Complete Me

by Gray, Khardine

  Feelings that had been shut down since that day so long ago.

  She watched him, looking eager for him to continue, so he gathered confidence and did. "I shouldn't have treated you like an employee because you aren't. And, I'm sorry for all the craziness at work and that you and your team suffered unnecessarily for it. Of course, you can have all the things you asked for, and a raise." He thought he'd throw that in for their troubles. They all deserved it.

  Her perfectly arched eyebrows lifted on hearing that. "A raise?"

  "Yes. But, there is one term I can't accept."

  She narrowed her eyes at him. "Which one?"

  He thought for a moment then said, "I can't leave you alone." Sam knew he was walking a dangerous path by going down this road, but he still proceeded. This whole thing with her had the danger of crossing over into that territory he avoided. The territory where he actually had to open his heart and accept that he might get crushed. But it was her, the girl he never imagined seeing again, and there was something about her that changed his rules. There was something about her that made him want to take the risk.

  She looked at him and took a moment to consider his words, then said, "does this mean something like weekly catch up meetings to see how Prometheus is going?" She eyed him curiously but with a smile in her eyes. "Because if that's what you mean, you can speak to Tim."

  "That's not what I mean."

  "Then what do you mean? It's a little hard for me to imagine anything else given the fact that I rarely saw you in the first place." The pointed look she gave him told him she was giving him the chance to state his intentions.

  "I want to know you." He didn't think he could have made it any clearer. "How about we start over?"

  "Again?" She laughed.

  Good, she was laughing. "Yes. And I heard that scientists are very forgiving people. The girl ones are anyway." At that, she laughed even more. Just like she did back then.

  "The girl one's? You still say that?" She smiled.

  "Not so much, but made you laugh. So can you stop hating me now, please?"

  "I didn't hate you. I thought you were a jerk at times, but I didn't hate you."

  "Isn't that the same thing?"

  She shook her head and gazed up at him with that warmth in her eyes.

  "Well, that's good to know."

  She gave him that contemplative look again. "Do you want to meet my family, properly?"

  He smiled at her feeling like the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. "I'd love to meet them."

  That made her smile again.

  * * *

  "I don't know if I should have any more of this." Sam grimaced shaking his head roughly as he swallowed the drink Lexie had christened The Casablanca.

  Lexie laughed at the face he made like he was about to pass out from the sugar rush.

  "Don't have anymore." Her father winced looking at her mother with disapproval. She'd made the drink, and had given Sam the biggest glass they had.

  When her mother and father found out who Sam was, they'd welcomed him to no end and gave him the Maria and Dante Ramone special treatment where everything was overdone and over the top. That treatment had gotten better and better as they got to know him over the last two hours.

  Sam also seemed to like them too, and he'd settled in quite quickly as if he'd known them his whole life. Lexie was impressed with the way he was able to talk to everyone and share in whatever interested them. He was even able to talk beauty treatments with Hayley because his mother went to the spa on a weekly basis. When he started talking about soccer with her father and Jay, Lexie knew then that he would be in their good books forever.

  And her... well, as she listened and observed she was thinking about the conversation they had when he got here. He took her mind back to the day they first met, and the way she felt about him then. She was completely stuck on the revelation that he thought she was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen in his life, and that he'd been nervous to talk to her. It intrigued her to know what he'd thought and felt back then and totally melted away the bad mood she'd been in about the turmoil at work.

  Earlier when she'd come here, she'd decided against telling anyone about what happened. As proud as she was for putting her foot down, the whole thing was quite upsetting, and as she was waiting to hear from Sam, she wondered if it really was goodbye. Aside from being shocked when she first saw him, her heart had soared with an unexpected joy she never anticipated.

  "Sugar makes you happy." Her mother said in response to her father's accusing stare.

  "It's pure sugar," her father scolded. "He'll lose his teeth before his forty just like your father."

