Calmer Secrets: Calmer Girls 2 (Calmer Girls Series) Read online

  “Girl, you are bangin’!” he said, giving her the once-over as she climbed into the hatchback.

  She laughed, her cheeks glowing pink. She turned away for a moment to hide the blush. “You’re pretty dope yourself.”

  “I picked up a bottle of wine for us.”

  A gurgle of anticipation coursed through Samantha. The attraction she’d entertained for Kalen since her return was palpable and growing exponentially with each date. She’d be willing to wager anything on how their evening would play out, and she had to admit the prospect thrilled her. He would be the perfect distraction for her, and so hot and tempting, she could barely suppress her excitement. And she was free and available. “Sounds wonderful. Did you say you bought the new Foo Fighters CD?”

  “I did. I had a listen earlier and it's damn near excellent. Oh, and I picked up the gear to make beef tacos for us. You like spicy, correct?”

  “I like,” she said. Yet, to be one hundred percent honest, food did not sit uppermost in her mind right now.

  Kalen lived at Crosbie Road apartments. It was Samantha's second time there, having formally met Mel and Gerry there a couple of nights back when the four of them had shared an extra-large meat-lover’s pizza in front of the TV. The apartment had been a remarkable mess then, but this time it appeared her date had taken pains to make the living room more presentable.

  She noticed an ash tray and lighter on the coffee table. “Tell me you didn’t take up smoking after high school!”

  He shook his head. “Nah. Not cigarettes anyway.”

  Samantha looked at him but he only grinned. There were far worse things than a minor weed habit, she supposed.

  “I'll get started on the tacos,” he said as soon as he switched on the stereo and Samantha made herself comfortable on the couch.

  “What's your hurry?” she shouted above the loud rock music, peeking up at him with a shy smile and tapping her fingers on the arm of the couch to the catchy rhythm.

  He smiled back, one eyebrow raised. “I'll open the wine.”

  Seconds later, he came back with two wine glasses and a corkscrew, sat down beside her, and opened the bottle. As he poured a glass for each of them, Samantha fidgeted with her hair, winding a tress around her finger as she swayed with the drum beat. When she closed her eyes to sing along, Kalen surprised her by sliding his arm around her and pulling her body closer to his.

  Their faces almost touching, she studied his eyebrows, his long lashes, the icy blue twinkle of his irises. She smelled his cologne and the trace of mint on his breath as her gaze fell on his mouth. When the song entered an intense electric guitar solo, their lips met.

  Kalen had his arm around her waist while his other hand gently stroked her hair. His kisses started soft, indulgent and unhurried, his tongue light, teasing hers into playful action. She liked how warm and moist and yielding his lips were on hers and how strong the muscles in his arm felt, moving up her back, pressing her into him. They kissed for a while like this, with him exploring her mouth, then pulling away a little and coming back to nuzzle her neck and kiss her earlobe. He took his sweet time, building her hunger for him. Her hands found their way under the tail of his shirt, loving the smoothness of his skin, then coming around to the soft hair on his chest. A light groan escaped his lips when her arm inadvertently brushed against his belt buckle.

  With the stereo blaring Everlong and their glasses of wine on the coffee table, untouched, they moved together down the hall, Kalen kissing her on the shoulder and neck as they groped their way into his bedroom.

  Samantha collapsed on the bed, her heart hammering. She accepted his kisses, which were growing more urgent, aware of his hands roaming over her body, investigating every bend and curve, driving her frantic for what would happen next. She’d waited a long time to feel this aroused. Not since the August evening in 1993 when Ben Swift had charmed her, ravished her, and relieved her of her virginity, which she’d readily given, had she burned with this deep a desire for a man's attentions. She hadn't dated a single soul since she and Ben had parted ways, for the simple reason no one had interested her in the least. Until now.

  It felt extraordinary. So much so, that after they finished their tacos and put another CD in the player, they were back in each other's arms for another round.

