Chapter FOUR
Later that evening EJ was sitting up in bed, reading a book but not really. What he was really doing was waiting for Sami to join him in bed. She appeared then, walking out from the bathroom, her skin still pink from the steam of the shower. She strolled over to him and smiled.
"Good book?" she asked him.
"Riveting," he said, not taking his eyes off her, "Heart stoppingly so."
"Is that so?" she asked with a little laugh, "Let's see."
She reached out a hand and put it on his bare chest, where EJ's heart was and found it beating an unsteady rhythm. She gave him a knowing look and he answered by throwing the book to the floor and grabbing her, pulling her down onto the bed.
"So what?" she teased him, "Book not that interesting all of a sudden - going to get back to it later?"
"Speaking of getting back to things," purred EJ, slowly pulling up the bottom of her silky negligee and smiling at finding the mark he'd made earlier in the day.
"I am so glad I marked my place," he said, sounding very serious, "Because I would have started here…"
EJ pressed a kiss to a spot just below the cross and Sami bit her lip at the sensation.
"… and that would have meant I missed this…" he kissed her stomach again, exactly on the mark, "… and that would have been unforgivable."
Sami settled back, feeling herself already begin to ache for his next touch. EJ began kissing further down her stomach until he was at her panty line, hooking his fingers through the delicate material and starting to pull them down but she grabbed his wrists.
"You first," she said a little breathlessly.
EJ grinned and before she even had time to blink had shucked his black pyjama bottoms and was moving back to continue where he left off but she stopped him again, pushing him on his back and straddling him. She rocked gently on him and he gave a low groan, already feeling how wet she was for him. Sami pushed her bottom back a little and felt his erection against her bottom cheeks and shook her head and gave a please smile at how easily she could inflame him. She straightened up and slowly pulled the straps of her negligee down, the soft material pooling around her waist. EJ's eyes glassed over as he stared at naked breasts, cupping them in both hands and squeezing them before sitting up and drawing one pink tip into his mouth.
"I'm going to miss you so much," he moaned against her, hungrily nipping at the bud of one breast, making it peak for him, "I don't know how I'm going to stand it."
"Wh… what do you mean?" she asked dazedly, trying to focus on what he said rather than what he was doing.
"I'll tell you later," he groaned, moving to her other breast.
"Wait," she panted, grabbing a handful of hair and making him release her breast, "Tell me what later?"
"It's nothing," he said unevenly, his brown eyes practically black with arousal now.
"Then it won't take a minute," she argued with him.
"I can't concentrate with these…" EJ waved a distracted finger at her breasts, "Very little of my blood is currently circulating in my brain right now sweetheart."
Sami helped him out by pulling the straps of her negligee back up but he was less then appreciative.
"Samantha!" he groaned, flopping back on the bed and gave a petulant pout.
"Sooner you tell me why you're going to miss me the sooner the girls can come out to play again," she teased him and he gave an answering grin.
"I found out today I have to go to New York on Thursday," he told her, massaging her hips now, "I have to take some depositions for Nicole's divorce but I should only be gone two days."
"Oh," said Sami and gave a little pout of her own, "I'll miss you to then."
"Great," said EJ, sitting up and kissing her quickly, his hand's going to her straps again, "That's settled, we'll miss each other - now where were we?"
"But why didn't you want to tell me that?" asked Sami with a slight frown, grabbing his wrists to stop him.
EJ lay back down and gave a grimace.
"Now, don't get upset…" he began reluctantly, "But Nicole is coming with me to New York - it's to do with the depositions."
"Oh," said Sami calmly, "So you're going to be going to be going to New York with Nicole… for two days?"
"That's right," said EJ, not trusting how well she seemed to be taking this, "It's purely business Samantha, I promise you. There is absolutely nothing for you to worry about."
"Of course not," Sami agreed readily… too readily for EJ's liking, "What could I possibly have to worry about?"
She suddenly got off him and lay back down on her side of the bed.
"Well," she said easily, "I bet you've got a lot of things you need to organise before you go - you know, to be prepared for the depositions and no doubt you'll need your rest… so… goodnight."
"Goodnight?" said EJ, looking first at her and then the rather unfortunate state she'd left him in, "Samantha?"
"Goodnight EJ," she said happily, rolling over onto her side, putting her back to him.
