I Know You Love Me (22 page)

"Drew...” She whispered softly running her fingers through his hair causing him to moan and pull her closer. “I'd love to, really I would, but we're not alone."

Kissing her neck, he moved to undo the buttons on her blouse ignoring her initial protest. “Of course we are. I locked the door after..."

"Seems that she has her own key."

Chuckling, Drew returned his attentions from her lips to her neck. “She? Allison, you're the only woman I gave a key to...not that you needed a key to get into my house."

"Sheriff, you're not listening to me again."

Drew laughed and kissed the swell of her breasts. “I'll start listening when you give in."

Allison shivered, her hands clenching in his shirt. “Damn it Sheriff, if you don't turn around and get rid of our unwanted guest right this second, I'll never give in again."

Pouting, he turned toward the back door, curious to see who could be stupid enough to ruin his plans. If it wasn't life and death, they were in serious trouble.

"Well whoever is behind me better be scared. I am not happy at having my future happiness threatened."

"You just don't like when I say no,” Allison teased.

"Sweetheart, having you say no is challenging. Having you make threats because I'm too..."

"...determined to get your own way, to process anything else?"

Drew pulled her close and turned a glare on their intruder. “Forgive me, Love?"

Cupping his cheek, she kissed him gently. “There's nothing to forgive; its part of what I adore about you. Now can we please get rid of her?"

Sam was bound and determined to ruin his life, he could tell. Why else would she show up in his house now?

"Of course we can, baby. Sam, I'd love to know how you got keys to my house."

"Well, I showed the local locksmith's son my ID and asked him to make me a key. Told him I lost my key and you'd be livid if I told you that again. In a small town, you'd think he'd know better. I must say, this is a beautiful house we have here. Although some of the furniture is a little feminine for your tastes."

"You can thank Allison for that. This is our home—Mine and Allison's—and she helped me decorate a few things when she moved in. Get out!"

Sam shook her head. “No, I'm staying. My bags are already sitting in the corner of the master bedroom where they belong. I'm surprised you didn't see them."

Drew couldn't believe his ears. When the hell did she have the time to do that? They hadn't been gone that long. “Sam, I'll throw you and those bags out on your ass if I have to."

"Temper, temper, Drew. I saw our new bed. I can't wait to stretch out on that luxurious mattress. Your little plaything will just have to find elsewhere to sleep."

"Samantha, if you enter one toe in Allison's bedroom or even breathe on her bed, I'll have you put in a jail cell before you can call your incompetent lawyer."

"You can't arrest me, Drew. I'm your wife."

He couldn't believe her gall. “Ex-wife. And this is your last chance to leave voluntarily."

"Forget it, Drew; my lawyer told me the truth. If I'm living here when the judge shows up, I get half of everything."

Allison got up off his lap in disgust. “Money, more money. Is that all you ever think about?"

"This from Miss moneybags. Of course you wouldn't understand!” Sam spat in disgust. “I earned every dime I get out of Drew. I sacrificed a lot when I married him, and now it's time for him to pay up."

"Sam, get out of my house!"

"No!"

"Aren't you with Wilson now?” Allison asked just as she was about to leave the living room.

That was a very good point his baby had just brought up. Walking over, he hugged Allison close, then turned toward Sam in curiosity. “Aren't you?"

"He dumped me when he found out that you preferred her!"

"Smart man."

Smiling a full toothed grin, Sam sat on the sofa. “Don't be mean, Husband dear. It's very unbecoming."

Turning his attention back to the beauty in his arms, he rubbed her arms soothingly. “Allison, baby, would you please call Jimmy at the station, then go upstairs and bring down Sam's bags? She isn't staying!"

Sam lifted her chin arrogantly. “I already unpacked!"

Allison stiffened in his arms. “Where exactly did you put your things, Sam?"

Crossing her legs, she smiled smugly. “Well its simple, Husband dear. I took that...woman's size ten clothing and threw them into the spare bedroom, then placed my perfect size twos in the dresser and closet where they belonged."

