked her watch. “Not yet. In about fifteen minutes.”

  Sam stood up, linked arms with her nanny, and together they walked though Sam’s bedroom into the living room of her suite. Not many seventeen-year-olds had their own bedroom suites with pr
ivate living rooms, but Sam wasn’t like most seventeen-year-olds. Sam lived in a mansion surrounded by rolling lawns, a tennis court, a swimming pool, and myriad gardens all taken care of by servants and hired staff.

  “C’mon,” Sam said, “let’s get this puppet show over with.”

  “Duty calls.” Helene grinned as they headed down the hallway toward the main staircase leading to the first floor.

  Sam’s mother’s gardening committee was having its August meeting, and Sam, of course, would be playing her violin to entertain them. She’d been entertaining her mother’s guests for over fourteen years, ever since she was three years old.

  Helene groaned when they got to the bottom of the stairs. Sam’s mother was talking with one of the women from the committee who had arrived early. “She’s going to have my head for not being down here to answer the door.”

  “Sorry, Helene.” Sam reached up to touch her eye. “You go on. I’m going to say hello to Daddy first.”

  “Oh, sure, throw me to the wolves,” Helene said with a fake frown.

  “I want to ask him about the lake house again.”

  “Good luck with that one.” Helene patted Sam on the arm and headed toward the music room.

  Sam went the opposite direction down the first floor hallway and was about to knock on the closed door to her father’s study when she heard him on the phone.

  “Remember, David,” her father was saying, “I reward people that are faithful to me and my family. I reward people who keep their word.” Her father didn’t speak for a moment. David, whoever he was, must have been talking. Groveling, probably. “I’m glad we’ve come to this understanding.” Sam’s father added, “Just get it done.”

  Sam heard her father place the phone back into its cradle. She waited twenty more seconds and then knocked lightly.

  “Come,” he said.

  Sam opened the heavy door and stepped into the room. Her father sat in his leather chair behind the mahogany desk reading what looked like legal papers. The two-toned desk commanded the center of the room like a judge’s bench in a court room. The dark paneling and manly décor of the room made it abundantly clear this was her father’s space. Sam always felt small in there.