Part 17 (1/2)

”Hey Molly,” I said when the other woman walked in with a jug of milk and a brown paper sack under her arm. ”Let me get those for you.”

I grabbed the items and put them in the kitchen before jogging outside to see what else the ladies had to unload.

”How was she?” Sam asked, gesturing at Karrie, who was trying to carry a watermelon up the steps.

”Great,” I answered truthfully. I grabbed the rest of the bags and said goodbye to Molly, leaving the girls to their hugging and cooing. For people who saw each other every day, they sure did hug a lot.

I was taking things out of the bags when Sam walked in.

”I didn't want to put anything in the wrong place,” I said to explain why everything was sitting on the counters.

”Thanks for helping,” Sam responded, walking over to me and putting her arms around my neck. ”I really appreciate it.”

I took advantage of the situation and leaned down to taste her lips. ”Mmmm, you taste good,” I said. I leaned in for another taste, nibbling lightly on her bottom lip as I pulled away.

”So do you,” Sam said, her voice breathy and sweet, causing my body to respond in all the right places.

”I'd better let you go so we can get this stuff put away,” I said, my voice low and rough with desire.

”Okay,” Sam murmured as she leaned in to offer her lips to me again.

”Mommy, wa'mln,” Karrie said from behind us.

I let Sam go and turned to look at Karrie, who was pointing to the watermelon on the counter.

”You want some watermelon?” I asked.

Karrie nodded, her curls bouncing sweetly around her head.

”Okay, do you want to sit in your chair or go play while I cut some up for you?” I asked.

”Pay,” she responded sweetly.

”Okay, you go play. I'll let you know when it's ready.” I smiled after her as she toddled out of the room, and then turned to see Sam staring at me. ”What?”

”You're so good with her,” she said, her voice breaking as she spoke.

I looked into her misty eyes and grabbed her by the shoulders. ”You aren't going to cry, are you?”

She shook her head, but her face told a different story. I kissed her roughly, my tongue entering her mouth and exploring swiftly. When I pulled back, her eyes were no longer filling with tears. Her face looked flushed and her eyelids looked heavy. GoodaI'd rather she be h.o.r.n.y than about to cry.

”Where do you keep your cheese?” I asked with a smile, waving the cheddar at her.

We put the groceries away, and Sam showed me where the knife and cutting board were so I could cut up the watermelon for Karrie. As I cut, Sam started to prep the steak, potatoes, and corn for dinner.

It was all very domestic, and I found that I liked it.

I couldn't believe how much my life had changed in a few short months. My dad was about to get out of rehab, there were scouts coming to my game, and I was in a serious relations.h.i.+p with a wonderful woman and little girl.

I almost felt like a different guy than the one Sam had met that first night in the bar, when all I was concerned about was getting into her pants.

When the watermelon was ready, I went and got Karrie and set her up in her highchair with a bowl of melon.

”So, don't you think we should talk about what happened with Tuck?” I asked her, broaching the subject we'd been able to avoid until now.

Sam wiped her hands on a towel and picked up the meat. ”Let me put these on the grill; it's already getting dark. How do you like yours?”

”Medium.”

She was back in a matter of seconds, her face looking strained.

”I'm sorry that I got mad at you,” she began. ”I know none of it is even remotely your fault. You didn't know that Tuck was the guy, and I shouldn't hold your friends.h.i.+p with him against you.”

”It honestly doesn't even jibe with the guy that I thought Tuck was,” I said, leaning against the counter and looking outside at the darkening sky. ”We never talked about kids, but we have talked about our plans for the future. I thought that we were pretty good friends, but I was totally taken by surprise. I can't fathom the decisions he's made.”

I felt Sam come up behind me, and her arms went around my stomach. She laid her head against my back.

”That's because you're a good man.”

”I had always thought Tuck was too, at the core. I guess I was wrong.”

”I'm sorry, Judd.”

I turned so that I could wrap my arms around her and hug her back tightly.

”Oh!” Sam exclaimed, jumping back. ”I have to flip the steaks.”

I smiled after her as I walked to the table to see if Karrie needed more melon.

”Would you like to hear some good news?” I asked Sam as she walked back in.

”Please,” she said with a laugh.

”Coach told us that there will be scouts at our game this weekend.” I couldn't stop the grin from spreading over my face. I got excited just saying it out loud. I couldn't wait to tell my dad; he was gonna flip.

”That's wonderful,” Sam said, jumping up in the air and pumping her fist, a goofy grin on her face.

I laughed at her exuberance.

”I can't believe it. We've had a great season, sure, but I never let myself hope that it would be good enough to get scouts interested.”

”You guys deserve it.” Sam bounced over to me and kissed me soundly on the lips. ”I'm so excited for you.”

”I'd love it if you could be there,” I whispered against her mouth.

”Nothing will stop me,” Sam said, her eyes intent on mine.

In that moment, with the sounds of Karrie happily eating in her chair, the smell of meat on the grill, a beautiful girl in my arms, and hope for my future in my heartaI knew I'd never been happier.

Today was the day of the big game. The scouts were in attendance, and since Judd really wanted me to be there, I was there. I was telling the truth when I said that nothing would keep me away. I was almost as excited as he was. Luckily, my mom had asked to come visit this weekend and agreed to watch Karrie for me, so it worked out perfectly.