Sweeter Than Wine (13 page)

His hands were on her hips, as he kneaded the
flesh there as he pulled her up and closer. He'd never seemed to go
so deep, so penetrating, so hot, and needy. She felt the sweat on
him, and they seemed to slide against each other as they moved in
unison. He pulled up, and her with him. She took her legs and
wrapped them around his middle back, as he carried her, still
inside her, and carried her to the shower, their lips touching
caressing each other.

"I love you, Sam," she whispered when she
walked toward the bed once more.

"Oh babe, you make me want you again."

"Good, it's mutual," she whispered. "I feel
like I'm on a drunk for making love."

"Want to take another shower," he
invited.

"I can't. I can't move, I may not be able to
walk, after all that" She barely breathed and kissed his chin when
he sat beside her and caressed her nipples with his abrasive
thumbs.

"I have to, I've got to cool off, or we'll
never get out of this bed today." he chuckled.

"Promises, promises…" she smiled.

"Be back, if you miss me, come on in." he
invited again.

"If I do, I won't be able to get out of the
shower." She laughed. "And you won't want to."

"Don't worry, I'll help you." He winked and
was gone. But he wasn't gone long before she decided she could die
happy in a shower, with him.

***

The next day they drove back up the mountain
to the hotel and collected all their belongings, then turned their
keys in.

"Now what?" Lacey glanced at him as she
looked at their luggage and the bike.

"Now we rent a car, drive up there, and see
how it goes." Sam said.

"All right, let's go." Lacey smiled tenderly
at him.

They rented a Honda and drove toward Mt.
Hood. It was a long winding drive and very scenic. Lacey kept him
company and every now and then she would reach to touch him. He
smiled and backed her hand away. "No more, sweet lady. Or we'll
never get there." He laughed. "This does have a parking gear you
know."

"Okay, I'll behave, so, what or how are we
going to do this?" she asked checking the map to make sure they
were making all the right turns.

"I think maybe... I could pose as a reporter
come to do a story on her father. That way I could ask questions
and it wouldn't seem out of ordinary." He said as though he'd been
thinking about it for some time.

"Say you are getting pretty good at this
lying thing you know. But on the other hand you could observe them,
for a while as you decide what you want to do next."

"Exactly, I know that's not exactly like the
best way to introduce yourself, but like you've pointed out, I
don't want to shock them too much. There might not be any reason to
tell them who I am."

"It's a good plan. After you meet them, get
an idea what they are like, you can decide if you want to come
clean and tell them who you really are." Lacey nodded, and slipped
on her sunglasses.

"Exactly, I mean, maybe they will be so
terrible I'll gladly pack my bags and go home." Sam said.

Lacey thought about that. Pack his bags, go
home, and then the romance was over. Sam didn't love her as she did
him. He'd never said the words, so obviously he didn't. That hurt.
More than she could say because after all the lovemaking they did,
if he didn't care for her now, he never would.

She'd read where men could have sex and not
truly feel the love of it, was Sam like that? The way he talked to
her, saying such sweet wonderful things. Could he love her and not
say anything?

Feeling lost suddenly she wondered what she
was going to do now. All this time she'd been setting herself free.
Setting herself up for a big letdown. Sam more than likely didn't
love her. She'd given him everything she could, and he still didn't
love her. His thoughts were of this family, of going home, but not
of her.

How could she have been so blind? Yet, when
she looked at him she realized no matter what he did or didn't
feel, she loved him.That would not change and she'd have the
memories. She'd had a wonderful vacation because of him and she'd
never forget him. Even her bold plan to raise his child, if she
were pregnant didn't worry her. She'd do it. In addition, the
chances of her being pregnant were building with each love making
because they hadn't used a bit of protection.

Wise or not, she still felt she could handle
it.

She firmed her lips, determined not to feel
sorry for herself. It was her fault. She'd fallen madly in love
with Sam, and he, although a good man, was probably not in love
with her. She was a big girl, and she had certainly asked for every
bit of it. So she had no right to say anything. How could she have
been so brazen? She didn't want to feel cheap but she hadn't been
herself in a while. That wasn't his fault either.

