by JoAnn Durgin
“So, you planned this all along.”
“Would you expect anything else?”
“Not where you’re concerned, Mr. Lewis.” They shared a grin. “I certainly hope we’re dressed appropriately.” Lexa shot a disparaging glance at her shorts and casual top. Sam wore denim shorts, a black polo and his work boots. Although she tried to ignore them, it was hard to miss his well-toned, muscular legs. If only Sam wasn’t so appealing in the physical sense, she wouldn’t be so distracted. Not to mention his kisses sent her reeling at the mere thought of them. Which she often did. Which she tried to forget but never would.
Never—there was that awful word again. I hate that word.
“Are we going to McDonald’s? Hey, you warned me you’re frugal.” Lexa loved teasing Sam, and adored the look on his face now. Kind of like a scrunched-up smirk. Totally irresistible.
He chose to ignore her barb. “I think we’ll be all right. Besides, if they insist, they can give me a tie and jacket to throw on. I understand they always have a few hanging around on a coat rack somewhere.”
“Oh, a fine dining establishment,” Lexa cooed with a mock pout. “But what about me? Do they also keep skirts or dresses around?” A giggle escaped. Now she was getting silly.
“Well, they can just throw a jacket around your legs, although they’d be missing a spectacular view.” Sam met her eyes for a second before returning his attention to the road.
Lexa’s mouth flew open in surprise. It was the first flirtatious remark he’d made in weeks, and she was stunned. “Good to see you haven’t lost your flirting instincts, Mr. Lewis.” She slipped further down on the leather seat. Sam had thrown some old towels onto the seats to protect their skin from getting burned by the hot leather. Good thing.
“What about the supplies? I don’t think you want the paint to explode.” Lexa glanced over her shoulder at the various cans and boxes in the back of the car.
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Sam’s brow furrowed as he chewed on his lip. “We actually only have a few items that might be in any real danger. Think they’ll let me leave them in the coat check?”
“Maybe for an extra buck or two. If they even have a coat check at this time of the year. It’s early August, you realize. I’m sure it’s not in high demand.”
“Then I’ll just park them in a cool corner beneath a coat rack or under the table or something. But you’re right. We don’t want any paint explosions in the car.” He looked over at her with a big grin.
“Oh, I don’t know. It might actually liven up this old bomb.”
Sam snorted. “Don’t knock it, Miss Clarke. This old bomb, as you so fondly call it, has managed quite nicely, thank you.” He reached out and patted the dashboard like he’d done when she first met him. Sam’s car was like an old dog. Loyal and fairly reliable.
“It’s gotten us where we needed to go during the last few weeks. I have some very fond memories of this car. Especially at this work camp.” Sam’s words dripped with meaning.
“Don’t start getting all weird again about your precious old bomb.” Lexa laughed. As much as she wanted to resist Sam, she was drawn to him more than ever. He was like a magnet. A big, strong magnet that attracted anything female within range. She scowled. This man would always continue to attract other women wherever he went. It was as inevitable as a bird finding its wings and learning to fly.
The saddest thing of all was that Lexa could have had Sam if she wanted him. And she did. But now it was too late.
CHAPTER 30
After driving along Scenic Loop Road for a short time, Sam exited onto a side road. “Close your eyes, please.” He reached toward her with his right hand.
“I can do it myself,” Lexa protested, covering both eyes. It brought back memories of playing hide-’n-seek with a playmate. Catch me if you can, she remembered taunting the other little girl. Is that what I’m doing with Sam?
She felt dizzy as the car turned a corner before Sam pulled to a smooth stop. “Okay. You can open your eyes now.”
Lexa’s eyes widened as she stared at the scene before her. She almost clapped in childlike delight, but clasped her hands together on her lap instead. “It’s a castle!” She couldn’t help it. She clapped anyway.
