Page 17 of Perfect Together
“Don’t. Give me a minute. Please.”
With a sigh, she stepped away from the door and led them to a quiet corner of the lobby. With people milling around, they weren’t alone, but at least she was with him. And she was listening.
“Margie’s parents are huge donors. Cara’s in charge of selling tickets for the station, and she begged me to take Margie. Hell, she basically insinuated that the Stinsons would pull out if I didn’t. You weren’t living here yet when I agreed, and even then, I did it under duress.”
Nicole had folded her arms across her chest in a protective manner earlier. She didn’t uncross them now.
His gut churned, and acid flowed in his chest.
“Like I said, you don’t owe me an explanation.” Her lips twitched a little. “But...” She drew out the word. “I’m glad you rushed over here to give me one.”
He released the breath he’d damn well been aware he was holding. “I wanted to tell you at Cuppa Café when you asked me about tonight.”
“But you got called away.”
He nodded. “And I don’t have your number.” He pulled out his phone and held it out to her, determined to rectify that right now.
She accepted the device and programmed her information into it before handing it back. “Sam...”
He looked into her eyes, the blue appearing darker tonight, which seemed to match her suddenly serious tone. “What is it?”
“This isn’t easy to say.”
He didn’t like the sound of that.
She exhaled, and his gaze was drawn to her parted pink lips. He already knew what she tasted like. He knew how soft her mouth was beneath his, what kind of little sounds she made in the back of her throat when that kiss got out of control. No way was she about to walk away.
Was she?
“I moved here to start over, leaving a host of complications behind.” Her eyes glazed with the memory of something that clearly wasn’t good.
Sam narrowed his gaze, but before he could respond, she continued.
“What I’m trying to say is that I’m not looking for anything serious or complicated now,” she said in a soft, apologetic voice. “But—”
He wasn’t looking for serious or complicated, either. Still, she had something more to say, and he leaned in close. “But?” he asked.
“I do want something with you.”
He grinned at that, everything in him easing in ways he didn’t completely understand. “Good. Because I definitely want something with you. And after tonight, there won’t be any more obligations getting in the way.”
***
Many painful hourslater, Sam drove Margie home from the fundraiser. Nicole left earlier, after dancing with more single men than Sam thought Serendipity possessed, and because he had a date, he couldn’t say or do anything.
That would end after tonight.
Margie still lived in her parents’ home, which shared a property line with Faith and Ethan’s house on the hill, both far from Sam’s family’s home on the opposite side of town. But economics had nothing to do with why he’d been ducking her advances for years. He found nothing about her appealing, not her personality or her looks from what he could see—and hear—because she hadn’t stopped talking since they left the country club. Luckily, the club was closer to her end of Serendipity, and soon he pulled into her driveway.
“...and I think your sister likes me, don’t you?” Margie asked.
Sam blinked, realizing he’d missed most of the one-sided conversation.
“Umm... I’m sure she does.” Actually, he figured Erin had as little tolerance for Margie as he had.
“Why don’t you come in for a drink?” She turned in the seat to face him, her ample cleavage plumping over her gown.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”