Forgiving You: A Bluebell Valley Novel (7 page)

The waitress came back with their burgers. They looked delicious and Sam had already grabbed a French fry when her eyes met Austin’s.

“I didn’t need any other friends back then,” he said earnestly. “I had you, and you were more than enough.”

Sam had devoured her meal way too fast. After Austin had taken care of the bill for them, they had decided to go for a quick walk by the river. From their side, they could see a few houses and fields.

As they slowly walked next to the water, Sam found herself getting closer and closer to Austin. Even if the night was still warm, she wanted his body close to hers. As their arms brushed against each other, she could feel the warmth on her skin, wishing it was all over her.

And as if Austin could read her thoughts, his hand reached for hers. Sam smiled in silence as she walked even closer to Austin, happy and confident for the first time in a long time.

“I have another surprise for you, but we have to wait for the sun to set,” Austin admitted as he stopped in front of a bench overlooking the river.

“And I guess you won’t tell me anything about it?”

“You’re right about that.”

They both sat down as Sam wondered what he could have planned for the rest of the evening. Everything that had happened so far was perfect. She believed that it was going to be the same for whatever came next.

The sun was already low, barely over the horizon. There was a warm orange glow around them, which made everything more romantic.

“This is lovely,” Sam said as she leaned her head against Austin’s shoulder, looking at the sunset. She hadn’t appreciated the beauty of Bluebell Valley in a long time. She couldn’t have been more thankful to Austin for showing it to her again. Maybe this part hadn’t been planned―or maybe it had―but she was enjoying it very much. It was like time had stopped all around them.

Austin put an arm around her shoulders as she watched the magical sunset. This night couldn’t have been more perfect, and it wasn’t even over.

Austin

“Come on,” Austin said, extending his hand to Sam so she would stand up too. “It’s time for your next surprise.”

The sun had set a few minutes ago and it was getting dark already. Austin didn’t need more darkness than that for what he had planned.

Sam grabbed his hand and pulled herself up, laughing at the same time. The sound of her laughter made Austin’s heart skip a beat. To him, that was the most beautiful sound. He had always loved to hear his best friend laugh―and he’d always been looking for a way to make her laugh, too.

“So, can I ask now where you’re taking me?” she asked as she slid her arm around Austin’s waist. He put his own arm around her shoulders, knowing he wanted to stay in this position forever. He still couldn’t believe how far they’d come in only a few days.

“I’m sorry, I’m not at liberty to discuss that subject,” Austin said, grinning. As they arrived back to the car, he opened the door for Sam to slide in. Walking around the car, he glanced at her through the windshield, feeling like the luckiest man in the world.

“I thought you were taking me back to your house, but now I’m lost,” Sam said, looking around her. After they had left the restaurant parking lot, Austin had driven the car on the country road. They’d been driving for half an hour already and the orchard was far behind them.

“We’re almost there,” Austin assured her as he leaned forward, not wanting to miss his turn. The dirt road was hard to see and it was now pitch black. The stars had started appearing already.

“There we go,” he said as he noticed the intersection where he had to turn. Slowly, a white-washed barn appeared and he knew he was in the right spot.

A minute later, he parked the car behind the old abandoned barn, far from any city lights. The sky was crystal clear and they could see all the stars they wanted.

“You brought me stargazing?” Sam asked as she looked outside her window.

“Not exactly,” Austin admitted. “Stay in here.”

“Why?”

“You’ll see,” he replied with a smile.

Opening his door, Austin slid out of the car. He turned the light of his phone on as he walked back to the road. Sam was now alone in the car, and definitely wondering what was happening. He was hoping he wasn’t scaring her too much while he was gone.

He came back a minute later, opening the passenger door.

“Now you can come out.”

Austin gave Sam his hand and she took it as she got out of the car. Still holding her hand, he led her toward the back of the truck. He jumped in and removed the blanket that was hiding a ton of pillows. As he helped Sam inside, he pointed behind her.

“Look,” he said as her head turned in the right direction. The barn, which had been white a few seconds ago, was now slowly lighting up. She could recognize the first scene of the movie she used to watch over and over again as a teenager:
Notting Hill.

“Do you still like this film?” Austin asked as they both sat down in the back of the truck.

“Are you kidding? I love it!” Sam said with a smile. “But how did you do that?”

“The TV people lent me a projector and an audio system,” Austin admitted as he grabbed the remote in his pocket and turned the volume up. That was something he had always wanted to do―he had found this location years ago, but never had the necessary equipment to make it happen. Today, it had seemed like a good thing to try. He’d been here earlier today to set up everything, and he was glad it still worked and that nobody had stolen it.

