“I know. And don’t think that doesn’t make it tougher ... the thought that my kid’s only grandparents live ten minutes away, and they don’t know it.”
“Do Craig’s parents keep in touch with her?” I thought of my huge extended family back in Florida. The idea of not having any grandparents was inconceivable.
“Not really. Cards at her birthday and Christmas, but I think Craig probably told them the truth after he left. They were great while we were married, but after he moved away, they did, too.”
We both turned our heads at the sound of the kitchen door. “Hey, where are my women?”
Ali and I both laughed, and she climbed up from the bed. “I think that means us. I better go finish up dinner so you two can enjoy your ... date.” She winked at me.
I stood for a minute without moving. Hearing Sam’s words and knowing he was including me in them—his women—gave me a strange feeling that was a mix of longing and panic. I liked the idea, more than I should. The panic came because I dreaded what might happen if Sam began to want more—and I couldn’t give it to him.
I pushed the thought away. Tonight was about romance and fun and just being present in the moment—no worries about the future or the past. And I was determined to make it perfect.
I finished dressing, put on a little makeup and brushed my hair, leaving it down and curly around my face. When I stepped out of the room to go help Ali in the kitchen, I ran full-force into Sam, who was still shirtless and slightly damp.
“Hey.” He caught me by the arms. “Where’s the fire?”
“I think it’s in the kitchen, cooking your dinner.” I grinned up into brown eyes that were devouring me. Taking a step back, I held out my arms. “So? Do I look okay for tonight? Or do I need to be fancier?”
Hunger that had nothing to do with pork chops burned from his face. “You don’t need to be anything else. God, you look good.” He glanced around me at the huge oak grandfather clock that dominated the living room. “How many minutes until eight?”
I laughed. “What’s going to happen at the magical hour of eight? I’m still in the dark about what we’re doing tonight.”
A slow smile spread over his lips, and heat flooded my face. “Okay, so I’m not completely in the dark. I have some ideas.”
He stepped closer to me, until I was backed against the wall that was shadowed between my bedroom door and the turn to the kitchen. “In the dark is the key phrase. But I don’t want you to worry. Maybe I should give you a little preview.”
My heart stuttered a little at his nearness. His chest, bared at my eye-level, sent a scorching rush of desire between my legs, and I couldn’t help running my hands over his skin.
Sam tucked me into his body so that I could feel every inch of him. With one finger, he tilted my chin upwards and kissed my mouth. He started slow and sweet, but when I wrapped my arms around his lower back, he growled low and pushed his tongue between my lips.
When we came up for air, I dropped my forehead to his chest. “I need to go help Ali with dinner.”
“Yeah. I need to get a shower.” Neither of us moved.
I lowered my hands to his ass and pressed him closer to me. “IWWA ...”
“We’re changing that, right now. Today it’s not IWWA, it’s WWAA.”
I frowned, and he leaned to whisper in my ear. “When we are alone.”
I sighed. “I can’t wait.”
He slapped me lightly on the butt and stepped back. “Then let’s get through dinner so we don’t have to.”
I was pretty sure Ali’s pork chops were excellent that night, tender and tasty, but they could have been sawdust for all I knew. I ate mechanically, trying to keep up with the conversation and act normal. I didn’t think Ali was fooled, but Bridge didn’t seem to notice anything amiss.
I helped with the dinner dishes, and by then it was nearly seven. Sam was sitting at the kitchen table, playing cards with Bridget.
“That’s enough Go Fish,” he announced after four hands of the game. “Choose something else.”
“Oh, I know! How about Old Maids?” She scrambled down and ran to the cupboard where all her games and books were.
“I don’t know how to play that.” Sam frowned at the deck of unfamiliar cards.
“It’s basically Go Fish, but with different cards.” Ali dried her hands. “They’re all word plays. See, there’s Ben Dover. And Tully Vision. There’s only one Old Maid card, and whoever ends up with it loses.”
“Mama, what’s an old maid?” Bridget began dealing the deck.