by Hailey North
Sami located the soy sauce and ginger the caterer had put into the refrigerator and set it on the island. She eyed the paper from Emile, wondering what it had cost Nathalie to offer her Philippe’s identity. “Yes.”
“That’s all you have to say after an uninvited man walks into your home as if he owns it?”
Sami turned her back from the living room area, wishing she could be alone with her thoughts. She didn’t want Emile and Nathalie to overhear Chase’s annoyed and annoying comments. “I would not have this apartment if it were not for Flynn’s kindness and his contacts in the music business. I do not regard his stopping by to say good evening when he was here for a social event being held on these grounds as an intrusion.” She took a deep breath, knowing full well Flynn had upset her tremendously by showing up as he’d done. No call in advance. No apology. But her reasons for being upset had nothing to do with Chase’s complaints.
“Are you sure it was his brother you were involved with?” Chase was looking at her as if she were a specimen under a microscope.
“That is an impertinent question,” Sami said. “Are you jealous? If so, you need not be. There’s no man I’d rather not have in my presence than Flynn Lawrence.”
“Double negatives, Samantha, bring misunderstandings in their usage.” Nathalie had walked up behind Sami. “I am positive, Chase, that there is no personal history between that man and my daughter. Samantha, it’s getting late and Emile is tiring rapidly. Perhaps you could serve dinner and hold your debating session after we have gone.”
It wasn’t a question. Nathalie’s pronouncements never were. Sami flushed, asked them to be seated, and carried over a serving tray piled with the array of sushi choices. After everyone had helped themselves, she placed a few rolls on her plate, returned the tray to the island and took her seat.
Emile did look tired.
He’d dislike it if she said so, so Sami held her tongue despite desperately wanting to say something to break the silence that had fallen over the foursome.
Nathalie finished an eel and octopus morsel. “Samantha, which caterer did you use?”
Chase looked surprised. “I thought these were Sami’s creations.”
“The caterer for Kyle’s party,” Sami said, coming clean. “Kyle felt sorry for me after he saw my battered face, so he had them supply everything. The appetizers, too. And the wine. And dessert. Should you choose to have dessert now that you’ve realized I haven’t been holed up in the kitchen all day slaving over dinner.” Sami looked at the surprised faces staring at her. Maybe she shouldn’t have had those two glasses of wine. She was beginning to feel that she not only knew the truth about a few things, but she was also capable of stating that truth.
“You don’t sound like yourself, Samantha.” Nathalie turned to Chase. “Do you think she might have sustained a concussion?”
Emile cleared his throat. “I believe I am the other neurologist at this gathering.”
Nathalie looked annoyed at his comment.
“Correct, sir,” Chase said. “What is your opinion?”
Emile paused with a crab roll half-way to his mouth. “That we ought to be thankful Sami has such thoughtful people around her. And grateful for this delicious meal.”
Nathalie lifted her brows. “Of course, dear, we are appreciative. Just concerned about our daughter’s well-being.”
Emile grunted.
Sami hopped up and offered another round of sushi. Only Emile took another serving. Then she offered refills on the drinks.
Only Sami had more wine.
Chase looked crosswise at her.
Sami sipped her wine. Through the walls and windows she could hear the band. The music was lilting and lively and sounded as if everyone outside must be having a great time. She tapped her toe against the floor in time to the beat.
“What time does your boat sail tomorrow?” Nathalie asked Chase.
“Two. At the Marina.”
“Very good.” She folded her napkin and placed it next to her plate. “Thank you, Samantha, for a most interesting dinner. We’ll be going now. You two enjoy the rest of the evening.” She rose and Emile stood, too.
“Thank you, Sami,” he said. “Take care of yourself. You, young man,” he said to Chase, “don’t keep her up late. After a head injury she needs extra rest. And more ice before bedtime.”
“Yes, sir,” Chase said. “You have my word.”
Sami walked with them to the door, with all three dogs following her. “I’ll be right back,” she said to Chase, shutting the dogs inside. At the foot of the stairs, she turned to Nathalie. “Thank you for giving me Philippe’s name,” she said.
Nathalie reached a hand toward Sami. In a gentler than usual voice, she said, “You have the right to know.”
Sami took her mother’s hand, and then put her arms around her. Nathalie hugged her back. Whisking away a few tears, Sami gave Emile a hug, too.
“I don’t know what I’ll do with the knowledge,” Sami said. “But there’s one thing I’d like to know.”
Nathalie nodded.
“Am I like him in any way?”
Emile and Nathalie exchanged glances.
“You drive the way he did,” Nathalie said. “Like a bat out of hell. Now, enough of the past. Your future is inside waiting for you.”
Sami said good-night and climbed the stairs, marveling that one of Philippe’s traits lived on in her. The band must have been on break, but it started up again as she reached the door. Lilting, upbeat happy music. She stepped inside, shut the door against the party music, and turned toward Chase. He was standing behind her, smiling at her. He held out his arms.
She walked reluctantly into them, not sure she felt like a hug. More than anything else, she wanted to go to bed, hug her pillow, and let sleep spare her the tumble of her thoughts.
