* * * * *
It had been almost an hour since Sam had seen Lilly leading Chandra up the stairs toward the floor where their bedrooms were situated. He had no idea why his daughter was taking Chan up there, but he wasn’t worried. In fact, he kept the conversation going with Chan’s sisters and a bunch of other people.
Nina was sitting intimately close to him, which, for the first time, made him rather uncomfortable. Jeremy wasn’t far away, laughing and enjoying himself tremendously. The subjects of their conversation ranged from world peace, charity, which Dara was very passionate about, and the effect of global warming.
“We should be going,” Dara said finally. “Man, that was a good talk.”
Soriya couldn’t agree more. “Speaking of which, where the heck did our sister disappear off to?”
Nina eyed the two sisters with distaste. She didn’t really care for them, nor their pretty sister in whom Sam seemed to be too interested. Although she’d heard that particular sister was dating Jeremy, she didn’t see how far that’d go. On the other hand, she’d only be too pleased to let Jeremy hook up with the girl.
One reason was she’d be no longer available, and therefore, it would take her out of Sam’s reach, if he indeed was interested in her. And two, because she knew Jeremy was a womanizer and their relationship wouldn’t likely last. She knew Chan was the type who would get hurt very easily. And shit! It would please Nina mightily if Chan got hurt.
“She might be with Lilly,” Sam said. He got up and headed over to door. “I’ll go and see what they’re up to.”
“Me, too,” Dara said. “That’s if it’s all right we explore your awesome house a little.”
Sam chuckled. “No problem.”
Soriya took the opportunity as well and said, “Me, three. I’m coming. Wait for me.”
They were on the landing of the second floor when Sam said, “Feel free to look around.”
The sisters nodded in enthusiasm and headed to the right. Sam headed to the left and strolled toward his daughter’s bedroom.
The moment he opened the door and took a few steps in, he stopped short in his tracks, and a feeling of warmth and happiness glowed in his chest. There in the queen-size bed was his daughter and Chandra, the woman he’d come to realize he’d fallen in love with.
Slowly, he walked toward the bed and then sat on the side where Chan was. The pair was sleeping peacefully. He noted Chan looked innocent and serene in her sleep.
Goddammit! He couldn’t help himself. He found himself moving his face toward Chan. Once close to her, he kissed her on the lips. She was warm and soft, and it was driving him crazy. He caressed her cheek with his thumb, inhaling her spring scent, marveling at her uniqueness.
Instantly, he wondered how long he’d be able to wait until this beauty was ready to be claimed as his own, before he could take her fully, with love and enjoyment.
He, however, knew he had to wait. He knew there was something holding her back. He didn’t know what, but there was something within her, something dark and foreboding, secretly drowning her on the inside. He felt it when he’d first met her at the Thursday market, and he’d felt it again today when he kissed her in the kitchen.
He kissed her again now, not wanting to let her go. He knew he had to because Dara’s and Soriya’s voices weren’t far away.
After the gentle kiss, he reluctantly moved back and then headed toward the door. The sisters appeared just as he was about to leave.
“Is Chan in there?” Dara asked.
“Your place is so awesome, Sam,” Soriya said.
Sam chuckled. “Thanks. Yes, Chan is in there with Lilly.”
“Is she ready to leave?” Dara asked.
“I don’t think so,” Sam said and stepped to one side to let them see.
Once Dara and Soriya saw both Chan and Lilly soundly asleep, they just stared.
“Wow! She looks cozy,” Soriya whispered.
It was then Jeremy’s voice reached them. Nina was with him, too.
“Where’s Chan? I haven’t seen her since dinner.”
“Is Lilly still up, Sam?” Nina asked loudly.
The two came in through the door and stopped short.
“She’s asleep,” Jeremy said quietly.
“Why is she sleeping on Lilly’s bed?” Nina asked, frowning darkly.
“We should wake her,” Jeremy suggested.
He was heading toward the bed when Sam stopped him. “Don’t. She’s tired. We shouldn’t wake her.”
“If she’s tired, she should just go home and sleep in her own house,” Nina muttered in annoyance.
Beside Nina, Soriya pulled a face to show how pissed she was with the damn woman. “I reckon we should just let Chan sleep here.”
Dara nodded with a smile. “It’s cruel to wake her now. She’s tired after helping out so much.” She turned to Nina to make her point. “Since the organizer stuffed everything up.”
Nina flushed in both embarrassment and anger. They all knew it had been her fault for miscommunicating with the catering company.
Soriya said, “Sam, please look after our sister for tonight. We’re leaving.”
Sam was only too glad to be offered such a desirable job. “No worries.”
That said, he escorted everyone out. Nina looked as pissed as ever, while Jeremy wore an unsatisfied expression on his face.
“You sure about that, Sam?” he asked his cousin. “We don’t have to wake her. I can carry her to my car and then drop her off at her apartment.”
Sam was adamant. He wanted Chan to stay the night, and Jeremy taking her away from him was not an option.
“No, you’d only wake her if you did that,” he said.
A few minutes later, everyone was gone, and Sam shut the door with a determined click. Then he headed up the stairs into his daughter’s bedroom once again. There, he gave both Lilly and Chan kisses and then went to his own room to shower and change.
Yes, he finally had the woman he loved sleeping in his house, and Sam was exceedingly pleased about that.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 30