  "At least we're not drinking all the alcohol." Hayley laughed. "Cos that would be so much worse, and I'd be pouring the bottle down my throat." Hayley wasn't joking. She was a demon when intoxicated.

  "Oh look," Tamar said holding up a bottle of Fijian Spice. She was behind the bar and had just found it behind a few bottles of other spices on the shelf.

  " Dios mío, throw it away," her father gasped. "And someone tell Ed to stop bringing it here or I will."

  Lexie shook her head. Her father couldn't stand Ed, and poor Ed in his usual way had believed that her parents loved the spice. Every time he came, he'd bring a bottle. Lexie used it in drinks to give it a kick, but it had an acquired taste that not a lot of people liked.

  Her father suddenly turned to Sam and asked with a questioning stare. "Do you like Fijian Spice?"

  "I don't know. Never tried it. I tend to prefer fresh peppers. Jalapenos, chilies, roquitas, malaguetas." Sam nodded. Lexie gleamed at him as he said that then watched as her father's face slide up into a satisfying smile that lifted his frosted mustache right up. Another tick for Sam, Lexie thought.

  "You know malaguetas?"

  "Yes. My mom is an artist, and she travels the world. She loves spicy food and is always in South America," Sam smiled. Lexie was fascinated to hear that. He'd never mentioned that before.

  "Oh wow." Lexie's mother beamed. "I'm from Brazil and Dante's from Colombia. We blend our spices like we blend our language. Has your mother been to Brazil?" Her mother asked with bright eyes.

  "Several times. And when she's there nothing is better than Alex Atala’s restaurant."

  When they heard that her parents both exchanged curious glances, and Tamar and Hayley did that sisterly sly look thing Lexie couldn't stand. Even Jay widened his eyes looking thoroughly impressed.

  Alex Atala was one of the most famous chefs in Brazil. Her parents loved anything by that man and had purchased all of his cookbooks. In fact, in honor of him, they did one of his recipes every week here in the restaurant.

  "And she has all his cookbooks, Escoffianas Brasileiras is like her go to guide, " Sam added as if he hadn't impressed them all enough.

  No. Wait... Lexie was wrong.

  What he did next utterly mesmerized all of them in its fullest sense. Her mother said great stuff in Portuguese and Sam responded by saying. "Obrigado." Meaning thank you in Portuguese. Then, he started talking in Portuguese. Since Lexie's Portuguese was terrible, she didn't have a clue as to what he said.

  And, as if that wasn't impressive enough he turned to her father and translated in Spanish, showing he knew that people spoke Spanish in Colombia and Portuguese in Brazil.

  As Lexie's Spanish was even worse than her Portuguese, she didn't bother trying to decipher what they were talking about. Whatever it was had her parents and everyone lapping it all up as he charmed them all.

  "Son, you can come here anytime, and to our home too." Her father nodded.

  "Thank you," Sam replied with that dazzling smile Lexie loved so much.

  Lexie bit the inside of her lip when her parents looked at her. Her mother, in particular, was giving her that look of complete approval that immediately sent her nerves into overdrive.

  "Okay, I think we're gonna go to a booth on the deck." She told them. It was the VIP section, perfect to get aw
ay from the stares.

  "We are?" Sam asked.

  "Yes." So she could have him to herself, and also to avoid what was coming. They all liked him and were truly impressed. The minute her family got her alone they would pounce on her. All she would hear was how perfect Sam was. And poor Ed, as much as he tried, would get the third degree, especially from her father.

  "Have fun guys." Hayley cooed as Lexie took Sam's arm and ushered him away from them.

  She took him to the furthest booth, the one that overlooked the dance floor below them and gave them complete privacy.

  "What'd I do?" Sam laughed.

  "Nothing, just be too perfect." She shook her head at him.

  "You think I'm perfect?" His eyes lit up.

  She did but wouldn't tell him, especially not with that smug expression on his face.

  "No, but they do."

