Resisting Samantha (Hope Parish Novels Book 10) (5 page)

Pastor
Fairchild raised his hands and said, “Eternal Father: When
chaos reigned, You brushed across the dark waters and made light.
Your servant Noah, through your grace built an ark against the rush
of water. And when the waters receded, you brought forth a rainbow.
In Egypt, Your enslaved people walked into freedom through a
channeled sea You wrought. Your promise steadfastly kept to their
children in the land beyond the Jordan.”

The congregation
responded, and the pastor continued with the service as he cupped the
water and let it run from his hands. He blessed the three boys, then
said, “Beckett, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” He did this while he scooped
up water and poured it over Beckett’s head, then laid hands on
the baby’s head. The infant made a soft sound, but didn’t
cry. Then he repeated the actions for Bane and Brody, who were both
also tolerant about getting wet.

The preacher then
traced the sign of the cross on their heads, spoke some more. Candles
were offered to the godparents. After this, Reverend Fairchild said,
“Now it is our joy to welcome our new brothers in Christ.”

At this time,
Boone’s voice raised in song, completely a capella, singing “I
Surrender All.” As the last notes died, Braxton’s clear,
deeper-toned voice sang, “Something in the Water,” while
his brothers, wife, and sisters-in-law joined in the chorus.

After the rest of
the service, people started moving out of the pews. Jake still hadn’t
greeted me when I exited, but River was there with her hand on my
arm. “Chase, we’re all going to brunch. It’s just
for immediate family, and is private. You’re coming.”

“What?”
I said, caught off guard. “You didn’t say anything about
this last week.”

“Because I
knew you wouldn’t agree.”

“No. I’ll
come to the reception, but I’m not—”

“Yes, you are,
huckleberry,” Brax said, curling his arm around his wife’s
shoulders. The babies were in a stroller. “I saved your life on
the bayou, and you’re standing here because of me. River has
her heart set on you being there. Besides, I have something I want to
talk to you about.”

“Dammit,
Brax,” I muttered.

He gave me a
censoring look and said, “Language…you’re in the
house of God.”

Oh, for the love of
God, I couldn’t believe my sister was ambushing me like this
and roping me into the function. And that Braxton, of all people, had
the gall to give me a hard time about swearing in church.

Although now
Samantha’s comment about the raspberry cake being for me now
made total sense. “This is going to be at Imogene’s.
Right?”

Brax grinned and
threw his arm around my neck. “You got it, brotard. Let’s
go.”

Ten minutes later we
arrived at Imogene’s, and Beth directed us to the patio, which
had been closed to patrons. The rest of the place was packed, every
table occupied, and eyes followed us through the restaurant.

Most of the citizens
of Suttontowne had now forgiven and absolved the Outlaws, but some
hadn’t quite gotten over the fact that the Suttons now carried
the taint of our ancestor’s part in the stolen Confederate
gold, and the fact that Duel Outlaw took the fall for the Colonel’s
actions, and was condemned and hung. Was, in fact, condemned and
reviled for generations, along with his descendants. There was still
talk behind hands, and I was glad I lived on the bayou and didn’t
have to suffer the “disappointed” townspeople for
extended periods of time.

In addition to me,
River and Brax, and their boys, there was Boone, Verity, Henry, Duel
and the twins, plus Booker, Aubree, Aunt Evie and Uncle Win, and my
parents. To my relief, I was seated next to Brax and River.

Jake, sat with his
date, Anna Kate Montgomery. Anna Kate, a tall, willowy (and stuck-up)
blonde, was not only a debutante, she was also leader of the
Suttontowne Belles, a group of elite young ladies chosen to keep the
history of Suttontowne strong and alive. River was once the head of
that group, but when she left Suttontowne to travel the world and
model, the scepter had been transferred to Anna Kate. She hadn’t
spared me a glance either.

Anna Kate’s
presence at our gathering must be quite a coup in my daddy’s
ongoing attempt to ingratiate the Suttons back into the good graces
of the upper crust of Suttontowne. Although it shocked me to see Anna
Kate giving my brother the time of day after our fall, maybe she
actually cared for him. Poor Jake.