“Precious,” he said, “why don’t you lie down on the sofa and let me clean up? I should have realized without your father having to point it out to me the after effects of a head and face injury. I could kick myself for letting my petty feelings get out of control.”
Sami pulled back from his embrace and gazed up at him, unable to believe how sweetly apologetic Chase was being. “Oh, Chase,” she said, “you don’t have to apologize for anything. It’s Flynn who should have said sorry for bursting in on us.” She brushed her fingertips along his jawline. “You’re the best,” she said.
He settled her on the sofa, made an ice pack for her and helped her place it against the worst bruising of her cheek and eye. He made short work of the dishes, put away the leftovers, and pulled a chair close to the couch. Then he stroked her hair with a gentle touch. “Thank you for introducing me to your parents. That means a lot to me.”
“Mmm,” Sami said. Her cheek was frozen enough to make her not want to move her jaws to talk. And tonight she didn’t feel up to explaining what she’d learned about her heritage.
“Family is so important,” he said. “Mam is raving about you.” He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman,” he said. “Smart, good family, professional, beautiful. Parents in medicine. You’ll understand my crazy hours. Be there for me when I finally get home.” He took her hands. “We’re going to have a beautiful life together.”
“Mmm,” Sami said. Was he proposing? Or simply assuming that once he’d made his plans she naturally found them perfect.
He kissed her hands. “I hope you’ll be able to join us on the boat tomorrow.”
“Mmm,” she said and lowered the ice pack. She pointed to her cheek and whispered, “Frozen.”
He smiled. “I’m going to say good-night, precious, so you can get your rest. Just like your father ordered.” He kissed her on the lips, stood up and moved the chair back into place.
Ruby barked.
“Oh,” Sami said. “Would you mind before you go?”
“For you, anything,” Chase said. “What is it?”
“Take the dogs out. On
their leashes.”
“Like I said, for you, anything.” He picked up the leashes from their spot near the door. Ruby ran in circles and barked wildly as he tried to fasten the leash to her collar. Finally Sami had to sit up, call Ruby and get it connected.
Chase was back to looking annoyed. “This dog could benefit from obedience lessons,” he said.
“She’ll calm down in time,” Sami said. “Thank you for taking them out. You’re an angel.”
He nodded and disappeared out the door, tugged by three dogs racing to see who would be first down the stairs.
Sami sighed and put the ice against the side of her eye. She should be over the moon with joy. She’d achieved her perfect match, apparently with little effort. Chase found her perfect. Nathalie found Chase perfect. Sami found his parents to be perfectly delightful, especially his warm-hearted mother.
What could be more perfect?
Sami thought about the fantasy she’d been enjoying just before she’d tripped over the tree root that morning. It had been a heart-thumping, blood-heating vision of making love with Chase. She’d been completely into the passion of the moment.
But it had been all in her head.
When Chase held her close and kissed her, she had yet to feel that hot, sweet rush of desire.
She frowned.
Why had that not happened?
He was being a gentleman. A perfect gentleman. No one but a jerk would try to make love to her with a head injury. Of course he was leaving early tonight. And Emile had practically ordered him to do so.
Sami rolled her head against the arm of the sofa. Her face didn’t really hurt. Her vision was a bit obscured from the swelling in her blackened eye. But given the right opportunity, she’d definitely be up to…
…being scooped up in strong arms and carried to the bedroom. Lowered to the bed, her black dress pushed up, her body opened to…
Ruby bolted into the room, barking.
Sami sat up abruptly.
Chase unfastened the three leashes. He still looked annoyed and then seemed to be working at clearing his face to a more loving expression. “I’m going now. Call me if you need anything.” He crossed to the sofa, tipped her chin up and kissed her.
Sami fluttered her lashes, widened her good eye and wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. “Thank you, Chase,” she said, in a breathy voice.
He paused. “You are one sexy woman,” he said. “I can barely tear myself away. But it would be wrong to stay. You heard your father.”
Sami couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Surely a man head over heels wouldn’t let those fatherly concerns override his own desire to be with her. “Yes,” she said, “I did.”
“Lock your door,” he said over his shoulder. “There are lots of crazies outside.”
Sami did not get off the couch and lock the door.
She lay there, wondering why her now-perfect life felt far less than satisfactory. Another Saturday night and here she sat, still alone.
She sighed. Outside, the party was in full swing.
Flynn Lawrence was there, no doubt flirting with some up-and-coming country western singer, planning just how to get her out of her tight-fitting blue jeans.
She sat up and tossed the ice pack onto the coffee table.
What she wouldn’t give to be one of those crazies out there having fun.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Flynn made sure he said a few words to Kyle and William, found a drink at one of the outside bar stations, and wandered away from the crowd. He’d spotted several familiar faces and several unknown ones he’d normally be interested in introducing himself to, most notably a pint-sized brunette with mouthwatering tits.
Tonight, however, he wasn’t in much of a party mood.
The band wasn’t bad. He could do worse than consider Kyle’s group for a spot in Cameron’s movie. He sipped his vodka and tonic and wondered what in the hell he’d hoped to accomplish by knocking on Sami’s door.
