by Hailey North
Flynn handled his West Coast calls first. Throwing his mind into catching up on the work day helped him feel more normal.
And normal was the opposite of what he was experiencing.
Sami, delicious, adorable, enticing Sami Pepper was on the other side of his door, across the parlor, and no doubt by now snuggled up in a way-too-empty king-size bed. He could have her. He knew it as well as he knew his name. Look how she’d melted on the loveseat. Before the damn Corgi had interrupted.
Not damn.
Lifesaving.
Flynn answered several texts.
Yeah, lifesaving Corgi, interrupting just when Flynn would have darn well taken what he knew he shouldn’t touch. Any woman who ached for true love the way Sami did should not fall prey to a love -‘em-and-leave -‘em guy.
Flynn played with other players.
It was the way of his world.
Sami was sweet and vulnerable and hurting from the shock of her parents essentially tossing her out onto the streets of Music City. Telling her they’d provided for her without making a place for her dogs was not only insensitive, but useless. ‘Course, he’d asked her only that morning if she was taking the dogs on the road with her.
But that had been this morning.
A day ago.
A lifetime ago.
Flynn answered a few more texts.
Maybe it was the concussion. He wasn’t thinking clearly. But he wanted to help Sami achieve her goal.
Or maybe he wanted to make damn sure she fell in love with a decent, honorable, marrying kind of guy so he’d be forced to get that hot body, those sweet lips, and that annoying preachy way of talking she had out of his mind.
He glanced at his wrist watch. Cameron would still be on the set at the New Orleans location. Jonni and the kids would be en route to L.A. As soon as he could reach either one of them, he’d let them know what he thought of their scheming ways.
Flynn was no fool. He knew Jonni and Cameron wanted him to quit playing the field. Find their kind of happiness.
Flynn thought of his in absentia father and scowled.
A call came through from his Nashville office. Thankfully, his assistant there confirmed the new time for his postponed CMT meeting. The assistant was about to ring off and head home after a very long day, when Flynn had his brainstorm about how to help Sami out of her housing predicament.
He assigned his assistant the task of finding the answer to his question, an answer he wanted as soon as possible.
Flynn tossed his phone onto the bed and eyed the door that led to the rest of the suite. “You will not go out there,” he said, half in his head and half aloud. He dragged his shirt over his head and draped it across a chair, thinking he might need it during the night if one of the dogs needed to go out. Did the same with his pants.
“Ridiculous,” he muttered and climbed into bed. It was way too early. He shifted on the mattress and sank his head into the pillow, surprised just how good it felt to lie down and do nothing. Maybe Sami was right about him needing extra rest after a concussion. Well, it wouldn’t hurt him, and since he was in this big bed all alone, he might as well make the most of it.
He tugged one of the pillows into the curve of his arm. The damn pillow was a lousy consolation prize. He punched it once, and once again. He had no business picturing Sami curled up next to him. Sami wasn’t a woman for a man like Flynn.
She deserved much, much better.
CHAPTER NINE
At some point during the night, Sami had moved from the floor into the bedroom. When light filtering in awakened her, she sat up, wondering why the dogs hadn’t made their usual early morning push for their walk.
She slipped into a pair of capris and a sensible navy blue button-front blouse, pulled open the door to the parlor and glanced around. The dogs leapt up to greet her but in a fairly calm fashion. Even the Corgi kept her volume low. There was no sign of Flynn, but when Sami moved to where the leashes lay jumbled, she saw he’d written a note.
Took ‘em out at 7. Be back by noon.
She had to squint a bit to decipher his handwriting. It was anything but neat and tidy, the way Sami’s was.
Noon.
She checked her watch. Already after nine. She’d have to start her calls to her girlfriends.
It was better for everyone for her to be gone before his return. She had been saddled with Flynn for the drive and then he’d been saddled with her for the night.
Sami puckered her mouth.
Sighed.
She had several weeks before she had to teach. She’d find a place to stay and clear out of Flynn’s way. Naturally she’d stop at the desk and pay half the bill for the night.