“It is something, isn’t it?” Sam hopped out of the car and opened her door. As she put her hand in his, Lexa’s hand trembled with the strong current of attraction as their fingers touched. She’d only read about such a thing happening in her romance novels. Until now. Electrifying.
Sam retrieved the cans of paint. “Don’t want to forget these. And you’re exactly right. This really is a castle.” They approached the front entrance. “It’s called The Green Manor Inn, and it was moved to Texas from England in the 1920s.”
“Oh, Sam, now I really do feel underdressed.” Lexa waited while he opened the heavy, wooden front door. “I should be Cinderella at the ball, but I’m dressed like a peasant woman.”
“Ah, but that’s the part about Cinderella I don’t like.” Coming through the door behind her, Sam’s breath was warm on her neck. “You see, Cinderella didn’t need the ball gown to make her the most beautiful woman at the ball.”
Lexa rewarded his comment with a blinding smile. He deserved a kiss for that sentiment, but she wasn’t sure how he’d react if she followed through on her impulse. Waiting as he took care of storing the paint in the coat check, she glanced about the charming restaurant, drinking in the ambiance. It was elegant and lovely. Her heart started its telltale thumping.
Lexa’s fears of being underdressed were soon alleviated as they were ushered into the large, main dining area. Fresh flower arrangements adorned each pale pink, linen-covered table. Candles in the middle of the tables shimmered. Even with the light of day streaming in through the large vertical windows, it was still quite dim inside. Quite romantic, in fact. Stop it, Lexa.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed. Sam walked beside her, one hand on her elbow. Following the hostess, Lexa smiled in appreciation as he pulled out her chair.
“Sure is,” Sam said, taking his seat opposite her. He couldn’t peel his eyes away from her. Lexa lowered her eyes first, fully aware Sam’s comment did not refer to the restaurant.
“Don’t, Sam,” Lexa warned in a quiet voice. “Soon you’ll be globetrotting the world for TeamWork. Besides, we’re only here on business, remember?”
“Right.” She heard the edge of agitation in that deep voice. “Thanks for reminding me.” The waitress came to hand them menus and recite the specials of the day. Lexa couldn’t remember any of them a minute later. As Sam thanked the pretty waitress, Lexa buried her face in her menu, her eyes blindly scanning it while her cheeks burned. The flirtatious glance the waitress gave Sam did not escape her notice. Bless his heart, he was either oblivious or preoccupied.
“You never answered my question.” Lexa waited as a server delivered ice water to their table at Sam’s request.
“Which question was that?” Sam’s eyes sparkled.
“You know very well which question. When did you make this momentous decision to go to work for TeamWork full-time?”
He took a long, infuriatingly slow drink of his water before answering. “It’s something I’ve been thinking of doing for a long time. I’ve just kept it on the back burner until now.”
At least it wasn’t a rash decision made in the heat of the moment. “It’s quite a step of faith, Sam. I’m sure it will be tough, but I imagine it’ll be a very gratifying decision in the long run.”
He nodded. “I hope you’re right. There’s so much work to be done. There aren’t enough men and women ready to give up their jobs to spearhead the projects.” He shook his head and chuckled. “Not enough people crazy enough to do it is more like it.”
“Not crazy. More like not enough people who are brave enough, smart enough and, more importantly—willing to trust God enough—to make it happen.”
Sam smiled. “Thank you for saying that. Especially in the last few
weeks, I’ve wondered if it’s all a pipe dream.” He leaned forward across the table. “Remember when I told you about my burden for the unsaved? That’s what motivates me. I want projects that will put me in direct contact with the people. With this particular project, I’ve felt a little . . .”
“Stagnant?” Lexa remembered his use of the term soon after she arrived at the camp.
“Exactly. I want to be wherever God leads me, and where TeamWork sends me, of course. But my heart is in the projects where I’m working side-by-side with people who need to see the love of the Lord in action.”
“You’ve done that to a certain extent here in San Antonio, Sam.”
