by Leger, Lori
Carrie smiled at him as she looked up from cutting her steak. “I figured as much. I guess that was the female version of a pissing contest.”
He snorted. “You definitely won.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
Carrie swallowed her bite of steak and leaned forward to speak. “To the victor belongs the spoils.”
Sam reached over and ran the back of his hand gently along the side of her face as his tone deepened. “This spoil is yours, if you want me.”
“I’m considering it,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “But first, are there any more exes or wanta-bees to contend with, Saa-mmy?”
Sam rubbed at his face. “You don’t have to contend with anyone. Bertie’s slept with every man in town, except for me. As for Linda—she was just being downright nosey.”
Carrie sipped from her water glass. “She’s just curious.”
“C’est tout le meme chose.”
“I guess it is the same, isn’t it?”
They finished their meal with no more drama, and got to the theater in plenty of time. Carrie laughed at the preview of George Clooney in the Coen brother’s movie, and again at Ben Stiller and Deniro, as a male nurse and his prospective father-in-law.
“Corey said the soundtrack to that George Clooney movie is outstanding,” she whispered. “I’d like to see it.”
Sam leaned close to her ear. “How about next weekend?”
“I’d love to go with you next weekend.”
He straightened in his seat, his face plastered with an ear splitting grin. “You’re so easy.”
“And cheap, too,” she added. The two of them faced each other and fell into helpless laughter.
“I meant you’re easy to be with, as in comfortable,” he explained as he reached his arm around and pulled her closer.
She smiled, settling into the cozy crook of his embrace.
Two hours later, Sam reached out from the driver’s seat and grabbed Carrie’s hand, entwining his fingers through hers. “Did you enjoy the movie?”
“I did. It was no Tombstone, though. I loved Val Kilmer in that one”.
“I’m your Huckleberry…” he drawled, imitating Val’s character, Doc Holiday. He studied Carrie’s profile while waiting for a signal light to turn green. “So, what day do you want to go next weekend?”
“I guess we’ll have to check the schedule again,” she said, turning to look out the window of his truck. “But, you don’t have to take me out, you know. I’d be just as happy with a home cooked meal and a rented movie.”
Sam nodded. “Whatever you want to do, we’ll do.” He smiled as she tried to hide a yawn from him. “I need to get you back so you can go home and get some rest. I bet you’re tired.”
“I am,” she agreed. “Mom and I got all the baking done for tomorrow and the next day. I don’t want to see an electric mixer or mixing bowls for a while.”
“I guess you have big plans with your family and kids tomorrow night?” he asked.
Carrie played with the zipper of her purse. “Actually, the kids will be with me all day tomorrow but are going back to their dad’s tomorrow night. Christmas Eve night is a big thing at Ruby’s.” She turned to face him, her gaze filled with curiosity. “How about you?”
“Lunch at my folks. My kids all have places to be all day tomorrow and tomorrow night.” He turned to her, a hang-dog expression on his face. “My sisters invited me to their places, but I’d hoped to have other plans for that night.”
Carrie raised one brow, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Poor baby, I’d invite you to my mom’s, but I doubt you’d survive it.”
He pulled at his collar uncomfortably. “Um, you may be right about that.”
“Besides,” she added. “Before anyone in my family could meet you, I’d have to broach the subject of my seeing other people with my kids.”
Sam stared straight ahead at the roadway and swallowed hard. “Other people?”
“Well, just to see if they’d mind. I mean, this is only our first date.”
He swiveled his gaze around to face her. “But, you’ve already accepted a second date,” he added.
She stared ahead, avoiding eye contact with him. “Yes, I did.”
“I thought we’d be…that made us…um…that we were…” he stammered, then sighed in frustrated defeat.
Carrie’s voice held a hint of laughter. “Sam, are you asking me to go steady?”
He ducked his head, in embarrassment. “Go ahead. Laugh at a man who’s on his first ‘first date’ in twenty-three years.”
