They stood off the beaten path in baggage claim. Her back was against the wall, and Sam stood in front of her, his arm resting on the wall over her head. He leaned into her, protecting her from the onlooker’s direct line of view. They kissed, and she breathed in his scent.
He traced a stray piece of hair down her forehead and face, grinning. “I want you coming home to me all the time, Tiffany.”
Warmth filled her, starting in her heart and rushing through her entire body. She knew she was blushing. Of course she’d thought about it. Being here with him. Coming home to him after a tour, which it looked like she would be doing a lot. She grinned. She’d wanted him to be the first to hear her news. “I have something to tell you.”
Leaning forward, he cocked an eyebrow and brushed his lips against hers for a second and then traced her arm down to her hand, keeping it in his.
Every part of her was alive next to him.
He grinned. “Tell me.”
She could feel herself blinking, trying to hold back the excitement and the tears that were coming. “We got approached last night about a record deal.”
The look on his face, one of expectation, told her he wasn’t surprised. “That’s awesome.” He picked up her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist.
This sent chills through her again.
“Is it a good deal?”
Trying to stay focused, she thought of the guys in the band. “Joe seems to think so, but he’s going to talk to an attorney that deals with these types of contracts. We’re going to talk about it when I get back.”
Sam’s grin widened. “I’m so proud of you.”
Dreamily, she looked at Sam. She was a bit overwhelmed by what he’d come to mean to her. “All because you told me to play—just play,” she said, emphasizing the last two words.
He kissed her. “Did I say that?”
She grinned. “Don’t try to be humble, you’re not good at it.”
He let out a laugh, and then Roman’s clan descended upon them.
Before Tiffany knew it, she was taking Maddy out of Katie’s arms and being smothered in a hug by Josh and Katie at the same time. Then when Roman got through giving Sam a bear hug, he moved on to her, telling Josh to help him get her in a big bear hug.
Through all the commotion, she saw Sam and Katie hugging and laughing at Roman’s antics.
Of course, a crowd now enfolded them, taking pictures and recording it.
Then her mother appeared.
“You come give your mama a big hug, girl.” Reese made an entrance through the baggage claim double doors, and Tiffany couldn’t stop herself from running to her.
Almost toppling her when she hugged her, Tiffany laughed and kept her mama in her arms as she turned back to a smiling Sam.
The surprise.
Her mama had tears on her face to match her own and her perfume nearly knocked Tiffany out. She laughed and kept hugging her.
Her mom pulled back, looking her up and down. “Well, you look just as good in person as you do in the pictures.” She winked at her and then gave her a long look. “I’m so proud of you.” Then she patted her cheek and turned to Sam. “Dumont, get over here and hug me. I hope you’re ready to kill those guys tomorrow.”
Good naturedly, Sam picked her mama up in the same kind of bear hug that Roman had used on her and spun her around. Her mama hooted and let out a big laugh.
Something inside of Tiffany burst into a happiness she hadn’t felt since she was little and her family had gone camping. She remembered how happy she had felt sitting by the campfire surrounded by loved ones. She marveled that she could be in a crowded airport and feel that same deep happiness. Complete contentment is what she felt at the moment.
Looking at the whole crew before her, Tiffany couldn’t deny that coming to see Sam in Miami…already felt like coming home.
45
Sam got back from practice that night, happy to smell something grilling on the barbeque and hear the light laughter of people.
He walked into the kitchen and saw Tiffany and her mother making a salad at the counter.
Katie was stirring something on the stove, and the glass door that separated the kitchen from the beach was wide open. He saw Roman playing catch with Josh with Maddy at his feet. He’d spent the past few weeks preparing for this. For all of them. To be here together. He’d given instructions to his decorator to get toys and balls and instructions to his personal assistant to stock the fridge with lots of food.
It was worth it. Something protective and manly and domestic stirred within him. He wanted this every night. Wanted to come home to a family. He wanted a life with her. A family. Friends. Things that meant something. Things that weren’t for the media and weren’t to impress anybody.
He wanted things that mattered.
“Hey.” Her ponytail whirled around as she turned and then leaned up to kiss him. She still wore the yellow sundress that made her look like a princess, but she didn’t have the boots on, and her feet were bare.
The vanilla scent that always clung to her filled him, and he pulled her close, inhaling deeply. It was as if this woman had been perfectly made for him.
She giggled. “Hey, I’m not the entree.”
Putting his face into her neck, he nuzzled below her chin. “Oh, but you could be.” Then he put little kisses up her hair line and finally landed on her lips.
She giggled more and then held him tighter.
“Hey.” Tiffany’s mother laughed lightly, rapping him on the shoulder. “You can’t have her just yet. I need the cucumbers cut up.”
Sam released her, unable to keep himself from grinning. He put an arm over Reese’s shoulders and surveyed the plethora of vegetables they were in the process of cutting. “As long as I can get her back later.”
“Sam!” Roman called from outside.
Katie whooshed by him, wearing one of the apple aprons that the decorator had added as a finishing touch to the kitchen. “I think Josh’s arm is worn out. You’d better get out there and play some catch.” She rushed to the barbeque and threw it open, turning to Roman. “Thanks for watching the chicken, Roman!” She rolled her eyes and grinned at Sam.
Beautiful. Katie Young, with her red hair, lean figure, and her sharp green eyes. He could see why Roman had fallen for her, but it was more than that. She was strong, and she was a true wife and mother. She was in charge, and Roman liked it that way.
For a second his mind flashed to the messy house back in Wolfe Creek, and he smiled. Roman really was lost without her.
Sam headed for the beach, kicking off his flip-flops before hopping off the deck.
The sun was just going down, and the sky had turned pink. The waves lapped gently at the beach. He grinned at his friend, deeply pleased that Roman was here.
A ball flew at him, and he tugged it out of the air.
“Over here!” Josh held his hands out, ready to receive it.
Sam held back, gently throwing it.
Josh frowned. “Is that all you got, Dumont?”
The sound of laughter came from Roman’s direction. He threw his hands up. “He plays with me. What do you expect?”
Funny.
Sam watched Josh throw a nice pass to his father. Then Roman turned, and Sam could see the look in his eye. Coupled with the fact that Roman wasn’t doing two a day practices and wanted to prove to all the women that he was still ‘the great Roman Young,’ Sam tensed, ready for anything.
Cocking his arm back, Roman nodded. Sam took off, knowing that Roman was going deep. “Josh, let’s see if the old man’s still got it.”
Sam watched Roman release, and knew he needed to kick it up a notch to intercept it. Pushing harder, he jumped into the air, pulled it down with one hand, and pulled it into him. Then tucked and rolled onto the beach.