Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
The chaos of the time crunch for Clarissa’s second dress keeps me on my toes all day.
I don’t have a spare moment to let my thoughts drift.
We’ve made excellent progress and should be on track to finish tomorrow.
I can’t believe I’m leaving at a reasonable hour.
It’s not until I’m walking back to the Tube station that I’m able to check my phone.
Sam texted me a couple times, the first message coming three hours ago.
Sam
I’ve just settled Celine and finished meeting with her headmaster. I’m returning to London now.
Then he sent me another one an hour ago.
Sam
I know you might be late, so I hope you don’t mind that I let myself into your flat and am taking over preparing dinner tonight.
I linger outside the fare gates and shoot off a quick message to my man.
Min
Tapping in to the Tube now. Be home in twenty. I hope you didn’t make me green eggs and ham.
Sam
No green eggs and ham.
He sends me a photo of a takeaway bag from The Tank.
Sam
I picked up something from Miller’s restaurant.
Min
*Happy-face emoji* Can’t wait to see what’s inside.
Sam
That requires a password.
Min
Not some magic words?
Sam
Nope. If you’ve finally figured them out, those magic words are reserved for something else I have in mind.
Min
Would that be the infamous magic trick you want to show me?
Sam
*Zipper-mouth emoji*
Min
Fair enough. See you soon.
When I enter my building, it’s pitch-black inside. I turn on the flashlight on my phone and use it to guide me up the stairs to my flat. I blow out hot air. I can’t win with power cuts. As I enter my apartment, I call out, “Sam?”
“In here.” I walk deeper into the apartment. Sam has his phone’s flashlight turned on too. He stands from the table.
“Hi. How long has the power been out? The whole building is dark.”
“An hour maybe? I kept hoping it would magically come back on.” He sighs. “I had this grand plan. I was going to have dinner ready for you and we were going to eat by candlelight. Just as I was about to heat up the dinners on your range cooker, everything went dark.”
I set my phone down and wrap my arms around Sam. He does the same. It’s been a long time since we were finally alone. I’d forgotten how natural it feels to be embraced by him. He smells like garlic and spice.
“You’re so sweet. As much as I would’ve loved a romantic dinner with you over candlelight, eating by the light of our phones is the next best thing.”
“Even if it’s a cold dinner?”
“Yes. The only thing I need, I have right here.”
“And what’s that?” he says in a low, raspy tone.
“You.” I poke him in the nose.
He chuckles and leans forward. All I can see is his silhouette, illuminated by the backlight of our phones, but that doesn’t stop him from finding my neck. He plants a series of long, soft kisses leading up to my mouth. Each one feels like a warm breeze on one of the first days of summer.
“You’re all I need too, my beautiful Fashion Guru.”
With his thumbs, he traces the outline of my lips. I shiver. Deep inside of me, a sleeping tiger is awakening. I’ve waited for a kiss from him for three long weeks. I’m hungry for his lips to be on mine. I can’t stop myself.
“Kiss me,” I purr.
Without any hesitation, his lips meet mine.
Having had a small taste of his lips, my inner tiger suddenly roars and pounces with desire.
I slide one hand into his hair and move the other to his back.
Sam pulls me in closer to him. His chest is pressed right against mine. Heat sears through our bodies.
“I’ve missed you so much, Min.” He doesn’t relinquish his hold on me.
“We have a lot of lost time to make up for, but I promise, I’m not going anywhere,” I whisper.
“Good, because neither am I.”
As Sam speaks these words, I can feel just how much he means it. Yes, we’ve had our problems communicating with one another recently, but he has made it clear it wasn’t on purpose. In fact, the point of us having dinner tonight is to talk and work out our problems.
I was worried our relationship would be one sided, but it’s not. It’s clear to me now that he intends to be just as committed to me as I am to him. That’s when it hits me—I have fallen head over heels for Sam I Am.
We kiss again, this one is slower and more intimate. My inner tiger is purring loudly with contentment, like the constant hum of a motor. Sam is the man for me. I could easily stay wrapped in his arms for hours, kissing the night away. That’s when my stomach lets out an unlady-like growl.
We break apart, and I press my hand on my tummy. “Shh, I’m right in the middle of something.”
Sam barks with laughter. “I don’t think that's quite the way it works, Fashion Guru.”
“I’ll make it work. Now where were we?” It gurgles again. I groan.
“Come on, let’s feed you.”
I grab some cinnamon-scented candles I have stored in the bathroom and place them around the room.
