Sam's Promise: Blackwater, Book 1 (2 page)

“Thank God,” River said. “I’m starved.”

Everyone laughed and filed into the kitchen. Sam held back, waiting for Julie to go through the doorway first. She smiled shyly as she stepped in front of him. As he took up position behind her, his gaze inexorably went to her ass. Ah hell, he never should’ve looked. Sam had a thing for that particular body part on a woman, and Julie had nicely rounded globes that he eagerly wanted to reach out and squeeze. He felt a hair guilty for mentally undressing the woman, but as he glanced up and caught Brodix’s gaze, he knew he wasn’t the only one thinking dirty thoughts. The knowledge sent his good mood into the crapper.

Chapter Two

“So, you work at the restaurant?”

The question had come from the man seated next to her. Sam, the oldest. Oh, Julie knew all about the Jennings brothers from Wanda’s many stories. Although, Julie had to admit, she hadn’t expected them to be so overwhelmingly masculine. Especially Sam. For some odd reason, she was having a terrible time keeping her gaze off him. He was big and strong. Her body had immediately come to life when she’d been introduced to him. His long-sleeved black T-shirt shouldn’t seem nearly so yummy, but Julie had a feeling Sam could stop traffic in just about anything he chose to wear. The dark chocolate shade of his hair had just enough length to drag her fingers through, and she had a wild urge to do exactly that.

Julie thought about his question and dreaded answering. A twenty-nine-year-old waitress who was still in college. It was downright pathetic. As she swallowed a mouthful of cranberries, she said, “Whenever my classes allow, yeah.”

Sam arched a brow at her. “You’re in college?”

She nodded as embarrassment swamped her. “I’m a year away from getting my BA. I…sort of started late.”

“Better late than never,” Vance replied, smiling down the length of the table at her. “What do you plan to do once you graduate?”

“I’ve been thinking of something along the lines of business management, but to be honest, I’m not sure.” As she looked around the table, she noticed everyone had stopped eating. They were riveted, clearly curious about the newcomer in their midst. Julie sighed. “It’s a long story, but the short version is that after high school, my grandmother fell ill with stage-four colon cancer. She was the only family I’ve ever known, because my parents both died in a car accident when I was two years old.”

“So caring for your grandmother fell to you,” Sam said.

The softly spoken words sent shivers up and down her spine. “Yeah,” she replied, “and before she died, Grandmom made me promise to sell the house and use the money to get out and live my life. I think she felt guilty. As if it were somehow her fault that she’d gotten sick.” She shook her head. “Anyway, after she passed away, I honored her request. Sold the old two-story I grew up in and bought a small condo. Then I enrolled in college.”

“And I told her that since she didn’t have a fella to spend the holidays with that she should come and spend it with my fellas.” Wanda grinned, and a few of the guys laughed and shook their heads. Julie thought it adorable how the guys seemed to hang on Wanda’s every word.

When Wanda stood and brought an empty dish to the sink, Julie noticed how slowly she was moving. At the restaurant, Wanda always moved with efficiency, but as she came back to the table, there was a light sheen of sweat on her forehead. Wasn’t she well?

“Can I help with anything, Wanda?” Julie offered as Wanda sat back down.

“No, thank you, dear.”

“Mom, are you feeling okay?” Sam asked as he watched his mother with obvious concern.

She smiled, but Julie noticed it didn’t quite meet her eyes. “I’m fine, Sammy. Really.”

Julie could feel the mounting worry in the room and decided to inject some levity to lighten the mood. “Uh, anyway, I think your mom might have had the idea to play matchmaker,” Julie said, with no small amount of embarrassment. “But like I already told her, I’m not in the market for a relationship right now. So none of you have to worry that I’m here for anything other than the good food and company.”

“I say we draw straws,” River quietly replied as he winked at her. “Short straw gets a date with the pretty brunette.”

Several deep, male voices sent up energetic agreements, but there was one male who didn’t say anything at all. Julie gave in to temptation and looked at Sam. Her gaze clashed with his sexy hazel eyes. He stared at her with such intensity, Julie actually began to fidget. She hadn’t done that since her grandmom had caught her in the cookie jar when she was ten. As he narrowed his gaze and looked away, Julie had the distinct impression he wanted her gone. Like yesterday. It was not a comfy-cozy feeling.

