Chapter Eleven
“Please behave yourself while we’re out.” I glance at Kara in the back seat. She pays me no attention as she looks out the window. “We won’t be out too late.” I look over at Maisie in the front seat. “Call me at any time.”
“Calm down.” Kara rolls her eyes. “We’ll be okay. Mom wouldn’t be this over the top.” I let her remarks slide. She’s in one of her moods again.
As I pull into Sam’s driveway, Olivia is standing at the door, waiting. When Sam gave me the okay to have them stay at her house tonight, I was shocked. I didn’t expect her to think it was a good idea. I certainly have my doubts.
Olivia runs out to greet us. She’s ecstatic about having Kara over. They wrap each other up as they walk inside, arms linked. I place a hand on Maisie’s shoulder and stop her before entering. I crouch so that we are eye level.
“Promise me that you’ll call if you need me? Don’t let Kara boss you around or be mean. I’ll come right back and get you if I need to.”
Maisie nods. “I promise.”
“Is this a private party?” Sam smiles brightly at us. “Maisie,” she says, “I have pizza and a whole smorgasbord of snacks for you girls. Come check it out.”
We follow Sam to the living room where food and drinks are spread across the coffee table. Board games are stacked nearby, and an Xbox Series X is set up. She might be the coolest mom ever.
“Maybe we should just stay here with them.” I look at Maisie, widening my eyes.
“This is really cool!” Maisie rushes over to Kara and Olivia, who have already started eating. “Let’s play dance party later,” Maisie says.
“Yes!” Olivia agrees. “I bet money that Maisie beats us all.”
Sam bumps her shoulder into mine. “I didn’t get dressed up for nothing. We’re going out.”
I turn to Sam and finally notice how incredible she looks. Wow. I drag my gaze from head to toe, slow and deliberate. “I mean”—I shrug, glancing back to the girls—“you’re all right.”
“Hey!” Sam slaps my arm, laughing. “That’s not nice.”
“Okay, fine.” I lift my hands in surrender. “You’re cute.”
“Cute?” Sam places her hands on those sexy hips of hers and shakes her head in disbelief.
Then she kisses Olivia’s forehead. “I love you. We’ll be back soon.
Have fun, girls.” She hugs Maisie and Kara before swaggering past me to the front door without a glance back.
I haven’t seen this playful side of her before. It’s alluring.
“I’ve got my phone.” I hold it up for the girls to see, like they didn’t know. Kara doesn’t acknowledge me, but Maisie sweetly waves goodbye. I take that as my cue not to linger.
Sam’s waiting outside the door. “First drink is on you tonight. Consider it a date tax.” She laughs, poking my shoulder as I step out.
“Slow down there, now. This is just our first date.” I close the door and step back as Sam steps up to lock it. Laughter echoes under the covered porch. I don’t know why I called this a date. It’s a friendly dinner.
“Well,” Sam says. “If this is a date you’d better pick up your game. I’m not feeling very special.” This flirtation is unexpected.
Sam heads down the steps toward my Jag. I don’t unlock it from the key fob. Instead, I walk over and open the door for her.
She smiles, soft and a little amused. “That helps.”
I go around to the driver’s side. “I know how to woo a lady,” I say as I slide in.
“Oh?” Sam crosses her legs, turning toward me. She props her elbow on the center console. “Do you woo a lot of women?”
I back out of the driveway, considering that question. Her arm brushes against mine with the smallest touch but making me feel so much with so little. She’s still smiling. I mime zipping my lips, locking them, and tossing away the key. I shift into drive and turn up the radio.
“Oh, it’s like that.” Sam shuffles around in her seat to sit forward.
“I’m surprised you agreed to let the girls stay alone tonight.” A subject change is good.
“I trust Olivia.” Sam pulls out her phone, moving through her apps. “Plus, I have this.” Sam turns her phone around to show me cameras of her house on the front and back.
“I need that.” I point.
“It does make me feel safer. I got them after my divorce. I’ll send you the information, if you’d like.”
“I do like. Thank you.” I exhale. “I think Kara’s either sneaking out of the house or having someone sneak in. Maybe this would help me get answers.”
“Oh, no,” Sam says. “I didn’t realize. Olivia hasn’t mentioned anything to me.”
“Would she though?” I glance at Sam. “Tell you?”
“I think so.” Sam’s voice shifts slightly. “I mean, I hope she would. I’ve always thought we were close.”
I don’t quite believe a teenager would tell their mom everything. Especially, about her best friend sneaking around doing bad things. That would paint a bad image of Kara and that could affect their friendship. I’ve been down that road, though, I’m not going to say this to Sam.
“If you do find out anything, please let me know.”
Sam nods. “Of course.”
