Sam didn’t know why he kept glancing at the entrance of the restaurant after the girls had left. Why he thought by keeping an eye in that direction he’d get a glimpse of Chan, he wasn’t sure.
Beside him, Nina was bored stiff, and when the conversation went deeper into the business side of things, she’d had enough and excused herself.
“I really must go,” she said. “I’ve got appointments tomorrow.”
“Sure,” Sam replied, disinterested.
Jayden and Alec waved her farewell.
The fact was, as rude as it might sound, the men were quite relieved when she was gone. On that note, they relaxed and started joking around.
It was a little while later when they were on the topic of football that Sam saw the young woman he wanted to see most at the door.
Dressed in a white cocktail dress, her long hair done up into a loose bun, she was breathtaking. The moment he saw her, he wanted to walk right up, pull her into his arms, and kiss her passionately.
She and the other young woman in a sexy black dress were looking around the place curiously. Sam, of course, couldn’t stop staring at Chan. A moment later, Soriya rushed over to them, pulling Chan’s arm and leading her and the friend toward the bar area.
Sam had no more doubt he was close. Very close, in fact, and that was to his advantage. Now he’d move heaven and earth just to get to know Chandra better.
“Sam?” Jayden said again. “You okay, man?”
Sam managed to bring himself back to reality and chuckled apologetically. “Sorry, I was just…”
“Uh-huh…” Jayden chuckled. “Sure, man.”
Alec said, “He must have seen something he likes.”
The two men scanned around the restaurant in curiosity. But of course, they couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary. Just couples, families, and large cooperate groups dining out.
It was then Jeremy returned, along with his group of friends, all dressed immaculately and ready to party.
Jeremy told the group of young men to head over to the bar area while he and Ethan headed over to where Sam, Jayden, and Alec were sitting.
“Hey, bro,” he said, pulling out the chair he’d vacated earlier. Ethan took the chair Nina had just left some fifteen minutes ago.
Jeremy then proceeded to introduce both Alec and Jayden to Ethan. That done, he turned to Sam and said, “You remember Ethan Taylor?”
Sam nodded. “Yeah, Ethan,” he greeted. “How’s life at the farm going?”
Ethan chuckled. “Pretty good. Trying to tame a cute pet at the moment.”
Jeremy frowned. “You got yourself a pet?”
Ethan laughed. “He’s bloody disobedient. But cute. Very cute. I can’t help teasing him. Give him another month or so, and he’ll be a good worker.”
“You’re talking about a dog, right?” Jeremy asked in confusion. “You’re training your dog to work? As in a herding dog?”
Ethan shook his head and laughed right out. “No. He’s not a dog.” He turned to Sam. “It’s Nick Buchanan.”
“Nick? I thought he was still in college?” Sam asked.
Ethan shrugged. “Beats me. Maybe he quit. He’s with me. Craig asked me to train him as manager. He’s taking over the farm, apparently, in ten years or so.”
“I thought he wanted to be a doctor,” Sam stated. “At least that’s what he said last time I saw him. But that was a while back.”
Once again, Ethan shrugged his broad shoulders. “Maybe he changed his mind.”
It was a while later when Jeremy and Ethan excused themselves and headed to the bar area to join their other friends.
Left in peace again, the men sat there drinking beer and chatting about life in general, when Sam couldn’t contain himself any longer. He got up and excused himself, informing them he’d be back.
“Sure, we’re not going anywhere,” Jayden joked. “Got to keep an eye on the wife.”
Alec chuckled. “Same here. The fiancé.”
As Sam headed toward the bar, his heart pounded in his chest. At the entrance, he scanned about the large area but couldn’t find the girls there. Though, he did see Jeremy and Ethan and their friends having a blast joking around and drinking.
He turned on his heel and headed straight out into the corridor toward the club to the west end of the hotel instead.
The low, continuous booming of the music vibrated in his ear as he got closer. At the entrance, the two bouncers nodded at him.
“Mr. Harrington,” one said and held the door out for him.
He knew they must have wondered why he was coming into the club now when he’d never done so before. But he didn’t care. He had a goal in mind and, nothing was going to stop him from getting a glimpse of Chan.
The intensity of the loud music as well as the populace of young people greeted him the moment he was inside the club. He hadn’t been in a nightclub for ages, and he’d nearly forgotten what the atmosphere was like. It’s shit! He wondered why he’d enjoyed the scene when he was younger. Maybe it was the hormones.
He walked around the place, his eyes scanning the hundreds or so of people bobbing up and down and about in tune with the music. The good thing was he was a few heads taller than most in here, being over six feet, so it wasn’t hard for him to see to the other end of the gigantic place.
He spotted Ruby and Alex on the other side, sitting in a secluded spot and drinking. Non-alcoholic he presumed, because Alex mentioned Wednesday night she didn’t drink because of breastfeeding.
He did another scan about the place, moving from face to face, hoping he’d see Chan or her sisters. He knew if he saw her sisters, he’d find her.
He wasn’t wrong. He saw Soriya first, going all out jumping up and down. Then Dara twisting herself around in a spot with Isabella and Georgina. Next to them was the other friend he hadn’t yet met. She was very energetic, jumping around in tune with the music and, of all things, dragging Chan about with her, encouraging her to dance.
The moment Sam saw Chan, a warm glow radiated within his being. His heart somersaulted in his chest, and he knew, come hell or high water, he’d have her. She was the one for him.
He continued to watch as she laughed with her sisters and friends, as she slowly and shyly twirled herself around, her snow-white cocktail dress flowing sensually about her beautiful body, that body that made his blood sing with sexual desire.
Sam felt lust rushing through his being. Shit! He had no idea he wanted Chan that bad. It was astounding. It was incomprehensible.
He licked his lip and wondered contritely if he’d gone mad. If perhaps he’d been alone too long and that was why…
No! That couldn’t be it. He’d had many offers from the opposite sex. Even for a one-night stand. Just one night of hot, intense sex. No strings attached. But he just didn’t feel anything for those and had rejected the offers coldheartedly. He knew Nina had been clinging to him for the same thing for years. But Nina was just Nina. She was Sarah’s best friend. He’d never felt anything for her. Not before. Not now. And not ever.
But for Chan? For Chan, it was different. The moment he’d met her that Thursday evening at the market, he knew without a doubt he’d fallen for her, had loved her. He’d wanted her—both in his life and in his bed. Seeing her again now only confirmed that overwhelming feeling within him.
Oh God! The yarning was strong, torturing him and twisting within his being so badly he simply wanted to laugh out insanely.
Shit! If he could, he’d barge through the crowd right now, scoop her into his arms, take her to his room, and make long, passionate love to her.
Yes! If only he could. But he knew doing that was surely a stupid thing. She’d run screaming from him, and he bloody well didn’t want that. Not with Chan. With her, he wanted her to come to him willingly. With her, he wanted slow, passionate love, every single touch and every single kiss to be treasured and savored.
Yes, with Chan, their lovemaking would be that—slow and beautiful and full of
love and passion.
“Chandra,” he whispered lovingly, caressing the two syllables sensually.
Patience, Sam, patience, he told himself internally. In time, she’ll be yours. In time, you’ll have her all to yourself. Sam couldn’t wait until that time came.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 22