Carrie gave a low whistle. “That’s nearly a quarter of a century.”
“Oh, you’re funny.”
“So I’ve been told.” She smothered her laughter. “I’m sorry.”
“Like hell you are.” He grinned down at her. “You like making me squirm.”
“I love watching all men squirm, I admit it.”
“I keep telling you, we’re not all like Dave.”
Carrie studied him silently for several seconds before replying. “I’m beginning to accept that.”
Sam nodded as he pulled up under the carport next to her sedan. He threw his truck into park and turned off the engine. Dozens of strands of Christmas lights strung along his porch filled the pick-up’s cab with a multicolored glow. He felt her staring at his profile, and resisted the urge to straighten, making himself look taller. His head already just cleared the liner of his truck’s cab.
Carrie reached out with her fingertip to trace the bridge of his nose.
“I know, it’s big,” he said, then puckered to kiss her fingers.
“I like it…I like your looks, and I love being with such a tall man. But, you know what I like best of all?”
He gathered her fingers in his hand and brought them to his lips for another kiss. “What?”
“Your character,” she said. “This is different for me Sam. This is mature, genuine admiration for a man I’ve worked with for a few months now. I like…you.”
He stared at her, as the wind whistled in from the north, audible over the soft clicks of the cooling engine. It buffeted the side of his truck and caused it to rock slightly. The Arctic cold front had moved through, accompanied by icy winds sure to dry up water left from two days of drenching rains.
He shook his head before tearing his gaze from hers. “I can’t help thinking you could do a lot better than me.”
“Sam,” she whispered, reaching out to him with the hand he didn’t hold. “There is no better.”
He caught her hand with his own and turned his face to place a gentle kiss on the inside of her palm. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Sixteen months of being alone has taught me a lot about myself, things I didn’t want to know. I made a lot of mistakes in my marriage.”
“It didn’t come with an owner’s manual, did it?”
“Nope, and neither did the kids.”
Carrie laughed softly. “Lord, I wish I could have a do over with my kids, especially Grant. I was so green when he was born. I’m sure I’ve scarred him for life.” She hugged her coat closer to her and checked her watch. “It’s a quarter to eleven, and I have a busy day ahead of me. This night flew by, didn’t it?”
“It’s the best night I’ve had in a long time.” Sam glanced sideways at her. “You have time to take a little walk?”
“Will it take long?”
He got out of his truck and walked around to meet her. “Just over there. Come on, the walk will help to wake you up for the drive home.” He held out his hand and she took it. He walked with her to the end of the street and crossed the intersection to stop in front of the house on the corner lot.
“Who lives here?”
“No one right now, but I wanted you to see this place. It’s for rent…very reasonable, three bedrooms, two baths, all kitchen appliances, along with a washer and dryer. I happen to know the owner personally. He doesn’t need the money. Just wants it lived in by someone who
won’t tear the place up.” He turned toward her. “I just thought, since you were about to move, maybe you’d want to get something a little closer to work. You know, less gas, less time on the road—”
“And conveniently close to you,” she added, her voice tinged with suspicion.
He reached out to place both hands on her shoulders. “You’d be neighbors with a couple of cops. Doug’s across the street. Works for Kenton PD. Ben’s a deputy with the Sheriff’s Department, and he lives on the opposite end of the block. I admit though, it’d be nice to have you so close.”
She smiled sadly up at him. “I told you about my kids wanting to be in Gardiner, Sam. Their friends are all there, and their lives are in enough turmoil as it is.”
“They’ll make new friends, Carrie. If they’re anything like their mom, they’ll make friends no matter what school they attend.”
Carrie studied the house, as he watched for a reaction. By the time she turned back to face him, his hope had faded. He stared down at his boots and kicked at the cracked edge of the stone walkway. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, unable to hide his disappointment. “It’s not all selfishness. I worry about you, dammit. Phone calls, barking dogs…” He pointed across the street toward her car. “Not to mention broken windshields.”
