Sweeter Than Wine (7 page)

Sam turned to Lacey, "It's your call?"

"I don't think…." She began but he cut her
off with a big smile.

"Scared?"

"Of course not," she turned beet red. "We'll
take it."

***

After Sam agreed to pay the first night, he
gave the innkeeper a credit card and waited.

"Fine follow me," the clerk said and led them
down the hallway. "Don't you have luggage?"

"We're on a motorcycle," Sam explained,
"Besides, we're just site seeing. We have accommodations up the
mountain."

"There's a cycle bunch up by the reds now.
You hurry up there tomorrow you might catch them." The man said,
finding the room and turning the key to open the door for them.

Sam took the key from the man and led Lacey
into the room.

The gigantic bed stared at them as they
entered. Both of them looked then turned their attention away at
the same time.

The ocean view beckoned them from the
window.

"Look, did you ever see "It Happened One
Night?" he asked, grabbing her hands and holding them out in front
of her.

"Sure," she began to smile. "Oh, yes, your
right. We can build a tent to separate the bed sort of. You can
have your side, I can have mine." She brightened.

"Good, that's settled. Now, I'll toss you for
who goes first in the bathroom." He took out a nickel and was about
to flip it, when she stopped him.

"But I'm the woman, shouldn't I go first? I
mean it is the gentlemanly thing to do."

"Ah…but we are strictly pals, you aren't a
woman to me, not any more. So we'll flip for it."

"But…"

He flipped, "Call it?"

"Heads," she shook her head with disgust.

"Tails, you lose, I go first," he said
brightly.

When she looked indignant he pulled her chin
around, "Look Sparky, I don't take that long, anyway. Just a shower
and shave and I'll be fine."

"Sparky?" she screwed up her face at him.

"Yep, that's what I’m calling you, Sparky. It
seems to fit." He laughed. "Because around you, the sparks
fly."

She opened her mouth to object but he was
already turning to go into the bathroom. "Be out in a jiff."

***

Stomping her foot for a second she danced
about in a mad fit. She couldn't believe he took her advice so
literally. In addition, to cheat her out of the bathroom, that
certainly didn't win him any brownie points.

She saw a magazine laying on the nightstand
and grabbed it. Flinging herself across the bed, she flipped
through it. Her anger festered for a few minutes, and then she
began to relax. She secretly chided herself. She wanted to have
fun, didn't she? Sam was showing her how.

Nearly asleep, she felt something nudging her
leg, "Hey sleepyhead, the bathroom is all yours now."

"Gee thanks," she mumbled and got up.

She wouldn't be telling him how wonderful he
smelled, or how much a shave improved his looks although the rough
edges of a beard looked sexy on a man, and Sam was sexy. The man
was lethal whether he shaved or not. In fact, she sort of liked
that little stubble around his chin and mouth.

"Take your time, I'll rig us something for
the bed while you relax. Don't you worry; you won't even know I'm
around." Sam insisted.

She nodded, yawned, and headed for the
bathroom when his next words stopped her, "You know, it was a great
idea you had about keeping things just friends between us.
Otherwise we might…"

"Yeah, well, I'll be out later," she frowned
and walked into the bathroom.

"I'm just teasing you, Lacey; you are so easy
to tease, and beautiful when you turn so pink."

The tub was oversized, and the water she ran
was almost hot. She sank into it after adding some bubbles that the
Inn furnished. She closed her eyes and relaxed against the back of
the tub. It felt like heaven.

She heard Sam moving around in the bedroom,
and it made her curious as to what he was doing. Only the water
going cold got her out of the tub though.

In her backpack, she'd managed to tuck a long
t-shirt in and dressed again she joined Sam.

Laughter peeled from her throat though when
she saw the dividing blanket over the bed, just like in the movie.
Except in the movie, there were twin beds, not one big single.
"However did you manage it?"

"Oh it took a little work," he huffed, then
sat on the edge of the bed.

"I can see that. Very clever." She smiled and
went to her side.

"Oh…I guess you are ready to turn in?" he
muttered.

