Sam Men of Clifton, Montana Book 7

by Susan Fisher-Davis

  After dinner, everyone retired to the living room, to relax and let full bellies settle. When things grew quiet, Sam stood.

  “I need some fresh air to wake me up.” He looked at Tessa. “Join me?”

  Tessa smiled. “I’d love to, that delicious turkey is about to put us all to sleep. I’ll be right back, Katie, and will help you clean up,” she said as Sam helped her into her coat.

  “Don’t worry about it. Riley will help me.”

  “Yep,” Riley said while stifling a yawn.

  Once outside, Sam took her hand in his and they carefully walked down the steps coated with a thin layer of snow. Tessa stared up at the moon in the now clear sky.

  “It is so beautiful here.”

  “Yes. Even though this was a bad place for Riley when he was a kid, he built a beautiful home here.”

  “Katie told me about his childhood. I’m glad he found out Roscoe wasn’t his real father. But to think of that man beating him when he was younger is just heartbreaking.”

  “He’d stay with us more than he stayed at home. He hated Roscoe, but he loves Jordon now. They have a good relationship.”

  “I’m so glad.” Tessa wrapped her arms around his waist. “I love Clifton. I’d be truly sad if I ever had to leave it now.” She loved the town almost as much as she loved him but knew it would be hard to stay here if he hated her.

  “Well, you’ve no reason to leave. You’ve got a good business, friends, and me, right? So that means you’ll be sticking around.”

  Tessa stared up at him. “Oh, I will if the sexy sheriff says so.”

  Groaning, Sam shook his head. “Don’t call me that.”

  Tessa burst out laughing. “Sexy sheriff? It’s what all the women around here call you.”

  “I sure as hell hope not,” Sam muttered.

  “I am not kidding, Sam. It’s what they all call you, and I totally agree.”

  Sam shook his head and led her back up the steps. They entered the house and stayed a while longer visiting with his family before going home. If she couldn’t be with her own family during the holidays, it was wonderful to be with Sam’s instead. After returning home, the turkey finally caught up with them, and they fell asleep holding each other.

  Chapter Twelve

  Sam parked his vehicle in the back lot of the animal hospital then ran up the stairs to Tessa’s apartment, and knocked on her door. It’d been four days since he’d last seen her and he missed her terribly. He heard her unlocking the door and then it opened wide enough for him to enter. Without a word or even a kiss, he strode past her and stopped in the middle of the room. The door closed behind him and he spun around to look at her. Whatever he’d been planning to say stuck in his throat when he saw her standing there, leaning back against the door, staring at him. He watched as her gaze ran down his body and he knew she saw his hard cock straining against the fly of his jeans.

  “Sam?” she said softly.

  Swallowing hard, he ran his eyes over her from the top of her mussed hair, down over her white T-shirt, her long legs and back up lingering on the juncture of her thighs. Slowly, his gaze moved up and he could see her nipples harden under her shirt. His eyes met hers as he moved slowly toward her.

  “Nothing on under that shirt?” he asked with raised eyebrows.

  “Nope.” Her eyes never left his. He nodded. “Why—?”

  Her question ended in a gasp when he lifted her to place her back against the door and held her there with his big body as he moved a finger between her folds and moved it up and down along her slit, making her wet and causing her to moan. Unzipping his jeans, and after quickly rolling on a condom he then inched into her.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” he said against her lips before taking them in a deep kiss and slowly sliding his tongue into her mouth. Her arms wrapped around his neck as her legs enfolded his waist. Sam knew he should slow down but he needed this…needed her too much to stop. Pounding into her, he could feel her clench around him as she tore her mouth from his and cried out his name. He growled low in his throat as his orgasm ripped through him, feeling as if he was shattering into a million pieces. As they both gasped for breath, Sam leaned his forehead against hers and smiled.

  “Hi,” he said breathlessly.

  Tessa smiled at him. “Hi, yourself. Maybe we should stay apart more often.”

  Sam helped her stand, zipped up his jeans, and then headed to her bathroom to dispose of the condom. Walking back into the room, he halted in front of her.

