“Because you’re like a dog with a bone. Even if I tell her to back off, you won’t now that your mind is set on her. So I’m imploring you to leave her alone.”
Joey shrugged and sat on a lounge chair, watching Samantha’s trim figure cut through the water as she swam laps. Brenda shrugged and walked off, jumping back in the pool.
Mel walked up and handed Joey another beer.
“How’s it goin’? I saw you and Samantha getting chummy in the pool.”
“She’s a tease.”
Mel took a long drink. “I think she likes you.”
“Whatever.”
“I mean it. I see the way she looks at you.”
“One minute, she’s hot. The next, she’s cold. I don’t need that shit.”
“Maybe she just wants to take it slow.”
“That’s not my style.” Joey knew, although she hated to admit it to herself, that if she really had a shot with Samantha, she’d take it as slow as Samantha wanted. And that thought made her even less comfortable with the situation. Then she reminded herself she didn’t believe Samantha was truly interested.
“Just take it easy. See what happens.”
“Why does she irritate me so much?”
“Hate to say it, my friend, but I think you like her.”
Joey glared at her, even as she felt the truth in her heart.
“Let’s get some food,” Mel said.
Joey got up on unsteady legs and walked to the long table set up next to the barbecue. She grabbed a hamburger and hot dog and some potato salad and walked back to her chair. She was eating when Samantha walked up.
“Mind if I join you?”
“I don’t know. Sharing a chair might make people talk. You surely don’t want that.”
Samantha didn’t answer. She simply looked at Joey imploringly.
Joey scooted back and let her sit down. They ate in silence for a few minutes, as the whole pool area quieted while everyone ate.
“This is really good.” Joey stared at her plate.
“Yes, my friends are from the Bay Area. They own a barbecue joint up there.”
“Impressive.”
“Joey,” she said quietly. “There’s something about you. I can’t begin to explain it, but I really like you. I know that’s not a good idea, but I’m drawn to you.”
“Maybe you just like that I saved you. How about we agree to that and just leave it?”
“It’s not just that. That was just the excuse I needed to let you in. I’ve been attracted to you since the first time I saw you at the jobsite. But I have to admit, you scare me.”
“Me? I’m harmless.”
“I’m sure there’s a trail of broken hearts out there proving otherwise.”
Joey felt the icy fortress she was hiding behind beginning to melt. She wanted to be angry, to feel anything but attraction to Samantha, but she couldn’t help it. Much as she hated to admit it, she really liked that she liked her. She looked up so their gazes met.
“I’m really not that bad.”
“I guess I’ll find out, huh?”
“Are you really sure you want to?”
Joey finished dinner and led Samantha back in the water, enjoying the closeness of her. Others joined them and talked and splashed with them, then swam off, but Joey and Samantha stayed together.
Slowly but surely, people took their leave, until it was only Brenda, Liz, Joey, and Mel drying off with Samantha.
“I’m afraid to see your kitchen,” Liz said. “We should probably help you clean up.”
“No need,” Samantha said. “My friends will have it spotless, I’m sure. I wish they could have stuck around, but they had someplace to be tonight. It was so nice of them to come over.”
“They made a killer dinner,” Mel said.
Joey looked around and realized the pool area was clean of trash. “Wow, they did a great job cleaning out here.”
“They’re amazing,” Samantha agreed.
“Well, we should probably get going,” Brenda said. “Joey, Mel, you guys want to join us at Kindred Spirits?”
“Sounds good to me,” Mel said.
Joey looked at Samantha, who seemed to be examining her feet.
“You all go on ahead. I’ll meet you there,” Joey said.
“Are you sure?” Liz asked. “Why don’t we follow each other?”
Joey looked from Brenda to Liz. “You guys head on. I promise I’ll be there in a few.”
“You’ll be okay?” Brenda asked Samantha.
“I’ll be fine. Thanks.”
“Okay then. Come on, Mel. We’ll see you in a little bit, Joey. Samantha, thank you again for everything.”
“Are you kidding?” she said. “Thank you for all the work you did this morning.”
“I hope you don’t mind me staying,” Joey said when they were alone.
“I wanted you to.”
“You might have told them that.”
“It didn’t feel right.”
Joey stared at Samantha and tried to imagine what she was feeling, but it wasn’t possible. She’d only loved once and that ended in pain, but she knew it was different. And now, for her, it was all about the immediate attraction and instant gratification. Try as she might, she couldn’t imagine losing a partner in a horrible accident and then finding herself attracted to someone else. She wondered what Samantha was feeling. “Do you feel like you’re cheating?” she blurted.
Samantha looked at her for a moment before answering. She seemed to be measuring her words. “In a way, I suppose I do.” She shook her head. “It’s complicated.”
“I’ve got to tell you, I find that to be the most overused phrase in the English language.”
Samantha laughed softly. “I suppose it could be. But this really is complicated. I’m not ready to offer my tender, bruised heart to another. And I don’t offer my body unless my heart goes with it. But I do like you. And find you very attractive.”
