by Leger, Lori
She spoke slowly through jaws clenched tight enough to crush glass—the ominous undercurrent in her tone coming through loud and clear. “Excuse me, but I thought I did that, Sam. He…followed me…to Kenton…then back to Gardiner…where he sat in the driveway waiting for me until five a.m.”
“Carr—”
“You listen to me! I played that role for too damn long,” she said, icily. “I was the good wife who sat by for years while he screwed his way through the phone book, then accused me of things I never did to justify his actions.”
“Babe, I know tha…”
“I refuse to hide from him, and I damn sure refuse to stand here quietly while he calls me a bitch.”
“Carrie, I’m sor…”
“He’s gotten as much slack from me as he’s going to get in this lifetime. And you know what, Sam? If you can’t handle this side of me, then maybe you shouldn’t handle me at all.”
Carrie slammed the phone down a final time and stormed into the kitchen for a just-brewed cup of coffee.
“What is it with men?” she asked Christie, who stared at her in silence. “I swear, when God creates them he must say to himself, ‘This one will grow to be a man someday…I better not forget to add that insufferable jerk gene…he’ll make good use of that in the future.”
She paced the kitchen, mumbling to herself. “Maybe it’s time to back off of this thing.”
“Which man are you so pissed at? Dave, Sam, or the mystery man caller?” Christie asked.
“Is there a choice for all of the above?” She turned to her sister. “Did you get any phone calls last night?” she asked, suddenly concerned.
“Nope. I slept like a full-bellied, dry-diapered baby.”
“Great, Mr. Man must have seen my car wasn’t here. I wonder if that lunatic followed me to Kenton too,” she said, before storming out through the front door again.
Rob turned at the sound of the door opening and watched Carrie’s angry approach. “Oh crap, here comes trouble,” he growled. “She looks like she could spit nails.”
“Hey, jerk, did you tell your caller to follow me to Kenton too?”
“Look Carrie, I’ve told Rob over and over that I didn’t have a damn thing to do with that. I swear I didn’t…I don’t!”
“And you wouldn’t lie about something like that, now would you, especially with him ready to throw your butt in jail.” She spun around to face Rob. “What are you going to do about him?”
“Well, do you want to press charges for harassment?”
“Sure, maybe I’ll get to enjoy one day of my Christmas vacation without him ruining it for me.” She growled the last comment as she turned around to walk back to the house.
Dave took a step forward. “Aw come on Carrie, I can’t believe you’d do this on Christmas Day,” he said, sounding panicked. “Have a heart.”
Carrie turned in midstride and stalked angrily up to Dave. “What about you, Dave? How about your heart?” she asked, poking his chest angrily with her finger. “Do you even have one? How about a conscience? How do you even have the nerve to call me names after everything you’ve done to me? How can you, huh, Dave?” She shoved him back against the police cruiser with all her might. “Answer me!” Panting with fury as her heart pounded with the rush of adrenaline, she glared back at the three men who stared, open mouthed, at her.
“You know what? Just forget about it. If I press charges, I’ll have to spend another hour of my day in your office filling out paperwork, and he’s not worth it.” She turned around and stood nose to nose with Dave. “I’m just sick enough of you to do something about it on my own. Go ahead and bother me again…I dare you!” she seethed through clenched teeth. She swiveled angrily toward Christie’s porch. “Get him the hell out of my sight,” she said, waving her hand and storming back towards the house. She turned around in time to see Rob wag his finger in Dave’s face.
“If you give her one more second of grief, she won’t have the choice to press charges or not. Your ass is going to jail for no less than forty-eight hours. You got that?”
Dave dropped his head. “Yeah, I got it.”
Carrie grunted in satisfaction and went back inside. She fielded Christie’s curious look. “I don’t want to discuss it right now, sis.”
Christie nodded. “Okay then, as soon as I get Max dressed, we’re going to Mom’s.”
“I think I’ll take a leisurely soak in the tub. I just need to get back in time to see Katie before she leaves. God, I need more coffee, you want a cup?” Carrie asked.
