Chapter 20

He sat in his usual spot under the sun, watching all the hot bodies in bikinis strolling by. He saw a girl with dark brown hair who reminded him of Vivien, and suddenly, girl-watching didn't seem so fun anymore. It hurt to be left in the dark as to who she was, and then to get flip-flopping stories...he still wasn't sure what the truth was. Maybe he was better off being ignorant. He knew that getting her out of his mind would probably be his best course of action. That's why he sat at the table at Carlito's enjoying the scenery and drowning his memories in beer.

"Hi, Sam."

He didn't even have to turn his head to know who belonged to that soft voice. It stabbed him in the heart and clung to him like a briar. "Vivien." He refused to turn around and look at her.

She wouldn't play the same game. Instead, she moved around his chair and stood across from him. "Mind if I sit awhile? It's been a few weeks, but I still need to keep my weight off this ankle for a little longer."

"It's a free country." He waved a hand to the chair, and she sat in it. While she concentrated on attracting the server, he glanced at her.

She wore her summer whites and looked stunning in the skirt that brushed across her knees. She had great legs, something he'd forgotten when she wore jeans during most of their time together. Watch it, Sam. Don't let her physical attributes lure you in again. Then you're an idiot. Yes, white looked really good on her. She turned so her legs were under the table and her arms crossed on its surface as she caught him looking. She smiled, her lips painted a regulation color that pronounced their graceful shape enough to remind him of how good it felt to kiss them. She wore the rest of her makeup to Navy standards, and she looked like a fresh faced airbrushed model. If he closed his eyes, he could remember when her makeup was gone, the slight imperfections in her skin, and how they made her look more real and inviting.

Sam shook his head. He didn't want to go there. He took a long drag on his beer, draining it just as the server came with another round for him, and a margarita for her.

"Thanks." He set his empty bottle on the server's tray before giving his full attention to Vivien. "So, why are you here?"

"I had to hand deliver a packet of intelligence to Agent Pearce's office."

"Some other poor sap you duped to get what you wanted?"

That hurt, and he saw it in the devastated look on her face. "Sam, I never wanted to hide the truth from you. I was working with the CIA, kind of freelancing, like Michael was before he got burned. We suspected a link between Pearce and Anson, but it took a long time to come up with all the pieces and put them together." She paused. "When he took Fiona, that upped the ante, and we had to do something."

"I could have gotten involved. I tried to get involved by going to look for info on where Fi was."

"You were so headstrong about doing it, and Michael tried to discourage you, because I was already working on it. But he couldn't tell you that, because we were afraid it would compromise all my work." She took a drink. "When you got on that plane, Michael had to think fast. He figured if I were with you, helping, I could steer you away from potential landmines. So I used the cover of my side job, being in medical services at the Naval hospital, and...we stole the real Vivien Chase's identity. Okay, we didn't really steal it, just borrowed it for awhile."

"Who are you really? Or do you have to lie about that too?"

"My name is Vivien Chase, just not the Vivien Chase. Strange coincidence."

"I still think you could have been honest about what you were up to. I would have kept my mouth shut."

"Like you did when you kissed me?" The corner of her mouth tipped up.

Sam turned his attention toward the boardwalk and the beach. "Thanks for bringing that up, Viv. I feel better now, because not only was I your patsy, I was a fool on top of it."

"You weren't a fool, Sam. I was the fool."

He glanced at her sideways when she reached out and covered the hand that hovered near his sweating beer bottle.

"I know you won't believe this, but because Michael told me about you beforehand, when I finally met you..." She shook her head. "I feel like an idiot, but Sam, I have to tell you. I fell in love at first sight." She grinned. "Well, maybe not at first sight, but when you took charge and got us out of that plane and we were settled in that cabin with the rain coming down and the danger..." She leaned forward as she caressed the top of his hand. "It was all I could do to keep my hands off you."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Not really. I know you're soured on ever believing anything I ever say again."

"You got that right, sister. So I'm asking again, why are you here?"

"I'm a fool, Sam. I was hoping there might be some little shred of forgiveness inside you. I was hoping that maybe, deep inside, you felt a little bit of love for me too." She blinked rapidly, reached into her purse and pulled out some cash, which she laid on the table. "I'm sorry to have bothered you. It won't happen again." She got up and turned away. He noticed that her shoes weren't exactly regulation, but she needed something flat while her ankled healed.