  “I can’t take being away from you that long again.” He kissed her fast and hard. “These have been the worst four days of my life. I’d reach for you at night, only to find your side of the bed empty.” He pressed his lips to hers then moved them across her cheek to her ear and down her neck. She smelled wonderful. “I don’t want to be away from you that long ever again.” Lifting his head, he stared into her eyes. “You’ve wiggled deep into my heart, darlin’.”

  Tessa inhaled, her eyes fluttered shut for a moment, and then she gazed up at him while leaning into him. “I have to…it was terrible being apart so long. It seemed like we were both so busy,” she said then smiled at him. “Let’s take a shower, Sheriff.”

  Sam groaned. “I wish I could but I can’t, sweetheart. I have to get back to the office. Later, though.” He kissed her quickly and left the apartment, hurrying down the stairs then climbing into his vehicle and driving to the office.

  When he entered the front doors, he saw Betty Lou scowling at him.

  “What’s up?” Sam asked, hoping it wasn’t something serious. He was in too good a mood to have it ruined.

  “Rick is in your office. Didn’t you tell him you’d think about giving him his job back?” she whispered leaning forward on her elbows.

  Sam smiled. “Yes, and I told him to come in so don’t get your panties in a wad.”

  Betty Lou burst out laughing. “My panties haven’t been in a wad in a very long time.”

  Sam winced. “Too much information, Betty Lou…way too much,” he said with a chuckle then proceeded on to his office. When he entered, Rick stood.

  “Have a seat, Rick,” Sam told him as he hung up his coat and dropped his hat on his desk.

  “Thanks, Sam.” Rick sat back down in the chair located in front of the desk.

  “I talked with the men and they’re willing to let you slide this time. We’re shorthanded and they’d all like to get back to regular hours so I’ll let you come back, Rick but I hope it’s understood that if you want more responsibility, more duties…I’ll be more than happy to give them to you. You don’t have to be sheriff to be weighed down with work. Any insubordination and you’re gone.”

  Rick blew out a breath and stood then stuck his hand out toward Sam. “Understood, Sam and I appreciate it. I really need the job.”

  Sam shook his hand. “Be here tomorrow morning for your shift.”

  “I get the day shift back?” Rick asked, reacting surprised.

  “Mark and Paul love nightshift so yes, I’ll need you on days with Brody. Maybe then I can actually get some work done in here.”

  Rick grinned. “Thank you, Sam. You won’t regret it.”

  “You’re a damn good deputy, Rick. I hated losing you. But as I said, I won’t be so nice the next time.”

  “There won’t be a next time. I’ll see you tomorrow, Sam.” Rick strode from the office.

  Sam smiled as he watched him go but he wasn’t worried so much about getting an attitude from Rick as much as from Betty Lou. Because the odds were she wouldn’t let him live it down that Sam had given Rick another chance.

  ****

  Tessa carried the little calico kitten she’d named Honeybee upstairs to her apartment. She hadn’t been able to part with the little kitten so she decided to keep her. After entering the apartment, she showed Honeybee where the litter box was, and then fed her. The little kitten was eight weeks old now and had grown quite a bit turning into a sweet little ball of energy. Tessa took
a seat on the sofa and Honeybee quickly climbed up to settle into her lap. Tessa stroked her soft fur of orange, black, brown, and white. The kitten had just closed her eyes to sleep when someone knocked on the door.

  Carefully getting to her feet, she slid Honeybee onto the sofa, and then peered through the peephole. Grinning, she opened it letting Sam in. He gave her a quick kiss and proceeded to enter but stopped in his tracks when he saw Honeybee stretching out on the sofa.

  “You have a cat,” he muttered as his face twisted in distaste.

  Tessa laughed. “You might not be a cat person but I fell in love with her. She was so pitiful and sweet. I had to bring her home. I still haven’t found a home for Whiskey though.”

  “Do you still have her at the hospital?”

  “Yes, but she’s going to the shelter tomorrow. I’ve kept her a lot longer than I should have. I just can’t find anyone to take her.”

  Sam sighed, pulled her close, and stared down at her. “I’ll take her,” he grumbled.

  “You will?”

