He smirked. “I am. You just worry about those crab cakes.”
He had to laugh when she stopped what she was doing to gape at him. She was so cute with the added color to her cheeks that he couldn’t look away from her. He wanted to kiss her again. He knew he shouldn’t, so he forced himself to get back to preparing the crabs. Soon, she followed his lead and silently got back to cooking.
“Oh my gosh. You’re a really good cook,” she said after she took a bite of her soft-shell crab sandwich.
“You don’t have to sound so surprised.”
“I’m not surprised; I’m impressed,” she said with a smile. “There’s a difference.”
“How would it look if I couldn’t cook what I catch? You’ll have to try my single fried oysters. They’re amazing if I must say so myself.”
Samira smiled at him then went back to eating. It felt as if they shared meals together all the time. Andy started thinking about their breakup, even though he had been trying hard not to. He felt out of the loop. Since he was beginning to get to knowSamira all over again, he became certain that she wouldn’t have overreacted the way he always assumed she had. There had to be something he didn’t know, and he had a feeling it was between their parents.
“You okay?” Samira asked, startling him from his thoughts.
“Yeah. I’m better than okay. I’m glad we did this. I’ll help clean up,” he answered as he stood and gathered their plates.
Samira stood as well and gathered the bowl of salad in one hand and the platter with the remaining crab cakes in the other. She put the leftovers away while he loaded the dishwasher. Once again, it was as if they had done it a hundred times.
“I’d better get going,” he said, not wanting to overstay his welcome.
“Okay,” she hesitated. “It’s been a long day. Thanks for coming.”
“I’m sure you’ve figured out that all you have to do is ask me, and I’ll be here,” he said once they made it to the door.
Her breathing faltered, and he looked up to find her watching him closely.
“Goodnight,” she said quietly.
After only a brief hesitation, he closed the distance between them. His mouth closed on hers in what was instantly a passionate kiss. He parted her lips with his tongue, which she readily accepted, and placed his hands on her waist, backing her up until she could go no further. His hips pinned her against the door. Her hands were hot against his back, and he pressed his body against hers.
When he could think of nothing but the way her soft body might feel against his without the barrier of clothing, he knew he needed to pull away. Her moan vibrated through him when he moved his hands to the small of her back and pulled her to him even tighter still, his hardness pressing into her. There was a limit to his control, and he was quickly approaching it. He liftedhis head just enough to catch his breath. Her breathing came in short rasps, and she leaned into him as he pulled away.
“I’m sorry. You okay?” he finally asked.
She smiled and nodded in response, eyes still closed.
“What happened? Why did you disappear after we broke up? Why didn’t you come back?” Andy had to ask. He had to know.
Samira’s eyes flew open, and she looked suddenly nervous. “I don’t want to talk about it tonight. I don’t want to ruin it. Can’t we just keep moving forward like we have been?”
“Don’t you think I deserve to know? I let it go when I was young and stupid, but I can’t do that now. Not when you’re here and I have the chance to get you back.”
“I’m only here for two months. Let’s just have fun while I’m here,” she pleaded.
Andy looked at her for a moment before pulling her back into his arms. Her wide, panicked eyes were his undoing. As much as he needed answers, he wouldn’t push her. He would do and say anything to wipe the terrified expression from her face.
“If that’s what you want.”
***
Samira pulled the blankets tighter and stared up at the ceiling. Sleep wouldn’t come easy when, once again, her thoughts were filled with Andy. She had been thoroughly kissed, and then he went on his way, leaving her wanting.
She could only hope he would respect her wishes to not delve into the past. Bringing everything back to the forefront wouldn’t benefit anyone. It appeared as though everyone had healed and moved on. Her aunt had become close friends with Andy’s parents, and she had mostly gotten over it herself. The thing that hurt the most was the way things had been left with her parents.Talking to Andy about it wouldn’t bring her parents back or give her the chance to say goodbye to her uncle.
She didn’t think she would be getting any sleep at all, but she was sound asleep when her alarm went off early the next morning. Thankfully, she had thought to set it before climbing into bed. She stretched and took a few minutes to wish she didn’t have to be up so early. This was the first time she would have to make the two-and-a-half-hour commute to work.
Once she had showered and dressed, she made her way to the kitchen and started the coffee pot. While it brewed, she took the leftovers from the night before and packed them into her big pink lunch bag and added a few ice packs. She wouldn’t be back at the house until the end of the week so she might as well share it with Andrea. Andrea thought she knew Maryland seafood, but she hadn’t eaten any fresh from Miller’s Island. When the coffee pot beeped, she poured her coffee into a large travel mug, added cream and sugar, grabbed her purse and lunch bag, and quickly went to her car before she was late.
