Determined: To Win (Determined Trilogy Book 3) (7 page)

“Well,” I stared down at my boots. “I’m actually moving out of the studio.” I flipped my eyes up to register her reaction.

And I was glad I did. Her reaction was priceless. Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. “Oh my
God
Sam, are you getting married?” Then she lowered her voice, “Oh my God, you’re not pregnant, are you?”

My eyes opened wide at the suggestion. “What? Whoa, no, no, no.” I said, trying to slow my friend down. “No, David asked me to move in.” I tried to be serious, but a smile overtook my face. I liked saying those words. A lot.

Carrie’s gaping mouth erupted into a grin. “What? Oh, thank God. Sam, that is so exciting. Wow. What a big step. So you said yes, right?”

“I did. But you can’t tell anyone. I haven’t even told my parents yet. So…”

“My lips are sealed.” She made a little locking motion with her lips that she always used when she was serious. “So how did he ask you? Do you think this means…”

I stopped her. “I don’t even want to go there. All that matters is that we are happy. I don’t want to mar the feeling by starting to wonder about other things,” I said the words confidently because I needed to believe them.

“Understood,” she said, nodding.

“Now, how about that meal? Hilde has a special surprise for us.”

And what a surprise it was. I mean, I knew she was making eggs benedict, but I didn’t know that Hilde was capable of making the best eggs benedict of our lives. As we ate in the breakfast nook, we let out little moans of pleasure.

“This is incredible, Hilde.”

“Seriously. I can’t believe I’ve never had you make it before.”

Hilde smiled. “Well, you know Mr. Keith and his taste. Any time you two want some real food, you just let me know.” She winked and walked out of the kitchen to give us some privacy.

“You know, you really hit the jackpot, Sam. Sexy man, gorgeous apartment, free eggs benedict.”

I smiled in agreement. Yes. I did have it good. Real good. But something inside was still gnawing at me. Seeing David with that woman had left me feeling a little unsettled. I mean, it wasn’t like David didn’t work with other women at his job… but something about him lying about his whereabouts was really starting to bother me. I needed to talk to him; I just needed to hear his reassurance. I just needed an explanation. I was sure he would have one.

“Earth to Sam.”

I rocketed back to breakfast. “Sorry. What were you saying?”

“Just that you have the life…”

“Oh, yeah,” I said, looking around. “I mean, it’s great, but honestly, I’d take him if he were a garbage man.” It was true. The apartment, the driver, the clothes, they were all nice. But I knew that unless David and I were okay, nothing else mattered. This much was clear, especially right now.

Carrie grinned at me. “You are so smitten it’s almost disgusting, you know that right?”

I shrugged my shoulders and made an apologetic face.

“It’s a good thing I have my own distraction to fawn over,” she said, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Oh really!” It was my turn to act surprised. “Who? When? Why didn’t you say anything?” Carrie hadn’t dated since before Christmas, which was a long time for her. Usually her all-American, blond hair, blue-eyed good looks kept her ‘dance card full,’ to borrow an expression from my grandmother.

“I think I mentioned him before. I met him at work. His name is Maximo.”

“Maximo? Seriously?” I started laughing.

“Yep. His mom is Mexican, and his dad is Italian. Like, from Italy. He is one of the case workers at the clinic.”

“Sounds hot. So when do I get to meet this Italian Stallion?”

“Soon. We’ve only been on a couple of dates so far. It’s really cute, he’s very Catholic and kind of old-fashioned.” Carrie smiled. I was surprised. She didn’t usually go for that type, although it sounded like his hotness might have done the convincing for her.

“Okay, promise to keep me updated.”

“I will. So, have you told Clark and Leslie you are moving out yet?”

“Yeah. I got done with work early on Friday and ran by there. She seemed okay about it, but Greg seemed disappointed.” I said, as I speared a chunk of potato with my fork.

“Greg?” she said mid-bite. Oh. Right. I hadn’t mentioned Greg to her. I put my fork down as I chewed.

“Oh, he’s just my neighbor across the street.” I said finally, trying to seem nonchalant. But I felt a heat take over my face, and I knew Carrie would pick up on it.

“Samantha Sharp. You are blushing. Who is this Greg?”

