Breaking Through, page 16
“I think that’s adorable,” Sam said, stopping in front of her to peer inquisitively into the bag. She heard his stomach growl and pulled her eyes up to his face.
“What’s adorable?”
His brows rose. “Umm, your dad. The nurse?”
“Oh, yeah, right?” Charlotte waved a hand in front of her face. “Totally, sickeningly cute.” She grew serious for a moment. “It would make me feel better, less guilty, knowing he isn’t lonely. It would be a lot harder to enjoy this if I was worried about him all the time.”
“And you are enjoying this, aren’t you, Charlotte?” Sam’s voice took on a silky purr, and she jerked her eyes up to his. His mouth turned up into a mischievous grin. “I couldn’t help but notice you seemed to be eyeing me as if I were the last brownie in the pan.”
Charlotte snorted. “You know me too well, Stevenson.” She ran her gaze over his body, feasting on him. “And yes, I am enjoying this. Very. Very. Much.” She punctuated each word by sinking her teeth into her bottom lip. Sam’s gaze fell to her mouth, and she didn’t miss the evidence of his interest. Pajama bottoms did little to hide it.
“I have a surprise for you.” Sam came around the coffee table and pulled her up against his chest.
“I can see that,” Charlotte said, waggling her eyebrows. Sam chuckled deep in his throat.
“Not that. I took tonight off. Deena is covering for me.”
Charlotte pulled her head back to look into his face, her brows raised in shock. “Sam Stevenson, playing rookie. I never thought I’d see the day.”
Sam growled and plucked at her mouth with his lips. “It’s because of this Charlotte Baker character. The woman has me tied up in knots. She’s a bad influence.”
“Mhmm.” Charlotte tipped her head, letting his lips travel along the curve of her neck. “Didn’t you sleep all day?”
“I’m full of energy,” he said against the arch of her shoulder. “It will be hours before I’m ready to sleep.”
“Whatever will we do to tire you out?” Charlotte asked, her voice full of feigned innocence.
“I have a few ideas.” Sam’s mouth had reached the top of the cleavage exposed by her v-neck t-shirt. Charlotte moaned, threading her fingers through his hair. “Maybe I’m sleepy,” she joked.
Sam gazed up at her, brow furrowed. “Are you tired? We can sleep if you—”
“Good God, Stevenson, stop being so damned nice and take off my pants.”
Sam obliged with a growl. Spinning her around, he bent her over the back of the couch.
“This is what you get for rushing me,” he said against her ear. Charlotte shivered, pressing back into him.
“I’d rush you more if I knew it would get me this treatment,” Charlotte said. Her words ended in a gasp as Sam wrapped a fist in her hair and pushed into her.
***
“Since you aren’t working tonight, you can come to dinner at your parents’ place with me,” Charlotte said, snuggling deeper into the covers against the warmth of Sam’s chest. It was well past midnight now, and sleep was tugging at her.
“They didn’t invite me to dinner,” Sam replied, his tone grumpy.
“Too bad. I suspect that, since you are one of the fruits of their loins, you have a standing invitation.”
“Good God, if you could never refer to my parents’ loins again, I would appreciate it.”
Charlotte tapped a finger against her lower lip. “Can I call you their crotch fruit?”
Sam made a gagging noise in response.
“I’ll take that as a no. So, are you coming?”
“Is my doofus brother going to be there?” Sam asked.
“Yes, and his lovely, pregnant wife.”
That made Sam smile. He was ecstatic at the thought of being an uncle again.
“I thought we could tell them about us. I feel it will be fairly obvious, but your mom will be furious if we don’t fill them in.”
Sam groaned and buried his face in her curls. “They’re going to make a big deal about it,” he groused.
“I know.” Charlotte wiggled around to face him, reaching across the pillows to smooth the lines wrinkling Sam’s brow. He resembled the father he was complaining about so strongly that she wanted to laugh. Perhaps it was a mistake to tell the Stevensons before she and Sam had even discussed where this was going. She didn’t see a way around it, though, and there was no hiding something like this from Eagle Eye Alice. More than anything, Charlotte hoped they wouldn’t join the list of people with broken hearts if this all went south on her and Sam. She shook the thought away. There was no reason to think this would lead anywhere but happiness.
