Chapter 26

"AJ," she sighed.

"Okay," he laughed, "I added some mulberries and all of the fruit came from my garden."

"That's amazing! Well I love this and would you look down on me if I asked for another serving?"

"I could never look down on you Samantha. You are more than welcome to have more, in fact I will have more too," he told her.

When they finished eating Sam racked her brain for what to do. She didn't want AJ to leave so early, but she couldn't think of a thing to keep him there.

As these thoughts were running through his mind AJ offered, "Now let me help you with the dishes."

She was about to protest that a guest should not have to do dishes but then it came to her that this was a way to keep him there longer. "Well if you're sure you don't mind, I would love the help."

As they worked together cleaning up the kitchen she told him, "I heard Bud Roberts had been approached today and offered a chance to become a Secret Service Agent."

AJ was surprised that she would bring up something so major so causally. Taking a deep breath he asked, "What did he decide?"

"He told them he would have to think about it and talk to his wife."

"I still stand by my assurance that he won't leave JAG."

"But he didn't say no outright. He said he would have to think about it and talk to his wife."

"Bud and Harriet are very close and he would never make a decision like that without talking it over with her first."

"I did know that. It came up in my research how much in love they were and that they had a son named after you. That was nice of them."

"They had already asked me if they could name him after me before he was born but when I ended up delivering him in my office that kind of cinched the deal. They are very special people. But the thing that I know will keep them at JAG is that we are a family, and I doubt that they would leave that."

"I guess we will see."

They finished doing the dishes and she once again was looking for a reason to have him stay longer when he said, "Samantha if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to stay a bit longer."

"I was trying to come up with any idea I could think of to make that happen. Would you like to watch a movie?" she asked tentatively.

With a reassuring smile he answered, "I would love that."

"I have a collection of movies over here if you'd like to choose one," she showed him to a bookcase near the television and told him to take his pick.

"I would rather we chose one together," he told her.

"All the movies that are there are favorites of mine so anything you choose would be fine with me."

Giving in with a smile he pulled out 'Pearl Harbor'. Sam said when he handed it to her, "This is the classic version with Charleston Heston and Henry Ford rather than the new one."

"I didn't even know there was a remake," he told her with a self depreciating grin.

"Why don't we sit down and enjoy the movie…I could make some popcorn if you like but if you are as full as I am…"

"I am full as well so will pass on more food."

They sat together on the couch with his arm around her shoulders. She settled in comfortably. Just over two hours later the movie ended and AJ pulled her close with his arm. She turned her face up encouraging him to kiss her and he was happy to oblige. This kiss was as tender and sweet as the first. She couldn't believe that a man as large as AJ was could be that gentle. Sam sighed as she snuggled into him.

AJ pulled her closer so he could put his other arm around her. Because of the awkward angle of being on the couch she couldn't get her arms around him. Instead she rested both of them on his chest. She could feel his heartbeat under her hands.

To be continued…