Sam’s Little Girl by Pepper North

Chapter 5

Where is he? This isn’t like him at all!Hope scanned the entrance to the Harbor Bar and Grill, hoping to see Sam striding toward her. They’d made a date to meet there as soon as Sam showered after maneuvers the next day. She grinned. It had become their place. Hope liked the connections they were building. It felt… rock steady.

She’d been so eager to see him, she’d arrived about fifteen minutes early and decided to wait outside for Sam. Hope checked her watch once again and saw that he was fifteen minutes late.

“I’m sure he’s just running late,” she tried to convince herself.

“Hope? Are you waiting for Sam?” Cricket asked as she approached the bar with her waitress’ apron in her hand.

“Yes. Have you seen him?”

“Check your messages. I just heard that his team was deployed in the middle of the night.”

“Really?” Hope fumbled to pull her phone from her back pocket. A message icon stared back at her. “I didn’t even look this morning.”

“Go read it. If you need to talk, I’ll be in my normal section.”

“Oh, I won’t bother you while you’re working. Thanks for solving the mystery,” Hope answered, forcing her voice to sound cheerful.

“I’ll let you read the message. I know it’s hard to date a military guy. Well, I don’t know. I’ve never dated one. My heart is set on someone who thinks I’m too young.”

“I’m sorry, Cricket. Mark?”

“Yep. He’s the one. Maybe someday, I’ll wear him down. I’m going to be late.” Cricket waved as she hurried through the door.

Hope started to open the message and hesitated. She returned to her car and turned on the air conditioner. Better to be alone.

Candy girl. We got urgent orders to deploy. I’d tell you to answer to let me know you got the message and aren’t waiting at our spot, but we’re under strict radio silence. I’ll be back in touch as soon as possible.

She reread his message a dozen times. Radio silence made it sound so dangerous. Hope’s eyes closed as she sent a silent prayer for his safety. “He has to be alright,” she whispered.

Scanning the message again, Hope noticed the words, ‘our spot.’ It made her tummy feel warm. She liked that Sam had established proof that their relationship was solid. After all, if they had a spot, he planned to continue to see her. Hope shook her head. There was no doubting his intentions. Sam had claimed her, after all.

“Time to get busy. I’m going to worry if I don’t have something else to think about.” Hope started her car and drove toward her family’s home. She’d get organized for her corporate visits. The first one was tomorrow.

* * *

“Thank you, sir. It was interesting to speak to you.” Hope stood when the general stood. This interview had tweaked her attention from the beginning. A small team working for the government with military supervisors seemed to offer a lot for her.

“Ms. Anderson, I appreciate your time. When I saw the results of your background, I knew you would fit in well with the team. Your father’s military career was pristine. The distinguished service of the man you’re currently dating is impressive as well.”

“Thank you, General. My father is quite a force—only exceeded by my mother.”

That drew a chuckle from the distinguished man in uniform. “That I well understand. Can we look for a decision from you next week?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll get back to you soon.”

Hope maintained her calm expression until she drove her rental car through the gates of the secured facility and started the long trip home. Thirty minutes later, she pulled into a fast-food restaurant to use the bathroom.

Once finished and armed with a frozen limeade, she started her car. Hesitating for a moment, she pulled out her phone and sent Sam a voice message. “Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you. Your name came up in my interview today. I was thinking of you before the general mentioned you.” Hope hesitated a few seconds. “I miss you, Daddy.”

Afraid she had jumped too far ahead, she disconnected from the message and hoped it hadn’t recorded. Cooling off with a long drink from her chilly beverage, Hope rubbed her fingers over her creased forehead before shifting into drive and pulling smoothly into traffic.

Finally reaching her parents’ house, Hope parked her car at the curb and grabbed her portfolio containing her notes from the interviews she’d gone to over the last three weeks. Staring at the paved path to the front door, Hope felt tears prickle her eyes. The traffic had distracted her while driving home, but now, all she could think of was Sam.

She swept the back of her hand over her eyes as she breathed deeply to control her emotions. Her parents were too perceptive of her feelings. Hope didn’t want them to know she was upset. She’d head out for another run. That would help her contain her emotions.

“Candy girl. I hoped you’d be happy to see me,” a deep voice called to her from the front steps.

“Sam?”