EJ looked at her back and shook his head before looking up at the ceiling in frustration. Why couldn't he have kept his mouth shut and told her about New York after they'd made love and not during? What had he been thinking? Now what was he meant to do exactly? He hadn't seen this coming which ironically wasn't the only thing he wasn't going to see coming tonight! EJ grimaced and sat up.
"I'm going to have a shower," he announced to her back.
"Okay," she said evenly, "Have fun."
"Unlikely," he muttered but eased himself painfully off the bed and went anyway.
Sami lay there in the bed, silently fuming to herself as she heard the shower being turned on and the sound of water running.
She knew that he didn't understand - thought that she was just being overly dramatic when it came to Nicole but EJ didn't know the woman like Sami did. Sami also knew from person experience what a determined woman with a bottle of tranquillisers and an aggressive mission statement could achieve if she really put her mind to it and it frightened her. She wasn't worried about EJ cheating willingly but she'd trapped her own share of men in the past and was terrified that it might happen to EJ. She knew EJ wasn't Austin and that he was far more savvy when it came to things like that but Sami knew she wouldn't be able to bear it if Nicole managed to somehow get her hooks into him. Neither one of them slept well that night.
EJ woke the next morning to find Sami's side of the bed empty and the sheets cold. He gave a sigh, stretching out a hand to touch the space where her warm body should be. Guess she was sticking to her guns on the withholding sex thing. He'd kind of hoped that she'd sleep on it and then come to her senses in the morning but it didn't look like that was going to happen. EJ grimaced, thinking how much better yesterday morning was compared to todays. He showered quickly - a cold one - and came down to breakfast to see Sami and John already there with the twins. They both waved excitedly at seeing him and he kissed them both good morning but when he leant in to do the same with Sami she presented him with her cheek instead of her lips as she usually did.
"Good morning sweetheart," said EJ wryly, kissing her cheek regardless.
The smell of her skin was in his nostrils, her soft skin under his lips, making him wish he'd taken a longer shower now as he felt the usual tug of desire whenever he was around her.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked her.
"Fine darling," she said brightly, "And yourself?"
"Like a baby," said EJ sweetly, playing along with her game, "Speaking of which, I didn't hear these two this morning - what time did they get up?"
"Early," said Sami, going back to feeding the twins and studiously avoiding his gaze.
Truth was she'd gotten them up instead of the other way round as was usually the case. Sami had woken up early and had found herself unable to stop staring at the naked, sleeping form of her husband and lusting after him terribly. It had taken all of her will power not to just jump him while he lay sleeping and she knew she needed to get out of there before she gave in completely and ruined her own plan. So she'd gotten up and woken the twins who had looked a bit taken aback by the turn around but were happy enough once they were up.
"Hm," said EJ, with a loving smile at the children, "Hope that doesn't become a habit - I've gotten quite used to them sleeping in."
"Well you'll be able to sleep in plenty while you're away," said Sami snippily.
"I'll be working Samantha," said EJ calmly, not raising to the bait, "I want to get as much done as I can so I don't have to go back."
Sami just shrugged and went back to feeding the twins. John looked between them with interest - clearly something was going on between the two. This was what he'd tried to explain to Blondie last night - why bother going out when there was always a show going on right in front of them every day? Breakfast was quickly over and EJ was out the door to work leaving John and Sami alone, Marlena having left even earlier in the morning already.
"So John" said Sami, starting to clean up the carnage the twins had created with their breakfast and hoping to be distracted by a bit of conversation, "How was last night?"
"Well I didn't get sex," said John, sounding a bit put out.
"John!" exclaimed Sami, her cheeks going pink, "I don't want to hear about that!"
"But you just asked me," protested John in confusion.
"I asked you about your evening!" said Sami in agitation.
"I know and I told you - there was no sex," replied John blankly.
"Can you please stop saying…? S-E-X in front of the twins," hissed Sami, looking over at them gurgling happily away to each other.
"How does spelling it help?" asked John with a frown, "They don't know what the word means whether you say it or spell it - what does it matter?"
"It matters because… because…" stuttered Sami, hating it when he got all logical on her.
John looked at her enquiringly, waiting for her to explain.
"Because it's not something that should be talked about in public!" she finally managed.
"And spelling the word makes it more acceptable?" asked John in confusion, "Why?"
"Can we talk about something else?" asked Sami crossly.
"Sure," said John agreeably, "Did I hear right - is Elvis going out of town?"
