"He never, ever wanted to leave her side either," he smiled at her, "but promised that if he did, he'd always come back. Always." There was something deep and meaningful in his voice, something that gripped her heart.
"Really?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Did he really mean that? That was quite a thing to say. He must have sensed her uncertainty and slid back up to her so that he was inches away from her face.
He took hold of her hand and said, "you know I will Lexie. I never stopped thinking about you, not ever. I used to dream about being with you."
He'd never told her that before. She smiled and reached out to touch his handsome face. He caught her hand and kissed it.
"I used to dream about being with you too." It was important he knew how she felt.
He responded with a smile but then his expression suddenly grew serious and his eyes looked troubled. "I..."
"What's wrong?" she asked softly, noting the change in his mood with caution. He had that same look the night they'd first made love on the boat. She wondered now just like she did then if it was her.
"I don't want to waste the time I have with you by talking about reality," he attempted a reassuring smile. "Depressing stuff."
It was strange to hear him say something like that. Did something happen while he'd been away in Chicago? She sat up immediately and pulled the covers over her breasts.
"If that's supposed to stop me from asking you what's wrong it didn't work."
He chuckled lightly and sat up. He stared at her and took a lock of her hair to twirl around his thumb. He watched the ends coil and smoothed it over with his other hand.
"Things weren't exactly great for me after I first met you. I had all these plans, and I guess I was young and eager to please my parents. I did everything to please them, including dating who they wanted me to date. That's how I ended up with Jessica." So that was her name. Lexie wondered if he might have seen her in Chicago. She listened on. "We broke up just before I met you, and when I got back home, she told me she was pregnant. So I married her. She'd always cheated on me every chance she got, and marriage didn't change that. I was married to her for eight years before I found out that um..." he just stopped and stared down at the twisted lock of hair around his thumb. They both watched the curl loosen and slip from his grasp. He looked back to her, his eyes filled with pain she never imagined. "That Amy wasn't mine... Jessica lied to me the whole time. It's a hard thing to deal with a lie like that. And, to accept that a child you thought belonged to you doesn't. I took the news hard and ended up in a car accident the same night I found out, and in a coma for months."
Lexie's hands flew up to her mouth at the shock of what she was hearing. "Sam."
"Hey," he ran his finger along her cheek wiping away a tear she didn't realize had fallen. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"No," she shook her head as more tears came. "Sam, I can't believe that happened to you." She breathed shaking her head. "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. It's a mess, but it's okay. Amy knows the truth, and while I know I'm not her father, she still feels like mine."
"Of course...Why didn't you tell me before?" She couldn't help but wonder.
He shrugged. "It's difficult to talk about, and every time I say it, I remember that it's real. Only a few people know. Our parents and Zane. I guess I got used to just not talking so no one would know. But I should have told you sooner. I'm sorry."
She reached out and stroked the edge of his jaw, then leaned forward and kissed him taking his hand. Lexie couldn't begin to imagine what he must have gone through. She squeezed his hand gently. "Thank you so much for coming to see me. It means more than you know."
"I wanted to let you know how I feel about you." She searched his eyes and saw the wealth of emotion that filled them. He pulled in a steady breath. "I'm serious about you Lexie, and I want us to work. My family is in Chicago, and on occasion, I could be anywhere in the world, but I'm serious about you. When I was in a coma, my mind created this crazy reality where we were on our date at the Bellagio."
His words captivated her, and she couldn't help but smile at the memory of the date he'd conjured up when they'd first met.
"Dancing, and eating chocolate?" She added with a bright smile.
He nodded. "Yeah. You and me. You were mine, and ..." Sam held her gaze and her hand as he continued. "You kept me going. You kept me alive. I don't just want it to be a dream. I want you to be mine in real life too."
Her heart soared on hearing that, and if she'd ever questioned herself before on whether she'd fallen for him, the confirmation was here. Right there in the depths of her heart. She knew she loved him. Who was she kidding? She always had. This wasn't a sudden thing that had happened or even a gradual thing. She'd loved him from the first moment she saw him. She was just too troubled to see it.
"I am yours, Sam. I always was." She told him loving the warm feeling that had swelled her heart and soul.
He smiled wide and pulled her close to his heart.
Chapter 20
Sam admired the slender curve in Lexie's neck as she tilted her head to the side and moved her hair across her shoulders.
She smiled as he placed the diamond necklace around her neck and kissed his way across to the latch.
"Sam, you're spoiling me too much with all these gifts." She laughed and turned to face him when he hooked the latch together. She touched the teardrop diamond that rested against her chest and beamed up at him.
"Well, it's simple. Just try to stop deserving it then. You just got FDA approval for Prometheus and your research is helping all sorts of people, you deserve gifts. Lots of them." He smiled at her.
"You said that last week when I made you a cake." She giggled.
"It was chocolate cake." He tweaked her nose playfully.
"Sam, making a chocolate cake doesn't warrant a ten karat diamond bracelet with matching earrings."
"Baby, I love chocolate cake, and yours is diamond worthy. You know what? I didn't treat you enough."