Clearly she hadn’t wanted to see him. She’d looked nothing other than annoyed when she opened the door.
Annoyed, but beautiful, despite the mess she’d made of her face. For a woman hell-bent on perfection, it must have been difficult for her to entertain her boyfriend and parents in such a state.
Boyfriend.
Flynn furrowed his brow and bit back a curse. Had he truly expected Sami to launch her huggable body into his open arms? He was the schmuck who had slipped out of her bed, the schmuck who hadn’t called her.
It hadn’t taken That Guy long to move in on her. He’d had his arm around her as if she were his property. Flynn took a healthy swig of his drink and frowned. They couldn’t have gone on enough dates or seen enough of one another for him to be acting with that degree of assurance. Arrogant assurance, to be more accurate. He frowned again, glaring at his now-empty glass.
He made his way through the dancing, shifting throng of party-goers, back to the bar. The bartender, a hot package in a low-cut silver mini-dress, gave him a pretty pout and a nice strong vodka tonic. He nodded, absently, and passed her a tip. She smiled and invited him to come back soon.
He strolled away, out toward the path to the woods, the path he’d walked with the dogs and presumably the place where Sami had tripped and fallen. He walked a good long way before he turned around. He owed his hosts a bit more time and attention. He hadn’t earned his excellent reputation by exhibiting anti-social behavior. Flynn almost smiled as he heard Sami’s voice in his head reeling off that sort of sentence.
God but he missed her.
As he came out of the woods, he heard Ruby barking. He picked up his pace and as the stairs to the apartment came into view, he saw the three dogs rushing down the steps, with That Guy holding the leashes.
Flynn stopped in his tracks.
For a moment, he had trouble catching his next breath.
That Guy had no right to be holding the leashes for Ruby, Shelby and Rusty. Flynn wanted to rip them out of his hand and claim the right to be the one to walk Sami’s dogs. He took a step forward.
And caught himself.
He pulled back into the shadows of an oak tree. That Guy didn’t seem to be too patient with the dogs. He yanked at Ruby’s leash more than once, ordering her to stop barking.
Flynn shook his head. Good luck with that one, he thought.
One by one the dogs did their business and That Guy hustled them up the stairs.
Walked inside.
Closed the door.
Flynn hurried past, back to the party. He found the pint-size brunette and tried to lose himself dancing with her. Giving her every expectation of a night ahead of hot, wild sex.
They were dancing on the far edge of the pool decking, the edge nearest to the garage, when Flynn saw the lights go out in Sami’s apartment.
He pulled the girl against him, dancing more slowly. She responded, tipped her head and offered her mouth.
Flynn mumbled something about getting another drink and made his way to the boat house.
He skipped the drink.
He didn’t go back to the more-than-willing sex kitten.
He slipped into a hammock and cursed himself for the fool that he was.
Sami woke later than usual. Her face felt stiff and tender; her vision was not 100%. Well, what did she expect? She pushed up against the lavender pillows. This bed was not as comfortable as the one in the blue and white room, nor did it have the French doors leading out to the balcony. She was a fool to avoid that room just because of Flynn.
Sami threw back the covers and swung her feet over the side of the bed. With luck, she’d never see Flynn again.
Never feel his arms around her or his lips on hers. She blushed. Or his lips on other more sensitive parts of her body. Just thinking how he’d made her feel, her breasts, traitors to her mind, tingled.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said out loud.
Ruby came running, barking, naturally.
Chase was the man in her life. Chase
was the one who would make her feel hot and deliciously sexy.
Only he didn’t.
Sami shoved her feet into her sandals, frowning.
Of course Chase made her feel special. And perfectly desirable.
She pulled a shirt over her pajama top and headed to the door, knowing that all three dogs would need to go out right away. With Kyle and William, who had eyes only for each other, the only other residents on the estate, Sami didn’t bother with what she looked like when she took the dogs out.
As soon as the dogs had romped and relieved themselves, she picked up after them, and headed inside. The sun was bright and the day already warm. Sami stripped off her clothes and slipped into her bikini. Kyle had told her she could swim in the pool anytime she wanted. She’d take advantage of that offer before she made breakfast and headed to Toya’s to pick up the twins.
The dogs padded after her to the pool. Evidence of last night’s party was all around, which probably meant the caterer would be returning with a cleaning crew. Well, no one was around at the moment, so Sami walked to the deep end and dove into the water.
The movement hurt her cheek, but the water felt so good otherwise that she ignored the slight pain. She swam with steady strokes to one end and back, then turned over and moved with a gentler backstroke. Much easier on her bruised face.
The sun felt good. She hummed a tune and enjoyed the flow of the water as she floated and stroked across the pool. She closed her eyes and imagined she was a mermaid.
Then she chuckled at her own imagination.
She was Sami Pepper, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Philosophy. And prospective bride of Dr. Chase Carpenter.
She frowned.
She and Chase hadn’t known each other long enough for either one of them to be thinking so seriously about the future. She didn’t know his favorite food or his favorite color or what he did during the night if he woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep. She didn’t know if he ever indulged in junk food. Well, that was a probably not. He went light on the alcohol too, which was a plus. And Nathalie clearly adored him.