"Yes, tomorrow," said Sami sullenly, "To New York."
"Is that a problem?" John asked her, cocking his head to one side when he heard the tension in her voice.
"Of course it's not a problem, why would it be a problem?" snapped Sami, "Can we talk about something else John?"
"Hm, I don't know," mused John, almost to himself, "The list seems to be dwindling as to what we can talk about."
"There is more to talk about then sex and EJ!" said Sami in frustration and then groaned to herself internally, why did she have to put those two words together?!
John leaned in towards her and whispered to her loudly, indicating the twins.
"You didn't spell it," he reminded her, "Apparently that's not polite."
"John," said Sami in frustration, shaking her head at him and attempting a deep, calming breath.
Sami studied her step father openly, wondering what it was that went on inside of that head of his nowadays.
"Got a question you want to ask?" he put to her, seeing the look on her face.
"I was just wondering…" said Sami with a bit of a shrug, "What is it that you think about?"
"All kinds of things," shrugged John.
"Like what?" asked Sami, suddenly curious?
Granted she was probably going to regret asking but maybe if she could understand the man a little better he'd stop catching her off guard quite so much.
"Well," considered John, pausing to think, "I was watching a show on cock fighting last night on the sports channel…"
"Cock fighting?" repeated Sami, screwing her face up in distaste, "You mean that horrible thing where people get chickens to wear spurs and fight each other to the death just so they can bet on it?"
"That's it," agreed John, not seeming as put off by it as she obviously was.
"It's disgusting and inhumane," said Sami heatedly, "Why would you watch something like that John?"
"I was curious," said John unrepentantly, "I was wondering if there were weight divisions in it like when people fight or whether they're all just bantam weights… you know, by default?"
He looked over at Sami enquiringly whose face was frozen in a look of horrified dismay and quite rightly figured she didn't know the answer to his question.
"John," whimpered Sami in despair at ever having a hope in hell of understanding the way he thought nowadays and knowing she was just going to have to live with this kind of crazy forever now.
"Do you want to go back to talking about S-E-X?" he offered helpfully when he saw how out of her depths she was.
Sami groaned and let her head hit the table top loudly - this day was not shaping up to be a good one and it was only 8:30 in the morning!
The next evening EJ stood between the twin's two cots and leant down resting an elbow on each cot rail, smiling down lovingly at the two children currently sitting up in their respective beds. They were looking back up at him, eyes wide with recognition and EJ couldn't help but ponder how he'd ever managed to think his life had been a happy one before they'd come into it. To see their little faces light up when he walked into a room made him feel invincible, like nothing could ever touch him as long as he had their trust and love. It was something he was determined never to lose...
"So how were your days today eh?" he asked them softly, "Daddy missed you guys dreadfully. What did you get up to without him?"
Ali gave a little squeal at the sound of his voice and began to wave her arms around wildly, bursting into an excited chatter and ending with a gurgling laugh. EJ couldn't help but laugh at her antics, it was as though she understood exactly what he'd said and responded in kind.
"You're quite the story teller aren't you sweetheart?" he asked of her affectionately, he leaned in closer to her and in a loud whisper said, "You get that from your mother."
Ali gave an emphatic nod at that, her head doing that cute bobble headed thing that babies do when they are still working out what their necks are for. EJ reached out and stroked her cheek lovingly and then smiled over at his son.
"And what about you my boy?" he quizzed the other child with an indulgent smile, "Did you seize the day, learn any new tricks whilst I was out earning our keep?"
Johnny raised his eyebrows and if EJ didn't know better he could have sworn the baby was actually thinking about it. His face suddenly split into a giant grin and he scooted along on his backside closer to where EJ was leaning over the cots and picked up a stuffed bear and waved it at his father.
"Wow Johnny," said EJ, taking the offered toy, duly impressed, "That is a new trick! I'd better keep an eye on you with these developmental stages; I don't want to miss anything. Whatever you do don't do the walking thing when I'm not around or you'll break Daddy's heart and we don't want that eh?"
Johnny gurgled up happily at him and EJ gave a satisfied nod.
"Then we're in agreement, no milestones unless I'm around," he said, stroking the boys head dotingly.
EJ gave a bit of a sigh, thinking yet again how hard it was to be away from them throughout the day. He had to work to support them all but it didn't make being parted from them any easier. How could these tiny creatures that hadn't even been around nine months have burrowed so deeply into his heart he wondered. But then, he shouldn't be surprised, their mother had done the exact same thing nearly two years ago now from the first time he'd met her.
