He smiles and sends my libido into overdrive. Again. “I stopped by to see how you were doing.”
“So, you were just in the neighborhood?” I snort out a stupid laugh and wish I could be someone else right now. Someone cool, confident, and self-assured. But, I’m not. I’m MacKenzie,dorkus extraordinarus.
“No. I came to see you, sweetheart.”
Oh, shit. He broke out the “sweetheart.” I feel it all the way down to my core when he says that.
“You did?” Yes, I am truly a dork.
“I did. I have something for you.”
“You do?”
“I do.” He chuckles softly and reaches beneath his coat. He pulls out a small paper sack, setting it on the glass case between us.
“Is this more Mama Mabel’s?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Sam grins slyly.
I start to open the bag but stop and give him a raised eyebrow. “The Mama Mabel’s bag had a note from you on it. So there’s no denying that you sent it.”
He laughs again. “Oh, right. I forgot.”
Yeah, right. I reach my hand into the bag and touch a small box. A small box I recognize from touch alone—the size and weight. Excitedly, I tear the bag away. My eyes fill with tears in milliseconds. “You found them? You found Pops’s medals? You found them?” I’m babbling like an idiot with tears running down my cheeks.
“I did.” He smiles gently. Reaching out, he brushes the tears away on my left cheek.
“Where? How? Thank you so much, Sam.” Tears are still streaming down my cheeks. I race around the counter and literally jump into his arms. “Thank you so much,” I say again. “You have no idea what these mean to me.”
“I know they mean a lot to you, MacKenzie. I searched high and low for them.”
“I can’t believe you did that,” I whisper in awe. “Why?” Sam’s still holding me up high enough that my feet are off the ground and our faces are almost touching.
“Because I screwed up. Big-time. I wanted to try to make it up to you, baby.” He says baby so softly.
Baby. That’s the other word that soaks my pantaloons. I lean in to give him a little kiss as a thank-you, but he takes the opportunity as an invitation to catch up. His tongue sweeps across my lower lip. I open my mouth and feel his tongue invade. I meet him in the middle, and we both moan simultaneously. The kiss lasts a good long time until one of us pulls away. I’m not sure which one.
His strong arms are still wrapped around my body, holding me close. “God, I’ve missed you, MacKenzie.” He breathes the words into my ear.
As he sets me down, I look up at him. “I’ve missed you too.” More than I care to admit.
“When do you go to lunch?”
I look up at the wall clock. “Now.”
“Let me take you to lunch. I’ll walk the dogs with you, too.”
“No dog walking today. They’re on vacation.”
“Just lunch then?”
“Okay. Let me get my?—”
“Coat? You need to get your coat?” he says with a small smile.
I cringe, thinking about the last time we saw each other. “I do.”
“I’ll wait.”
