Love Makes the Difference (Sully Point Book 1) (14 page)

They headed for the bathroom. Anna was pleased to see that
the work on the new bathroom was complete. The shower, she noticed, was big
enough for two, tiled in large sandy-colored squares. There was a narrow row of
smaller jade green tiles that ran around the shower at eye level.

"Nice shower! I never got to see the tiling," Sam
said as he leaned in and ran a hand over the tiles. "Feel like joining me?"

She looked into his eyes and thought of that kiss they'd
shared on the beach. "You start and I'll be with you in a minute."

She giggled at the surprised look on his face and walked out
of the room.

* * * *

Sam was still standing by the shower staring after Anna when
she tossed the bag with his new clothes into the bathroom. If he had anything
to say about it, clothing would not be necessary for the rest of the night. He
started the shower and got undressed. The smoky smell went all through his
clothes.

He began to scrub up in the shower and had just finished
rinsing shampoo out of his hair when he felt soft hands running up and down his
back. He didn't turn around as he said, "I'll admit I was stunned when you
said you'd come in here with me."

"We have some unfinished business from out on the
beach. I'm not saying I want to finish it in here--in fact, I just opened up
the bed and put sheets on it."

"Excellent," Sam said, turning to face her. She
was luscious to look at, all curves and soft skin. He bent his head to kiss
her, even as his hands began to move.

* * * *

Morning light shone through the windows of the loft and into
Anna's just-opened eyes. She shut them immediately and turned onto her side
facing away from the light--and found Sam's body right next to hers.
Thank
goodness it wasn't a dream!

She traced the muscles of his abdomen with her fingertips,
lightly touching him. They'd had a long night of passion and she was surprised
to find herself awake. Sunlight. Waking up in sunlight.
Oh no!

She scrambled out of bed muttering curses. Finding her cell
phone and seeing that the time was already six a.m. she gave a muted scream and
ran into the bathroom.  

"What is it, love?" Sam rolled onto one side and
was watching her interestedly when she came out wearing only underwear and
looking everywhere for a uniform.

"I'm an hour late at the bakery. Holly is going to kill
me. Maybe she won't find out...no, she's here in town, she'll hear about it. No
way are the rolls and other bread going to be ready for when we open. Plus, I've
got to drive over to the house to get a uniform."

Sam said, "Wait a minute. Didn't you tell me last night
over dinner that the pastel polyester uniforms are a thing of the past?"

Anna stopped running around the loft and smiled at him. "Yes!
It's jeans and a nice t-shirt."

Sam threw off the sheet that had covered him and ambled into
the bathroom for the bag of new clothes. Anna watched him and shook her head.
He really couldn't walk around without any clothes or she'd never get to work.
Hurrying she pulled on an outfit that she hoped Holly would approve of and then
hunted up her keys.

She ran a brush through her hair and called through the
bathroom door to Sam. "I'm leaving."

The door opened and she stepped back. Sam was dressed in
jeans and a cotton shirt and had on cheap sandals. "Take me with you, and
then if I could borrow your car for a while this morning, I'd appreciate it."

"Okay, okay, let's just get out of here." As she
whirled away to head for the door, he grabbed her by the waist.

"Hang on. One good morning kiss. I demand it after last
night."

She turned in his arms and kissed him fervently. "Last
night was great," she said with a big smile.

He grinned at her. "Last night was unbelievable."

"We really have to go now."

They raced out of the loft and down the stairs, and then Sam
ran back up to grab his cell phone, flash drive and wallet.

Anna had the car revved up when he got in. "There's
only a few things you need to know about this car. First, if it says you have a
quarter tank of gas, you really don't. Get to the gas station as soon as
possible. Second, the clutch sticks sometimes, so be careful. And also, when
you shift into third gear, well, it might be difficult to get it there at
first."

Sam shook his head. "There's no way I'm going to go
fast enough in this heap to ever need third gear."

"Heap! This trusty machine has served me well."