  He ran his hand around the back of his neck and shrugged. “I have no idea why but yes, I’ll take her.”

  Tessa squealed and threw her arms around his neck, kissing and hugging him. “You’ll love her and so will Bo.”

  “The things you manage to talk me into.” Sam pressed his lips to hers.

  Tessa moaned against his mouth. “How long can you stay, Sheriff?”

  “Not long enough. I have to get back to the office. I hired Rick back.”

  “I knew you would. You’re a nice man, Sam Garrett.”

  “Sheriff Sam Garrett.” He grinned. “I’ll see you later. Do me a favor and don’t go out unless you absolutely have to, and call me if you don’t want to go out alone. The weather is horrible and I’d rather you’re not out on the roads.”

  “Yes, sir,” she whispered against his lips.

  Sam smiled at her. “One more day and we’ll have the weekend.”

  “Speaking of which…how would you like to go to Kalispell for the weekend?”

  “Kalispell?” Sam furrowed his brow as if to show he didn’t understand why Kalispell, and Tessa couldn’t wait to explain about the cabin.

  “My Aunt Lil, well, she’s actually my godmother, owns a cabin there and she’s invited me to visit. We could leave after work tomorrow and come back Sunday night.”

  “Your aunt wouldn’t mind if you bring me?”

  “No. I already asked her about you.” Tessa kissed his jaw.

  “That does sound good,” Sam said against her lips. “Let’s do it.”

  Tessa hugged him. “I’ll let her know. You’ll love her and the judge.”

  “The judge?”

  “Her husband. That’s what we all call him. He was a very well-known judge in Pennsylvania. They’ve been married forever. Her family is rich from oil in Texas. I love her and the judge.”

  “Sounds good, angel, we’ll leave tomorrow right after work. I’ll let the office know.”

  “Great! I’ll call Doc Carter. If there’s a problem and he can’t cover for me, we can go some other time. We can even take Bo and Whiskey. Aunt Lil loves animals. She owns an animal sanctuary in Texas.”

  Sam kissed her. “All right. I’ll see you later. Please call me if you have to go out.”

  After Sam left, Tessa locked the door, and leaned back against it. She was in way too deep with Sam and she’d been thinking about going to Kalispell for a while. Getting him away where they were less likely to be interrupted, she thought it would be easier to tell him the truth but now she wasn’t sure she had the courage. Maybe being with Lil and the judge, they would help her sort this all out. Their relationship had come to the point where she knew she’d have to tell him the truth, and she hoped beyond hope that she wouldn’t lose him forever.

  You are not only lying to him but to yourself. You need to stop this, Tessa!

  “I can’t.” She sobbed. “I love him so much.”

  ****

  Sam trotted down the steps from Tessa’s apartment and mentally shook his head. He couldn’t believe he’d just agreed to take in another dog. He needed another dog like he needed a hole in his head but the look on her face when he said he’d take the dog was worth it. He’d do anything he could to see her smile at him.

  Back at the office, he was happy to see he only had one more hour before he could head home. He’d pick up the dog tomorrow since today had been a long day. Everyone except Betty Lou was gone but he had some paperwork to finish. He called Brody and told him about the weekend so they could coordinate things. Having Rick back on the job was going to help a lot. At nights, the local 9-1-1 office took any calls while Mark and Paul were usually out on patrol. Sam only heard from them if it were a really bad situation. He knew he could depend on his deputies.

  Finished for the day, he stopped by Betty Lou’s desk.

  “Betty Lou? I’ll be out of town for the weekend. Brody knows and he’ll let the other men know but please, I don’t want any calls.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Kalispell.”

  “What’s in Kalispell?”

  Sam grinned. “Tessa.”

  Betty Lou laughed. “You’re going away together for the weekend?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Betty Lou stood, walked around the counter, and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her as she gazed up at him.

  “That’s wonderful, Sam.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “I think so.”

  “You have a good time and don’t worry about anything here.”

  “I promise not to let Clifton enter my head. You go now and go home but be careful. Have a great weekend.”

  “Sam, I’m so happy for you and Tess. She’s a wonderful woman. The whole town is happy for you both. It’s about time you had a good woman in your life.”

