Chapter Two – A Time to Run for Cover
"Andy, your partner has had such a good time tonight, not telling me what I wanted to know. He really needs a driver. Is Traci still with you?"
"She was just getting ready to leave."
"Can she bring you over here so you can drive Sam and the truck home?"
"I'm sure she can. We'll be there in about ten minutes. Thanks, Ollie." She could hear Sam in the background.
"Lemme talk to her." Then louder, "Sweetheart, I'm really not drunk." Ollie must have handed Sam the phone because his voice became a whisper she could hear clearly. "I'm not really drunk. I love you. I miss you. I can drive myself home. You don't need to come get me."
"Sam, I want to come get you. Traci and I are leaving now. You will wait for me, right?"
"I waited months for you, a few minutes is nothing. Hurry, I miss you." Drunks say things they might not say when sober. For all Sam's admissions, this was the first time he admitted to her that he had waited for her all through her Luke phase.
"Give Ollie back his phone. I'll be right there, and, Sam, I love you, too." She flipped her phone shut, got her keys and followed Traci out the door.
"Does Sam do this often? After the problems your dad has had with alcohol I'd think you'd be more upset." Andy seemed very calm about the whole situation, and Traci wondered if it was a regular occurrence.
"Heavens no! This is the first time since we've been together." Andy knew the difference between a social drinker and an alcoholic. Sam was not alcoholic. "Besides, if he hasn't had way to much to drink he will be in the mood, big time, when he gets home."
"And when is he not in the mood? You do brag a lot." Traci had heard, at length, about Sam's prowess between the sheets.
"I guess you're right, but you never can have too much of a good thing." Andy was sure she never bragged. It's not bragging if it's the truth. "Are you going to come in and see Jerry? I'm sure everybody knows you're driving me to the house."
"Sure, he'll think I'm mad at him if I don't"
When the friends rang the door bell at Ollie's, Zoe answered the door. "Come on in girls." She spoke to both of the women before directing her comments to Andy, "I'm not sure Sam has had as much to drink as my husband led you to believe. I think he wanted to grill you since Sam won't tell him why you said no to the proposal."
Andy was laughing when she answered, "Why won't Sam tell him, it's not a secret?"
"Sam is having too much fun tormenting him to tell him anything." Zoe confided. "So why?"
"Why did I say no?"
"If you don't mind my asking," Zoe was dying to know but too polite to push.
"I didn't really say no." Andy could tell Zoe was confused. "I said I wouldn't marry him right now."
That sounded like no to Zoë. "I know you two haven't been together very long but, Andy, when you find the right one, it doesn't take a long time to know. And Sam is very much in love with you. We've known him a long time. You're the one for him." She didn't want Sam to get his heart broken.
"They won't let us work together. If we get married, gosh, ever if we're engaged…I bet they will bust us up. Zoe, I'm selfish. I want him at home, but I also want him at work." Andy paused and looked at Zoe for understanding. "Sam won't work patrol forever. We'll probably want to have babies sometime in the future. When working the streets together doesn't fit our plans, then we can get married. Sam said, when I make up my mind I just need to tell him, when, where, and how to dress."
"As long as you've made up your mind that Sam's the one. You know he's very special to us." Zoe wanted Andy to understand, if she did Sam wrong it would not be well accepted by his friends, that is to say Fifteen Division.
"He is definitely the one."
"See, Zoe, she loves me." Sam came into the foyer, made a bee line for Andy and kissed her. "Hey, Sweetheart, come show everybody your...'friendship ring'."
"That's what we're calling it now?" Andy knew it was her engagement and wedding ring all in one that she was getting to wear early, but they probably did need a public name for it.
"We are friends, aren't we?" Sam chuckled.
"That's us, very friendly, friends." With Sam holding her hand, Andy was led into the den.
"Go show Ollie how pretty your new ring looks on your hand." Sam kind of pushed Andy in Ollie's direction, and she held her hand out to him. Ollie took her hand in his and held it up so the fellows could see the ring before he spoke.
