“Amanda, I’m sorry. It’s great to meet you. Butyousaid you’d be back in five minutes,” Corie replied, fixing Sam with a sarcastic grin. Yeah, they were more like siblings than play cousins. Amanda tried her best not to laugh at their back-and-forth.
“Not a damn thing in this whole county is within five minutes of this house,” Sam laughed. “I said you guys didn’t have to wait.”
“Some of us have manners. Nice to see you again, Amanda,” Jesse said as he turned around. He had a tub of cheeseballs in his hand.
She smiled back at him even though his expression was blank and impossible to read. That he’d remembered her after their nearly nonexistent interaction the week before shocked her a bit. “Likewise. Thanks for having me in your home.”
“Of course. Can I get you something to drink?”
“I’m fine. Thank you though.”
“She likes you.” He nodded toward her side. Amanda looked down and realized she’d been absently stroking the soft head of the black Lab that had parked itself by her socked feet.
“Feeling’s mutual,” she replied with a shrug.
“You’re a dog person?”
“Ananimalperson.”
“You’ll have to go by the stables tomorrow then. Meet Sam’s horse,” Jesse suggested.
“I’d be happy to take you,” Sam said. And something warm bloomed in Amanda’s chest. This was not the plan. She was supposed to be asleep in a king-size ranch bed. Tomorrow she was supposed to take full advantage of a free trip to the spa, but all she wanted was to spend time with Sam and his horse. And the dogs too.
“I need to use the restroom. Don’t start without me,” Jesse said as he set the cheeseballs down on the counter.
“Bitch, you had like thirty minutes,” Corie said. Amanda managed to hold in her laughter. Lilah covered hers with a pathetic cough.
“Corie, you’re free to go back to your house. In Sacramento,” Jesse said.
“Just hurry up. It’s already late as hell and this is the best one,” Corie replied.
“Yeah, yeah. Amanda, please make yourself at home.”
“Thank you. I will.”
“Come on.” Sam nodded across the room and guided her over to the couch with a hand on the small of her back. The dogs followed, gathering at her feet again as soon as she and Sam were comfortable on the couch next to Lilah. Vega made herself comfortable on the love seat next to Corie and then Amanda saw it, what Sam was talking about with their obvious relationship. Corie sat back and pulled Vega’s legs across her lap. Amanda quickly shut down all thoughts of her proximity to Sam. How she’d put to bed any chance of simple, casual, familiar touches developing between them.
Not that casual touches, or an under-the-blanket couch snuggle was something she considered having with Sam, but seeing the ease between Vega and Corie brought an odd loneliness back to the surface, that odd tug that had convinced her to sleep with Sam in the first place. She was lonely and worse, she was dying for an affectionate touch. She’d have to settle for Jason’s murderous rampage across the island of Manhattan. She made herself comfortable on the worn leather cushions between Sam and his cousin and did her best to think of anything besides how close their thighs were to touching.
“So how’d you two meet?” Vega asked. “Sam ran out of here so fast we didn’t get to ask him follow-up questions.”
“Uh, through mutual friends. Helene and Ignacio. After the, um, Oscars, I went to theVanity Fairparty with Helene and he wouldn’t stop talking to me on the dance floor.” After weeks of lying to Dru, it felt weird to tell the truth.
“Typical,” Vega teased.
“I’m so happy they got married,” Lilah said with a dreamy sigh. “I know you’re not supposed to ship real people, but when they were doing press forMagnetthe fangirl in me prayed that true love would find two people so talented and beautiful.”
“They are a great match,” Amanda said, laughing about Lilah’s earnest declaration. “It’s like looking directly at the sun when they are together.”
“You’re in the industry too?” Vega asked.
“Yeah, she’s a writer,” Sam said. The touch of pride in his voice turned her stomach. So much for the truth.
“Damn, I was hoping for another ally. I’m a nurse.”
“No on-camera work, no horses?” Amanda replied, trying to keep the focus on Vega.
“No. Private-care nurse. Usually for the elderly. I love it, but I’m always looking for someone to relate to when I have no fucking idea what the hell they are all talking about.”