19. Sam
sam
. . .
After a few hours of playing with my hair, makeup and filling the girls in on my relationship changes, we’re finally ready to head out for dinner.
The second I step out of my room and into the living room, the air around me shifts instantly.
I stop in my tracks to find the girls watching me, glee on their faces and smirking.
“What?”
“I said to get her a nice dress, Emma. That is a piece of fabric.” Jameson’s voice carries across the room.
My gaze slides to his and my body flushes instantly. He doesn’t look as mad as his words suggest. In fact, he looks like he wants to devour me alive. His cheeks are flushed, and his eyes are so dark the brown is almost black.
Emma rolls her eyes. “It's a birthday dress, Caveman. Chill out.”
Jameson turns to her. “What would Sheppard say about the little number you have on?”
Emma’s mouth drops open and her hands go to her hips. “Don’t you even dare, Kane. You told me to get a dress that she would feel beautiful in and I delivered.”
“She’d look gorgeous in a Moomoo, Emma so that point is moot,” he argues, his jaw tensing and his arms crossing over his chest.
I laugh and walk over to him, laying my hand on his crossed arms and kissing the edge of his jaw. With the heels on, I’m a couple inches taller and in perfect height to reach him easily. “I love my dress. Thank you.”
Jameson scoffs. “Barely a dress,” he mutters under his breath. His arms then wind around my waist and he tugs my body into his. “You look beautiful, Sammy.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind staying here with Dylan tonight?” I peer up at him and his gaze softens. His fingers brush my curls back behind my ears.
“Not at all. I’ll be here waiting for you when you get back.” He leans in and kisses the edge of where my lips and cheek meet.
“Naked?” I whisper for only him to hear. Jameson groans low, and his arms tighten around me.
“I don’t even want to know what they’re saying,” Emma says loudly.
“Little kids are around.” Riley points to Dylan and Isla, who only laughs at her.
My cheeks tinge pink with embarrassment. I hide my face in Jameson’s neck, but he only laughs at my friends' antics. “Maybe I should just stay in with you and we can celebrate.”
“Hell no! That dress and those heels deserve a night out,” Emma argues.
Jameson’s hands move to my shoulders, roam up my neck and cup my face.
His eyes roam over me, and I can tell he likes the bright red lipstick I’m wearing when he bites his bottom lip.
“Pretty Girl, you look too amazing not to have some fun tonight. Enjoy your time with the girls and I’ll be here waiting for you. ”
I lift my chin and my lips graze over his. He groans low in his chest and I feel it vibrate through mine. “I’ll ruin your lipstick if you keep that up, Sam.”
Giggling, I step out of his hold, my hand running down his chest. “Not my lipstick, Kane. I have to draw the line somewhere.” He rolls his eyes, but I don’t miss the way he has to discreetly adjust the front of his pants.
My whole body goes up in flames just thinking of the reaction he gets from me.
“All right, lovebirds.” Riley snaps her fingers. “We have a reservation to get to before the club opens.”
My friends hustle me out of my apartment after we all kiss Dylan goodbye. When we get downstairs, my eyes widen, finding a limo waiting for us. Emma shakes her head and shrugs her shoulders as we all get in.
“It's a birthday gift from Hawke this year. I told him about how nice it was last year, and well, he didn’t want us all driving around tonight either.”
“That’s very nice of your boyfriend,” I tell her, a smirk on my lips. Emma huffs.
“Shut it. It's still a fairly new thing.”
“Yet she’s living with him,” Riley teases, and we laugh at Emma’s stricken face. It's only then that I notice Isla has gone quiet.
I reach across the seats to her and squeeze her hand. “You okay?”
Her silvery eyes meet mine and there’s a hint of nervousness in them. “I’m alright. Just a little hungry.”
“Me too,” Riley adds and rubs her stomach.
Twenty minutes later, we’re being escorted out at the front of Yumi, a brand-new, high-quality sushi and craft cocktail restaurant.
We chat away as we walk inside and are immediately seated at a reserved table.
We each order delicious cocktails and several platters of sushi to share.
The night is amazing and my stomach is almost borderline in pain when we finish.
Throughout dinner, I notice that Isla engages, but she still seems lost in thought.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask her discreetly, while Riley shows Emma a video on her phone.
Isla’s eyes meet mine and I see a flash of apology in hers. “It might be nothing, but remember how last year you had a limo service for your 21st?”
I nod and Isla licks her lip nervously. “Yeah, I think Carter won it or something. Like a random drawing from a local business.”
