Part 20 (1/2)
”When will you be returning to Oklahoma, Sam?” Ashton asked.
”Tomorrow.”
”What about protection for her until I find out something?” Alex asked, turning to Blade.
Blade smiled. ”She's with me, and I don't plan on letting anything happen to her. Trust me.”
Blade opened the door to his condo and stood back and let Sam enter first. She glanced at him when he followed her inside and shut the door behind them. ”I'm glad that's over,” she said, tossing her purse on a table.
”It wouldn't surprise me if he contacts us sooner,” Blade said, removing his tie. ”Alex is good at what he does. And like he said, he has good contacts.”
Sam sat down on the sofa, kicked off her shoes and crossed her legs. Blade watched her every move as he went behind the bar. ”Would you like something to drink?”
”Yes, please. A gla.s.s of wine would be nice.”
”A gla.s.s of wine coming up. It's a beautiful night. Would you like to sit outside on the balcony?”
”Yes.”
”Why don't you go ahead and I'll follow shortly with the wine.”
”Thanks.”
He tracked her with his eyes as she walked barefoot toward the French doors. The dress she was wearing, a yellow, tiered silk number, looked good on her. It wasn't too short, but showed off her beautiful legs. He had noticed a number of men at the party admiring them. He had told her before leaving for the party and again on the drive back home just how good she looked in that dress.
He finished pouring their drinks and moved to join her outside. When he opened the French door she was standing at the rail looking out. She turned to him and smiled. ”You're right. It is a beautiful night,” she said, accepting the gla.s.s of wine he offered. ”Thanks.”
”You're welcome.”
She swung back around and looked at the view. ”Your company did a wonderful job on the Madaris Building. I love the way it's all lit up at night-all fifteen stories.”
He stood next to her and followed her gaze. ”That was Slade's idea. He figured the lights would reflect on Laverne Park.”
She turned back to him. ”Which is named after your great-grandmother,” she said.
He took a sip of his wine. ”Yes. Although we all might joke about her trying to keep up with all of us, there's no doubt in our minds how we feel about her. We wouldn't trade her for the world. She raised seven sons after my great-grandfather died. They all got a good education and they're out on their own. She was also there for her grands.”
He chuckled. ”My dad, Justin, Dex, Clayton and Felicia had some stories to tell about her. Like the time she caught my dad and Cousin Nolan skipping school. I heard she drove them back to school and sat in the back of their cla.s.s that day to make sure they stayed there.”
Sam laughed. ”After talking to her tonight I can tell she's made of st.u.r.dy stuff. I was close to my grandmother and felt a great loss when she died while I was in high school. I never knew my great-grandmother, but I'm told she was a strong woman just like your great-grandmother.”
She took a sip of her wine, looked over at him. ”You know your family thinks something is going on between us, don't you.”
He grinned. ”Something is is going on between us.” going on between us.”
”No, I think they believe we're more than bed partners.”
We are more than bed partners, sweetheart. Instead he said, ”You do understand why they would think that.”
”Yes. You've never brought a woman to a family function before. But they don't know why you brought me.”
Oh, they know, trust me. ”It doesn't matter,” he said.
”In a way it does, because I like them, Blade.”
And they like you.
”I don't want them getting the wrong idea,” she said.
Too late. It's a done deal.
Sam turned back to look at the view of the impressive building. ”So, what floor is your office on in the Madaris Building?”
”The Madaris Construction Company is on the fifteenth floor.”
”Wow, all the way at the top.”
”Yes.”
”And will I get to tour the Madaris Building tomorrow?” she asked.
He smiled. ”Of course, I'll give you a personal tour before we return to Oklahoma.”
She turned back to him, surprised to see he had moved closer, and looked up at him. ”Promise?”
His smile widened. ”I promise.”
Blade couldn't remember the last time he'd enjoyed talking to a woman this much. Usually when he was with a woman they didn't talk at all. Their only communication was in the bedroom. But Sam was different. He wanted her. He loved her and could actually feel that love all the way to the bone.
Besides loving her, he desired her. His gaze roamed up and down her body, remembering the times he'd been inside of her and wanting to get back inside her again. ”Did I tell you how good you look tonight?”
”Yes, about three times, I think,” she said, grinning.
”Now I've made it four.” He reached out and traced his fingers along the spaghetti straps of her dress.
The strong, lean fingers that were lightly touching Sam, caressing her shoulders, were sending delicious shudders through her body.
”Do you know what I want to do? What I've fantasized about doing?” he said, in a deep, husky tone.
”No, what have you fantasized about, Blade?”
He eased closer to her, so close that his chest was pressed against her, and he subtly pried her thighs apart with his knee to get closer to the opening between her legs. Not surprisingly, she felt his arousal.