Page 45 of And Then Came You

“Montauk. I know for a fact that it’s less than an hour from you. Jump in the car and come visit. I have an extra bed in the room.”

“What are you doing in Montauk?”

“Sam has a shoot.”

My fingers drum the table. Sam is less than an hour from me but didn’t bother to call? That’s odd. A first in our friendship. “I don’t know, Caroline. Sam and I aren’t getting along too well.”

“He’s been a prickly pear, I’ll give you that. But I know he’d love to see you. So would I. Come on, we’ll have dinner and drinks tonight. It’ll be fun.”

I want to say no. I should say no. My friendship with Sam is already rocky and I know my feelings for him won’t morph back to platonic overnight. But I also miss him, and I miss Caroline.

Besides, I’m sitting here in an empty condo.

I need a life.

“I’m in. Where will I find you?”

A couple of hours later, I pull into the hotel parking lot, smiling as the sea air hits my face. I’ve always adored the end of the island, even if I rarely drive out here.

In the distance, Sam poses against some boulders, two beauties at his side. He never fails to shine, no matter the location. Lucky for me, every woman in the world shares my sentiment.

Shaking off the gnawing jealousy, I stroll closer, hearing Caroline’s whoop of excitement when she sees me.

Sam’s head shoots up at her loud cry, a grin splitting his face when he spots me. Maybe coming out here was a good thing.

Then I see Almira, looking resplendent as she lounges in a director’s chair sipping a cocktail, and second guess my decision.

Suck it up Lexi, you came here to hang out with Caroline. Screwing Sam was never on the menu, no matter how much you want a sample.

“I’m so glad you came,” Caroline squeals, grabbing me into a hug. “How was traffic?”

“Not bad, once I got past the Hamptons. How’s the shoot?”

“Endless. I swear, they’ve been at it for hours.” She drags her hands down her face, pulling at her skin. “But, we have drinks!”

“The day keeps getting better.”

Almira smiles, raising her glass to me, and I feel a twinge of guilt for the secret feelings I harbor toward Sam. He belongs to her, at least for the time being, and unlike his Russian beauty, Almira has been nothing but kind. “Lexi, what a pleasant surprise.”

“Can’t get rid of me,” I tease, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Caroline said the shoot has been a marathon instead of a sprint.”

“To say the least. I’ve had far too much champagne, but what else is there to do but drink and be merry?”

Caroline hands me a glass and I toast with the ladies. “To champagne that never stops flowing.”

Strong arms grab me from behind, pulling me into a bear hug. “What are you doing here?” Sam questions, that neatly trimmed beard tickling my skin and flooding my body with warmth.

Turning in his arms, I offer a cheeky grin. “Couldn’t stay away. Had to bother you when I discovered you were local. Not that you mentioned it to me.”

“It was a last-minute gig, and I was going to call you as soon as we wrapped. You just beat me to the punch.” Sam grabs my hand, walking me to a small table in the shade. “Have a seat. You should not be in the sun.”

“True, but I am slathered in sunblock.”

He plops down into a chair, running a hand over his head, a long and noisy exhalation escaping his mouth. “This is the longest shoot of my life.”

“So I keep hearing.” I lean back in the chair, trying to focus anywhere but on Sam’s finely tuned physique—an arduous task when that muscled chest was just pressed against me. “Are you almost done?”

“Soon. Are you staying out here tonight?”

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