Chapter 13
Lucy
Samuel has shown me all around the grounds, and I’m still feeling like this can’t be real. This is Samuel Barrage, Allison’s brother. And he’s...talking to me and interacting, and if that weren’t weird enough, I find myself looking at his lips and watching him speak, but thinking about his kiss. What is wrong with me?
The grounds are beautiful though, and he is very knowledgeable about them. Obviously it’s his brother’s house, but they researched it together. And he knows a lot of the history. I find it fascinating and could stand to listen a lot more. As it is, we’re back in two hours for the sound check.
I want the music to drift over the different areas where guests will mingle outside. I have horse-drawn carriage rides planned, although they would be sleigh rides if we get any snow. But it’s warm, and there’s no snow in the forecast.
I go on about the other things I have planned, and he listens intently, like he’s truly interested.
“This is such a beautiful place, and I’m so glad you’re doing it,” I end by saying, and I feel a little lame.
We’ve both listened to the sound check, and now, a song comes on through the speakers, something soft and slow, and I expect Samuel to answer me, but instead he says, “Would you like to dance?”
My mouth opens, and my eyes open and close, and I cannot hide the fact that his question has thrown me for a loop.
“I’m sorry. That wasn’t very professional.” He apologizes immediately, puts his hands behind his back, and starts to walk away.
“Wait!” I sound a little breathless.
He stops but doesn’t turn around.
“Samuel?”
“No. I’m sorry. I don’t usually have a problem like this. I’m not sure why I do today.”
“It’s a good problem to have. In my opinion anyway. And I’m glad you have it. I would love to dance with you. Would you do me the honor, please?” I’m not sure why I’m asking him. It is obvious that he regrets the question to me. But there’s just something that tells me that he asked because he wanted to, and he still wants to, even though he feels like he crossed a line. I don’t feel like there are any lines. Not like that. If we like each other, it shouldn’t matter.
“I don’t want you to feel like you have to do something that you don’t want to. I guess that’s something that I’ve learned to be careful of. Since I have money.” He scrunches up his face like he’s apologizing for it. “People sometimes feel like they need to do whatever I want. They act like I’m on some kind of pedestal, and I don’t want you to be dancing just because you feel like you have to.”
“I want to,” I say, taking two steps toward him and putting my arms around his neck.
I’ve surprised him, and I can feel him freeze under my hands, then he relaxes and puts his arms around my waist.
“Allison always talks about how honest you are. She says you never say what you don’t mean.”
“I do. And she’s right. I don’t see the point in saying things I don’t mean. I guess it can get you somewhere in the short run, but in the long run, it’s like tearing down the boards of your house and burning them to keep yourself warm, and then you end up having no house. It’s like...taking that from your character and burning them, and you find out that you actually have no character in the long run.”
I don’t know why I’m droning on about character. But he is nodding, like he agrees with me. And I know he does. The change that happened in him was real.
“It’s just rare to find that in someone. Is it terrible if I say I’m wickedly attracted to it?”
He puts his hands on my waist, and we start swaying to the mood music. I feel comfortable in his arms, the way I did last night, when he talked to me. Although, I’m much closer to his lips now, and it’s hard not to remember that kiss.
“Character attracts me too. More so than any physical attribute could. And a lack of character is repellent. Which I suppose is just as important to note.”
“I can’t disagree with that,” he says, and I don’t know whether he means to or not, but he tugs me a little closer, and my cheek leans against his chest while he rests his cheek on top of my head, and it feels like the rest of the world falls away. I know I have a job to do, and while I’ve done the bulk of the work previously, today’s the day that I need to make sure that everything’s going to come together. But it’s hard to think about anything else other than spending time with Samuel. And I definitely don’t want to step out of his embrace.
“You fit perfectly. I’ve always thought you would.”
“You’ve thought about this?” I ask, unable to keep the surprise out of my voice.
“I probably shouldn’t admit that, should I?”