CHAPTER 29
Sam
“Sam?” Beth answered on the second ring and sounded shocked to hear from him. They hadn’t talked on the phone for nearly three weeks mainly because he wanted to give Beth the chance to date.
Sam wiped a hand down his face. Knowing she was seeing other men was killing him. He’d stayed away, unable to listen to her talk about the men she was currently dating. It was hard enough to listen when they played together at the rehab center. It seemed she had a date every other night. She’d been friendly and chatty and he’d been forced to smile and listen. Rocco had been right when he’d laughed when Sam had suggested he and Beth be friends. It’d taken these weeks for him to realize they were so much more than that.
This wasn’t working, and it was time for him to own up to it. Now it was up to him to set things right. He felt awkward and tongue-tied. “How’s it going?” he asked, and then rolled his eyes, thinking he couldn’t have asked a less intelligent question.
“Okay. Everything all right?”
“Not really.” He swallowed hard and leaned his shoulder against the driver’s-side door of his pickup. He’d already put this off longer than he should have.
“Oh.”
He cleared his throat. “I was hoping, wondering, actually…you know with your busy schedule and all.”
“Wondering what, Sam?”
He went for it, rushing the words. “Wondering if you had time to go out with me?”
Silence. Then, “On a date?” Beth asked skeptically.
“Yes, on a date.”
She hesitated. “I thought you don’t date.”
“I don’t…usually.”
“In other words, you’re making an exception in my case?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“ ‘Why?’ ” he repeated. This was so much harder than he ever expected it would be. “I’ve missed you?” The words were stiff, tentative.
“You see me twice a week. Not really much chance to miss me, Sam.”
Sam pressed his hand over his eyes. Beth wasn’t going to make this easy. “I miss you, babe, more than I thought possible. I was a fool. And afraid of losing my man card.”
“Your what?”
“Never mind. Just that I’ve been an idiot.”
“Yes.”
He hesitated. “Are you saying you agree with me and that I was an idiot or did that mean you’d be willing to go out with me?”
Beth laughed and it sounded like warm honey to him. “Yes, to both.”
Sam grinned. She certainly wasn’t holding back. “Have you, you know, missed seeing me?”
She hesitated. “Yeah.”
“You have?” He was convinced he heard music in the background, like something out of a Hallmark movie.
“More than I thought I would,” she said, echoing his own words.
“What about all those other guys you’ve been seeing?”
She laughed softly. “The truth is none of them hold a candle to you.”
Yup, now he heard it loud and clear. Music, and it didn’t come from any radio, either. If he was a peacock his feathers would be in full display. “Thing is, if you date me, then we’re exclusive.” He was staking his claim right up front, here and now. “No one else but me.”
She hesitated. “So you’re willing to admit we’re dating.”
“Yeah, we’re dating. Exclusively.”
Again she paused, giving him heart palpitations. “Is there someone else, Beth?” he asked. She’d mentioned three or four other men she’d been seeing, but there didn’t seem to be one in particular.
“There’s never been anyone but you, Sam.”
He relaxed, the tension leaving him. “Then we’re good.”
“We’re good. Now, where are you going to take me?”
Sam grinned. “Anyplace you want, babe. Anyplace at all.”
They set the time and place for Friday night and Sam hung up the phone feeling better than he had in three miserable, sleepless weeks. He’d dodged a bullet and prevented a self-inflicted wound.
Thursday night it was Sam’s turn to host the poker game. The timing worked out well, as Beth was busy Thursday nights at her church’s choir practice, where she played the piano. She’d had the one date with Doug, and from what she’d told Sam it would only be the one date. He was a good guy, but they had little in common and simply hadn’t clicked.
His poker-playing friends were all married, and their wives generally sent along appetizers and other goodies for snacks. Not being married himself, Sam bought a couple bags of potato chips and called it good. The host supplied the beer, and he’d stacked his refrigerator with a case of their favorite brew, which was sure to last the night. None of his friends were big drinkers, and Sam wasn’t one himself. At most he’d enjoy a beer or two.
Thursday-night poker had been going on for about six or seven years now and it was a great way to break up the workweek. Two of the guys were men he worked with at the garage. Alex and Charley had taken to teasing Sam about the new woman in his life. Sam accepted their good-natured razzing. The only one who knew he hadn’t gone out with Beth in the last few weeks was Rocco. Thankfully, Rocco had kept his trap closed.