"Well, I thought….we do have to get up in the
morning if we want to make the redwoods tomorrow." She encouraged
seeing his eyes travel the length of her t-shirt.

"Yeah, I guess you are right." He had managed
some pajama bottoms of his own she noted.

However, when they both lay down, the bed
sank a little and the blanket allowed both of them to see each
other.

"Better make some adjustments," he said,
standing on the bed and pulling the blanket down further. She
looked up and their eyes locked hungrily onto each other.

She turned over, away from his side of the
bed, so she couldn't see him.

"Goodnight," she murmured.

"Yeah, goodnight," he frowned and lay back
down. This time they couldn't see each other.

***

"So…what was she like?" Lacey lay on her
side, turned away from him, she waited for his answers.

"Who…?" Sam asked, his tone quiet, almost as
though he was nearly asleep.

"Your girlfriend." Lacey sighed, and waited
for his answer.

Sam was silent a moment, then he replied,
"Who said I have one?"

"A man like you, your bound to have one,"
Lacey felt something deep inside her care.

She felt uncomfortable now for asking such a
question. She shouldn't have asked. But she couldn't help it she
wanted to know.

"I suppose you miss her, that's why you
kissed me," Lacey said somberly. "But what I meant, was what was
she like, was she happy, fun loving, or more serious?"

There was a long silence.

"Lacey," he seemed to pause; "I didn't kiss
you because I miss her." Sam almost chuckled. "I'm not engaged to
her anyway. We're just friends…"

"Did you want more with her?" Lacey probed
further, as though the answers were important to her. She fingered
the blanket as she waited for his answers.

"No, not really." Sam's voice seemed softer
now. "Actually, she was just a lot of fun."

"I envy her that, being fun. How long did you
go with her?" Lacey cried, real tears coming down.

"A few years." He turned over toward her he
didn't move the blanket.

"A few years," Lacey asked, propped her
elbows on the bed and raised up, disgusted with his lack of caring.
"You went with a girl a few years and never got serious about
her?"

There was a long pause, as though Sam had
never considered the question. He lay flat of his back now, staring
up at the ceiling. "I guess I wasn't in love with her. Like I said
she was a lot of fun."

"Then why did you date her for so long, if
you didn't care for her?" Lacey asked.

"I don't know. It was convenient for one
thing."

"If I went with a man for that long, I'd
expect an engagement ring." Lacey said almost as a suggestion.

"Well, I figure you have to love someone to
give them a ring." Sam replied.

"And you didn't love her?" Lacey said her
voice soft and caring.

"I didn't love her."

Laying flat and staring up at the ceiling
Lacey shrugged, "I use to think about getting married, having
children of my own. However, somewhere down the line, I guess I
quit thinking about it. About the time my mother got so ill..."

"Have you given up on good ole Howard?" Sam
said softly.

"There's nothing to give up on. You keep
thinking there is." She laughed softly." It never really began."
Lacey insisted. "I think I'll probably end up an old maid school
teacher." Lacey smiled and stretched.

"You have kisses sweeter than wine, how could
you possibly end up an old maid school teacher?" Sam said quietly.
"You're quite a woman, Lacey."

"Thanks…" Lacey smiled widely.
"Goodnight…"

"Goodnight…"

At breakfast the next morning there was a
crowd in the lobby, all fishermen. Sam looked at them with
interest. If Lacey weren't with him, he might be tempted to join
the action. Fishing was a fun sport and very relaxing.

One older man seemed quite interested in
Lacey, smiling broadly as they strode through the lobby.

"You ought to join us; this is the greatest
sport in the world. The trophies are something too." The man
winked.

"Oh…I don't have any fishing gear, I'm
afraid." Lacey smiled back at the man, as his smile grew
broader.

"Oh they'll rent you anything you need." The
man came back with an answer as his gaze traveled her.

Lacey smiled again, wetting her lips
nervously, "Well enjoy…"

"Thanks…" he winked again.

Sam took her by the arm and led her into the
restaurant, "What was that about?"

