All-American Girl (26 page)

She forced a smile, knowing that Ava would greet her at the door. Samantha took a step toward her home when two figures appeared in the distance. She blinked, cocked her head, and blinked again. One was short, one was tall. They moved toward her, out of the shade.

She had to be hallucinating. They look just like…

“Samantha!” Jax squealed as he dropped his bag and ran the remaining distance to her.

She stood ramrod straight with shock as Jax crashed into her. Finally realizing she was not dreaming, she squeezed him tightly in her arms.

She drew back and rubbed a hand in his hair. “You scared me! Oh my goodness! It’s so good to see you. What are you doing here?”

“We’re moving here!”

Another round of shock hit her and she staggered back, almost falling on her butt. “What?”

Lance’s hand gripped her arm and steadied her. Once her feet were firmly planted, she swayed. She must be dreaming.

“I think I can explain,” Lance said. He tugged her close, and she caught his intoxicating scent. Goose bumps erupted on her skin. “Jax and I want to be with you, so we’re moving here.”

She raised her eyes to meet his. She still wasn’t steady on her feet. “I don’t understand.”

“I love you, Samantha. I finally realized what you needed—someone to come for you. You wanted someone to risk something for you.” He brushed a hair off her cheek. “I would risk everything for you. I need you, and I won’t live without you. We won’t live without you. To put it simply, that required Jax and me to move here and convince you that we are what you need.”

“You’d be willing to give up everything you have in Vermont…for me?”

“Everything, Samantha.” He dipped his head and whispered in her ear. “Everything.”

Her scattered house of cards rebuilt itself, but now it was made with mortar and stone, a fortress that couldn’t be penetrated or broken. Lance’s love wrapped her in love and comfort. She would give him her heart, as he had given her his.

“I love you, Lance.” She kissed him tenderly. “I’m sorry I didn’t say it sooner. I was afraid.”

He dipped his head and kissed her nose. “You’re scared of the future. Me too. Be scared
with
me. Don’t run from me,
Samantha.
I need you.”

Her hands shook from joy. “I should’ve seen it sooner. I should’ve told you sooner. It would have been so much easier.”

“That doesn’t matter now. All that matters is you—
us.
”

“It means the world to me for you to come here. To tell me you love me. It’s exactly what I needed. What I wished for. I love you.”

He kissed her softly, with painstaking slowness. “I was hoping you would say that,” he whispered against her lips. “I wasn’t going to go anywhere until I had you in my arms again.” His lips pressed to hers. “My Samantha.”

“Yours. I’ve always been yours.”

She drew away and pulled Jax in for a group hug. “Yours, too,” she said to Jax. “Come on, I want you both to meet someone.”

“Who?” Jax asked.

“My daughter.”

“You’ve got a daughter?” His nose scrunched. “Will I like her?”

Samantha laughed. “Of course. She’s your age, and she likes dinosaurs, too. Grab your bags.”

Jax snatched his bag up from the street, fumbling with the zipper as he raced back to Samantha.

His adorable gray eyes gleamed as he pulled something from the bag. “I made something for you.” His tiny hand held up a good-sized wooden birdhouse, painted exactly to match Gram’s house back in Vermont. It even had a little white wrap-around porch. He grinned sheepishly. “I’ve been working on it for a while at the diner. Aunt Candy’s been helping. I didn’t know if I would see you again to give it you. So…here.”

Samantha’s eyes stung. “It’s beautiful, Jax. I love it.” She took it from him, allowing her hand to cover his for moment. “Thank you. I’ll cherish it forever.” She smiled at them both. “Come on, let’s go inside.”

After they climbed the stairs, she turned to Lance before walking in. Putting a hand over his heart, Samantha gazed at him through happy tears. “One more thing,” she said.

“Anything.”

“Tomorrow, I want you to take me home.”

He looked at her quizzically. “You are home.”

“No,” she sighed. “We belong in Vermont.”

His wicked grin flashed as he scooped her off her feet and carried her inside. Laughter rang out as the children met and played.

“When you least expect it, everything falls into place.”
~Unknown

T
HE
W
ORLD
W
AS
H
ER
S
TAGE
. To overcome, to embrace, to conquer, and most importantly, to love. She’d learned plenty in her quest for happiness, and now she would bask in the glory of knowing that everything she wanted was hers.

Samantha typed the words “The End” to finish her latest book, grinning like a schoolgirl as she powered down her laptop. Through all her own troubles, she’d learned great lessons, much like the woman in her latest novel. It was amazing how Samantha’s own happiness allowed words to stream from her heart and soul like they used to. After three months of living with Lance, her head was clearer, her body wonderfully sated by the man she adored, and her heart—it was on its way to perfectly balanced and healed. And she owed it all to him.

