Chapter 14

Sam woke in the morning feeling the arms around her and at first she was confused. She remembered her dream of Bryan. Bryan was gone. She knew it. Then whose arms was she in?

Jake!

Sam opened her eyes and stared straight into a pair of dark brown eyes.

"Good morning," Jake's deep voice so like Bryan's, yet so different, filling her ears.

"Good morning," Sam murmured. "How did I get here?"

"I kidnapped you," Jake told her.

Sam nodded, feeling a bit unsure of herself.

"I shouldn't have," Jake sighed.

"No, it's fine," Sam assured him, but Jake wasn't so sure.

He started to turn away from her, but Sam stopped him.

"Jake," her soft voice made him pause. He didn't look at her.

"I dreamt of Bryan last night," Sam told him and she heard Jake suck in a breath.

"He told me it's okay that I love you," Sam felt the tears fill her eyes.

Jake turned to look at her.

"I do," Sam wiped her eyes. "It's hard for me."

"I know," Jake told her. "I thought…" He looked away until he felt the hand on his chin.

She kissed him and Jake's lips met hers tenderly. His hand brushed back her still damp hair from her face.

"I'm sorry I drove you to other women," Sam's lip trembled.

"What?" Jake stilled.

"I'm sorry I…," Sam tried again.

"I heard you the first time," Jake bit out and she could hear the anger in his voice. "What are you talking about?"

"When you went out," Sam clarified.

"You thought I was with other women?" Jake spat.

Sam's eyes narrowed as she nodded.

"That's what you think of me?" Jake was almost vibrating in anger.

"Of course," Sam snapped. "You weren't going out and then when I, uh, um, turned you away, you started going out again."

"With other women," Jake's eyes were deadened in his face.

Sam didn't respond.

"I can't believe you thought that of me," Jake sounded hurt.

"What was I supposed to think?" Sam asked. "You'd go out and you'd come back in a great mood."

Jake shook his head.

"Brat, I was going out with Darrell," he told here.

"What?" she squeaked.

"Darrell," he repeated.

Sam didn't say anything for awhile, just looking into his face.

"I feel like a fool," Sam put her hands over her eyes. Then she looked at him. "Will you forgive me?"

"Yeah, this time," Jake's mouth twitched and she swatted him.

Sam rubbed her hand over her belly as her son let her know he was there. Jake saw the look of total contentment on her face and his hand also strayed to her belly. She sighed. Jake could feel his brother's son moving. The thought of Bryan's child growing inside of Sam never ceased to amaze him. Some day, he hoped it would be his child growing there.

As they made love to each other, neither was thinking of the other man that Sam had been with. They were only thinking of each other.

"I love you, Brat," Jake told her afterwards, helping her to lie next to him as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I love you too," Sam snuggled into his side.

"I didn't hurt you?" Jake asked softly.

"No," Sam lifted her head to kiss him. "You didn't hurt either of us."

"I was worried," Jake admitted.

"I know," Sam smiled against his mouth before nuzzling his neck. He could feel that she dozed off.

As Jake held her, he couldn't help the smile that quirked at his lips. He knew why Bryan had loved her so much. She was a very beautiful, fun loving, yet quixotic woman. Jake knew that she would keep him on his toes for the rest of his life and he wanted it no other way.

The smile softened as he thought of his dead brother.

"I will take good care of her Bry," Jake barely whispered. "I promised you then and I promise you now."