  Afterwards, a spent Samantha checked the time on the night stand. The digital numbers glowed red in the darkened bedroom. Already past eleven, but the last thing she wanted was to leave. She longed to stay with her lover, to cherish this newfound sense of rapture in their warm, happy nest of tangled bedclothes.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Anything,” she said softly. She slid her fingers over the sexy, blond hairs on his chest, cuddling into the crook of his arm that held her close.

  “Do you remember where we first met?” He laced his fingers between hers, pulled them back, and kissed her wrist.

  “That coffee shop downtown. Where you took me last week for hot chocolate.”

  “You remembered.”

  “How could I forget? I burst in there that night, frightened out of my wits, thinking someone had followed me and might attack me. You and Ben found it all pretty funny.”

  “You should have seen your face! Priceless!”

  She smacked his arm. “Now may I ask you something?”

  Kalen switched on the lamp on the nightstand. “Lay it on me.”

  Samantha pulled the edge of the covers up to her chin. “When you sang the song to me at the Cosmopolitan.”

  “Yes?”

  “Did you really sing it for me?”

  He rose on one elbow to look down at her. The muscles in his arm bulged. “Yes, I sang it for you! Why would you ask such a thing?”

  “Well, Ronnie thought you did it to impress all the girls there. You know, to make them all fall in love with you.”

  “She said those words?” He sat up, shaking his head. “She's screwing with you, Sam, trying to ruin your fun. What the hell makes that woman tick? Sounds like the ol’ green-eyed monster to me.”

  Samantha burrowed down deeper under the covers and peeked up at him. “You do see how it would work, though.”

  “I swear, I sang to you and you only. May I be blunt? She’s jealous because the night didn't revolve around her. Where does she get off being such an ass?”

  “I should’ve kept my mouth shut.”

  “Oh, it's alright. But from now on, you should ignore her foolish tripe. Promise me that much?” He wriggled under the sheets until he hovered over her, facing her belly. Samantha laughed when he covered her torso with light, feathery kisses that tickled and made her lustful all over again.

  “I promise!” she giggled, surrendering for the third time to his tender but overpowering advances.

  She wondered if it was possible to get enough of him, with this desire he had reawakened. “What have you done to me, Kalen?”

  He stopped nuzzling her neck for a moment and regarded her. “More like, what have you done to me! I have this problem, doll, where I can’t seem to get enough of you.”

  “Think you ever will?”

  He chuckled. “See, we’re animals, basically. We’re only doing what nature intended, giving us drives we can’t resist.”

  “Doesn’t sound exactly romantic.”

  “You may be right, but it’s a fact of life.”

  Drives we can’t resist. Worse than that, and although they’d only recently gotten involved, she knew how depressing it would be to return to Corner Brook in January without him.

  ***

  Christmas morning arrived with a light blanket of snow over the city. Samantha woke up on Kitchener Avenue to a purring Lily, who jumped on her bed and crept up on top of her. Her topaz eyes fixed on Samantha as she ducked her white head under her hand for the expected caress.

  “Oh, Lily,” she whispered, rewarding the affectionate cat with a session of scratches behind her ears and under her chin. “Henry up yet? Let's go see.”

&nbs
p; Shaking the sleepy cobwebs from her head as she pulled on a robe, she listened for sounds of life outside the bedroom door. Henry and his mom had stayed over last night to spend Christmas Eve and the big morning with the family. The unmistakable laughter of the little boy rang through the house from the living room.

  “I thought someone would wake me up!” she wailed as she approached the gathering around the tree. Darlene, Cash, Veronica and Henry all swung their heads around to see her.

  “Thammie, look what I got!” Henry waved a Buzz Lightyear action figure in front of her. He wielded the foot-long toy from side to side until she knelt down to hug him.

  “You got home so late last night, I thought you'd want to sleep in,” her mother said, sitting near the Christmas tree, tipping a steaming mug to her lips. “There's a fresh pot of coffee made and warm cinnamon rolls if you're hungry. Then come open your gifts.”