“How’s the birthday girl?” The wonderful timbre of Lance’s voice echoed through the doorway of her newly built office. He’d made sure to break ground on one just days after she’d arrived back in Vermont, even adding an extra bedroom for Ava.

“Absolutely wonderful.” She turned, unclipping her hair from her bun as she strode over to him.

“Are you ready for dinner?”

“Yup. Just finished.” Giving her head a shake, Samantha’s waves spread across her shoulders like she knew Lance liked. Arching up to her tiptoes, she placed a long, slow kiss on his lips. His hand circled her waist, drawing her closer to his heat. To his heart. Right where she belonged.

“Mmm…” He broke contact, peppering a trail of kisses across her cheek and down her neck. “I love the way you taste.”

She leaned into the warmth, always cherishing each moment, each touch, each kiss. She had almost let the best thing in her life get away and she made a point to remember just how blessed she was every second of every day.

“Mom!” Ava burst through the door with Jax right behind her. “Look what we did!” She shoved a very lopsided cupcake into Samantha’s hand. Half was piled high with pink icing and gummy bears, and the other half was covered in some dark chocolate cream with a little miniature dinosaur.

“There’s eleven more just like it in the kitchen!” Jax bounced to Samantha’s left side as Ava danced to her right.

Being surrounded on all sides by the ones she loved and the ones who loved her in return filled her heart, almost making her explode with glee. Everything she ever wanted was right here.

“Time for Mom’s special birthday dinner,” Lance announced, placing a soft kiss on her cheek.

“Where to?” she asked.

“The Queen Diner, of course.”

They all walked side-by-side and hand-in-hand along the streets of Burlington. The summer wind whipped through the trees, cooling the air as the high moon made the stars glimmer overhead.

A frown tugged at Samantha’s lips as she saw the diner. “Why are the lights off?”

Lance shrugged, pulling her toward the door. “I don’t know. I hope everything is okay. She said she was going to stay open late for your birthday dinner.”

Samantha glanced at the kids, noticing they had strange twinkles in their eyes. She watched as Lance reached for the door and pulled, fully expecting it to be locked. But it swung open with ease and he waved her inside. Trusting him completely she walked in first, his heat on her back.

The lights flicked on and a collective “
Surprise!”
rang out around her. Startled, Samantha lurched back, clutching her chest.

“
Happy birthday, Samantha!”

Lance’s hands encased her arms, and his lips pressed to her ear. “Happy birthday, my love.”

Samantha blinked, her heart still pounding wildly as she looked around. Confetti flew through the air, balloons swallowed practically every nook and cranny, and streamers hung from every inch of the ceiling. It was simply amazing. Then Samantha saw the people: Gram, her brother, Candice. They were all lined up along the counter, their smiling faces stretched to maximum capacity. And Jenny.

“Oh my God!” Samantha couldn’t believe it. She raced first to Jenny. “What are you doing here?”

“Celebrating my dear friend’s birthday, of course.” Her arms wound around Samantha in a tight hug. “I’ve missed you like crazy! New York is just not the same without you there.” Mischief flashed on her face. “Which is why I just put a down payment on my very own little cottage right here!”

“No way.” Samantha’s mouth dropped open.

“Way.” Jenny grinned, giving Samantha another tight squeeze. “I can work right from here. And since you look like the happiest woman on earth since you’ve rooted yourself back home, I want some of what you’ve got.”

“That’s marvelous! When do you move?”

“I already did.”

A lump formed in Samantha’s throat. “What? When?”

“Yesterday. I’m staying with Candice until I close. I kept it a secret for your birthday. Happy birthday, Samantha!” Another hug, this one warmer and full of a million emotions that couldn’t be said with words.

“I’m…I’m…”

“Speechless?” Lance finished for her.

She poked him in the chest. “You knew.”

A rolling chuckle escaped his lips. “Of course. What better gift to give you than your best friend?”

Her mind instantly went to a more sexual place, but she had to admit that Jenny was a damn good gift. She leaned close to him. “Do I get another gift later?” she whispered.

His body went hard next to her. “Most certainly. But for now, go mingle with your friends and family.”

He tapped her lightly on the butt as she made her way down the row. First was Candice, showering her with hugs and kisses, telling her how happy she was Samantha and Lance were making a family together, all while gushing about the new bakery items she’d concocted for Samantha’s birthday party. Candice dragged her over to the enormous cake, decorated intricately with petals and vines, with a wonderful quote about love and family in the middle. Tears pricked Samantha’s eyes. Candice piled tarts and fruits and pastries onto a plate, wanting Samantha to taste every little thing.

She went next to her brother, who was still clean and sober.

“You look good, Cole. Lost some weight?” Samantha leaned into his outstretched arm.

“It’s amazing how much clearer you think when your head is, well,
clear.”

