Page 96 of Last Mile

“I wanted to see if we were still on for dinner.”

“Of course. How could I say no to a home- cooked meal?” she replied.

“Ah, I see how it is. You’re just using me for my mother’s cooking.”

“That and for your fabulous dick.”

I barked out a laugh. “At least you’re honest.”

“You know there’s more to you than your dick.”

“Like my rock- hard body, handsome face, and killer smile?”

Samantha tsked at me. “My, my, aren’t we cocky today?”

“Well, you said you liked honesty.”

With a giggle, Sam said, “True. Very true.” Someone called her name in the background, and her response was muffled as though she had put her hand over the mouthpiece. After a few seconds, she said, “Listen. I gotta go. But I’ll see you at six, right?”

“Yeah, about that. I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention to the weather, but we’re under a tornado watch. It’s supposed to blow in around five o’clock. You should cut out of work early and get here before it gets bad outside.”

“Aw, that’s really sweet of you to be worried about me.”

“That’s what boyfriends do, right?” After all, it had only been a couple of days, so it was really new to me how to act. I was completely fucking clueless.

“Yes, it is. And you’re doing a really good job at the boyfriend

thing.”

“Thanks. So you’ll head out early?”

“I really need to stay. There’s something I need to talk to my

boss about, and he’s been hard to pin down the last two days.”

“Can’t it wait?”

The line was silent for a few seconds. “I suppose one more day wouldn’t hurt.”

“Good. So get your fine ass up here as early as you can.”

“I will.

“Good. I’ll see you then.”

“Bye, Bishop.”

“Bye.”

I woke the next morning tangled in Samantha’s arms. She had arrived just as the sky opened up and rain began to pelt down.

As we sat around the table at Mama Liz’s at dinner, the wind howled while thunder rattled the windows. Eventually, we all went down into the basement, which was a good thing because the tornado sirens started going off. We’d had to use flashlights to get home, since the power had gone out. Lightning candles made for a romantic rest of the night as the storm continued to rage outside.

Glancing over at Samantha, I couldn’t help a huge grin as I watched her sleep. She had reeled me in hook, line, and sinker with her exotic beauty, her humor, and her intelligence. Most of the time I felt she was too good for me.

Of course, she’d never made me feel that way. Sam always made me feel like her equal. She’d made sacrifices for me considering her bad history with bikers. But she had shown strength and courage through it all. Although I didn’t understand it, she was always able to see the good in me.

When Samantha stirred, I reached over and kissed a trail across her jawbone to her lips. A little moan escaped her when I covered her mouth with mine. When I pulled away, she smiled up at me. “Good morning,” she said.