“Nope, anymore caffeine and I’m gonna crawl the ceiling,” Christie said, struggling to get a shirt over Max’s head.
“Mo…mmy!” Max’s voice sounded muffled from under the shirt. “It’s too fit!”
Carrie laughed in spite of her previous aggravation. “It’s too fit because of that big head of yours,” she said, tickling her defenseless nephew and sending him into fits of giggles.
Christie gave up trying to get the shirt over her son’s head and threw it off to the side. “I tell people not to buy him anything but button down shirts for gifts, but do they listen? Nooo.” She dug in Max’s closet and pulled out another shirt, this one a long sleeved button down.
Carrie watched her sister dressing the toddler. Christie was a hard working single mother whose husband left her for another woman a year earlier. They’d sympathized with each other plenty over the year. She lifted the blind to check if the men were still there. “You know, sis, there’s some serious beef cake out there in your driveway right now.”
Christie lifted her face curiously. “Oh yeah?”
Carrie nodded. “I met him a few months ago. His name’s Tim Hardin, I think. You might want to go check that out.”
Christie peeked out the window and gave a low whistle of appreciation. “Where the hell did he come from? Look at that body,” she groaned. “He must do some serious working out.”
“You could always get Rob to introduce y’all. Go on out there right now.” She poured herself a cup of coffee.
Christie shook her head. “I’m not ready for that. Besides, he doesn’t look the type to be interested in a divorcee with a three year old.”
Carrie sat down on the sofa, kicked off her shoes and curled her feet up under her as she watched the lights of Christie’s Christmas tree. “I hate to see the Christmas season end. It sucks to see people put their trees to the curb on Christmas afternoon. I always leave mine up until New Year’s day.”
“Me too,” Christie agreed. “Later than that, if I don’t have the time to take it down.”
The two sisters got quiet for a moment and Carrie sighed. “I rented that house in Kenton. I can move in now if I want.”
“You did? Sam must be thrilled. Is he going to help you move in?”
“I’m wondering if it’s the right thing to do, now.”
“Talk to me, sis.”
Carrie released an exhausted sigh before filling Christie in on everything that had happened. “I feel stuck. I spent too many years with a controlling husband to have another man telling me what to do. And if we do stay together, how do I know what that crazy caller is going to do? What if he follows me over there and hurts Sam or Nick?”
Christie pointed to the phone. “You know, Sam is probably trying to call back so he can apologize.”
“I don’t feel like hearing it just yet.”
“So, are you moving to Kenton or not?”
Carrie dropped her head back on the couch. “I don’t know what to do, Chris; I can’t stay here, and the rent house is worth far more than he’s asking. It all fell into place so easily. Maybe it’s not supposed to be this easy to start a new life.”
“Give yourself some time to think on it a little longer. The house will still be there, and the one in Gardiner won’t be vacant for another couple weeks. You have some time to figure this out.”
Carrie ran her hands through her hair, trying to rid herself of the stress of the morning. “Maybe you’re right.” Car
rie finished her cup of coffee and followed Christie and Max to the door. “I’m going to go soak away all my problems. Tell Mom I’ll be there in time to tell Katie and her bunch goodbye before they leave for Texas.”
“Come on, Max,” Christie said. Are you ready to go see Maw Maw?”
Max turned his adoring gaze on his mother. “Yeth! I go thee Maw Maw ‘Laine!”
Carrie reached down and tousled his platinum hair. “Later, Max.”
“Bye, Aunt Cawee.”
After locking up, Carrie showered and shaved her legs, then put the stopper in the tub and poured her favorite scented bath crystals. She lay back in the tub, and let the luxurious smell of jasmine and the sounds of blessed silence work on her frazzled nerves. No phones, no television, no radio, no sound except for an occasional drip from the faucet. She let the tension flow from her body and dozed until the water cooled and chilled her. She got out of the tub and wrapped up in her thick terry robe. She applied her make-up then went to the living room to retrieve the brush she’d forgotten in her purse.
