Chapter 12
The evening turned out amazing. Sam managed to keep Bruno and Las Vegas and the Raiders out of his mind. Mostly. His speech was well received, and Delia said several new prospective donors invited her to contact them. He and Chloe danced to “What a Wonderful World.” He pulled Chloe close.
“It certainly is. Since you’re in it,” he murmured into her ear.
How much longer until he could take her back to the condo, have her alone, and kiss her silly?
He moved her around the dance floor, humming the words.
The song ended and moved into “Love is Here to Stay.” “It’s like our personal playlist tonight. ”
She chuckled and pulled him closer. He kept an eye out for that Carla person, but except for the death stare before dinner, she’d made herself scarce.
When the band took a break, Sam held Chloe’s hand as he guided her through the crowd, talking to various people. Nashville’s state representative to Congress. Music Row executives. They wandered outside, watching people taking hot air balloon rides.
“Do you want to go up?” He nodded at the basket attached to brightly striped silks.
She shuddered. “I don’t do heights.”
“They’re tethered the whole time.”
“Thanks, but no.”
“You double-dog dared me to jump off the roof into the swimming pool, but you’re scared of heights?”
“It’s how I deal with it. Watching others. Jean-Marc thought I was crazy too. But he enjoyed showing off, doing his extreme skiing and stuff for me.” A note of melancholy crept into her voice, and Sam squeezed her hand.
They told Buck and JoJo goodnight and Sam called for the limo.
“Did you have a good time?” Sam slid into the back seat next to her.
“I can’t believe there was a golf cart drive-in movie outside along with the hot air balloon rides. And this swag bag is over the top. Prada sunglasses. A Tiffany bracelet. But more importantly, do you feel properly honored?”
He pulled her close. “Not quite yet. But I have an idea how you can help.”
Once they arrived back at his condo, she changed out of her princess dress into lounge pants and a long-sleeved tee, then joined him in the living room with her bag. The lights of Nashville twinkled below them.
“How about something to drink before I drive you home?” Sam handed her a glass of white wine and patted the overstuffed couch.
She settled into a corner, drew her feet up, and sipped. “From Pat Jasak as emcee to entertainment by Buck, this was an amazing night. Thank you.”
“In spite of an appearance by Curvy Carla?”
“You know, I feel for her. She must think being a groupie fulfills her in some way. I think that she’s just wounded and lonely.” Chloe’s cheeks turned red as she sipped her wine.
Sam took the glass and set it on the coffee table, then pulled her close.
“I think I just fell in love with you all over again. Chloe, you’re right.
I need to start having that same attitude.
” His thumb traced a path along her jaw before he cupped her chin.
His lips followed the line of her jaw, kissing her sweetly.
Their slow smolder sparked into a flame, and he knew he’d go too far if he didn’t pull away.
But Chloe moved first, dashing tears from her eyes.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t—” He felt stricken and worried. He was moving too quickly. He should have known better.
She shook her head, put a palm on his chest. “No. Never be sorry. I—I liked it. I like you. In that way. I’m still shocked that I can feel these things again. For so long, I believed that the kissing, the passion, the feeling of being wanted part of my life was over, that it died with Jean-Marc.”
“And you make me think about the future in a way I never have. A house. Kids.”
“Me too. Jean-Marc and I never got around to kids because we were both so busy working but I want that, Sam. I do.” She leaned against him and tucked her head into the crook of his neck. “I love your place. I could stay here all night.”
“Well, that would be dangerous.”
She sat up. “I meant—well, it is rather late.”
“I’ll take you home.” Because if they stayed much longer—well, yeah, they should get going.
She scrambled to her feet and reached for her jacket.
Sam grabbed keys from a hook on the wall. “I do love you, Chloe. I’m all in. I’ll wait until you’re ready, but can you hurry it up?”
“Keep talking to me about houses and children and giving me passionate kisses and I’ll be completely yours before you know it.”
Once they were on the highway to Hearts Bend, the dark night and stars outside the car gave Chloe the feeling they were the only two people in the world. They were silent as the sportscar ate up the miles.
