Chapter 14

Sam came back towards Jake who was watching her closely, she saw. She braced herself for a pole comment. His eyes looked black in the light in the club.

"You and my fiancé have way too much fun," Debi laughed when Sam and Quinn rejoined them.

"Not as much fun as we do, Debs," Quinn kissed her as he sat down next to her.

Debi laughed up into his face as she kissed him.

"Have fun?" Jake simply asked.

Sam tried to read him, but he had blanked out his expression.

"Yeah and I didn't even have a pole," she responded. She saw Jake's eyes narrow.

"Well I don't know about that," Jake drawled. "Seems to me like Quinn was very willing."

Sam jumped out of her chair and swung at him, startling the others.

"You idiot," she screamed as her hand connected with his cheek. He hadn't tried to stop her though he could have.

She stormed away from him. Jake watched her go.

"What did you do now, Jakey?" Bryan asked as he and Valerie got to the table, followed by Nate and Vanessa.

Jake shrugged. He glanced at Quinn who was giving him a dirty look.

"You are an idiot," Quinn growled at him.

"I'll be right back," he told Debi and got up and went after Sam.

He found her outside of the women's restroom. Her back was to him and she was wiping away tears.

"What did he say?" Quinn put his arms around her.

Sam shook her head. "Same stuff, different day."

"Oh he didn't bring up the pole again," Quinn retorted.

Sam nodded.

"Gosh, he's an idiot," Quinn said. "I'm sorry, Sammy. Maybe we shouldn't have danced to that song."

"No," Sam shook her head. "He needs to get over himself."

"Yeah, I do," Jake's voice startled both of them. "I'll take it from here, Quinn."

Quinn gave his youngest brother a look. Jake gave it right back before it turned possessive, reminding Quinn without words that Sam was his girlfriend. Quinn gave a short nod and let Sam loose.

"Be careful, little man," Quinn hissed directly in Jake's ear.

Jake nodded.

"I'm jealous," Jake told her. "I don't want anyone but me seeing you so sexy and seductive."

"So, I should sit and watch?" Sam asked, her voice filled with derision.

"No," Jake answered. "It's my problem, not yours."

That surprised Sam and she turned to face him.

He held out his arms to her. She hesitated before going into them.

"I worry that I won't be enough for you," Jake confessed.

"How could you ever think that?" Sam yelped.

Jake shrugged.

"Tell me," Sam pleaded.

"I'm not sure I can right now," Jake responded. "I have to think about it. I wasn't ready to admit that."

"Jake, you have to know how much I love you," Sam said. "Don't you know that by now?"

"Yeah, I do," Jake replied. "Really, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let my jealousy come out like that."

"Jake," Sam's voice held censure.

"Let me think, but come back with me?" Jake asked. "I am sorry."

"Okay," Sam nodded, knowing how difficult it was for him to apologize. He didn't do it often. "I'm sorry for slapping you."

Jake rubbed his cheek. "That's a heck of a right cross you have there, Brat."

"You deserved it," Sam reminded him.

"I know," Jake nodded. "I'm stupid and I forgot your temper."

He held out his hand to Sam and she didn't hesitate to take it.

"You two okay?" Bryan asked when they came back to the table.

"I might be missing a few teeth, but yeah," Jake responded. He caught Quinn's eye and apologized without saying a word. Quinn gave him a nod.