"The man suggested I try the tournament."
Lacey laughed as she took a seat at the nearest table.

"Did you want to?" Sam nodded to the
waitress, and then glanced at her.

Lacey considered it a moment. "I don't know.
It would be wonderful to go home with a trophy of some kind I
guess…"

"And it isn't on a boat this time…" Sam
smiled as his voice held a tinge of excitement. "A trophy might be
just the thing to turn that Dean's head."

"You sound like my cheering squad. Do you
think we could register, at this late date?" Lacey asked, her gaze
going around the restaurant.

"We could find out. Let's have a good
breakfast and see." He encouraged confidently.

"I used to go fishing with my father a long
time ago."

"Really, in Texas?" Sam questioned ordering
both of them coffee while they searched the menu.

"Yes, in Texas."

"We'll need just a couple of minutes,
thanks." Sam told the waitress.

The waitress nodded and went to another
table.

"Yes, but I was just a kid." Lacey explained,
her voice growing with excitement as she spoke. "My father died
some time back, I still miss him. Dad and I used to fish a lot.
That's why I thought the boat trip would be so neat. But I never
had any idea I'd be sick…"

"Then we'll have to give this a try," Sam
encouraged her again. "And a trophy is something physical to show
all of them back home."

"Okay, I'm game…" she said and glanced at the
menu." However, if I’m going fishing, I'll have to have a good
breakfast. I don't have a wardrobe full of clothes either."

"Don't worry we can get some waders. That
way, if you get wet, it won't ruin your clothes. Sound good." Sam
skimmed the menu and set it aside, looking at her bright eyes this
morning, her enthusiasm was catching.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked moments later
after they ordered a gigantic breakfast for the two of them.

"I did, and you?"

"Sound as a rock…"

***

"I have to admit, I didn't expect to." Sam
smiled. He certainly hadn't expected to. It was a new experience
sleeping beside a woman and not touching her.

Sam felt like taking her hand and holding it,
telling her what a fine lady she was, but he knew he couldn't touch
her. She'd set the rules and he'd abide. Besides, she might think
he was trying to come on to her when really he wanted to thank her
for helping him see the importance of getting over his own grief
and going on with his life.

Funny but when he first hooked up with her it
was to help her. Now he felt as though the tables were turned, and
he couldn't even tell her. Well, he could see she had a good time
of it though. And he would.

"I guess we can see the redwoods later…"

"Oh yes, I don't want to miss them either."
She smiled her eyes full of things to come.

Sam looked at Lacey long and hard and for the
first time he felt he was seeing her for what she was, and
intriguing lady. What a complicated lady she was. So innocent and
naïve, and yet, full of trust and easy to talk to. Perhaps she
wasn't the one with the troubles. Perhaps it was he.

As it happened they did have room for more
fishermen and so Lacey and Sam registered for a one-day event. They
were told that the trophies would be passed out on Sunday.
Encouraged to stop off and pick up theirs.

"I seriously doubt there will be anything for
me to stop off for," she chuckled. "But it is kind of
exciting."

"Come on, we need to go rent some gear and
see what section of the lake we will be on." Sam encouraged her as
he struggled to carry all the gear himself.

"Hey, I can help with that, if you like."

"That's okay; I think I've got it situated
now. But when we get the waders, you can carry them, if you
like."

"Deal," she laughed.

"What size waders?" he asked a few moments
later as they gathered around the crowd renting gear.

"Do you think I'll really need them?" she
asked.

He glanced at her white carpi's and nodded,
"Oh yeah, I think you will. I'd say small since they only come to
here," He smiled as he motioned to his stomach.

He gathered all the stuff they would need,
including a map. He quickly located the site where they would be
fishing.

Lacey helped carry the rods, reels, and
fishing bucket after they had put on their waders. They had to make
one more stop for bait.

At the bait house Lacey found a fringed hat
that would shade her eyes and some sunglasses. She bought them and
put them on. Sam approved. "What about you?"

"I think I'll forgo the hat, and I have some
shades." He informed her as they rode the cycle about the lake.