“It’s going to be like a big thing. And Mom is going to cry because that’s what she does.” Sam let out a pained sigh. “Maybe we should wait a little longer.”
Charlotte raised a brow. “Are you ashamed to be with me, Stevenson?”
Sam had the good grace to look genuinely horrified. “No!”
Charlotte chuckled and inched closer across the bed. “So, you’d rather go all night and not touch me?” She pressed her body against his, her hands exploring hidden, blanket-warmed skin in illustration. “Or without kissing me?”
She caught Sam’s mouth with hers, sliding her tongue across his in soft strokes until his breathing hitched and his hands floated up to cup her jaw. Sam groaned deep in his throat.
“But,” he argued against her mouth. “If we don’t tell them, we could have secret trysts.” Grinning, he flung the blankets over their heads. “I could sneak away, and you would have to wait five minutes to follow, of course.” Pushing his nose against the underside of Charlotte’s jaw, he nudged her head to the side. His lips burned a trail of kisses along her neck and down into the dip of her collarbone. A shiver wracked Charlotte’s body.
“Mmm, of course.” Her hips arched, seeking.
“I’d meet you in the basement. No lights.” One large palm settled over Charlotte’s eyes, blocking her vision. Instantly, her other senses sharpened every molecule of her, attuned to Sam.
“Then what?” Charlotte whispered.
“I’d lay you down. You’d be wearing a skirt.” His breath cooled the skin he had left damp with his kisses.
“What? A skirt? I’m not sure I own one of those.” Charlotte turned her lips, seeking his, but Sam held himself just out of reach.
“Hey,” he said. “This is my fantasy. Get your own.”
“Sorry.”
“I’d lay you down,” he repeated, pressing his weight into her. “Slide my hands under your skirt.” Searching fingers roamed low, finding the backs of her knees and traveling upward. Charlotte rose into the touch, a moan bubbling at her lips. Sam kissed the sound away.
“Shh, we have to be quiet, remember?”
Charlotte nodded, unable to tear her eyes from his face. The blankets had slipped back off his shoulders, letting the lamp light catch his eyes. They were twinkling, and with his hair mussed and the dimple on his cheek, he oozed playfulness. Her heart skipped a few times in rapid succession at the teasing. Her Sam, comfortable and enjoying himself. The emotions he stirred were enough to make her giddy.
“Naturally,” he continued, “we must hurry, but lucky for you, I’m a gentleman, and a gentleman always makes sure that his lady is ready.” The hand settled between her thighs, one exploring finger slipping across her folds. Charlotte jerked, a sharp gasp tearing from her. She thrust her hips up, demanding. He was ready, but he continued his sweet torture, locating the hard nub that made her writhe against his hand.
“Please,” Charlotte whimpered.
“I’m going to occupy your mouth somehow before they hear you.” He lowered himself onto one elbow, the sweet weight of him pressing her into the mattress. Capturing her lips, Sam kissed her. He kissed her until her breath came in gasping sobs. His fingers kept a steady rhythm between her thighs, and she clutched the sweat-slicked skin of his back.
“Hurry, before they notice we’re gone,” she gasped against his mouth. With a throaty groan of consent, he sank down to meet her at last.
***
“See, we came in together, and now they are all staring.” Sam, his playfulness spent, scowled as they pulled off their shoes in the entryway of the Stevensons’ house.
“Sam, we’ve known each other for eons. I hardly think this is the first time we’ve entered the house together.” Charlotte backhanded him lightly across the chest. “Also, there is the fact that literally, no one has noticed we are here.”
It was true. The familiar bantering voices and the clang of pots reached them from the kitchen of the Stevenson family home. The cacophony was accented by the deep rumble of male voices and broken up by a smattering of cheers and swear words from the living room.
“Ahh, humans in their natural, sexist environment.” Charlotte stuck her tongue out at Sam, and he gnashed his teeth in a pantomime of snapping it off.
A high-pitched yelp sounded, and a flurry of limbs tumbled out of the playroom and across the hallway runner.
“I had it first!”
