Page 9 of More than a Memory
“I am so happy I ran into you, Darcy. I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment for a year,” he said.
“Well, I’ve got to go,” Darcy said suddenly, so uncomfortable she thought she would crawl out of her skin. “See ya!” she tossed over her shoulder as she practically jogged away from Sam, leaving him standing there wondering if he had said something wrong.
“Until tomorrow then,” he said to her rapidly retreating back, a ball of energy and wild red hair.
Wow, he thought to himself, what just happened? He had a feeling that he would have to tread slowly and lightly with this one. She reminded him of a skittish thoroughbred straight off the racetrack. She most definitely had her guard up, her wariness obvious. Sam stood there for several moments contemplating the apparent contradictions that were Darcy Morgan. He was intrigued and up for the challenge he thought. He felt an inner buzz that he hadn’t experienced for a long time. Almost a year to be exact. Smiling, he pushed his cart down the next aisle in search of canned cat food. He found himself whistling softly under his breath.
Darcy hastily paid for her purchases as she glanced over her shoulder, hoping to get out of there before she ran into Sam again. She didn’t know what had gotten into her. While standing there talking to Sam, she had suddenly felt as if she couldn’t breathe. She almost went into a full panic attack. It had begun when she looked into his warm hazel eyes. The greenish-brown color surrounded by thick dark lashes had drawn her in so much so that, for a moment, she lost track of where she was. It was even more than that. His warm gaze, full of compassion and kindness, was just too much. It was as if he could see into her soul and knew her every thought and feeling. She felt completely exposed. It was creepy, she thought. Maybe she should cancel their date for tomorrow. She franticly searched for any excuse she could think of.
Relief flooded her as she reached her van, tossed her bags into the back, slammed her cart into the corral, and was able to speed away without having to run into Sam again. “Phew, thank God!” She thought of herself as somewhat of a tough nut, but she was currently rethinking her assessment. Her heart was still racing, and it felt like it was jumping right out of her chest.
“Girl,” she said to herself, “you are thirty-four years old; you carry a gun and take on the bad guys.”
She had to admit to herself that the bad guys were a lot less frightening than the sweet, kind, and earnest Sam variety. She could handle the jerks, but she couldn’t say the same about this man.
“Oh, Fannie! What have I gotten myself into?”
6
Casey called to see if Sam wanted to redeem the dinner raincheck that evening. Since it was Friday, they were ordering pizza to be delivered and she was hoping he would join them. She added a movie night to the enticement, and he accepted.
“Bring Mimi and Bella with you, too. Dugan misses his cousins,” Casey said, referring to their canine family members.
Sam had inherited a bull terrier that someone had dumped at the clinic in desperate shape. He had done some necessary surgery to keep her alive and brought her back to good health. She had quite the personality and didn’t like most people. However, she was besotted with Sam and considered him all hers. In the rescue world, she would be considered a foster fail.
“OK, sounds good. I’ve got some news,” he said mysteriously.
“What?” Casey asked curiously.
“I’ll tell you when I get there. It will make good dinner conversation,” he said.
“Sam, I can’t wait until then. Tell me now!” she pleaded.
“Bye, Sis!” he said, disconnecting the phone with laughter in his voice.
* * *
Darcy pulled into her garage, next to her sister’s sports car. Good, she thought, Annie was home. She loaded her arms down with her groceries and she and Fannie went inside. Freddie and Mac were sniffing Fannie jealously as she pranced in front of them, proud of herself.
“You guys will get your turns,” Darcy reassured them.
“How was your day?” Annie inquired.
“Well, it was pretty exciting. Let me get our dinner started and I’ll tell you all about it. Why don’t you pour us a glass of wine and I’ll put you to work chopping garlic,” Darcy instructed.
“You got it,” Annie said, glad to be of help.
“How about you? Any more texts or phone calls today?” she asked with apprehension.
“Just a dozen red roses delivered, and he stopped in the salon again today. I was doing color on a client and he walked in and interrupted me right in the middle of our conversation,” Annie said, annoyed.
“Annie, I’m going to suggest this again: restraining order. This guy is not getting your message. so maybe you need to take it to the next level,” Darcy implored.
“A restraining order will only anger him more. He won’t obey it anyway. You’ve watchedDateline; you know how that goes. Anyway, he is a cop!” Annie said, as if that explained everything.
“Yes, and that makes it even more threatening, as far as I’m concerned,” Darcy insisted.
“Look, I know you won’t like this, but I’ve agreed to meet him for coffee tomorrow at Café Olé. He has promised to change. He said he can’t live without me and that he realizes how terrible he has been. He agreed to go to therapy if I will reconsider taking him back,” Annie said defensively, trying her best to convince her sister.