“I’m here, little girl. Come, give me a hug?” he suggested, standing and walking down to meet her. His arms wrapped around her in a tight bear hug as she crashed into him.

That first kiss said everything—how much they had missed each other, the depth of their feelings. Hope knew tears cascaded down her face as his mouth moved sinuously on hers. She weaved her fingers through his too-long hair as she held him as close as possible.

When finally they both needed to breathe, Sam lifted his mouth for a gasping inhale. “Candy girl. Don’t cry,” he whispered as he wiped away her tears.

“You’ve been gone so long. I started having bad dreams that you were hurt… or worse,” she sobbed. “Even running didn’t help, and that always makes me feel better.”

“I’m sorry, Hope. This was a long mission. Then I decided to surprise you instead of texting immediately when we arrived back at base. I should have called.”

“I’m so glad to see you!” Hope rose on her tiptoes to press her mouth to his again. Her hands roamed over his hard, muscled back. Just as her fingertips daringly brushed his tight butt, a loud ‘ahem’ sounded behind them. Recognizing that voice, she backed away.

“Hi, Dad.”

“Thank you, sir, for letting me surprise Hope.”

“Come in for some lemonade and then we’ll let you two be alone,” Hope’s mother suggested with an indulgent smile. Sam had obviously impressed them when he’d spoken to her folks.

Sam scooped her portfolio from the ground where Hope had abandoned it. Unwilling to lose track of him, Hope clung to Sam’s hand as they followed her parents into the house. At the tinkle of ice in the glasses, she suddenly needed to go to the restroom now! She hesitated, not wishing to leave Sam. He noticed her restless motions quickly.

“Go. I won’t disappear,” he whispered, reading her quandary.

“Promise?”

“Cross my heart,” he promised.

She raced down the hall and set the world’s record for peeing fast. Stopping to wash her hands when she really didn’t want to, Hope caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her lips were red and swollen. Tilting up at the corners, her mouth revealed her happiness. Sam’s home! He’s safe!

Skidding to a halt as she arrived back at the table, Hope slid into the empty chair next to Sam. She scooted closer. To her delight, Sam hooked a powerful hand under her seat and pulled her over next to him. When he wrapped a muscular arm around her waist, Hope shifted to sit as close as she could without being on his lap completely. For once, she didn’t care what her parents would say.

“We’ve had a chance to get to chat with Sam. It’s nice to know who’s responsible for that blue dolphin we’ve rescued from Bingo twenty times since you’ve been at your interview,” her mother shared.

“Oh, no! Did he tear it apart?” Hope asked, leaning forward in concern.

“The toy is fine, Hope. I put it on top of the refrigerator so he couldn’t destroy it,” her father reassured her before asking, “How did the interview go?”

“The job is mine if I want it. I really liked the setup. I’d work with a team over a secure network regularly or work on base—wherever I would be most productive. I’m not sure exactly what we’d be working on, but it sounds like the background check was extensive.”

“Really, why?” Hope’s mother asked.

“The general knew of Dad and about,” she looked toward the man she rested against, “you, Sam.”

“That was deep.” Sam drained the last of his lemonade and set the glass down on the table with a click. She could tell he knew all about security checks and she wouldn’t get any information about what his had revealed. His eyes met hers, and he changed the subject.

“Can I steal you away?”

Hope studied Sam’s face. He looked so tired. “Let me go change and I’ll be right back.”

Without waiting for his answer, she left the room. Once in her room she took off the interview suit she’d worn and pulled on comfortable casual clothes. Grabbing her laptop case, Hope stuffed it with a variety of necessities. When it bulged with panties, an extra pair of shorts, and a T-shirt, she fought to zip it up.

“Here, let me help you.” Her mother’s voice came from the doorway.

Instantly, she felt her cheeks heat as her mom came forward to drag the two sides together. “Um, Mom…”

“You’re a grown woman, Hope. If I’ve done my job right as a mom, I’ve taught you to take care of yourself physically and mentally. I was young once, too. Go make sure your guy is okay and celebrate his safe return. Just remember, I’m too young for grand-babies. Soon, but not now.”

“Mom!” Hope was scandalized, but accepted her help and succeeded in zipping the opening shut. She stood and slung the bag over one shoulder.

“We’ll see you soon.”

“Thanks, Mom!’ She dashed down the hall to find Sam on the front porch. Linking her fingers with his, she tugged him down the sidewalk.