Chloe cleared her throat. “You’ve gotten quiet.”
He smiled and glanced at her. “Yeah, sorry. I had a call from my agent this afternoon. Just thinking about our conversation. What I should do next.”
“Have you prayed about it?”
“Where did that come from? Are we praying now? Going to Bible study?”
She sat silent. They’d rarely talked about faith. Maybe this wasn’t the time.
“I’m sorry, that sounded rude and flip,” he said.
“Mom and I—she told me the only way she got through the months after Daddy died was holding on to God’s hand. I was being rude and glib and reached out a hand to Him…”
“And?”
“Sam, I felt something—someone took my hand and held it.” She shivered at the memory. “I felt it as sure as I can feel this leather seat under my palm.”
He gave her a quick glance before returning his gaze to the road. “I believe you. I’m just not sure faith and God are for me anymore.”
“Then what about talking to your dad? He’s always cared about you and your career.”
“We don’t have that kind of relationship anymore.”
“Sam, you tell me you love me, or could love me. So please tell me what is this rift between you and your dad? I know it’s about the divorce, but it seems like there’s more to it than just that. You used to be close.”
“Not since…”
“Not since?” Chloe prompted.
“Ah, what the heck. I never told anyone this.” He drummed his fingers on the gear shift knob. “Not since I walked in on him and Janice when I was fifteen.”
“Oh, Sam.” Dismay filled her. What must that have been like? How awful for him.
“Jake and I were meeting at his house then going to the batting cages. I walked into the kitchen and caught them—well, making out seems ridiculous to say, but I guess it’s accurate.
” He shook his head as if trying to dislodge the image or erase it.
“Kissing his secretary. What a cliché. So like Frank.”
“I don’t know what to say.” She sounded as appalled as he must have felt that day.
“I stood there, frozen. Then I dropped my bat and glove and I ran.” He glanced at her, shock and horror and shame and guilt flickering across his face.
“Did you tell your mom?”
“She left a couple weeks later. I dreaded telling her, so I decided not to. I agonized over it, figuring that I had to. But when I got home and saw her car pulling out, I knew. The note on the kitchen table was a formality.”
“Why didn’t you talk to me?”
“It was too humiliating. Within a few days, everyone at school and church knew. People patted me on the head, gave me sympathetic looks. I hated Dad.”
She made a low scoff. “You just called him Dad, not Frank.”
“Freudian slip.”
“I think it’s a heart slip. You still love him.”
He glanced at her. “We both lost our fathers, just in different ways. We also lost…” He paused. “Lost our futures with them. If that makes sense.”
“Totally. Dad didn’t see me graduate. My uncle Vern walked me down the aisle when I married Jean-Marc. But Frank watched you play ball all through high school and college. He’s proud of your pro career.”
“I don’t want to be like him. An adulterer. That’s why I never talk to him.”
“Yet you slept with women you didn’t care about, one-night stands, no relationships?” She called him on it. She’d been wanting to since he first mentioned Frank’s affair. “How does that make you any different?”
He sighed. “That’s just it. I’m not. Or at least I wasn’t. I’m trying to be a stand-up, faithful guy now. But with Frank’s blood in my veins…”
“Sam, you’re believing a lie. Just like you called me on my lie, I’m calling you out.” She gave him a steady look, the dash lights casting a glow on his chiseled face. “Frank’s been with Janice for fifteen years. Did you see the way he looked at her at the party?”
“I tried not to look at either one of them.”
“He loves her. He’s also not traded her in for a newer model.”
“What’s your point?” Sam’s bitterness came through loud and clear.
“I’m not saying what your dad did was right, Sam. Not in the least. But I think your bias has kept you from something pretty special. Have you ever considered this? Your dad stayed. Your mom left.”
“Sure, but Mom left because of him.”
“She didn’t have to leave Hearts Bend and move all the way to Charlotte.”
He shrugged. “True.”
“I think you should talk to your dad. If not about the past, then about your career. Mom says he’s a smart businessman. He’ll have good words for you.”