"I'm going to ask Frank to assign us together, real soon, since Sam won't tell me how his girl can say no to his marriage proposal and still manage to keep him ecstatic. I figure, with a whole shift to work on you, I can get a reasonable explanation."
"If you promise not to do that, Sam will answer all your questions in the locker room in the morning." Andy knew Zoe would repeat everything she had heard to her husband later. Let Sam continue to enjoy his tormenting for this evening at least.
Traci had followed the pair into the den. When Ollie mentioned his plan to get information from Andy, she thought how ironic. Andy won't marry Sam because she wants to keep working with him and the first thing that happens is someone trying to split them up so he can find out why she won't marry Sam.
When Andy got her hand back she returned to Sam's side. "Are you about ready to go?"
Zoe spoke up, "Stay and have something to eat. There's still plenty left."
"Thanks, but no, Traci and I munched the whole evening through." By this time of day food didn't even sound good.
"Good night fellows, my friend… and I need to get home." Sam's tongue in cheek comment wasn't lost on the group. "Zoe, the food was great, thanks." Sam kissed his hostess before turning to his host. "And, Ollie, my friend, I'll see you in the locker room in the morning." Sam took Andy's hand and headed out. Andy waved back at the card players before turning to follow Sam.
When they got to the truck there was no discussion as to who would be driving. Andy, using her keys, unlocked the truck and stood while Sam got in the passenger side door before walking to the driver's side and getting in. "I'm sorry, Sweetheart." Sam finally spoke after she had the truck started and was pulling away.
She turned and grinned at him. "Just what are you sorry about?"
"Me getting loaded and you having to come get me."
"Is that all?" She was still grinning.
He grimaced, "Isn't that enough." He couldn't think of much else he could have done tonight to annoy her.
"Was there a blond honey there tonight I don't know about?" She knew that would hurt her.
"No, blonds."
"Did you lose all this month's salary?"
"No, I won a little. You want it?" He started fishing around in his pocket.
"No, Baby, keep your money. Did you have fun?" She was watching him closely.
"I did, Ollie is beside himself. I did have a good time. You?" He moved across the seat
"Sam, I enjoyed having a visit with Traci. She's a really good friend. You had a good time with your friends. I even got to visit with Zoe a little. You have nothing to be sorry for besides how often do you let me drive?"
The melancholy that comes with alcohol crept in, "How did I end up with you, you're wonderful?"
"You're just a lucky fellow" she teased, "and you need to quit that right now." She added. Sam had moved next to her and first began caressing her inner thighs. He quickly tired of the access her jeans were denying so he unsnapped them and run his hand across her bare skin. When he settled in on the spot he had been seeking all along she wrapped her hand around his arm and warned him, "Sam, I cannot drive when you're doing that." Instead of stopping he nuzzled her neck and gently blew into her ear. "We're almost home, please wait."
"Can't wait, just concentrate on your driving. You do want me to enjoy myself, don't you?" he could feel her body tense up and he sensed the little shutter. His hand continued the torture while he ran his tongue along her jaw line and kissed his way back to her ear. He had been thinking about this all evening. He finally had her all to himself, she wasn't mad at him and he saw no reason to postpone the pleasure.
When Andy arrived home she had only one word for him, "Inside". She was ready, but the gymnastics of a quickie in the truck wasn't what she had on her mind.
Inhibitions released via alcohol, Sam was ready but his playful side ruled. "Where's my adventurous Country Queen, we could have an appetizer right here and have the main course served inside. What you say, Andy?" His head lifted from her neck. A shit eating grin stretched from ear to ear. "Come on, Baby."
"My appetite's already in overdrive. Get out of the truck, Romeo. I'm going inside and pile-up in that big bed of ours. You did say something about a main course, didn't you?" She threw out the lover's challenge. "And, Sam, I expect dessert, too."
"Yes, Ma'am, I'll do my best not to disappoint." He followed her out of the truck, inside and down the hall. Much later as he lay sleeping by her side, she watched him fondly. He was defiantly five star, but she had already known that.
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As much fun as the bedroom is, next chapter we will move to more work related topics.
Your comments are always welcome.