Anna Kate might look
like a well-bred and proper lady, but underneath she was a mean girl,
had to always have her way, and went to great lengths to achieve her
goals, no matter who she hurt. I couldn’t imagine Jake was
actually in a serious relationship with her.

“Hello,
everyone,” Samantha said, and I braced myself to conceal the
effect her sultry voice had on me.

Anna Kate leaned
over and whispered something in Jake’s ear, and I wondered what
she was saying. My protective instincts went on alert. It had better
not be anything about Samantha. It was true she was a Yankee, but
almost everyone in Suttontowne had embraced her because of her care
and attention to the renovation of Imogene’s.

Damn. Up until two
years ago, when my Uncle Earl went off his rocker and tried to kill
River, Brax, and me, I led a pretty contented life, a good life,
building my business on that beautiful stretch of bayou, tying flies,
taking out charters, renting boats, and fishing in simple,
self-sustaining independence.

Then, when my
ancestor’s journal revealed he, none other than Colonel Sutton,
was the culprit behind the theft of Confederate gold and the murder
of the gold’s escort, Earl only cared about protecting the
Sutton name, even if that meant killing his kin. Which he nearly
managed to do. After which all hell broke loose, and the Suttons’
stature in the town plummeted.

“Aw, look at
these sweet babies,” Samantha said with a catch in her throat
and underlying sorrow, her expression tender. Her mere presence was
enough to turn me into a bumbling idiot, and the look on her sweet
face did things to my breathing. I took a steadying breath, feeling
like a fool for needing one, and my sister and Aunt Evie glanced at
me with speculative looks in their eyes, ones I ignored.

Even knowing I was
going to see her again, and preparing myself, she still made my heart
catch—
beautiful
Samantha
.

“Thank you for
taking on this monumental task, Samantha,” River said. “We
simply love Imogene’s. All of us.”

There were murmurs
all around the table except for Anna Kate. She looked bored. She
smiled as sweetly as a cottonmouth. “It certainly is a boon to
your place of establishment to have us here,” she said.

Samantha was silent
for a moment. “Yes, of course,” she finally replied, then
addressed River. “Beth will take your orders. The menu is on
your plates and, please, if you need anything, just let me know.”

River reached out,
clasping Samantha’s arm and sending daggers at Anna Kate. “I’m
sure everything will be perfect.”

Braxton leaned
lazily back and gently ran his hand down his wife’s arm, and
River simmered down, giving him a soft smile. He gave Anna Kate a
sour look. “Of course it’s going to be perfect. I don’t
let just anyone cook for me.”

Anna Kate pursed her
lips and shrugged off Braxton’s deftly placed compliment, his
celebrity giving him a leg up into Anna Kate’s world. Not that
Brax would ever be caught up in it, but it served his purpose to use
it to soothe his wife and Samantha.

Samantha passed by
me, her gaze meeting mine, until she tripped on the leg of River’s
chair and sprawled completely across my lap, where I caught and
supported her so she wouldn’t tumble into the beautifully
decorated table. It was a little crazy how hyperaware I was of her.
Sometimes I swore I could feel her breathe.

“Oh, my. I’m
so sorry,” she said as she looked up at me. Everything seemed
to disappear, and time slowed down to encapsulate the secret moment
stretching between us. I longed for her mouth as I looked down into
her delicate face, riveted on her slightly parted lips.

I was dying.

I was suddenly hot
and incredibly turned on. She was laminated to me so tightly I could
feel every curve she had, every breath she took. Shallow breaths.

There was pressure
to let her go, but also pressure to hold on to her, intense pressure
in all the right places.

If we got any
closer, we’d be kissing.

It was killing me.

Her hair was silky
against my neck, and despite what was going on below my waist, she
smelled delicious, a mixture of cream, caramel, wine sauce, and
sugar, and I wanted a taste so bad.

Our eyes collided,
and I saw the answer in her deep green eyes as she stared up at me,
as lost as I was.

My daddy cleared his
throat.

She snapped out of
it and let out a little snort, gracefully sliding off my lap. “If
you need anything else, Mr. Sutton, just let me know,” she said
with a wink, playing the embarrassment off like she’d meant to
do it. Everyone at the table chuckled except Anna Kate. I guess the
Montgomerys didn’t lower themselves to have good, common fun.
But the air was trapped in my chest, and I wanted to find a place to
get Samantha alone. Right now.

