CHAPTER NINE
Sunday, September 10th
Sam heaved the bag of dog food on his shoulder, grabbed the bag of supplies, and then shut his car door with his foot. Making sure he was balanced, he then headed for Lucky’s front door.
Three hours at the park and they walked away with a retired police dog named Judit. Apparently, she was named after a queen who ruled around 960 AD and laid waste to Axum, which was the then-sacred capital of Ethiopia. According to the chatty woman who was in charge of the adoptions, the queen was a bad-ass who wiped out all the descendants of the Queen of Sheba and ruled for forty years.
Hopefully, the dog they were going to pick up tomorrow would be a bit more mellow, but truthfully, he didn’t mind the idea of having a pet that could protect Lucky if the time ever came.
Not that Lucky expected it. In fact, she’d said in no uncertain terms that Judit had to do nothing more than enjoy her retirement and be the queen she so clearly was.
Hitting the doorbell with his elbow, he shifted his load and made sure he was solid and realized he was no longer self-conscious about the adjustments he had to make as he moved around in the world.
It had taken him close to a year to heal from the injuries he sustained and learn to walk again. In that time, he’d gone through every emotion possible, and it was only through sheer grit and determination he was able to recover and want to live.
The door opened and Lucky bestowed him with an unguarded beautiful smile. Perhaps the first one since they met. Feeling the power of it, he almost lost his balance. “Supplies for Queen Judit.”
Lucky took the bag out of his hands and stepped back. “You didn’t have to do that. I was going to make my brother take me before we went to our parents’ house for dinner.”
“I’ll take you and then you can pick out whatever I didn’t get.”
He kissed her cheek and then walked past her into the kitchen. Opening a pantry door, he saw there was no room for the bag of food. “Where do you want this?”
“I’ll put it in the mudroom; I’ve got another closet in there.”
“Got it,” he replied as he went into the enclosed back porch and put it away. When he walked back into the kitchen, he saw Lucky emptying the bag. “How did I do?”
“Great.” Pulling out the receipt, she looked at it and then grabbed her purse. “Do you want me to Venmo the amount to you or would you like a check?”
Pulling out a chair, he sat down. “Neither, Lucky.”
“I can’t let you spend this on my dog.”
“She’s our dog; you told me yesterday that she could spend time with me whenever I wanted.”
“Well, that doesn’t mean you have to pay for the supplies.”
“If you think I’m not going to take care of my responsibilities, then you’re crazy.”
“We’re not co-parenting the dog. I was the one who wanted a dog in the first place, not you.”
“Why do you think the woman who was in charge of the adoptions gave her to us and not that annoying uppity couple that wanted her as well?”
“Clearly, she saw who would be better suited and, if I’m being totally honest, the deciding factor was when she saw your shiny gold FBI badge.”
“There you go.” He sat back and crossed his arms. “Judit is ours.”
“But mostly mine.”
“I can’t take her to work, so, yes, she’ll spend more time with you, but don’t undervalue all the time we’re going to spend together at the park and watching sports on the couch.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Good.” He studied her face as she took the rest of the things out of the bag and noticed that she hadn’t closed down after their discussion as she’d done in the past. Which meant progress. “What time do we have to be at your folks for dinner?”
“Why would you want to go?”
Scoffing, he held up his hands. “Don’t you think they want to meet the father of their grand-dog?” He ran his hand down his khakis and then looked up. “We’re practically family, and I’m sure they want to get to know me.”
A loud snort came out of Lucky as she slapped the table. “That is a load of bull and you know it. A lot of people have come up with inventive ways to get invited to my mother’s table, but I think the whole dog thing may take the cake.”
“We need to stop and grab some flowers and wine before we go because I’m not showing up empty-handed.”
“You know, on second thought, I think you should come.”
The too-happy smile was making him wonder what she was up to because she’d never agreed to anything so easily in all the time he’d known her. “Why am I suddenly concerned?”
“Not sure, Sam. Just remember, be careful what you wish for because you just may get it.”
“Cryptic and not helpful.”
“Wasn’t meant to be,” she said with a laugh.
Whatever was in store for him certainly couldn’t be any more difficult than anything he’d already experienced in his life. Six years with the Unit, three years with HRT, and two with the FBI told him he could handle anything.
Including whatever Lucky had in mind.
***
Lucky watched Sam sit on the couch of the house where she grew up, sandwiched between her Nona and Great-Aunt Benedetta with a smile on his face. It just wasn’t right. How had he managed to ingratiate himself so quickly? He’d been chatting with the ladies for close to an hour and she noticed he didn’t look all that uncomfortable and actually had his charm on full display.
Which was making Benedetta particularly smiley. And given the fact that the woman hadn’t done much of it in the last twenty years, it was no small miracle.
