Love In A Nick Of Time

by Stephanie Jean Smith

  The one bad thing about being in a hospital is it gave you too much time to think. Thinking about a past you can’t change and a future that is uncertain. Samantha was pulled out of her musings when someone walked in her room carrying a large bouquet of roses.

  “Hey baby, this is the first time I’ve been able to see you. They wouldn’t let anyone but your family members visit you in ICU.”

  Samantha was surprised and disappointed to see Brian enter her room. “Brian what are you doing here?”

  Brian sat the flowers down on the bedside table. Didn’t she realize how expensive they were? Sometimes she could really be ungrateful. “As you can see I brought your favorite flowers to brighten your room. I also came to see you sweet cheeks. Is there anything I can get for you?” Brian sat down by her bed and before Samantha could move her hand, he grabbed it and kissed her knuckles.

  The roses were beautiful, but Brian had never listened to her. Samantha’s favorite flowers were carnations. How could he be in a relationship with her for two years and not know her favorite flower? Samantha tried to pull her hand away from Brian, but he tightened his hold kissing her hand with his wet lips. Unfortunately, Allen chose that moment to walk into her room. He looked good in jeans and a t-shirt; my God his ass really fit those jeans. She looked into his eyes, oh shit he was pissed at finding Brian here.

  Brian gave the tall Asian the once over before offering him his hand. Who in the hell was this guy? “Hi my name is Brian Taylor. I’m a very close friend of Samantha’s.”

  Allen ignored his hand and proceeded to kiss Samantha full on the lips. Only then did he acknowledge Brian’s presence. “I’m Allen, Samantha’s fiancé.”

  “What the hell do you mean you’re her fiancé?” Brian couldn’t control the rage that filled his body. He turned his gaze back to Samantha. “You’re engaged to him? That was quick we’ve only been separated for a couple of months. Where did you meet this guy?”

  Before Samantha could answer, Allen took over the conversation. “Oh we met at a conference in Chicago and rekindled our romance at her brother’s wedding. As you can see we made a real connection.” Allen left no room for doubt as to his meaning.

  “You bitch! You dump me and start fucking the first guy you meet...” Brian’s words were cut off when Allen’s fist connected with his face. He fell like a ton of bricks onto the floor.

  Allen stood over Brian waiting for the opportunity to knock him down again. “Whatever you had with Samantha was over long before I came on the scene. Rest assured that our relationship is real and will definitely end with a wedding ceremony. Now, I suggest you leave and take your flowers with you. If I ever see you anywhere near my woman again, a beating will be the least of your worries.”

  Brian got off the floor, grabbed the vase holding the roses and quickly vacated Samantha’s room. Samantha didn’t think for one moment that Allen was through. His blood lust was up. Hell if she wasn’t in a hospital bed Allen would probably be spanking her ass right now. Allen faced Samantha after Brian made his speedy departure. She could see the displeasure in his narrowed black eyes.

  “What was he doing here?” Allen hissed at Samantha. He was sorry Brian ran off so quickly he wanted another opportunity to hit him. That coward got up and ran out of the room like a scalded cat.

  “How was I supposed to know he would show up? You need to calm down or you can follow him out the door.” Samantha gave her attention back to the television and ignored Allen’s presence, which was impossible.

  Allen came around the bed and took the remote from Samantha’s hand and turned the television off. He sat on the edge of the bed and leaned over Samantha giving her another full kiss on the mouth. “Baby I’m a very possessive man and finding some man slobbering over you didn’t put me in a good humor.”

  Samantha couldn’t help smiling at him. Her battered body wanted him and she was in no condition for sex. “Uhmm, are you deliberately teasing me? I don’t think I’m physically capable for what you have in mind.”

  Allen knew that once he started kissing her he wouldn’t be able to stop. He kissed her cheeks and throat, he raised her arm kissed his way don’t down to her hand. “Remember how it was in Seattle? We couldn’t get enough of each other.” Allen wasn’t satisfied until he heard her groan. Samantha’s doctor came in before Allen could continue with his torture session.

  “Hey, hey, enough of that Mr. Archer. Miss Graham won’t be able to participate in any physical activities for at least another two to three weeks.”

  Allen laughed as he got off the bed and took a seat as Samantha’s doctor examined her. Samantha had improved greatly in the last two days. She was determined to be independent no matter what the cost. When he got her out of the hospital, he would make sure she got the rest she needed. Smiling to himself, he thought she needed to be good and rested, for he planned to keep her in bed for a very long time.

  “Everything seems to be going well. You keep this up we’ll release you maybe in three or four days. I want you to move around more so I’ll have a physical therapist see you later. Another thing, I want you to eat!” The doctor kept talking before Samantha could protest. “I know your throat is sore, that’s why I had you on a liquid diet, but now you need to build up your strength. I’ll check on you again tomorrow. You and Mr. Archer have a good night.”

  “What did you do to my doctor? Whenever you’re around I can’t get a word in edgewise.”

