Lifting his hand, he leaned toward her but she stepped back and held up her palm. “Wait.”
He stared at her, his gaze snapping with barely leashed passion. “Wait?”
“I want to do this myself.” Hooking her thumbs in his waistband, she eased his pants and his briefs over his hips and down his legs.
He kicked them aside with a quick jerk, then inhaled sharply as she trailed her fingers back up his thighs. “Audra, what are you doing?”
For a heartbeat she paused, drinking in the sight of him. His hard, muscular body was as familiar to her by now as her own, and yet it still had the power to make her breathless. He’d taught her about sex. Now it was her turn. She looked into his eyes, willing him to see the emotion in hers. “I’m making love to you, Sam.”
And that’s exactly what she did. Without words, using the instincts of her body, she showed him the love she felt. She caressed him with her hands, her nails, her knuckles and her lips. Her own pulse raced in a rhythm to match his as he responded to her touch. The setting sun gleamed on his skin in a caress of its own as he stood motionless, pleasure rippling across his powerful frame.
With a groan that was ripped from the last shreds of his self-control, Sam scooped Audra into his arms and carried her to the bed. Something was breaking loose inside him. Doors that had been firmly shut, that he’d given up trying to open, were cracking wide. It was terrifying and exhilarating, unlike anything he’d felt before.
He wanted to join more than their bodies. This urgency was beyond anything physical, and yet he knew he couldn’t wait another second. Hands shaking, he got rid of her clothes and drove himself into her.
He’d thought things would be different once they came back to the city. He’d assumed it was only the temporary isolation of the farmhouse that had allowed him to push aside the hard-learned habits of a lifetime. He’d been wrong.
This wasn’t a temporary affair. This wasn’t a role or a job or any of those excuses he’d so desperately used to shield himself from the truth. He felt a tremor quiver through her body and he tightened his arms around her, wanting the moment to last. He didn’t intend to let her go today. Or tomorrow. Or ever.
Was this love? Was that the name for the feeling that swept over him?
Sealing his mouth to hers, he shook with the force of the release that tore through them both. This time the glow didn’t fade. Even as his pulse slowed and his breathing steadied, the warmth stayed with him. He levered himself onto his elbows to look into Audra’s face.
Her lips swollen and moist from his kiss, her cheeks flushed, she smiled up at him.
He’d hurt her. But she’d forgiven him.
He was a bastard, an unwanted castoff, but she wanted him. She believed he was good and decent. And dammit, she made him feel as if he could be.
It was safer to be alone. Less painful.
Maybe I don’t want to be safe from you.
“Audra,” he whispered. “That was...”
She didn’t help him find the words, she simply waited, her faith shining from her eyes.
He smiled. “This love business is still kind of new to me. I think you’re going to need to show me again.”
Epilogue
“This isn’t the way to my restaurant,” Audra said, twisting on the seat to look at Sam. “Where are we going?”
His mouth lifted into one of his adorable, lopsided smiles. “We’re taking a detour. You’ve been so busy with your plans for next week’s opening, I figured this is the only way I’m going to get you to myself for the evening.”
Her lips twitched. “This is kidnapping, Sam.”
“So, call a cop,” he said, his smile turning into an unrepentant grin.
Laughing, she relaxed and watched him drive. So much had happened in the weeks since the trial had ended, it was still hard to believe how quickly her life could change. Fitzpatrick had been found guilty and was safely behind bars, his criminal network was smashed and the insurance company had come through with its promised reward just in time for Audra to close the deal on the restaurant of her dreams.
And speaking of dreams, her restaurant wasn’t the only one that was coming true. Every night she spent with Sam, every morning she awakened in his arms, the love they shared continued to grow. She’d been right. Love was the real adventure.
Sam flicked on his turn signal and turned the car into a familiar driveway. Audra lifted her eyebrows. “This is Christopher’s house,” she said.
“That’s right.”
“What are we doing here?”
“Picking up our dinner.”
“What? Why?”
“I can’t cook,” he said, giving her a quick kiss before he opened the car door. “Wait here.”
With a sense of unreality, she watched him stride past a pair of catering vans to the kitchen entrance. Esther and Judy must have been watching for him. They handed him a foil-wrapped casserole and several paper bags, then waved cheerfully to Audra as he walked back to the car.
She stared as he placed the food carefully on the back seat. “All right, what’s going on?”
“I told you. I can’t cook,” he said, pulling back onto the street. “So I hired McPherson Catering to provide dinner for us.”
“You...hired my family? And Christopher agreed?”
“He passed my call to Esther. Judy happened to be there and helped prepare the meal.”
Judging by the aromas that were filling the car, the two women had outdone themselves. “Sorry about Christopher. I hope he wasn’t rude.”
He lifted his shoulders. “I don’t expect him to change his mind about me overnight. Same goes for all your brothers. They have good cause not to welcome me.”