Another scream, laden with impending tears, rang in their ears. Throwing Charlotte a wince, Sam wadded into the fray and came up with a kid in each hand.
“What’s going on here?” His attempt at being the voice of authority made Charlotte smile.
“Uncle Sam?” Sasha’s youngest, Trey, blinked up at his uncle, surprised enough to forget his tears.
“The one and only,” Sam said, grinning at the boy.
Sam looked down at Lily in his other hand. “Hey, squirts. What are you fighting about?”
“He won’t share anything.” Lily rolled her eyes dramatically and slumped against her uncle’s side. “Grandma said we had to split the cookie she gave us, and his side was way bigger.”
“No, it wasn’t! You’re lying!”
Sam looked up at Charlotte with wide eyes. Stepping back, she shook her head and held her palms upward, barely controlling her laughter. Scowling, Sam turned back to the kids.
“I’ve got an idea,” he said. “How about stopping your whining and hug your uncle? I haven’t seen you guys in a month. If you stop fighting, I’ll make sure Grandma gives you both a cookie after dinner.”
Sugar feud forgotten at the promise of more, both children dog-piled their uncle. When Sam got to his feet, he put an arm around Charlotte’s waist. “Grandma should have been smart enough to cut the cook in half first,” he muttered in her ear, shepherding the pair of rug rats ahead of them into the kitchen.
Alice rushed over, kissing Sam and then Charlotte on the cheek, but she seemed to take no note of the arm Sam held around her waist. When Charlotte glanced at Sam, he looked so close to disappointed she had to clamp a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing.
Carmen looked up, noted said arm, let out a little squeak, and grinned. Charlotte shook her head and slipped away from Sam to join her friend.
“Hey, Jerk.” Sasha looked up from the pot she was stirring and narrowed her eyes slightly at her brother.
“Hey, Brat.” Grinning, Sam went and brushed a kiss across her cheek before he branched off for the living room.
“So? How’re things?” Carmen bumped her shoulder against Charlotte’s.
“Things are good,” she said, unable to wipe the sloppy grin off her face.
“What’s going on?” Alice looked at the two of them, curiosity brightening her already glowing features.
“Tell her,” Carmen demanded.
“Well, now you have to.” Alice seized the edges of her apron, looking as if she would bounce around the room if she were forced to wait a moment longer for the news. Sasha dried her hands and came over, studying them with a more stoic face than her mother. “Something is going on,” she said.
“Sam and I—” It was all that needed to come out of Charlotte’s mouth before Alice was across the room and grabbing her in a chokehold of a hug.
“Oh, yes, yes, yes! At last!” She bounced up and down, her hold on Charlotte threatening to rattle her teeth. Tears shone in Alice’s eyes when she held Charlotte at arm’s length and stared at her, beaming. “I’ve been waiting so long.”
Sasha watched their antics for a moment, one dark brow raised. “Finally, is right,” she said before returning to business. Charlotte didn’t miss the smile playing at the corners of her mouth or the twinkle in her Stevenson blue eyes.
“Oh, this is the best news!” Alice wrapped her arms around Charlotte and Carmen, squeezing the three of them together.
“Now, you tell her yours.” Charlotte gasped, struggling to breathe. “Quick, before we pass out.”
“Shouldn’t we wait for the guys?” Carmen asked, her cheeks going so pale it made her freckles pop.
“Nah, they can find out soon enough. This is women talk.” Charlotte winked at Alice, who had her head cocked, studying Carmen.
“Oh, my God,” she breathed. “You are, aren’t you?”
Instinctively, Carmen’s hand rose to her abdomen. Alice let out a garbled cry and seized her daughter-in-law in another hug. In seconds, the two women were sobbing and attempting to talk simultaneously.
“Oh, good grief.” Charlotte went to the fridge, grabbed two beers, and passed one to Sasha. Together, they watched as the pair mopped tears off their cheeks.
After a few minutes, Charlotte sighed and clinked her bottle against Sasha’s. “Let me know when you two ninnies finish,” she called. “I’m going to go have a beer with the guys.”
Sasha sighed and nodded, turning to follow Charlotte out of the room. “Good call, I’ll go with you.”