“Gram’s told me about the progress you’ve been making at the antique shop. Sales are way up.”

He gave a shy grin. “Sure are. Been learning about the trade a bit more. And I owe it Gram.”

Samantha squeezed his shoulder. “Just being here, like this, means the world to her—to us. I love you, Cole.”

His face scrunched. “Don’t get all sappy on me. Go see Gram before you get tear stains on my new shirt.” He playfully pushed her hands away.

Samantha practically floated over to her grandmother, who was perched on a low chair by the bar. Gram still needed a little help now and again, but she could move around well, and take care of herself. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Hey.” Samantha touched her soft hair, curling an arm around her back. “How are you feeling today?”

“Wonderful!” Gram’s eyes lit up. “It’s not every day we get to celebrate the birthday of the best granddaughter ever.”

A grin split Samantha’s face. “I had a lot of help, you know.”

“I know.” Gram chuckled. “As a mother yourself now, Samantha, you’ll understand more and more each day.”

There were those tears again. Samantha loved her new life and the way that everyone embraced her. Now she almost couldn’t stop the waterworks. She smiled through them anyway. Happy tears were much better than the other kind.

“I love you, Gram.”

“You don’t have to sit around here with me. Cole is bringing me back a plate of goodies. Go and say hi to everyone else. Enjoy this day, dear. You deserve it.”

“Thank you, Gram.” Samantha pecked her cheek. “For everything.”

Samantha made her rounds, visiting old friends and neighbors. People asked questions about her books, her life in New York, and what brought her back home. Feeling confident with the man at her side and the love in her heart, she told her story.

She watched as Jax and Ava ate way more sugar then they would need in a lifetime, giggling when they started a food fight with their respective pet dinosaurs. Lance only shook his head, his eyes rarely leaving Samantha’s. Even when she was across the room, she could find him easily enough, his gaze always traveling back to her. As she glanced around the room at Lance, Jax, and Ava, she thought this night—and her life—couldn’t get any more perfect.

Vermont had been just what she needed. Lance had been just what she needed. Everything had come together better than she could have ever hoped for. Her brother was focused and hardworking. One of her best friends was trying her hand at opening up a bakery, and the other was moving to this wonderful town. Gram was healthy as a horse and going strong—the woman might outlive the lot of them. Samantha chuckled. It was
more
than perfect. There weren’t even words for what she had, what she was feeling.

“How is your birthday?” Lance’s hand cupped around her waist, tugging her back against his chest.

She twisted in his grip, curling her hands around his neck. “Perfect. Thank you.” Their lips touched, softly, slowly.

He pressed his forehead to hers. “You don’t miss the busy New York lifestyle?”

“Not for a second.”

His grip tightened. “Will you ever miss it?”

Her eyes cast around the room, landing on each and every person who had helped her get to where she was right now: Gram, Cole, Candice, Jenny, Jax, and Ava. The people who loved her, the people who made her see who she was inside. Her eyes zeroed in on Lance. He’d been the one who’d started it all. She would never be able to thank him enough for giving her the chance to be who she wanted to be.

“Never,” she whispered. “You and our family are all I will ever need.”

He kissed her fiercely, igniting the heat she’d become so accustomed to. “Good.” Turning, he caught the attention of Jax and Ava with the wave of his hand and signaled them over. They bounced across the floor together and came to a halt at Lance’s side.

Lance bent down on one knee, eye level with the kids. Ava slid next to Samantha and entangled her warm fingers with hers. She grinned up at Samantha.

When Samantha looked back at Lance and Jax, Lance was holding up a jewelry box, a diamond ring sparkling in the light. The room had gone deathly silent.

Samantha’s heart stopped. Her free hand fluttered to her chest. Ava’s grip tightened around the other.

Jax snatched the ring out of box, holding it up for Samantha to see in his small fingers. Tears crested, her heart thundered. Jax was beaming, but Lance’s face was smooth, calm, and confident. Exactly the way Samantha liked it.

Together, Lance and Jax said, “Samantha, will you marry us?”

Barely able to speak because of the catch in her throat, she nodded like mad, dropping to the floor in front of them.

With Lance’s help, Jax slid the ring onto Samantha’s shaking finger. It fit perfectly, and felt like it should have always been there. This is where she always should have been.

In a flash she was snatched up and curled tightly against Lance’s chest.

“Was that yes?”

Finally able to find her voice, she answered, “Yes!”

The room exploded with cheers. The kids jumped with joy at their sides. Lance sprinkled kisses on her lips.

As her heart continued to pound like mad and fill with bliss, she stared into the eyes of the man who made it all possible. The man of her dreams. The man who saw more than what was on the outside.

And now, surrounding by loving family and friends, Samantha knew she was finally the all-American girl she was supposed to be.