Love Everlasting (Isle of Hope series Book 2) (20 page)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Shannon winced when Sam squealed out of the parking lot, wishing she had told him about her date with Chase. He was her best friend, after all, and they told each other almost everything. But Chase had just called to ask her out this morning, and Shannon had never really expected Sam to show up at a church in the first place. Expelling a silent sigh, she faced Chase with a chew of her lip. “I’m really sorry, Chase. Sam is usually one of the most happy-go-lucky people you’ll ever meet, so I don’t know what got into him tonight.”

“I do.” Chase ushered her to his Ford Explorer with a gentle hand to her back.

She peeked at him out of the corner of her eye, not exactly sure what he meant. “You do?”

“Come on, Shannon—you’re a very bright woman, which is one of the reasons I wanted to get to know you better.” He glanced at her, eyes warm and his smile calm and caring, which immediately helped to settle the jitters in her stomach. “So I just expected you to see it. But my guess is you’re too close to the situation to even suspect it.” He opened the passenger side of his SUV and waited for her to get in before closing the door.

“Suspect what?” she said when he got in on the other side, the nerves in her middle rebelling again.

He started the car and looked over, his gentle eyes probing hers. “That Sam’s attracted to you.”

All blood whooshed from her face before it returned with a vengeance, broiling her cheeks. “Oh, Chase, you c-couldn’t be m-more wrong,” she whispered, her complexion flaming all the hotter over her stutter. She buffed her arms as if she were chilly, the butterflies in her tummy doing somersaults on a trampoline. “Sam and I are nothing but friends, and I assure you there is absolutely no attraction on his part.”  Teeth tugging the edge of her lip, she quickly looked out the window, barely seeing the blur of buildings passing by.

Please, Lord, don’t let him ask about my attraction to Sam …

“You really don’t see it, do you?” he said, tapping a CD into the player. The lively pulse of Matthew West’s “Hello, My Name is Regret” filled the vehicle, mirroring her thoughts exactly.

Regret Sam had been a player.

Regret she’d been wounded by one.

Regret she was in love with a man she could never have.

“See what?” she whispered, not really sure she wanted to hear what he had to say.

He flipped on the blinker and glanced in the rear-view mirror before turning onto the highway, silent for several seconds until they were safely cruising in the far-right lane. “The way he looks at you, like a guy who’s checking you out.”

A nervous laugh tripped from her lips as she gave him a shaky smile. “Sam checks
every
female out, Chase—it’s the player in him no matter how hard he tries to stifle it.”

“Yeah, he does, I’ll give you that, but you’re his good friend, Shannon, and I’ve only seen one other guy check a friend out that way.” He slid her a sideways look. “And that was Jack with Lacey.”

She stared, her pulse slowing to a hard thud.
Impossible!
“No,” she said with a firm shake of her head, “you couldn’t be more wrong. The man spends hours and hours talking about Jasmine, desperate to win her back.”

He gave a slow nod, eyes on the road. “I believe that, and I believe
Sam
believes that, but the look I saw in his eyes tonight when he found out you and I were dating?” He glanced her way, smile wary. “Call me gun-shy, but he looked and acted just like Jack did when I started dating Lacey—jealous.”

Shannon peered out the window as she thought about what Chase was saying, pretty sure he was way off base. Drawing in a deep swell of air, she huffed it out again and faced him dead-on. “Well, if he was, Chase, it was only because Sam’s very possessive and protective. He told me it was one of the problems he and Jasmine had in the past, his jealousy whenever another guy even looked her way.
Especially
if she looked back.”

Yes, of course, that was it. Sam’s possessive nature. Even with friends.

Expelling a cleansing sigh, Shannon relaxed against the headrest, her smile—and her stomach—finally tranquil. She was absolutely certain she wasn’t sexy, striking, or sophisticated enough to
ever
be Sam Cunningham’s type. “As close as Sam and I have gotten over the last three months, it’s understandable he might be a little jealous of another guy spending time with his best friend.” She shot Chase a lopsided smile. “
Particularly
when that best friend didn’t tell him she’d nixed her no-dating policy to go out with her pastor.”

