Unleashed (11 page)

“Oh please. I'm an amazon who dwarfs most men on the planet. Besides, you're one to talk with that amazing tan. I would kill for color like that! I look like a damned ghost. Not exactly a sexy look. Here.” She handed Sam the frosty beverage.

Sam glanced down and smiled. Yup. Margaritas.

They laid their towels out on the lounge chairs, with Sam maneuvering for the best angle of the morning sun, and Kerry under the umbrella to avoid it. Within seconds, Kerry began the inevitable best friend inquisition.

“Okay. So let's go. Spill it.” She slid on her supersize sunglasses as she settled into her chair. “What's going on, and why have you moved out of the coolest city in the world to live…here?”

“Don't hold back, babe. What do you really think about it?” Sam smiled as she got comfortable and welcomed the warm summer sun.

“I'm not judging. I'm just perplexed. I mean really! How many times did we stay up until all hours of the night talking about the ways you wanted to get out of here? You can't blame me for being a little bit surprised.”

“I know, I know. To be honest, I can't believe I did it either.” Sam gave a small groan.

“Okay, so what prompted this move? Money?”

“No. I mean, I wasn't rolling in it, but I wasn't starving either. I…jeez, you're going to think I'm nuts.” Frustrated, Sam sighed.

“No I won't.” She shook her head. “I'm the one who can't stand touching other people, remember? I promise I won't laugh or think you're crazy.” She held up her hand as if she was swearing in a court of law.

Sam took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut. After a dramatic pause, she finally spit it out. “It was a dream.”

“A dream? “Kerry emitted a stifled laughter. “Ooookay.”

“Hey, you said you wouldn't laugh spookie girl.” Sam unleashed a giggle of her own.

“Right.” Kerry cleared her throat and regained her composure. “You're right. I'm sorry. Go ahead.”

“If you're going to laugh about the dream, then you're going to get absolutely hysterical when I tell you about the other dreams…and Malcolm.”

“Malcolm? Yummy, who's that? Now we're getting somewhere. I was hoping a guy would be involved. You've been single for far too long! Now this is getting good.” She clapped her hands excitedly. “Okay, I'm all ears. I won't interrupt, and I
swear
I won't laugh. Cross my heart.” She made the sign across her heart.

Sam knew that if she could tell anyone in the entire world about what had been happening over the last couple of days, it was Kerry. She thought that if she told the story out loud it wouldn't sound crazy, but she also knew that she wasn't ready to tell her everything.

She took a deep breath.

“Okay. Remember those dreams I used to have when we were kids?”

“You mean the one with your mom and the wolf, or the one where some guy is calling you?” Kerry licked the salt off the edge of her glass.

“The wolf ones. Well, the night of my thirtieth birthday I dreamed about the wolf again. Except this time, I
was
the wolf.”

Kerry narrowed her eyes. “Huh? You mean you were actually a wolf?”

Sam nodded and swirled the ice in her glass. “Yup. A giant gray wolf.”

“What on earth were you doing?”

“I was running. Here at the beach. I ran with complete and total abandon. I was free, completely unencumbered…and it felt delicious. When I woke up the next morning, I had a longing for Nonie and the beach house. In that moment, I had total clarity. I was sick and tired of waiting.”

“Waiting? Waiting for what?” Kerry asked.

“Everything.” Sam shrugged. “Lately, it felt like my life was on hold somehow. So, I decided the only way to jumpstart things was to make a drastic change. I figured the dream was a sign.”

“That's all very fascinating, but I want to hear about the date.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Who's Malcolm?”

Sam laughed and sat back in her lounge chair. “How did I know that you'd want to get right to the good stuff?”

“Because you're my best friend, and you know I'm a dirty girl at heart.”

Sam laughed loudly at her friend's remark and took a sip of her drink. Looking out over the familiar shoreline her thoughts wandered to Malcolm. “He's…special.”

She told her about Malcolm and their date and of course about the mind-bending make out sessions. She also told her about the practically pornographic dreams.

However, she held back on the truly bizarre things. She left out the part about the eyes, the eagle that visited her room, the vanishing guy, and of course, about hearing his voice in her head. If she told her any of that, Kerry might put her in a psych ward. She wouldn't blame her. She was starting to think she should check herself in.

