River of Love(51)

“Sammy’s on the prowl,” Tempest whispered to her. “How do you stand him looking at you like that?”

She hoped she never had to live a day when he didn’t look at her that way.

“Ladies.” Sam stepped between Tempest and Leesa and drew Faith into his arms. “Missed you.” He kissed her tenderly.

Tempest sighed. “I don’t know what love potion you’ve given him, but when I find a man, can you please inject him with whatever it is?”

Faith laughed, vaguely aware of the girls moving away and very aware of Sam’s big body pressed against hers.

“You scared everyone away.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, not unhappy that he scared them off, even if a little embarrassed. But she’d learned that was part of being with Sam, too. That hint of embarrassment came from his overwhelming love for her, and she wouldn’t trade that for the world.

Sam didn’t respond to her halfhearted complaint. She knew he wouldn’t have cared if he’d scared off an army, just another thing she piled onto the mountain of things she loved about him.

They moved to the music, gazing into each other’s eyes, and Faith was sure the touch of their bodies was throwing sparks for all to see. They fell into this position, dancing to a beat—existent or not—at least once a day, and it usually led to them ravenously devouring each other. Sometimes when they were cooking dinner or taking a walk, Sam would take her in his arms and sing while they danced, which was her favorite thing of all. She loved the way he sang straight from his heart, his emotions sailing directly into hers.

“Remember when you wouldn’t dance with me?” he asked.

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Turning you down was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” The room was so quiet, save for the music and their bodies brushing against each other. She wondered if everyone was watching them, but Sam was blocking her view. My Greedy Sam.

“I’m glad I don’t have to ask anymore.”

“Me too.”

“There are lots of things I don’t have to ask about anymore.” He pressed his lips to hers. “Like that.” He nuzzled against her neck. “And this.”

“Sam,” she said with a giggle. “That drives me crazy.”

He pressed his cheek to hers and said, “I know.”

A river of shivers flowed down her spine. He leaned back far enough to look into her eyes, and the depth of emotions in his stilled her heart.

“There’s one thing I still have to ask you.”

“Really? I thought I’d given you carte blanche to my entire being.”

“I want carte blanche to your entire future. Trips, babies, dancing beneath the stars. I want to get old and gray with you, and when we have too many wrinkles to count, they’ll be our wrinkles, baby. Our imperfections, each one born from a life we spent loving each other.”

Her throat closed as tears spilled down her cheeks.

“Marry me, Faith. Let me love you, embarrass you, and dance with you until the day you bury me six feet under. Then I’ll wait for you on the other side, knowing that whatever else there is, we’ll experience it together.”

She swallowed a few times, maybe a dozen, trying to force words from her lungs, but her heart had swelled and her chest had constricted, and she could barely stand. She nodded vehemently.

“Baby, I—”

“Need to hear it?” she managed, a half laugh, half cry bursting free. “Like you’d ever let me say no? Yes, Sam. I want to be your wife. I want to have our babies, and take trips, and get wrinkly. But what I want most of all is to have you look at me like you are right now for the rest of my life.”

Sam’s mouth came possessively down over hers as he lifted her to her feet and spun her around.

“I love you, baby,” he said, and it was then the rest of the room came into focus. The women were crying and smiling, hugging one another, while the men beamed and cheered.

“Just one more thing.” Sam lowered her feet to the ground and reached into his pocket, pulled out a sparkling diamond engagement ring, and slid it on her trembling finger.

She couldn’t take her eyes off of the circular diamond, surrounded by another perfect circle of round diamonds. A trail of round diamonds ran down the center of the wide band, bordered by intricate designs in white gold. Her vision blurred with fresh tears.

“Sam, it’s beautiful. It’s so us.”

“Our circle forever, baby.” He kissed her again, long and languorously, which made everyone hoot and holler.

“Smile, baby. You’re on family camera.” He pointed to the television above the bar, where her parents, Vivian, Charley, Mack, and Sam’s sister, Shannon, were waving and congratulating them at once.

Thankfully, Sam held her around her waist, because her noodle legs were nearly useless.

“How? You’ve never even met my family.” She waved to her parents. Her mother’s eyes were wet, her nose pink from crying, and her father smiled proudly down at her. “I love you Mom. Dad.”

“We love you, pumpkin,” her father said.

“I couldn’t ask you to marry me without speaking with your parents first,” Sam explained. “Vivian, who would do anything for you, did this for me.”

Faith covered her mouth, trying to keep the sobs from breaking free as she looked up at her best friend. Vivian’s tears mirrored her own, and they both mouthed, Love you, at the same time.

Sam’s mom was the first one to embrace Faith. “Congratulations, sweetheart. We’re so happy to have you in our lives.”

She was passed from one person to the next, in a flood of hugs and tears and welcome to the familys. Faith finally found her voice and talked with her family and Vivian over Skype. Before signing off, she and Sam planned a trip to Oak Falls to visit her family, and Vivian planned a visit to Peaceful Harbor. Faith had a feeling she’d see very little of Vivian on the trip, since she’d confided in Faith that she’d been keeping in touch with Tex. So much for her hiatus.

As the evening came to an end, Sam drew her close for one final dance at Mr. B’s. “Now all we have to do is pick a date.”

“Why do I have a feeling you’ve already got one in mind?”