A brisk rap at the door had her inching the curtain aside to see who it was. Carrie gasped as she dropped the curtain, and backed slowly away from the door.
CHAPTER 16
Tap. Tap. Tap.
“Carrie…I know you’re there.”
Oh God.
“Come on, please open up.”
Carrie finally reached for the locks and opened the door. She stared up as Sam absolutely filled the space. The resonating timbre of his voice speaking her name sent chills down her spine.
“Carrie…”
Her feet could have been planted in cement, and she’d lost all capability of speech. She couldn’t even look away from him. Where did he come from? It doesn’t matter. He’s here. He’s here for me.
Sam cleared his throat nervously. “Could I come in?”
Carrie fought the urge to throw her arms around him and forced herself to remain silent as she stepped aside to let him in. He walked past her, ignorant of the joyful smile plastered on her face. By the time he turned toward her, the smile had been replaced with a look of sober composure.
They stood there, neither speaking, but neither willing to break eye contact.
She watched, savoring the symptoms of Sam’s unease…a nervous tug of his collar, re-tucking his shirt, and fiddling with the waist of his jeans. Her mind’s processor was working at full capacity, trying to find answers to questions. How did he find his way here? The phone numbers—he must have called someone in her family. She shook her head as the realization hit her. Mom. Of course he’d call her mother. His own had spoiled him rotten. Why wouldn’t he expect her mother to bend the rules of family loyalty to help him out? Carrie resisted the urge to laugh. She could just imagine the discussions going on at Mom’s this very moment. Even if she was ecstatic to see him here, she wasn’t ready to let Sam off the hook so easily. Besides…She pursed her mouth to keep her grin at bay. He’s cute as hell when he’s all contrite and squirmy.
Sam jerked at his collar again, as if he found the room stifling. He finally seemed to pull himself together and spoke.
“I had to come, Babe. I had to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine.”
“You certainly are. And I can see you’re okay too,” he added.
She sent him a gaze with all the warmth of a winter day in the Arctic Circle.
Crash…and…Burn.
He took a deep breath and released it, looking as though he was fighting the urge to turn tail and run back to Kenton. You can run but you can’t hide, Langley. His presence here proved one thing to her…he was into her something fierce. So much so, he was willing to put up with her wrath…as long as it meant her keeping him around. And she would, but not without seeing a little fancy footwork. Carrie fought to keep her unaffected gaze in place. Show me what you got, Sammy.
“Carrie, I want to apologize for what I said over the phone. I wasn’t angry at you. I was frustrated at not being able to be here with you to protect you.”
She frowned. Why would I care if you were angry? Come on, Langley…Surely you can do better than that.
“When you told me you’d confronted Dave, all I could think about was how and what he’d do to get back at you, Carrie. I was terrified for you, can you understand that?”
Carrie furrowed her brow even more. You’re disappointing me…
“I swear I wasn’t trying to tell you what to do, and I wasn’t mad at you.”
It’s not happening for me, Sam. Her facial expression must have shown her distaste for his last weak effort because his tone turned truly desperate.
“Damn it all, Carrie, I’m sorry! I’m sorry I didn’t keep my big mouth shut and give you the support you were asking for when you called me. I’m sorry I acted like a jerk.”
Better.
Sam rubbed his face with one hand. “As soon as I said it, I knew I shouldn’t have, I knew I’d screwed myself. I tried to apologize to you but you hung up before I got a chance. The fact is I can’t even imagine a future without you in it.”
You’re getting there.
“Hell, Carrie, when you made that comment about not being the woman for me…” He shook his head and muttered a not so mild oath. “That’s not true. It couldn’t be farther from the truth. You’re exactly the kind of woman I want. You are the only woman I want. I can take that side of you, Carrie. I love that side of you; that kick-ass side that’s willing to stand up for your rights and not back down from anyone. I love it, because for so long you didn’t feel it, and now you do. I can’t help but feel proud of that. I’m proud of everything you’ve accomplished. I’m proud of you, and I’m so proud that you even entertained the thought of spending time with me. Even if you never speak another word to me, Baby…I still…I will always…love you.”
