“It’s okay. I’ll just call a cab.”
“I understand. New city, strange guy offering you a ride. I get it and, to be honest, I’m glad you said no because that means you’re cautious and you should be.”
Something about the way he said that was very sweet and comforting.
“I’ll see you around the building,” he said as he walked around to the driver’s side and opened the door.
I didn’t want him to leave. Shit. What the fuck is the matter with me?
“Hey, if you don’t mind, I could use a ride to my hotel.” The words escaped my lips and he smiled.
He walked over to the passenger’s side and opened the door, motioning for me to get in. Oh God, what was I doing? His black Volvo was almost as sexy as he was. He got into the car, fastened his seatbelt, and held out his hand.
“I’m Sam. Sam Snow.”
I extended my hand until it met his. “I’m Claire Montgomery, and it’s nice to meet you, Sam Snow.” I smiled.
Instantly, when our hands touched, a flash of light went off in my head. I pulled my hand away and held my head with both hands, looking down and breathing heavy. The pain was unbearable. My mind was flashing images of me shaking someone’s hand in a car. I couldn’t see their face, only their hand.
“Claire, are you okay?” Sam yelled.
After a few minutes, the pain subsided and my breathing started to become normal. Tears streamed down my face, and now, I was completely humiliated. I looked up at Sam, whose face and eyes showed pain and concern.
“What happened?” Sam asked.
I took in a sharp breath. “Sometimes, I get really bad headaches.”
I sure as hell wasn’t about to tell him anything else about me. I didn’t even want to tell him that, but he did look concerned.
“Out of the clear blue like that?”
I looked out the window of the car. “Yes.”
“Have you seen a doctor about those headaches?”
Okay, now he was getting a little too personal.
“I’m sorry, Sam, but I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I understand,” he said as he started the car.
I felt bad, but I didn’t know him, and I wasn’t about to lay all my baggage on him. He seemed like a really nice guy and he didn’t need me or my medical problems to complicate his life. I looked over at him and lightly touched his arm.
“Hey, I’m sorry, but it’s hard to talk about, and I just want to take a hot shower.”
“It’s okay, Claire. There’s no need to explain. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’ll be fine, and thank you for your concern. I’m staying at the Hilton.”
He started driving, one hand on the steering wheel, seat leaned slightly back; he was sexy and I couldn’t stop looking at him. I had this overwhelming feeling being with him and it was something I couldn’t explain.
“Do you know anybody here in Seattle?” he asked as he looked over at me.
“No, I don’t,” I replied.
He pulled up to the hotel and took a piece of paper and pen from his glove box. When he leaned over, his arm lightly brushed against my thigh.
“Here is my phone number. If you need anything or even just want to talk, please call me.”
I took the paper from his hand. “Thank you, Sam, I appreciate it.”
He smiled and made my heart flutter once again. I got out of the car, shut the door, and waved goodbye.
Chapter 10
I turned on the shower as hot as it would go. The good thing about hotels is that they never run out of hot water. I stepped in and leaned my head back under the stream of water. I couldn’t help but think of Sam and, every time I did, it made me smile. Why was I thinking about him while I was in the shower? He was the first person I met in Seattle and he was nice. Not to mention that he was hot as hell. I made a friend, and it was nice to say I knew someone here. I dried off my pruned skin and dug through my bag for my pills. My head was still aching so I took a pill, climbed into bed, and fell asleep.
I awoke the next morning as a beam of light radiated through the crack of the curtains. I looked over at the clock and saw that it was 9:15. My furniture was being delivered in two days and I still had a lot of things to buy. I looked at my phone and there were no new messages. I put on a pair of skinny jeans, a black tank top, and a pair of black flats. I brushed my teeth, threw some curls into my brown hair, and lightly put on some makeup. I grabbed my phone from the dresser and called a cab. I had the driver drop me off at the business district, which housed many retail businesses such as Crate and Barrel. I could smell the aroma of Starbucks coming from the street. There’s nothing better than going shopping while sipping on a hot cup of java from Starbucks. I stepped inside and instantly, my eye veered to the corner, where I saw Sam sitting in an oversized burgundy chair, reading a book and drinking coffee.
He sat there in a pair of dark jeans and a navy blue fitted t-shirt. He was wearing black-rimmed square glasses that framed his chiseled face and his light brown hair was softly tousled. Good god, could he be any more perfect? Butterflies gathered in my stomach and fluttered every time I looked at him and it was driving me crazy. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. He looked up at me as I was awkwardly staring at him. He caught me off guard, so I quickly threw my hand up into a wave and ordered a venti white mocha skinny latte. As soon as they called my drink, I grabbed it from the counter and walked over to where Sam was sitting. He didn’t take his eyes off me the entire time I waited for my coffee. He got up as I approached him and motioned for me to sit in the empty oversized chair next to him.
“Nice to see you, Miss Montgomery.” He smiled, sending my heart into overdrive.
“Nice to see you too, Mr. Snow. What book are you reading?”
He looked so studious and smart in his glasses and my mind was going to places it shouldn’t have. He held up a psychology book and smirked.
“Ah,” I said with confusion.