Slapping his blinker on, Chase concentrated on exiting the highway, finally slowing for a red light before he returned her smile. “That would be a bit of a shock, I suppose.” He gave her a little-boy grin that seemed so out-of-character for the solid and steady associate pastor. “I know it was for me.” He reached to squeeze her hand. “Thanks for ditching your no-dating policy, Shannon. I’ve been wanting to go out with you for a long time.”

“Since Lacey got back with Jack?” she said softly, her heart aching for the hurt he’d experienced in that situation, tough ex-Navy Seal or no. As Jack’s best friend, he’d finally confided to Jack that losing Lacey had been difficult, but that he was certain God had a Lacey for him somewhere.

“Yeah.” His profile sobered as he steered a corner, finally easing up to the curb on a fairly crowded street. He parked and turned off the car before shifting to face her. “I knew I wanted someone who took their faith seriously, with a moral code way above the norm, and trust me, Shannon, that’s not easy to find.” The streetlight shadowed his handsome face as he reached for her hand again, clasping it loosely on the console. “I had a pretty bad experience with a girlfriend when I was in the service. She was wild and free like so many of the women today, so now I steer clear of that type of girl, which is why someone like you is so appealing.”

“And safe?” She tipped her head, delivering a teasing smile.

He squeezed her hand and let go, resting his on the console. “I hope so,” he said quietly, his eyes suddenly sober. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask a personal question about your relationship with Sam. Not because I’m nosey, mind you, but because I need to know upfront what I’m dealing with in a relationship with you.”

“Ooo-kay …” she said slowly, her comfort level taking another dive.

“I’d like to know what your feelings for Sam are, if you don’t mind.”

“I told you, Chase, we’re just friends.”

“I know,” he said with a quiet smile, “but I need to know how deep your feelings are for him, Shannon. Lacey told me the same thing in the beginning, but she was still in love with Jack, and I didn’t know it.” Sucking air through a tight smile, he threaded his fingers through short sandy hair. “If it’s all the same with you, I’d rather not be blindsided this time, if you know what I mean.”

“I do,” she said softly, wishing she could say the same. Her unexpected attachment to Sam had blindsided her as well, pulling the rug out from under her heart.

He twined his fingers through hers, meeting her gaze with a sober one of his own. “So, tell me, Shannon—are your feelings for Sam deeper than friendship?”

She averted her gaze, swallowing a lump in her throat. “I think so.”

Giving her palm a squeeze, he pulled his hand away and slowly exhaled. “I thought so,” he said quietly, “so thank you for your honesty.”

Heart lurching, she turned to face him, desperate to make him understand. She placed a hand on his arm. “I never meant for this to happen, Chase, I swear, and to be honest, I wish there was something I could do to change it.”

“There is,” he said with a patient smile. He gave her hand a gentle pat and got out of the car, peering in with gentle resolve etched in his face. “And we’ll start with one of Lulu’s decadent desserts and take it from there.”

She gave him a wobbly smile when he opened her door. “You mean you still want to take me out? Even knowing how I feel about Sam?”

“Sure,” he said with a slow grin, helping her out. “As long as I know where I stand going in, I’ll just do what Sam did and become your good friend.” He closed the door and slipped his fingers through hers once again, leading her to the quaint coffee-house storefront of Lulu’s with a lazy smile. “Because friendship with you is something I definitely want, Shannon, and who knows? Maybe I can help you get over Sam too.” He opened the door to Lulu’s, and mouthwatering smells wrapped her in a delicious hug, rich and warm, like the relaxed feel of Chase’s hand in her own. “But win or lose,” he said with a smile that was rampant with tease, “it should be a whole lot of fun just watching Sam squirm.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Sam wasn’t sure how long he’d been staring at Mary Preston’s chart, hands poised over the keyboard, but so far he hadn’t typed a thing. Granted, congenital heart disease wasn’t something he wanted to dwell on, especially when it belonged to a sweet six-year-old girl, but even so, he had no business letting his mind wander.

