Some Day Somebody (19 page)

***

Sam was so glad to see her he nearly missed the broken window. Once he saw it, a cold fury for the man he knew had to be responsible flooded through his system. He riveted his gaze back to the only important factor.  Carrie looked like a lady whose tenuous hold on a wildcat had about broken loose.  He brushed his fury aside long enough to open his arms to the woman he cared for.

They stood on his front porch just outside the doorway of his home, for God and everyone to see, for a full five minutes. He rubbed shoulders that practically vibrated with nervous tension, praying the bastard hadn’t touched her. They stood, Carrie’s face buried in his chest, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist. He rocked from side to side, keeping his silence until she pushed away with a renewed grip on her emotions.

“You okay?” He didn’t trust himself to ask more than that.

She nodded and wiped at the corner of her eye. “I am now, but it was a long drive. Can you show me where your restroom is, please?”

Once she’d stepped into his bathroom, he walked out to get a closer look at her car. His jaw clenched furiously as he examined the jagged crack in the windshield. God, he hoped she wasn’t in the driver’s seat when that happened.

He walked back into the house to pace impatiently until she rejoined him.

By the time Carrie emerged, looking relatively unscathed, Sam was the one tied in knots.

She approached slowly and lifted her gaze to his. “Hey.”

Once more, he reined in his anger for her. “Hey pretty girl. You ready to talk about it yet?”

She released a trembling breath. “Dave showed up at my door just as I was leaving.
 
If I’d left one minute earlier, I’d have missed him, but there is a bright side to this.”

Sam shifted uneasily and clasped his hands behind his head, squeezing his elbows together. “I’d love to hear it right about now.”

She placed her hand gently on his chest to calm him.

“Go on, tell me the rest.”

“He’s behind the phone calls, Sam. You and my mom were both right.”

Once he heard everything she and Rob discussed, he grunted his approval. “It sounds like the Chief’s on the ball.”

“He is. Now, can we please drop the subject for the rest of the night?”

Sam smiled and stepped back to drink in her appearance. “You always look good, but...Wow. Is all this for me?”

She made a show of looking around the room. “Actually, it’s for that other guy I saw lounging around here—”

He pulled her close.
“Always the smart ass.”

“Would you want me any other way?” she asked, one delicate brow arched in question.

“Absolutely not.”

He locked his arms around her, luxuriating in her warmth, her soft curves, and her smell, spicy and sensual. He felt the rightness of her being here, like some missing piece of his life had fallen neatly into place.

She buried her nose in the front of his shirt and groaned, low and inviting. “God, you smell good.”

He rested his chin on the top of her head. “It feels good having you here, Carrie.”

“It feels good being here,” she said. “It’s easier than I thought it’d be.”

He grinned at the wonder of her thoughts mirroring his so closely. “Is it?”

She nodded and pulled away from him.  “It’s too damn easy.” He watched as she looked around, wishing again he had more to offer.

“So, I’ve already seen the bathroom. Want to show me around the rest of your place?”

“It’s a simple place, and I’m a simple man, I guess, but it’s been my home sweet home for twenty years. Well…sometimes it was sweet.” He grimaced at painful memories. “Other times, not so much.” He showed her the living room, kitchen, and small dining area in the back.

“This place has good bones, but it does seem a little bare.”

“Yeah, well Linda took a few things with her when she left initially, then a few more things over the last year or so.”

She bobbed her head in agreement. “It looks like a man cave.
Two bachelors living alone.”

“I guess I got used to it. Would you like a beer or something? I’ve got your favorite.”

“Just in case you thought you could get me drunk and have your way with me?” she teased.

“You know I wouldn’t do that, don’t you?”

Carrie smiled at him. “I know that. I’ll take that beer, thanks.” She accepted the long neck bottle from him. “How’d you know this was my favorite beer?”

“I heard you tell J.C. a couple of months ago,” he answered.

“You paid attention that long ago?”

He opened a door and nodded. “Here’s the spare room, and here’s my room,” he said, reaching out to push open the partially closed door to reveal his king-size bed.

“That’s a big ole bed,” she admitted.

“Too big,” he murmured.

“What?”

“Uh, I’m tall, so I need a big bed.” He led her to the back end of the house where the dining room and second bath were located.

After Carrie admired his various pieces of woodworking, which included the dining room table, she pointed to a doorway at the end of the back hall. “What’s through there?”

“Nick’s
room,
and it’s not fit for human eyes.”

Carrie raised her hand. “Say no more; I have a son around that age and I don’t go into his room unless my tetanus shot is up to date. You keep a neat house, Sam.”

He laughed. “It wasn’t quite this neat when you called. I mopped and did some laundry.”