CHAPTER 29
Charlotte woke up to Sam standing over her, dressed for work.
“Wow, Stevenson.” She stared up at him and blinked a few times. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you looming over people while they are sleeping is creepy?”
Sam laughed and bent the rest of the way down to press a kiss against her forehead.
“I wasn’t looming. You just caught me about to wake you. They called me to work, and I have a favor to ask you.”
“No, I won’t do it,” she yelled, then yanked the blankets over her head.
“I didn’t even ask you yet.” Sam laughed, trying to yank back the covers back. When he couldn’t budge them, he settled for poking her until she used up her air laughing and was forced to emerge.
***
“Hello, I’m Charlotte Baker. Sam Stevenson said he’d call and let you know I would take his shift today?”
Charlotte closed the door to the SPCA building, fully engulfing herself in the scent and sounds of the animals. The girl behind the desk looked up from her files with a friendly, somewhat harried smile. “Hi, Charlotte. Thank you for coming. I’m Naomi. Will you follow me? I’ll set you up with some dogs.”
Twenty-odd canine faces popped to attention when the two women entered the room. Some grinned and wagged excitedly, pressing at the bars. Others sat back, watching with wary eyes that broke Charlotte’s heart.
“I’ll give you two dogs to start with,” Naomi said as she took a double-clipped leash off a hook. “Sam likes to take four, but he’s bigger than us, and I suspect a little crazy.”
Charlotte laughed. “You know him well then?”
“Sam’s been volunteering here in this branch for years. At Christmas, he donates his entire paycheck to the shelter.”
Charlotte blinked, taken aback. “He does?”
The other woman bobbed her head. “We built a dog run out in the back even. It has a plaque with his name on it and everything. He basically paid for the whole thing. What didn’t come out of his pocket, he helped us raise with bottle drives and stuff. We dedicated it to him, even though he forbade us from doing so.”
Charlotte shook her head. “That sounds like Sam.”
“So.” Naomi paused outside the cage of a grinning, scruffy fellow who reminded Charlotte of the Benji from her childhood and cast Charlotte a quick sideways glance. “Are you Sam’s girlfriend? I never heard him mention anyone, is all. But a guy like that...” she trailed off, her cheeks darkening.
“I am,” she said. The words left a warm glow in her chest every time she said them. Charlotte squatted next to the door and extended a hand to the dog. “I’ve known him since I was little. He and his siblings and I all grew up together, and we just recently started dating.”
Naomi nodded. “Those are the best types of relationships, in my opinion.” She gestured to the dog with her chin. “This is Tenley. She’s a mixed terrier breed,” she said, directing the subject away from Sam.
Charlotte greeted the dog, laughing when the little mutt flopped onto her back, nearly knocking Charlotte to the floor with her eagerness for a belly rub.
Naomi selected another cage. “This guy just came in a couple of days ago. His owner passed, and the friend who was taking care of him just wasn’t able to commit full time.” She slid the latch back and opened the door. “Come on, Rocky, old fella.” She patted her knee, and a glossy black body strolled out of the cage. “He’s just the sweetest thing.”
“Oh, my God!” Charlotte gasped, and she dropped back to her knees, tangling herself in the leashes. “Rocky, honey! It’s you.” Rocky butted his head against hers, happily slurping at her face. Charlotte looked up, tears blurring her vision. “Sam is going to need this dog,” she said before bending to kiss Rocky’s head.
Naomi looked confused. “Sam told me he couldn’t have a dog of his own.”
“Well, that’s going to change. Sam has his parents and me, and we are going to give Rocky a home.”
Charlotte told her the story of Mr. Edwards and Rocky’s adventure through the hospital. By the time she finished, Naomi was staring at the dog with tears in her own eyes.
“Please,” Charlotte said, “I know you have procedures and stuff, but can you help me with this? I swear Rocky will be in excellent hands.”
Naomi nodded. “I know he will.” She drew a shaky breath and squeezed Charlotte’s arm, her pretty face splitting into a grin. “I’ll start the paperwork while you are out walking.”
***
Charlotte’s hands were shaking on the steering wheel by the time she parked the car in front of Sam’s apartment building. She grabbed her phone and hit call on Sam’s number, taking a deep breath.
