With This Ring Read Online Free Page B

Normally he would go into great detail about the women he met, but for some reason, he was oddly reluctant to discuss Amy. He hoped Justin would drop the subject.
    "So you did take the cat over to the shelter."
    "Yeah," Sam said, relieved. "And you were right. They took him, no problem."
    "Good."
    "I just hope they can find him a home."
    Justin nodded. After a moment, he said, "Since you've got a date tonight, I guess that means you're not going to Jessie's party."
    Jessie was one of Justin's sisters, and Sam knew she had a thing for him, which was flattering, because Jessie was attractive as well as nice. But he'd never followed up on any of her hints, because even if she hadn't been Justin's sister—which was reason enough to keep his hands off—Jessie was the kind of woman Sam avoided the same way he avoided three-piece suits and management jobs. Jessie was the kind of woman who had marriage and picket fences written all over her. And that meant any entanglement with her would be doomed for trouble. "I forgot about her party," he admitted.
    "She'll be disappointed."
    "Tell her I'm sorry." Sam felt a momentary discomfort as Justin studied him in that unnerving way he had of looking right down inside you so that you felt as if he could read your mind. Or your soul.
    Justin nodded slowly, his blue eyes reflective. "What about tomorrow? My mother said to bring you to dinner."
    In the past, there was nothing Sam had enjoyed more than being with Justin's family, but this thing with Jessie had put a damper on his enthusiasm. Yet how could he refuse to go without explaining why? "Yeah, sure, I'd love to come."
    "Good. That'll make Mom happy. She likes you. Don't ask me why. Doesn't have good sense, I guess."
    Sam grinned and gave Justin the finger.
    Then they both laughed, the slight tension introduced with the subject of Jessie now diffused.
    "How'd your meeting with Owen go?" Justin asked after awhile. "Do you know what your new assignment's going to be?"
    This, too, was uncomfortable territory. Sam wasn't ready to discuss his interview with Owen or the hint of an ultimatum in Owen's suggestions, not even with Justin. And Justin knew more of Sam's secrets than anyone else in the world.
    "No, not yet," he said casually. "I think I'll take some vacation first."
    "Really? Where are you going?"
    "I don't know. I haven't decided yet."
    "Want to go to Wyoming and do some fly fishing? I've still got two weeks vacation left."
    Sam shrugged. "Hmm. I don't know. That might be fun." What the hell. Maybe he would. He had to do something to fill up the next four weeks. "Tell you what. Let me think about it tonight, and we'll talk about it tomorrow."
     
    * * *
    Amy carefully washed her hands and applied lotion afterwards to make sure there was no lingering doggy smell. She always carried a travel toothbrush with her, so she brushed her teeth and her hair and freshened her lipstick. She also swiped at her T-shirt and tights with a lint brush she'd found in the supply cupboard. She wished she'd suggested to Sam that he pick her up later—at home—so she could have had a shower and changed her clothes, but it was too late now.
    By the time she was ready and had turned the sign in the door around so that the CLOSED side was showing, Sam's Corvette was parked out front.
    He looked great, wearing close-fitting jeans, a tan knit shirt, and brown boots. His sun-streaked hair gleamed in the afternoon light, and his eyes were an even richer brown than she'd remembered.
    Amy knew a perpetual tan wasn't good for a person's skin, but she sure did like the way it enhanced his smile and the color of his hair and eyes.
    God, he was sexy. Just looking at him gave her a tingly feeling in her nether regions. The sensation reminded her of Lark's advice about what Amy needed, which in turn caused Amy's face to heat up.
    "Right on time," she said, hoping he wouldn't notice how flustered she'd become. She ducked her head as he opened the passenger door for