We pull up in front of the restaurant. I hand my keys to the valet. I rush ahead of Sam to hold the door open, half joking, but also wanting to charm her.
“You’re cute,” she whispers playfully in my ear before walking in.
“Cute?” I ask, stepping behind her as she stands in front of the empty hostess desk. I can’t help but let this play out again.
Sam turns her head slowly, looking me up and down. “Well…” She shrugs, a smile spreading across her face.
“Well played.” I nod.
“Allie!” Steven calls. I look across the room to find him, his hand raised in the air.
“There they are.” I take Sam by the waist and guide her through the restaurant, loving how it feels to be here with her as her date. Her dark skinny jeans complement her delicious body. The black boots along with the matching low-cut black top which has one shoulder sleeveless look incredibly sexy.
Luke and Steven each stand to give us a hug. I sit across from Steven.
“You both look gorgeous.” Steven fans his face. “Look at us four being fabulous together.”
Luke chuckles. “We ordered a bottle of wine for you and Steven,” he tells Sam. “Allie, you and I have a smoked old-fashioned on the way.”
My brows shoot up in delight. “Already the best night.” I make a point not to look at Sam, though she is the main reason. “You two are looking dapper.”
“You don’t lie.” Steven puts his hand on Luke’s arm, giving it a brief squeeze. I see the shyness radiate off Luke immediately.
The server arrives with a tray of drinks.
He places two covered whiskey glasses in front of me and Luke.
Then he opens the bottle of wine and pours Steven a small taste.
Steven inhales the red liquid, swirls it, then takes a sip before giving a small nod to fill the glasses.
I want to laugh, but I hold it in. He doesn’t know anything about wine.
“Would you like to start with an appetizer?” the server asks, placing the wine bottle in an ice bucket. I haven’t even opened the menu. I look at the guys who seem to have something in mind.
“Luke and I were thinking about the Thai shrimp and the baked oysters on half shell. Would you two like to share?”
Sam looks to me. “That sounds good.”
I nod in agreement.
“Perfect,” Steven says.
The server walks away. Luke glances at me before pulling his glass closer. The drink is a beautiful presentation. I’ve had this special drink here before and loved it.
“Shall we?” Luke smiles. I nod, and we both lift the tops of our whiskey glasses, letting the smoke fill the air. It smells divine. Luke wears the same expression that I know is on my face.
“Tell me your thoughts.” I encourage him to take a sip.
“Oh, my god.” Steven shakes his head. “You two are the same person.”
“We’re in for a ride tonight,” Sam tells Steven, making my stomach clench at her words.
“Boy are they ever,” I say to Luke, not looking at anyone but him. I like to push back at Steven, and flirting with Sam has become a bonus tonight.
Luke lifts his glass toward me. “I’ll cheers to that.” We touch glasses and take the first sip together. “You’re right.” He nods. “This is amazing.”
“Woodford Reserve won’t let you down. Smoked is even better.”
“I’ll stick to my wine,” Sam says, lifting her glass to her lips.
Steven raises his own. “Cheers to that.” Now this has become a game. I laugh.
I watch Sam drink, her eyes meeting mine over the rim. I slide my whiskey toward her. “I insist you try a sip.”
“No way,” she replies immediately.
“I agree,” Luke says, sliding his glass toward Steven. “You two have to broaden your horizons.” I catch a flicker of something passing between him and Sam and wonder what it meant.
“Sam,” Steven says, picking up the glass, “dare we indulge these two and try this nastiness?”
Sam picks up my whiskey and inhales the contents. “It doesn’t smell too horrible.”
“Luke,” I say, looking first at him, then finding Sam’s eyes. “If they want to hang with us they need to at least be open to trying the good stuff once.”
“Agreed,” Luke says, turning to Steven. Even sitting, he’s still a few inches taller than Steven. He gives off a mountain-man vibe with his short well-kept beard, and nicely coiffed hair.
Steven’s expression says it all to me. I’ve known him long enough to recognize every one of his looks. He likes the challenge.
“Sam.” Steven lifts Luke’s whiskey glass. “Here’s to enduring this nasty drink for these two charming people.” They tap glasses, then Steven turns to Luke and takes a sip. He immediately scrunches his face, just as I expected, and we all laugh. “Sam?” He points to the glass in her hand.
Sam takes a breath before moving the glass to her perfectly shaped lips. She swallows a small amount but doesn’t react. “Not too bad,” she says.
“Want me to order you one?” Luke asks, a smirk tugging at his mouth. I’m pretty sure he already knows the answer.
“You’re funny.” She slides my drink back to me, her lipstick leaving a faint mark on the rim.
“How’s the wine?” Luke asks before taking another sip. I can tell he likes it.
“Delicious,” Steven says, shifting a little closer to Luke. It doesn’t go unnoticed.