She knew it sounded crazy, but she also knew it was real. Malcolm confirmed that this afternoon with his parting message. When his voice slid into her mind, she'd just about fainted right there on the diner floor. Thank God Millie had been there and anchored her to reality.

Kerry sat in rapt attention. By the end she was sitting up cross-legged on the lounge, her sunglasses on her head, and her mouth hanging open. “Wow. I can't remember the last time I got that hot over a guy.” Kerry whistled and shook her head in amazement. She went over to the bar on the other side of the deck to collect the pitcher of margaritas. “He sounds a lot better than that other guy you were dating. What was his name,” she called over her shoulder. “Van Douche?”

Sam giggled and sipped the last bit of her margarita. “Van Dousen, but I think your version suits him better.” She wiped at the condensation on her glass with her thumb and avoided looking at Kerry. Her voice dropped low. “He's become a bit of a problem.”

Kerry sashayed over with the pitcher and refilled Sam's glass. “What does that mean,” she asked, her voice laced with concern. She put the jug down on the table and made herself comfortable on the edge of Sam's chaise.

“Well, apparently he hadn't gotten the memo that I broke up with him.” She took another sip and relished the sweet and salty bite that a good margarita always had. “He even showed up at the diner today.”

“Hello? Stalk much?”

“Tell me about it.” Sam scoffed and rolled her eyes. “You know, showing up uninvited at my apartment in the city was one thing. But following me all the way out here, to another state, is another level of creepy.”

“So what happened?” Kerry took a big sip of her drink and cast Sam a look of concern.

“Well, clearly he's deluded. The man is not used to hearing the word no about anything. Told me he wants me and that's that.” Sam squeezed her eyes shut and took another sip. Anger bubbled up at the memory of the way he grabbed her. “He got kind of rough. Grabbed me and practically dragged me over the counter.” Sam let out a shaky breath and opened her eyes. “I'm not sure what would've happened if Malcolm hadn't shown up.”

Kerry leaned closer, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “No way! The hottie showed up and rescued you?” She let out a loud hoot and slapped her own leg. “I love it!” She nudged Sam's arm with her glass. “What did he do? Please tell me he beat the shit out of that little worm.”

Sam gave a small smile and shook her head. “He didn't have to. He's twice Roger's size and lifted the guy off the ground like he weighed nothing at all. And given the fact that Roger—quite literally—pissed in his pants, I don't think I'll see him again.”

Kerry laughed. “Ohmigod,” she squealed. “He didn't actually pee his pants?”

“Yup.” Sam nodded and giggled. “He left a big old puddle right there on Millie's floor.”

The two of them laughed until they were breathless and crying.

Kerry wiped away the tears with the back of her hand and moved to her own chair. “Well, this Malcolm guy sounds like a keeper. If he has any tall chivalrous friends who like a woman with meat on her bones, be sure to send 'em my way.”

“Come on, you are constantly surrounded by hot guys. You mean to tell me none of them do it for you?”

“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “The men in my industry are slimy pigs and often dumb as stumps. They either want to get into my pants and say they bedded a model, or they want to get into my wallet.” She slipped her sunglasses back on and waved away the notion. “No thanks. Besides…I'd have to be able to tolerate touching someone in order to have sex.”

That definitely surprised Sam. She wasn't aware her friend had been as lonely as she had.

“I think it's pretty wild that this guy lives in the creepy house from our childhood. Did he tell you anything about his family? I mean, there's always been such a cloak of secrecy around them and that house.”

The overflowing tray of fruit, cheese, and crackers looked delicious. As kids, they'd shared secrets over Diet Coke and M&M's, but that evolved to margaritas with a fruit and cheese platter as they'd gotten older. Sam picked at the assorted goodies Kerry had laid out on the table. She selected a small bunch of green grapes and sat back in her chair.

“He told me some. His parents are still alive and kicking and living the good life over in Milan. He runs his family's shipping business from the house. It's just him and Davis, the butler.”

