Before We Kiss (Fool's Gold #14)(82)

“I’m glad.”

“He won’t say what he was doing, which is a little annoying.”

“I’m sure you have ways of making him talk.”

“I do, as a matter of fact.” She smiled.

Mayor Marsha walked up to them. “How are you two?”

“Great,” Taryn said with a sigh. “Did you have something to do with Angel and Ford disappearing?”

Sam expected the older woman to be confused by the question. Instead she nodded.

“Yes, they were helping me. A young woman was in trouble and they went to make sure she was safe.”

Taryn’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”

“Of course. Her name is Shelby and she was trapped at home with an abusive father. He’s been arrested and charged with multiple crimes. Shelby will be receiving some counseling to deal with the trauma of all she’s been through. Even worse, her mother is dying of cancer.”

“How do you know her?” Sam asked.

“I don’t. I know her brother. I suspect they’ll both be moving to town in the next few months.” She turned her attention to him. “I heard your business finance talk went over very well. Thank you so much for doing that. The business community needs strong leadership. I’m hoping you can fill that role.”

“I, ah...” Sam cleared his throat. The mayor continued to stare at him until he found himself saying, “Yes. Of course. Happy to.”

“Good.”

Taryn squeezed his arm. “So, how was your trip to New Zealand? Meet any handsome men?”

“At my age?” Mayor Marsha smiled. “Don’t be silly. Now if you’ll excuse me, I want to congratulate the happy couple.”

She walked away.

Taryn watched her go. “I think she has supernatural powers.”

“Not possible.”

“You’re about to be a leader in the business community, Sam. You’re more than capable, but you do your best to never get involved. So why did you say yes?”

He shrugged, not sure of the answer.

“See,” Taryn told him. “She used mind control.”

He got Taryn a glass of wine, then spoke to more people he now somehow knew. All the while, he watched Dellina manage the party. She smiled at him, but before he could join her, she was pulled into the kitchen. There was plenty of time, he reminded himself. He would find her by the end of the evening. Find her and take her home. He smiled. It was going to be a very good night.

* * *

“THERE YOU ARE.”

Dellina turned and saw Sam approaching. Her heart rate immediately increased and she felt herself smiling.

“I could say the same thing,” she told him. “You’ve been quite the social butterfly this evening.”

He grinned. “Hardly.”

“Every time I spotted you, you were chitchatting with someone else. Careful, Sam. People will think you’re a native.”

“I’m getting there.” He put his arm around her waist and drew her close. “I’ve missed you.”

Words to make her already in-love self sigh. “I know. This party has taken every second.”

“But you pulled it together in forty-eight hours. Impressive.”

His dark gaze was possessive, his hand firm on her back. He drew her into a corner and she didn’t resist. Not when she was pretty sure of the outcome.

Sure enough, as soon as they were in a relatively private space, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply. She relaxed into his embrace and let her body melt against his.

She let herself get lost in the feel of his tongue against hers before reluctantly drawing back.

“I know,” he said before she could speak. “You’re still on duty.”

“Until the party is over.”

He kissed her lightly. “I’ll wait. Want to go back to my place?”

She put her hands on his chest. “Really?”

“Why are you surprised?”

“I’ve never been to your place.”

“You have.”

She shook her head. “Nope. I’ve never seen where you live.” Something she was sure was deliberate. Or had been at first.

“Then it’s past time.”

* * *

DELLINA FOUND HERSELF oddly nervous as Sam pulled into his driveway. He’d followed her to her place first. She’d dropped off her car and grabbed a few things so she could stay the night, then had gotten into his car. Now as he parked in front of the ranch-style home, she felt fluttering in her stomach and it had little to do with how good-looking he was.

It was close to nine and the sun had set over an hour ago. Lights spilled from most of the houses around them. The sound from TVs and kids playing could be heard. An ordinary neighborhood in an ordinary town, she thought, although she wasn’t totally convinced by her words.

She got out before Sam could open the door, but let him carry her small bag. He led the way up to the front door and opened it, then flipped on lights.

The house might have been built in the sixties, but it had been extensively remodeled. The whole middle section had been opened up. There was a kitchen to the far left and a huge great room large enough to support two sofas and nearly half a dozen chairs. Big windows would let in light during the day.