But considering Sam’s good looks, open laugh, and way with women, maybe it wasn’t much of a miracle after all.
“Whatcha staring at, sis?”
Looking over at her oldest brother, Allesandro, she shrugged. “Trying to figure out why Sam is enjoying our relatives’ company so much.”
“Hard to say, maybe they’ve promised to cook for him or something.”
“Maybe. Nona’s cookies could make anyone do her bidding.” Feeling her brother’s stare, she looked up. “What?”
“So, you and the fed?”
“There is no Sam and me.” Crossing her arms, she lifted her chin. “He’s been hanging around a little and I felt sorry for him, so I invited him to eat.”
“Yeah, that lie is never going to fly. He already told me you two adopted a dog yesterday and he invited me to the next Bear’s game, so we could get to know one another.”
“It’s mostly my dog.”
“Why are you resisting him? Doesn’t make any sense because he’s a smart guy, has a good job, seems to be interested, and was in the service. He’s exactly the guy you’ve been lookin’ for.”
“It’s never that easy, Allesandro, and you know that because you almost screwed up with your beloved wife.”
“It’s never that complicated either. He seems like a good guy, Lucky. Don’t bust his balls just because he makes your nervous and uncomfortable.”
“I would never…”
“Yeah, you absolutely would.”
Feeling her big brother take her hand and squeeze it made her look up. “I don’t know if he’s playing me.”
“A guy who sits on the couch with our relatives for an hour is not playing anything. He’s merely paying the price of being in your company. Not everyone has an ulterior motive and sometimes what you see is what you get.”
Seeing her niece, Cristina, run at her, she bent down and caught her. “Bella, sei venuto a vedere la tua zia favoirite?”
“Don’t forget, we’re not speaking to her in Italian,” Allesandro said and he lifted his daughter in his arms. “Since she has a speech delay, the therapist told us to concentrate on English for now.”
Lucky bent over and kissed Cristina’s arm. “You’re perfect just as you are.”
“I know; Daddy say so.”
“I’m going to get her some bread and gravy before we eat.”
Lucky watched her brother walk toward the kitchen and wondered when she was going to have a kid to take into her mother’s kitchen to steal bread and a bowl of the best marinara sauce in the world. Probably not anytime soon, so she should just be grateful she was about to pick up her dog tomorrow.
Even if she had to share it with Sam.
Standing next to her mother, she waited for her to hand her a plate filled with sausages. “So, what do you think, Ma?”
“He’s handsome as a movie star, charming like a lawyer, and looks at you like you have the answers to all his questions.”
“And?”
“Why aren’t you happier?” Lifting her daughter’s chin, she smiled. “Probably because you think he’s too good to be true. It’s making you crazy, so you’re looking for all the flaws you can.”
“He wasn’t very nice to me when we first met and so I’m reluctant to believe his change of heart is the real thing.”
“Some men take a while to accept fate and maybe he’s one of them. Not everyone is like your papa, and you have to accept that.”
“Do I, though?”
“Yes, because as he so adroitly informed me, you two have adopted a dog together.”
“It’s mostly my dog.”
“Well, he thinks it’s his big in with you and is going to use it as an excuse to plant himself well inside the walls you’re so busy erecting.”
“He can think whatever he wants; doesn’t matter to me.”
“Maybe it should.”
“Ma…” Watching her mother turn away from the stove and take her hands let her know that something serious was happening. “I'm cautious.”
“And you should be, nothing wrong with that. But don’t overthink yourself out of something that could be wonderful. This isn’t like one of the programs you write where it’s going to make sense and follow a linear path. Humans are not like the code and computers you love so much; they are messy, make mistakes, change their minds, and are full of surprises. Let whatever this is in. I don’t know if Sam is going to have a place in your life long-term, or if he’s just the person getting you ready for who is. But either way, let it in.”
“Okay, Ma. You’re always right anyway, so I should just do what you say and save myself a lot of grief.”
“If only all my children understood that.”
Lucky watched her too-handsome baby brother, Dante, walk in and gave him a smile. “What’s up?”
“I’m starving; we gonna eat anytime soon?”
“Almost there. Go and get everyone to the table.”
“All right.”
Lucky turned back to her mother. “Let’s get the animals fed before they revolt.”
“Your father might lead it since he has the game taped and wants to watch it right after dinner.”
Holding up the plate, Lucky watched her mother fill it. “Did Sam invite Dad to a Bear’s game?”
“I think he did.”
“Oh, God, he must be serious if he’s willing to take them to a game.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.” Shaking her head, she pointed to the dining room. “Take this out and come back for the next one.”
As Lucky headed toward the door, Sam walked in. “Go, sit because it’s time for dinner.”
“Can I help with anything?”
She handed him the full plate. “Take this to the table and find a seat.”