"You know I'd much rather be staying home with you two then going out to a business dinner tonight," he confided in them regretfully, "It would just be the four of us seeing as Grandma Marlena and Uncle John are out for the evening… and scary Uncle Rolf is back in his box for the evening. But Daddy has to work to give you guys all the things you need."
Ali waved the toy she was holding around and nodded sympathetically at him.
"Now why can't your mother be this understanding eh?" he asked the twins with another sigh, "I'm doing this for us, all of us. But don't you worry sweethearts, Mummy and Daddy will sort this out - fighting is one of our favourite things and we're both quite gifted at it even if I do say so myself. Mummy is just being completely unreasonable at the moment but I can talk her round, no problem at all."
EJ pursed his lips then and gave them both a thoughtful look before continuing on.
"Although if you could put a good word in for me when you're with her that would be great," he mused and then rather hastily, "Not that I need it of course, just as a bit of back up because of that stubborn streak of Mummy's - which incidentally, if you're wondering, is one of the great many things that makes me crazy about her."
EJ glanced at his watch and then back at the twins.
"Great Grandma Caroline is going to be here soon," he informed them, "And I want you two little monkeys to be on your best behaviour you hear? No ganging up on her like you do with your mother and me. Play nice otherwise your next baby sitter will be weird old Uncle Rolf."
The twins made suitably encouraging noises to this and EJ grinned, leaning down and kissing them both a good night kiss on their noses. He straightened up and walked to the door that adjoined to Sami's bedroom but turned round before he got to the door.
"Actually kids," he told them, "That was an idle threat - Uncle Rolf is never going to be babysitting you guys… ever. And that goes for being left alone with small animals as well. I'll explain why when you get older."
The twins seemed happy enough with that and EJ dimmed the light, knowing they'd probably sit up chatting to one another for a little longer before settling down to sleep. EJ strolled across the hall and into the bedroom he shared with Sami, remembering to duck under the infamous chin up bar that was still in place. It was still there because EJ and it had reached an uneasy truce after a particularly imaginative lovemaking session had found a use for the thing other than what it was intended for. The thought made EJ grimace. Sami had been sticking to her guns about the moratorium on all things sexual in their relationship. It had only been two days since their battle of wills had started but it already felt like a life time. Thank god he was leaving for New York tomorrow and when he got back things could go back to normal.
"Are they asleep?"
Samantha's disembodied voice drifted in from the direction of the ensuite as EJ took a seat on the bed.
"No," he called back, "But they're happy enough."
"Good, I don't want them being any trouble for Grandma tonight."
"We talked about it and reached an understanding," EJ informed her, lying back on the bed and blowing out a tired breath.
"I feel bad about asking her to do it," said Sami, still in the bathroom, "But seeing as you insisted on me coming along to this thing with Nicole tonight…"
Sami let the not so subtle recrimination trail off and EJ rolled his eyes as he lay there looking up at the ceiling.
"I told you Samantha," he said evenly, forcing himself to be patient, "It is a business meeting and as it is out of hours I thought you might be happier coming along then not seeing as how upset you are about the whole Nicole thing."
"I am not upset!" she snapped back at him.
"Oh right, my mistake," said EJ with a little laugh, "Don't know why I would have gotten that impression at all. I'm just trying to put your mind at ease sweetheart, that's all. But if you absolutely insist then of course you don't have to go, I'll just make an excuse for you."
"And have Nicole think that I'm backing out of a fight?" asked Sami's voice in horror, "Never!"
"And on that note," said EJ, propping himself on his elbows, "Is it too much to hope for that my wife won't end up being the after dinner show when it comes to her dealings with my client? I just want to know beforehand in case I need to take some extra cash for the damage bill."
"Don't worry," bit out Sami, obviously unhappy, "You're precious client has nothing to worry about from me."
"Unlikely," muttered EJ and then couldn't help the little smile that came to his lips.
EJ knew this whole Nicole thing was far from over.
Samantha was never more dangerous when she felt backed into a corner and he couldn't wait to see what she had up her sleeve. The no sex thing had caught him off guard although it shouldn't have but he wasn't worried. EJ knew that she had just as much trouble keeping her hands off him as he did off her. It would be interesting to see who would break first - he was almost certain it was going to be him. EJ wasn't fazed by this latest turn of events - he knew what she was doing. All of her previous relationships had been about one person being the boss over the other. It would take Sami a little while but she'd realise soon enough that it wasn't like that with them. They were equals, in every way and neither one needed to dominate the other.