  Samantha surveyed the room, her family in pyjamas amid a colourful chaos of torn wrapping paper, toys, and packaging. She spied her small, untouched pile of presents under the tree. Earlier in the week, she'd gotten a cheque in the mail from her father which would certainly come in handy. The money was a bonus, on top of his continuing to pay for her university tuition, books, and supplies.

  She thought of her recent phone conversation with Jack. It made her sad having to wait until next summer to see him. This was the pattern her relationship with her father had fallen into, catching up in August for the last few years, with his young wife Beth Anne and his stepson Daniel. When she’d gotten the call from him in Fort McMurray a few days ago, he’d impressed upon her how much he regretted not seeing her, Veronica, and Henry during the holidays again this year. But he’d told her how proud he felt about her hard work and the consistent good marks she earned over the course of her studies.

  And once again, as he’d done every year since her graduation from high school, he had invited her to come stay with him for summer vacation. Each year she had declined, believing her family needed her here in St. John’s. The day would come, however, when she would be a graduate with a degree, and he reminded her she might consider searching for employment while living with him in Alberta. Would she come for a visit next summer to scope it all out?

  Since last year, she'd entertained the idea of doing just that, but her new relationship with Kalen made her reconsider. She missed her father’s company and hated to let him down, especially since he paid for her education, but how could she pass up spending the summer with her boyfriend? How could she bear for them to be apart?

  Kalen had surprised her with two gifts last night: an expensive-looking silver chain necklace, and her first digital camera. At first, she’d turned down the gifts, wondering aloud how he could afford so much and why he would spend it on her. He'd told her then how special she was to him and how hurt he would be if she refused them. At last she’d acquiesced, blown away by his generosity. But her doubts persisted. Since she'd come home, she knew of only one odd job he'd gotten with a local construction company, plus a couple of gigs with the band. She had pressed him about it.

  “We're playing on New Year's Eve at the Cosmo, which pays top dollar. Relax, Sam, I'm good for it.”

  So she’d let it go.

  In the kitchen, a bottle of Bailey's liqueur sat open on the counter next to the coffee maker, sugar bowl, and can of Carnation milk. Cripes, Momma, starting early today, aren't you? She sighed and returned to the others with her black coffee.

  “Come see what Henry got for you,” Veronica said.

  Her sister sounded genuinely half-civil to her today. Hmm. Must be the magic of Yuletide, Samantha guessed. What other reason could there be?

  “Okay.” She laid her mug on the mantelpiece, next to where her stocking hung. The red and white felt sock, which had seen better days, bulged with mysterious goodies. “Henry, want to grab Auntie's gift so I can open it?”

  The boy dove under the shimmering baubles and garland-laced boughs. He brought the gaily wrapped and beribboned package to her, his flushed face brimming with excitement.

  She tousled his hair, then untied the ribbon and tore off the shiny paper. It was a new ceramic hair straightener.

  “Aw! Thank you, Henry,” she cooed, laying the gift aside to give him a big kiss. “How did you know I needed a better one?”

  “Momma and Gramma thaid,” he answered, without missing a beat. They all laughed.

  “Do you like the Tickle Me Elmo I got for you? And the new clothes?”

  He nodded and ran to pick up the bright-red stuffed toy he'd forgotten about in all the fervour.

  “Here, ours is next,” Darlene urged, passing her the biggest present from the dwindling pile. Samantha tore off the wrapping to reveal a heavy-duty, black portfolio case for her artwork. She'd mentioned to her mother weeks ago that she needed a larger one. “Thanks, you guys. You remembered! It's perfect.”

  Tightening the belt of her green silk robe as she stood up, Veronica cleared her throat. “One left from me.” She reached under the tree for the small square package that remained. “Merry Christmas, Sam.”

  She knew Veronica saw her astonishment. This was the first gift she'd gotten from her sister in years. And she hadn't expected anything; a single mom working as a waitress could by no means waste money on frivolous gift-giving, any more than a full-time student could. “I didn't get you anything. I blew my whole wad on Henry.”