"I think it was made when they first built the model.
It's time, Anna. Time for a new car."

"I'll think about it." She pulled up in the back
of the bakery and said, "Damn. Holly's here." Sighing she parked the
car and got out. Handing the keys to Sam, she said, "Time to face the
music. Have a good morning. I'll save you something good."

He reached out and gave her a hug and a kiss on her
forehead. "I'll be back for more."

She laughed and walked into the kitchen of the bakery. Holly
was punching down bread dough on the final batch of the morning. Anna grimaced.

Holly looked up and saw her standing there. "Well come
on, sleepyhead. There are donuts to make and cheese Danish to ice."

"You're not mad?"

"Why do you think I'm here? I had a feeling last night...so
I set my alarm. I won a bet with myself when you didn't show up. Now get your
apron on and then tell me everything."

Anna grinned at her sister. "No way am I telling you
everything
...but
maybe a little." They both laughed.

* * * *

Sam drove cautiously down Main Street and headed out to the
car dealership on the edge of town before realizing nobody would be there yet.
Which was fine with him--he needed some time to think.

He pulled into the lot at the dealership and parked. Last
night had been amazing. He'd had plenty of sex before this. But nothing to
compare to the feelings last night generated in him.
Obviously, being in
love with Anna makes the difference
. There was an air of innocence about
her but also a healthy, earthy, sexuality. Being with her gave him a feeling of
completeness he'd never known.

The only thing missing was that she had never said she loved
him, during that whole night of loving. Funny how he wanted, needed, to hear
that from her. Patience, he decided, was highly overrated.

He grabbed his cell phone out of his pocket and called Norm.

"Whoever this is, I will hunt you down and shoot you,"
growled a sleepy Norman.

"It's me. I have news. First, Patrice showed up here,
tried to ruin my date with Anna and then proceeded to burn down my car and my
house. Second, I'm in love with Anna. Thought you should know."

"What? You--what? Are you--burned down--in love--Patrice--who
the hell is Anna?"

"Maybe I should let you wake up some before we get into
all this."

"No, no, I'm out of bed and headed for my coffee
machine. Tell me about Patrice and the fire. You're okay?"

"Yeah, but my computer is toast. I'm going to pick
another one up today, as well as a new car. Fortunately I have all my backups
so the book is safe." Sam continued on, telling Norm about the events of
the night before with Patrice.

"So you can't be sure it was her?"

"Who else would it be? Do I have any stalker mail
sitting around lately?"

"No, nothing like that. The usual love letters. And
speaking of love..."

"Yes, for the first time in my life, I think I'm
actually in love. She's an artist and a baker here in town."

"Let me guess, tall, blond and beautiful?"

"Medium height, dark auburn hair and beautiful hazel
eyes."

"What? I need more coffee. Call me back after I've had
time to think and recover from this early morning talk of ours. We need to do
something about Patrice, maybe even get you some protection. I'll call you
back."

Sam stared at the phone as Norm hung up. Protection? Guards?
Surely not. But then he thought of Anna--if Patrice tried to hurt him she could
end up hurting Anna too. He decided to drive back into town to the bakery and
have coffee and donuts there until everything opened up for the day.

When he arrived, Holly was manning the counter while Anna
was in the back working on a cake. He decided to try the cheese Danish with his
coffee and as he paid, Holly motioned him closer.

"I have one thing to say to you--don't you dare hurt
her."

"I have no intention of hurting her--I'm in love with
her."

Holly looked astonished. "You are?"

"Yes! What did you think, that I was just playing
around?"

Holly nodded. "Yes, I did think that. Well, this
changes things. She seems very happy today. Is she in love with you?"

He felt his smile fade. "I don't know for sure."

Holly smiled. "Just be patient. Anna does things in her
own way and in her own time."

At that moment Anna came through the walkway and looked at
the two of them suspiciously. "You can't have bought a car this quickly."

"Nope. Nothing is open, so I'm going to haunt your shop
and eat and have coffee while I wait. If that's okay with the owner..."