  Allen didn’t want to talk about the doctor he wanted to start making plans for when she left the hospital. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Before she could respond another dinner tray was brought into her room. She refused dinner two hours ago and she still wasn’t hungry. “I still don’t want to eat, could you please take that tray away.” The girl who brought in the tray was confused, “the doctor said to bring you another tray, sorry.” The girl quickly left the room before Samantha could protest.

  Allen uncovered the tray, opened her plastic silver ware, and put the straw in the apple juice. “What are you doing?”

  Allen was unperturbed by Samantha’s attitude. The doctor had another tray sent in so he could make sure Samantha would eat. He would make sure she ate her dinner this time. “Sweetheart, you know you have to eat, just relax and let me feed you.” The food didn’t smell bad. It looked like chicken and rice, green beans, bread, and butter. Heck, there was even vanilla ice cream.

  Samantha was in a playful mood. “What are you going to give me if I eat all my dinner?”

  “Oh baby, you’re not strong enough for what I liked to give you. If you’re a good girl I’ll let you have some ice cream. Also, don’t you think it’s time we discussed our relationship?”

  Samantha’s eyes got misty; she wanted to believe they had a relationship. “Do we have a relationship? I know that I’ve been told that I have a fiancé. As far as I can recall no one asked me to marry him.” Allen cut up her chicken and offered a small piece to her. She opened her mouth and chewed her food as Allen fed her waiting for his response.

  “Let’s backtrack to Seattle. I told you I was coming to Omaha until the New Year. Do you think I just coming for sex? I can get sex by standing in the hallway. What we have is more than sex and I wanted to focus on us. I know you don’t want to talk about marriage and babies, but you’re deluding yourself if you think this is going to end any other way. With recent events I’ll give you some time. Time to heal and realized that I’m in your life to stay.”

  Between bites Samantha responded. “So I’m just supposed to go along with everything you say.”

  Allen offered Samantha another piece of chicken with rice. “If you did I would be very surprised. I’m counting on you not being a pushover, it keeps things interesting. If I wanted a yes woman, I could have had one of those years ago. Quit looking for excuses and get your strength back. I’m looking forward to rummaging through your toy chest.”

  ***

  Chapter 11

  Allen w
as sitting in Samantha’s room reviewing the information about the condominium he just bought. He liked it so much he purchased every unit on the floor. He didn’t want other people living on the same floor with him. Besides they’re a good investment. In addition, Mary would be coming to town soon and would need a place to stay until she found some place to live.

  Samantha had been in the hospital for a week, so he figured she had a couple more days before she’s released. Kevin took him by Samantha’s house and Jenna was correct. It would be too hard to maneuver Samantha around her home in her current condition. All of the bedrooms were upstairs and there was really no place to set up a bed in the lower level.

  “Caught you alone today?” Michael walked in and took a seat.

  “Hey Mike I didn’t expect to see you today. Where’s Jenna?”

  Michael sighed and crossed his legs. “It’s a typical Saturday so she’s at home resting for the moment. I thought I’d swing by and take you to lunch.” Michael could tell by the immediate frown on Allen’s face that he was about to decline. “Don’t say no, I know what you’re going through. Sitting here day after day is nerve racking. Plus I think Sam could use a break from your brooding mood.”

  Allen gave Michael his full attention. “What is that suppose mean?”

  “It means you can’t make Sam better by deeming it so. Also you’re no good to her if you make yourself sick. There’s a little barbeque place not far from here that I think you’ll enjoy.”

  Allen knew Mike was right, but there was no place he’d rather be than with Samantha. Granted most of the time she was asleep or in therapy. He wanted Samantha to feel confident that he was in this relationship for the long haul. “Okay lunch sounds good. I’m going to leave a message at the nurse’s station then we can head out.”

  ***

  Jenna looked at the pregnancy test for the third time. It read positive as did the other three tests before this one. She was pregnant, when had that happened? She looked at her calendar but she couldn’t recall the last time she went for her birth control shot. She should have schedule an appointment with her gynecologist, oh shit three months ago. Jenna totally blew her appointment off. She was going to be someone’s mother. “Oh my God! This poor baby.” She hoped Michael would be pleased, he’s going to be a very good father.

  ***

  Allen followed Mike into a run-down ramshackle place to eat lunch. The outside of the restaurant was not impressive. The aroma that hit him as he walked through the front door made up for everything else. The waitress tried to seat them at a table in the middle of the room. Funny thing is that both of them protested.

  They ended up sitting against the wall with both of them facing the door. Mike was curious about Allen’s behavior; most people don’t give seating in a restaurant a second thought. “I’m a homicide cop, I like to know what I’m up against at all times. What’s your excuse?”

  Allen shrugged. “I don’t like being on display. I’d rather be an observer than the observed.”

  “You and I will get along just fine.” Michael ordered a rack of ribs, potatoes salad, sweet potato pie, and a beer. Allen had the same thing with the exception of the pie.