"You did what?” Allison's fists clenched at her sides as she advanced toward Sam, anger radiating in every step. “Why, you evil little dyed blonde, boob—job, needy bitch! I've been on your side through all this, and that is the thanks I get? Wait until I get my hands on your scrawny little chicken neck, you slut. I'll tear you limb from limb."

Drew had never seen Allison like this before, and the strangest part was that he liked it. It excited him to think that she considered him hers. “Whoa there, Tiger. As much as I'd like to see that, I can't let you hurt her...yet. I'd have to arrest you, and I have a better way to use my handcuffs with you."

"Fine, but be warned, Drew. This means war. The gloves come off, Princess, and I won't hesitate to pull in all the favors people owe me. Consider your life ruined; you've picked the wrong girl to piss off."

Sam looked from Drew to Allison with a stunned expression on her face. The kitten she'd been tormenting suddenly showed she had teeth, and he didn't care. All he wanted to do was take this spitfire up to bed and let her expend all this angry energy out on him.

"Are you gonna let her talk to me like that?"

"This is her house, Sam. You're the one who's violated her space. Explain to me why I should even consider it? Personally, I like this side of her."

"Where'd she go? Drew if she touches me..."

Until Sam pointed it out, he hadn't realized that Allison had left the room. For a split second he panicked.
Had she left him again?
The sound of tearing fabric and heavy objects hitting the ground revealed her location. She was upstairs.

"Stay here, I will not stop her from attacking you if you enter our bedroom again."

Taking the stairs two at a time, he ran into the bedroom to see what could have caused all that noise. He was stopped short by the sight of Allison sitting in the middle of the spare bedroom, her clothes strewn all around her, crying quietly. “Baby?"

"Why me? I don't understand, Drew."

"Baby, what are you talking about? Talk to me, Lady."

"Why me? Why would you choose me, when you could have someone like her?"

Drew sat on the floor and took her into his arms. “I like my women sweet, kind, and cuddly. Sam is none of those things, but you, my Love, are all of them and more."

Sniffing, she looked up at him with unshed tears making her eyes sparkle like diamonds. “Drew, I threw all her things out the bedroom window. It's all sitting outside in a puddle getting muddy and wet."

Laughing in relief, he kissed her gently. “That explains the loud noises—her suitcases hitting the ground and snapping open. But what about the tearing sounds I heard?"

Wiping at her eyes, she repressed a grin. “When the suitcases opened, her clothing spilled out and got caught in the branches of the tree. The wind was tearing them loose."

"Well, seeing the mess she made with your beautiful things, she deserves whatever she gets.” He was worried about her; she looked broken for the first time since he'd met her. He didn't like seeing her broken. He wanted the spitfire back. “Tell me what's really wrong, Allison."

"You know how I have to leave in four days?"

"Yeah I know, you need to go away for a week. We've come to terms with that. I plan on making you the happiest woman in the world so that you rush back to me. Combine that with our daily and nightly calls to each other, and we should both survive the separation."

"I need to leave sooner now, Drew."

"Why?” Yes he sounded suspicious, but he really didn't care.

A sad giggle escaped her throat at his worried tone. “Because, you goof, I don't have any clothes left to wear but what I'm wearing right now. She tore everything to shreds before throwing it in here."

Grabbing the first piece of clothing he could reach, he held it up and cursed. Why had Sam done this? Why was she trying to ruin everything good in his life, shredding Allison's clothing made no sense?

"I'll go talk to her."

"Don't leave me, Drew. Please let her do whatever she wants. We can deal with her tomorrow; I just don't want you to leave me alone right now. Hold me?"

"Baby, I'm not going anywhere. I'll never, ever leave you. You know that, right?” His concern was deepening. True, he'd only known her for a few months, but she'd always been so sure of herself. Even when she pushed him away, she was in control. Could Sam's being in their home really have caused this insecurity? Or was there something deeper causing this change?

"What am I doing? I'm acting like an insecure idiot. Go, Sheriff, you need to go make sure she isn't robbing you blind. I'll go through the clothes here and see what's salvageable, and tomorrow after I get Eric to sue her ass for destruction of personal property and get Jimmy to charge her with breaking and entering, I'll stop to talk to the locksmith and his son...then go buy new clothing."