He kissed her cheek and then turned around. “I’ll find two, so we can sit together.”
As she turned back to her mother, she saw her ridiculous smile. “He just has good manners.” When her ma mimed zipping her lips, she knew to leave it alone. Whatever she and Sam were about to become wasn’t going to be decided at her parent’s dinner table in front of her whole family.
Picking up a plate full of meatballs, she realized she had nothing to worry about…it was just another Sunday at her parents’ house.
No big deal.
***
Sam stood next to Lucky in her childhood bedroom and couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. It was a girly haven of orange and blue. “Can’t believe I was let into your room.”
“Ma must trust you to let you past the staircase.”
“If she knew about the pictures running through my mind, she wouldn’t trust me one bit because I want to do some dirty things to her baby girl.”
“Sam Barton, what has gotten into you?”
Collapsing onto the bed, he studied the pictures on the wall and decided on full disclosure. “Nothing, Lucky. I’m just being honest and not pretending anymore like you’re not the sexiest, most desirable woman in the world. I want you, plain and simple.” Seeing her hand flutter to her chest gratified him because she wasn’t immune to him, despite how cool she was playing it.
“I don’t know what to say.”
Patting the bed beside him, he lifted an eyebrow. “Come sit next to me and tell me a story from high school.” When her chin tilted up in the show of stubbornness that he was coming to love, he patted the bed again. “Live dangerously.”
Walking slowly around the room, she touched various things and then finally sat next to him. “You don’t scare me, Sam.”
“Good to hear because you won’t kiss me if you don’t trust me.” He watched her pick at one of the flowers that decorated her bedspread and covered her hand. “Love your family, Lucky. I can see why you turned out as amazing as you did.”
“My parents did everything for us and not to make the most of that wouldn’t be acceptable.”
“So, who were you in high school?” He looked around the room and couldn’t decide where she had fit in.
“Stazi and I did just about everything and joined almost all the clubs. We played tennis, joined student council, tried debate club, and even joined the glee club until they politely asked us to leave. Apparently, our voices were not up to par.”
“When did you get into computers and hacking?”
“I was a bored twelve-year-old that discovered that I could get into networks with little effort, and it became a thrill to try it and see what I could get away with. When we were teenagers, Grif and I got into all kinds of places and wandered around completely undetected for months until we got bored.”
“Is that the guy who you kissed at the Athletic Club?”
“One and the same.”
“You still have a thing for him?”
“Sometimes, and then I remember that we don’t get along when we’re in a relationship and I get over it.”
“Is he the one that got away?”
“No, more like the man who will be a life-long friend and nothing more. We were together for a year and almost killed one another, so I don’t harbor any fantasies.”
“Good to know.”
“Who were you in high school?”
“I was a baseball player who was scared stiff of girls until I hit junior year. I thought I was going to play in college and then possibly the majors, but I ended up warming the bench when I got to Gonzaga and decided to leave the team and ended up getting into CrossFit.”
“That must’ve helped when you joined the Army and ended up going through selection for the Rangers.”
“It sure didn’t hurt, but the deciding factor was my stubbornness and unwillingness to give up.”
“Hank and the guys have said the same thing about BUD/S.”
“Would we have dated in high school?” he asked as he ran his finger over her hand.
“Probably not because jocks were not my thing.”
Turning so they were facing one another, he framed her face with his hands. “And now, Lucky…what’s your thing?” He saw the pulse beat in her neck and the heat rise on her skin and decided there was no more waiting. Dropping his head slowly, he tilted her face and pressed their mouths together.
And on a warm Sunday afternoon in September, Sam lost his heart to a woman who had the softest sweetest lips he ever had the privilege of kissing.
When he felt her soften, he slid his tongue across the seam of her lips and teased until she opened her mouth, granting him entry.
Soft hair against his hands, soft woman resting against his chest, and a mind-blowing kiss he would never forget made this Sunday better than any he could remember.
So lost in the moment, he didn’t immediately register the sound of small footsteps until the sound of Lucky’s niece Cristina's voice broke the moment.
“Daddy, Aunt Lucky is kissing a man in her room!”
Pulling away, Lucky groaned. “Cristina, that isn’t something that needs to be announced.”
“Come down here and leave your aunt alone,” Allesandro called out loudly.
“Okay,” she replied before turning toward the door.
Sam watched the little girl skip out of the room and turned to Lucky. “At least they know I’m serious since we’ve adopted a dog together.”
“It’s mostly my dog,” Lucky replied as she fell back on her bed.
Sam let out a laugh and fell back into the bed as well and glanced over at Lucky. “This weekend turned out a lot better than I imagined.” When she picked up a pillow and dropped it on his face, he decided not to say more.
After all, she kissed him back and, by all accounts, it was just the beginning.