Page 67 of Perfect Together
Without warning, a huge spray of water hit them both, and Sara turned toward her daughter. “Sammy, watch where you splash!” she called out.
“Sorry!” The little girl bounced up and down in the water. “Mommy, when can I go to Rebecca’s?”
Sara smiled at her daughter. “We’ll go after lunch.”
Satisfied with the answer, Sammy retreated back into her own world to play.
“Sorry about that,” Sara said, turning back to Nicole.
“Don’t worry about it.” Nicole liked observing the mother-daughter bond between these two.
The whole concept was such an anomaly in her life that watching them caused an ache near her heart, making her acutely aware of everything she’d lacked growing up. She wondered if she’d get the chance to be a mother, and if so, she was determined to do a better job than her own had done.
Sara pushed herself up onto the edge of the pool, and Nicole joined her, their legs dangling into the water.
“Now, where were we?” Sara asked. “Oh yes. You said Sam’s not into relationships. And I beg to differ. He only thinks he doesn’t want to get emotionally involved.”
Nicole glanced at the handsome, self-contained man on the lounge chair and sighed. “You have to admit he’s got good reasons to avoid one,” Nicole said, knowing Sam was afraid of being hurt again.
Sara raised her eyebrows. “So did I.” She swept her hand around, gesturing to the beautiful home and the little girl babbling to herself a few feet away, as if to say,But look what I have now.
“You’re miraculous,” Nicole said, meaning it in every way.
The other woman flushed. “No, I’m just a survivor. So I take it Sam told you about my first husband?”
Nicole nodded. “I hope that’s okay.” She’d hate to get him in trouble for betraying a confidence.
Sara met her gaze. “It’s fine. Sam knows I volunteer at the hospital, talking to domestic abuse groups, so sharing is what I do.”
Nicole stuck by her view of Sara being an incredible woman, but she wouldn’t embarrass her by saying it again. “I’m glad you and Sam are still close,” she said instead. Because Sara seemed like that rare person—trustworthy and loyal—and Sam deserved a friend like her.
She smiled. “The feeling’s mutual, and I just want him to be happy. He’s refused to open himself up to the idea of love. It’s like he shut down, and to be honest, I was beginning to think he’d always be alone. But just the fact that he brought you here tells me he’s changing.”
Nicole shook her head, not wanting Sara to formulate the wrong idea about her and Sam. “I’m only here because I’m in trouble, and we needed to get out of town for a few days.” Sam had mentioned that he’d been vague but honest with Sara about Nicole’s situation when he asked her if they could come stay.
“Well, he could have brought you to a hotel.”
“He tried. It’s racing season.”
“So why didn’t he choose another location?” Sara smirked, sure of her conclusions. “Instead, he brought you here, to an old friend who knows him better than anyone. That tells me he’s more invested than even he knows.”
Nicole’s heart squeezed tight, longing and hope threatening to rise, and she ruthlessly quashed the emotions. Sam had made himself clear. No matter how attached she might be getting, and she’d be a fool to deny it to herself, she couldn’t set herself up for pain and heartache. They were neighbors. And when things ended, she’d have to live in his small town and make their friendship work.
“Sara—” Nicole wanted to stop the speculation and conversation, but the other woman was on a roll.
“Now, maybe you’re not ready for a relationship, as you said,” Sara went on. “Or maybe that’s an excuse because Sam told you up front that he isn’t interested in one. I don’t know. But I like you. And I like you with Sam.”
“Thank you,” Nicole said, not knowing what else to say.
Sara tipped her head up toward the sun. “I’m just calling it like I see it. Sam’s relaxed around you. He watches you and smiles when he thinks you’re not looking.”
“He does?”
It took every ounce of Nicole’s self-control for her not to turn around and sneak a peek at the man and see for herself.
Sara merely grinned.
Which led her to wonder what she’d do if Sam Marsden suddenly decided he was all in and wanted more. The answer, which she’d never admit to out loud, had her wanting to dive in and submerge herself in the pool.