Her eyes flashed open. “You mean from Sheena.”
Shrugging, he squeezed her hand gently and then released the pressure. “From Sheena and every other woman I’ve ever spent time with.”
A low chuckle rumbled out of her. “Is that good or bad?”
Jerking his head to look at her, he nodded. “It’s…amazing. I’m…” He paused. Could he tell her? Would it scare her?
But he didn’t have to. Tears bubbled in her eyes. “I know, Sam. I know.”
Pushing down his emotion, he grinned. “Well, then let’s talk about the train ride we’ll be taking tonight.”
41
Tiffany was quickly realizing that being with Sam, meant feeling like she was in some kind of book or movie or something…not her life. And it was kind of hard for her to get used to.
But she was enjoying the train they’d taken to the top of Pike’s Peak.
Now they were sitting in a restaurant called The Cliff’s House. From their view, it was like they were floating out above the mountains. There was stillness in the air. Granted, there were soft voices and light music from the other people and the restaurant, but…it was peaceful.
“What do you think?”
She turned to Sam. He’d bought them fancy clothes for the night. He wore a grey jacket and a pin tie that made him look very urban. With his chocolate eyes and a couple of days growth on his face and his hair combed back so it wouldn’t flop into his eyes, he looked like a Calvin Klein model. Or like he’d just walked off a movie set. Light butterflies thrummed in the lower part of her stomach. She picked up her ice water and took a sip. “Okay, if you’re trying to wow me, it’s working.”
Satisfaction fell across his face, and he cocked his scarred lip up and nodded. “Good.” He gave her another sweeping look from top to bottom. “Do you like the outfit?”
Tiffany hadn’t known that the ladies helping her in the store had been directed to select a couple of extra things for her. She smiled, liking the feel of the diamond studded, fitted black dress and fancy red cowgirl boots. “I guess I really do feel like a star in these clothes.”
Grinning, he scooted his chair closer to hers and took her hand, pulling it up to his lips and kissing the back of it. “The clothes are nice, but you’re a star just because you’re you.”
Liking this, she could feel herself blush. “Have you been reading up on how to woo women?”
“You’re admitting to being wooed?” He teased her, gently turning her hand and kissing the inside of her wrist.
His warm lips against her skin made her feel kind of lightheaded, but she didn’t pull away. “Sam.” She let out his name all breathy.
He laughed and leaned back, keeping her hand inside both of his. He looked out at the scenery. “So they say that Kathleen Lee Bates was inspired by this view when she wrote the lyrics for “America the Beautiful.”
Interesting. “Really?” Once again, she looked around, taking in the smells and view. “I believe it, this view is definitely inspiring.”
“Yeah, it is.”
But when she turned back, he wasn’t looking at the view. He was staring at her.
42
The concert the next night at Red Rock Amphitheater, right outside of Denver, was packed and loud and everything a concert should be.
Surprising him, Tiffany had worn a teal top that matched the jewelry on the hat he’d given her and boots that matched both of them. With her blonde hair in soft curls and wearing heavier make-up, she looked different.
A stir went through him. She almost looked like someone different. He liked it, but he liked her normal, understated beauty too. Actually, he realized he probably preferred it when she wasn’t so done up.
That was also a new thing for him.
He watched her band come out and pump up the crowd and he wondered what he’d been wondering more and more…when would be the right time to propose?
The next day, when Tiffany kissed Sam goodbye before getting into the van she and the band were travelling in, it was harder than she could have imagined.
Holding the belt loops around her jeans, Sam pulled her closer and deepened the kiss.
When they’d gotten back to the hotel after the concert, Sam had kissed her at the door and then told her he’d see her in the morning or they’d both regret it.
His acceptance of her values had made her happy, and he was right. She had found that keeping herself in check was harder than she’d thought it’d be.
“When are you coming to see me in Miami?” he whispered into her ear as he kept her close, running his hand down her hair.
She closed her eyes, loving his touch. “I have another couple of weeks on tour.” He’d asked her before when she was coming to Miami, but now he seemed more urgent. To be fair, she felt the urgency too. It was strange that she was already so used to him. Being with him. Having him as part of her inner dialogue.
He kissed her again, and Tiffany didn’t even care that she could hear the catcalls and teasing from her band members inside the van. She didn’t want to let him go either.
“I will fly you out any time, from any city.” Pushing back, he looked deeply into her eyes. “Okay? And don’t tell me it costs too much.” He gave her a pointed look.
Her heart raced. How had this happened? She was having this romance with a professional football player. Sam Dumont was standing here, his fingers looped at the back of her jeans, and he was begging her to come see him. It was outrageous. But she thought that it also felt so right between them. She conceded, not wanting to endure another speech from him about how he wanted to pay for it. “Okay.”
The side of his lip tugged up, and she leaned forward and kissed him.
He grinned. “You think you can silence me by kissing me?”
“Pretty much.” She kissed him, again, and he held her to him, taking extra care with the kiss.
She held him tight, holding to the Under Armour material that he always wore and feeling how lean and muscled he was under the material. He was so much more than his physique. He was good.
He released her, and she got into the van, turning to wave to him and hating that a tear fell down her cheek as she watched him. His hair was all mussed, and he was wearing his tight shirt, jeans, and flip-flops. Dang, he was handsome. She grinned, thinking that this amazing man wanted her.
Joe glanced back at her from the driver’s seat. “Oh, gosh, guys—I think Tiffany is primed to write a love song.”
The guys all laughed and teased her about her famous boyfriend. Tiffany was glad they all knew him as a person, not just as a media clip. They seemed to like him, talking about how he was down to earth and fun.
The whole way to Arizona, all she could think about was Sam. She opened her notebook and sketched out a new song. She titled it ‘Not Just Another Romeo.’ She felt like she was soaring as she wrote it. The words flowed out of her, and they arrived in Phoenix before she knew it.
That night, as she finished the final touches on the song, some of the guys came to her room. Joe pointed to the television. “Turn on the news.”
She knew, at some point, just being with Sam would attract attention.
She was surprised, however, to see a clip of them together from the Red Rocks venue the night before, dancing and rocking to the main concert. The newsman said, “Sam Dumont was spotted at a concert in Denver last night.” The clip of them dancing and laughing played. She could tell it was a recording done with someone’s phone. The newsman came back on. “The woman has been identified as Tiffany Chance of Wolfe Creek, Utah.” He smiled, conspiratorially. “We think he met her while making amends with Roman Young these past few weeks. It’s also interesting to note that Miss Chance is a singer, and her band is touring with the Iron Stix. On our website, we’ve posted where Miss Chance’s band will be playing for the next month and a half. It is interesting to note that Dumont is reporting to training camp with the Miami Surf tomorrow morning.” The newsman grinned. “After getting traded from the Destroyers this year, and after his friend Roman Young bought into the Destroyer franchise, it will be interesting to see if Roman and Sam’s newfound friendship will endure the rivalry between the teams.”