To say he'd been surprised to see Sam's pretty face cross his screen last night was an understatement. He hadn't heard from her since their last chance encounter and he'd figured she'd up and left again. He probably wouldn't hear from her again for months, if ever. She was always a wanderer now, it would seem, never one to stay in one place too long. It almost made him sad. That must get lonely. He wanted to be a friend to her, even knowing Amelia might not like the idea of him hanging out with another woman. He had no doubt his fiance trusted him, but if she knew he'd once harbored strong feelings for the redhaired fae, she'd probably be less than thrilled with him running off to meet her. But he couldn't turn Sam down. She was once a close friend to him and even if she didn't think of him that way anymore, he still cared about her. Wandering aimlessly into the shopping district, he sighed as he glanced down at his phone, wondering if he should call her or something to see exactly where she was. They'd decided to meet here, but hadn't gotten more specific. He was just about to dial her number, already nervous about hearing her voice again, when he looked around and caught sight of a lick of fire in the crowd of otherwise boring people in the plaza. A wry smirk pulled at his lips as he put his phone away and headed in that direction. He'd know that lock of red hair anywhere. As he walked around behind the bench, he leaned down to whisper over her shoulder. "Mind if I join you, little lady?" His green eyes sparkled as he moved around to sit down next to her, sure that he gave her a little fright for his trouble. He sobered up quickly though when he couldn't help but notice the slight....change....to her body. Sam was always a little lithe thing, athletic and dainty. There was a noticeable bulge where there wasn't before and he wasn't insensitive enough to make jokes about her going on a chocolate binge. Concern flitted across his features and he scowled thoughtfully. Could this be why she had contacted him? Was she in trouble and needed his help? All the worst case scenarios flashed in his mind. Abusive ex-lover, one night stand gone wrong, rapist, etc. The list could go on and on. Yet as he studied her, she didn't look particularly upset or even nervous. If anything, she seemed to glow with a look that he only saw on expecting mothers that actually wanted their children. Or at least what he assumed was that kind of look. The look he remembered seeing in his own mother's eyes when she looked at him or his brother when they were younger. Clearing his throat, he forced his gaze back up to hers and offered a smile. "Long time, no see, Sam. It's good to see you." He had to be polite and try not to draw too much attention to it, right? Okay, so he wasn't that good. Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair and leaned toward her, his voice going low in case she didn't want it to be public. "Are you in trouble? Is anyone coming after you? Whatever you need, it's yours." He was never good at ignoring the elephant in the room. |