Hiding Out (15 page)

Haley had just entered the room in her bathrobe and was about to shut the door when a hand prevented that.  “Whoa,” he said in a low voice.

Haley looked confused.  “I must be in the wrong room,” she said until she realized that she was speaking to Sam and that he was wearing a similar bathrobe.  Her eyes widened in surprise.

“We’re having our body treatments together, Haley,” he said.

“Together?”

“Yes, baby.  Together.”  Sam saw instantly how nervous she was.  “Is it me?”  He glanced around the room and realized that two men would be taking care of them.

Haley looked up at him and wondered over what to say.  “Um, Sam?”

He knew instantly what she was thinking and addressed the estheticians.  “Could you give us a moment please?”

Given that it was Samuel Davenport making the request, they immediately scattered. 

Once they were alone again, Sam pulled her close.  “I wasn’t thinking, Haley.  Or maybe I just thought having me right next to you would give you the courage to enjoy the experience.”  He inhaled the scent of her hair.  “Will it be okay, or should I find a woman to work on you?  Or maybe you want a woman and for me to leave the room?  I’ll do whatever makes you most comfortable.” 

Haley made a face.  “I don’t know what this entails.  What’s a Vichy shower anyway?  Do I have to get naked?”

Sam took a moment to explain the procedure.  They would both be wearing special paper undergarments, totally disposable.  They would get on the table face up, select a body scrub, have that scrub applied to the entire body, then they would be covered by the top of the pod and water would flow through the holes to rinse them.  During that time, usually a good twenty minutes, the lights would be low, there would be music, and they could relax. 

To Haley, it sounded pretty perfect.  It also sounded pretty intimate.  Yet with Sam on the table next to hers, she could handle it.  She could even imagine enjoying it.  He was correct in his assertion that his presence gave her strength.  She felt better already just having him close.  He would always protect her.  He had told her as much.  “I’ll be fine,” she murmured against his exposed chest.  Her lips grazed him as she spoke and he discovered he was having an immediate physical reaction.

“Well, let’s get you on that table then,” he said, pushing her toward the table.

She was self-conscious, but trusted him to behave like a gentleman with her nearly naked form.  Haley untied the robe and let it drop from her shoulders.  She focused entirely on his eyes while she passed it to him, looking away only to climb up onto the Vichy table and cover her chest with her arms.

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”  He whispered in her ear as he leaned over her and kissed her on the lips.  He hung up her robe, walked over to the door, and announced they were ready. 

Sam tried to focus on relaxing.  He couldn’t concentrate on anything but how incredible Haley had looked naked.  He had wanted to touch her, to caress every square inch of her, but he had held back, knowing that he would never have her complete trust if he leapt on her at the first moment that presented itself.  He sighed.

“Sam?”  Haley said softly while they were alone in the room, sealed in their pods.

“Yes, Haley.”  Her voice caressed him.

“Thank you so much.”  She was genuinely happy, completely relaxed, and utterly convinced that this was the best afternoon of her life.

“You’re welcome so much.”  He smiled, even though he knew she couldn’t see it.

“No, I mean…for everything.  It’s not just about what you do for me; it’s about how you care for me and support me.  Do you understand?”  Haley struggled to make sure he understood what a difference he was making in her life.

He opened his eyes, understanding the gravity of the discussion.  “I know.”

And by the time she walked out of the spa, Haley was a whole new woman, right down to her hair.  Sam had commented on the picture of her with her family the morning after he spent the night.  He didn’t pry, for which she was eternally grateful.  In fact, the only observation he made was how great her hair looked its natural color.

As much as she longed to remain safe and secure with her mousy brown hair and baggy clothing, Haley felt stronger and more confident than she had since the attack, strong enough to be more herself than she had in a long time.  And in some way or another, all of her changes could be traced back to Sam.  Sam had signed her up for Tae Kwon Do.  Sam had set her up with the stylist.  Sam had supported her, been patient with her, and cared for her every step of the way.  Just thinking of him warmed her.

Then he saw her.  He was waiting in the back of the limo, finishing up an important phone call while he anticipated her exit from the spa.  He had planned a late dinner and hoped that if he just played his cards right, she might ask him to stay over so that they could enjoy another weekend together.  With the Christening on Saturday afternoon, she was already rather tied to him, right?

The door opened suddenly and an amazing leg was propped on the floor beside him.  The rest of the body was busy with the driver.  “Thank you, Neville,” she said full of grace and confidence.

Sam made eye contact with the driver, who was blushing.  He raised his eyebrows.  Haley knew his name?  The driver shrugged.  And in an instant she was beside him.  He barely recognized her.

The hair that had always seemed wrong for her now was a glossy brilliant copper.  His eyes widened.  Her creamy skin was begging for his caress and he gave in to temptation. 

Slowly, Haley turned to study his reaction as he captured her face.  He was millimeters from her lips, mesmerized by her eyes, which now sparkled a deep emerald.  “You have rendered me speechless,” he murmured, closing the distance to her lips.

“I’m glad you approve,” she said once she pulled back from his kiss.  She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. 

“Relaxed?”  He guessed while playing with her hair.

“Too relaxed,” she jokingly complained.  “I can barely move.  The massage was incredible.”

He nodded in agreement.  Her comment reminded him of how amazing she looked naked.  He felt his groin react and had to quickly change the subject.  “So, do you think you can find the energy to eat?  I have reservations at this amazing Italian restaurant.”

“Somehow I’ll manage,” she giggled.

At dinner he tried plying her with wine, but she stopped him.  “You are so transparent,” she teased.

Sam’s ear turned pink.  “Whatever do you mean?”

“What if you just ask?”  She murmured, leaning across the table.  He studied her face.  “What if we discuss it before I wake up with a start, wondering where I am, who I’m with, and if there’s an intruder I need to worry about?”

