Chapter 4

Samantha woke up the next morning to find Adrian's arms around her loosely. She smiled and closed her eyes, just listening to the steady beat of his heart. Her mind raced at what today would bring them. They were going to have lunch with her Uncle Leighland. How was she to tell him that the man that he wanted her to watch out for during this transitional period was the man that she had waited so long for? She knew that her uncle would be able to tell that she was in love with Adrian. She just wasn't sure how she was going to explain it all to him.

She opened her eyes and watched him sleep peacefully. Her heart swelled with a unspoken love that seemed to boil within her very soul. When she had first met Adrian she had thought that he seemed like a nice man, completely wacky but nice. Now he had shown her a different side of who he was and who he could be and it was that man that she loved. She was sure that no one had ever met that man before. Perhaps her uncle had at one time when he had been with Trudy, that she wasn't sure of.

And there was the whole thing about Trudy. Adrian loved her with a fierce passion. Samantha had always wanted to be loved with that kind of passion and she only wanted Adrian to be that man. However, she didn't want to take away from his beloved Trudy. She knew that it would cause him a great deal of pain to deal with such a rift and she didn't want to become the 'other' woman.

She watched him shift slightly and she held her breath for a moment. His eyes fluttered open and looked down at her. He smiled softly.

"Good morning," he said softly, his voice was rough with sleep. She smiled softly, feeling her cheeks blushing.

"Good moring, Adrian. How did you sleep?" She asked him softly. He pushed a strand of her hair out of her eyes slowly. Her heart raced at his simple touch.

"It was the best sleep I have ever had," he replied. Samantha traced circles nervously upon his chest.

"That's great to hear," she answered. She watched him blush softly.

"How did you sleep?" He asked her as he continued to brush her hair back.

"I slept wonderfully," she replied softly. He smiled brightly and her heart fluttered wildly in her chest.

"I'm glad. Should we get up and get ready to have lunch with the Lieutenant?" He asked her. She nodded and they got out of bed together.

o0o0o0o0o0o0

Lieutenant Leighland stood up when his neice and Adrian Monk came to the table that they had reserved. There was a glow on the girl's cheeks that he had never seen before. He knew her extremely well and that look had to be due to something important and he was pretty sure just who it was.

Adrian had changed since he had last saw him four months ago. He was casually dressed, something he hadn't seen even when Trudy was alive. There was that same glow upon his face. He chuckled softly to himself as they came closer.

"Adrian, Sam! How have you two been?" He asked as they came closer. They smiled and greeted him together. Adrian pulled out a chair next to Leighland and motioned for Samantha to sit down in it. She blushed and sat down softly, thanking him gently. Leighland raised an eyebrow, but refrained from questioning.

"How have you been Uncle?" Samantha asked him sweetly as he sat down next to her, Adrian on her other side.

"Good. Extremely busy, but good. What have you two been up to?" He asked in his gruff voice.

"I've been teaching Adrian about life," Samantha reported with a bright smile. Adrian smiled sheepishly and nodded. Leighland raised his eyebrow once more.

"Really? Have you gotten him to shake people's hands yet?" Leighland teased.

"Yes. We've gone to the beach and Adrian even swam in the ocean," she replied. Leighland's eyes widened as he turned his gaze over to his friend. He had known Adrian for a long time and never once had he heard of him acting this way.

"What has come over you, Adrian?" Leighland asked, genuinely curious. He watched as Adrian's eyes gazed softly upon Samantha's face.

"Your neice," he said softly. Samantha looked up and blushed brightly. She adverted her gaze to her napkin that she was hastily putting in her lap.

"Oh no I haven't, Adrian," she said so softly that Leighland had to strain to hear it. Adrian reached over and stopped her from wringing her napkin. Leighland watched as she looked up at Adrian.

"Yes you have," he whispered. She blushed even deeper as he released her hand. Leighland cleared his throat loudly, trying to get their attention. They looked over and blushed even deeper at having realized what they had both revealed.

"Do you two. . .erm . . . have something to say to me?" Leighland asked. Samantha looked over at Adrian and looked back, shrugging.

"Well you see, Lieutenant. . . I. . . I've . . . I've fallen for your neice," Adrian rushed. Samantha looked back over at him quickly. Her hand had found the base of her neck. A bright smile had filled her face.

"Oh Adrian. I've fallen for you too," she breathed. He looked over at her and smiled lovingly.

"Really?" He asked her. She nodded and smiled.

"Hey. Love birds. I'm still here," Leighland piped up, causing them to look back over at him.

"It just happened you see," Adrian started to explain. Samantha nodded.

"Oh it just happened? Well. I'm happy for the two of you," Leighland replied.

"Really Uncle Leighland?" She asked him, raising an eyebrow. He chuckled and nodded.

"It's about time someone brought Adrian into the light and at least it's someone I trust," he replied. Samantha smiled as Adrian took her hand underneath the table softly.

"Thanks Uncle," she said softly. He winked at her.

"Now let's order. I'm starving," Leighland replied as he opened his menu.