A knock sounded at the door.
Sami jumped. The dogs barked. Sami went to the door and was surprised to find a room service attendant bearing a tray. The young man greeted her and set about arranging the contents, beaming as he announced to her each item. The last plate he uncovered held, not to Sami’s surprise, three large dog biscuits.
He poured a cup of coffee for her and began to bow out of the room. Sami asked him for the check. He looked puzzled and shook his head. “No charge,” he said. “Mr. Lawrence takes care of everything.”
Sami blushed, wondering if the waiter thought she was one of “Mr. Lawrence’s” conquests. No doubt he’d entertained a string of women in this very suite. Remembering how good he’d made her feel cuddling on the loveseat, Sami blushed again and vowed never to recall that incident again. A moment of weakness did not count in the scheme of things. She managed a smile for the waiter as he closed the door behind him.
She took a sip of the coffee. Ruby barked, no doubt to remind Sami that not everyone had been served breakfast. She found their food and bowls and gave all three dogs a proper breakfast. Biscuit sausages were treats reserved for road trips.
She enjoyed her cup of coffee, admitting to herself she should be thinking about which friend to call first, rather than dwelling on Flynn’s thoughtfulness. The man didn’t have a selfish bone in his body. He’d been more than good to her and the dogs, all the while having been forced into the drive rather than a simple hour-long flight. She couldn’t credit the tales of him being afraid to fly. No selfish bones. No fearful ones. Not Flynn Lawrence, as she was coming to know him.
Nibbling on a biscuit, she decided to phone Vonnie first. She had the largest house, which included an apartment over the garage, and two dogs of her own. Their friendship went back to second grade. Sami had stood in her wedding. The past year they hadn’t been in touch as much, mainly due to Vonnie’s demanding schedule in her new post as an E.R. physician. Sami finished her biscuit, wrinkling her brow when she recalled how her mother loved to hold up Vonnie as an example of a daughter any parent would be proud to claim.
She bit into a second biscuit. Maybe she’d call Toya first. Toya had gone the lawyer route and didn’t rank as high on Nathalie’s list of perfection, despite having been named her firm’s youngest-ever woman to make partner. Sami wiped her hands and mouth and found Toya’s number in her phone. Toya didn’t have dogs, but she did have three-year-old twins. Maybe they’d enjoy romping with Sami’s dogs.
“Hey, girl,” Toya answered. “When are you coming to town?”
“I arrived last night,” Sami said.
“Awesome. Look, once you’re settled in at your parents, please, please come over and see me.”
“At your office?” Toya was such a workaholic, Sami found her request odd.
A groan came over the phone. “I wish,” Toya said. “I was going to tell you in person. I cannot frigging believe it but I am pregnant. Again. With twins.”
“Wow,” Sami said. “So that’s good, right?”
“It’s good in that once I’ve delivered, the first thing I’m going to do is have all my equipment pulled out. Shut down. Capped. Whatever it’s called. But for now I’m on bed rest. For two more months!”
“Wow,” Sami said again. “I can’t imagine how you
are going to do that. Of course I’ll come see you. Maybe I could stay in your guest room and help out.”
“You’re so sweet,” Toya said. “My mother-in-law moved in with us to help during the duration. Thank God for that, because the twins are a handful.” She laughed. “I mean the twins we already have.”
“I’ll be over as soon as I can,” Sami said. “It will probably be tomorrow at the earliest.”
“Any time,” Toya said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Sami heard shrieking in the background and ended the call. She sat staring at her phone. Shelby walked over and leaned her head against her knee. Sami stroked her ears. Dogs were such a comfort.
With a sigh, she pulled up Katarina’s number. They’d become friends during graduate school. Katarina was from Germany. She’d married a doctoral student and not returned home. She was as easy-going as she said Sami was intense. Sami was positive she would welcome three dogs and a temporarily homeless girlfriend, but her husband was another story. Opposites must attract, she thought, as she called Katarina and heard her cheerful greeting and her equally cheerful pronouncement that Gunther couldn’t possibly stand the distractions of a houseguest and three dogs while he was finishing his long-delayed dissertation. He only had till the end of July or he’d be in danger of not being awarded his doctorate. But Katarina would keep her eyes and ears open for another place for Sami.