His eyes widened in shock.  “Is that what I do to you?  Is that what has happened those times?”  He reached for her hand with a furrowed brow.  “I never meant…”

“I know,” she said quietly, letting him caress her palm.  “And as soon as I see that you are with me, I’m fine,” she declared shyly.

“Was that so bad, admitting you like having me around, admitting I make you feel safe?”

She challenged him.  “Would that be so bad, admitting you want to stay with me, share the same bed with me, spend time with me?”

He pursed his lips together.  “Point taken,” he said wryly.  He sighed.  “I hate rejection, Haley.  I’m not accustomed to it.  And it’s not as though you haven’t turned me down in the past.”

“I won’t always acquiesce to your every desire,” she said honestly.  “But you will always know how I feel, where you stand.”

Sam leaned closer.  “In that case, you’ll be doing a lousy job of hiding,” he teased.

“I’m done with hiding,” Haley replied.  “You and I are sardine players.” 

Sam stayed over.  Even more surprising was his announcement in the morning.  “I’d like to go to class with you.”

She paused as she tied her belt.  “You can’t just watch, you know.  People sitting around watching distract the kids.  No one is allowed in the room unless they are participating.  That’s the rule.”  She waited for his answer.

“Will this outfit work for today?”  He was wearing wind pants and a t-shirt.

“That’ll do.” 

During class, one of the middle school age girls came over to speak to Haley.  “Is that your boyfriend?’  She asked.

“Not exactly.  Why?”  She looked over and saw Sam give her a little wave as he practiced the beginning blocks.

“He keeps staring at you,” the girl said.  “And you came in together.  And he’s really cute for an old guy.”

Haley chuckled.  “Hey, he’s only about seven years older than I am.  Does that mean I’m old, too?”  But the girl simply gazed at her and walked away without responding.

“What did you think?”  She asked as they walked out to the car. 

“You were amazing.  The kids adore you.  I can see why you wouldn’t want to miss a

class.”

Haley smiled as she glanced at the clock on the stereo system.  “Just enough time for lunch and a shower before the christening,” she commented

“I probably should warn you that Adam has invited himself.”  He sighed.

“It’s a christening, not some invitation only event.” She shrugged.  “Ellen won’t mind that he’s there.”  She shot him a glance.  “And neither will I.”  He studied her for a moment.  “You don’t know how lucky you are to have each other,” she said in a hoarse whisper. 

He realized that she was holding back her tears, stifling a sob.  “Haley, what’s wrong?”  He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her as close as the console would allow.

“I wish I still had family, and all you do is try to get away from yours.  He’s all you have left.”  She swiped at her tears, suddenly embarrassed.  “I’m sorry that I’m being so emotional about this.  I think it’s because the holidays are coming and it’s been a rough year.  A lot of terrible memories are being dredged up.”

“Tell me, baby.  Please,” he urged.

She sighed.  She knew she’d have to tell him everything about her eventually.  If he was

going to stick around, he might as well know all her truths, starting now.  They pulled to a stop in front of her apartment building.  He led the way up the stairs, gently squeezing her hand to give her reassurance.  Haley immediately went to her room and brought out the family portrait Sam had seen before.

“This is my family,” she said quietly, taking her usual seat at the window.  “We were really happy, rarely argued.  We loved each other.”

He could sense he was about to hear of some tragedy that was going to rip out his heart.  He sat facing her, gripping her hand, waiting patiently for her to reveal her story.

“Emily was a junior in high school.  Her spring break was different from mine.  In fact, her break was scheduled for the week before my mid-terms.  I was a freshman in college, trying so hard to be responsible.  The family was going to Daytona Beach for the break and wanted to bring me, but I needed to study so I stayed at school.”  She swallowed and looked at Sam.  “The day they were to return home, I was summoned to the Dean’s office.  They had been involved in this enormous pile up on the interstate in Georgia.”  She swallowed again, her mouth suddenly dry.  “My parents died instantly and Emily was dead before they could extract her from the vehicle.”  She was going to wipe away her tears but Sam pulled her close.  “I lost my entire family in one foul swoop,” she said into his shirt.

“No aunts or uncles or cousins?”  He asked.

“No one,” she said shaking her head.  “My parents met in an orphanage.  They had no one and latched onto each other at a young age in the group home.  They claimed that’s why they were so happy and loving.  They knew how much family meant.  They knew how important love was.”

His grip on her tightened.  “I could be your family, Haley,” he murmured into her hair.  He didn’t know what compelled him to say that.  He was unused to expressing himself so openly, to revealing the depth of his feelings.  Yet he knew he spoke from the heart.  That was all he could ever do when Haley was around.

She raised her face to meet his.  “I’ve thought about that.  I think that has a little something to do with my hypersensitivity today.”  She tried to smile.  “See, that’s how I ended up engaged to David.”  She shuddered involuntarily.  “I wasn’t in love with him.  I was in love with his family, with the idea of being part of a family once more.  I was so sad, so lonely.  He liked me in a way a guy never had before, so I rode it out.  Does that make sense?”  She tilted her head to one side, watching him for a reaction.

“It makes perfect sense,” he said honestly.  “But you can’t possibly think that has anything to do with…” He wanted to say ‘us.’  He wanted there to be an ‘us,’ but he had to play it cool.  They weren’t supposed to be dating.  And the more time he spent with her, the more likely it was someone from the office would notice.  He knew he was absolutely transparent when it came to Haley.  He sighed.  “I’m so glad you were ready to share this with me.  And I meant what I said.”  She nodded and he glanced at his watch, shelving his feelings and forcing them back to present.  “And I hate to bring it up…”

“I know.”  She stood, paused, and brushed her lips against his.  “Give me thirty minutes.”