  “Why did you really invite me to lunch? We just met and I don’t have to be entertained. I appreciate your efforts but I think your actions are suspect.”

  Michael grinned at Allen. “I know what it’s like to stand guard over your woman’s hospital bed. Some crazy stalker attacked Jenna. I was hell to be around and she was only in the hospital overnight. I didn’t even recognize myself; I was acting like a wolf standing over his wounded mate. That’s when I realized that my life meant nothing if Jenna wasn’t in it.”

  Allen didn’t know Mike well enough to share his feelings for Samantha. Quite frankly he found emotional people very annoying, but he definitely understood Mike’s actions. He did feel that same way about Samantha. “Jenna is quite the little spitfire. How did you two meet?”

  Michael’s mood became serious. “We met at the worst time under impossible circumstances. I was investigating her sister’s murder. You know, I’ve had meaningless relationships here and there. When I met Jenna I felt like an awkward teenager trying to kiss my first girlfriend. It didn’t help that my partner Mack was a witness to our first meeting and he busted my balls for two weeks straight.”

  “Did you find the murderer?”

  “I got the murderer and the conspirators as well. It turned out that Jenna’s father was behind the whole thing.”

  “Her father!”

  “Yeah, Jenna’s father wanted control of her sister’s shares in the family business. Evidently a big deal was at stake, something so prosperous that could turn the company around.”

  “So Jenna lost her family, because of her bastard of a father?” Allen remembered dealing with several men who wanted to control him and his inventions for their betterment.

  “Not only that, our relationship was new. She tried to leave me, told me she was too messed up to be involved with anyone. Of course, I followed her. Before I drug her back home by the hair, we became man and wife. When you find the one, you’ll move heaven and earth to keep her in your life.”

  Allen stared into Mike’s eyes before responding. “You’re exactly right. What progress has been made with Samantha’s accident?”

  “Well Brian Taylor was brought in for questioning, but he had an alibi during the accident. He has a cousin that stays in trouble and I can’t shake this feeling that he’s somehow involved.”

  “I had the misfortune of meeting that coward a couple of days ago. I caught him bringing Samantha flowers and trying to flirt. He’s lucky all I did was knock him off his feet. I wanted to shove his teeth down his throat.”

  “Oh shit, tell me you didn’t hit the guy for simply flirting.”

  “I didn’t hit him until he started calling my woman derogatory names.”

  Michael saw the satisfaction in Allen’s black eyes. “You egged him on didn’t you? You wanted to hit him for being there with Samantha in the first place. What did you say to him that made him snap?”

  “I just told him that Samantha is my fiancée. No reason for him to be upset unless…”

  Michael smirked at Allen’s not so innocent expression. “Unless he had hopes of getting back with Samantha.”

  “Tell me that you wouldn’t have done the same thing.”

  “Oh I would have. I would have suckered him into hitting me and then I would have had him arrested for assault.”

  Allen laughed aloud. “A man’s got a right to take care of his woman.”

  Shortly thereafter their food arrived and it was definitely worth the wait. Allen has eaten barbeque all over the United States, but he never expected to find such tangy, succulent, smoky ribs in a shack in Omaha, Nebraska.”

  “By the way, I think I should warn you that Jenna and Samantha are joined at the hip. This means that I’ll have privy to all your business and vice versa. Jenna can’t hold water. She tries to hold her friends confidences, but she’s no match for me when I want answers. The good thing is we’ll always know when something’s going on. The bad thing is they’re always up to something.”

  Allen smiled at Mike, “I look forward to the challenge of taming my woman, may it continue forever.”

  Michael became serious. “I can count the number of friends I have on one hand. Jenna is the same way; her friends are like her family. I just wanted to let you know that I’ll look out for your woman when you can’t.”

  “Thanks man, Samantha means more to me that life itself.”

  ***

  By the time Allen got back to the hospital, he found Samantha picking at her lunch. “Do you want me to feed you?”

  “I’m sure you had something better than broiled fish and rice. Have you realized that they serve rice with almost every meal?” Samantha covered the half-uneaten meal and pushed the tray away.

  Allen wasn’t having any of that he uncovered the tray, put the straw in her milk,
and held it up to her lips. “Come on baby just a couple of swallows. You’re making good progress and you need to regain some of the weight you lost.”

  Samantha didn’t even bother to argue with him, she just drank the milk it was after all a small battle. “Where did Mike take you to lunch? I assumed it was Mike, the nurse told me you left with a man nearly as tall as you.”

  Allen sat next to her bed. “Yeah Mike took me to this fabulous barbeque place a couple of blocks away. Those ribs practically melted in my mouth and the potato salad was really good too.” Allen looked into Samantha’s eyes and he felt guilty. She’d been eating God-awful hospital food for the last week and here he sat teasing her. Allen picked up her hand and kissed the palm. “I’m sorry baby I didn’t mean to tease you. Lunch was good and when you’re better I like to go there again.”