7

7

Amelia

The night in the hotel with Sam is by far the sexiest, most erotic night I’ve ever had. Sam was a sweet and attentive lover. It’s more than I could’ve ever wished for.

After our first time on the couch, we followed up in the shower and in bed. I fell asleep in his arms, and he took me again just before the sun came up. We had room service for breakfast.

Since that night of bliss, Sam and I have been inseparable. We spend every free moment together and I’ve been staying overnight with him at his father’s house.

The house is still for sale, but there’ve been two solid offers. Although I’m thankful and relieved that this process will be over for him, I’d be lying if I said I’m a little disappointed too. The finality of his time in Cedar Springs with the sale of the home only means he’ll have to go back to New York and I’m not ready to let him go.

Since our hot night in the hotel room, Sam has hinted about us long-term, but no definite plans or proclamations of love have been uttered.

By either of us.

Although the relationship started with a lot of flirting and then our fun trysts, I must admit I’m falling for him. Not at all what I planned. Knowing his time here in Cedar Springs was limited and he’d eventually have to go back to New York, I wasn’t planning on developing feelings.

I’ve never actually been in love before. This thing with Sam, it’s different. I want to be with him all the time. I can’t think of anything else when we’re not together, daydreaming about him when I should be working. My heart still flutters when my phone lights up with his name.

Sam

When Amelia invites me to spend the night at her apartment, I’m curious to see what her place is like. What better way to get to know someone completely than seeing where they live and spending time with them in their house.

I pull up to the apartment and head through the entryway to the second floor. Obviously, it’s not the place I’m used to— no doorman, no elevator. The hallways have hardwood floors and it’s easy to see this was once someone’s home that’s been converted to an apartment.

In this area of Cedar Springs, there are a lot of houses that are now apartments. As the original families who settled in Cedar Springs moved from their large homes, developers came in and converted the homes to apartments.

I tap on apartment door 203, I hear footsteps and Amelia opens the door. As usual, she takes my breath away. Her long hair is straight and the golden tresses cascade around her shoulders. She’s wearing cut-offs that hug her ass and a red tank top. She greets me with a hug. Her chest presses against me.

“Hey,” she greets and kisses me. “Come on in.”

I step into the living room. It’s small but cozy. Like the hallway, the floors are hardwood with a large area rug centered in the room. The living room leads into a small dining area and what I can only assume is the kitchen to the side. There’s a clear view down the hallway to the bedrooms and bathroom.

“Nice place.” I look around at the photos on the wall. “So, we have it all to ourselves, huh?”

“Yes.” Amelia grins. “Mia went out of town to visit some friends. She won’t be back until Sunday evening.”

“Did you take these photos?” I ask as I point to the wall filled with a variety of photos.

“No, it’s all Mia. She loves photography.”

“Very nice.”

Amelia

Sam takes me out for a nice dinner, and we enjoy our food and the conversation. Sam talks about New York when I ask him what it’s like living in such a big city. I can’t imagine depending on a taxi for transportation when everything in Cedar Springs is practically within walking distance. I’ve only been in a cab twice in my life.

We return from dinner, and I unlock the front door. Practically everything in this place belongs to Mia. When I moved back to Cedar Springs, I could only bring back what would fit in my small car. I had to sell most of my stuff before I returned home—furniture, books, guitar, and many other cherished possessions. I moved in here with my clothes, some photos, and a few treasured items.

Once we step inside the apartment, it doesn’t take long for Sam to pull me into his arms and lead me down the hallway to my bedroom. He’s insatiable.

“You have no idea what you do to me.”

We throw our clothes off and fall onto my bed. I can’t wait to feel Sam’s skin on mine. He wastes no time working his tongue on my body and sending shivers down my spine.

“Get on all fours,” he says as he sucks my earlobe.

He steps off the bed and I get on all fours and push my butt up. When I look over my shoulder, he’s standing by my bed with a grin, his erection long and hard as she watches me. I grasp onto the blanket as Sam comes up behind me. I can feel him at my entrance. He enters slowly and thrusts, which takes my breath away.

Sam pounds into me and it doesn’t take long before I find my release.

“Sam,” I pant his name over and over. A final thrust and Sam groans with his release.

“You’re sexy. Have I told you that?” He pulls out of me and collapses on the bed. He guides me into his chest.

We snuggle and I run my fingertips down his bare chest.

“I hate the thought of going back to New York.” Sam rubs his warm hand up and down my back. “Without you.”

I look into his eyes. “I hate it too,” I whisper.

“I know this might seem fast, but I’m. . . I think about you all the time.”

I kiss his cheek.

“I guess what I’m trying to say is I think I’m in love with you, Amelia.”

“I’m falling for you too, Sam.”

“Really?”

“I am.”

“I want to see what we can do to keep this going. I don’t want to leave you here.”

“What are you saying?” This is all happening so fast.

“I’d like you to come back to New York with me. There are plenty of opportunities for school, careers, real estate.”

“You do? You mean it?”

“Of course, I mean it. I want you to move in with me. And if it feels like this is going too fast, we can find you your own place or you can stay in my other bedroom. I want you with me.”

My insides tingle as if my heart has suddenly grown wings. The man I’m falling for just declared how he feels about me. He wants me in his life.

“I want to be with you too, Sam.”

He holds me until we both fall asleep.

My life is finally turning around.

Sam

I wake up to the sound of the shower. I squint open one eye and remember I’m in Amelia’s apartment. I grin when I think about our night.

I’ve done it. I’ve gotten past my mistrust and I’m inviting Amelia into my heart.

I groan as my hip digs into the uncomfortable mattress. I can’t lay in this bed any longer. It’s still dark and I search for my boxer briefs as I slip out of bed. I manage to switch on the desk lamp that gives off a low light. I find my briefs and jeans and put them on. As I grab my keys and cell phone from the desk, a paper catches my eye.

Petition to file bankruptcy? The shower is still running, so I move the manilla envelope to reveal the rest of the paper. I gasp when I read the amount of debt.

What the hell? It’s the same thing again. Just like Ruby.

I close my eyes tightly and shake my head. When I open my eyes, the number practically jumps off the paper and slaps me in the face. Running my hand through my hair, I feel sick to my stomach.

The shower turns off and I put the paper back the way it was. I hurry to find my shirt and slip it over my head.

Shoes and socks? Practically under the bed. I quickly slip on my socks and as I’m tying my shoes, Amelia appears in the doorway in only a towel.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t.”

She looks at me. Her eyebrows furled. “Where are you going?”

I don’t answer and tie my shoe.

“Sam?” Amelia rubs her wet head. “What’s going on?”

“So, how long did you think it would take me to figure it out, huh?”

“What?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. I know your game.”

Amelia gasps. “What are you talking about?”

I huff. “Oh, I think you know exactly what I’m talking about. You couldn’t have known at the masquerade ball, but I bet it didn’t take you long to do a web search.” I push past her and make my way to the living room. Amelia follows closely behind me.

“Please tell me what’s going on.”

“You were probably pretty impressed when you figured out I was the CEO, huh? Well, guess what. I’m not the CEO, I own the corporation.”

She clutches my arm. “Sam, please don’t go. Talk to me.”

I step into the hallway and let the door click softly behind me. I hear her fall against the front door and the sobs that follow.

I shake my head.

How could I be so naïve?

I take a deep breath, but the inhalation does nothing to slow down my racing heart. Adrenaline surges through me and my muscles quiver.

My best times and my future with Amelia just turned into my worst nightmare.