That left Vonnie. The apartment over the garage would be perfect. She wouldn’t bother the family with their busy schedules. They might go a week at a time and not bump into each other. The last thing Sami wanted to be was a third wheel with a happily married couple and their toddler. Vonnie’s voicemail, not surprisingly, invited her to leave a message.
Sami left a greeting, poured another cup of coffee and figured she’d better start hunting for a place on Craigslist. Or Airbnb. She didn’t want to intrude on Flynn’s privacy and hospitality another night.
Or run the risk of falling prey to his charm? Sami laughed out loud at that possibility, but the sound didn’t register as convincing. Forget Flynn. When a woman wanted a husband and a family of her own, what was the point in giving even a second’s thought to a playboy?
Sami eyed the plate of bacon, her mouth watering. “Bad for you,” she said. She reached for one slice and popped it in her mouth. The slice had the perfect crunchy crispness, the hickory flavor sweet and hot all at once.
Knowing she shouldn’t, she ate a second piece before she pushed the platter away, stood up and began pacing the parlor. Ruby leapt up and ran beside her.
“Good times,” Sami said.
Ruby barked. Sami repeated the phrase, louder and with greater emphasis. She and Flynn couldn’t be any more opposite. She yearned for True Love. His goal was Good Times. Not that the two didn’t sync. But his choice didn’t encompass hers.
“Oh, stop it,” she said. What had gotten into her normally logical brain? Useless, senseless speculation on irrelevant matters. Sami marched to her room, pulled out her MacBook, and started searching for a summer rental happy to accept dogs.
She’d been at it for about half an hour, long enough to grow discouraged, when all three dogs set up a clamor. She realized they were reacting to a knock at the door. When she responded, Sami found a housekeeping staff member there to clean the rooms. She fastened the leashes to her dogs, slipped her phone in her pocket and left the room. She didn’t mind the interruption. A number of the short-term rentals that accepted pets were already booked off and on over the summer. Sami didn’t want to move from place to place nor did she want to dip into her savings to pay the prices many of the places requested.
A walk would do them all good. And perhaps Vonnie would call back and Sami’s troubles would be over.
Sami and the dogs had made it over to the river below the government buildings when Vonnie called.
“Sami! I cannot wait to see you. Can you meet me for a drink Friday? I don’t have a second till then. Between the designer and the contractor, I don’t have a moment to breathe.”
“Friday sounds good,” Sami said. “You’re usually busy with your work schedule. The addition of a designer and contractor implies you have undertaken projects outside of your professional interests.”
Vonnie groaned. “As usual, you have an accurate way of summing up a situation. My E.R. schedule is crazy, but somehow Michael and I decided it would be a good investment to remodel. And you know Michael. He’s nothing but thorough! So we’ve squeezed ourselves into the apartment over the garage and the house is practically gutted. Wait till you see the plans, though. It’s going to be stunning, but this next year is going to be hell.”
“Wow,” Sami said. “Remodeling takes a year?”
“Who knew?” Vonnie laughed. “Are you dating anyone?”
“Oh, don’t ask,” Sami said.
“Michael and I have someone we want you to meet. He’s on staff at Children’s. He did his residency at Tufts.”
“Interesting,” Sami said. “What are his life goals?”
“Samantha Pepper, relax! You can grill him after your first date. Say hi to Emile and Nathalie for me, by the way. Listen, he’s great. He’s handsome and smart. He’s a good doctor. What’s not to like?”
“Me?” Sami said, and immediately wished she’d kept her mouth shut.
“Sami, please. You’re not still putting yourself down are you? I was positive you’d grow out of that.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that response,” Sami said. “I was attempting to make a joke. He sounds interesting.”