“I hope so.” His eyes met hers. “The work projects are what energize me, keep me going, give me hope. Building churches in the Dominican Republic, starting schools in the jungles of deepest Africa, conducting open-air services in South America, or staying right here in the United States providing flood relief.” He shrugged. “Where He leads, I’ll go. That’s basically my philosophy.”
Sam’s eyes lit with enthusiasm as he talked. How great to feel so impassioned about following the Lord’s will that he poured his energy, his very soul into it. “But . . .” Lexa began, hesitating.
“But what?” Sam took another drink of the ice water, watching her closely.
“What about a home?” She didn’t want him to read too much into the question. She didn’t want him to think she was asking for personal reasons. “I mean,” she continued, clearing her throat, “what about having a place to call home? I mean your own home, not just the Lewis family homestead in Houston. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
After a long moment, Sam nodded. “Yes, of course it means something to me. I want a home, and all that goes along with it . . . when the time is right.”
“I see.” Lexa sat back against the cushions of her seat and waited as the waitress placed her salad on the table. “But . . .” she started again. She avoided looking at him.
“Go on. Don’t be afraid to ask.” Sam tried to catch her eye again.
“I’m not afraid to ask.” Raising her head and meeting his gaze once more, Lexa took a quick breath. “I’m just afraid of what you might read into the question.” Might as well plunge right in. Sam was pretty good at reading her emotions.
“I guess what I’m trying to ask is how you ever hope to establish a permanent relationship, much less a home, if you’re always somewhere out there,” Lexa floundered, gesturing with one hand, “sleeping on rooftops and in makeshift buildings. It might be fine for a while, but don’t you think you’d get tired of it at some point?”
“I’ll have to answer that after I’ve done it for a period of time. For now, I’m only committing to a period of one year to see how it goes. No more, no less. When the year’s up, I’ll have the option of applying for more time as a TeamWork director. On the other hand, at the end of the year, I could also suspend or permanently terminate my working relationship with them.”
“Oh.” Even though she was relieved, Lexa wasn’t sure she wanted him to see it.
“Sounds like you might have a personal interest at stake,” Sam observed with a wry grin.
Snapping her head up to look at him, Lexa frowned. “Don’t flatter yourself, Mr. Lewis. Why don’t we pray for this food before it gets any colder?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I think the conversation’s starting to get pretty warm.” Sam laughed at Lexa’s frown, and bowed his head to ask the blessing.
She wished he’d grasp her hand for their prayer, but he didn’t. But neither did she reach for his hand.
Their conversation flowed freely, without too much unease or awkwardness. He was almost the same old Sam, but without so much of the teasing. Today, he was a caring lunch companion. He asked polite questions, listened to her answers, and gave her his undivided attention. She liked this side of him, and appreciated his kind gesture in bringing her to this special place.
“How about you?” Sam stabbed another bite of his prime rib and plopped it into his mouth with a look of extreme satisfaction. It was gratifying to see his healthy appetite had finally returned. “What are your plans when you go back to Houston?”
“I haven’t thought too much about it,” Lexa admitted, wiping her mouth with the napkin. Should she tell him her job might not be waiting for her when she returned? “I suppose I’ll go about my life as usual.”
“You don’t sound particularly enthusiastic about it.”
“I suppose I’m not.” She took another small bite of her chicken breast, chewing slowly. “It’s not like I have many other options.”
“My point exactly.” Sam placed his knife across the edge of his plate, fixing Lexa with the intensity of his gaze. “Here’s something for you to consider.” He leaned closer across the table, covering her hand with his, lacing his fingers with hers.
“Come with me, Lexa.”
CHAPTER 31
“I beg your pardon?” Lexa blurted out, shocked.
“You heard me. Come with me. Apply to be an assistant director of TeamWork. We can work together, and get to know one another better in the process.”
“Are you . . .” Lexa started. Noticing the curious stares of other diners, she forced her voice lower. “Have you lost your mind, Sam? How on earth can I possibly do that? What makes you think I’d even want to do such a thing?”