For the zillionth time this week.

He closed the computer and sagged back in his chair, eyes closed while he rested his head. The scene with Shannon and Chase last Saturday night replayed in his brain like a bad video he couldn’t get out of his mind.

“I don’t usually date, as you know, Sam, but when Chase tempted me with Lulu’s …”

Dating.

Temptation.

Weren’t those things she should have mentioned to a best friend? He certainly would have and did, in fact, every single time they got together, so why didn’t she?

Why do you care so much?

His pulse slowed to a crawl at the random thought. Why
do
I care so much, he wondered? Eyelids lifting, he dissected his reasons. Because he cared what happened to her, of course. Shannon was the best friend he’d ever had, man or woman, and he was very protective. He didn’t want to see her get hurt. She was an innocent, a true rarity in today’s world, sweet and trusting, especially with him since they’d gotten so close. And frankly, no one had ever trusted him like that before. He unleashed a grunt as he gouged fingers to the bridge of his nose. Who was he kidding?
He’d
never trusted himself like that before. Not until Shannon. And not until the rock-solid faith she was slowly sowing into his life.

I need to apologize
, he suddenly realized, staring at the Superman growth chart on his closed office door.
For acting like such a jerk
. There’d been no reason for his juvenile behavior. He cared deeply about Shannon and she deserved to be loved like he wanted to love Jazz, and Chase was actually perfect for her.

Clean cut.

No nonsense.

A pillar of faith, just like her.

Sam scowled, barely aware he was even doing it.

Okay, he was worried about her, so sue him. He pushed forward in his chair and flipped open his computer, grateful Chase was a stand-up guy who hopefully wouldn’t take advantage of her. Sam’s mouth crooked. Not that she’d let him. The woman was a wall of iron embedded with heels, untainted by the world.

His fingers hovered over the keyboard once again while his gaze wandered into another faraway stare. Which was one of the things he loved most about her, come to think of it. Her simplicity, her innocence, her morality—unspoiled and pure.

Unlike Jazz.

The thought was so out of left field, he actually blinked, downright ticked off for even thinking that way. Jazz was a modern woman, for pity’s sake, just like he’d been a modern man, part of a society where anything goes. Pleasure-seekers all, yes, but searching for love in all the wrong places. And utterly blind to something Shannon had taught him well.

Love does not act improperly, is not selfish …

He sighed as his gaze veered off into another dead stare ...

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Sam looked up when Jack stuck his head in the door with a suspicious grin on his face. “Hey, buddy, your last appointment is here.”

Sam’s gaze darted to the clock on his wall and back, brows in a scrunch. “I don’t have anymore appointments today.”

Grinning, Jack pushed the door open, and Jasmine walked in. The scent of her Bombshell perfume was true to its name, all prior thoughts of anything else in his brain completely blown to bits.

“Oh, but you do, Dr. Cunningham,” she said with a seductive smile, “and I’m afraid it’s an emergency.”

“Jazz …” Her name faded on his tongue as he rose to his feet, gaze traveling her body in natural reflex. Skin-tight jeans and a well-fitting white crop top made his mouth go dry, offering inviting peeks at a tanned and toned stomach. Attraction buzzed through his body like electricity, making it hard to concentrate. “This is a nice surprise …”

“I’m heading out, Ham.” Jack gave him a knowing wink. “But I’m sure you can take it from here. Good night, Jazz.”

She glanced over her shoulder, silky blonde hair trailing bronzed shoulders. “G’night, Jack, and thanks for the encouragement.”

Jack waved and closed the door, and Jazz faced Sam again, a hint of timidity in her manner that he’d never seen before. “Hi,” she said softly, teeth nibbling on those luscious lips that had once been his drug of choice.

“What encouragement?” He rounded his desk and perched on the front edge with a smile, arms crossed in a loose fold. “And I thought today was your day off—what are you doing here?”

