“You know I could have done that if you’d explained how. You didn’t have to get gunked up or take over all man-style.”
I grimaced, reached into my pocket, and handed her the eight of spades. “I overstep boundaries to fix problems the women in my life can probably handle themselves. Maybe it’s from growing up with four sisters, or maybe I’m overprotective.”
“That’s hardly a sin,” she said with a grin, “but I’ll take it.” She hopped to the floor and tugged her shorts down so they covered her to mid-thigh. “So, Friday date night?” she asked.
My fingers tightened on the counter. “I know we usually go out on Friday…”
“Are you canceling on me?” She shot me a look so full of sass that I almost kissed it off her.
“Hell no. I was thinking we’d keep it low-key tonight? Jagger is headed to Paisley’s, and Josh—”
“Is out!” Josh called as he passed by the kitchen. “I can make it to Nashville by ten if I leave now, so I’ll catch you later!”
“Right,” I finished.
Sam swayed toward me. “Are you trying to get me alone? Maybe score a little make-out session?”
My stomach muscles tightened as she ran her fingers down the lines of my abs. “Sam, we’re not fifteen, and if all I wanted was a make-out, I’d carry you upstairs and shut my bedroom door.”
“That’s a date-night I could get behind. Or I could set the timer for seven minutes and pull you into the closet.” Her eyes sparkled.
“Dinner, movie, closet. Gotcha.”
She laughed, brushed her lips across mine, and skipped off to the shower. It took all my willpower not to follow her in.
“I like this,” she said a couple hours later, her head in my lap as we pretended to watch whatever chick flick she’d chosen.
“Me, too.” I skimmed her cheekbone with my thumb.
“You know what would make this room perfect?”
If you were naked. “What?”
“A window seat. I mean, it’s almost my perfect house. Hardwood in the kitchen, granite counters, porch swing out front, a big backyard… It’s almost there.”
“And the window seat would make it perfect?”
“A window seat and a view of the front range.” She smiled wistfully.
“You want to live in Colorado?” My stomach plummeted.
“It’s the only place that’s ever really felt like home. I still have this hope that I can get back in. Even if I have to face him, it would be worth it.”
“You can. Are you excited to see your mom?”
She nodded. “It’ll be nice to spend a few days with her. Definitely worth making up my classwork for. Her homecoming is still on schedule, so this time tomorrow night, I’ll have her.”
“And this time Thursday I’ll pick you up in the Outer Banks,” I promised.
“That, I can’t wait for.” She cupped my cheek. “Look, just because I’m there, don’t think you have to…” Her gaze fell away. “I mean, I don’t expect to bake brownies with your mom or anything.”
“One, if you bake brownies with my mom, please get her recipe. She’s insanely stingy with it. Second, Samantha, I’m not hiding you. In fact, my parents want all of you to come over for dinner when we get there. You’re a part of my life, and I want them to know you.”
A small family gathering was exactly perfect to introduce her to our madness.
“I’ll wear a longer skirt,” she promised.
“Just be you, Sam. That’s all I need.”
She sat up on my lap and kissed me softly, sweetly. “I’m going to miss you.”
I captured her hand with mine and pressed a kiss to her palm, savoring her indrawn breath. “Same here. Have I ever told you what beautiful hands you have?” Everything was beautiful on her, fingers included.
“You’ll like them better once they’re on you,” she promised, her eyes darkening.
“Anytime you want, Samantha.” Sex wasn’t something we’d really discussed, and our hands had stayed strictly above clothes, although I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep my hands off her skin without going insane.
“Soon,” she whispered.
“Soon.”