Holly nodded. "Have a seat. Did you want cream with
your coffee?"

Anna said, "I'll get it." She brought the coffee
to him and sat down across from him at the little round table.

"Terrific Danish."

"Thanks, so tell me what's wrong."

"Anna, nothing is wrong." She stared into his eyes
with a stern look. Damn. "Okay, I called Norm, my agent--and my best
friend. He's concerned she might try something else. He suggested bodyguards."

Anna sat back in her chair, clearly surprised. "Hmm. I
hadn't been thinking of what she might do next, but I think your friend might
be right. She's out there and we don't have any idea what she is planning. You
should be protected." Her eyes filled with concern.

"It's not just me who needs protection. She knows about
you. Last night she was actively trying to hurt you when she came to your
house. She may come after you next. I think if I need bodyguards, so do you."

"What? Me? Come on!"

"Think it through, Anna, just think it through."

He waited quietly, finishing his food and sipping the
coffee. Watching her face, he saw thoughts and emotions flitting across it, and
could tell when she recognized the sense of what he was saying. A resignation
came over her, but then she tossed her head back and looked at him directly.

"Okay, I see it. If I have them, then so do you. And I
also think we need to get a private investigator to track her down and follow
her so we know where she is before we get surprised again."

"Good idea. If I know Norm, I bet he's already thought
of it, but I'll call him in a bit and see." He noticed her questioning
look. "I woke him up before. I'm giving him time to digest the news. Do
you have time to sit with me for a while? There's something else I want to
discuss."

"Holly's in the kitchen fixing up the cookie dough for
later. I'm free as long as the place is empty. So go ahead."

Of course, right then the door opened and two chattering
women, dressed as if going to work in an office, came in and glanced over to
see Anna sitting with him. They immediately stopped talking and took in the
scene. Anna quickly got up.

"What can I get for you today?"

"A bran muffin for me."

"And I'll have the same--no, wait, you only live once.
I'll have a jelly donut."  

"Myra! Your diet," the other woman said.

"Frannie, I'm sick of my diet."

Frannie shook her head, then the two women paid and left,
after several more glances at Sam.

"Here's the deal," Sam said as Anna sat down
again. "My friend Stanley Walters owns a gallery. I'd like to call him to
come see your paintings. What do you think?"

"I have been thinking about it. Especially after I
realized just how many paintings I have done. But do you think there are enough
good ones--"

"Yes!"

She laughed. "Now wait a minute. What would be
involved?"

"He'd come out here and go to your loft and you can let
him see whatever paintings you feel comfortable showing him. Then he gives you
his opinion. Simple."

"Ha--simple is not the word I'd use, more like
terrifying." She sighed. "I know I'm going to have to do it sometime,
because it would make me nuts now that I've come this far to not find out. From
a professional I mean, find out what he thinks. All right, you can call him."

Sam reached out and squeezed her hand. "You won't
regret it."

"You don't know that. But I won't blame you if he hates
them all."

"That's good. Can I have a blueberry muffin now?"

She grinned at him. "You know, you keep eating this
way, you're going to need plenty of exercise."

"Yes, I know, I usually run on the--"

"Not the exercise I had in mind, but if you insist--"

He opened his eyes wide. "Why Anna Grainger! You amaze
me."

Chapter 8

The day wore on, with people popping in and out at first to
see if Sam was still sitting there with her. He left shortly after calling the
car dealership and finding someone there, swearing not to drive her ancient car
longer than was necessary.

Anna spent the morning in a bit of a daze, remembering last
night. It had been so wonderful. He'd been gentle and then not so gentle when
he knew she wouldn't break. The feelings she'd had were nothing like the
experience in high school. Sam was clearly a man who knew a lot about sex.

Does it bother me?
No, she decided. She'd known he'd
been with many others before her, plus he was seven years older so of course he'd
have more experience. The way she looked at it, she was getting the benefit of
that knowledge. If she could keep her mind on the job at all today, she
thought, it would be a miracle.