Chapter 8

Sam looked around the diner and smiled. They had just closed, and she was cleaning up. She had to be honest to herself; she liked this place. She liked the town; the people were nice to her. She couldn't remember the last time she liked a place, she didn't even think she ever liked a place like this.

Danny also liked it, because she could see it in his eyes. She felt guilty for dragging him with her, and she knew she would feel even guiltier when they had to leave this town.

''Jill, why don't you go home, I can finish up here,'' Mike said, pulling her out of her thoughts. She looked up and saw him standing there, smiling at her. She liked Mike. He had been nice to her from the start, and she wasn't used to that. Normally, men would treat her like dirt, even if they didn't know her.

''I know you can, but I want to do this,'' she said, and he nodded. She had been doing this every day when she had to work. She would stay to clean up, unlike the other waitresses he had hired before.

''Ok, well, don't stay to long, ok?'' he said, and she nodded. He turned around and walked to the back again. She continued her cleaning.

It had been two weeks since the first date at his home, and he had invited her on some more dates. They would play pool, and she would stay over for the night. Thinking about Jason made her smile, because she really liked him. The plan she had was going along fine, and she didn't mind spending time with him. He was always thinking about what she wanted, and she liked it. The only thing that bothered her was the thought of falling in love. She had the feeling she was falling for him, and falling hard. She didn't want that, but she couldn't stop it.

It didn't really matter, because once she had what she needed, she would be out of his life and forgetting all about him.

Jason was not a man she would normally fall for, that was one thing she was sure of. Yes, he was sweet and loving, but the job he did wasn't something she wanted to live in. He had a dangerous job, a dangerous life, and she didn't want Danny to be in that kind of life. She didn't care about herself, because she could handle it. But Danny couldn't be there.

She remembered on time she had almost told Jason about Danny, and she was glad she didn't. Telling him about Danny would make him want to know more, and when she would tell him more, she would also mess up her plan. Telling him about Danny was something she didn't want to do.

She finished cleaning and called out to Mike, telling him she was done and she was leaving. She walked out the door, breathing in the fresh air, and started walking home. It was late, she didn't plan on staying there too long, but she had. She picked up her pace, wanting to get home as soon as she could.

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Jason watched Sonny pace the room, and he sighed. The man acted like Sam was his problem, but she wasn't.

''Sonny, what is wrong with you? I've been making nice with her from the start, from when I found out her plans, and she didn't come after you, did she?'' he said, and Sonny looked at him, and continued pacing.

''She is stupid to think she could come after me. I just don't understand why you didn't drop her already,'' Sonny replied, and Jason sighed again. What did Sonny think – Jason had told him everything he planned for her, and it wasn't like he could make her love him in 4 weeks.

''I know. Sonny, I'm making progress. We have been having a couple of nights in my home, and the way she looks at me makes me think I'm getting there. But to be honest – I don't think she is that much in love yet. She can con with the best of them,'' Jason said, ''and when I have her where I want her – when I hear her say she loves me, I will dump her,'' he added, when Sonny frowned.

''Sure, she is good. But you are better. You can make sure she loves you? You can make sure she says it?'' he asked, and Jason nodded, ''ok, you know I trust you. Do it the way you want,'' he said with a sigh. Jason felt relieved. Sonny didn't want her to stay here to long, and Jason was afraid he would do something stupid to make sure she left.

Jason got up, and shook his head when Sonny started pacing again.

''Sonny, I'm going to go, see you later,'' he said, and he left without waiting for a reply. He knew Sonny would just nod, even though Jason couldn't see it.

Jason made plans for tonight. He wanted to spend some time with Sam and do something romantic, but he had the idea Sam wouldn't mind some time at home. Maybe he could try to come in her home, but he doubted it. She had been very secretive about her home, and her excuse was that it wasn't ready yet. He had Stan on it, and he wondered what or whom she was hiding. He shook his head again, and decided to call her.

''Hello?'' he heard, and he smiled. She sounded tired, and he couldn't blame her. She had been working a lot lately, and helping Mike clean up. He knew, because Mike told him; Mike thought he was falling for her, and he wanted to play matchmaker.

''Jill,'' he said, and he heard her sigh. It was a good sigh, though.

''Jase,'' she said, ''how are you?''

''Fine, listen, I was wondering if we could get together,'' he said, and it sounded a little weird in his ears. ''I mean, order in and play some pool, or maybe just watch TV. Maybe at your home?'' he said, and he waited. He waited for the excuse that it wasn't ready yet.

''Sure, you want to go to my home? It's ok, when are you coming?'' she said, and he frowned. Now, after all that time, he could come to her home?

''Um… What do you say an hour? I still have to get home and finish some work,'' he said, surprised she could let him go to her home.

''Ok, I'll be waiting,'' she said, and he could hear the smile in her voice. ''See you,'' she said, and she disconnected the line. He stepped in his car and drove home.

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Sam looked around and smiled. Everything was perfect. She had put some candles around the room, Danny's room was locked and everything that would tell there was more than her living there, she removed.

''Sammy, I'm going to go now,'' Danny called out, and she walked to the door with him. He would go to his friend next door, and Jason wouldn't even know he lived here. Danny had come up with that plan himself, because he knew Jason would get suspicious when he couldn't come to her home ever.

''Ok. Be careful, and don't do anything stupid,'' Sam said, and watched him walk next door. The girl that lived there had liked Danny from the start, and they had been spending a lot of time together. Even if Danny had to stay over, she didn't mind, because she and Danny liked spending time. Sam wondered if maybe they were falling in love, and that made her feel guiltier, because she would drag him away from his girl soon.

He waved at her before stepping inside, and she stepped inside her apartment. She looked around one more time and looked at the time. Jason would be here soon, and she was ready for him.

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Jason smiled at his sister, but he didn't want to stay here to long. She had called him just as he was about to finish his work at home, and he wanted to go to Sam's and spend a night there.

''Jason, what's wrong?'' Emily asked, and he looked at her again.

''I'm having a date, and I was supposed to be there now,'' he admitted, and she widened her eyes in surprise, and then she smiled.

''Well, then go, I can tell you about it tomorrow,'' she said, and he nodded. He wanted to walk away, but she grabbed his arm, and he turned around again. ''You really like her, don't you?''

''Yeah, I like her. And she invited me to her home tonight, and I was starting to wonder what she was hiding in there,'' he said, partly as a joke and partly serious.

''She invited you home? For the first time in 4 weeks?'' she asked, and he nodded, ''well, that sounds really good. She is falling for you, just as you are falling for her,'' she said, and her smile grew even wider when Jason frowned at her.

''What are you talking about?'' he said, and his voice sounded weak in his ears. He didn't want to fall for her.

''Look at your face. You are falling for her, even if you don't want to admit it. Now go, I'll see you tomorrow,'' she said, and he nodded. He watched her walk away and he shook his head. He walked to his car, and he drove over to Sam's apartment, thinking about what Emily had just said.

Was he falling for Sam?