I smiled and popped an imaginary balloon with my finger. “Hey now. Are you trying to spoil my fantasy here?”
He took my hand, turned it over, and traced a finger over my palm. “So, what does Delilah do for a living?”
I had to think about it for a moment. I didn’t remember wanting anything other than to be a nurse and deliver babies. Of course, that dream had almost been hijacked when I was sixteen and had vowed to become a wedding planner. I remembered buying all the bridal books and begging my aunt to let me use the sheer curtains on the farmhouse windows as a veil.
“Delilah is a wedding planner.”
My hand thunked into my lap as Samson let go of me and raised his hands as if in surrender. It made me laugh, and I slapped at his thigh, batting my lashes as I got into my role. “I deliver the dreams of brides everywhere.” Deliver. Had to get that in there somewhere.
Samson took a long drink of his beer. “Yeah, dreams until the seven-year itch starts itching and divorce lawyers come knocking on their door.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Cynical much?”
He made a “ha” sound, then shook his head and grinned. “Actually, not really. My parents had their fortieth anniversary not long ago. I have evidence that marriage can work.” He made a face, a comical-looking twist of his lips. “Why exactly are we talking about marriage?”
I fluttered my lashes. “Why, Samson, are you falling under my spell already?”
“Yes.”
There had been no hesitation. No grin. Just a small dilation of his pupils that seemed to darken his eyes, and my heart began to thud in my chest.
He leaned closer and lifted a hand to my face, but instead of touching my cheek, he went for the ponytail holder at the nape of my neck. Very gently, he pulled it down the length, then smiled as my hair exploded into a mass of curls around my face.
“It’s the exact same color as your freckles,” he said, tucking a strand behind my ear.
It was such an unexpected comment, an observation that felt oddly intimate, then his hand was at my face, cupping my cheek. I leaned into the warmth. The strength. Emotions I’d never experienced poured through me at the gentle touch. “They were called deformities today.”
The universe was robbed of all oxygen as he shook his head, leaned forward, and pressed his lips to my right cheek, then the left cheek, then the very tip of my nose.
“Will you come to my room?”
His room.
Not his house, or apartment. His room. A hotel. Because he was leaving the United States tomorrow, and would be gone for at least a year. Or so he said. I didn’t know his name — by my choice. I didn’t know his occupation — also by my choice. I knew nothing about him — again, by my choice. On top of all that, if I went with him, I’d be betraying my very clear and established five-date rule.
I didn’t care.
Those three words were the perfect summary of how I felt about all the reasons I shouldn’t be alone with this stranger. But I still didn’t care. I wanted this more than anything I’d wanted in… since I was eight.
“Yes.”
The relief I saw in his eyes was further proof that this was right. One night. I would give myself that willingly.
I’d rather live in regret for the rest of my life for going with him than to live it in regret wishing I had. “I need to tell my friends.”
He nodded, my hand trapped between his two warm ones, his thumbs rubbing circles on my skin. “Tell them I don’t plan to have you home by midnight.”
I smiled. “I hope not, but I do have to be gone by six in the morning.”
“Early morning wedding?” I loved the teasing sound of his tone.
“Exactly.”
“I have to be at the airport by five-thirty, so…”
I glanced at my watch. “So… we better hurry.”
He leaned forward, his lips coming to my ear. “Yes. Because I don’t want to be rushed.”
The butterflies that had begun fluttering in my stomach moments before multiplied, their wings causing a tornado to whirl through my system. “I’ll be right back.”
On shaky legs, I walked to the table where my friends were sitting, trying not to grin like a fool as they all gaped at me, Amy fluttering a hand in front of her face. I grabbed my bag, attempting my best look of nonchalance. “I’ll be heading out now.”
Amy continued to gape at me. “You slut!” Then, she clapped her hands together and jumped up to give me a hug. “It’s about time.” She peeked around me at my mystery man at the bar. “And you got a winner, my friend. Like seriously, Olympic champion all-star.” She narrowed her eyes. “Do you trust him? Does he trigger any psycho buttons? He seems too perfect.” Before I could answer, I was being dragged behind her six-foot frame.
“Amy,” I hissed, but she had a good hold on my wrist. “Stop. You’re embarrassing me.”
She didn’t stop until she was face-to-face with the man I was about to go home — hotel — with. With her three-inch platforms, she was nearly eye to eye with him. “Hi, I’m Amy. And you are?”
His eyes slid to me with a grin. “Samson. Nice to meet you, Amy.”
Amy’s brows drew together but she didn’t comment on the name. “And where are you taking my friend?”
“The Hyatt down the street.”
Amy’s fists came down on her hips. “A hotel. You are dragging the most wonderful human being on the planet to a hotel?”
A high school teacher, Amy could be pretty scary at times. This was one of those times.
She didn’t seem to affect him in the least. “Well, Amy. That’s where I’m staying so I can catch an early flight tomorrow, so it’s there or…” he patted the bar beside him, “this.”
My mouth fell open, then I forced my lips shut before I laughed at Amy’s expression. Then she laughed too, seeing the humor in it all. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Okay, then. Just know that I have her on my Find My iPhone app, so don’t go dumping her into the Hudson, got it?”
Samson nodded solemnly. “I promise. Any other instructions?”
“Feed her. She probably hasn’t had anything to eat besides peanut butter crackers all day.”
She knew me so well.
He nodded. “Check. Anything else?”
Amy looked at me, her eyes softening. “Be good to her. She really is the most wonderful human being on the entire planet.”
The smile was back and his fingers linked with mine as he smiled down at me. My insides curled. My toes curled. My lips curled into a responding smile.
“That’s an easy promise to keep.”
TO BE CONTINUED...
I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek of The Surprise. The full standalone novel is now LIVE and available at Amazon HERE!