by Hailey North
Sami stifled a sigh. If Nathalie hadn’t insisted the dogs remain in the back yard the night she’d arrived in Nashville, he would have already seen the Corgi. “I rescued Ruby from a puppy mill, where she was forced to breed litter after—“
“Really, Samantha, spare us the details.” Nathalie glanced around, and then proceeded to the sofa. “This place is quite lovely. Considering it’s built over a garage.”
“Please have a seat,” Sami said. She’d been hoping that following the discussion about Philippe that Nathalie might find it easier to be a kinder, gentler self. But people didn’t change overnight. “I have wine and I also have club soda.”
They each requested club soda. Sami crossed to the kitchen, where she had a bottle of white wine in an ice bucket. She filled three crystal glasses with club soda, topped them with lime, and glancing over at the sofa and chairs, decided to make wine her drink of choice. She wasn’t driving and Nathalie’s critical attitude went down a whole lot more easily with a good glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
“Thank you,” Emile said when she handed him his glass. “What happened to your face?”
Sami passed out the other drinks. “Oh, I took a bit of a tumble in the woods this morning.”
“Have you been falling more frequently?” That was Emile looking at her closely.
“Once. Only once.” Sami walked back to the island and picked up her glass of wine. She took a sip and then put the glass down. She carried over a tray bountifully laden with the clever appetizers the caterer had delivered.
“Looks great,” Chase said. “You’re quite the gourmet chef.”
Nathalie raised her eyebrows.
“I try,” Sami said. She collected her wine glass and took the other chair. “In my spare time.” It was only a teeny fib, the implication that she’d created the beautifully complex pate and fresh baked brioche rounds.
“Your daughter is awesome,” Chase said, looking straight at Emile.
Sami blushed.
Emile nodded and smiled at her.
“When did you two meet?” Nathalie sipped her drink. “Samantha, cocktail napkins would be in order.”
Sami jumped up, spilling a few drops of wine on the back of her hand. At least it didn’t hit the sofa or rug. “Right away,” she murmured. Anyone could forget to set out napkins.
“Details,” Nathalie said. “All of both life’s work and play are in the details.”
“That is so profound,” Chase said. “It definitely applies to sailing. And polo.”
“Those are your hobbies?” Emile asked.
Chase nodded. “I’m going to teach Sami to ride.”
“She learned to ride at boarding school,” Nathalie said.
Chase accepted a napkin from Sami. “I thought you said you didn’t ride.”
Sami shook her head. “I was supposed to learn.”
“I distinctly recall we paid for lessons.” Nathalie pinched the bridge of her nose.
“I opted not to participate,” Sami said. She took a long swallow of wine.
“Are you afraid of horses?” Chase was looking at her as if he didn’t know what to think.
Sami shrugged. “Another appetizer, anyone?” She refused to let Nathalie make her miserable.
Chase lifted another pate-topped brioche crust. “Never fear, with my guidance Sami will soon be riding like a champion.”
“Lovely,” Nathalie murmured. “Though I don’t understand why you didn’t tell us the truth, Samantha. It’s not as if we would have forced you to pursue an accomplishment you weren’t interested in. We did it to ensure you received a properly-rounded educational experience.”
Sami nodded. There was nothing she could say.
“There is quite a lot of activity on the property here,” Emile said. “Are the owners in residence?”
Sami flashed a smile at Emile, grateful for his change of subject. “I don’t believe so. Kyle—one of the caretakers—did mention they were holding an event this evening. I’m not to let the dogs out unless they are on their leashes.”
“How did you locate this apartment?” Nathalie was gazing at her with more than her usual level of interest in Sami’s affairs. “The night you and that red-headed man came to the house, you rejected the studio we had sublet for you and went off without knowing where you were going to stay.”
Sami felt Chase looking at her in a way that made her squirm. “I, um, made some phone calls. And one thing led to another. And Vonnie introduced Chase and me. Right after I arrived in town.”
“Ah, Vonnie.” Nathalie turned toward Chase with a smile. “Vonnie is a young woman after my own heart. Her surgical skills are impressive. Tell me about your practice.”