“What’s adorable?”
His brows rose. “Umm, your dad. The nurse?”
“Oh, yeah, right?” Charlotte waved a hand in front of her face. “Totally, sickeningly cute.” She grew serious for a moment. “It would make me feel better, less guilty, knowing he isn’t lonely. It would be a lot harder to enjoy this if I was worried about him all the time.”
“And you are enjoying this, aren’t you, Charlotte?” Sam’s voice took on a silky purr, and she jerked her eyes up to his. His mouth turned up into a mischievous grin. “I couldn’t help but notice you seemed to be eyeing me as if I were the last brownie in the pan.”
Charlotte snorted. “You know me too well, Stevenson.” She ran her gaze over his body, feasting on him. “And yes, I am enjoying this. Very. Very. Much.” She punctuated each word by sinking her teeth into her bottom lip. Sam’s gaze fell to her mouth, and she didn’t miss the evidence of his interest. Pajama bottoms did little to hide it.
“I have a surprise for you.” Sam came around the coffee table and pulled her up against his chest.
“I can see that,” Charlotte said, waggling her eyebrows. Sam chuckled deep in his throat.
“Not that. I took tonight off. Deena is covering for me.”
Charlotte pulled her head back to look into his face, her brows raised in shock. “Sam Stevenson, playing rookie. I never thought I’d see the day.”
Sam growled and plucked at her mouth with his lips. “It’s because of this Charlotte Baker character. The woman has me tied up in knots. She’s a bad influence.”
“Mhmm.” Charlotte tipped her head, letting his lips travel along the curve of her neck. “Didn’t you sleep all day?”
“I’m full of energy,” he said against the arch of her shoulder. “It will be hours before I’m ready to sleep.”
“Whatever will we do to tire you out?” Charlotte asked, her voice full of feigned innocence.
“I have a few ideas.” Sam’s mouth had reached the top of the cleavage exposed by her v-neck t-shirt. Charlotte moaned, threading her fingers through his hair. “Maybe I’m sleepy,” she joked.
Sam gazed up at her, brow furrowed. “Are you tired? We can sleep if you—”
“Good God, Stevenson, stop being so damned nice and take off my pants.”
Sam obliged with a growl. Spinning her around, he bent her over the back of the couch.
“This is what you get for rushing me,” he said against her ear. Charlotte shivered, pressing back into him.
“I’d rush you more if I knew it would get me this treatment,” Charlotte said. Her words ended in a gasp as Sam wrapped a fist in her hair and pushed into her.
***
“Since you aren’t working tonight, you can come to dinner at your parents’ place with me,” Charlotte said, snuggling deeper into the covers against the warmth of Sam’s chest. It was well past midnight now, and sleep was tugging at her.
“They didn’t invite me to dinner,” Sam replied, his tone grumpy.
“Too bad. I suspect that, since you are one of the fruits of their loins, you have a standing invitation.”
“Good God, if you could never refer to my parents’ loins again, I would appreciate it.”
Charlotte tapped a finger against her lower lip. “Can I call you their crotch fruit?”
Sam made a gagging noise in response.
“I’ll take that as a no. So, are you coming?”
“Is my doofus brother going to be there?” Sam asked.
“Yes, and his lovely, pregnant wife.”
That made Sam smile. He was ecstatic at the thought of being an uncle again.
“I thought we could tell them about us. I feel it will be fairly obvious, but your mom will be furious if we don’t fill them in.”
Sam groaned and buried his face in her curls. “They’re going to make a big deal about it,” he groused.
“I know.” Charlotte wiggled around to face him, reaching across the pillows to smooth the lines wrinkling Sam’s brow. He resembled the father he was complaining about so strongly that she wanted to laugh. Perhaps it was a mistake to tell the Stevensons before she and Sam had even discussed where this was going. She didn’t see a way around it, though, and there was no hiding something like this from Eagle Eye Alice. More than anything, Charlotte hoped they wouldn’t join the list of people with broken hearts if this all went south on her and Sam. She shook the thought away. There was no reason to think this would lead anywhere but happiness.
