The dress she picked was one of the most beautiful things Sami had ever seen in her life. It was red, a color she usually chose when she wanted to stun a room. A deep V dipped down in provocation before flowing over her skin to end at the ankles. A split on the right reached almost to her hip, revealing and concealing her leg as though in invitation. It was superb and the kind of dress that was far too much for Chez Rouge and yet she knew Stefano had added it for a reason. The Phoenix was making a statement. He was introducing his son to Salem and using her notoriety to do it. It was a spectacular display, especially as she was dripping with diamonds.
Sami gave an internal chuckle as the host almost tripped over himself to help her up the front steps and into the door. Bestowing on him a smile, she looked around to see Maggie headed her way.
"Sami, you look amazing. It's so nice to see you. It feels like it's been forever!" She exclaimed.
Sami knew she meant that it felt like forever since her name was embroiled in a scandal.
"Yes, well, work's keeping me very busy," She responded, easily.
"Oh, um, well, I can imagine," a hint of strain in her voice. It seemed the gossip mill still ran well.
Sami smiled a bit at that before looking around the room, catching EJ's eyes at the bar. He was staring and she felt a thrill run down her back. Pointedly, she took him in, letting her eyes run from his tousled locks to his Italian hoofed feet and then back up again. His lips formed a smirk at her blatant perusal.
"Well, I see my date over there, so I'll have to catch up with you later," Sami interrupted whatever blathering, Maggie Horton had moved on to.
Not waiting for a reply, she slipped past that busybody and went up to EJ Dimera.
"Hi, I'm Sami Brady," She held out her hand, blaming her husky voice on the cold of the evening.
"I'm EJ," he answered, taking her hand, but instead of shaking it, he placed a light kiss to the back.
Sami's breath stuttered to a halt in her chest and if her hand lingered longer than was polite, she blamed it on her surprise at his action.
"You're British?" She continued after clearing her throat delicately.
"Last time I checked."
"Oh, I mean, it's just that Stefano…" She began.
"You know Stefano." He interrupted, stating rather than inquiring and she wondered what game he was playing, if he really hadn't been told whom he was going to meet.
"Yeah, he sent me here to meet EJ, his son. Didn't he tell you?"
"Stefano can be very cryptic when he wishes to be. I'm not disappointed in the least that a woman as gorgeous as yourself is the one joining me."
Sami accepted that with a small smile, "Shall we get a table then?"
"Definitely. Lead the way, Samantha." He stood then, holding his arm out for her to take as they moved into the dining room.
They were escorted to a table for two to the right and Sami wondered if it was simply coincidence that they were in full view of the room. She gave him a smile of thanks as he held out the chair for her.
As soon as they were seated and their orders taken, she noted, "You called me Samantha."
"I assumed Sami was short for Samantha," He answered easily, a twinkle in his eyes.
"It is and only your father calls me that."
"I guess we both recognize the beauty in your given name. Do you want me to stop?"
"No," she responded, looking up as their server appeared to introduce herself as Mira.
It was a different person to the one who had brought them, and Sami watched with some amusement as the girl sought to catch his eye as she poured their wine.
Once she retreated, Sami teased, "Seems you have an admirer."
He waved his hand as though to wave off the girl's interest and looked her straight in the eye and said, "The woman in front of me demands all my attention."
To cover the blush she was sure was creeping on her face, she answered, "You're a real charmer you know that?"
"I speak only truth, you've captivated me tonight."
Sami took a sip of her wine, to cover the way his words were affecting her. It had been far too long since she'd been out with a man like him. She was flustered as she hadn't been in a long time.
Changing the subject, she spoke, "So EJ, tell about yourself."
"I'm far more interested in hearing about you, sweetheart, but if we must…" he smiled and Sami fought the ridiculously sigh that bubbled in her throat. "I race cars or at least I used to."
"Where?" She asked, intrigued.
"On the European circuit."
Sami grinned, "My son, Will, loves racing. He and his uncle go whenever they can."
"You have a son? And he's in Europe?"
"Yeah."
"You don't sound too happy about that, darling."
"I'm not and if we want this evening to continue to be amazing, we should probably talk about something else."
"That's fine with me. So you work for my father?"
"At Dimera Enterprises, in Acquisitions," She told a half-truth. Sami didn't know how much Stefano shared with his son about the other side of his dealings so she kept her identity as Ombra to herself.
"Really?" The Dimera heir asked, surprised.
"Please don't tell me you're one of those." She narrowed her eyes at him.
"One of what?"
"Sexist jerks. This is men's work." She roughened her voice in a mocking approximation of a man.
"He laughed, "No, no, no."
"Good, because that would've deducted major points," She teased, grinning.
"Points?"
Placing her palm on the other as though stacks, she answered, "Yep, you're handsome, charming and you have an accent. Being a sexist jerk totally would've dropped your rating."
EJ let out a full belly laugh, head thrown back exposing his throat. Was it normal to find a man's neck attractive? She swallowed loudly when she saw the tiny patch of hair peeking out through his collar.
Oh God!
"I assure you, I'm not," He answered, oblivious to her interest. "Women are just as capable if not more so than men. You have an amazing ability to multitask, and an uncanny knack to bear excruciating pain with nary a wince, all the while looking gorgeous enough to turn men's brains to ash."
Sami was glad she was sitting, as her legs clenched unconsciously in the heat of the moment.
"EJ Dimera, I think I'm going to like you."
"Samantha Brady, I need to get you caught up, because I fear I'm going to love you."
As their food was brought out, Sami didn't have to answer and she was glad, for anything she said would have emerged as gibberish. As her Salmon was placed in front of her, she immediately dug in, almost choking on a piece as Mira placed a decided emphasis on the word anything while asking them (mostly EJ), if they needed anything.
Sami smirked behind her glass, wondering if she had ever been that obvious. In truth, she probably had been that obvious up to six months ago when she was trying to make a family with Lucas in a vain attempt to bring Will back home. She thanked her lucky stars that hadn't worked out, and her family had once again cast their disapproving frown, her way because it sent her straight to Stefano and led her on the path she was today, confident, strong and deserving of a spectacular man, far away from any of Kate's offspring. She shook off her thoughts as EJ drew her back into the conversation.
Belated she realized that they had drifted closer during the meal. Fingers touching periodically over the table cloth sent zaps through her arm, heating her skin in arousal. It was a slow build, until she found herself looking at him with hooded eyes along his firm jaw and amazingly full lips. She imagined, nibbling there before moving down his neck, curling her fingers in the soft hair on his chest as he…
"Samantha…" EJ called. His slow smile told her he knew exactly where her mind had gone and Sami fought a blush as his fingers twined with hers.
"How about we get out of here?"
She simply nodded as he signaled for their check.
EJ paid and once his card was returned, they stood. As they moved toward the door, his hand fell to the small of her back, heating her blood, distracting her so that she didn't see him until she was almost on top of him.
"Shit," she mumbled before forcing a cheery voice, "Hi, Dad."