Sam let out a light laugh. “I’m taking a psychology class over at the university.”
I adjusted myself in the chair and crossed my legs. “Really?” I asked. “I was thinking about taking some classes there myself. That’s why I rented the apartment so close to campus.”
“Really?” he asked. “Then I’ll show you around campus sometime if you’d like.”
My small smile grew. “I’d like that.”
He sat with his elbow on the arm of the chair and he took off his glasses. “What brings you to Starbucks today?”
“My caffeine addiction.” I laughed softly. “Actually, I was on my way to Crate and Barrel.”
“Ah, Crate and Barrel. Great store. Doing some more shopping?”
“Yeah. I don’t have anything but furniture and I need to get the usual kitchen items, bath items, and—”
His beautiful blue-gray eyes stared directly at me. “I went through that not too long ago. It’s a bitch of a shopping trip.” He chuckled.
Here they come, the personal questions I never wanted to ask him because I didn’t want to get too close.
“How long have you lived here?”
“Three months,” he replied. “Hey, I have an idea,” he said as he set his coffee down on the table. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take you to Crate and Barrel and then drive you back to your apartment so you can start putting things away. Kind of like getting a head start on organization.”
Oh no, the butterflies that had settled down started to flutter again. I didn’t want him to go with me, but then I did. I didn’t know if it was because I was starting to feel a little scared here in a city all alone or if it was because I really wanted and needed a friend.
“That’s okay. I don’t want you to go to any trouble. I’m sure you have your own things to do.”
“I have nothing to do today, and it’s no trouble. Trust me; you’ll be grateful to have me there.” He looked down and smiled.
I couldn’t help how the edges of my mouth
curved up. “Is that so, Mr. Snow?”
His eyes danced as he lifted his head and looked at me. “Yes, Miss Montgomery. I’m sure you’ll appreciate the help and not having to shove all those bags in a cab.”
I got up from the oversized chair. “Okay, let’s go then.” I smiled.
His grin stretched across his face as he grabbed his coffee and followed me out the door.
****
We spent over two hours in Crate and Barrel, and he was right: I was thankful he was with me, not only for the help, but for the company. I bought everything from small kitchen electrics to dinnerware, flatware, glasses, storage containers, bath items, a comforter for my new bed, pillows, sheets, blankets and decorative items for the apartment.
“Wow, aren’t you glad I came with you?” he said as he gently bumped his fist into my arm.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, you were right, and yes, I’m glad.” I smiled.
He leaned over closer to me with his hand behind his ear.
“What? What was that, Claire? Did you say I was right?”
I laughed and jabbed my elbow into his arm to push him away. He put his hands in his pocket and smiled. We checked out and I spent an obscene amount of money. I knew it had to peak Sam’s curiosity, but I was not about to share anything about my life with him; I just couldn’t. Some of the stuff I purchased I was having delivered tomorrow and the rest we shoved into the trunk and back of Sam’s car. He drove to the apartment and we started bringing the bags and boxes up one by one. I was out of breath and so was he when we brought the last of it up.
“Whew, that was my workout for the next three months,” I said as I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
“No kidding. Some of that stuff was heavy.” His navy blue shirt was drenched in sweat. “I’m going to run across the hall and change my shirt. I’ll be right back, and then maybe we can grab some dinner?”
My stomach twisted itself in knots. I hadn’t had anything to eat all day and I was starving. “Sounds like a plan.” I smiled. This dinner thing didn’t mean anything. I was hungry, and he was hungry, and that was what friends did; they ate together.
While I was waiting for Sam, I started to set up my kitchen. I put the coffeemaker on the counter and I continued to organize the cabinets. A while later, there was a knock at the door. I walked over, opened up the door, and gasped. Sam was standing there with his arms above, resting on the doorframe in his dark jeans and white button-down cotton shirt. Oh God, I hoped he didn’t catch that gasp.
“Hi.” He smiled at me.
“Hi.”
“Are you ready to go?” he asked.
“Yes. Come in for a second while I get my things.” I grabbed my purse and locked the door as Sam put his hand on the small of my back.
“I know this great pizza place down the street; that is, if you like pizza?”
“I like pizza.” I smiled.
We approached Antonio’s and sat in a comfy booth. The restaurant was a family-style parlor with tables decorated with black and white checked tablecloths. The floor was made up of black tile and black lights hung over each table.
“What should we order?” Sam asked as he looked at his menu.
“Hmm…pizza and salad?” I said as I looked up at him.
“Let me guess; you’re a pineapple and ham type of girl.”
I bit my bottom lip. “Yep; how did you know?”
“Girls usually are.” He chuckled.
The tall, slender waitress came over to take our order and I could tell she was eyeing Sam.
“May I take your order?” she shyly asked with a big grin on her face.
“We’ll have the large deep dish, half Hawaiian and half Italian sausage and green pepper.”
She wrote down the order and continued to stare at Sam.
“Excuse me. Hello, over here.” I waved at her.
The tall, slender waitress flinched and looked over at me.
“Add an antipasto salad to that order, please.”
“Okay, anything else?” she asked.