She pulled her coat tighter and gave a delicate sniff. “It’s all Dave, just Dave, and I can handle him.”
“I hate to say this, but what if it’s not? What if he really doesn’t know anything about the calls?”
“It is him,” she insisted.
“He didn’t admit to it.”
“And risk having more ammo for me to use against him? No way would he admit to it. Don’t worry about me, Sam. I’ll be fine.”
He nodded and took her hand. “All right, then. Let’s get you back to where it’s warm.”
As they walked back over to Sam’s place, Carrie stopped to breathe out a puff of icy smoke. She squinted into the darkness and reached out her hand. “It’s sleeting.”
They stood listening to the quiet tick, tick, ticking sounds as the tiny droplets of ice made contact with the street and sidewalk. Carrie hugged her coat tighter to her and turned for the porch. “I need the bathroom first, but then I have to go. I don’t want to drive on frozen roads.”
He managed to spit out the first part of the warning. “Careful, the steps are starting to fr…” just as her foot slipped on a small patch of ice on the step. Sam caught her, saving her from a painful, butt first landing on the cold, wet sidewalk.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his voice low, husky with concern as he held tightly to her.
Carrie regained her footing, but remained in his arms, her back to his front. She covered his forearms with her own. “Yes, you do,” she murmured, letting her head fall back against his chest.
He heard her soft, satisfied sigh as he tightened his grip on her, before turning her loose with a reluctant groan.
The hallway clock struck eleven as she exited the bathroom. Carrie bit her lower lip, knowing she had to leave, and dreading the next week with no Sam. He stood vigil at the steps, and helped her safely down. She lifted her chin, determined to hide the tumultuous range of emotions raging through her. “Merry Christmas, Sam.”
He stepped closer and opened his arms. “The same to you, Baby. I had a great time with you tonight.”
She snuggled into the comfortable hollow and slipped her arms around his waist. When his mouth lowered to hers for one last kiss, she eagerly accepted it, suppressing a groan of pleasure at the serious play of his tongue on hers.
Sam broke the kiss, and gave her a gentle peck on the nose. “You be careful going home, you hear me, pretty girl?”
“I will.” Carrie rid her voice of its quaver with a ladylike clearing of the throat. “I guess I’ll see you next weekend?”
“If not sooner. Maybe I could only take a couple of days off of work.” He gave her a careless shrug. “It’d save me some leave.”
“Yeah?” she said. “I was thinking you don’t need to take any time off, and save more. What is it you’re always saying? ‘That’s money in the bank’.”
His chest rumbled with deep laughter. “You drive a hard bargain, girl. Let’s say I don’t take any days off. What’s in it for me?”
Carrie moved out of his embrace to pull on her gloves. She placed her hand on her door handle and threw a backwards glance in his direction. “Me, if you play your cards right. Goodnight, Sam.”
She was already out the door and down the steps before he roused himself from his stupor. He hurried outside to stand next to her car. “Goodnight Baby. Call me when you get home?” he called through the window.
“I will.”
“And drive safely, watch your speed. When you get home, if anything looks suspicious do not go into that house. Go to the neighbor so she can call her son.”
She nodded again. “I’ll talk to you in an hour…and Sam?”
“Yeah?” he asked, looking like a lost puppy.
“I love it when you call me Baby.”
She could still see him smiling as she headed for the highway.
***
Carrie pushed open Christie’s front door and froze, as the unmistakable scent of roses assaulted her senses. She stood outside the doorway, trying to ignore the frisson of fear that caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand up.
“Aw hell,” she whispered, over the frantic beating of her own heart. As her eyes adjusted to the dimness of the house, lit only by one tiny nightlight, she saw the huge bouquet of roses on the dining room table. Minus a few buds and several petals, it was otherwise intact.