Chase needed no urging to dive into details. Sami moved quietly to the kitchen and began to set out the sushi and sashimi. To her surprise, Emile followed her over.
Sami shot a quick glance across the room. Nathalie and Chase were deep in conversation. She refilled her wine glass and waggled the bottle.
“I believe I will,” Emile said.
Sami plucked a fresh crystal glass from the cupboard and poured wine for Emile.
Speaking in a low voice, he pulled a paper out of his shirt pocket and said, “Nathalie and I want you to have this. She asked me to give it to you. I think it will help you if you understand the situation was harder on Nathalie than on me. She had suffered a terrible loss.”
Sami touched the paper. “Should I look at it now?”
Emile nodded.
Chase and Nathalie were laughing together, clearing hitting it off well.
Sami read the slip of paper. Philippe Carriere, born in Paris to Jean-Paul and Marie Fillon Carriere.
Sami stared at the names. “This couldn’t be easy for you.”
He gave a small shrug. “I kept the woman I loved and gained a family.” He lifted his glass. “To the best daughter ever,” he said, with a somewhat wistful smile.
“Ah, Emile, thank you.” On impulse, Sami stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. She couldn’t recall ever doing so. “No one could ask for a better father. I hope I marry a man as loyal and loving as you.”
Emile glanced across the room toward Chase. A slight shadow crossed his face. “I hope so, too.” His chin jerked a bit. He shoved a hand into his pocket. “I believe I should sit down,” he said. His hand trembled.
“Let me carry your glass for you,” Sami said.
He smiled and she followed him back to the seating area.
“Sami, I’m inviting your parents to join us on the boat tomorrow afternoon.”
“Oh,” Sami said. “That’s nice of you, but I didn’t realize we were going out. I’ve already agreed to babysit for Toya’s twins so her mother-in-law can have a break.”
“I assumed you knew Sunday afternoons are for sailing,” Chase said. He didn’t sound annoyed, just vaguely surprised.
“We can all go next Sunday,” Sami said.
“Next weekend I’ll be in Chicago at a conference,” Nathalie said.
“Why don’t you and Emile come with me even if Sami can’t?” Chase said. “It should be beautiful weather.”
No one said anything for a long moment.
“We accept,” Nathalie said, shooting a look of reproach at Sami. “Perhaps your friend Katarina would fill in for you?”
Ruby leapt up as if she’d seen a cat to chase. She raced to the door, barking full speed ahead.
Chase frowned.
Nathalie frowned.
Emile sipped his wine, his hand trembling as he raised the glass to his lips.
Saddened by more evidence of Emile’s physical struggles, Sami hurried to the door. She wished she could touch Emile’s hand and magically erase the tremor. She hated watching, knowing how much Emile must despise his inability to control the movement. At the same time, conscious of Nathalie and Chase’s annoyance with the barking Corgi, Sami tried to hush Ruby, even knowing it was useless. Once on alert, Ruby would not stop barking until she’d spied and inspect
ed her quarry.
Wondering if Kyle or William had come to check on her, or perhaps ask her to move her car to another spot, she swung the door open.
To find Flynn Lawrence, who naturally knelt down and gave Ruby a hug.
Sami kept her back to the room. “What are you doing here?” She spoke in a fierce whisper, just loud enough to be heard above Ruby’s raptures.
“In the neighborhood.” He flashed his too-assured grin and rose gracefully.
“You are the last person I want to see. Especially right now.”
Flynn looked down at his feet. “I tried to stay away.”
Ruby had stopped barking, but she started up again. Sami glanced over her shoulder just as Chase walked up beside her. He put an arm around her waist.
He held her slightly closer and looked long and hard at Flynn, obviously recalling Nathalie’s comment about ‘that red-headed man.’ “Sami, were we expecting another guest?”