Sam smiled at her and I could tell she was weak in the knees. “Two Cokes, please.” She turned on her heels and walked away.
“Don’t you ever get tired of women ogling you?” I asked.
He threw his head back and laughed. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh my God, she made it so obvious that she wanted you.”
“No, she didn’t.” He smiled and his eyes lit up.
“By the way, I sort of told your saleslady at the furniture store that you were gay.”
His eyes widened. “Why did you do that?”
“Well, she was going on and on about how you were looking at her. She said that she could tell you wanted her, and she was going to call and ask you out. She asked me if I knew you and I just kind of said you were gay.”
Sam cocked his head and let out a chuckle. “You sound like you were jealous.”
I gasped. “Jealous? No, she was a cougar.”
“So.” He smiled.
I looked at him and shook my head. Was I jealous? Is that why I said he was gay? No way could I be jealous; I barely knew him.
“So, where are you from, Claire Montgomery?” Sam asked as he leaned across the table.
Shit, I knew if I had to sit and have a conversation with him, he would start asking me personal questions. I had to think carefully and be cautious not to let anything real personal slip out.
“Newport Beach,” I blurted out.
He raised his eyebrows and I put my hand up. “I know what you’re thinking, but—”
“I’m from Santa Ana,” he said as he cut me off.
I tilted my head to one side. “Really?”
“Yeah, I moved here three months ago to attend U of W.”
I felt a sigh of relief when he told me he was from Santa Ana. Here were two young people that lived not too far from each other in California, living across the hall from each other, and going to attend the same university. In some way, I found that very comforting. He proceeded to tell me about his mom and Cal and how he worked as a mechanic to help support his family.
“Tell me about your family, Claire.” He smiled.
My walls were up and that was how they were going to stay. “My dad, Harry, is a plastic surgeon. My mom, Corinne, does a lot of charity work, and my sister Zoey married a senator’s son. That’s about it.”
“Tell me what it was like growing up in Newport Beach.”
Okay, I had to stop this. He was getting too personal and I couldn’t let him. Besides, how did I say that the only memory I had of my life was the past three years after my accident?
“It was fine,” I lied. I needed to change the subject quickly. “Do you think you could drive me to the hotel so I can check out and grab my bags? I think I want to stay at the apartment tonight so I’m there first thing in the morning for the delivery truck.”
His blue-gray eyes turned brighter. “Sure I can. That’s a great idea.”
The waitress brought over our bill, and when I went to grab it, Sam put his hand on top of mine. Instantly, I felt a surge run through my body. A feeling of warmth and safety pumped throughout my veins.
“My treat.” He smiled.
I shook my head. “Sam, please let me pay for this. It’s my thank you to you for everything you’ve done for me since I’ve been in Seattle, please. I gave him puppy eyes and he smiled.
“Fine, but the next one is on me.”
He removed his hand from mine and I flipped over the bill. I rolled my eyes at how, Trish, our waitress, put her name and phone number on the bottom of the bill and wrote, “Call me.” I held up the bill to Sam and he started laughing. Trish walked over when she saw the money on the table. She went to grab the bill and I put my hand on top of hers.
“Trish, I’m so sorry to tell you that he’s gay.” I smiled as I pointed to Sam.
She gasped, grabbed the bill, and scurried away. Sam stared at me with wide eyes and then busted out laughing. He was so
beautiful when he laughed. I laughed with him as he put his hand on the small of my back and we walked out of Antonio’s.
“I can’t believe you did that, Claire.” He laughed as he opened the car door for me.
“Yeah, well, she had it coming. She shouldn’t be trying to pick up guys that are with a girl. What if I was your girlfriend or fiancée?” The words just fell out.
He got in the car and smiled at me. “Yeah, you’re right.”
I could tell he was thinking something, but I didn’t want to know what it was. We drove to the hotel and took the elevator up to my room. The maid had been in, so it was spotless. I already had everything packed and Sam walked over to grab my bag.
“Is this it?” he asked.
“And this?” I said as I held up my carryon.
“Wow, Claire, you travel light.”
“Everything I wanted to bring to Seattle is in these two bags.”
“It seems to me like it was a last-minute decision and you’re running from something.”
I couldn’t believe he said that, which wasn’t far from the truth.
“Nope, I didn’t want to drive seventeen hours by car, so I flew, and this was all I could bring.”
He smiled and walked out the door with me following behind. I checked out, paid my bill, and Sam drove me to my apartment.
Chapter 11
I opened the apartment door just as my phone started to ring. As I pulled it from my purse, I saw it was Zoey. I decided to answer it, even though I didn’t want to talk in front of Sam. I put my bag down on the floor as he followed me into the apartment.
“Hello, Zoey.”
“Claire, my baby shower is in a couple of weeks. Are you going to come home from whatever planet you’re on to attend?” she said with irritation.
I cleared my throat. “Yes, Zoey. I’ll be there. Give Mom and Dad big hugs from me, and I’ll see you guys in a couple of weeks.” Click.
I looked over at Sam, who was staring at me. “My sister is having a baby and her shower is in a couple of weeks. She wanted to know if I was going to make it home.” Why was I explaining this to him?