Drew had spent enough time with her to recognize the warning signs. She was pulling away from him again, and he wasn't having any of it. He only wanted to hear her call him Sheriff when in the throes of passion or while she was teasing him mercilessly. Not when she was trying to send him away or looking for excuses to leave. He wasn't about to let her reach the part where she tried convincing herself she was doing it for his own good. Let Sam rob him blind. Then he'd have an excuse to lock her up.

"Stop it! I am not going anywhere unless you come with me. Don't even try to push me away, Allison, because it won't work. You, my lovely lady, are stuck with me. It's too late now; I know you love me.” He watched her deflate right before his eyes, and was relieved to see the invulnerable spitfire he'd fallen in love with looking up at him.

"I'm not trying to push you away, honest. I just...I don't know how to handle a situation like this."

Drew pulled her close. “Neither do I, but you have a few good notions to start with. We can build on them together.” Drew couldn't resist the grin that appeared when she climbed into his lap and started unbuttoning his shirt. He knew she wasn't aware of doing it; she just needed to get closer to him, to touch his skin. He knew that because she'd done this twice before and was always surprised she'd undressed him. He didn't mind one bit, because the moment she realized what she'd done, he got to return the favor, leading them more than once into bed and an afternoon of frantic love making.

"Well, don't you two look cozy."

Unfortunately for him, Samantha had limited patience and no tact. He could have killed her when he felt Allison stiffen in his arms. “You were told to leave or stay downstairs."

"Sue me. I wanted to see what was taking you so long."

Allison flashed her a tight smile. “Oh, I intend to."

"Excuse me?"

The shock on Sam's face made Drew so proud of Allison. The spitfire was peeking through again.

"I said I intend to sue you. You ruined my clothes. You will be hearing from my lawyer over this!"

"I'll pay for those rags once I get my settlement. You have no case, and no proof I did anything."

"Sam, you stupid little slut, even if Drew gave you half of this house in settlement, you wouldn't even come close to paying for the clothes you ruined, and you'd be right back where you started. Worse off, actually, since you'd be in debt to me. The four dresses in that far corner, the ones that Drew wanted to see me wear, are worth ten grand each. You would have been better off selling them, and when I inform the designers of what you did to their creations, they'll probably want to lay their own charges against you."

"How did a fat little slut like you get clothing worth so much money?"

Drew growled threateningly, his eyes boring into Sam's with venom and warning. “Sam, you are getting dangerously close to being thrown out the window to join your things.
Do not
disrespect Allison again."

"Well, can you explain it? Wait...what do you mean to join my things?"

Drew smiled and helped Allison to her feet; they'd need to be mobile once Sam learnt her possessions were sitting outside in the mud. The fact the rain had started up again only meant they would get even more wet and dirty.

"I worked for it, Samantha, twenty-five hours a day, three jobs, and no free time.” Allison sighed at the completely blank look that crossed the woman's face. “Right. Let's see if I can explain the concept of work to you. Work is something a person does to earn money so they can buy things."

"You spent ten grand on a dress?"

The thought that she would spend so much on a single garment, no matter how fetching on her, shocked Drew a little. Could he keep her living in a lifestyle she'd become accustomed to when she made a purchase like that?

"No, I was given the dresses as gifts for my performances."

That relieved him; he hadn't misjudged his sweetheart.

"So you were a whore. I should have known as much."

If Allison hadn't been holding him down, Drew would have gone for Sam's throat and choked the life out of her. That woman was such a waste of air, what he ever saw in her he'd never understand.

"Sam, in an entire lifetime...” Allison responded calmly, while stroking his back to keep him calm. “You could never make as much on your back as I did doing one concert. As for my being a whore, I guess that's between me and Drew. He would be the one to ask regarding my qualifications in that department, and he's the only one whose opinion I care about."

Drew hugged her close. Allison had gone from virginal to wanton overnight. She was more sensual and sexual without trying than Sam could ever be, and he wouldn't change a thing.

"She's the perfect woman, Sam—the dream girl I've been searching for all my life. Allison is more alluring to me with her hair all mussed up and wearing an old ratty jersey than you ever were, or could ever dream of being. No matter what you wore."