Maybe she was a fool, but would he be an even bigger one if he fell for her again? She left the patio and stopped in front of the boardwalk, unsure which way to go. Her eyes locked onto Sam's, and he saw a genuine sadness in hers. Against his better judgment, it tore at his heart. He took one more drag on his beer and she started walking south parallel to the beach. There's still time to stop her, Sam.

Is that really the wisest thing to do?

Who am I kidding? When have I ever been smart when it came to women? Besides, this one really seems to...like me a lot, if not love me. If I can believe it.

Sam growled low. He could drive himself crazy reasoning with himself. He quickly stood, paid his tab with a wad of bills that the server retrieved as he escaped the patio. He turned right and walked with large strides, looking for her in the crowd of people, but it was as if she'd disappeared. How could she have gotten away so fast? Maybe she was just in my imagination. Am I that desperate that I have to dream of women who don't want me and fantasize that they do? Boy, have I sunk to a new low!

"Sam, are you going to stand there all day looking clueless, or are you going to turn around and say hello properly?"

Sam turned, a slow tentative smile spreading across his face. "Viv. I'm probably going to hate myself later for this."

"No you won't."

"We'll see." He took two steps closer to her where she waited for him on a bench. Then he asked, "Mind if I sit here?"

"I've been saving this spot for someone special," she replied. "And he just got here."

Sam couldn't help himself, he had to look around. At the sound of her laughter, he locked on her again and perched himself on the edge of the bench facing her. His arm rested on the back, and he waited for the slightest signal that he should leave. But the look in her eyes wasn't that signal. She leaned toward him, and like a magnet attracted to metal, he leaned toward her. They met in the middle, and their lips touched in a light kiss. He was about to pull away, but her hand nestled into the back of his neck and held him there. His arm moved from the bench to curl around her back.

He exhaled. She felt good in his arm and he moved the other to surround her. Vivien's arms encircled him as their kiss deepened. When their lips finally parted, she whispered, "Please, Sam. Give me a chance. I'm being stationed down here for the next six months, and it's going to be awfully hard to exist day to day knowing you're here, spurning me."

"Spurning. Sounds like one of those fancy author's words," Sam muttered against her cheek.

"Yeah. Fitting, don't you think?" She pulled back to see his reaction. "I love you, Sam. I'm passionate about you. I admire you, and the man I saw in action only reinforced my feelings." Her eyes flashed with desire. "I hoped that you could say the same things about me, but I understand if you can't."

"Oh, Viv," he pressed her body close to his. "You don't know how much I want you." He was interrupted by the ringing of his phone. Pulling away with a sheepish smile, he said, "Sorry, I've got to take this. Stay here, I'll be right back."

"A new phone." She said with arched eyebrows.

"Yeah. We'll see how long I keep this one."

As she watched him animatedly talking on the phone, Vivien realized she had a long road ahead of her if she wished to win the heart of Sam Axe. Was she up to the challenge? If she didn't try, he'd probably think less of her, and he would never see the value of a relationship with her. Yes, she would prove herself to him if was the last thing she did.

"Sorry about that. My friend...I mean, Mike, he's got a new gig for us." Sam sat on the bench. "I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to go back to Carlito's and meet up with him, Fi, and Jesse." He kissed her on the lips. "But I promise, you'll see me again. And you can bet money on that."

"Not if I don't see you first," she replied with a smile.

"You've got a deal, baby." He put his hand behind her back, pulled her against his chest, and gave her a kiss that she wouldn't forget for some time to come. He probably wouldn't forget it, either. "Well, I've gotta go." He quick-kissed her, but he still didn't get up. He laughed. "I've really gotta go."

She gave him a long kiss.

"Jeez, forget about it. Mike can fill me in later." He grabbed her by the hand and led her down the boardwalk.

"Not so fast, Sam. My ankle!"

"Oh yeah, forgot about that." He scooped her up under the knees. She shrieked in surprise and laughed as he carried her away.

Okay, I know this story had as many holes as Swiss cheese. So fire away! I was just having fun. Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it!