counter, munching on apple pie.
Ian stared over Sam's shoulder. His attention drawn to the opposite end of the diner where a table of rowdy college guys flirted with their waitress.
Sam fiddled with the stainless steel jukebox at their table, absently flipping through the songs. The sound of children's laughter behind her caused her to smile. Finally something normal.
Their waitress approached to take their order, placing two glasses of ice water in front of them.
“Hi. I'm Candy. Are you ready to order?” she practically purred.
“Oh sorry , I haven't had a chance to look at the menu yet.” When silence filled the air, Sam glanced up only to realize that Candy wasn't paying her the least bit attention. She had eyes only for Ian. Her heavily glossed lips upturned in a seductive smile, her top threatening to spill her boobs onto the table.
Sam felt fire at her core, bubbling to the surface. The fangs of jealousy sank into her and wouldn't let go. She wanted to rip the sensual smile right off Candy's face. Imagined her fingers closing around her throat and squeezing. Hands fisted on the table, Sam struggled to push the anger back down. All she could hear were murmurs between the two of them, the sound drowned out by the blood pumping through her veins. Sweat beaded at her temple as she struggled to regain control of her emotions.
How dare this woman disregard her and openly flirt with Ian. They were sitting together. Like a couple. A low rumbling began at the back of Sam's throat, snaking its way through her clenched teeth. The woman stopped mid-sentence, glanced at Sam and stumbled back a step. “I'll...I'll put your order in,” she stammered as she spun on her heel. Seeing her slam through the swinging kitchen door eased the tension knotting Sam's neck.
Ian placed his warm hand over Sam's fisted one, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Breathe, Sammie.” His voice teased her ears, reminding her of a soothing lullaby. Each word reducing the anger bubbling in her heart.
Her eyes shot to Ian as she exhaled the breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Her vision clearing, her heartbeat slowing, the pounding in her head beginning to ease.
“Are you okay? You terrified that poor woman. I think you may have actually growled at her.”
Sam relaxed her hand and pulled away from him. Her nails left crescent shaped indentations in her palms. She smoothed her hands down her pants, trying to still the tremors.
“I'm fine. I just thought it was rude of her to assume that we weren't together.”
She had never felt that kind of anger before. Pure rage that threatened to pull her to the depths of hell. It frightened her when she thought of the things she wanted to do to Candy. The instinct to protect what was hers seemed only natural. The only problem…Ian wasn't hers.
“Well I don't think you'll have to worry about her giving me her number now,” Ian joked.
Great. Her reaction would either turn him off or swell his head. Neither one pleased her right now. "I'm sorry." She shook her head, giving herself a mental kick in the ass. "I overreacted." Tracing the condensation on her glass, she tried to capture each bead before it fell like tears on the table. If she kept acting this way, it would be her tears falling.
“What's wrong , Sam?”
She paused in an attempt to find the right words. Not sure how to ask the questions driving her insane, or even if she wanted to know the answers. He must have sensed her despair. Reaching across the table he stilled her hand, clasping her fingers with his.
With weary eyes, he cleared his throat, licking his lips before words passed over them. “You've always been able to tell me what's on your mind before.”
But that was before. When he was her best friend. Now she wasn't sure where their relationship stood. He came in and turned her world upside down in a matter of minutes. Left her unsure of herself.
“Um...I was just...I mean I was wondering...if your girlfriend would
Ian stared over Sam's shoulder. His attention drawn to the opposite end of the diner where a table of rowdy college guys flirted with their waitress.
Sam fiddled with the stainless steel jukebox at their table, absently flipping through the songs. The sound of children's laughter behind her caused her to smile. Finally something normal.
Their waitress approached to take their order, placing two glasses of ice water in front of them.
“Hi. I'm Candy. Are you ready to order?” she practically purred.
“Oh sorry , I haven't had a chance to look at the menu yet.” When silence filled the air, Sam glanced up only to realize that Candy wasn't paying her the least bit attention. She had eyes only for Ian. Her heavily glossed lips upturned in a seductive smile, her top threatening to spill her boobs onto the table.
Sam felt fire at her core, bubbling to the surface. The fangs of jealousy sank into her and wouldn't let go. She wanted to rip the sensual smile right off Candy's face. Imagined her fingers closing around her throat and squeezing. Hands fisted on the table, Sam struggled to push the anger back down. All she could hear were murmurs between the two of them, the sound drowned out by the blood pumping through her veins. Sweat beaded at her temple as she struggled to regain control of her emotions.
How dare this woman disregard her and openly flirt with Ian. They were sitting together. Like a couple. A low rumbling began at the back of Sam's throat, snaking its way through her clenched teeth. The woman stopped mid-sentence, glanced at Sam and stumbled back a step. “I'll...I'll put your order in,” she stammered as she spun on her heel. Seeing her slam through the swinging kitchen door eased the tension knotting Sam's neck.
Ian placed his warm hand over Sam's fisted one, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Breathe, Sammie.” His voice teased her ears, reminding her of a soothing lullaby. Each word reducing the anger bubbling in her heart.
Her eyes shot to Ian as she exhaled the breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Her vision clearing, her heartbeat slowing, the pounding in her head beginning to ease.
“Are you okay? You terrified that poor woman. I think you may have actually growled at her.”
Sam relaxed her hand and pulled away from him. Her nails left crescent shaped indentations in her palms. She smoothed her hands down her pants, trying to still the tremors.
“I'm fine. I just thought it was rude of her to assume that we weren't together.”
She had never felt that kind of anger before. Pure rage that threatened to pull her to the depths of hell. It frightened her when she thought of the things she wanted to do to Candy. The instinct to protect what was hers seemed only natural. The only problem…Ian wasn't hers.
“Well I don't think you'll have to worry about her giving me her number now,” Ian joked.
Great. Her reaction would either turn him off or swell his head. Neither one pleased her right now. "I'm sorry." She shook her head, giving herself a mental kick in the ass. "I overreacted." Tracing the condensation on her glass, she tried to capture each bead before it fell like tears on the table. If she kept acting this way, it would be her tears falling.
“What's wrong , Sam?”
She paused in an attempt to find the right words. Not sure how to ask the questions driving her insane, or even if she wanted to know the answers. He must have sensed her despair. Reaching across the table he stilled her hand, clasping her fingers with his.
With weary eyes, he cleared his throat, licking his lips before words passed over them. “You've always been able to tell me what's on your mind before.”
But that was before. When he was her best friend. Now she wasn't sure where their relationship stood. He came in and turned her world upside down in a matter of minutes. Left her unsure of herself.
“Um...I was just...I mean I was wondering...if your girlfriend would
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