Page 74 of Perfect Together
He let out a low growl, one she was coming to recognize as hisI’m close to losing controlsound. She liked that she could do this to such a strong, normally composed man. He turned his head and caught her lips, his minty taste mingling with the dough she’d been sneaking.
“Break it up, you two,” Sara said, joining them.
Nicole ducked, and Sam swiped at the remaining dough on his cheek. A few seconds later, Sammy came skidding back into the room.
“Didya wait for me to put the cookies on the pan?” she asked.
“I did. Let’s get to work.”
She busied herself teaching Sammy how much dough to scoop and proper placement of cookies on the sheet, but her tingling body reminded her that Sam wouldn’t be easily forgotten.
The rest of the weekend passed quickly, and too soon, Nicole had repacked her things and was back in Serendipity in her new home. Sam had dropped her off, explaining that he had to meet up with his brother, and she’d promised to remain at home until he knew the status of the Russians.
While she unpacked from the weekend, she reflected on her time away. Considering she’d left to escape trouble, she’d enjoyed herself way more than she should have. Nicole had gotten used to living with Sam—making love at night, sometimes waking up and doing it again in the morning. He’d let down his guard with her, and she saw a different side to the man.
He was a doting godfather, a solid friend to Sara, and a guy’s guy with her husband, Mark. With Nicole, he’d been attentive, and she’d enjoyed their time alone together and with Sammy, listening to her chatter. When Mark came home, she was treated to a firsthand look into the married couple’s dynamic. They were obviously in love, and their family with Sammy was one Nicole envied and knew she’d want to replicate if she ever had the chance to have a husband and child of her own.
Because her own family didn’t exist. Her parents? Hadn’t called her on her birthday. Her twin? Was still psychotic and delusional. Any friends she had? Were better off in New York City with their fake lives. Nicole’s throat swelled, and she pushed back the pain. Pain she ought to be used to. But the more she let down her walls with Sam and his friends, the more she began to feel. She hadn’t realized just how much she’d shut off those emotions over the years, but here they were, rearing their ugly, unwanted heads.
Especially the ones involving Sam. And that was something she couldn’t allow. So as soon as she wrapped up the mess with Tyler’s father, she’d turn her focus to creating her new life in Serendipity. She had a house of her own, a business to start and build, and friends like Macy to cultivate. Sam could be her sex buddy, but she’d be a fool to let down her walls any further, only to end up with her heart sliced out of her chest.
***
Sam walked intothe police station and headed directly to his brother’s office. He knocked once and let himself inside, shutting the door behind him. For a man who’d fought the idea of settling down in Serendipity, Mike had done so with seeming ease. The office used to belong to their father, Simon, and all the pictures on the walls were the same, depicting their hometown over the years. But the photographs on the desk belonged to Mike, and those were of himself and Cara. Some were facing inward, but others faced out, and Sam only had to look at the happy couple to know his brother had changed.
Sam, of all people, knew it hadn’t been easy for Mike. He also remembered being one of the people to help his brother see what he could have with Cara. Ironic, since Sam didn’t believe in the same kind of thing for himself.
But something had shifted inside him after this weekend with Nicole. It felt deep and profound, yet Sam couldn’t put a name on it. He couldn’t bring himself to examine it too closely.
“Hey, you called and asked me to stay so we could talk. Are you going to stand there? Or did you have something on your mind?” Mike asked, breaking into Sam’s thoughts.
He’d come directly from dropping off Nicole at home. His own suitcases were still in the trunk. He’d needed to talk to his brother.
“All quiet in town after I left?” Sam asked.
Mike nodded. “The festival ended, and everyone cleared out. Stanton left town, as you know. The Russians hadn’t checked into any nearby motels and were gone by nightfall. I didn’t see them around again, and believe me, I had an eye out.”
“Has Stanton been in touch?” Sam had given Tyler Mike’s number and told him to fill his brother in on any progress or lack thereof at home.
Mike nodded. “He tried to talk his father into coming clean, but his old man is more afraid of his clients than the cops. He knows the Russians could get to him in jail or out. So he’s refusing. Told Tyler if he could get Nicole back home and under his thumb, everything would be fine.”
Sam let out a low, threatening sound.
“Yeah. We all know that’s not happening,” Mike said, chuckling. “His old man’s delusional.”
Sam nodded.
“I told Stanton the feds want Nicole to wear a wire with his father. He balked. Wants to do it himself.”
Sam raised an eyebrow, feeling a surprising swell of admiration for Nicole’s ex. Maybe Stanton wasn’t such a jerk after all. “I’d rather he take the risk than Nicole. When do the feds want this to go down?”
“They’re watching Romanov. He headed back to LA, so not for a while. You’ll be the first to know when I do.”
Sam nodded. “Thanks. I’m keeping quiet about all this until Nicole needs to know. No use getting her worked up over something that may not come to pass.”
“That’s your call.” Mike folded his arms across his chest and met Sam’s gaze. “Speaking of Nicole, how’s your girl?”
“She’s not...” He caught his brother’s raised eyebrows and look of disbelief. “Yeah, umm, she’s fine.”