“It’s going to be like a big thing. And Mom is going to cry because that’s what she does.” Sam let out a pained sigh. “Maybe we should wait a little longer.”
Charlotte raised a brow. “Are you ashamed to be with me, Stevenson?”
Sam had the good grace to look genuinely horrified. “No!”
Charlotte chuckled and inched closer across the bed. “So, you’d rather go all night and not touch me?” She pressed her body against his, her hands exploring hidden, blanket-warmed skin in illustration. “Or without kissing me?”
She caught Sam’s mouth with hers, sliding her tongue across his in soft strokes until his breathing hitched and his hands floated up to cup her jaw. Sam groaned deep in his throat.
“But,” he argued against her mouth. “If we don’t tell them, we could have secret trysts.” Grinning, he flung the blankets over their heads. “I could sneak away, and you would have to wait five minutes to follow, of course.” Pushing his nose against the underside of Charlotte’s jaw, he nudged her head to the side. His lips burned a trail of kisses along her neck and down into the dip of her collarbone. A shiver wracked Charlotte’s body.
“Mmm, of course.” Her hips arched, seeking.
“I’d meet you in the basement. No lights.” One large palm settled over Charlotte’s eyes, blocking her vision. Instantly, her other senses sharpened every molecule of her, attuned to Sam.
“Then what?” Charlotte whispered.
“I’d lay you down. You’d be wearing a skirt.” His breath cooled the skin he had left damp with his kisses.
“What? A skirt? I’m not sure I own one of those.” Charlotte turned her lips, seeking his, but Sam held himself just out of reach.
“Hey,” he said. “This is my fantasy. Get your own.”
“Sorry.”
“I’d lay you down,” he repeated, pressing his weight into her. “Slide my hands under your skirt.” Searching fingers roamed low, finding the backs of her knees and traveling upward. Charlotte rose into the touch, a moan bubbling at her lips. Sam kissed the sound away.
“Shh, we have to be quiet, remember?”
Charlotte nodded, unable to tear her eyes from his face. The blankets had slipped back off his shoulders, letting the lamp light catch his eyes. They were twinkling, and with his hair mussed and the dimple on his cheek, he oozed playfulness. Her heart skipped a few times in rapid succession at the teasing. Her Sam, comfortable and enjoying himself. The emotions he stirred were enough to make her giddy.
“Naturally,” he continued, “we must hurry, but lucky for you, I’m a gentleman, and a gentleman always makes sure that his lady is ready.” The hand settled between her thighs, one exploring finger slipping across her folds. Charlotte jerked, a sharp gasp tearing from her. She thrust her hips up, demanding. He was ready, but he continued his sweet torture, locating the hard nub that made her writhe against his hand.
“Please,” Charlotte whimpered.
“I’m going to occupy your mouth somehow before they hear you.” He lowered himself onto one elbow, the sweet weight of him pressing her into the mattress. Capturing her lips, Sam kissed her. He kissed her until her breath came in gasping sobs. His fingers kept a steady rhythm between her thighs, and she clutched the sweat-slicked skin of his back.
“Hurry, before they notice we’re gone,” she gasped against his mouth. With a throaty groan of consent, he sank down to meet her at last.
***
“See, we came in together, and now they are all staring.” Sam, his playfulness spent, scowled as they pulled off their shoes in the entryway of the Stevensons’ house.
“Sam, we’ve known each other for eons. I hardly think this is the first time we’ve entered the house together.” Charlotte backhanded him lightly across the chest. “Also, there is the fact that literally, no one has noticed we are here.”
It was true. The familiar bantering voices and the clang of pots reached them from the kitchen of the Stevenson family home. The cacophony was accented by the deep rumble of male voices and broken up by a smattering of cheers and swear words from the living room.
“Ahh, humans in their natural, sexist environment.” Charlotte stuck her tongue out at Sam, and he gnashed his teeth in a pantomime of snapping it off.
A high-pitched yelp sounded, and a flurry of limbs tumbled out of the playroom and across the hallway runner.
“I had it first!”
Another scream, laden with impending tears, rang in their ears. Throwing Charlotte a wince, Sam wadded into the fray and came up with a kid in each hand.
