Page 61 of Sam's Salvation
Sam laughed. “He’d love that,” he said with an eye roll.
The elevator dinged again, and the door swished open. Audra pushed on his chest, but he didn’t move. “Sam. The doors are open.”
“I know.” He brushed a hand through her hair and leaned into her. “I want to know you believe me. I won’t let you down, Audra.”
The doors closed.
Her heart squeezed. She skimmed her fingers over his jaw, her own working as emotions she wasn’t ready to name flowed through her. “Even if we don’t solve this case, I know you’ll be there.”
“I meant what I said in London. I’ll move if I have to. I’m not giving up the second chance we’ve been given.”
The squeeze let go so her heart could soar. Before she could respond, he kissed her, sending her heart even higher. She was glad he wanted to stay. While they’d been gone, she’d done a lot of thinking. She was done being alone.
The doors opened again.
“Oh, sorry.”
Sam lifted his head, and Audra hid her face in his neck. Getting caught necking in an elevator was not something spies did. But Sam threw all her sensibilities out the window. He always had.
“It’s all right,” Sam said. “We’re getting off.”
Head down as she fought a smile, she followed him into the lobby. They headed for the small store adjacent to the check-in desk.
A young woman smiled as they approached. “Hello. What can I get for you?”
“I’d like a lemonade, please.” Audra pointed to the case behind the girl. “And a bag of crisps.” Prawn cocktail crisps would be preferable, but the regular salty kind would do too. She probably should get some protein of some kind, but she really didn’t care. She wanted comfort food.
“Make that two of each,” Sam said.
Audra glanced around the lobby while he paid. It was surprisingly busy. There were a couple of families with young children, several couples, some teenagers, and a handful of businessmen passing through. Las Vegas was hopping even off the Strip.
“Aud.” Sam touched her shoulder with the cold lemonade.
She turned and took the bottle and the bag of crisps. “Cheers.”
“Do you want to stay down here or go upstairs?”
“Let’s walk around a bit. I’m still stiff from the plane.”
They headed outside. Even though it was close to a hundred degrees, the sun felt nice. She tipped her face to the sky and soaked in the warmth.
Hand-in-hand, they wandered the perimeter of the hotel. A plane roared overhead to land at the airport just a few miles away. A child’s shriek, then a splash, drew her attention. She glanced over to see several kids playing in the hotel’s outdoor pool.
Sam used his keycard and let them into the courtyard enclosure. They found a table in the shade and sat down. Audra opened her crisps and watched the kids play. A woman laughed and clapped at one child’s cannonball skills.
A lump formed in her chest. Would she ever have that? A family? Would she ever take a family vacation with her kids and watch them play in the water? Get splashed by them as they jumped off the side?
Her gaze flicked to Sam. He watched the kids too.
“Do you ever think about having a family?” Her eyes widened as the words left her mouth. What? The question was out before she could stop it.
He sat up, surprise flickering in his blue eyes as he looked at her. “In a general sense, sure. Who hasn’t?”
She swallowed and nodded, then ate a crisp as she tried to sort through her thoughts. “Do you want a family?” Her heart thumped. She desperately wanted him to say yes. Why, she didn’t know. She had never particularly wanted a family before. It’s what made her so good at her job. Why she was so committed. It was all she had. All she wanted.
But not anymore.
“I guess that depends on who it’s with. Do you want a family?”