Soon she'd go home and this would all be just
a lovely memory. She'd probably be pregnant and have to take off
work. She hadn't once thought of all of this while he made
passionate love to her. All she thought of was how it felt and how
wonderful it was to be in love.

But it dawned on her too that she had been
playing him too. She came on like a free spirit and she wasn't. She
wasn't fooling anyone but herself.

She squashed her feeling for the time being.
She'd see him through this and then she was back to Texas. She
couldn't endure a moment longer in his arms. The sweetness of the
past few days would have to carry her for the rest of her life, and
he'd never know how badly she had been hurt.

He glanced over at her and grabbed her hand,
and brought it to his lips. She wanted to jerk free, to run away,
but none of that would make a bit of sense to him now. He didn't
understand…she was in love.

However, they didn't have to pretend
anything, because only a few miles from where his sister lived, the
car began to jerk and jump and Sam began to rant and rave.

"This is too funny for words," Lacey laughed
aloud.

"Well I'm glad you find it funny. We are
going to have to walk up the mountain," Sam insisted.

"So we walk. Come on; look at all of this as
another adventure…okay?" Lacey chuckled.

Sam got out, checked under the hood, then
tried the ignition again, "It's really messed up. And the one thing
I'm not good at is cars. I'm sorry…"

"Quit fretting, at least now we don't have to
lie. Come on; let's get started before it gets dark." She
encouraged.

"Your right, let's go. Get anything you think
you might need." He insisted.

"I don't think carrying pajamas in your purse
looks very stranded, do you?" she insisted with a grin.

"No…besides, if you're in my bed, you won't
need them..." he murmured.

"Oh now, you wanted a platonic relationship
up here, and that's what we will have." Lacey insisted. "From now
on, I am hands off."

"Man, you know how to torture me, don't you?"
He grimaced.

She laughed and got her purse.

They hiked for two hours before they got
close to anything live. But wood smoke alerted Sam.

"That's it!" he motioned ahead of them.

"Come on Sam, let's get this over and done
with." she insisted.

He nodded and firmed his lips.

They didn't have to wait long though because
a man came striding down the mountain not even out of breath and
approached them with a big easy smile.

"Hello have you gotten lost, or something?"
the man asked.

"Uh no, actually, we had a bit of car trouble
down the road. We didn't notice any gas stations either." Sam said
as he held out his hand. "I'm Sam McKay, this is Lacey my..."

"Girlfriend," she inserted. "Hi."

"How far down is your car?"

"Well, we've been traveling for a couple of
hours. We were hunting Kasie Amory. I'm a reporter from Portland,
wanting to do a story on her father. Would you happen to know where
I could find her?"

"Okay, well, come on up to the house and let
my wife fix you something to drink and eat and then we'll go see
about that car. Oh, by the way, my name's Chayton Amory."

"Chayton, Kasie's husband?" Lacey smiled.

"Yes, come on, I'm sure she'll be glad to
meet you." Chayton returned her smile.

"Oh, so you do live around here?" Sam asked
looking about.

"Just over the hill. We're a little secluded,
but that's how I like it. My wife is fixing a big meal, so you're
in luck. Hope you like Chili."

"I love it," Lacey answered.

"Great, come on, just follow me," he
instructed.

"Thanks, thanks a lot." Sam said.

The man was friendly and Sam had no trouble
striking up a conversation with him. Sam enjoyed the open
friendliness of the man and almost admitted to be a forest ranger
when Chayton mentioned it, but kept quiet for a while. He needed to
find out more first.

When they reached the house, Sam whistled,
"Man, that's not a house, it's a mansion."

Chayton smiled, obviously proud. "Yeah, me
and my brother built it. He lives up the hill from me. We're about
to build his place too."

"That's nice. Redwood, isn't it?"

"Yep, mostly, some pine, some oak. Had to
have the pecan shipped in, but we had to have a little for my wife,
she's from Texas." Chayton chuckled.