She laughed and shook her head. "I have enough." She took his hand and held it to her heart. "You are my gift."
Yes, she certainly had him. Had his heart, his soul, and everything that made him, him. She'd had him from that first day they met.
Right here in Las Vegas.
It had taken him some time, but here they were at the Bellagio. They'd danced and ate chocolate till he felt for sure he'd burst.
A date thirteen years late, but here they were, and she was so much more than she'd been in his dreams. So much more, and his love for her had only increased. They'd been together now for just over a year. One amazing year that had changed his life and made up for everything bad that had ever happened to him.
She was like a reward for all he'd been through.
He looked at her and was, as always, mesmerized by her beauty that was enhanced by the pure, angelic person she was within. He was so lucky to have her and diamonds were nothing for him to give. It really wasn't enough.
She motioned for him to lower so she could kiss him then she rested against him as they continued to observe the city below from the balcony in their hotel room.
He'd been thinking about their future a lot lately, primarily because it was beginning to look very obvious that something was keeping him in San Francisco. Something, someone, very important who meant more to him than life and work.
His parents knew they were dating, but it was getting to that point now where he was going to be needed elsewhere for business. He'd turned down a number of projects, and he felt that he'd have to come to some sort of decision soon as to what he was going to do with himself.
Zane had dropped the suggestion the other day that he could just keep being C.E.O at Cervantes. He'd said it in that Zane's wisdom's sort of way, then laid down this whole pep talk about how happy he was with Gina, and Sam should be thinking more seriously about his life. Sam had already considered it, so he took Zane's words with value.
S
taying in San Francisco would be one hell of a decision to make, but one that would be easy in his Lexie crazed mind.
"I was thinking." He began. Curiosity filled her beautiful brown eyes. An idea came to him yesterday when his father had asked him to go to Chicago to help him with one of his acquisitions.
"Sam don't keep me in suspense." She turned to face him.
"I have to go to Chicago next week. Do you want to come with me?"
Her eyes widened with surprise and then she smiled. "Yes. Really? You want me to come?"
"It's way past time I introduce you to my family."
"Do you think they'll like me?" She suddenly looked worried.
"They'll love you. They've been dying to meet you." They had, and seriously he should have arranged for them all to meet a lot sooner. "They'll love everything about you."
"I can't wait." She beamed.
He reached out to touch her face. "They'll finally get to see what makes me happy."
He liked when she looked at him like this. It felt like he could see her soul through her beautiful eyes, and see how she felt about him. It was a look that told him everything. It told him she loved him.
Sometimes he thought she would tell him. But, then when it seemed like she was on the brink of it, she'd get this nervous look in her eyes, her cheeks would flush pink, and she'd stop herself. It was happening again now.
It was okay. He wanted to say it first, she just seemed to beat him to the right moment every time and chicken out.
He'd find the perfect moment but wanted to get everything sorted out first. As he beheld her the idea of staying San Francisco seemed perfect in his mind.
* * *
Lexie loved Sam's parents, and he was right they seemed to like her too. The warm welcome they gave her was endearing, and his mother completely spoilt her. She took Lexie shopping, to the spa, to her gallery, and even did a painting of her.
Amy was next on the list, and Lexie was nervous. She was scheduled to meet her in a few days, and she hoped Amy liked her.
Lexie respected Sam's love for Amy, and she understood it all. That was something she would never question or argue against. Blood didn't always make you family. It was love. That was what she'd seen in him, and that made her love him even more.
On Saturday she promised Sam a tasty South American feast with Churros to top it off, so they went shopping for the ingredients. On their return, she noticed a black Mercedes parked in front of the house. It was when she noted the sudden change in Sam's demeanor that she realized that he wasn't entirely happy to see whoever was visiting.
"How dare she?" He said as he looked on, letting out a frustrated sigh.
Well, at least Lexie knew the visitor was a she.
"Who is it?" Lexie asked cautiously.
He removed his hand from her waist and grabbed the keys from his pockets.
"Jessica," he replied shaking his head. Sam looked furious. His whole face was red, nostrils flared, and he bit the inside of his lip.
He opened the door, and she went in after him. When they got to the living room, she saw a petite blonde girl sitting cross-legged on the sofa watching TV.
"Dad."
Amy's hair was the same dark blonde color as Sam's, but that was as far as resemblance went, which of course was understandable. She rushed over to them.
"You must be Lexie. I'm Amy." She put out her hand towards Lexie with a bright smile. She had the kind of angelic face that warmed your heart. Lexie took her hand and shook it returning the smile.
"Hi, it's nice to meet you."
Amy's smile brightened. "It's really nice to meet you too. I've been excited to see you all week. You're even prettier in real life than in my dad's pictures."
What a sweet thing to say. "Thank you." Lexie was in awe at her compliment. She'd been worried about meeting Amy a lot. However, from the look on Sam's face, Lexie got the feeling that she'd been worried about the wrong person entirely.