At any other moment Sami would have appreciated his possessive gesture and reassuring touch. Right now she wanted to simply disappear.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Flynn looked at the man with his arm draped around Sami. He sure as hell worked fast. Flynn took in the perfect features of his face, the blonde hair, the muscular build and the preppy clothes. All he needed for 100% confirmation of the man’s identity was a stethoscope hung around his neck. So Sami had caught her Dr. Perfect. That Guy he’d helped her to reel in.
He should be happy for her.
Instead he felt like he’d been sucker punched.
“Sorry,” Flynn said, “didn’t realize you were entertaining.”
“Who is at the door?” Nathalie’s strong voice carried easily, despite the sounds of the band tuning up poolside behind the main house.
Sami stepped to the side. Blondie was forced to drop his arm.
“It’s that pleasant redhead.”
Flynn recognized Emile’s low-pitched voice. Despite the warning clanging somewhere in the recesses of his brain, he raised a hand and waved. “How’s it hanging, Emile?”
Sami and That Guy were forced to edge away from the door. Flynn figured he’d stroll in and take the lay of the land. He had been a fool to come back to Nashville, a fool to RSVP to Kyle and William’s fundraiser, and an even stupider fool to climb the stairs to Sami’s apartment.
Once a fool…
Sami was wearing what looked like the same damn black dress she’d had on the night they had… he shut his mind. He studied her more closely and realized this dress didn’t cling in the same sexy-as-hell way. He ground his jaw, perversely pleased that That Guy wasn’t touching the same dress Flynn had slipped over Sami’s shoulders and tossed to the floor. Then he caught sight of her face in the lamplight. He cupped her chin in his hand. “What the hell happened to you?” Flynn turned toward Blondie.
Sami brushed his hand away. “I tripped on a tree root.”
“You should have ice on that eye,” Flynn said.
“Are you a doctor?” That Guy asked, looking down his nose.
Flynn shook his head.
“Then best leave the medical attention to those of us who are.”
Aha. Flynn had his confirmation.
“Chase,” Sami said, “this is Flynn Lawrence. Flynn, meet Chase Carpenter.” She looked from one man to the other. “Doctor Carpenter.”
“Medical convention?” Flynn moved over to the sofa, shook hands with Emile and then with Nathalie. “How’s your new place treating you?”
“It’s fine,” Nathalie said. “An adjustment naturally, but anything that is better for Emile is better for both of us.”
“Sami came by the other day,” Emile said. “Paid us a surprise visit. Nice.” He smiled at Sami.
Flynn noticed Emile was showing much more emotion than he had the night they’d arrived at the family home. Perhaps the change had been good for him. Perhaps, he thought, wishing he could sit down and ask Sami, perhaps she’d asked her parents about what she’d discovered in the journal. And perhaps that had opened some tamped-down emotional currents. He felt a sense of being cast out of a drama in which he’d played a part. And he wanted to know the rest of the story.
He didn’t want to be kept off-stage.
Flynn narrowed his eyes. He sure as hell didn’t want to be replaced by an understudy.
“Are you one of Sami’s academic colleagues?” Chase was standing next to the end of the sofa, where Nathalie was seated.
Flynn shook his head. “Not me. School and I have never gotten along. Except for the cute teachers.” He winked, man to man, at Chase.
Chase did not respond in kind.
“Flynn and I met through his brother,” Sami said. “Who, tragically, is now deceased. You might say it was his brother’s death that brought about our introduction.”
“Ah,” Chase said. “That explains a lot.”
“Such as?” That question was from Nathalie, who Flynn guessed, never liked a conversation she didn’t have a major part in.
“How a babe like Sami was still unspoken for.” Chase walked over and put a hand on the back of Sami’s neck. “You must have been attached to this guy’s brother.” He pulled her to his side. “I’m sorry for him, but happy for me.”
Sami was flushing three shades of cherry. Flynn felt a little bit sorry for her. After all, he’d encouraged her to flirt and pretend not to be herself in all kinds of ways. And look what the result had turned out to be. She’d caught her guy and the jerk knew nothing about the genuine Sami. And he didn’t like hearing him mention his brother. Flynn glared and shook his head. “As long as we’re sitting here getting acquainted,” he said, “I wouldn’t mind if you offered me a drink.”