I took a deep breath and prayed that Hilde couldn’t hear us. Even so, I lowered my voice to a whisper. “No one. Just my neighbor. This guy. We’re just friends.”

She lowered her head in response and matched my whisper. “Then why are you whispering? Is he hot?”

Damn Carrie and her pointed questions. I started to laugh. I couldn’t lie to her. “Yes, he is good looking. For a
forty year old sales rep
.” I chuckled, trying to downplay how attractive he actually was. “But there is nothing going on.” Why did I even bring him up? Maybe he was on my mind a little more than I wanted to acknowledge.

Carrie sat back in her seat. “Mmmhmm. Well. Be careful Sam. And I say that as a friend. You have a good thing going here. You don’t want to fuck it up.”

I nodded. Damn. She was right. I loved David. It was good I was moving in with him. It was time to leave well-enough alone.

9

After a long, leisurely meal, Carrie left, and I planned the rest of my day. I decided to take David’s advice and put out some resumes, just in case this gig with Gina didn’t work out. Besides, it would be good practice. I hadn’t sent out a resume since I applied for internships in college. But I had to take care of something first. I couldn’t get David and that blond out of my mind. At this point, I wasn’t even sure if what I’d seen was real. Could I have imagined it? I needed to know.

I traded my flats for David’s favorite pair of heels, fluffed my hair back and applied some eyeliner before I had Elliot bring the car around. It was a short trip to David’s office. Before going up to his floor, I grabbed a couple of coffees from a café on the street.

Downtown had been crowded, bustling with tourists and shoppers, but once the doors parted to Keith Ventures, I was reminded that it was the weekend. The office was empty, the usual receptionist missing, and the quiet was deafening. I made my way down a long hallway toward David’s office. Most of the lights were off, but enough light filtered in from the windows to light my path. As I rounded the corner toward David’s office, my heart started racing. I berated myself for being so nervous. I was just popping in to see my boyfriend, after all. Why did I feel so guilty all of a sudden?

Because you’re spying on him.
My subconscious hissed.

It’s not spying. I’m just bringing him coffee, I reasoned.

Still spying.

I took a deep breath as I approached his office, trying to put the voice out of my head. The reception desk that David’s assistant, Dana, usually occupied outside of his office was empty, as well. Suddenly, I felt silly being there. What if he wasn’t there? Then what would I do? I approached the door quietly and gently put my ear up against it.

All of a sudden the roar of laughter broke out. I froze. I wasn’t sure if he would be there, and if he had been, I sure did not expect him to be with others. I felt stupid. Of course he was in a meeting. He was always in meetings, why would the weekend be any different? I paused and debated turning around when the door opened.

“Samantha?” David appeared in the doorway. He didn’t open it all the way, and instead used his body to block the view inside. “What are you doing here?”

He looked confused, but his tone was kind, and I immediately felt guilty for doubting him. “Oh, I uh, was in the neighborhood and thought I’d bring you coffee,” I said, handing him one of the paper cups I had brought with me. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were in a meeting.”

He came out of his office, and closed the door behind him, but not before I saw a glint of blond hair again. He moved me back toward the reception desk and I felt my pulse quicken.

“Thank you, Samantha. That’s good timing. I was just going to make some. You’re very thoughtful,” he said, taking the cup. He was still wearing his fleece and jeans. I also noticed that he had traded out his contacts for his dark-framed glasses. The glasses that drove me wild. I had to admit, nervous though I was, he had the power to seduce me with just a look. My legs quivered just a bit as I stood outside the threshold to his office.

“So, uh, how’s work going?” I asked, desperate to make conversation.

“Good. Busy,” he said before taking a sip of the coffee. “You look pretty. I like your hair like this.” He reached out and caressed the side of my face with his free hand.

“Thanks.” I smiled weakly. I didn’t want to betray my real motivation, but I couldn’t help myself. “So, you’ve been locked up here all day, huh?” Dammit. I immediately regretted the question. It was too pointed. But I couldn’t take it back now.

David’s eyes twitched ever so slightly behind his frames. If I hadn’t had known him as well as I did, I never would have noticed. But I did. So I knew he was lying when he replied.

