Page 45 of His Hawaiian Heart
“Now you have,” I said, fisting her ponytail and pulling her head back before I dropped my mouth to hers.
“Well, who do we have here?” Josh asked and then answered his own question, “I believe it’s Sam and Sam-I-am.”
I pulled back and chuckled. “Hey, Josh.”
“Hi, Sam.” He moved forward to also stroke the horses. “Beautiful animals. Nice and large.”
Hearing Samantha softly snort, I looked at Josh. “Is the fact insects are so small and harder to see the reason you aren’t as fond of bugs as Samantha?”
This time Samantha laughed. “No, Josh can see just fine. He just has a bit of arachnophobia.”
The word sounded familiar but I’d been hearing a bunch of scientific terminology so it took me a moment to place it. “Spiders?”
Josh shuddered. “Sneaky little bastards. Did you know they don’t just have eight legs but eight eyes!”
“And with over two hundred and five species in Hawaii alone, you can pretty much count on them being just abouteverywhere!”
I suppose if Samantha hadn’t exaggerated the word or pretend-lunged at Josh, the squeal he made wouldn’t have sounded so much like a little kid’s. While I wasn’t above finding the reaction a bit amusing, it wouldn’t do to have my sub thinking there were no consequences for messing with people. “I can’t say I blame you, Josh. When I’m out in the forest or down in the canyon, I try to remember that I’m not in my house, I’m an intruder in theirs.”
Josh seemed to contemplate that and then nodded. “Thanks, Sam.” He turned toward Samantha, “As for you, Sam-I-am, revenge is best served cold.”
Sam just rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you out there.”
Josh huffed. “Really? So what? Instead of taking today off, you’re going to grab some sample bags and traipse after me and leave your boyfriend to alternate riding these two beauties?”
It was my time to chuckle. Not because it had been particularly humorous but because I’d seen Samantha smile at the mention of “boyfriend” but then narrow her eyes when Josh spoke of my “riding two beauties”. Interesting, and okay, a man appreciated having his ego stroked a bit.
“Josh, I’m ready! Good morning, S-squared, and aren’t you both just gorgeous!”
Ahhh, to have that ego stroked with the exuberance of the young. “Good morning, Beth,” I said as she walked right past thethree of us and began to talk and run her hands over the horses. That stuck a pin in my inflated ego. When Sugar nickered, I had to admit homo sapiens isn’t the only species to appreciate a bit of stroking.
Samantha offered her hellos and gave Josh a hug which I saw he returned, both smiling and reminding me the two had worked on teams together in places I couldn’t even pronounce. After a few more coos and cuddles, I said, “Babygirl, are you ready to go?”
Three heads turned toward me, but only one bore a slight blush and a huge smile. “Absolutely. Let me grab my pack.”
As she retrieved the backpack from where it sat beside her rock chair, Beth gave Sugar a last pat and then moved to slip her hand into Josh’s. That relationship had been strengthening over the past weeks as well. I met Josh’s eyes and they held not a single speck of wariness about spiders no matter how many were surrounding us even now. But as a man who had a deep fondness for Samantha, they held an unspoken warning.
Treat her well or you’ll answer to me.
I didn’t drop my gaze or inform him he’d have to take his place in line behind Cookie. I dipped my head slightly, offering my understanding of his message and responding with one of my own.
You don’t have to worry. I’d rather die than hurt the woman I love.
If his eyes widened slightly, I was pretty certain mine had as well.
Woman I love.
The three words had surprised me as well. I’d certainly not been planning on stating them, verbally or silently. But having done so, it didn’t make me feel as if the sky were falling or the earth opening to swallow me. It made me feel… right.
Josh grinned, nodded, and stepped forward to hold out his hand. “We’ve got to run, but it’s really good to see you again. You two have a great time.”
“We will!” Samantha answered for the both of us as she returned with the pack. “Beth, take care of our Josh, okay?”
“It will be my pleasure , see you later.”
The two women hugged and then, hands clasped, Beth and Josh turned away to walk further down the path back toward camp. Which had me turning to Samantha. “Is there a particular reason you chose to wait here for me instead of at camp?”
She hesitated, but when I quirked my brow, she sighed. “Let’s just say I’d rather start off today with smiles and wishes for us to ‘have fun,’ rather than pursed lips and another cutting innuendo.”