"Amy, where's your mother?" Sam seemed to be trying real hard to remain calm. She knew she'd be absolutely furious if she came home to find her ex-husband had let himself into her home, especially when she was currently in a relationship.
Lexie felt even more awkward when Amy's smile faded.
"Oh, um her. Dad, I tried to tell her this would be weird but she insisted. I even had a lift, but she's in one of her moods again. My school wants me to help with this charity event, so I was going to ask you if it was okay to come visit in San Francisco next Saturday which I'm certain you would have been fine with. I wanted to meet Lexie and today was the only day I had free, so that's how it started." The poor thing looked so nervous that Lexie felt bad for her. "I told her I wanted to meet Lexie while you were here and she just switched on me."
At that moment the kitchen door opened and an extremely beautiful blonde woman glided out. She looked like she could have easily stepped out of Vogue, or off the runway to some extravagant fashion show. There was no end to her and Amy's resemblance.
Everything about her seemed perfect. From the long black lashes that adorned her icy blue eyes to the way, the light hit her hair in all the right places making it look gold.
So, this was Jessica, Sam's ex-wife.
Lexie couldn't have felt more out of place if she tried. It felt like one of those times when the only thing that could help her get away fast enough was a black hole.
"Jessica, we need to talk." Sam marched over to her. Lexie was surprised by his abrasive tone.
"I should tell you all about my play," Amy said to Lexie, doing her best to distract from the tension. But Lexie was staring after Sam as he and Jessica disappeared into the kitchen.
Lexie sat with Amy on the sofa and listened as she attempted to talk about her play. She didn't get further than telling her what the play was about because they could hear the argument that blasted in the kitchen.
* * *
Sam was furious. No, actually what he felt was more than fury. It was more like he was seething with rage, and he'd had a hard time remaining calm in front of Lexie and Amy.
"What the hell is the matter with you? Where in your mind did you think it was okay to come into my home and do whatever this is that you're doing?" He yelled.
She'd been acting weird for months, and it had gotten worse recently. Talking to him on the phone, messaging him, making an appearance - however brief - when he saw Amy, and now this. He'd been too focused on Lexie to really pay attention to whatever was going on with Jessica but today was so loud and clear that he had to say something.
"Sam I used to live here. Why is it a problem?" She looked at him as if nothing was wrong and he was overreacting.
"Jessica, we are divorced, and I'm in a serious relationship." He stared at her. "You don't live here anymore, and it's not okay to come here and act like it's all fine when I know you know this is ridiculous."
"Serious relationship Sam?" His heart stilled as she glared at him with her icy blue eyes. It was a look he'd recognized all too well. "Did you ever think to ask me how this serious relationship may affect things?"
All he could do was stare at her. "My life is none of your business. Who I'm with is nothing to do with you."
"It does where Amy's concerned. I don't know this woman. She could be anyone. I don't want some woman I don't know associating with my daughter." She snarled.
"Oh please, that's a load of bull." Jessica would have whoever she could grab her hands on look after Amy. Not knowing Lexie wasn't the problem here.
"What's really going on here Jessica? Don't lie to me, or make my girlfriend the subject of some useless rant. Especially when you aren't even a fraction of the woman she is." He couldn't help it. He just couldn't. He hated Jessica for what she did to him.
"Oh please, Sam. She is just a temporary fix. You sound like you're in love with her or something." She laughed at the absurdity, but his reaction made her stop. "You love her?" She asked with such distaste that Sam felt the need to protect his feelings. There was no en
d to his love for Lexie, his love for her made his life worth something, and there was no way in hell that Jessica was going to know that before he told Lexie himself.
"That's none of your concern," he replied.
"Sam, you hardly know her." Of course, she wouldn't have known that he'd known Lexie for a lifetime. "Me on the other hand, well we've always known each other. Practically from birth and we were married for eight years."
He gazed at her trying to decipher what she was saying. Surely she wasn't suggesting that ...
His blood drained, and his stomach turned over as he observed her and realized what she was indeed suggesting.
"Sam have you ever even given any thought to getting back together?" While she brightened like it was the best idea in the world, he had to stop himself from heaving and throwing up. "We both know I made mistakes. I know I ruined things and -"
And he had to stop her right there. "Please just no, no more. No." He held up his hand. As he watched her surprised reaction a wave of nausea mixed with fury clenched at his stomach. He didn't understand how she could suggest that after all, they'd been through, after all, he'd been through.
Sam considered himself strong, but Jessica had the power to wear him down. Tear him down to nothing, and even when he was barely holding on to the nothing he might have, she could eradicate that too.
"That's' not an option, I don't know what you could possibly be thinking, but I couldn't stress enough how much of a mistake it was marrying you. Jessica, I married you because you were pregnant and that was all. It wasn't for love."
"Sam we worked together as a couple. If we lived together, you could always see Amy. It would just make sense, and I'm sure you could get over your grief. It's been years. In fact, I'm surprised that we didn't get back together before. We always did."
"No." He ran his hand over his face and bit the inside of his lip.
Complete Me Page 27