“Oh my God! That guy is still alive? He was like a fossil when we were kids. Christ, he must be positively ancient now.” Kerry popped a cube of cheese in her mouth.

“I guess.” She shrugged “I mean, I haven't met him yet. Just from across the way y'know.” Sam sipped her drink. The ice cold liquid was a welcome sensation as it coated her dry throat. She closed her eyes and willed the margarita to dampen the heat that flared through her body. All she'd done was talk about him, and it got her all hot and bothered. She was in big trouble.

“So when do I get to meet your hunky hero?” Kerry wiggled her eyebrows.

“Um…I don't know,” Sam began with some trepidation.

“I'm sorry. I don't mean to be pushy. It's just that you are clearly nuts for this guy, and I figure I get best friend approval rights.”

“Of course you do,” she said quickly. “It's just that I barely know him.”

“Really, you could've fooled me. The way you talk about him, you'd think you were soul mates or something.”

“Please. He is not my soul mate. You know I don't believe in that crap. He's just a hot neighbor who kisses like the devil.” She sighed as the color rose in her cheeks.

“Holy crap, are you blushing?” Kerry grinned. “You are. You're blushing. God, the guy isn't even here, and you're getting horny. Shit, does he have a brother?” She put the cool glass to her forehead.

“Stop it.” Sam smiled. “And, he's an only child. Like us.”

“Oh well.” She sighed. “Looks like dumb models and gold diggers for me.”

And with that, they both broke into hysterical giggles.

They spent the rest of the afternoon bouncing between various conversations. They shared beautiful fits of laughter and occasionally the comfortable silences that can only happen between true friends. As the sun made its leisurely descent, Sam knew it was time to head home for dinner with Nonie. She looked over at her friend and smiled. “This has been one of the nicest afternoons I've had in a very long time. I needed some girl time more than anything. Thanks.”

“Well, don't think that this is it. I'm here for two more weeks, and I fully expect to be hanging out on a regular basis. I definitely want to meet the hottie.”

“That's perfect, but I have to get the rest of my schedule from Millie.”

“Sounds good. Is Billy still waiting tables for his Mom?”

Sam shook her head. “He's the cook, so he's running things more often than she is now. He's primed to take the place over. She and Nonie would have bridge games five days a week if they could.”

“Bridge is a game for four isn't it? Who else do they play with?”

“Well, Millie's husband, Pete, and…come to think of it, I don't have any idea who Nonie's partner is.” Sam frowned. She felt terribly guilty that she didn't know that tidbit and made a mental note to find out.

“Really, well maybe you aren't the only one with a new love.” Kerry smiled slyly.

They started gathering up the remnants of their afternoon nosh while both giggled at the idea of Nonie and a boyfriend. They were rudely interrupted by the slamming of the front door and footsteps tromping up the wooden staircase in the front hall. The unexpected noise had Sam jump about a foot in the air with a shriek.

“Jesus Christ, what or who was that,” she said, her hand to her chest.

“Well, hello to you too,” Kerry shouted into the house. “Sorry about that. It's my cousin, AJ. Remember him? He stayed with us that summer before we started college? His dad is my mom's brother.”

“Oh right!” Sam grimaced. “Wasn't he the one with the Dungeons and Dragons obsession?”

“Yeah.” She rolled her eyes. “Actually he's gotten to be kind of cute. I was considering setting you up with him before I heard about your new obsession.” She winked.

“Very funny.” She followed Kerry into the house with their dishes. “Why is he staying here?”

“He's a marine biologist and has a temporary gig as some kind of fish consultant over at the Mystic Aquarium this summer.” She shrugged. “My parents told him he could crash here before they knew I was coming to visit you. It's fine really,” she said with a wave. “He works a lot, and I don't even know he's here most of the time.”

“Fish consultant?” Sam put the dishes into the sink.

“Actually, I'm here to gather some data on their beluga whale population,” said a voice behind them.

They turned around to see her cousin standing in the kitchen doorway. He had a big grin on his face that gave him giant dimples. Kerry was right. He was much cuter than he'd been in high school. Then again who wasn't? He was tanned with dark brown eyes and sun-bleached hair. He definitely had a surfer dude look. Not the weenie Sam remembered.