“What’s going on here?” His attempt at being the voice of authority made Charlotte smile.
“Uncle Sam?” Sasha’s youngest, Trey, blinked up at his uncle, surprised enough to forget his tears.
“The one and only,” Sam said, grinning at the boy.
Sam looked down at Lily in his other hand. “Hey, squirts. What are you fighting about?”
“He won’t share anything.” Lily rolled her eyes dramatically and slumped against her uncle’s side. “Grandma said we had to split the cookie she gave us, and his side was way bigger.”
“No, it wasn’t! You’re lying!”
Sam looked up at Charlotte with wide eyes. Stepping back, she shook her head and held her palms upward, barely controlling her laughter. Scowling, Sam turned back to the kids.
“I’ve got an idea,” he said. “How about stopping your whining and hug your uncle? I haven’t seen you guys in a month. If you stop fighting, I’ll make sure Grandma gives you both a cookie after dinner.”
Sugar feud forgotten at the promise of more, both children dog-piled their uncle. When Sam got to his feet, he put an arm around Charlotte’s waist. “Grandma should have been smart enough to cut the cook in half first,” he muttered in her ear, shepherding the pair of rug rats ahead of them into the kitchen.
Alice rushed over, kissing Sam and then Charlotte on the cheek, but she seemed to take no note of the arm Sam held around her waist. When Charlotte glanced at Sam, he looked so close to disappointed she had to clamp a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing.
Carmen looked up, noted said arm, let out a little squeak, and grinned. Charlotte shook her head and slipped away from Sam to join her friend.
“Hey, Jerk.” Sasha looked up from the pot she was stirring and narrowed her eyes slightly at her brother.
“Hey, Brat.” Grinning, Sam went and brushed a kiss across her cheek before he branched off for the living room.
“So? How’re things?” Carmen bumped her shoulder against Charlotte’s.
“Things are good,” she said, unable to wipe the sloppy grin off her face.
“What’s going on?” Alice looked at the two of them, curiosity brightening her already glowing features.
“Tell her,” Carmen demanded.
“Well, now you have to.” Alice seized the edges of her apron, looking as if she would bounce around the room if she were forced to wait a moment longer for the news. Sasha dried her hands and came over, studying them with a more stoic face than her mother. “Something is going on,” she said.
“Sam and I—” It was all that needed to come out of Charlotte’s mouth before Alice was across the room and grabbing her in a chokehold of a hug.
“Oh, yes, yes, yes! At last!” She bounced up and down, her hold on Charlotte threatening to rattle her teeth. Tears shone in Alice’s eyes when she held Charlotte at arm’s length and stared at her, beaming. “I’ve been waiting so long.”
Sasha watched their antics for a moment, one dark brow raised. “Finally, is right,” she said before returning to business. Charlotte didn’t miss the smile playing at the corners of her mouth or the twinkle in her Stevenson blue eyes.
“Oh, this is the best news!” Alice wrapped her arms around Charlotte and Carmen, squeezing the three of them together.
“Now, you tell her yours.” Charlotte gasped, struggling to breathe. “Quick, before we pass out.”
“Shouldn’t we wait for the guys?” Carmen asked, her cheeks going so pale it made her freckles pop.
“Nah, they can find out soon enough. This is women talk.” Charlotte winked at Alice, who had her head cocked, studying Carmen.
“Oh, my God,” she breathed. “You are, aren’t you?”
Instinctively, Carmen’s hand rose to her abdomen. Alice let out a garbled cry and seized her daughter-in-law in another hug. In seconds, the two women were sobbing and attempting to talk simultaneously.
“Oh, good grief.” Charlotte went to the fridge, grabbed two beers, and passed one to Sasha. Together, they watched as the pair mopped tears off their cheeks.
After a few minutes, Charlotte sighed and clinked her bottle against Sasha’s. “Let me know when you two ninnies finish,” she called. “I’m going to go have a beer with the guys.”
Sasha sighed and nodded, turning to follow Charlotte out of the room. “Good call, I’ll go with you.”
CHAPTER 29
Charlotte woke up to Sam standing over her, dressed for work.