“So you’re saying no shot?”
“I don’t think I’m saying that.”
“I’m hearing no loud and clear.”
“Not no, Joey. Just not yet.”
“Well, I guess I should be going then.”
“No, stay.” The words tumbled out. “I’ll make some coffee and we can talk.”
Talking was not Joey’s favorite thing to do with her mouth. But she wasn’t ready to leave. She tried to tell herself that if she stayed, she might still be able to get Samantha to bed, but she knew it wasn’t true. She just wanted to spend more time with her. The thought terrified her even as she lowered herself to the couch.
“You don’t need to make coffee.” She patted the couch next to her. “Sit.”
“I’ll feel better if I do.” Samantha wandered back to the kitchen. Joey took a deep breath and cautioned herself to tread lightly. Something besides coffee was brewing, and she was confused and scared and excited at once. She wanted to stay. She wanted to flee. She leaned back against the sofa and closed her eyes, trying to make sense of it all.
“Did you fall asleep?” Samantha was back with two steaming cups. She handed the coffee to Joey and set her tea on the table.
“No. I was just thinking.”
“Happy thoughts?”
“I couldn’t tell you. None of my thoughts make a lot of sense to me right now.”
“I’m sorry. I wish I could make this easier.”
“It is what it is.” Joey shrugged and sipped the coffee, taking away the chill from the night.
“Who are you, Joey Scarpetti?” Samantha stared at her intently.
“I am who I am. What you see is what you get. No more, no less.”
“Talk about overused phrases. How about you say something with meaning?”
“I’d rather talk about you. I can’t believe someone as beautiful and lovely as you came from Old Man Brewer.”
Samantha flung herself against the back of the couch. “Oh, no. Must we discuss him?”
Joey immediate
ly felt more comfortable. Finally, a topic she could handle.
“Yeah, we must. Does he know you’re living here? In this hated community? Will he still do everything in his power to cripple us and make us go away?”
“I’m not my father’s favorite person. I assume he knows I’m here for a couple of reasons. I assume he still keeps tabs on me, and there’s no way I could have lived in Somerset even for a few weeks without it getting back to him.”
“So your living here doesn’t help our cause?”
“It neither helps nor hurts in my opinion.”
“Are you sure it won’t hurt? His anger at you could result in greater measures to get rid of us.”
“Maybe I’m delusional, but I really don’t think he hates me that much. Besides, what else could he possibly do to close down our town?”
“What was it like growing up as his kid?”
“He was strict. But with three older brothers, I was definitely a daddy’s girl.”
“That must have hurt when he disowned you.”
“How did you know about that?”
“I hear things.”
“I guess that wasn’t exactly top secret information.”
“No. So did it piss you off when he turned his back on you?”
“I felt betrayed. I guess he did, too.”
“You deserved to feel that way.”
“And he didn’t?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“We’re not from his generation.”
“Are you defending him?” Joey felt her ire rise.
“Not in the least.” She was silent for a moment. “Oh, maybe I am. I’m over hating him for it. He’s a misguided old man.”
“A misguided old man who spews hatred and untruths in an effort to hurt others.”
“Don’t hold back, Joey. Tell me how you really feel.”
Joey relaxed against the couch again. “I’m sorry. He’s just not my favorite person.”
“Well, you do have every right to feel that way.”
“What happened? How did it go down? Did you just come out to him and he freaked or what?”
“Something like that. I still don’t believe he didn’t have an inkling, but when I told him Dee and I were lovers, he lost it.”
“Do you think it was mostly because of his public image?”
“God, I hope not. I’ve wondered, but I can’t allow myself to think I mean less to him than his stupid political career.”
“Either way, he’s a fool.”
“Thank you.”
An awkward silence fell, and Joey grew increasingly ill at ease. “You’re probably tired,” she said lamely.
“You’re still trying to run away from me?”
“Well, there’s really no point in staying.”
Samantha set her cup on the coffee table and took Joey’s from her. She placed it next to hers and moved over so she was right next to Joey.
Joey’s heart raced at the closeness of Samantha. Moisture pooled between her thighs when Samantha leaned over, pressing her breasts into her. She tried to back up but had nowhere to go. She leaned away, but still Samantha’s lips found hers.
The meeting was gentle yet firm, soft yet unyielding. It was tentative yet deliberate, and Joey was at a loss to defy it. She kissed back, reining in her desire to lay Samantha back and climb on top of her. She kept her hands in her lap as Samantha deepened the kiss, probing Joey’s lips with her tongue. She opened her mouth, and her breath caught as their tongues met. The kiss was feeding her desire, urging it onward, yet she was acutely aware that things wouldn’t end as she’d like.
Samantha’s hands were in Joey’s hair, on her jaw, and finally on her chest. Joey wanted to rip her shirt off to feel Samantha on her bare breast but continued to show restraint. Said restraint waivered significantly when Samantha grabbed one of Joey’s hands and placed it on her full breast.
Joey pulled her hand back as if it hurt.
“What’s wrong?” Samantha asked.