"Really, so am I." Lacey smiled.

"Well then you'll have a lot to talk about,
I'm sure." Chayton smiled and opened the door.

From the moment they opened the door they
were both impressed with the size and the intricate woodwork done
on the house.

But they couldn't spend too much time gawking
because Kasie Amory came right up to them, with a big smile. Sam
noted her light hair and green eyes. "Hello, you've brought us some
company." she looked at her husband and pecked him on the
cheek.

"Found them out in the woods. Thought they
might be lost, but they actually had car trouble down the road a
bit and I thought we could feed them then go look. This gentleman
here is Sam McKay, a reporter from Portland, wanting to do a piece
on your father."

"Oh, I'm really interested. No one's bothered
about that in a while, but I'll be glad to help you out all I can.
That way we can print the truth, can't we? I'm Kasie Amory, come on
in and let's have some tea." She encouraged.

"Awfully nice of you," Lacey smiled.

"Oh it's nice to have company for a change."
Kasie said as she prepared them a drink and escorted them to the
huge living room with wrap around couches and several lounge
chairs.

"This place is pretty remote." Sam smiled at
Kasie, noting a few similarities in their looks. She was a
beautiful woman, and so friendly.

"Your husband said you were from Texas."
Lacey asked trying to help Sam get more information out of her.
"Was your father originally a Texan?"

"No, this is his native country, Oregon. I
was born there, spent a few years there. But I'm a full blooded
Oregonian now. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Even though it is
remote here."

Sam nodded, "I prefer the Pacific northwest
to most parts of the country, myself. I live in the mountains
too..."

"Oh, and you are a reporter? My you must have
a long drive to work." Kasie chuckled.

"Yes, I do. But in bad weather I send my work
in by computer."

"Oh yes, computers, something we no longer
keep around here, at least not until our children are big enough to
need them. I guess we don't keep up with the times like we should.
Well, let me go get the tea."

"I really won't keep you long, I’m just happy
my car broke down this close to you." Sam said.

"Yes, that was fortunate, wasn't it?" Kasie
looked at Lacey. "Are you two married?"

"No, I'm a school teacher…a private school
for girls."

"Really, how in the world did the two of you
meet?" Kasie's eyes rounded on them.

"Vacations."

"Ah yes, one of those things we rarely take."
Kasie chuckled and glanced at her husband who was doctoring the
meat to go out on the grill.

Chayton looked up from his task, "Don't let
her fool you. She has to be pried away from here."

Suddenly a baby cried and Kasie excused
herself. When she came back she had a baby in her arms. "This is
D.J. he's nine months and almost into everything."

Lacey cooed and awed with the baby, "Can I
hold him?"

"Sure, if he'll go to you…" Kasie handed her
son over. Lacey took the baby and smiled. The baby didn't cry.

Sam couldn't stop himself from reaching for a
finger. A finger the baby latched onto and tried to chew on. Sam
chuckled. "He's a cutie, your first?"

"Yes as a matter of fact…." Kasie smiled
proudly.

"I'm surprised he didn't inherit the dark
hair from your husband." Sam said glancing at her.

Kasie shrugged, "He did, but he lost it all
not long after he was born. He had the most beautiful head of black
hair you've ever seen. Thick and straight. But he lost it. Now it's
a toss up to figure out what he'll look like. My side of the family
is pretty fair, my dad was light headed and my mom."

"Really…"

"But he'll probably have the Douglas eyes,
though."

"Douglas eyes…." Sam tried not to frown.

"Yes, well, green eyes are as common as any
other." Kasie sighed.

"Green eyes, huh?" Sam asked casting a quick
glance at Lacey.

"Just how far back do you want to go with
this story?" Kasie burst out laughing.

"As far back as we can be factual." Sam
encouraged.

"Wow, okay. It'd be easier if Rosie were
here. She knew practically everything about him. In fact, when you
go down the mountain, take the Cooper exit and you'll come out in
front of her place. She can fill you in on some of my father's
history."

"I'll be sure to do that."