“Well, they’d better get used to the idea of us being together,” she said firmly. “I won’t tolerate—”
“Don’t worry.” He dropped his hand to her knee. “They’re not going to scare me away.”
She blew out her breath in a huff. Aside from her brothers’ usual protectiveness, there was probably still some resentment over the way they’d all been fooled by the fake engagement.
Only it had never been a complete fake, had it? Because somewhere along the way she had fallen thoroughly in love with her fiancé.
“What were you on the phone about all afternoon?”
“I was talking to Xavier.” He lifted his hand as he changed gears to turn a corner. “I thought you were going over your budget.”
“It’s done. Were you planning your next assignment?”
He paused. “No, I’m requesting a transfer.”
“Why? I thought you liked working with Xavier.”
“I did, but he agrees with my decision. I’m going to be working with the Juvenile Crime division.” He glanced at her, his expression suddenly serious. “I think I can do some good there.”
Oh, he would do some good all right, she thought, remembering the successful way he’d handled Jimmy. Sam’s understanding of troubled teenagers came from personal experience—he was an ideal example of how the right help could turn someone’s life around. “You’d be a natural,” she said.
“Funny, that’s just what Xavier said.”
As she’d done countless times already, she marvelled at the inner strength it must have taken for Sam to become the man he was. And now that he’d be working with children, there was a chance that eventually he’d be able to come to terms with his own past.
Taking a chance. Risking it all. The idea didn’t scare her anymore. Love had its risks, but it had its rewards, too.
Settling more comfortably against the seat, she smiled at Sam as he drove through the sparse evening traffic. Gradually, her smile turned into a puzzled frown when she saw where they were heading. “What are we doing here?”
“Just picking up some supplies,” he said, slowing down as he pulled up to the curb in front of her parents’ house. “I’ll be right back. Your mother said she’d leave everything by the door.”
“But...”
He was already out of the car and moving up the front walk. Audra crossed her arms, watching in amazement as he returned with a small carton, two folding chairs and a table. He stored everything in the trunk, then without another word of explanation, he pulled away.
Three blocks later, he stopped again, this time in the parking lot of her old school. Her mind was clicking over with possibilities as she watched Sam carry everything toward the park beside the schoolyard. She remembered very clearly the last time they’d been here. It had been just before that first dinner with her parents. They had taken a walk toward that willow tree and...
Sam returned and opened her door. “Come with me.”
He led her across the grass to a table beneath the willow. Audra paused in amazement, her gaze taking in everything, from the snowy white tablecloth to the pair of candles that flickered in the gentle breeze. “Oh, my God,” she breathed. “What’s going on?”
He pulled out one of the folding chairs and helped her to her seat. “We’re having a romantic dinner,” he said.
“But why—”
“Most people only have this opportunity once in their lives.” He sat across from her and filled her wineglass. “The last time I did this, I remember thinking it wasn’t right, that I should have done it differently.”
Her heart turned over. “Oh, Sam.”
“But like you said, we can’t go back and change the past. From now on, I want to concentrate on our future.”
Our future. “I’d like that, too.”
“Audra, I don’t want to measure our time in days. I want more.” He took her left hand in his and brought it to his lips. “I want it all. I want everything we pretended to have. A family. A future.”
“So do I, Sam.”
One at a time, he kissed each of her fingertips. “I want the right to stand beside you through whatever happens in our lives,” he said, his voice as steady as his gaze. “I know how you feel about marriage, but I hope I can change your mind. You don’t deserve anything less.”
Her eyes filled. “What are you saying?”
He slipped his free hand into his pocket, then gently eased a ring onto her third finger. “I don’t want to play a role this time, Audra. I want the real thing.”
Drawing in her breath, she looked down at her hand. The candlelight gleamed from a band of gold...that was engraved with a delicate pattern of apple blossoms. “What...” She lifted her gaze to his face. “That’s my ring!”
“It’s always been yours.”
“But how...” She rubbed her thumb across the diamond. “I thought you gave it back.”
“Somehow it kept slipping my mind. I think part of me knew all along that I wasn’t going to let this end.” He smiled. “Well, Audra? Will you marry me?”
“Oh, yes. I’ll marry you. On one condition.”
“Name it,” he said swiftly. “Anything you want.”
Leaning across the table, she framed his face in her hands. “This time, Sam, let’s not have such a long engagement.”
ISBN : 978-1-4592-6574-5
ENGAGING SAM
Copyright © 1998 by Ingrid Caris
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic. mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 U.S.A.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and TM are trademarks of Harlequin Books S.A., used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
“I’m not about to start telling anyone about our love life,”
Letter to Reader
Books by Ingrid Weaver
INGRID WEAVER
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
Copyright
Engaging Sam Page 25
