Chapter 24

The ride to her apartment seemed so much faster than the trip to the Willard had been. Sam was sorry to arrive at her because she wasn't sure the date had gone well enough that AJ would want a second one. She was really afraid all the talk about her father had spoiled the mood.

He got out of the Escalade and came around to her side. Opening her door he offered her a hand out of the vehicle and he kept hold of it as they walked to her door.

Sam turned to AJ and told him, "I had a wonderful time tonight, thank you."

"I also had a wonderful time and I hope that we can do it again very soon."

She was so surprised by his answer, "Really?! I thought for sure that with all that talk about my father would have scared you off," she said as a single tear slid down her cheek.

AJ put a finger under her chin and with his other hand he wiped away her tear and told her, "Samantha I don't scare easy and learning what you had been through with your father impressed me greatly to see what a strong and confident woman you have become. Never think you can scare me off, unless you don't want me to be involved in your life."

"Oh AJ I would love to be involved with you."

"Then you shall be," he assured her as he bent his head until their lips met.

Sam had been kissed before but never as tenderly as AJ was kissing her now. It felt like he was treating her like spun glass.

When he barely lifted his mouth off her lips she almost cried. She didn't want the kiss to end.

"I should let you go in now," AJ whispered almost against her lips.

"Must you?" she questioned.

She felt him smile then he finally straightened up, "Yes, I need to go before I can't. Will you go out with me tomorrow evening?"

With a sad sigh, for him parting from her, she smiled at him and suggested instead, "Why don't you let me cook for you instead?"

He grinned widely, "I would love that! What could I bring to help out?"

"Oh you don't have to do that!" she protested.

"That may be but my mother taught this Texas boy not to accept a dinner invitation without contributing something."

"Oh, then how about a desert? Would that be okay?"

"That would be fine. What time would you like me to arrive?"

"How about 1800?"

"That's fine. I'll see you then," he said as he started down the sidewalk.

Sam spent the night dreaming about that incredible kiss.

While AJ dreamt of how he'd felt when Samantha had gotten shot and his relief when he found out she had only been grazed. Then his dream finished with them dancing, holding her in his arms had been so wonderful.

AJ got up the next day and did what he usually did on the weekend, he ran ten miles in the woods behind his home. After a shower he did some of the paperwork he brought home. Then after a quick lunch he went outside with a basket over his arm. He went over to the mulberry tree near his garage and picked some of the berries. Once he had enough he went over to his garden and picked raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries.

Back in the house he rinsed the berries and put them in a large pot with a little sugar. While that cooked he prepared a crumble topping. Once the berries had broken down enough he poured them into a glass cake pan, spread the crumble over the top then placed it in the oven to bake. While it was cooking he did some house work. He took the cobbler out when it was finished then went to take a shower.

Dressing for his date with Samantha he wondered where this might go. He hoped that Samantha might feel the same way as he did. After that kiss last night his hopes were high that she might. Putting some tin foil over the cobbler he packed it up with the ingredients for home made whipped cream he was ready to leave for her apartment, right on time.

To be continued…