“I’ll have him join us Friday then. Great. That’s settled. I’ll text you with time and place.”
“And his name?”
“Chase Carpenter.”
Sami nodded and gazed across the Cumberland. She’d Google him, make sure she was informed on his research and patient interests. That way she’d have something intelligent to say.
“I must run,” Vonnie said. “That’s the designer calling. She insists I must decide immediately on whether or not we’re adding a pool.”
“Bye,” Sami said, but Vonnie had already ended the connection.
Sami took one more long look at the flowing river and two tugs moving past. She was happy for her friend. For all her friends. And it was thoughtful of Vonnie to want to set her up with a dating prospect. One day, she’d be the one with the designer calling and the tenure track job secured and a loving husband at her side.
But right this moment she admitted to being the teeniest bit jealous.
And lonely.
Ruby tugged on her leash and barked.
Sami started the long walk back to the hotel, shoulders squared and head high. She would solve this housing challenge the same way she faced all her problems. Research, fact-finding, investigation. And as soon as she’d found a summer place, she’d apply the same skills to learning about Dr. Chase Carpenter.
Her first date of the summer. She’d be ready. In the meantime, she placed one more call, to a former professor for whom she’d housesat during grad school. She left a voicemail, keeping her fingers crossed he might be planning an extended summer trip.
Her phone rang and Sami answered, expecting he’d returned her call. In the glare of the sunlight, she couldn’t see who was calling.
“The maid said you took the dogs for a walk. She’s still cleaning. Give me your coordinates and I’ll meet you,” Flynn said.
“Oh, that’s not necessary,” Sami said. She’d hoped to be gone from the Hilton before he returned.
“Humor me?” Flynn said.
Sami started to smile. He sounded happy. Rather like a youngster who’d won a gold star for conduct and wanted to show his family. Well, perhaps that analogy was less than appropriate. She doubted if Flynn had won many model student awards in grade school. They tended to be doled out to the ones built out of Sami’s mold. Compliant. Driven to excel. Forced to perform. Sami frowned.
“If that’s a yes,” Flynn said, “ask Ruby not to bark and I�
��ll simply follow my ear. Find you in a snap.”
She laughed and explained the route she’d walked from the hotel, which was the same way she was headed back. Sure enough, as she rounded Church Street, Sami saw him striding toward her. He wore dark slacks and a dress shirt open at the neck, with the sleeves rolled up. The flash of his red hair bobbed closer and all three dogs started tugging at their leashes. Naturally Ruby began barking and leaping.
Flynn grinned and quickened his stride. If he didn’t hurry, that damn Corgi might pull Sami’s arm out of its socket. She looked a little overdressed for the warm morning, as if she’d buttoned up all neat and tight in order to put as much visual distance as possible from the tempting sexpot she’d been last night. His groin tightened. “Forget it,” he said. Yes, he was happy to see her this morning. Happy to be helping her, in the same way he enjoyed assisting his clients to solve a challenge.
He waved a greeting. The Corgi barked. Flynn grinned, covered the last few yards, and held his hand out for Ruby’s leash.
Dots of perspiration gleamed on Sami’s forehead. She was breathing rapidly, her breasts rising and falling, pretty much negating the nun-like effect of the navy blue blouse. He thought of leaning down to taste the droplets, which led him to relive the taste of her nipples, which led him to step back, frowning slightly.
“H-hello,” Sami said. She pushed her hair away from her face. “Is something wrong?”
Flynn shook his head. “Not a thing,” he said. “You and these three pooches are a sight for sore eyes.”
She glanced at him, rather shyly he thought. “I do know there’s no factual basis in that statement, but I thank you. I thought I detected a note of displeasure on your facial expression.”
Flynn bit his lip to keep from replying he wasn’t one of her critical parents. “Nah. Indigestion.”
“Oh,” she said. “That reminds me, thank you for having breakfast sent to the suite. That was very thoughtful of you.”
Flynn shrugged. “I know you like your morning coffee.”
