Chapter 6

Samantha was trembling as she was pulling files. Bailey had given her permission to pull files to talk over with her instructor, though she hadn't mentioned she was taking them to his apartment. She knew she should cancel tonight, she knew it was wrong; but dear God it felt so right. When Jack's lips caressed her wrist, Sam's legs nearly turned to jelly. Tom's kisses had always seemed nice, but even their heaviest necking sessions hadn't made Sam feel like Jack had that afternoon. Gathering the files close to her, Samantha headed to her dorm room to begin deciding what to wear.

Samantha nervously ravaged her closet when she got to her room. Nothing seemed right. Item after item was rejected. Finally she settled on a dress that didn't seem too bad. Soft folds of creamy chiffon cascaded down from a halter neckline and whispered around her ankles. The gown was far more elaborate than she would ever normally wear to dinner at someone's house, but somehow it seemed right to wear to Jack's. A sash trimmed with an ivory chiffon rose cinched around her narrow waist and a pair of gold high-heeled sandals finished off her outfit. Sitting in front of the mirror she applied makeup and put of a spray of perfume.

Picking up her hair brush, Samantha brushed her hair out. It was longer than was fashionable, Tom repeatedly suggested that Sam get it cut to the shoulder length with teased bangs most female agents were sporting. Sam tried to put her hair up to make it look sophisticated but it kept slipping through the pins. Looking into the mirror, Sam felt awkward and she began to reach for the phone, maybe she could make up an excuse.

A knock at the door stopped Samantha mid-dial. Placing the phone down she went to the door, her hair spilling in her face. A crimson blush stole up her face as she opened the door to find Jack standing there, with a huge bouquet of roses in his hand.

"Jack!" she exclaimed.

"I felt it would be ungentlemanly to allow you to make your own way at this late hour," Jack smiled. Basking in the sight of Samantha he mentally added the set of pearls from among the family heirlooms in his safety deposit box to her outfit. The satin luster of the pearls and the diamonds that set them off would look stunning against his Samantha's creamy skin.

"Oh, well come in I just have to finish getting ready," she stumbled slightly back into the room and nervously looked around to check for any stray underwear. Gesturing at her bed, the only place to sit other than the chair at her desk/vanity, Sam said, "Please sit down."

"For you," Jack offered her the roses with a flourish. "Careful though, I left the thorns on them, they seemed to suit you that way."

"Thank you," Sam replied gingerly accepting Jack's offering. The roses were exquisite, full scarlet blooms crowned long graceful stems lush with green leaves. Samantha inhaled the perfume of the velvet flowers. She only had one vase and it was meant to accommodate the straggly clutches of carnations Tom gave her, not the huge bouquet Jack brought. Reluctantly, Sam consigned the roses to a tall plastic tumbler and filled it with water from a bottle she kept in her room.

Feeling guilty that she could offer no better treatment for his gift, Samantha told him, "I'm afraid this is the only thing I have that's big enough. They are so beautiful."

Jack smiled reassuringly at her and waved a dismissive hand as he lounged elegantly on the edge of her bed. "They pale in comparison to you."

Jack's compliment made Sam blush even harder and she sat down at her desk and drug her brush through her hair. It caught in a tangle and before she could stop herself, she cried out. Instantly, Jack was on his feet and at her side.

"Allow me," Jack told her softly and gently disentangled the offending brush. Then he slowly began to brush out Sam's hair.

As Jack took over, Samantha babbled slightly, "I usually can brush my hair, honestly. I just seem to be nervous tonight-"

Jack placed a gentle kiss on one of Samantha's bared shoulders. "It's my pleasure. Would that I could do this for you every night."

Jack stood back for a moment to admire his work then withdrew a folded knife from his trouser pocket. The knife blade was large and wicked looking when Jack opened it up. Plucking a blossom from the tumbler, he efficiently cut it down and placed it behind Samantha's ear. As he put the knife away, Samantha wondered briefly why he had it, but quickly forgot as he held out his hand to her, "Shall we?"

Samantha rose and allowed Jack to take the stack of files. As they left her room, he offered her his arm and lead her into the night. Samantha shivered slightly from Jack's nearness. He immediately stopped and insisted on draping his jacket around her shoulders. His jacket smelled faintly of tobacco, roses and sandalwood. Slowly they walked to the car in silence, basking in one anothers presence. When they reached Jack's shining white Cadillac, he held the door for her. Then he walked around, got in and let the engine roar to life. Cautiously, Jack reached for Samantha's hand as he drove into the night...