So, he didn’t feel guilty in the least. She’d get over it. Soon. Just as soon as he…drew her a bath, complete with wine…and fresh fruit. He continued to formulate a plan as he directed her out of town.
They had driven just a few blocks when she flipped her head around to face him. “Oh. My. God.” She growled at him.
“What?!” He asked, bewildered.
“We’re going to your family home in the Hamptons!” She shook her head and continued to drive.
He was quiet for a moment. Frowning, he realized that she was accelerating. A lot. He knew where all the speed traps were. And it was a Saturday night. There could even be DWI check points to go through. They were doomed.
“Are you trying to get us killed, or do you just want a ticket?” He shifted in his seat so that he could see her reaction.
“What?” She looked down at the speedometer. “Crap.” She let off the gas pedal.
“Dare I hope you are simply excited to see the place?” He smirked.
“You smirk a lot. You are pretty pleased with yourself most of the time, aren’t you?” She scowled.
“You look miserable most of the time. Are you really that unhappy?” He countered. He raised his eyebrows as they spoke.
“You first!” She appeared to be completely exasperated.
“Doll, you need to learn to relax.” He shook his head. Without thinking he reached over and started rubbing her shoulder. And it appeared to work for a moment, her shoulder sank, her head tilted to the side to allow him greater access. And then…she stiffened and shook his hand off.
“Stop,” she said simply, quietly. “Just stop.” She sighed. “I’ll be more relaxed if you aren’t touching me.”
Jerking his hand further away, his mind raced. Had Cammie been raped, too? Was that why she was so tough and didn’t want him touching her?
She glanced at him. Clearly she planned to give him an explanation. “I’ve seen all your moves, player. I’m not one of your trophy dates. I won’t be treated like that. Not by you or anyone else.” She watched him for a reaction. “Do you get it?”
And he realized he had been holding his breath. Slowly, he exhaled. “Yeah. I get it.” He wasn’t battling memories from a painful past. He was battling her memories of his past. He wasn’t sure which was worse.
They were silent the rest of the trip. It was just before 3am when they pulled into the circular drive that went up to the house. They sat in the car for a moment, both of them staring at the front door of the estate. It wasn’t a really showy place by Hamptons’ standards. And this had been his mother’s dream home. The house in the city was the place that the family did the bulk of the entertaining. That was their show home. And while they held their share of cook outs and pool parties in the Hamptons house, it was all about comfort. It was the place their family felt most at home. Only…neither of them had done any entertaining there at all since their parents had passed.
Sam hadn’t been back a single time. Even Adam had only gone there periodically when others were holding parties in the Hamptons and he needed a place to stay, a place to bring his current fling to. It was too full of happy memories that neither of them ever thought they’d be able to replicate, and had therefore given up before they had ever tried. He sighed.
“Well, would you like a tour?” He asked, amiably
“No, I don’t want a tour,” she responded angrily. “I want a bed. I’m not driving back to the city tonight. Show me to the guest room. You can give me the tour in the morning after I’ve had a coffee.” She stepped out of the vehicle. “And I like my coffee…”
He leaned over the top of the car and joked, “like you like your men? Strong and dark?”
She stared at him a moment, then laughed despite herself. “No, like me. Light and sweet.”
“That’s how you think of yourself?” He quipped. “You are light and sweet? When do I get to see that Cammie?”
“You need to earn that first.” She shrugged and headed for the door, but not before pulling a backpack out from behind the driver’s seat. “I should have been a girl scout. Maybe tomorrow.”
“You’ll be a girl scout tomorrow?” He asked curiously.
“No, genius. The backpack, the preparedness, that’s why I should have been