“Yep. Lots to do.”

My stomach dropped. Why did he have to say that? Why did he have to lie? I desperately tried to hide my reaction, not wanting him to know I had come to spy on him. “Well, I guess I should let you get back to it. Sorry for the interruption.” I forced a smile.

David pulled me into him by the small of my back, and nuzzled his mouth to my ear. “You are never an interruption, baby.” He found my mouth with his, and kissed me hard, forcing my knees to buckle. “Thank you for the coffee.”

“See you tonight?”

“I’ll text you. I’m not sure how late I need to work.”

I put my false smile back on and nodded as he walked me back to the elevator. “Okay, well, I’ll be home when you get there. I love you.” The doors parted and I stepped into the elevator car.

“I love you too, baby.”

As the car doors closed, I fell back against the walls of the elevator, my body a confused mess of emotion. I stared at the ceiling of the car as I descended. Something was up. I just knew it.

10

I spent the rest of Saturday afternoon trying to forget about David and instead focusing on tuning up my resume and perusing job listings online. To be honest, I was more than a little embarrassed by my resume. Aside from the job at the gallery and my volunteer work at the children’s center, I didn’t have much to list. It validated my decision to go work for Gina. Even if the job ended up not working out, it would be another entry on my resume. That itself was worth something.

I was scrolling through job listings and found a couple of gallery jobs that I was qualified for. It seemed silly to leave one gallery just to go to another, but I put in the applications just the same. I also put in an application with a non-profit that worked with underprivileged kids in San Francisco. I figured why not, I was living here now anyway, and even if I didn’t have work experience, I had been volunteering at a similar organization in the East Bay for three years.

Around eight, I finally stopped, my eyeballs raw from staring at my computer screen. I told myself that that was enough for the day, and changed into some stretchy pants and a sweatshirt, pulling my hair into a loose side braid.

I padded out to the kitchen and rooted around in the refrigerator. I was still fairly full from lunch, so I picked out some cut vegetables and hummus.
If only David could see me now
, I mused. I poured myself a glass of expensive looking white wine to balance out the healthy meal, and took the spread to the living room.

As I munched, I started watching a crime show marathon and got completely sucked in. I would have invited Carrie over if she hadn’t already been over that day. It was fun to lose myself in the made-up world for a while, knowing that I was completely safe in the confines of the apartment, with Thomas and Elliot nearby.

I had managed to watch three or four episodes before nodding off. When I woke up, the television and lights were still on. I heard familiar footsteps coming from the foyer. I lie there with my eyes closed, waiting for him to discover me. I only had to wait a moment.

I felt the weight of his body on the sofa next to me. And then his hands as he brushed the hair off my forehead before kissing me.

“Hey, baby.”

I opened one eye and then the other, and greeted him with a sleepy smile.

“Hey, Chief,” I said quietly as I pulled him down next to me on the sofa.

“Mmm. I missed you.”

“What time is it? Did you just get in?”

“It’s late.” He started kissing my neck. I breathed in deeply. He smelled like David, but scented with the night, like he’d been outside. I felt his length press against my thigh. “I need you, Samantha.”

And despite how I had felt that afternoon, I knew I needed him, too. Sex couldn’t always be the answer, but tonight it was. He took me in his arms, back to the bedroom, and we made slow, leisurely love before falling asleep in each other’s arms.

11

I tried to tell myself he wasn’t avoiding me. David, despite having gotten home late the night before, left early again on Sunday morning. I roused early once I noted his absence, and couldn’t get back to sleep. I didn’t feel like bothering Hilde, so I made myself some quick toast and coffee in the kitchen, and took it back to the bedroom.

I didn’t have to be at the gallery until noon, so I figured I’d check my email and do a little research for Gina. Even if I was starting to look for other job opportunities, I still wanted to do a good job for her while I was there. It was no use trying to camouflage my type-A tendencies.

I spent a few hours on my laptop penciling in the upcoming art auctions as well as the gallery openings scheduled for the next two months. I was so lost in research I didn’t notice how quickly the time passed. When I finally glanced down at the clock on my computer, it was 11:15.
Shit
. I had to get all the way over to Oakland to open the gallery in forty-five minutes.