“You can’t do that to me. You can’t tease me like that.”
“I didn’t mean to tease you. I thought you’d like it, and I know I wanted it.”
“But see? You’re not ready for more, and I’m not used to stopping once we’ve reached a certain point.”
“So we can’t even play around?”
“I can’t. Not yet.”
“Fair enough,” Samantha said easily and leaned in for another kiss. Joey stood.
“I think I’d better be going.”
“I’ve upset you.”
“No, not really. I just…respect you, I guess. And if I stay, I’ll be tempted to try to go further than you’re ready for. And that would ruin everything. And I don’t want to do that.”
“I’m sorry, Joey.”
“Please don’t apologize. You’ve done nothing wrong. And so far, neither have I. I’d just like to keep it that way.”
Samantha stood and took Joey’s hand, leading her to the door.
“When will I see you again?”
“I suppose that’s up to you.”
“This is a two-way street.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m trying not to be an ass, but I’m not thinking too clearly right now.”
“Are you okay to drive?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s not alcohol-related.”
Samantha nodded. “You’re welcome to stay the night. I’d love to have you hold me.”
“I’m not ready for that.”
Samantha laughed at the irony. Joey cracked a crooked grin.
“Are you going to the bar?”
“It’s closed. I’m just going home.”
“Will you call me?”
“I don’t have your number. But I promise the next time I see a blocked number on my phone, I’ll answer it.”
“Why don’t we plan on dinner tomorrow? Be here at six and I’ll have spaghetti ready.”
“That’s a dangerous proposition,” Joey joked. “Cooking spaghetti for an Italian takes major guts.”
“I make a mean spaghetti.”
“We’ll see. I’ll definitely be here to check it out.” She kissed Samantha.
“Thank you,” Samantha said, “for everything.”
“No. Thank you. I had a great time.”
Samantha glanced at her watch.
“Sweetie, it’s almost three. You either need to go or stay, but you’ve got to do something since you have to be at work in a few hours.”
Joey paused at the pet name. She felt surprisingly warm and comforted. Not what she’d expect. “Okay, okay. I’m out of here. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She drove home with a smile on her face that she just couldn’t get rid of.
Chapter Twelve
Joey was dog-tired when she pulled up to the site the next morning. She put on her tool belt and walked over to where Mel and Brenda were talking.
“You look like shit,” Mel said.
“Thanks.”
“You never joined us at the bar,” Brenda said.
“No. I lost track of time. What are we working on today?” She ignored Brenda’s glare.
“You and Mel start laying carpet in the big room.” She pointed to her left. “That’s the only thing I want you to lay.”
“She’s so subtle,” Joey said to Mel.
Brenda stormed off, and Joey and Mel walked over to a roll of carpet leaning against a far wall.
“I can’t believe this place is almost done,” Joey said.
“I know. Grand opening is in two weeks. Samantha must be excited.”
“I’d imagine.” Joey made a mental note to talk to her about the day-care center that evening.
“You don’t have your usual ‘I just got laid’ strut going on today,” Mel said as they rolled out the carpet.
“Just because I didn’t go to the bar doesn’t mean I got laid.”
“What time did you get home?”
“Around three.”
“And you’re go
ing to tell me you two just talked? I know you better than that.”
“But you don’t know her!”
“Whoa. Easy there. I think I found the exposed underbelly.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re just a little defensive. I think Samantha may be your weakness.”
“Fuck you.”
“Nice comeback.” Mel laughed.
“I’m tired, and I’m not in the mood right now.”
“But you were in the mood last night. So spill. What happened?”
“Nothing. We talked.”
“About?”
“Her dad mostly.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? You finally get the woman of your dreams alone and you talked about the man you hate more than anyone else?”
“He’s still her dad.”
“So nothing happened? No bullshit?”
“No bullshit. Nothing happened.”
“Did you at least make out? Cop a feel? Don’t disappoint me here, Romeo.”
Joey’s mind flashed back to the feel of Samantha’s breast under her hand. She quickly shook the image out of her head.
“We kissed a little. Nothing major.”
“I can’t believe you crashed and burned.”
“I didn’t!”
“Sounds to me like you did.”
“You don’t get it.”
“So explain it to me.”
“She’s not like the rest.” Joey stood and looked at Mel. “Plus she’s got a lot of shit she’s dealing with.”
“So what does that mean? You’re giving her time? Space? What?”
“It means she’s not ready to jump into bed yet.”
“And you stuck around anyway? What the hell? You really do like her, don’t you?”
“There’s something about her. I’ll say that.”
“Damn. I never thought I’d see the day.”
“Cut the crap. I don’t need it.”
“I’m happy for you in some warped, twisted way. I think you may have met your match.”
“We’ll see.” Joey knelt back down and began to tack the carpet.
*
By the time they were through for the day, Joey was exhausted and sore.
“You wanna catch some waves?” Mel asked as they loaded their tools.
“Not today. I think I’m gonna go home and take a nap.”
“You have plans tonight?”
Escapades Page 11