Meanwhile he had the absolute joy of watching Samantha plot and scheme - he would never tire of the complex woman that was Samantha DiMera.
When he'd told her of the business dinner tonight she'd given in way to easily, which could only mean one thing - she was up to something. The conniving, unapologetically devious Sami was rearing up her gorgeous head and EJ couldn't wait, even though he suspected it was going to cost him at some point down the road but he didn't care. She was a sight to behold when in full battle flight and he loved every scheming inch of her. There was no way that Sami was going along with him tonight without having some grand scheme of Machiavellian proportions! EJ's grin widened at the thought and decided he should take some extra cash with him just in case - after all, they didn't except credit cards for bail money do they?
"What tie are you wearing?" she called out to him.
EJ looked down and at the item of clothing she asked about before replying.
"The red one," he informed her.
"You can't wear that," she told him.
"Why not?" asked EJ in bemusement.
"Because I'm wearing a green dress," she explained, "It will clash."
"Sweetheart we're just going out to dinner," said EJ indulgently, "Not to our prom, it doesn't matter."
"It will clash with my dress," she repeated stubbornly, "Wear the grey one instead."
EJ shrugged, even though she couldn't see it and got off the bed, going over to the closet they shared.
"You don't own a green evening dress," he suddenly remembered, undoing the offending tie and hanging it back on its rack.
"I bought a new one today," she informed him.
"Oh," said EJ, slinging the Samantha sanctioned tie around his neck and beginning to tie it, "I don't see what was wrong with the red one, red and green are quite festive you know."
"It's July," she replied flatly.
"Well yes," he conceded, turning around and facing towards the bathroom door, finishing the last of the knot as he did, "But if it's good enough for Christmas I don't see why…"
The rest of his sentence was lost forever when Sami finally emerged from the bathroom and stood there across from him. EJ froze where he was, suddenly numb hands still on his tie as he looked wide eyed at the woman in front of him. She hadn't been lying, she had gotten a new dress... and it was green. EJ knew he was gawking like a love struck teenager but could do nothing about it.
His wife stood before him, her long blonde hair swept up in a loose up do that looked careless but was probably the reason she was in the bathroom so long because it wouldn't have taken very long to get into that dress. The dress itself was made of some soft material that clung to each and every luscious curve of her body, stopping just above her knees. The bodice was V-shaped and did simply breath taking things to her bust line. She already sported a more than generous post baby's cleavage but this dress seemed to know how to display that particular aspect of her figure with heart stopping success. It was cut so cleverly that it gave the illusion that more of her body was being revealed than was actually the case. The dress almost seemed to drip off Samantha's body and it was taking all of EJ's inner resolve not to fall to his knees at her mercy… which he assumed was the point.
"So do you think I'll pass muster at dinner tonight?" she asked calmly, holding his gaze, "Is the dress alright?"
"Sweetheart," rasped EJ, surprised he even had the ability to talk at all, "That isn't a dress, it's a religious experience!"
Sami hid a triumphant smile from him but couldn't help the self satisfied look on her face.
"I couldn't get the zip all the way up," said Sami, looking ever so innocent, "Could you help me please EJ?"
She turned around then and presented him with her back. Amazingly the back view was almost as good as the front and EJ swallowed noisily at the sight of her naked back. He walked over to where she was standing and with still numb fingers he endeavoured to do up the tiny zip. It was hard to get a hold of and he was worried about tearing the impossibly delicate fabric. It also didn't help the fact that he had the almost overwhelming urge to rip this dress from her body and the dinner meeting be damned!
Sami smiled smugly to herself as she felt him fumbling behind her. It looked like her plan was working so far. To say she'd caught him off guard would be an understatement judging by the look on his face when she'd walked into that room and that was no easy thing to do with a DiMera. She was going to make sure she was all he could think of every minute he was gone.
EJ finally managed to get a hold of the little zip and slowly began to move it up. His knuckle grazed the indent of her spine as he did and despite herself Sami gave a little shudder at the sensation. She felt him stop then and knew he was looking at her quizzically without having to turn around.
"You're hands are cold," she lied hastily, knowing that they were anything but.