  “Shut up and open the darn present!”

  With anxious fingers, Samantha tore open the tiny box. Inside, nestled in royal blue satin, twinkled a pair of translucent white stones mounted in silver stud earrings. She recognized them as her birthstone for April.

  “Are they sapphires?”

  “Yup. White sapphires. As if I could afford diamonds, Sam!”

  She threw her arms around her startled sister. “Thank you! I adore them.”

  Veronica pulled away, looking sheepish. “You're welcome. They're for taking such good care of Henry whenever you come home,” she said, head bent and eyes downcast.

  Samantha swallowed around the hard lump crowding her throat, dashing away the tears that emerged, unbidden. This uncharacteristic display of selfless giving from her only sibling rendered her speechless for the rest of the morning.

  Could it be? Had she been absolved of blame by Veronica at last?

  Chapter Six

  Most of the morning had passed when Samantha realized she’d made four trips to the bathroom with an urgent need to pee, each time with puny results. Why did she feel she had to go so badly, then barely anything? Besides the urgency, it stung down there whenever she managed to go. What the hell?

  She hated to trouble her mother with this. Veronica had acted more obliging today and more approachable than usual, so she decided to ask her if she knew what might be wrong. While the others were distracted with Henry and his toys, she pulled her sister into the bathroom and out of earshot to fill her in on her symptoms.

  “Ah hah! You and Kalen are having sex, am I right?” Veronica demanded, staring at her in accusation.

  “Shh!” Samantha closed the door. “Why do you think that? And how did you know we were dating?” So much for keeping him a secret!

  Veronica snorted a rude laugh. “Give me some credit. I got it out of Momma days ago. Anyway, it sounds like you’ve got yourself a UTI.”

  “A U-T-what?”

  “A urinary tract infection. Happens to some women when they suddenly have a ton of hot sex with someone new. You need to get some antibiotics.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Veronica shrugged, turning to leave. “If it isn’t, it might be a sexually transmitted disease. Better get checked out, Sam. Pronto.”

  She left Samantha gaping at her perplexed reflection in the bathroom mirror.

  How effing terrific. She prayed it was a UTI and nothing more serious.

  The family spent the whole day together, playing with Henry's new Legos, nibbling on snacks, and watching his new Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer movie while they waited for the turkey to finish roasting. While Darlene napped in the late afternoon, Samantha and Veronica took Henry outside to play in the new-fallen snow. Later, when Cash had the vegetables cooked, the gravy made, and the dining room table set, he called them in and asked Samantha to wake up her mother.

  While everyone dug into the main course, Samantha looked around the table. She had longed for this meal with her family. Each morsel of food tasted as delicious as she had anticipated.

  “This partridgeberry chutney is to-die-for.” She helped herself to another spoonful of the spicy condiment, plopping it alongside a second serving of turkey and stuffing. “You didn’t make it, did you, Momma?” She vaguely remembered a batch Darlene had made in Calmer Cove that had burned on to the pan, ruining the taste.

  “Cash made it, along with almost everything else. Quite the chef, isn’t he?”

  Samantha nodded, thinking what a welcome change it must be for her mother to have a man who could cook. Growing up in Calmer Cove, she recalled her father boiling lobsters or crab legs or serving up the odd feed of fish stew, but that was where his cooking skills had ended, and Darlene’s abilities in the kitchen only covered the basics. Luckily, Nana had kept them all well-nourished with her wonderful downhome fare during most of Samantha’s childhood.

  “Everything is delicious, Cash,” she said.

  The phone rang while they dished up the dessert Veronica had made last night. Cherry trifle, one of Samantha's favourites. She thought it might be Kalen calling when she offered and went to answer it, but she was wrong.

  Ben Swift returned her hello.

  Her insides somersaulted at the sound of his melancholy voice. She'd know it anywhere.

  “That you, Samantha?”