Sami shifted so that Chase’s hand slipped from the back of her neck and moved toward the kitchen island. “White wine or club soda?”
Flynn wiggled his brows. “Not serving martinis tonight?”
“Help yourself,” Sami said, giving him a look that said she dared him to make himself at home in her apartment with That Guy looking on, wondering what in the hell might be the truth of their association.
“Wine is good,” Flynn said, relenting. “I’ve got two more parties and a hot date at the end.” He didn’t, of course, but he saw no need to let Sami think he was pining over her, no need to let her know he’d held out as long as he could, no need to let her know how desperately he’d missed her. “Have to pace myself.”
“Certainly,” Sami said, and poured a glass of wine. She crossed the room again and reaching out, extended the glass, acting as if she needed to stay as far back from him as possible.
Flynn pulled over one of the dining chairs and joined the others. Chase abandoned his stance next to Nathalie and sat down beside Emile. At least he wasn’t pawing Sami.
“What brings you to Nashville?” Emile asked in a calm voice.
“The fundraiser Kyle and William, the caretakers, are hosting,” Flynn said. He glanced over at Sami, who had her gaze fixed on Chase’s profile. “And other miscellaneous business.”
“Does Kyle know you’re here?” Sami asked.
“Not yet.”
“He seemed to want you to attend.”
Flynn nodded. He was used to being wanted by many people. Right now, though, he wanted to be wanted, needed and desired by one woman in particular. And that woman seemed to have exactly the opposite in her mind. Well, what in the hell could he expect? He never should have slunk out without at least saying “Good morning, Good-bye.”
Flynn could hear the band playing. He’d seen Kyle and William perform in a local club and liked their sound. In their invitation, they’d mentioned a new drummer. He knew they’d love him to represent them, and considering them as clients was the least he could after the way they’d welcomed Sami and her dogs.
“Need help with dinner, Sami?” Chase asked, rather pointedly, Flynn thought.
“No. I mean, yes, if you’d like to assist me, I would appreciate your assistance.” Sami blushed and
looked adorably embarrassed as she tripped over her words.
Flynn wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless, kiss her until no words tumbled out, until all there was left to do was scoop her up and carry her to the bedroom.
Chase stood up.
Flynn stood up.
Chase cocked a brow. “I think she said yes to me, old boy.”
“Right.” Flynn sat back down.
Emile got up, walked to the island and returned with the wine bottle. He refilled Flynn’s glass and then his own.
“Do you think that’s wise?” Nathalie said, frowning at Emile’s glass. “Your balance is challenged enough as it is.”
“I’m not six feet under yet,” Emile said, lifting his glass. He hoisted it toward Flynn. “May the best man prosper.”
Flynn wrinkled his forehead. Emile certainly seemed to observe and understand more than he let on. Flynn flashed him a grin and a thumbs up, and then took a swallow of his wine. In the kitchen, Chase and Sami were standing close together, their heads bent over some dishes on the island. They were talking, but Flynn couldn’t make out their words.
Just as well. He had a pretty good idea he’d only get annoyed.
Which he had no right to do.
He had no claims on Sami.
He wasn’t able to give her what she wanted in life.
So he could bloody well stand back and let her have That Guy.
Flynn ground his jaw. He finished his glass in one swallow and stood up. “Emile. Nathalie. Nice to see you again.” He raised his voice. “I’m going now.”
Sami glanced over. “I observe that you do know how to say good-bye.”
Chase looked at her, rather quizzically. “Evening, Flynn.”
Flynn put his glass down on the coffee table. He nodded at Emile, reached over and shook his hand. “Hope to see you again,” he said.
“I’d like that,” Emile said.
Flynn headed to the door. Ruby leapt up and chased after him, barking loudly as he opened the door to let himself out. He shut the door, closing her in. As he walked slowly down the stairs, he heard her plaintive barks, demanding to know why she couldn’t go too.
“At least he had the good manners to leave before dinner was served,” Chase said to Sami. “It would be hard to miss the fact that the table was set for four.”
