Lucky Charms

Part 2

Three days earlier…

The package EJ had been waiting for since he had ordered the item online had been delivered this afternoon to his office. He carefully slit the packaging so as not to damage the blue robin egg colored box which actually housed the present he had bought for Samantha.

This just had to be perfect because it was going to be the first gift ever he was to give to Samantha from him. He wanted something to symbolize how much she meant to him without scaring her off with the intensity of his feelings he had for her from the first time he had seen her beautiful face.

He had bought her flowers of course since she owned the flower shop, but this was completely different. This was something he had specifically picked out for the woman who was constantly on his mind.

To put it bluntly as he had told his father two weeks ago he had never been happier in his entire life and it was all due to Samantha Gene Brady. Needless to say his father hadn't been overjoyed to hear the news; in fact he was downright skeptical that a Brady could ever make anyone happy, much less his son.

EJ tried not to let his father's somewhat dismal outlook about his newfound happiness get him down. In time his father would see what an amazing woman Samantha was and he would be happy for them.

At least he hoped one day Stefano would come around.

He opened up the box and smiled, it was exactly what he had envisioned for Samantha, but he wanted to wait until St. Patrick's Day to give her the gift. He also wanted another opinion if this was the thing that would make his girl smile and he knew exactly who to ask, Chloe Lane, Samantha's best friend.

EJ had gone to the flower shop when he knew Samantha would be out on deliveries. Friday's were the day Samantha opted to drive the van instead of staying in the store. Samantha had told him it was due to not having to put up with her step brother Brady who liked to come in on Friday's to hang out with Chloe sometimes even staying the entire afternoon until it was time for them to close up the flower shop.

Sami stated to EJ that Brady was whipped and she knew for a fact her brother had never treated another girl the way he treated Chloe. More times oft than not she had witnessed teary eyed girls who claimed they were in love with her brother, but he had broken their hearts. Until he had dated Chloe he hadn't been serious with anyone, opting to date girls for a brief time and then moving on to his next conquest.

All the while EJ had listened to Samantha scoff about her brother being in love with Chloe, he kind of felt a kinship with Brady. EJ hadn't yet admitted it to anyone, but he felt the exact same way about Samantha. He had never bought a woman he was dating jewelry before, thus the reason he needed a second opinion about this particular purchase.

He told his personal assistance he was taking the rest of the afternoon off and he made his way to Tiger Lily. Luckily Samantha was still out making deliveries so he would be able to show Chloe what he had bought for Samantha without his girlfriend finding out about it. He wanted Samantha to be surprised when she opened up her gift from him.

Chloe was at her desk working on a new design she wanted to use for their Easter season when she saw EJ walking into the shop. "EJ, Samantha isn't here right now."

"I know," EJ stated as he looked around nervously. He didn't want Samantha to pop in and see him here talking to Chloe and showing her something he wasn't going to let Samantha see until St. Patrick's Day which would be this upcoming Tuesday.

Chloe gave EJ a weird look, "Then why are you here? I know all the times you came to the shop before you and Sami began dating it was on the pretense to see her."

"You had me figured out long before Samantha did eh?"

"She didn't think you were interested in her, but I knew better."

"Well the reason I came by today was that I wanted to ask your opinion about something?"

"You came to the right person I have an opinion on any and everything," Chloe flashed EJ a smile hoping it would erase the worried look he had upon his face, but it hadn't so far.

EJ reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out the little blue Tiffany's box.

Chloe's eyes widened, "Oh my god, have you bought Sami an engagement ring?"

EJ shook his head frantically, "No, it's too soon. I know Samantha wouldn't even consider a proposal from me at this time. This was something else I thought she might like."

Chloe leaned over her desk taking the box from EJ, being careful not to damage the box; she opened it and sighed dramatically, although she didn't immediately say anything to him.

"What? Do you not think Samantha would like something like this?" EJ asked thinking he may have bought sometime entirely not suitable for her from the way her best friend was looking at what was inside the box.

"Sorry EJ, I didn't mean to make you doubt yourself. This charm bracelet is stunning. How did you come up with this idea?"

EJ pointed to the diamond and rose gold heart tag charm that had the iconic phrase Please Return to Tiffany and Co., New York 750 inscribed upon it, "This heart is for Valentine's Day, which was the first day I ever kissed Samantha and she agreed to go out with me and the shamrock is for St. Patrick's Day, the day she introduces me to her family."

Chloe carefully looked over both charms on the bracelet, "EJ are these real diamonds on the heart and emeralds on the shamrock?"

"Yes, is that a problem?"

Chloe shook her head, if she hadn't been sure about EJ's feelings for her best friend before she was sure now. EJ was in love with Sami even if he hadn't admitted it to anyone else yet. "Not a problem at all."

"Good you had me worried there for a minute. I just wanted to get Samantha something to let her know how special she is to me. "

Chloe shut the box and handed it back to EJ. "You are a keeper EJ DiMera. This is the best gift you could possibly give to her."

EJ smiled a real genuine smile, "You really think so Chloe?"

"I know Sami better than anyone; no one has ever done anything like this for her."

"Please don't tell her. I want to give it to her on St. Patrick's Day."

"I promise I won't say a word," Chloe beamed her megawatt smile for EJ as he bid her goodbye and headed out the door with a huge smile of his own, passing by Brady with a hello in greeting as he was just walking in the door to see Chloe.

"Where was EJ going?" Brady asked looking to see if his sister was anywhere around the shop.

"He just came by to ask my opinion on something," Chloe offered up no more information than that tidbit to Brady.

"Why did he need your opinion Miss Lane?" Brady came around her desk to place a kiss on her cheek.

"EJ bought Sami some jewelry from Tiffany's and he wanted to make sure that it would be something she would like."

"Did EJ buy my sister an engagement ring from Tiffany's?" Brady asked thinking oh hell no EJ DiMera wasn't going to steal his thunder, he had Chloe's engagement bought and ready to give to her when he planned to ask her to marry him.

"No, he said it was too soon that Sami wouldn't even consider it yet, but I've got a feeling that it won't be long before he asks her."

"It is too soon," Brady stated matter of fact.

"Love has no set timetable Brady Black," Chloe tapped him on his nose.

"They can't be in love yet. Chloe we are talking about my sister Sami who doesn't believe in love at all."

"I believe EJ DiMera is going to be the one to change her mind about a lot of things Brady, especially love."

"I do not even want to think of what you believe EJ can change Sami's mind about especially if it has anything to do with my sister possibly having sex with someone."

"Funny she says the same thing about you; somehow my best friend can't fathom why anyone would want to have sex with you either." Chloe then pulled Brady down for a kiss and they continued kissing for quite some time afterward.