Something flickered in her eyes and the spell was broken. “I should go. Our daughter is passed out in your bed and it’s late.” She stood. “I’ll just catch a cab back to Ami’s.”
Sam hurriedly stood. “Look, it’s too late to be running around. You don’t have to go.” Without thinking, he took a step closer to her. “Stay.” He was close enough to glimpse the hesitation in her eyes.
Her voice was strained, but she was looking right at him. “Oh, no. I don’t want to put you out.”
That rebellious piece of hair fell to her face. On instinct, Sam reached out to tuck it back behind her ear. This time she let him. Her hair was soft, silken, just like he remembered. He had the sudden urge to run his fingers along her jawbone, pull her close...
Without removing his hand, he stepped closer. Her breath came faster, but she didn’t move. He rested his hand on her cheek, so lightly, it was almost as if he was touching her with only the heat from his skin. He leaned into her. Heat from her body warmed him and he shifted his gaze from her eyes to her lips. She wasn’t pulling away, but then—bang,bang,bang—on the door.
Maya jumped away from him at the sound, and he was forced to release her. He scrunched his eyes shut and made a fist with the fingers that had just been touching Maya’s hair. That could only be one person. He opened his eyes. “Don’t go anywhere.”
He jogged to the door and opened it just a crack. Sure enough, there was Ben, his motorcycle helmet tucked beneath his arm. Sam spoke in a harsh whisper. “Go to a hotel.” He started to shut the door. Ben put a foot in and stopped it.
“What’s going on, Sammy? I thought you said you had Samantha this weekend. I want to hang out with her.”
Sam tried to shut the door again. “Really, Ben. I’ll pay for it.”
“Sam? Who’s there?” Maya called out.
Ben’s eyes widened, his grin full of glee. “Is that—is that Maya?”
Sam tried to make his nod as meaningful as possible and pleaded, “Now can you go?” Wasn’t there supposed to be some kind of guy code that required Ben to leave right now?
Guy code or no guy code, Ben laughed out loud and called out to Maya anyway. He pushed the door open just as she approached. He tossed Sam his helmet and smirked as he brushed past him to greet Maya.
Maya assessed Ben for minute, her eyes cautious. Ben waited while she studied him. She raised a tentative hand to brush hair from his face and her face lit up. Sam thought he would melt from her beauty. “I know those eyes—Ben!”
Ben reached down and enveloped her in a bear hug that lifted her off her feet. He kissed her cheek and winked at Sam over her head. “Maya! I heard you were back.”
“Yes, I suppose so.” Maya’s laughter matched Ben’s. “Look at you! All grown up!”
As the two of them got caught up, Sam waited, his arms folded across his chest. He glowered at Ben behind Maya’s back. Ben shrugged innocence.
“It’s great seeing you, Ben.” Maya picked up her bag. “But I better get going.” She caught Sam’s eye and he was rewarded with a small smile. She averted her eyes to Ben. “I have an early class.”
“No, no, no! You can’t go! I just got here.” Ben put his arm around Maya’s shoulders and guided her back to the sofa. “I’ll bet Sammy here hasn’t even offered you a glass of wine yet.”
Sam jumped in. “Well, our teenage daughter just came home drunk and is currently passed out, so wine was not a priority.”
Ben spread his arms wide and laughed. “Oh, well why didn’t you say so?” He turned to Maya. “In that case, youhaveto stay over.”
Sam glared at him.
“Don’t you remember, Sammy? My first hangover?” Ben turned back to Maya and cleared his throat. “I may have been a bit underage.”
Sam grinned at the memory. Ben had been just fourteen.
“Anyway, Sammy took me in, but the next morning...”
“Fed him greasy bacon, eggs, hash browns...”
“Prepared with the noisiest pots and pans you’ve ever heard.” Both Sam and Ben laughed at the memory.
Sam turned to Maya, still laughing. “That’s what I was getting to when Ben arrived.” As he focused on those honey eyes, she held his gaze for a moment.
“Is it?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