Dave was here. Carrie scanned the room quickly, looking for anything broken or out of place, but Sam’s words of warning prompted her to back cautiously out the door. The breath she’d been holding released in a loud whoosh, accompanied by a shriek as she backed into a large, solid, body. Definitely not Dave. She jumped to the side and pivoted to catch a look at her intruder.
Rob LeDoux stood with his hands up in the air. “Whoa—it’s me!”
“Jesus!” Carrie’s hand flew to her chest as she glared up at the mountain of a man. “You scared the crap out of me, Rob.”
He gave her a sheepish grin. “Sorry, but I’ve been sitting at Mom’s, waiting for you to get home. She called me around nine—said she saw Dave disappear into the back door of the house, then leave after a few minutes.”
Carrie closed her eyes as relief flooded through her. “I was on my way to the police station.” She pointed to the vase filled with roses. “You’d think he could have found someone else to give those to. And I know I locked all the windows and doors. How the hell did he get in?”
“You were supposed to stop at the station on the way in.” The officer pointed to the kitchen. “He cut the screen on the back door and jimmied the lock. I have a few beers with Christie’s landlord every week. I’ll talk to him about putting in dead bolts.”
Her eyes gravitated to the back door. “Christie’s gonna be pissed.” She turned to Rob again. “Now do you believe it’s him behind those calls?”
Rob brushed his thumb and forefinger over his mustache. “I interrogated him a good while about that earlier. He says he didn’t have anything to do with them, and I lean toward believing him.”
She shook her head. “I still think it’s a ploy to get me to move back home. You have to admit the timing is too perfect. Besides, I can’t afford for it not to be Dave. Anything else is too complicated.”
He leaned forward and pinned her with a stern look. “What you can’t afford is to insist Dave’s behind it when he isn’t. It’s bad enough that whoever it is knows exactly when you moved. That means he’s watching you and probably lives in or near Gardiner. We need to figure out a plan of action. Now think, is there any other place you could go?”
“Like where?” she said, her voice rising in angst. “I can’t stay here and put Christie and Max in danger, I won’t go to Mom’s and put her in danger
. I sure don’t want to risk putting my own kids in danger…so what the hell am I supposed to do? Camp out in your jail like the town drunk on the Andy Griffith show?”
“Now there’s a thought. We could fix you up with your own cell, just like Otis,” Rob said, unable to hide his grin.
“Seriously, Rob,” she whined. “Where could I go and not put someone I love at risk? I was even considering asking Dave if he’d stay at his mom’s so I could move back in the house for awhile, but that’s out of the question now.”
Rob rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “Were your plans to stay here with Chris for awhile?”
“I’m supposed to be renting a house here in town by the end of January. Mark Dronet’s place at the edge of town,” she told him.
He nodded. “I know it. Nice place.” He sucked in his breath and grimaced. “Just inside city limits, empty lots, grassy pastures on three sides, and no nosy neighbor.”
She blew out an exasperated breath. “I know. The very thing that attracted me most when I first saw it is a big negative now. And don’t knock nosy neighbors. Mine’s sure saved my butt.”
Rob gave her shoulder a friendly pat. “We’ll think of something, don’t worry.” He got to the door and waved down the cruiser passing slowly in front of her house, then turned to her. “I’ll make sure he stays right out here. You call if you need anything, okay?”
She picked up the roses and met him at the door. “Take these with you please.”
He gave her a look of mock astonishment. “You mean you don’t want them?”
Carrie snorted. “The only rose I ever got from Dave when we were together was one made out of a pair of red nylon panties. I sure as hell don’t want any now.”
“You’re joking, right?” Rob said, smothering a laugh.
“Afraid not. I got that, along with a four inch ceramic bear that had ‘I Love You Bear-ry Much’ painted on the belly. The panties must have been a size 0.” She handed the vase to the laughing Chief of Police. “I called it in to a radio station as the worst Valentine’s Day gift I ever got. It won the contest…I got a box of chocolates and a beer coozie from Gator 101.”
