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After spending almost seven hours riding in the car with her, breathing in her scent, hearing her laugh, listening to her talk, joke, be playful, and of course, give me shit, I’d stupidly decided things had changed between us. I’d even wondered if she’d invite me to slide under the covers with her tonight.
As my mum would say, I spent all the time I should be thinking of others’ feelings, caught up in my own. Like all else, I’d decided in a short span of time that Sam finally gave in to her attraction to me—one I knew didn’t exist.
I’d vowed not to do anything to ruin my friendship with her by treating her the way I treated so many other women. I needed her in my life, and I’d not risk making a move so wrong it would result in her despising me. I could only thank some higher power—perhaps even my mum—for keeping me from not just making a wrong move, but a horrendous one.
As it was, I could soothe Sam’s worries like the best friend I was and keep the rest buried deep inside me, like I had for years. The woman was too important to me to do otherwise.
“If that doesn’t suit, we can order something else,” I said when I saw her pluck an olive from the charcuterie I’d ordered.
“Since it’s the second time you’ve made the offer, I’m going to take a wild guess and say this doesn’t appeal to you.”
“Yes, well, I could stand something a bit more substantial.” I picked up the in-room dining menu I knew by heart and pretended to peruse it. After setting it down, I walked over to the window that looked out over the Strip.
“I’m sorry, Beau. I’m behaving as though I don’t appreciate everything you’ve done, what you’ve arranged. You’re right when you say I called and asked for help. Then when you gave it to me, I argued.”
“No apology necessary,” I said without looking directly at her. I could see her reflection in the glass from the corner of my eye. Samantha Marquez, even after a seven-hour car ride, without makeup, and her hair tied back, was fucking gorgeous.
Her moods were evident with just one look into her amber-brown eyes. They sparkled when she was happy but turned glassy when she was sad. If I could, I’d remove the band that kept her hair off her neck, so her long, wavy auburn locks cascaded over her shoulders.
In winter, she usually wore a sweater, jeans, and a pair of Chucks, like she was now. The real treat was in the summer when she’d wear shorts, showing off her willowy legs.
“We could go downstairs to the steak house if you’d like,” I said, knowing I had to stop thinking about her glorious gams and how I wanted to trail my fingers from right behind her knee up to—
“Beau?”
My cheeks flushed when I raised my head, feeling as though I’d been caught red-handed, so to speak. “Sorry, can you repeat the question?”
“I’m worried Wanda might destroy this place if I leave her here alone.”
I looked over at the docile creature languidly licking her front paw. “I find that hard to imagine.”
“You’d be surprised. Cats have claws.”
I looked around the room, unsure what to suggest. The carrier I’d purchased for her was quite small. I’d hate to put her in it and leave.
“Wait. I know.” Sam picked up the cat and carried her into the lavatory. “One bedroom and three bathrooms,” I heard her mutter. “I don’t think she’ll do too much damage in there,” she said, closing the door after depositing Wanda inside.
“Shall I give her some toys to play with?”
Sam laughed. “If you ever have a daughter, you are going to spoil her rotten.”
“I’ve never understood that statement. Fruit spoils, yes? Then it turns rotten. What does that have to do with children?”
My dear Samantha rolled her eyes. “How fancy is this place we’re having dinner? Do I need to change?” She bit her lip. “Not that I brought much other than jeans.”
“You’re perfectly fine. We’ll sit at the bar if it makes you feel more comfortable.”
“Where are we going?”Sam asked as I led her past the gaming area. Before I could respond, a woman I knew approached.
“Beau? Long time no see,” the casino host said. She walked up to me, pressing her bosom against my chest. I put my hands on her arms and took a step back. I would’ve introduced her to Sam, but I couldn’t recall her name. Brooke? Crystal?
“Hello,” I said instead. “We were just on our way to dinner.” When I put my arm around Sam’s shoulders, she bristled.
The woman motioned with her head to the craps table. “How about a game before you go?”
I favored rolling the dice over blackjack or poker, and she knew it. I could get caught up in it for hours.
“Perhaps another time,” I said, nodding once before leading Sam away.