Suddenly there was a loud gasp, and Julie looked to the head of the table. She noticed Wanda clutching at her chest now. Julie dropped her fork. “Wanda?”

Sam quickly leaped into action. “Mom, what is it?”

“H-heart,” Wanda cried.

“Sam, she might be having a heart attack,” Julie said, attempting to stay calm. “Call 911.”

“I’m on it,” Vance said as he pulled out his cell phone.

“Good, then can someone help me get her to the couch?”

“I’ve got her,” Sam replied as he bent and picked Wanda up as if she weighed no more than a child and carried her to the other room. He placed her gently on top of the worn, brown plaid cushions. Wanda clenched her eyes shut. “It’s going to be okay, Mom. Help is on the way.”

“Is there a pillow or something? We want her head elevated or in a semi-seated position.”

River appeared with a large hunter-green throw pillow. “This do?”

“Perfect,” Julie said, keeping her voice soft, calming. She took it and handed it over to Sam. Once he had her propped up, she heard him murmuring to her that everything was going to be okay. Wanda responded with a shaky nod. Julie quickly leaned down and placed her cheek close to the older woman’s mouth to ensure her breathing wasn’t labored. Satisfied when she felt warm air, Julie started to stand. Someone cursed. Julie swiveled around and glared at the two men closest to her. River and Reilly both glared right back, but she knew they got the message. They all needed to stay calm for Wanda’s sake. Getting upset would only make the situation worse. She thought she heard sirens, and she looked down the length of the couch to where Brodix stood, hands fisted at his sides, looking grim.

“Can you go out front and watch for the paramedics?” she asked. He nodded and took off at a sprint, obviously grateful to have something to do. Being helpless was the worst; Julie knew that only too well.

When Wanda looked as if she wanted to sit up, Sam was there, soothing her with his big palm against her forehead. “Shh, be still now.” Julie was struck by how gentle he was. As his head came up and their gazes connected, Julie saw the anguish he was clearly trying to hide from his mother.
I know CPR
, she mouthed.

Sam nodded and slowly smoothed his hand over Wanda’s hair. The sirens grew louder. “They’re almost here, Mom.”

When two men in EMT uniforms burst through the front door, Brodix bringing up the rear, Julie stepped back and allowed them to do their job. She heard Sam explaining the situation. Within minutes, all the brothers were watching from the driveway as Wanda was loaded into the emergency vehicle. Vance ended up riding along with them. After they were on their way, sirens blaring, River, Reilly and Brodix came up to her.

“Are you okay?” River asked as Reilly placed his hand on her shoulder.

Julie frowned. “Me?”

“You’re shaking, sweets,” River said as he took hold of both her hands and rubbed them between his warmer ones.

She looked down, shocked to see he was right. “I didn’t even notice.”

Reilly patted her on the shoulder. “Come on, you can ride to the hospital with us.”

“Or me,” Brodix offered. “You shouldn’t be driving.”

“Oh, thank you all, really, but I’m fine.” The twins gave her a “yeah right” look. She smiled to reassure them. “Seriously.”

“She’ll come with me.”

The deep, hard voice came from directly behind her, and she knew without a doubt that it belonged to the eldest of the Jennings brothers. Julie didn’t have to turn around to know that, because only Sam Jennings seemed to possess the power to send shivers of awareness down her spine without even trying. Julie swiveled around, ready to give him the same answer she’d given his brothers, but stopped. The worry she saw stamped into the lines on Sam’s forehead and the stiff way he held himself kept her from speaking the words aloud. Instead, she nodded.

He looked over her head. “We’ll meet you there.”

“Careful, Sammy,” Reilly said before he took out a set of keys and strode off, River at his side.

Julie supposed Reilly was cautioning Sam about the drive to the hospital, considering Sam’s emotional state, but judging by the look he’d sent her just before turning away, she had to wonder if there was something she was missing. Her mind stuttered to a halt when Sam placed his hand against her lower back and nudged. “Come on, you can grab your coat while I lock up.”

Julie bit her lip and tried not to respond to the heat of his touch so close to her bottom. “I appreciate the concern, but truly I can drive.”

“I know.”

That was all he said before he urged her to toward the front door. Julie told herself that she was letting him have his way because he was upset. His mom had just had a heart attack, after all. Picking a fight with him at this particular moment would be unkind. Deep down, where she often feared to tread, she knew that was only part of it, though.

