Page 61 of Securing Samantha

Sadness overwhelmed her. She wanted to pull LJ into her lap and assure him Whiskey would protect him with his life. Her son’s comment reminded her of a promise her Liam made to her long ago. She wanted her son to experience the security of Whiskey’s love like she used to feel. Nothing compared to it.

“Mom? What’s wrong?” LJ’s worried voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

“Nothing, honey, I forgot about something,” she kept her voice even.

“You got a tear running down your cheek. Are you sad cause Whiskey asked me to play with him? I can ask him if you want to go sledding. Ladybug, June Bug and Nugget are coming with us,” his sweet voice attempted to make her feel included.

“After Christmas, I’ll fly back here to work. You’ll stay with Whiskey and the team until after New Year’s, then I’ll come pick you up and visit with Miss Lizzy,” she reminded him.

“K. I’m done,” he announced.

“Place it by the door and Bryan will take it to the car. Why don’t you pick a few treats to take with you for the plane ride?” She went to her room to make a final check before Bryan arrived.

The doorbell rang and LJ ran to let Bryan in.

“Are you ready to go sledding? I wish I didn’t have to work. I want to play in the snow,” Bryan sounded disappointed.

“Sorry, Bryan. Mom says you gotta work. She’s coming home after Christmas while I stay with Whiskey. Maybe you can get her to play with you here.” LJ placed the treats in his bag, oblivious to what he suggested Bryan do with his mom.

Bryan arched his brow in her direction, “You know, buddy, that sounds like a wonderful idea. I’ll have to ask your mom.”

Her son made a face. “Duh, Bryan, she’s right here. You can ask her now.”

Bryan fought back the laughter as he approached her, “Samantha, when you return from taking LJ to have all sorts of fun sledding and visits from Santa, will you come home and play with me?” His eyes twinkled as he held her gaze. His tone took on a serious note. She knew exactly what he asked.

“Can I think about it? After all, you’re headed to London. What if your flight gets delayed or the contracts don’t get signed right away? I’d be very disappointed,” she whispered as she stared into his eyes.

“I promise not to disappoint you,” he vowed.

She stepped back and smiled. Why didn’t she feel the thrill like she did whenever Whiskey made his intentions clear? She shook him from her thoughts. Her nerves played havoc at the thought of seeing him for the first time since the night she asked him to leave. Knowing he was alive made it difficult for her to stay away from him. She never imagined them apart from one another. The pain at losing him again seeped in before she busied herself gathering her own coat and gloves.

Between the bumpy flight, the crying babies, and LJ’s restlessness, Samantha’s nerves felt raw as she stepped off her flight holding her son’s hand. “Let’s go to the bathroom before we get our luggage,” she told him.

“Moooom,” he whined. He hated entering the woman’s bathroom, but she stood fast on her decision on not allowing him to enter a men’s bathroom with no one she knew present.

“We still have the drive to Serenity, if you choose not to go, we won’t be stopping until we arrive at Aunt Kassie’s,” she warned.

LJ dropped his head backward acting dramatic at her response. They waited for open stalls and stood while he finished washing his hands. She touched up her lipstick and brushed through her hair. One of the team planned on picking them up, but she caught her hand shaking as she applied the color to her lips and mentally chastised herself as she wished Whiskey picked them up. No. She wanted to see him to assure herself he was doing all right.

The cramped baggage claim filled with people traveling for the holidays. She hung onto her son’s hand as she made it to the assigned carousel. It seemed to take forever before the buzzer finally sounded, signaling the arrival of their luggage. She watched the bags circle and let go of LJ long enough to grab the first bag off the track. The second one rounded the corner and she waited to yank it and move herself and him away from the crowd.

She reached for the last bag and stacked it on top of the first. “We got everything, now we’ll need to find the team.” She turned when her son didn’t respond.

“LJ?” She searched the area around her and around the luggage. There was no sign of him. Panic struck her as she dragged the luggage over people’s feet as she made it to the outer edge of the crowd. “LJ?” Her voice got louder as her heart raced.

“LJ!” she yelled again. She dragged the luggage off the wheels as it twisted when she barreled through people attempting to find her son.

She turned into a solid brick wall and two hands came out to steady her. “Don’t worry yourself, lass. I’ve got him.” She knew the voice. The electricity at his touch ran through her body as she stared at his thickened chest. Her gaze slowly raised to meet his. Her mouth opened and shut.

“He saw us through the crowd and came running. I thought he told you,” he explained to her. She only nodded as his hands never left her arms. Even in the crowd she made out the sandalwood soap on him. He smelled like…home.

He slowly let go of her and took the sideways luggage causing a traffic jam behind her. His hand went to the small of her back as he weaved her easily through the throng of people. When they reached Shadow and LJ, Whiskey’s demeanor changed as he eyed his son. LJ put his head down and she started to rush toward him to scold him from running away from her in the crowded area. Shadow took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm and led them from the busy area. Whiskey and a more subdued LJ followed behind.

When they made it to the truck, Shadow grabbed the luggage as Whiskey knelt in front of their son. “Where did your mum expect you to stay while she got the luggage?”

LJ’s head hung down, refusing to meet Whiskey’s eyes. He tilted the boy’s chin until he faced him. “Your mum asked you to stay beside her for your own safety, son. You worried her something fierce. If I didn’t hear her calling out, she might still be frantic with concern for you. What do you think you should’ve done before running to me and Shadow?”

“Tell my mom where I was,” LJ replied.

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