  “Yeah, you’ve been on me long enough about it.” Sam laughed.

  “I know I aggravate you, Sam, but it’s only because I love you.”

  “Betty Lou, if we didn’t argue like we do, I don’t know what I’d do. You know I love you. You’re my favorite godmother.”

  She hugged him tighter. “I’m your only godmother. Personally, I love aggravating you.”

  “I know you do,” Sam said and chuckled. “Now, go home. I’ll see you Monday.”

  “I can have tomorrow off?”

  “Yes. Go. Before I change my mind.” Sam laughed when she scurried around the counter, grabbed her purse, kissed him on the cheek, and practically ran out the door.

  Finished up for the day, he headed to the diner to get something to eat before heading home. He entered the diner and everyone called out to him as usual, making him grin. He took a seat on a stool at the counter and ordered a coffee and burger to go. Sam glanced around and saw the stranger seated at a back booth again. This time there was a second man with him. Wondering who he was and whether he had family here, Sam was never happy to see strangers in his town unless it was during the summer and the Clifton Bed and Breakfast was open. As long as neither caused any trouble, he had no reason to deny them visiting the town. Mentally shrugging his shoulders, he turned back to the counter when Connie said his name.

  “Do you think Betty Lou is ready for her birthday party?” Connie asked him as she set his coffee down in front of him.

  “I’m sure. It’s all she’s been talking about lately. She said it’s not every day she turns seventy. I swear the woman is going to outlive me.”

  Connie laughed. “I can’t wait for this party. I love Betty Lou and Bobbi Jo. What characters they are.”

  “I know. I’ve known them both forever. Betty Lou is actually my godmother but at times, she’s worse than my own mother at butting into my business.” Sam laughed.

  “She loves you, Sam, and you know you love her too.”

  “I do. When my mom suggested I hire her, I thought she was crazy but Betty Lou’s been a rock in the department.”

  “I’m sure it
will be a wild party.”

  “And packed. She’s invited everyone.”

  Connie handed Sam his burger in a Styrofoam to-go box. He stood, paid for his meal, and after giving everyone a wave, started for the door but turned back to look at the two strangers. The men were eating their meals and talking but neither glanced his way. Sam had an uneasy feeling about them but until they did something wrong, Sam wouldn’t bother with them.

  ****

  The next afternoon, Tessa walked out to the lobby stopping at the desk. “Are we done for the day?”

  Jodi smiled up at her. “Yes. I’m so glad too. It’s been a long week. Are you seeing Sheriff Garrett this weekend?”

  Indeed Tessa was. He’d been in earlier today to pick up Whiskey and she was pleased that he and the dog seemed to hit it off immediately. She looked forward to seeing them again soon and heading up to the cabin.

  “I am. We’re going away for the weekend so Doctor Carter will be on call. You can go ahead now and leave, Jodi. I’ll lock up. You have a good weekend.”

  “Great. I’m going out on a date tonight.” Jodi laughed pulling her coat on and heading out the door.

  “Good for you. Have fun.” Tessa locked the door behind her and started walking back toward her office. She frowned when someone knocked on the door. Spinning around to see Jodi standing there waving her hand frantically, she opened the door to let her back inside.

  "Is there something wrong, Jodi?"

  Jodi smiled at her. "I was in such a hurry when I left that I think I left my cell phone in my desk."

  Tessa smiled and Jodi hurried past her and headed straight for her desk. Jodi grinned as she held the phone up having found it. Tessa laughed at her. The girl wouldn't survive without her cell phone. Tessa was sure it was a permanent fixture to her hand.

  "Thanks, Doc Mac. I'll see you Monday. Have a nice weekend with Sheriff Garrett." Jodi waved as she left.

  Tessa smiled, happiness spreading through her, with just a hint of worry but with her aunt Lil and the judge as support, she hoped it would all go well. She knew she was going to have a great weekend since she was spending it with Sam. Tessa reached out to lock the door again, and froze. Her heart clutched in her chest, her breath caught in her throat, and she felt the blood drain from her face as she looked at the one person she feared most in life. Ryan Kirkland. Her husband.