His proclamation nearly knocked the breath out of her and she fought to keep the somber expression plastered on her face.
Sam narrowed the distance between them and placed both hands on her shoulders. “Can you forgive me? Can you give us another chance?”
The tick, tick, ticking of the wall clock counted the passing seconds as they stood facing each other in the otherwise too silent room.
Sam’s gaze searched out the sound and found the clock behind Carrie. He stared at its face, not wanting to see Carrie turn away from him. The clock counted fifteen seconds, then thirty, forty-five. He lost all hope as the second hand neared the one minute mark.
It’s too late.
He was too much of a dumbass to learn from twenty years of mistakes…even with a year of loneliness as the harshest lesson. He turned, took three steps toward the door.
“Sam.” She spoke softly.
The word stopped him in his tracks.
He turned in her direction but kept his gaze down. He couldn’t bear to watch her lips form the words he did not want to hear. Couldn’t stand to hear her say…it’s over.
“Sometimes I just need to vent. It doesn’t mean I need you to fix things for me. I’m a big girl, and I can do that for myself. Can you understand that?”
Sam nodded, but still didn’t look at her. He was too terrified to see something in her eyes that he wouldn’t be able to handle. When Carrie walked up to within an arm’s reach of him and stopped, he finally lowered his gaze to meet hers. He didn’t find the anger and hardness in her eyes that he’d expected to see. He found a soft vulnerability, tempered with a strength and determination. In that moment, he really saw the woman he loved. And she was beautiful.
Her dark green robe accentuated the specks of hazel in her blue green irises. He stared at her eyes, then down at the neckline of her robe where he could see her pulse, imagining what she wore—or didn’t wear—beneath it. She’d washed her hair and wrapped it loosely in a snow white towel. The towel was coming undone, loosening the soft curls along her neckline. He loved the texture, the color of her hair, loved that she wore it down. He just realized how much he also loved it pulled away f
rom her lovely neck and beautiful face. Her face…heart shaped face, with a pronounced ‘widow’s peak’ as his sister’s called it.
Drawn to her, he took a step nearer then placed his hand on her neck to gently pull her close. She went to him and turned her head to lay it softly on his chest as though to hear the beating of his heart. Sam reached up slowly and pulled the towel from her hair, letting it fall to the floor. His hands came up to smooth her curls away from her face. He ran his long fingers through her thick, damp hair, gently detangling and smoothing her silky reddish brown tresses. He put both his large hands on the side of her face and raised it slowly to his. Her eyes had been closed, but she opened them wide now as she gazed up at him.
He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. Her hands clutched the front of his shirt, bunching the material like she was afraid to let go. He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her close as she looped her arms around his neck. He held her tight so that he could feel her, every luscious, womanly curve of her.
His husky whisper broke the silence. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
Once again, the clock counted down the seconds as they stood in the center of the room, neither wanting to break the connection.
Her voice was muffled against his chest as she spoke. “How’d you get here, Sam?”
He knew what she wanted but his inner comic genius wouldn’t give it up that easily. “My truck.”
“Always the smart ass.”
“Oh, once I realized you’d taken the phone off the hook for good, I swallowed my pride, tucked away my manhood, and called your mom.” He could feel her smile through his shirt.
“I knew it.”
Sam took a deep breath and continued. “After introducing myself to her, I told her that I’d misjudged the situation and screwed things up. I told her I desperately wanted to make amends and asked if she’d please give me the directions to wherever you were so that I could spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
She raised her gaze to meet his. “You did not say all that.”
He grinned down at her. “Oh, but I did, pretty girl. Desperate times…desperate measures, and all that good stuff.” Her brow rose and he lowered his head for another kiss. Her words stopped him.