She moved in close enough to make his pulse sprint when her body almost grazed his knees. “I came to see you, silly, since I haven’t seen or heard from you in over a week …”

He blinked.
Had it really been that long?
He scratched the curls at the back of his head, heat creeping up his neck. “Sorry, Jazz, it’s been pretty crazy at work …”

“Weekends too?” she whispered, the barest trace of hurt in her tone.

The heat converged in his face. “Yeah, I’m pretty slammed on weekends, too, unfortunately. I’m still mentoring and coaching inner-city basketball like before, but now I’m occasionally volunteering at Camp Hope—”

“That never stopped you before,” she said softly, halting his pulse altogether when she idly smoothed the curls he’d rumpled at the nape of his neck. Her eyes were pools of concern, like the time she’d been insecure about her relationship with Jack. “At least not on Saturday nights as I recall …”

His shoulders lifted in an awkward shrug, smile sheepish. “You’re going to laugh when I tell you this, I know, but Jack’s been pestering me for months to go to his church, so I finally caved.”

Her eyes grew. “
You
went to church?”

He grinned. “Well, not church
exactly
, but I played volleyball with the singles and young marrieds’ group in the church gym, so you know Jack—it’s only a matter of time till he gets me in the pews.”

Jazz traced a gentle finger down his arm, her eyes following the motion rather than looking at him. “Was she there? Your new best friend?”

“Jack’s sister?” Heart stammering, Sam sensed the first shred of jealousy he’d ever seen in Jasmine before—at least with him.

“Yeah.” Her lashes flipped up as she stared at him with a tinge of apprehension. “Shannon, is it?”

He expelled a long wavering breath, hardly able to believe the shoe was finally on the other foot with the woman he loved. “Yeah, Shan was there. Why?”

She gave a little shrug, as if feigning indifference. “No reason. It’s just that I thought you and I were friends, too, Sam, but I don’t see you nearly as much as Shannon does.”

There was a time when he would have teased her about being jealous, gloating that he could elicit a response out of her like she always did with him. But not anymore. Now his heart ached that he’d hurt her. Unleashing a heavy sigh, he drew her into a tight hug. “Jazz, you know I love you, both as a friend and as the only woman I’ve ever really wanted. But you belong to Derek right now, and I doubt he’d appreciate my spending so much time with you.”

“I don’t belong to Derek,” she whispered.

The air swirled still in his lungs. Pulse pounding, he held her at arm’s length. “What do you mean ‘you don’t belong to Derek’?”

“I mean I broke it off,” she said with a shy chew of her lip, the sheen of hope in those green eyes shimmering with possibilities. “I finally figured out I’m in love with my old boyfriend.” Caressing his jaw with her fingers, her eyes drifted closed as she grazed her lips against his.

The familiar taste of her triggered a rush of want so strong, he all but devoured her with a husky groan. “So help me, babe, I’ve waited forever to hear that,” he whispered, blood pumping through his body at a ridiculous rate. He pulled away to cradle her face in his hands, hardly able to believe she was finally his. “Are you sure? Because there’s no going back. You’re the one I want, Jasmine, and this time I mean forever.”

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she lunged, the depth of her kiss sending red-hot lava through his veins. “I’m sure, Sam, but if I wasn’t, Jack’s encouragement would have put me over the top.”

“Yeah?” he said with a curious smile, tenderly brushing the hair from her face. “And what was that?”

“That the kind of love I was looking for was right under my nose, and if I didn’t grab you, it would be the biggest loss of my life.” Her lips curved in a tease. “After him, of course.”

Sam grinned outright. “He said that?”

She nodded, skimming the side of his face with her fingers as her smile softened into awe. “He also said your love for me is so deep, it actually pushed you toward a faith that’s transformed you into one of the finest men he knows and one he’s proud to call a good friend.”

A prick of moisture stung at the back of Sam’s lids, catching him off-guard as he drew her close, burying his head in the crook of her neck. “He’s right, you know, about my love for you, Jazz,” he whispered, “but the true credit belongs to the power of faith.” Shannon’s image suddenly came to mind, and with it, a surge of gratitude swelled in his chest.

And a woman with a whole lot more of it than me.