Chapter 21 Olivia
Olivia
Istomped into the Victorian feeling out of sorts.
Even though I’d been expecting Sam to pull back, it still hurt.
I wanted to have it out with her, to explain how we could work, but we were at work.
I knew she was worried about losing respect from the guys, and I was committed to doing a good job while I was here, so I put my feelings aside and got to work.
Sam spent the entire week avoiding me. She worked in different parts of the house and gave me a wide berth, even eating lunch in her office. The guys all noticed, and I could tell that they were curious about what happened between us when we were trapped here, but thankfully they didn’t ask.
Before I knew it Friday came, my last day of community service.
I couldn’t believe how quickly the two hundred hours had gone by.
The woman who finished community service wasn’t the same as the woman who started it, and I was grateful for the experience.
Going back to the formality of an office environment was going to be weird.
The guys invited me to go out for a beer to commemorate my last day and to my surprise, Sam agreed to come along.
I thought for sure she’d blow it off, but then again, she probably knew that would cause more questions than just coming along.
We piled into our cars and headed to a dive bar a few miles away.
It was a delightful place, a bit run down, but with friendly staff and an impressive menu of bar food.
We settled into a large, U-shaped booth in the back corner, and I was pretty sure it was no accident that the guys managed to make it so Sam and I were sitting side by side.
I’d seen them trying to matchmake the entire time I’d been working with them, and with this being my last day, they were pulling out all the stops. Subtly of course.
We ordered two pitchers of beer and a variety of appetizers, sharing them between us. I tried several foods I hadn’t had before, including jalapeno poppers and mozzarella sticks. The guys took turns toasting me and saying nice things about me.
“If you give up the real estate business, you’re always welcome on the crew, Livi,” Barney told me. “Right Sam?”
“Sure,” she replied with little enthusiasm.
I met Barney’s eyes across the table and he mouthed, “Don’t give up”. It meant a lot that he was on my side. He’d mentioned a few times that he thought Sam and I would be a good couple. He knew her better than anyone, so I took it as a good sign.
The booth was crowded with the whole team there and I was sitting so close to Sam that we were pressed together from shoulder to knee, and every time one of us moved, we brushed against each other.
It was torture. My panties were damp and I felt a buzz of awareness, but I wasn’t alone.
When I looked down I could see Sam’s nipples poking out from her shirt despite the warm temperature in here, and several times I caught her shifting to rub her legs together.
Good, she was as bothered as me. She’d been so distant this week I was starting to have doubts that I’d blown up our night together to be more than it was.
We finished up our celebration and after a round of hugs, we headed for the parking lot. Sam’s truck was parked at the edge of the lot and I followed her back.
“What are you doing?” she asked suspiciously.
“Making sure you get to your truck okay.”
She started to argue but instead kept walking. When we got to her truck she spun around to look at me.
“You look pissed,” I said. “What’s wrong?”
“I would have thought you hated a place like this,” she said, gesturing towards the bar.
That was not what I expected her to say.
“And you’re mad that I liked it?” I clarified.
“No, I’m mad that you were sitting so close to me, torturing me.”
I rolled my lips in to keep from laughing. Sam was always so contained, so in control, that I kind of liked seeing her a little hot and bothered. And I was glad I wasn’t the only one suffering whatever the female equivalent of blue balls was in that bar.
“Would you have preferred that I snuggle up with Jose?” I asked. “He’s single, charming, and quite good looking.”
My back hit the truck and before I knew what was happening Sam was pressing me against the metal and kissing me roughly. She bit my lip – hard – and when I cried out her tongue swooped in, dominating me. She was jealous, I realized, jealous of me saying that Jose was attractive.
Not that I minded. I was kissing the woman I loved so I was right where I wanted to be.
I reached around the grab her ass, pulling her closer, running my hands up and down her back as the kiss went on and on.
Meanwhile Sam was grinding her hips against mine and we were at the perfect angle that I could almost get off.
I was so engrossed in the kiss that I forgot we were in a public parking lot until someone honked their horn and cheered through their window.
We pulled apart reluctantly and I kept my hands on her waist to keep her from getting too far away. Sam sighed, then pressed her forehead against mine. It was still light out so I could see the storm clouds in her eyes.
“This is a terrible idea, but I don’t know if I can let you go. Not now.”
“Why is it a terrible idea?” I asked. “We’re two single adults who are totally into each other.”
She sighed softly and when she didn’t answer, I leaned forward to press a quick kiss to her lips.
“Let’s hang out this weekend.”
“What?” She seemed confused by the change in topic.
“A date. Let’s go on a date tomorrow. Do you like swimming? We could go to the lake. It’s going to be a beautiful day tomorrow, nice and hot.”
“Is the lake on your property?” she asked.
“No.”
“Will there be any yachts involved?”
I stared at her in confusion. “No. Have you been to a Washington lake Sam? There’s no room for a yacht.”
“So it’s a public lake?” she clarified.
“Of course.” I held out my hand. “Give me your phone. I’ll program in my number. Text me when you get home tonight, so I know you’re safe. And then text me your address. I’ll ask Marta to pack us a picnic lunch and pick you up at your place at ten.”
She seemed surprised by my suggestion but recovered quickly. “Okay that sounds good. I wouldn’t mind some lake time. I haven’t been to the water all summer.”
She handed me her phone and after I texted myself I gave her another quick kiss.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Sam.”
“Okay.”
I could feel her eyes on me as I walked back to my car and when I turned around she was watching me. I gave her a little wave then drove home, feeling lighter than I’d felt all week.