“Just for me?”

Sam beamed down at her and nodded. “You impressed, yet?”

“I am.”

He turned, remembering the gift he’d bought her. “Hold on a sec, I got a little something for you.” He walked into his bedroom to retrieve the gift. By the time he got back to her, she held a wrapped gift in her hands. “Great minds think alike, I guess.” He held a gift bag up to her.
“Merry Christmas, Carrie.”

She opened the card first and smiled at the Christmas Village scene. She remained silent as she read what he’d written on the blank surface:

Carrie,

 
He watched her blink rapidly, as though to keep tears back.

“Thank you, Sam.” She put the card gently aside and turned her attention to the package. She pulled out the sheets of tissue to reveal a stuffed alligator with a wreath around its neck and carrying a sign in its mouth that boasted
Cajun Christmas Greetings.
The bag also contained a package of Magnolia scented potpourri.

A wide smile spread across her face as she looked at the stuffed gator.
“How adorable.
Thank you, Sam. I love it.” She turned around and gave him a hug. “Now, it’s your turn,” she told him as she handed him the box and card.

He read the card first and thanked her, then opened the boxed ‘Facts for Fun’ note block, each sheet bordered with interesting facts and statements.

“So you never run out of useless information,” she explained.

“Man, I love reading stuff like this.” Thank You, Carrie.”

He leaned toward her, and brushed her lips lightly with a kiss, then backed away. His gaze locked onto hers like a beacon, and within moments he’d pulled Carrie into his arms for a
nother
kiss; this one deep, penetrating, and perfect. Sam knew he got it right when she shivered and arched her back like a cat. Tongues softly explored, lips molded, heads tilted ever so slightly to achieve just the right angle for optimum contact, he felt her arms loop around his neck to cling as tightly as he did. He hadn’t experienced a kiss like that in too damn long.

He ended it slowly, pulling away, going back for just one more, then another, then one last taste of softness. Finally, backing off, separating himself from her, denying the contact his body longed for.

A single sigh escaped her lips as she stepped away, squeezing her eyes closed for a moment longer. When she finally met his gaze, he saw his own feelings of need reflecting back. He knew she also felt unsure of him, terrified to take another chance. He stared down at her, feeling lucky, and curious.
What does life have in store for the two of us?

She backed away from him and cleared her throat nervously. “So, what’s the plan for this evening?” She walked slowly to the tree, her booted footsteps echoing on the bare wooden floor.

“I thought I’d take you to a restaurant first, then a movie.”

“I haven’t been on a dinner and a movie date since the twins were in first grade.
 
Is there a theater around here?”

“No, but it’s only thirty minutes to Lake Coburn,” he answered. “Do you feel like getting back on the road?”

“As long as I don’t have to drive.
Do you have the internet to check the schedule?”

Sam pulled out a pad he’d written on. “No internet, no computer, but I got the list of movies as well as the times they start.” He placed it on the counter top and they bent their heads to study it.

Carrie tapped the paper with her forefinger. “I heard the one with George Clooney was really good.”

Sam pointed to the comedy. “I heard the same thing about this one.” He laughed at the face she made. “We can see something else.”

“How about this one?” she asked, pointing to the last on the list.

Sam sucked in his stomach and puffed out his chest. “You’re not going to be comparing me to Val Kilmer all night, are you?”

“Of course not.”
She waved her hand in front of her face. “No comparison,” she added.

Sam beamed down at her. “Thanks, I feel better now.”

“I love me some Val Kilmer. I can still see him playing volleyball in Top Gun.” Sam groaned as he deflated in utter dejection.

Carrie laughed and placed her hand on his chest. “But then, again, I’m not on a date with Val, am I? Relax, Big Boy.” She looked down at the paper again. “There’s a feature at eight o’clock and it’s a quarter to six. I don’t have a problem with fast food for supper.”

Sam pushed away from the counter and shook his head. “My momma would slap me good if I took my first date in nearly twenty-five years to a burger joint. You want steak or seafood?”

She closed her eyes and sighed. “
Mmm
...
steak
...definitely.”

“Beef...It’s what’s
fer
supper,” he said, putting his own twist on Sam Elliot’s advertisement. He placed a light kiss on her fingers. “Let’s go.”

***

Less than five minutes later, Carrie stepped down from Sam’s truck and gave him a tentative smile.  “You know, if we were in Gardiner, tongues would be wagging already.  You sure you want to do this?”

“I doubt anyone expects me to live the rest of my life like a monk. Besides, I want to show you off, pretty girl.” Sam paused at the door of the restaurant, his hand on the knob as he stared down at her.