She shook her head in disbelief. “The last time I checked, you spouted serious accusations that prove you don’t trust me any further than you can see me. Has something happened to change your mind?”
Sam waved one hand in dismissal. “Have you already forgotten our conversation under the tree? I was wrong and knew it the minute those words came out of my mouth that awful night. You don’t have a dishonest, cheating bone in your body. I know I have to prove to you that I trust you, but I do trust you, Lexa. Surely you must know that.” He hesitated. “After what happened with Shelby, I’ve had a little trouble trusting people.”
“You mean trusting women.” Sam had been deeply crushed by Shelby’s betrayal. It had been hard, if not impossible, for him to trust again.
“All right,” he admitted. “You’re right. Look, I hope you can forgive me, because I really care for you, Lexa. I’d love to have a relationship, a romance.” Sam’s expression was sheepish. “With you. But if all you’re willing to give me is friendship, then fine. So be it. Above all else, I want to see you happy. It’s more than obvious you’re not particularly content with your life in Houston.”
Sam leaned across the table again, his expression as earnest as she’d ever seen it. “You’re also growing by leaps and bounds in the love of Christ. I’d love to see that continue. I’m afraid that if you go back to your old life in Houston, you’re going to get stagnant, and what you’ve started here will wither and maybe die. I don’t want to see that happen. I care too much about you.”
His words were blunt and they stung, but what Sam said was true. “It’d be exciting and you know it. Think of all the fun we could have together.” His brows rose in a provocative manner.
“You must have an awfully high opinion of yourself, or else a very low opinion of me.” Lexa flung her napkin on the table, her appetite gone. “To think that I’d follow you . . .” Maybe her attitude was childish, but his words stirred her up inside, made her want to shout with anger. And jump for joy. All at the same time. Oh, it was maddening.
“I didn’t say anything about following me. It’s purely your decision. But we’d be working the mission together, side-by-side as much as possible. I can keep all the exotic animals away from you, and you can try to keep me in line.” The smile lines surfaced, and the man had the audacity to wink.
Sam looked much too calm—and way too smug—for her liking. “You’re incredibly infuriating!” Lexa started to rise from her chair. “I don’t know why we can’t sit and have one decent meal without me getting all steamed at you. You just . . .” she spouted, searching for the right words, “you just ha
ve this way of bringing out the worst in me sometimes!”
Sam surprised her by laughing. “Sit down, and let’s talk about this rationally, like two adults. You can’t keep flying off the handle and running away from confrontations, you know.”
Lexa stared at him, open-mouthed. “How dare you talk to me like that?” Not wanting to cause another public scene, but not quite able to contain her extreme reactions to this man, Lexa slumped back down into her chair. “Contrary to what you may believe, you don’t know everything about me. I’m beginning to realize you know very little, as a matter of fact.” She crossed her arms.
“I know one thing. You’re much more beautiful when you smile. That little frown thing you’ve got going on there doesn’t do justice to your features.” His words sounded as dispassionate as if he was repeating the weather forecast.
A nervous giggle slipped out. She simply didn’t know how else to react. “Maybe I am acting childish. Point taken.” The beginnings of a grin tugged at the corners of her mouth even as she tried to prevent it. “I’m not sure we’d make such a good team. Seems we’re always pulling the wrong strings with each other.”
“Well, for one thing, we could work on it,” Sam offered, taking another long sip of his water. Lowering his glass to the table, he released a satisfied sigh. “I know I’m certainly willing to try, and I’d embrace the opportunity.”
“You never stop, do you?” Lexa shook her head as she took another bite of her lukewarm chicken, not really tasting it.
“I try not to. After all, I have to keep you interested, don’t I?”
“Flirt,” Lexa accused, laughing again.
“Takes one to know one.” The man didn’t miss a beat.
“Just promise you’ll think about it,” Sam said a short time later as he drove them back into the camp. “Think about joining TeamWork with me.”