It took Sam longer than it should have to realize all that he’d found in Beth. She was a special woman. He was impressed by her thoughtfulness and how big her heart was. Beth wanted to make everything right for others. He didn’t agree with her interfering in her aunt’s life, but he kept his opinions to himself. He couldn’t find it in himself to fault her for wanting her aunt to be happy. She hadn’t mentioned that she followed through with her plans, but it wasn’t like they’d been talking regularly.
Since their talk and date, things had been going well with him and Beth. Better than ever, really. He felt they’d both grown in the time apart and come to appreciate each other on a deeper level.
Thinking how well things were going with Beth, Sam cleared off the kitchen table and wiped it down to be sure there was nothing sticky that would mess with the cards. The beer was cooling in the refrigerator, and he had the potato chips in bowls on the kitchen countertop. He reached for one and munched on it and regretted not picking up a couple of those containers of dip.
His doorbell chimed and he glanced at his watch. One of the guys was early. He started toward the front door when it opened and Beth stuck her head inside.
“Hey,” he said, surprised to see her and equally pleased.
“Hey,” she said, coming into the house. She held a platter in her hand.
“What’s that?” he asked, because whatever it was smelled divine.
Peeling back the tinfoil, Beth revealed a plate of chocolate-chip cookies. “I thought I’d contribute something to your game tonight,” she said, and, leaning forward, she gave him what he was convinced was intended to be a brief kiss. It didn’t turn out that way, hungry as he was for a taste of her.
“I love cookies,” Sam said when he broke the kiss off. He reached for one, took a bite, and closed his eyes to savor the rich flavors. “These are homemade?”
“Of course. You think I’d bring you store-bought cookies?”
Sam took the plate out of her hand and set it aside. He then reached for her and brought her into his arms and kissed her again with the same urgency he’d felt a few minutes earlier. She opened to him the way she always did, slipping her arms around his neck and standing on the tips of her toes. It was hard not to get caught up in their kisses. Unfortunately, his poker-playing buddies were due anytime.
When he found the will to drag his mouth from hers, he released her.
“You should have said something earlier,” Beth chastised him.
“Said what earlier?” he asked.
“Nichole told me the women supply snacks for the guys on Thursdays.”
“They do,” he said.
“Am I not your woman?”
Sam couldn’t have held back a smile for a million bucks. “Yup. Definitely.”
“Then you should have told me.”
Sam slipped his arm around her waist and nuzzled her neck as he led the way into the kitchen. He set the tray of cookies next to the bowl of chips. “On Saturday, would you like to—”
“I can’t,” she said, not allowing him to finish.
Sam cocked one brow. “You aren’t going to tell me you’ve got another date, are you?” he teased. He wanted to remind her that they were exclusive now. He wasn’t comfortable with her seeing anyone but him. He thought he’d made that clear.
“No, but I do have plans.”
“All day?”
“All afternoon,” she corrected, reminding him about her piano students. “I’m volunteering with Habitat, helping Jazmine build her house.” She hesitated and then blinked up at him several times, flirting with him. “You could help, you know, make up for all that time we were apart.”
“I could, could I?” His Saturdays were precious and he reserved them for working on his cars.
“It’s completely voluntary, but everyone says how good you are with fixing things, and I’m sure you’d be an asset to the team. And Jazmine would be so appreciative.”
“Just Jazmine?”
“Like I said, it’s completely up to you.”
“If I don’t agree, will you ask Tyler?”
A smile twitched at the corners of her mouth. “I might.”
“Like bloody hell you will.” She had him and she knew it.
“Does that mean you’re willing to volunteer?”
Sam had a dozen projects of his own that needed attention. He knew Beth was teasing him when it came to Tyler. He’d never worked with Habitat for Humanity but had heard good things about the organization. “Count me in.”
Beth threw her arms around his waist and hugged him close. “You’re the best.”
“Don’t know that I could refuse you much, and you know it.”
“I do, and that makes you all the dearer to me.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, but he wasn’t upset. “Got any other volunteer projects you’re conveniently hiding from me?”
She smiled ever so sweetly at him. “A few.”
He rolled his eyes. “You free next Saturday? I’d like—”
“Can’t.”
“Now what?” The woman was making it difficult.
“I’m helping Shawntelle.”
Rocco’s bookkeeper was one of Nichole’s best friends. “She building a house, too?” he asked.
“No. She volunteers at the same place Nichole does, only she’s had to cut back because of the baby. Rocco met Nichole for the first time at Dress for Success, remember?”
Sam knew the story well. Nichole had backed her car into a ditch and Rocco drove the tow truck that pulled her out.
“What are you going to be doing there?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure, but Shawntelle will let me know. I’m filling in for her cousin, who can’t make it next week.”