“Wow, Stevenson.” She stared up at him and blinked a few times. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you looming over people while they are sleeping is creepy?”
Sam laughed and bent the rest of the way down to press a kiss against her forehead.
“I wasn’t looming. You just caught me about to wake you. They called me to work, and I have a favor to ask you.”
“No, I won’t do it,” she yelled, then yanked the blankets over her head.
“I didn’t even ask you yet.” Sam laughed, trying to yank back the covers back. When he couldn’t budge them, he settled for poking her until she used up her air laughing and was forced to emerge.
***
“Hello, I’m Charlotte Baker. Sam Stevenson said he’d call and let you know I would take his shift today?”
Charlotte closed the door to the SPCA building, fully engulfing herself in the scent and sounds of the animals. The girl behind the desk looked up from her files with a friendly, somewhat harried smile. “Hi, Charlotte. Thank you for coming. I’m Naomi. Will you follow me? I’ll set you up with some dogs.”
Twenty-odd canine faces popped to attention when the two women entered the room. Some grinned and wagged excitedly, pressing at the bars. Others sat back, watching with wary eyes that broke Charlotte’s heart.
“I’ll give you two dogs to start with,” Naomi said as she took a double-clipped leash off a hook. “Sam likes to take four, but he’s bigger than us, and I suspect a little crazy.”
Charlotte laughed. “You know him well then?”
“Sam’s been volunteering here in this branch for years. At Christmas, he donates his entire paycheck to the shelter.”
Charlotte blinked, taken aback. “He does?”
The other woman bobbed her head. “We built a dog run out in the back even. It has a plaque with his name on it and everything. He basically paid for the whole thing. What didn’t come out of his pocket, he helped us raise with bottle drives and stuff. We dedicated it to him, even though he forbade us from doing so.”
Charlotte shook her head. “That sounds like Sam.”
“So.” Naomi paused outside the cage of a grinning, scruffy fellow who reminded Charlotte of the Benji from her childhood and cast Charlotte a quick sideways glance. “Are you Sam’s girlfriend? I never heard him mention anyone, is all. But a guy like that...” she trailed off, her cheeks darkening.
“I am,” she said. The words left a warm glow in her chest every time she said them. Charlotte squatted next to the door and extended a hand to the dog. “I’ve known him since I was little. He and his siblings and I all grew up together, and we just recently started dating.”
Naomi nodded. “Those are the best types of relationships, in my opinion.” She gestured to the dog with her chin. “This is Tenley. She’s a mixed terrier breed,” she said, directing the subject away from Sam.
Charlotte greeted the dog, laughing when the little mutt flopped onto her back, nearly knocking Charlotte to the floor with her eagerness for a belly rub.
Naomi selected another cage. “This guy just came in a couple of days ago. His owner passed, and the friend who was taking care of him just wasn’t able to commit full time.” She slid the latch back and opened the door. “Come on, Rocky, old fella.” She patted her knee, and a glossy black body strolled out of the cage. “He’s just the sweetest thing.”
“Oh, my God!” Charlotte gasped, and she dropped back to her knees, tangling herself in the leashes. “Rocky, honey! It’s you.” Rocky butted his head against hers, happily slurping at her face. Charlotte looked up, tears blurring her vision. “Sam is going to need this dog,” she said before bending to kiss Rocky’s head.
Naomi looked confused. “Sam told me he couldn’t have a dog of his own.”
“Well, that’s going to change. Sam has his parents and me, and we are going to give Rocky a home.”
Charlotte told her the story of Mr. Edwards and Rocky’s adventure through the hospital. By the time she finished, Naomi was staring at the dog with tears in her own eyes.
“Please,” Charlotte said, “I know you have procedures and stuff, but can you help me with this? I swear Rocky will be in excellent hands.”
Naomi nodded. “I know he will.” She drew a shaky breath and squeezed Charlotte’s arm, her pretty face splitting into a grin. “I’ll start the paperwork while you are out walking.”
***
Charlotte’s hands were shaking on the steering wheel by the time she parked the car in front of Sam’s apartment building. She grabbed her phone and hit call on Sam’s number, taking a deep breath.