My sister and aunt
had those looks on their faces again, but neither one said anything
when the conversation started up again. Brax leaned over and
whispered, “Fuck, huckleberry. After witnessing that, I want to
hustle my wife home and make another set of trips.”

“Shut up,
Brax.”

He chuckled.
“You’ve got it bad, my friend…but, moving on now
to something that will sober you up.”

I wrestled my eyes
away from Samantha’s retreating back and her fine ass, sighing.
“What is it?”

“Don’t
sound so suspicious and cynical. Damn, man, that’s my job.”

Beth and another
waitress came with a tray of mimosas, which everyone accepted except
for River,
who got OJ. Beth started to take our orders, and I glanced down at
the menu. Everything looked delicious, but I really wanted to get out
of here. I pulled at my collar again.

River said, “Don’t
even think about ordering light and then bailing.”

I was amazed at my
self-control. I was frustrated and felt trapped, which I hated. But I
didn’t want to upset my sister. If I did, Brax would probably
kick my butt, and I did owe him. I’d let him get away with
playing that blackmail card, probably forever, since he saved my
sister’s life and mine.

I ordered the bisque
and the crabmeat cheesecake. Both sounded mouthwatering good.

With all the flurry
of the drinks and the ordering, Brax had postponed what he was going
to say, but before he could lean over and say something, my brother
raised his glass. He looked right at me and said, “To family
who care enough to stick around, and to new additions.”

River stiffened, and
my mom and uncle gave Jake the evil eye. He was unaffected. I reached
up, loosened my tie, and undid the first button on my shirt, which
didn’t help the almost suffocating sense of walls closing in on
me. I just wanted to escape. No one at this table understood a damn
thing.

I went to open my
mouth, but just then Samantha’s hand landed on my shoulder and
she murmured, “May I take your jacket for you?”

As I swiveled to
look at her, she smiled, and the need to escape took a back seat.
“Thank you,” I said, and she clasped the back collar of
the jacket as I shrugged out of it.

Brax rose and walked
over to where Jake was sitting, whispering something into his ear
that made his mouth tighten.

“No problem.”
She folded it neatly over her arm. “How is everything?”

Nods and smiles all
around, even from Jake and Anna Kate.

She squeezed my
shoulder before she left. The rest of the meal evened out, and while
our appetizers were being served, Brax said, “I have a business
proposition for you.”

I took a spoonful of
the bisque and closed my eyes to savor the flavors. It was heavenly.
“What do you have in mind?”

“I’d
like you to stock my sauces in your store. We could share the profit
fifty-fifty. We could reach new customers and expand our market. What
do you think?”

It was no doubt a
good deal for me, but I had to wonder if the offer came with strings
attached.

“I’d
like to think about it.”

“It’s a
good deal for you.”

I finished the soup,
set down my spoon, and turned to look at him. “I appreciate
what you’re trying to do.” I glanced at my sister
affectionately. “But I need to give it some thought, and talk
to you about it without all the pressure that is at this table. Nice
try, though.”

“Fair enough,”
he said. “Just so you know. I’m doing this for River and
for you. It’s time to come home, Chase. Way long past due. Mend
your fences, and make them see who you are and what you stand for,
instead of avoiding the issue. River wants you to be a part of our
lives, and that includes your family.”

I gave him a sad
smile and whispered. “My dad is never going to change, so why
bother to try to make him see who I am?”

I glanced at Jake,
who was talking to Anna Kate. I hated to be at odds with him, but I’d
been gone a long time, and I was sorry I left him holding the bag.
“And Jake isn’t open to patching up our differences. I
don’t know if he’ll ever be. I don’t see a warm
homecoming in my future.”

“You never
know,” Brax said. “Jake and I threw some words at each
other, and some punches, there were blood and bruises and hurt egos,
but we made nice. You can, too. He’ll come around, Chase. Deep
down, he wants to. He wants a sign. It’s just going to take
some time to get trust back. Give him a reason to hope you’ll
be part of the family again.”