Page 57 of Love Everlasting

Sitting on the top row by herself away from the crowd, she filed her nails, a bored look on her beautiful face. His heart cramped. He hated to see her unhappy, but Camp Hope was an important part of his life now, and he’d hoped she would enjoy this final event for the orphans whose term at Camp Hope was over. Just like Sam had made an effort to enjoy the stuffy fundraiser dinners she dragged him to for museums and the arts. Not that he had anything against music or culture, but people were far more important in his opinion. Especially little people, something he was beginning to realize Jasmine had an aversion to.

His gaze flicked back to the bleachers. Like the grubby-faced little guy who’d just sat down next to Jazz, causing her to inch several feet away. Sam handed Cat the stopwatch for the upcoming relay. “Take over for a few seconds, will you, Cat? I’ve got to run interference between Rupert and my girl. The kid may only be eight years old, but he’s got an eye for the ladies like I’ve never seen.”

“And you should know,” Cat quipped, giving him a wink.

“Hey, I’ve cleaned my act up thanks to your sister, Catfish, so go easy, will you?” He gave her a noogie on her head before striding toward the bleachers, taking them two at a time to plop between Jazz and Rupert. He hooked a protective arm over her shoulder and drew her close. “Hey, man, this is my woman, so you need to go find your own.”

“Aw, shoot,” Rupert said with a good-natured scowl, ebony face gleaming in the sun, “ain’t none half as pretty as your woman, Doctor Sam, so I don’t know why you cain’t share.” Giving Jazz a wink, he shuffled away with a sheepish grin.

“Hey, you okay?” Still smiling about Rupert trying to horn in on his girl, Sam leaned close to nibble on Jazz’s ear.

“I am now,” she whispered, turning to lay one on him that made him forget where he was. “When can we leave?” she whispered, skimming a hand down his thigh that shot fire through his veins, reminding him of the struggle he had with Jazz every time they were alone. “I suddenly have an irresistible urge for some couch time.”

Couch time.

As opposed to bed time, the compromise Sam agreed to for watching movies and snuggling. Only it was rapidly becoming a wrestling match every time Jazz lay in his arms, taking every ounce of control he had to keep their relationship aboveboard.

“After the sack races, which are up next,” he said, twining his fingers with hers to steer her hand from his leg. That’s the last game I’m involved in before the BBQ, which I bet you would enjoy—”

“Oh, no you don’t, Dr. Cunningham. I’ve had my fill of grimy faces and sticky hands today, thank you.” She swayed her lips against his, going in for the kill with a kiss that nearly made him groan. “The only sticky hands I want mauling me at this point, mister, are yours.”

“Hey—Doctor Love!”

Sam pulled away to glance down at Cat at the base of the bleachers, hands on her hips. “We’re up in the sack races, so get a move on.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Jazz whispered in his ear, the flick of her tongue kindling a slow burn in his gut. “I’ve been waiting for you to get a move on for a while now, Doc, so let’s get this show on the road and we’ll have some sack races of our own.”

“Hey, great idea!” He gripped her at arm’s length, pulse sprinting overtime. “Why don’t you be my partner in the race, babe?” His smile veered wayward. “It’s the perfect opportunity to get me in the sack …”

“Cute.” Her Angelia Jolie lips took a slant. “But I’m holding out for the real thing, Doctor Love.”

“And it’s on its way, babe, I promise.” He kissed her nose. “Soon.”

“Not soon enough to suit me,” she said with a pout.

“Me, either, Jazz, trust me.” He gave her a quick kiss before making his way down the bleachers, wishing this were the water balloon toss so he could cool off.

“Sure you can focus after that?” Cat watched his approach with a knowing smile, gunny sack slung over her shoulder while the participants lined up for the race.

“Give me a break, Catfish,” he said with a lazy grin. “Winning is what I do best.”

She shot a glance up to where Jazz was on the phone, and gave him a wink. “Not according to Jazz, I’ll bet.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter and into the bag, O’Bryen, will you?” He snatched the sack from her shoulder and held it while she slipped her left leg in, then did the same with his right, gripping her around the waist. “I need you as focused as me because I hate to lose.”

“Not as much as me,” she muttered, gaze darting down the line to where Chase and Shannon were teaming up for the race.

Sam followed her line of sight, and his jaw compressed. “Wanna bet?”

Chapter Thirty-One

Shannon was laughing so hard, she could barely breathe, both she and Chase in a tangle of arms and legs at the finish line after they came in second place.

Right behind Sam and Cat, of course. The Jugular Twins.

“Going for the finish line in a dive, eh? Nice move, Rev,” Sam said with a grin. “Too bad it didn’t work.”

Breathless, Shannon looked up at Sam and Cat, who stood over Chase and her with smug smiles.