Page 10 of King
“So, why do I get the impression that I interrupted something between you and King when I got home?”Sammy turned on the dishwasher and then pivoted to face Mia, leaning against the counter at her back.
Mia chuckled softly and met her eyes.“I’ve been waiting for you to say something.”
Patience wasn’t one of Sammy’s strong points.“Well?”
Mia shrugged.“What do you think you interrupted?”
A slight frown drew Sammy’s brows together as she took a moment to think about her answer.She released a heavy sigh and said, “If I take into consideration the fact that you were red-faced and panting through swollen lips, and King’s expression looked positively wild,andhe had an erection only a blind person could miss, I’d say you two were making out.”
Mia’s mouth dropped open.Sammy had noticed all that?Damn!Heat crawled up her neck and into her cheeks, and her gaze shifted away from her cousin in embarrassment.
“Don’t even think about downplaying it.I’m not stupid.”Sammy walked to the table and sat.The grin on her face went from ear to ear.“Now spill.”
A sigh of resignation escaped Mia, and she quickly went into what had transpired between her and King since that morning.She left out the full details of what they’d been doing when Sammy had come home, admitting only that they were attracted to each other and had exchanged words and one kiss.She had to explain the swollen lips, right?
The raising of one brow told Mia that Sammy was slightly skeptical over her inadequate explanation.They sat staring at each other for a few minutes before Precious, thank God, came over for attention.Sammy loved Precious.She reached down to give her what she wanted, and Mia relaxed in her chair, thankful for the temporary distraction.
Whatever was going to happen between her and King, it would happen.
Chapter 7
Mia
It was the weekend, and Sammy had a day off from work, so they decided to take a drive to Belfast to do some shopping and have lunch by the coast.Usually just the two of them went, but this time Sammy had invited her co-worker, Ben, along.Sammy insisted that they were just friends, but Mia could tell there was something more going on between them that neither were willing to admit to.The side-long glances that were cast when the other wasn’t looking were a dead giveaway.
As they drove along the coastal road, the chemistry between Sammy and Ben was palpable.They talked and laughed easily, but there was an underlying current of attraction that couldn’t be denied.Mia watched them from the backseat, wondering how long they could keep up the pretense of just being friends.It was time Sammy started dating.She’d been a widow for six years.
Sammy parked in front of a cozy pub on Main Street, where shops stretched out along both sides of the road.They decided to explore each store by foot.Mia trailed behind Sammy and Ben, keeping a respectable distance as they chatted and laughed together.They seemed so at ease with each other, and Mia got a kick out of watching them together.Ben seemed very attentive and considerate of Sammy, and Mia liked that about him.
They entered a small boutique, and Sammy and Ben immediately gravitated towards each other, leaving Mia to browse the racks alone.She tried to focus on the clothes in front of her, but her mind kept drifting back to King.She continued thumbing through the selection on the discount rack, not really in the mood to purchase anything, wondering when she would see him again.
“Hey, Cuz.”Mia heard Sammy behind her and spun around.“There’s a few of us meeting up at the American Legion Hall later tonight.Want to go?”
Mia looked at Ben.“You served in the military?”He was a nice-looking man—clean-cut blond hair and blue eyes, with a build that looked hard and lean in the jeans and t-shirt he was wearing.
He nodded, sporting a proud expression.“Twenty years,” he said.“And they have a live band tonight.”