  He pretended to sulk. "And you don't?"

  She kept her eye on him as she slid into the booth.

  "Come on, not even a little bit?" He teased.

  "Okay, maybe a little, tiny bit." She smiled.

  He sat down so that he was on the curve of the seat facing her. He threw his jacket over the arm of the chair and leaned his cane at the side. She'd wondered if he still needed it since he appeared to walk with ease.

  He rolled the sleeves of his shirt up his firm biceps, immediately looking more casual. Her eyes were drawn to the solid muscles that ran along his arm. How hadn't she noticed that before? Maybe the cane distracted from the obvious fact that he was in amazing shape and clearly worked out. Ed didn't look like that. He was thin and lanky and had no form of muscle on him at all.

  "I was enjoying that discussion with your family." His voice pulled her from her thoughts.

  "Yes, but you came here to see me, and they know more about you than I do. Also, why is your Portuguese and Spanish better than mine?"

  A slow, easy smile slid up the corners of his lips and reached his eyes as he shook his head. Watching him set the butterflies off in her stomach, sending them flittering all over her body.

  "No way."

  "Yes. I don't speak either one. Why didn't you tell me you did?"

  "Wait. So what you're saying is you actually didn't understand a word of what I said to your parents? Like when you talk about science." He laughed.

  She couldn't help but laugh too. "Yes like that. I don't have room in my head for languages."

  "I speak ten different languages."

  Her eyes widened at that. "Really?"

  He nodded. "I'll teach you to speak Spanish and Portuguese.'"

  "I'd like that." She smiled at him thinking that would be quite interesting. "Have you ever been to Brazil or South America?"

  "I have, but I didn't spend much time on land."

  She remembered him talking about sailing when they were younger. She remembered how much he loved it.

  "You sailed there." She filled in.

  He nodded with reflection and seemed pleased that she remembered. "Several times."

  "That's so cool." She'd never met anyone who sailed.

  "Thanks."

  "What else don't I know?" She smiled sitting up straighter. "Your mom sounds cool."

  He nodded. "She's English, and she loves doing anything you can categorize as art. From oil paintings to sculptures. Anything. She can be a little too eccentric at times with her Feng Shui, and crystal balls. But she's cool."

  Lexie laughed at that.

  "If she met you the first thing she'd do is tell you what color your aura is, and my dad is probably not much different. People see him when he's all professional and business-like, but I swear they both act like they're still in college."

  "Is that where they met?"

  "It certainly was."

  His parents both sounded nice.

  "So, am I to assume that the Casablanca and Some like it Hot drinks are named after the films?"

  He'd noticed. She winced. "I'm a total geek. Yes. They are from the films."

  "I love classic films," he replied to her surprise. She would never have guessed that.

  "You, really?"

  "Oh yes."

  "Well Sam, you seem to be full of surprises."

  "I guess so. So, what's your favorite classic?"

  This was where their conversation truly came alive, as they found the first thing they actually had in common. They talked about every classic film ever made, and by talked she meant delved into as if the films were made just for them. Or, like they weren't films at all, but actual occurrences that had happened and they knew all the characters.

  Talking to him like this transported her to when they'd first met, but this was different. They were different, and there was no limit on how much time they could spend with each other. They talked for hours as if they were trying to make up for the last twelve years and she enjoyed spending the time with him.

  The club music grew louder as the Friday crowd rolled in, and the atmosphere became more party-like. It didn't stop them from talking though.

  "So what do you think of San Francisco?" She hadn't asked him that yet.

  "It's lively." He smiled looking around. "I haven't been anywhere yet, except here. I thought I'd miss home a lot more, but realistically I only miss not being closer to my daughter." There was something in his tone that got to her. Something reflective and sad.

  She'd never asked before, never had the chance, but she wondered what his situation was. She wondered about his ex-wife, and what she was like. She wondered what kind of woman she was. What kind of woman would interest a man like Sam?