Isla shakes her head. “It wasn’t him. It was me. I gave it to him because I didn’t need it and he mentioned your birthday.”
I snort and grab her hand. “Was this another way you were trying to help him?”
She shakes her head. “No. This literally fell in my lap. But I do remember the business donor.”
“Who?” I ask, my stomach coiling tight because part of me already knows the answer anyways. It makes sense with her story, and from what I know to be true about the man he is.
“CB Auto,” Isla answers, her voice low in a whisper, yet it sounds like she’s shouting it.
“You don’t think…”
Isla nods her head, her hand sliding over mine. “I think Jameson Kane has been looking out for you longer than you know.”
A laugh bubbles in my chest. I should feel worried or concerned, but I feel none of those things.
I feel seen. I feel cherished. And most of all, I feel love as it glides through my veins like skating on the smoothest sheet of ice.
Reaching for my phone, I send a text to Johnny, praying he doesn’t have plans tonight.
Within five minutes, I get a reply, and I can’t wipe the smile off my face.
Our server comes for our last glasses and Riley gets up to leave. “Wait, what about the tab?”
All the girls look at each other and realization hits me. “He took care of the tab!”
Riley sighs and wraps her arm around my shoulder. “Not all of it. Reign also pitched in as a birthday gift to you.”
Tears start to well in my eyes and my friends rush to catch them before they ruin my mascara. “Don’t cry, Sammy.”
“I can’t believe he did all of this.”
This time Emma snorts and shakes her head at me. “Sam, it's pretty obvious that Kane loves you. The man has been in love with you since we were sixteen.”
I don’t even correct her that I’ve loved him since I was twelve and that thought alone gives me pause.
I love him. Truthfully, I never stopped loving him.
I let my friends usher me out of the restaurant and back into our waiting ride.
When we get to the club, there's a line around the block; yet, we are able to walk right in.
My brow rises and I glance knowingly at Riley. “Reign’s influence?”
Isla smiles shyly. “No, actually that's my gift for the night.”
“You.” I turn to her, surprise etched on my face while I hug her. “Secret spy-shit?”
Isla shakes her head, rolling her silvery eyes. “It helps to know people. I did their IT stuff for them before they opened.”
“Spy-stuff,” Emma jokes and we both hug Isla who laughs along with us.
We move through the crowd to a closed-off section and it dawns on me we’re in VIP.
My eyes widen, taking in the swanky black velvet and fluorescent azure lighting.
We have the perfect view of the dance floor and easy access to move between the two.
A bottle of champagne is dropped off at our table and I pop the cork before pouring some for everyone.
Riley makes a birthday toast and we all drink.
Only then do I notice as the men start to trickle in.
Reign, Hawke, Leif and Carter look GQ worthy as they slide into our private area, drawing the gazes of every female in the room as they pass.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, already feeling the effects of the champagne.
Leif grins at me and drops a kiss on the top of my head. “Had to celebrate one of our favorite firecrackers. Happy Birthday, Sammy.”
I hug each of them and I get the same birthday wishes.
After a while, it becomes apparent the guys are here to be the muscle, watching us protectively as we go from the dance floor to the booth for a drink and back again.
My body is feeling tingly and my lips are in a permanent smile when I come back to the booth and feel shivers break out across my skin.
Glancing around, I look through the crowd for any sign of him.
Jameson is here, I know it, my body has never forgotten how it feels being near him.
Hands land on my waist and I instantly melt in his hold. Turning me to face him, I throw my arms around Jameson’s neck and hug him close.
“You asked my brother to babysit so I could be here?” he asks, but I hear the hint of emotion in his voice. My hand runs through the hair at the nape of his neck and I shake my head.
“I asked if he’d watch his niece for the night so I could spend time with my boyfriend. He spoiled me all day, and I wanted to tell him how much I love him.”
Jameson’s body locks tight, his fingers digging into my waist so hard I hope I have bruises in the morning.
His eyes sweep my face, disbelief and hope in every glance.
“Say it again.” I bite my lip, feeling exposed.
I’m not sure if it was the right time to do this, but after today and from the realization Isla shared, I can’t help the way my heart beats for him.
“Sammy.” Jameson steps closer to me and lays his forehead against mine. “Please, pretty Girl, I’m dying to hear it from your lips again. I need it like I need air. I thought maybe you were starting to catch on, but in case you missed it, I love you, Sam Campbell. I never stopped.”