"Sorry," he murmured and she could hear the knowing smile in his voice, his breath tickling her ear as he spoke.
Sami clenched her jaw and endeavoured to get a grip. This night was about throwing him off balance and she wasn't about to get caught in her own trap. She was going to prove to him that he couldn't live without her, just like Sami knew she could no longer live without him. By showing him just what it was he was missing out on he'd learn his lesson and anything that scrawny Nicole tried to tempt him with would be useless. That was the plan and now all she had to do was dangle herself just out of his reach and that would keep her front and centre in his mind, if not further down his body as well. All she had to do was try and get her body to stop being such a traitor to her will and everything would be fine.
It was a simple plan and it was going to work - it had to.
"I'm going to go right ahead and assume that this dress was hideously expensive," his voice even closer now as he leaned in to whisper in her ear from where he was standing behind her.
"And if it was?" she asked defiantly, ready for a fight, "What would you have to say about it?"
"I'd have to say that if you paid twice the amount it would still be worth every penny," he breathed into her ear and Sami bit her lip at how sexy he sounded saying that to her.
She felt him press a very soft kiss to the side of her neck but it was over so quickly and he was already moving away from her before she could pull away. The sensitive skin of her neck tingled still from the little caress but she determinedly ignored it. EJ walked over to the door frame leading out into hall and leant against it, hoping he was giving an air of casualness despite feeling anything but.
"So," he said, his eyes running all over her freely now and regardless of her best intentions Sami felt her insides quiver a bit at the look on his face, "Does this little number include a wrap of some kind at all?"
"No," she said with a slight frown, "It's a warm night, why would I need a wrap."
"It's not for you," he observed dryly, "It's for me."
"What does that mean?" asked Sami with a challenging tilt of her head.
"It means, my darling, that I am going to be spending the entire evening fending off every man with a pulse," observed EJ with an arch of an eyebrow and folding his arms in front of himself as he lounged in the door way, "A wrap would at least mean I could get you into Chez Rouge without having to hit anyone."
"There are plenty of dresses out there with less material in than then this!" she defended her choice hotly, trying to keep this little game on target and not keep picturing him ripping this dress off her body and throwing her on the bed so he could have his evil way with her.
"Yes but few people have quite as much to put into that amount of material," he said with a roguish grin, his eyes deliberately lingering a little longer on the creamy skin of her bust line.
Sami felt her cheeks heat at his impish teasing, knowing she only had herself to blame though because wasn't this what she wanted when she bought this dress in the first place? But the dress was meant to give her the upper hand in their little tussle for power but she felt anything but in control in that moment. But no one could accuse her of being a coward so she took a deep breath, determined to finish what she started and get back control of this situation.
"Well if you've got it flaunt it," she announced a little more breezily than she actually felt, "Isn't that what they say?"
"If it is I have to say I like the way they think," said EJ with an amused twitch of his lips at her bravado.
"You would," she said with a roll of her eyes.
She walked over to where he was standing, ready to leave. Sami paused then and tilted her head back to look him squarely in the eye, both of them in the doorway now, standing so close but not actually touching.
"Ready?" she asked him, giving him her best and sexiest smile, looking up at him tantalisingly through her lashes, a teasing promise in her blue eyes.
EJ knew she was playing with him, trying to get her own way and prove a point and adored her even the more because of it. Life with Samantha would never be dull and he wouldn't have it any other way. Besides, there was nothing he loved more than a good challenge… or a naughty one for that matter.
"Absolutely," he murmured, his voice low and his eyes moving over her face, taking in each beautiful curve.
Sami gave him a challenging look and moved past him.
"Alright Samantha Jean DiMera," he muttered under his breath, an evil spark in his eye as he watched her sashay towards the stairs, "Game on it is then!"
Twenty minutes later EJ was helping Sami from the car as a valet appeared to park the car for them. Right away the young man's eyes went to Sami's chest and EJ drew himself up to his full height and glowered down at him. The younger man caught the look and gave an intimidated start, hastily looking away and mumbling about the keys. He scurried off to park the car under EJ's watchful glare.
Great, not even in the door yet and he was having to beat them off with a stick - tonight's going to be a barrel of laughs thought EJ grimly. Sami for her part seemed oblivious to the fuss she was causing, walking ahead to the doors of Chez Rouge.
"Sami!"
Both she and EJ turned at the sound of the man's voice and EJ rolled his eyes.
