Sam's Promise (Blackwater)

He turned a corner, and Julie looked out the windshield. She could see the restaurant up the road on the right. Food was forgotten at the moment, though. All she really cared about was hearing more about the man who was quickly becoming an obsession to her.

“Yeah. We’d been split up, put into different foster homes until she and Dad came into the picture.”

“But I thought social services usually kept siblings together? And what about your biological parents? Where were they?”

“I never knew who my real father was, and I only have a few memories of my real mom. She was a druggy.” He paused, then added, “And normally, yes, they do try and keep siblings together, but there were five of us, and we weren’t the easiest bunch of boys to take care of either.”

Julie’s stomach ached for Sam, as well as his brothers. “Then Wanda came along…” she said in the hopes he’d fill in the blanks.

Sam nodded. “She seemed too good to be true at first. Took all of us a long time to realize she was the real deal.”

Julie frowned, uncertain what he meant. “The real deal? As opposed to what?”

“The do-gooders.” Sam shook his head. “The ones who set out to do something charitable, something that will make them feel good, but then when reality sets in and they realize that we’re people, that there’s some actual work involved in raising a kid, they cut and run.”

“That’s awful.” Julie wanted to reach out to Sam, to comfort him somehow, but they weren’t a couple, and she didn’t have that right.

“Some people can be damned awful, Julie. Especially to a defenseless kid.”

She tried to picture Sam as a scrawny boy, but it didn’t quite mesh with the man sitting across the seat from her. He was simply so big and unyielding, able to leap tall buildings and all that jazz. “I have a hard time seeing you as vulnerable.”

“Not me. River. He was a skinny bag of bones. He and Reilly were yanked apart and placed with different foster families for a time. It was hard on them, being twins and all.” He shook his head. “Let’s just say that River didn’t end up with June Cleaver as a foster parent.”

Julie thought of River and the fun teasing he’d done at Thanksgiving. His smiling eyes had revealed a hint of mischief. Pain shot through her chest when she realized what River must have gone through. All of them, for that matter.

“Anyone who could hurt a child is scum in my book.”

“Couldn’t agree more. Anyway, it all worked out. We ended up with two loving parents.”

“And River’s no longer a scrawny little boy unable to defend himself.”

“No, he’s not.” He pulled into a parking lot, then found a space close to the front and parked. “And we’re here.”

Julie forced down the urge to learn more about Sam. She had a feeling he was merely brushing the surface about his days in foster care, and she vowed that before long, she’d learn all there was to know about him. Until then she simply wanted to enjoy an evening out with a man who made her go all gooey inside.

“Good, because I’m starving,” she said with a smile. “Let’s eat.”

Sam grinned and opened his door. “I love a woman with an appetite.”

Julie snorted as she opened her own door. “And I have the thighs and rear to prove it.”

“Julie,” Sam said, his voice deeper than before, effectively halting her progress out of the vehicle. When Julie turned, Sam pinned her with a look hot enough to scorch. “There isn’t a damn thing wrong with your curves, sweetheart.”

It was several seconds before Julie could breathe again.

Chapter Five

“Thank you for a wonderful evening.”

Julie’s soft voice floated down his spine like a gentle kiss. As they stood at her front door, her big eyes staring up at him, Sam knew he had no right to be perturbed by the fact that she wasn’t inviting him in. He was left wondering if he should kiss her or simply play it off. Like the date was nothing more than a thank-you, as he’d said it would be. He felt awkward, damn it. Hell, he wasn’t a damn teenager anymore.

“You’re welcome.” Not what he wanted to say, but he wasn’t sure of Julie. She had a sharp wit, and she was kind—to everyone. Even their waiter had been enraptured by her. It made Sam wonder if she saw him any differently than a casual acquaintance. Somewhere along the line, he’d decided he wanted to be anything but casual with Julie.

“I hope it was worth the work you’ll have to do on your friend’s car.”

“Well worth it.” Shit, they’d been reduced to small talk.

She sighed and turned around, then pressed her key into the lock. After Julie had the door open, she turned to him. “Look, I don’t know what to do here. My dating days have been pretty limited. I don’t want you to think I’m a prude for not inviting you in, but I don’t want to appear too…easy if I asked you in for a nightcap. And to top it all off, I have no idea if this is still just a thank-you date. So basically I’m a fish out of water here.”