Sam arranges the containers and cutlery.
Despite us having no power, the takeaway containers from The Tank are still lukewarm.
We share a delicious meal of spaghetti topped with meatballs and mushrooms for dinner, then dive straight into dessert, a slice of key lime pie.
“I don’t remember this being on the menu when we were there.” I swirl some of my Riesling wine around and take a sip.
“It’s not. I asked Miller’s chef if they could put this together. Tonight’s plan was to watch Lady and the Tramp in the background while we ate and talked. I remembered you telling me key lime was your favorite dessert.”
Sam begins to hum “La Bella Notte” from the spaghetti scene.
“Awe, I love that. Is it your favorite Disney movie?”
“Yes and no. It’s my sisters’ favorite film. I used to enjoy it, but I’ve seen it one too many times. They used to beg me every Christmas for a cocker spaniel just like Lady.”
“And you didn’t follow through with it?”
“No.” He laughs softly and sips from his own wineglass. “I’d be the one who would have to do all the dirty work looking after it.”
I run my hand up his arm. “Maybe in the future, you’ll reconsider. I’d love a cocker spaniel. My parents had a goldie, a German shepherd, and a cat growing up. I miss having pets around the house.”
“With some help, sure, I’d be open to it. And the answer to your other question is Tangled. I like Maximus. He’s one cool horse.”
“You would like the horse.” I cross my legs. “That’s another pet we’d probably have to consider having too—a horse.”
“I’m glad you think that way because I don’t think I’ll ever be able to not be around horses.
” Sam stares at his glass. “Spending so many hours polishing and prepping for the Princess Alice Cup has given me a lot of time to think about the future. I’ve thought about my dad, my sisters . . . and you.”
“Are you reconsidering trying to become a riding master?”
“No, that’s something I still want. I was thinking more long term. What happens when my four years are up.” He hesitates. “I’d thought I might reenlist, but now, I think I’ve finally figured out what I want to do when I get out.”
“What’s that?”
“I’d like to become a mounted police officer.”
As soon as Sam says the words, I can instantly picture him riding a majestic gray horse through Central London in a London Metropolitan Police uniform. Becoming a police officer, and a mounted one at that, would easily transfer the skills he’s gained from the army.
“It’s perfect for you.” I raise my glass to toast him. His glass meets mine with a gentle clink.
“I mean, I still have more than two years to figure things out, but I like the idea that I could stay in London, work with horses, and be near you, depending on what your plans are.”
“In the long term, I’d love to be able to stay here. London has felt more like home than any other place I’ve lived. I have real friends and a life here. If things go well with Clarissa Lee, I’m crossing my fingers she’ll consider keeping me on.”
Sam’s eyes widen. “I’ve heard that name before! She’s really big in the fashion world, isn’t she?”
“She is.” My cheeks burn. “She’s also the client I’ve been hired by.”
“Crackers. How did that happen?”
I explain to Sam the craziness of the last few weeks, and how our meeting and spilling my coffee led to my sketches getting into the hands of Lord Renbrook and his fiancée.
“Clarissa has been my fashion guru for years. I have to pinch myself whenever I walk into her atelier and see her in person.”
Sam grins. “Did you geek out when you met her?”
“What do you think?”
“You did!” he teases. “How badly?”
“Bad.” I cover my face with my hands. “I had a hard time finding my words around her and I blurted out that I loved her.”
He cackles even harder. I consider tossing a pillow at him, but don’t want to risk spilling our wine on the couch.
“At least your first meeting was memorable. I’ll wager she’ll never forget it either.
” He places his glass down and pats the spot next to him.
I scooch in and rest my head on his shoulder.
“Obviously she still thinks highly of you. A person of Clarissa Lee’s standing wouldn’t let an untested designer create one of the most important garments they’ll ever wear without seeing something extra special in you. ”
“Thanks for saying that.”
“I’m just saying what’s true.”
We sit in blissful silence for a few moments, Sam stroking my arm. “What else has been going on in your life, Min? I feel like even though we’ve talked, I’ve been absent a lot longer than three weeks. I’m only beginning to understand how self-centered I’ve been.”
“I have just under a month to find a new flat.” I wince. “I misread the dates on my lease.”
“What can I do to help you?”
“I’ve found a place I think might be right. It needs some work done to it, but that’s what makes it fit within my budget. I can take my time renovating it on the weekends. All I need is a mattress to sleep on during the week and a bathroom with hot water.”