Something about Sam Jennings made her want to give him everything.

Anything.

She wanted to surrender to him. She wanted to please him. And damn if that didn’t scare the bejesus right out of her.

Sam paced the waiting room. “What the hell is taking so long?”

“Relax, damn it,” Vance demanded. “You’re making me nuts.”

“She’s in good hands, Sam. I know it’s tough, but you need to be patient.”

Sam turned at the feminine voice. Once again, she was the calm in the face of chaos. He admired her, but it pissed him off that he couldn’t be as cool and collected. “Why are you so calm?”

Julie crossed her arms in front of her and looked down at the floor. “My grandmother had a rough go of it. I learned the hard way that panic only brought on more trouble.”

Sam knew there was more to that story, but now wasn’t the time to hammer her with questions that could upset her. For some inexplicable reason, the thought of Julie upset, or worse, in tears because of him, tugged at every one of his protective instincts. “That how you learned CPR?” he asked, curious about the woman who was fast becoming a fascination for him.

“Yeah. I didn’t know any sort of first aid in the beginning, but after Grandmom had to be rushed to the hospital once and I felt so helpless”—she shrugged—“I don’t know, I guess I knew I needed to learn a few things.”

“You stayed cool and kept us from freaking,” River said from the chair beside her as he patted her thigh. “I think I speak for all of us when I say you’re pretty damn awesome.”

Vance nodded his agreement. “I can see why Mom invited you to Thanksgiving when she’s never done that before.”

Julie’s head shot up. “What do you mean?”

Sam stopped pacing and answered, “You’re the first person to ever get an invite to the Jennings’ Thanksgiving dinner.”

“Oh,” she said, clearly stunned by the news. “I didn’t know.”

“Mom always did have good taste,” Reilly murmured from the other side of her.

Sam wanted to snarl at the way the twins had Julie boxed in. What was it with the two of them? They never acted territorial over a woman. When River’s head came up, his sly expression said it all. Sam took a step toward him, ready to get rid of some of his pent-up frustration on his youngest brother, when the sound of his name being called stopped him.

A nurse approached. “Are you Sam Jennings?”

All of them stood. “Yes,” Sam answered, steeling himself against whatever news he was about to receive. “Is my mom okay?”

The woman smiled. “She’s doing just fine, Mr. Jennings. She’s had a mild heart attack, but she’s doing quite well. You can see her now.” She looked at his four brothers, and then Julie. “Uh, it might be best to visit a couple at a time. We don’t want to stress her right now.”

“Of course.” Sam turned to the group and said, “How about Vance and I go in first? Sound good?”

“Yeah,” Brodix said, tucking his hands into the front pockets of his slacks. “Tell her…”

That Brodix, of all people, was suddenly speechless said more than anything about his emotional state. Sam clapped him on the shoulder and squeezed. “You can tell her yourself in a few minutes, bro.”

He nodded, and Sam watched as Julie stepped up and patted Brodix on the shoulder. She appeared perfectly at ease around his brothers. Sam was equal amounts pleased and perturbed by that fact, considering she’d been anything but at ease around
him
. Hell, during the car ride over, she’d said all of two words to him. In fact, she appeared rather adept at completely dismissing him. Sam wasn’t sure what to make of it, or her.

The nurse led them down a hallway, then went through a set of double doors that brought them to a large room with several beds. Each bed was walled off by curtains to give the patient privacy. The memories of coming through the very same room when they’d rushed his dad to the hospital after the stroke swamped Sam until he thought he’d be sick. His dad hadn’t made it home. Sam was determined to see his mom sitting in the front porch swing, reading and hatching new and devious ways to marry her sons off, even if it killed him.

As they approached her section, the nurse pushed a curtain aside. “Your big, handsome sons are here to see you, Wanda.”

Within seconds, Sam took in his mother’s pale face. She looked tired, too tired. “Mom?”

She smiled and held out her arms for a hug. Vance moved to the other side of the bed and leaned down. Her hands shook as they came around his shoulders. “I’m going to be fine, honey. Don’t look so worried.”

Sam looked at the nurse for confirmation of his mother’s statement. “The doctor will be in to see you soon,” she replied.