Ch.4

When I came home I saw Seth and Zoe sitting on the couch laughing. They stopped and stared at me,

"Oh guys, you didn't." Their eyes fell to the floor. "Well I'll call Shane and tell him to come ba-" I didn't even finish as Shane walked through the door. Dripping in sewage. He held up the bracelets,

"Ha ha."

"Kids why don't you go to your rooms and we'll talk about this later. Also Do not think that I'm gonna let you go out Friday night! You blew that one right out of the water!" All the kids were gone and I just looked at him. He looked angry. I laughed a little.

"What is so funny?"

"I'm sorry, I really am it's just. They would pull a trick like that. Here let me get you some towels." He followed me upstairs and I grabbed him some towels. "Here." He went in and muttered a thank you. When the door was shut I went to find Zoe and Seth, "Guys, we need to talk."

"Ok. Shoot."

"You guys have to let up on the Lieutenant. He's here to protect us ok? We have to do what he says and be nice. I want you both to apologize at dinner tonight ok?" They shook their heads, "And you both know that you aren't going to that party on Friday right?" They shook their heads, "Good. Now stay in your rooms and finish your homework and I'll call you when dinner's ready." I shut the door and turned around. I felt my cheeks burn as I saw Shane standing there in nothing but a towel. I tried to act cool and smirked, "Well you certainly smell better."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shane pov~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Great. I step out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel and Sam's standing right there.

"Yeah, I had to wash three times." She laughed,

"I already talked to Zoe and Seth and they have their punishments and aren't aloud to come out of their rooms till supper."

"Oh, ok." There was an awkward silence till she said she was gonna go downstairs and check on Peter and Lulu. I walked into my room and changed and then sat down on my bed. Good grief. This girl is killing me! I made my way downstairs and watched as she played with the kids. I thought back to our conversation in the park. What did she mean when she said that love and her don't agree? The girl was hiding something and it pained her that I could see. Her eyes gave her away. I planned to find out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~Sam pov~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After I made dinner and sent the kids off to bed I began to do the dishes. Shane picked a few up and began to help me,

"Oh Lieutenant I can do that."

"Please Major, call me Shane and I want to help."

"Alright Shane. But only if you call me Sam."

"Sam." I smiled,

"So, tell me what happened when you were in the war?" I sighed and decided to tell him,

"Well, I met a guy. He was really sweet. After my CO started hitting on me and getting to close for comfort this captain stuck up for me and told the colonel to back off. His name was Max. Max and I started dating and then about 7 months after we started dating he was in a jeep accident." I felt a lump in my throat and my breath caught for a moment, "He-He died. On the operating table." I felt a tear run down my face and Shane whipped it away. I cried into his chest and he pulled me into his arms, "Why is it that I cry for a man I only knew for 7 months but I can't even cry for my own father?" I sobbed into him. "I loved my father and I joined the Army to prove to him that I could be something more."

"I'm sure you made him proud."

"No, I was a horrible kid. I got into fights, skipped school, I even ran away from home a few times. I joined the Army as an act of defiance against my dad. He didn't want any of kids to be in his line of work. When I became a Major my dad I grew closer. We talked more and started to get along. I didn't make him proud."

"Ya know I was the one who rescued your dad and all he did was talk about his kids? He said how much he loved his oldest daughter and how proud he was of her. And that she turned into such a beautiful woman?" I looked up at him threw tear filled eyes,

"Really?" He nodded.

"Well dad was wrong there."

"What?" I chuckled a little,

"Shane I'm not beautiful look at me."

"I am." I felt my face heat up and my heart began to jump. His hand made its way to my face and his finger ran over my cheek, "You are a very beautiful woman. Any man would be lucky to have you." My throat was dry and I was at a loss for words,

"I-I…um…I-" He stopped me from rambling. His lips were soft and gentle. What seemed like forever was only a matter of seconds. He pulled away and began to apologize. Yet this time I cut him off. I was happy.