Sam started relaxing as her head rested on his shoulder. Her eyes were on the back of the barn, where the movie was playing, while his were on her, the only thing he wanted to watch right now.

Sam was the only person he even wanted to impress and to make happy, and he felt like tonight was a success. She had a cute smile on her lips as she whispered the characters’ lines even before the characters were ready to say them.

“Austin? Austin…”

“Mmhm?” he whispered as he used all his strength to wake up.

“You fell asleep.” Sam’s voice was beautiful and sweet. He should probably have felt guilty for falling asleep on their first date, but her voice held no reproach.

“Did I?” he asked, knowing full well that he hadn’t watched much of the movie. But that wasn’t such a bad thing, since he’d seen it so many times already with Sam. He knew what it was all about.

“Ten minutes in and you were already snoring.”

“Sorry,” he said as he was finally able to open his eyes for more than three seconds at a time.

“It’s okay. It was cute.”

“You’re cute,” he heard himself say as he looked into Sam’s eyes. He saw a broad smile appear on her lips as he said the words. “Did I say that out loud? I guess I did…” The world around him was still a bit out of focus.

As things became less blurry, he felt drawn to Sam. It was the right time to do what he had always wanted to do. Slowly, she leaned in as he lifted himself up, their faces coming closer and closer every second. Austin felt his heart starting to race as Sam’s lips brushed his. The sweetness made him lose control as they sealed in a kiss. He didn’t want it to stop. He wanted to taste Sam’s lips forever. They felt so right against his.

He reached for her face as passion took over his body. He wanted Sam as close to him as possible. He wanted to touch every inch of her beautiful body.

Nothing would stand between him and his happiness, Austin decided. Nothing could make him leave Sam again. She was the one for him, he was already sure of that. Actually, he’d been certain of that for more than ten years, he just never wanted to acknowledge it. Now, he was ready to see it and act on it.

“Please, don’t leave me again,” Sam whispered between kisses. He could hear the despair in her voice and it made his heart clench.

“Never,” he promised.

Austin backed his truck out of the field. As he concentrated on his task, he could feel Sam’s eyes on him. It made him smile.

When they were finally back on the dirt road, he grabbed her hand on her thigh and started driving toward the town. He didn’t want this night to end, but he knew Sam had to work tomorrow.

He drove in silence, just enjoying Sam’s presence. His brain was too busy replaying their kiss to be able to maintain a conversation. Sam wasn’t talking, either, only glancing at him from time to time, but she was mainly looking outside at the stars. He looked at them too, and sometimes at her, wondering how he could be so lucky to have a second chance.

I don’t deserve it
, he thought. After all that he had put her through, he couldn’t believe he was here with her. Now he knew one thing: he wouldn’t have another chance. He couldn’t screw this up.

Half an hour later, Austin’s truck was parked in front of Sam’s apartment again. It had gone a lot better than he had even planned. Everything had been perfect. He didn’t want to let Sam go, but he knew she would busy the next day.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asked as they both got out of the car.

“Come here,” she said as she grabbed his hand, pulling him closer to her. Austin didn’t resist, as he saw a spark of playfulness in Sam’s eyes. Putting her arms around his waist, she leaned in to kiss him. Austin kissed her back, reaching for her face, his thumb tracing an imaginary line on her cheek. Looking into her eyes, he wanted her to understand how crazy he was about her.

She seemed to understand, as she kissed him a second time, which lasted a lot longer than the first one. Austin was out of breath when Sam took a step back. “Do you want to come over?”

Austin wasn’t ready to end this night. He looked into Sam’s eyes, searching for any sign of hesitation. He didn’t find any, which made him smile. He nodded, pulling Sam closer to him again, pressing his lips against hers with all the passion that had been locked in him for so many years.

With a wicked grin on her face, Sam led him into her building, up the stairs, and into her tiny apartment.

Austin didn’t even try to register what was going on around him. He only had eyes for Sam. Of all the women he had seen in his life, she was the prettiest. There was something about her that was so natural, so real, and that was what gave her her beauty. She didn’t need makeup to turn heads—she merely needed to be herself.

He followed her to the bedroom slowly, kissing her on her lips, her forehead, her cheeks, her neck. He wouldn’t stop kissing her for anything. Her skin was so soft, he also couldn’t help his hands from wandering around her body. Before they arrived in the bedroom, he lifted her up, taking her to the bed and kicking the door closed at the same time.