Sam wrapped his arms around her and held her close, his heart swelling with an emotion so strong it tightened his chest. Jazmine wasn’t the only one building a new life for herself.
Beth was doing the same thing. She was building a life without the restraints and restrictions placed on her by her mother. With this first taste of freedom and independence, she was evolving into her own person. Sam was privileged to witness the transformation.
“I better head out or I’ll be late for choir practice,” she said, reluctance showing in her eyes.
Sam wasn’t eager to see her leave, either.
“Kiss me before you go,” he said, finding it difficult to release her. He wove his fingers into her hair and angled his mouth to hers. She tasted of everything that was good, and they were soon focused only on each other. Sam knew he would never grow tired of holding and kissing this woman. He wasn’t a man who gave his heart away easily. Never had been. His only serious relationship, before Beth, had been with Trish and he’d been burned so badly he’d avoided falling in love ever since. Everything was new with Beth. Fresh and unspoiled. Two months and already she’d woven her smile, her heart, and her music around his own, binding him in ways he’d never thought to experience again.
They were interrupted by someone clearing his throat. Alex, one of his crew from the garage, stood just outside the kitchen holding a tray of cut veggies.
“Hate to interrupt you two lovebirds.”
Beth blushed and hid her face against Sam’s shirt.
“We playing poker or not?” Alex teased. He set the vegetable tray down next to the chips. Right away he noticed the cookies and helped himself.
Sam ignored him. “I’ll walk you to your car,” he told Beth. Then, looking over his shoulder, he told his friend, “Make yourself comfortable and don’t eat all the cookies before everyone else arrives.”
“You going to introduce me or not?” Alex asked, crumbs coating the sides of his mouth.
Sam gestured toward his coworker. “This joker is Alex,” he told Beth. “Alex, Beth.”
“Hi,” she said, smiling.
Sam steered her out of the kitchen and toward the front door, but not before he saw Alex reach for another cookie.
“Nice to meet you, Beth,” Alex called out after them. “Haven’t heard much about you.”
“He’s teasing,” Sam told Beth.
“Hey, these cookies are good,” Alex shouted.
“There better be some left when I get back here,” Sam warned, and they heard Alex laugh as Sam led Beth outside.
He was reluctant to see her go. He’d been playing poker with the guys for years but would have gladly given it up just then for another ten minutes with Beth.
“Have fun tonight,” she said as he held open the driver’s-side door for her.
“You, too.”
She got inside the car. “Enjoy the cookies.”
“I have a feeling Alex will have scarfed down the entire tray while I’m talking to you. I’ll be lucky if there are any left.”
“I’ll bake you more,” she promised.
“I’ll let you.”
Rocco and Charley arrived then, and still Sam lingered. His two friends saw themselves into the house.
“Talked to my folks about Thanksgiving,” he said.
She looked up with wide eyes. “Are they disappointed you won’t be spending it with them?”
“They’re fine with it. They’re more disappointed in not meeting you.”
“You told them about me?”
“Of course, babe.” He’d filled in his mother shortly after Beth’s accident. His mother had encouraged him, eager to see him settled down and married. She was thinking grandchildren.
“Maybe we can take a day and visit your parents before Christmas.”
“I promised them I’d be home for Christmas.”
She exhaled on a sigh. “I promised my parents Christmas, too.”
Sam hid his disappointment. He’d hoped to spend the holiday with her.
“I’m going to be late for choir practice,” she said, but she didn’t move to leave.
Neither did Sam. “My friends are waiting.”
“Bye, Sam.”
“Don’t speed,” he said, fearing she wouldn’t be as cautious as she should be. “Drive carefully and text me when you get to the church, okay?”
She nodded. “Will do.”
He eased away from the car and stood with his hands in his back pockets as she pulled away.
When he returned to the house, his friends were waiting.
“Never thought I’d see the day Sam Carney let a woman get her claws into him.”
“Yeah, boys, but did you see the woman who possesses those claws?” Sam returned as he reached for a deck of cards.
“Saw her,” Alex said while munching on another cookie. “I’d marry her for these alone.”
“I get first dibs on Beth,” Charley said, reaching toward the plate.
“Like hell,” Sam growled.
Rocco slapped him across the back. “Know how you feel, buddy. Been there.” Then looking at the other two men, he added, “And so have these clowns.”
Sam pulled out a chair and started shuffling the cards. “You boys ready to hand me your hard-earned cash?”
Life was good. In fact, it felt more than good. Beth was his, and while it had taken some time for him to recognize and accept it, he was hers.