  "It must be difficult."

  "Yeah, it's weird being so far. But then again I didn't get to see her that often when I was in Chicago."

  "Really? How often did you see her?" She automatically assumed it must have been because he was busy at work.

  Until he answered, "I was allowed, once a month." It was all there in his voice. The sadness and longing.

  "Allowed?"

  "Yes, allowed."

  That must have been awful. She couldn't imagine having a child and seeing them once a month. What kind of woman would allow her child's father to see them only once a month? Was that even legal? Sam wasn't some drunk junkie with a bad attitude.

  Lexie suddenly felt a little awkward for asking when she noticed the uneasiness in Sam's eyes. She felt bad for making him talk about it. The situation was obviously difficult.

  "I'm sorry, you don't have to talk about it. I shouldn't have pried."

  He brushed her elbow lightly. "You aren't prying. It's good to talk sometimes. My ex and I have the worse relationship ever. I do my very best not to see her. At first, she tried to be spiteful and not let me see Amy at all, and then when Amy started rebelling against that she allowed me once a month." He explained.

  A troubled expression filled Lexie's beautiful face. It was hard not to watch her, even more so when her reaction came because of her concern for him. Sam could always tell when someone genuinely cared. In his world few people did. He found that a lot of people only acted like they cared because of who he was. Either they pretended to care because he was wealthy, or because they felt he could do something for them. Lexie wasn't like that.

  Sam was trying to explain his situation without giving too much away. He probably shouldn't have said he was allowed to see Amy once a month. That was like opening the door for questions. Questions that pained him too much to answer. He trusted Lexie to tell her about his situation, but it was just that it was hard for him to talk about.

  "We talk a lot, and she's into acting, and always telling me about her plays." Better to talk about the good things.

  "You must be so proud of her." Lexie smiled.

  "Very. She's a good kid." A good kid who deserved better. The accident and divorce had taken its toll on her. Amy was nearly nine when it all happened,

  "She sounds great."

  The music got even louder signaling the entrance of the band. They started with a mellow pac
ed song.

  "I love this song." She beamed staring ahead of them.

  Sam stood up and put his hand out to her. "Then come on, let's go dance."

  She looked surprised. "Your leg. I wouldn't want to -"

  He interrupted. "I'm fine. Exercise is supposed to be good. So, will you dance with me?" He stretched out his hand to her.

  In the dim light, he could see the color that rushed into her cheeks. He'd seen it a few times today and thought it made her even more beautiful. There was no way, especially with the earlier events of today that he was going to pass up an opportunity to dance with her. How often had he dreamed of doing this? They might not be at the Bellagio, but they would be dancing.

  She took his hand and stood, smiling up at him. "I'd love to."

  As he placed his hand on the small of her back heat spread across his palm and radiated along the nerve endings right up his arm. It rushed throughout his body making him feel fully alive.

  He navigated her through the crowd and found a clear space to dance amongst other couples who swayed to the soothing music. It had been awhile since he'd done anything like this, any of it. Dance and have fun with a beautiful woman. He slipped his arms around her tiny waist and allowed himself to relish the feel of holding her.

  Chapter 12

  Lexie was grateful for the cover of the darkness and the flashing club lights. She hadn't been able to stop herself from blushing, or her head from spinning.

  They were only dancing, just simply dancing. So she shouldn't feel like this. Lightheaded and so dazed she had to focus to move.

  The heat of his gaze bore down on her as they swayed to the enchanting music. Lexie risked allowing her eyes to journey up to his beautifully sculpted lips and up to his equally beautiful eyes. The corner of his sensual mouth slid up into a grin as he focused on her lips and paused there for a few seconds. It reminded her of how he looked before he kissed her. The thought instantly revived the memory of how the world seemed to stop when his lips touched hers. Lexie was sure her soul had left her body that day, and she was taken to a higher plane of existence. Just the thought of it roused her with passion and made her feel like melting.