"Chris," said Sami in surprise, smiling as the other man approached them, "What are you doing here?"
"Meeting some friends for dinner," he told her with a smile before his eyes dropped to look at her appreciatively, "Wow Sami, you look simply stunning in that dress - a real show stopper!"
"Doesn't she?" agreed EJ smoothly, coming up behind Sami and putting a hand on her bare back, "Sometimes I can hardly believe my good fortune to be married to such a gorgeous creature."
"It does seem unlikely," said Chris, the pleasant smile on his lips belying the insult.
"Is that your car?" asked Sami, looking impressed at the low slung sports car being driven off by the valet.
"Yes it is," smiled Chris, "Do you like it?"
"It's great," said Sami, "It reminds me of yours EJ, when we first met."
"Mine was the model up from that one," said EJ calmly.
"You loved that car," she teased him with a smile.
"I did," he agreed readily, "But two seaters aren't exactly family friendly - what I have now is far more sensible."
"Well sensible is always good," said Chris making it sound anything but, "I guess I just like something that makes a bit of a statement about who I am."
"I've always rather speak for myself rather than let an inanimate object do it for me," mused EJ, "But each to their own I suppose."
"Brr," said Sami, giving a sudden shudder, "There is a bit of a cool breeze coming from somewhere, I wish I had brought a wrap now."
"Not as much as I do," muttered EJ under his breath as her body reacted to the cold and highlighted already prominently displayed assets in that dress.
Chris' eyes were riveted to Sami's chest all of a sudden and EJ was two seconds away from simply punching his lights out when Sami turned around and started towards the restaurant, inadvertently saving Chris from a painful beating. EJ opened the outer doors to Chez Rouge for Sami, letting her pass through before following her in and keeping the door open for Chris as well. However when Chris went to walk through EJ lodged his foot against the door and the heavy wooden door sprang back and hit Chris in the face.
"Chris!" exclaimed Sami when she heard the crack sound and the man make a muffled groan, "Are you alright, what happened?"
Chris blinked dazedly, holding the side of his face that had taken the full brunt of the door.
"Oh sorry old boy!" said EJ, sounding deeply apologetic, "My foot got in the way there. Sorry, it's just that I've got such large feet I can't always seem to keep track of them."
Chris looked at him with barely masked scepticism, knowing full well that it was intentional but not being able to say anything in front of Sami, as well EJ knew if the slight smirk on his face was anything to go by.
"I'm fine," he said unevenly, "Just an accident - no problem."
Chris stepped through the door, this time hanging on tightly to the door, just to be on the safe side, with EJ looking on in amusement.
"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Sami worriedly, "I think that might bruise."
"Since when do you care about putting bruises on people?" asked a disdainful voice behind the group.
"Nicole," said Sami with a sickly sweet smile as she turned round, "Don't you look… oh, what's the word… I know… cheap tonight."
"Well someone's feeling confident," said Nicole, looking her up and down, "What's the matter Sami, no mirrors at that mausoleum you live in, is that why you think you can carry a dress like that off?"
"Wow Nicole," said Sami, feigning admiration, "You can hardly see that black eye anymore - finally your habit of wearing more make up then a transvestite is paying off."
"Okay then!" said EJ evenly, stepping in before things got any worse, "I think the next insult should be traded over the appetiser don't you ladies, so why don't we go in and order eh?"
Chris was looking decidedly bemused at the exchange and Sami gave an embarrassed grimace as she realised he'd been listening to her and Nicole go at it.
"Um, well, I should go and meet my friends," said Chris a bit uncertainly.
"Of course Chris," said EJ jovially, "Don't want to keep them waiting hmm?"
"Who was that?" asked Nicole in her usual forthright manner once the man had left, "I noticed you didn't introduce us Sami - what's the matter, ashamed of me?"
"Ashamed seems such a small word for how I feel about you Nicole," said Sami feigning regret.
"Alright ladies," said EJ making a sweeping gesture with his hands, ushering them inside, "Let's walk as we trade insults eh? This place closes at eleven."
As Maggie showed them to their table EJ wondered idly if he should ask for the entire cutlery to be replaced with plastic knives and forks but then thought better of it. He somehow thought that these two would find a way of making a napkin into a weapon of mass destruction if left alone together for long enough so it would be a wasted effort.
EJ was so glad he'd brought that extra Visa card with him.
