'Sam.'
She was watching Heather run the auction. 'I like her. I mean, she's pushy but I've been known to be pushy, too, so-'
Laughing, she put down her spoon, licked her lips and turned to him. 'Hmm?'
Her eyes were shining, her hair still in that sexy, messy bun that made him want to pull it out and run the strands through his fingers. Unable to help himself, he reached out and ran a finger over her full lower lip, where she'd missed a spot of ice cream.
He brought his finger up to his mouth and sucked on it.
Her eyes darkened and her mouth fell open just a little, as if she was suddenly having trouble breathing.
He certainly was. 'I'm up next.'
She stared at his mouth. 'What?'
'The auction. I donated something, and it's about to come up on the list.'
'How sweet. What did you donate?'
'Myself.'
Just as he said this, Heather's voice came over the loud speaker. 'And now for the finale… a series of private two-hour basketball lessons from one of the greatest players of our time-Jack Knight. We'll start the bidding at two hundred dollars.'
Still turned toward him, Sam raised her eyebrows slightly, the only sign she'd heard and digested Heather's words.
'Two fifty,' Heather said, acknowledging the man at one of the front tables who had gestured.
Sam grabbed her bidder's paddle. She hadn't bid all evening, and Jack had already given a healthy check, so he hadn't, either.
But now, with her eyes still locked on his, Sam lifted the paddle.
'Two seventy-five,' she said.
From her platform, Heather grinned. 'I've got two seventy-five, do I hear three hundred?'
'Three hundred,' called a man in the back.
Sam's wrist flexed as she tried to lift her paddle again, but Jack laughed and held it down. 'Stop,' he said.
She stuck out her tongue at him, and he had the insane urge to suck it into his mouth.
'Three fifty,' she called out.
The bidding got crazy after that, and Jack gave up holding Sam back, but he worried as he watched her go at it with such glee. 'Sam-'
'We're at seven fifty,' Heather said excitedly. 'Going once-'
'Eight hundred,' Sam called out.
'Eight hundred,' Heather called, looking impressed. 'Going once, twice…' She slammed down her gavel. 'Sold, to the lady in black with the big smile on her face.'
Jack laughed, he couldn't help it. Sam was grinning. 'You're crazy.'
'Probably.'
'You didn't have to do that.'
'Don't worry, Jack,' she said softly. 'I never do anything I don't want to do.'
'Is that right?' He stroked a wayward tendril of hair from her eye, ran his finger down her jaw. 'What would you like to do now?'
'Are we finished here?'
'I don't know about you, but I am.'
'Then let's hit it.' She stood up, then reached for his hand.
They found Heather, harried but happy with the money she'd collected so far. Sam settled up for her purchase and got her coupon for the lessons.
Heather hugged Jack hard. 'Thanks for doing this. I know I owe you.'
He looked at Sam, thinking about what he'd gotten out of the evening. 'Consider us even.'
'It wasn't so bad, right?' Heather asked. 'No scandals.'
'Were you expecting one?' Sam asked.
'No, but with Jack, the press will make one up if they have to. They love to hang him.' Heather kissed his cheek, and then Sam's. ''Night, guys.'
''Night.' Jack opened the back door and put a hand low on Sam's spine to guide her out.
'Oh. Uh, I just remembered…' Heather's voice trailed off.
Jack sighed and turned back to see Heather standing there, hands clasped. 'I know better than to stop and ask
'One last little favor…'
'What?'
'A carnival for the kids,' Heather said. 'Next weekend. We're short of volunteers. It'd only be for a few hours, the two of you could do it together. It'll be fun, I promise.'
Jack sighed.
'Free food…'
Sam looked up at him expectantly. 'I like free food.'
He had to let out a laugh. 'You did hear the 'two of you' part, right?' he asked. 'Which means, you're involved now whether you like it or not.'
'I wouldn't mind.'
'For the children,' Heather said sweetly. 'It's all about the kids, Jack.'
'Which booth?' he asked. 'Because you're not telling me something, I can tell.'
'Well, it's a simple one, really. Very easy to run. You'll have no problem with it at all. And the children just love it-'
'Which booth, Heather?'
His sister rolled her eyes. 'The dunking booth.'
Jack raised his eyebrows at Sam. 'See?'
'I don't have a problem with a dunking booth,' Sam said. 'I like water.'
Both women grinned and turned to face Jack, but it was Sam's promising smile that grabbed him, and he groaned because he knew.
He was a goner.
5
They made a late-night stop at McDonald's for sodas-both aware they were just trying to make the evening last-and Sam couldn't get over how much she laughed as they sat at that little table in the empty fast-food place. In fact, she couldn't believe the entire evening-everything about it and her date had made her smile.
But the smile faded as they walked back to the SUV. The night was quickly coming to an end, and now she needed an answer to the eternal question.
To kiss or not to kiss.
Actually, the question was moot now, wasn't it? She'd already gone that far, with an ease that shocked her. Tonight had been so much more than she'd bargained for, and she felt the need to retreat and think.
So as they got into his car and drove toward the cafe, she made the decision not to tell Jack she lived above it, mostly because she wouldn't be able to resist him if he asked to come in.
On the highway, Jack reached out and took her hand. His expression sent little shivers of pleasure down her spine. She knew he wanted more than a kiss.
And so did she.
But wanting more and getting it were two separate things. Nope, she needed to sleep on this one, which meant neither of them were going to get what they wanted, not tonight.
