for dinner. It is my night to cook, and I make the world's best
BBQ.”
“Sounds great. Thank you. Sam?” Rich grinned,
waving his goodbye as he reached for Sam's hand. They walked out to his jeep
and leaned against the cool metal. Rich rested his arm over the roof and
looked down at the tiny girl. “I know it wasn’t much of a date tonight, but I
had a nice time. I really like your family. They are a bunch of characters,
especially your uncle.”
“Yeah they are. They like you, too. I need to be
honest when I tell you that their acceptance of you was an unexpected event. I
figured they would put you on a spit and roast you like a pig before letting
you take me out. And Uncle Scott is already staking his claim, so watch out.
He will either pass me off to you or try to lock me out of sight.”
“He's a hard one to figure out. One minute he's the
no-nonsense general and the next, he's a rodeo clown. I like him.”
“They say I have his personality. Just be aware of
the temper.”
“His or yours?”
Sam didn't answer except with a smile. “I had fun as
well. I don’t get to socialize very often, and it’s usually with just my
brother. I’m glad you two hit it off, it’s good for him to have other friends,
too.”
“Would you like to go out again? Just us? Your dad
said it was okay. And your uncle didn't protest.”
“I would, yes,” she said softly, as she looked up at
him.
Rich leaned over to kiss her gently on the lips. “You’re
beautiful. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
“ ‘Kay. Drive carefully. Good night, and thanks
again for the evening,” Sam said, the touch of his lips still tingling on
hers. She watched him drive away and turned. Rolling her eyes, she saw all
three members of her family departing from the upstairs window. She gave them
time to scurry back into the living room before she reentered the house. “So,
you guys liked him?”
“Very pleasant young man. Good manners, intelligent…”
Scott answered, pretending to flip through the channels and act disinterested.
“Yes, but you liked him?”
“Yes, honey, we did. Very much. Do you?”
“Yes, but I want to take things slow. He IS a good
kisser though,” she commented mischievously, hearing her father groan. “Don’t
act surprised. I saw you all spying on me.”
“Busted. I told you two she would see you. Sorry I
hogged up your time with him tonight, sis. It’s rare I find someone my age who
likes the same stuff. Including my family.” He frowned at his parents.
“Don’t worry, Mike. I would want my boyfriend to be
your friend first. Kind of like Daddy and Uncle Scott. Even if he and I don’t
get romantically involved, he’ll still be a great friend.”
“So young and so wise,” Scott groaned. “And so past
your bedtime. Say good night, little miss, and get that bottom to bed.”
“Good night. I love you,” she said to each of her
family before obeying.
Chapter 4
Rich arrived promptly at 0630, dressed in wetsuit with
surfboard in hand, and was greeted at the open door by Sam, who held her finger
to her lips. He issued her a quick kiss as Michael came downstairs, dressed in
his wetsuit.
“Got coffee?” he whispered to his sister. She nodded,
leaving to get him and Rich a cup. She waited, hands on her hips, for the
praise.
“Mmm, this is the best I’ve ever had, Sam. Thank
you.”
“That’s what everyone says about her coffee and Scott
won’t drink anyone’s but hers. Watch it because she’ll get a swelled head,”
Michael teased, leading them outside on the deck. He grabbed his surfboard and
the three headed down the stairs. Steam rose from the evaporating dew as the
sun began to kiss the water. The waves curled high over the breakers, spraying
them with a salty mist.
“Are you going in?” Rich asked the girl, as he and
Michael stretched out on the sand bank.
BBQ.”
“Sounds great. Thank you. Sam?” Rich grinned,
waving his goodbye as he reached for Sam's hand. They walked out to his jeep
and leaned against the cool metal. Rich rested his arm over the roof and
looked down at the tiny girl. “I know it wasn’t much of a date tonight, but I
had a nice time. I really like your family. They are a bunch of characters,
especially your uncle.”
“Yeah they are. They like you, too. I need to be
honest when I tell you that their acceptance of you was an unexpected event. I
figured they would put you on a spit and roast you like a pig before letting
you take me out. And Uncle Scott is already staking his claim, so watch out.
He will either pass me off to you or try to lock me out of sight.”
“He's a hard one to figure out. One minute he's the
no-nonsense general and the next, he's a rodeo clown. I like him.”
“They say I have his personality. Just be aware of
the temper.”
“His or yours?”
Sam didn't answer except with a smile. “I had fun as
well. I don’t get to socialize very often, and it’s usually with just my
brother. I’m glad you two hit it off, it’s good for him to have other friends,
too.”
“Would you like to go out again? Just us? Your dad
said it was okay. And your uncle didn't protest.”
“I would, yes,” she said softly, as she looked up at
him.
Rich leaned over to kiss her gently on the lips. “You’re
beautiful. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
“ ‘Kay. Drive carefully. Good night, and thanks
again for the evening,” Sam said, the touch of his lips still tingling on
hers. She watched him drive away and turned. Rolling her eyes, she saw all
three members of her family departing from the upstairs window. She gave them
time to scurry back into the living room before she reentered the house. “So,
you guys liked him?”
“Very pleasant young man. Good manners, intelligent…”
Scott answered, pretending to flip through the channels and act disinterested.
“Yes, but you liked him?”
“Yes, honey, we did. Very much. Do you?”
“Yes, but I want to take things slow. He IS a good
kisser though,” she commented mischievously, hearing her father groan. “Don’t
act surprised. I saw you all spying on me.”
“Busted. I told you two she would see you. Sorry I
hogged up your time with him tonight, sis. It’s rare I find someone my age who
likes the same stuff. Including my family.” He frowned at his parents.
“Don’t worry, Mike. I would want my boyfriend to be
your friend first. Kind of like Daddy and Uncle Scott. Even if he and I don’t
get romantically involved, he’ll still be a great friend.”
“So young and so wise,” Scott groaned. “And so past
your bedtime. Say good night, little miss, and get that bottom to bed.”
“Good night. I love you,” she said to each of her
family before obeying.
Chapter 4
Rich arrived promptly at 0630, dressed in wetsuit with
surfboard in hand, and was greeted at the open door by Sam, who held her finger
to her lips. He issued her a quick kiss as Michael came downstairs, dressed in
his wetsuit.
“Got coffee?” he whispered to his sister. She nodded,
leaving to get him and Rich a cup. She waited, hands on her hips, for the
praise.
“Mmm, this is the best I’ve ever had, Sam. Thank
you.”
“That’s what everyone says about her coffee and Scott
won’t drink anyone’s but hers. Watch it because she’ll get a swelled head,”
Michael teased, leading them outside on the deck. He grabbed his surfboard and
the three headed down the stairs. Steam rose from the evaporating dew as the
sun began to kiss the water. The waves curled high over the breakers, spraying
them with a salty mist.
“Are you going in?” Rich asked the girl, as he and
Michael stretched out on the sand bank.
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