“Well, it wasn’t haunted. That I know of.” I smirk. “It was left abandoned for years. Lots of squatters hung out here. Stories of drugs and other bad shit happening.” The fact that the place was a dilapidated shack by the time I bought it was reason enough to tear it down. “I thought it’d be best to start over rather than have it associated with bad juju.”
Colette giggles. “Bad juju?” She laughs again. “You’re romantic and superstitious.”
“Guilty.”
“I’m learning all sorts of things about you today, Mr. Griffin.”
“That’s good right?” Since when did I become that guy? The insecure one?
“It’s great.”
“Good.”
As the sun sets over Stone Lake, Colette and I watch in silence. Everything around us changes. And I’m not just talking about the sky.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Griffin Clan
He walks me to my door and kisses me like he was never going to see me again. It’s that good. Deep and sensual. I really want to invite him in, but I keep thinking about everything he said earlier—about wanting our first time to be special.
I want that, too.
As long as it’s soon, because I don’t know how much longer I can wait for full-frontal Sam Griffin.
“Are you free on Saturday?” he asks. “Gonna invite my family over to meet you, honey.”
Oh. Wow. He’d said something about doing just that, but it’s been a while. “I’m free.” Of course I’m free.
“Great. I’m thinkin’ around 5:00, but I’ll let you know.” He starts back to his place, but he stops, turns, and walks back, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “Give me your number.”
“Bossy.” The two of us look at each other, and I flush with heat remembering just how bossy he is.
Sam’s voice is husky, deep. “As I recall, you liked that side of me.”
“I do.” I think my voice drops two octaves.
“Give me your digits, sweetheart.”
I recite the numbers to him. “Great.” I hear my phone chime from my purse. “Now you’ve got mine, too.”
“Good.”
“Finally.” Sam chuckles. Kissing me quickly, he walks to his door, gives me a wave, and he’s gone.
“Wow.” That’s the only word that fits this day.Wow.
As soon as I change into my sleepshirt, I hear my phone chime. Looking down, I see my first text message from Sam.
Sweet dreams, baby girl.
I’m tempted to write something witty, but decide against it. Instead, I send a smile emoji and leave it at that.
****
“It’s so nice to meet you, Colette.” I’ve just been introduced to Sam’s mom, Denise. Sam’s got her eyes and coloring, but he definitely takes after his father. At least that’s how it looked from the one photo I’ve seen of him.
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Griffin.”
