Ruby Red, The Sequel - The Romance Story Continues (Complete)

Chapter 18

"Nope, cuz.  You can't get out of this.  You're back and I'm celebrating."  Catching the eye of the server, Charlie made a sign.  It must have been a pre-arranged agreement because moments later a bottle of top-shelf vodka and four shot glasses appeared on the table.

Charlie filled two glasses and offered one to Sam. "To new friends, old friends and absent friends."

Sam clinked the clear cup with his cousin and drained it immediately.  He welcomed the burning sensation, it distracted him from Charlie's reference to Thomas. After his death, it felt like people were afraid to even whisper his brother's name.  Charlie somehow recognized this omission and started using this toast as a way around the awkwardness.

"I miss him too, you know." Damn, how did Charlie always know what he was thinking? "Thomas was like my brother." Sam looked at Tasmine, hoping maybe she would interrupt this conversation. The woman was in her own world, obsessed with the phone in her hand. "An older, bossy brother."

Sam smiled in spite of himself.   Thomas was older and of course, knew better.  He was never afraid to remind the two younger boys.

"But he could be cool. Remember when he tried to teach me how to drive stick."

Sam winced in jest. "I can still hear the screech of those poor gears as you ground them out."

"I swear that car was never right afterwards."

"And you almost hit that tree."  Both men chuckled at the shared memory.

"Hey, he was yelling at me to hit the breaks.  I got confused with that extra pedal in there."  Charlie grinned his megawatt smile and shook his head, pouring another round of shots. "Here's to that poor Porsche."

All of a sudden Tasmine was paying attention to Charlie. "What about a Porsche?"

"Nothing babe, just talking about the past."

Tasmine's face wrinkled at the response. "Look, I have to go make a call. I'll be back."  Before she stalked off, she grabbed Charlie's chin, yanking it unnaturally over his shoulder and kissed him feverishly, pushing her other hand down the opening of his shirt.

When his cousin turned back to face him, his eyes were glossy as he adjusted his clothing.

Sam raised an eyebrow. "And where did we find her?"

"Here." Charlie audaciously grinned. "Last night."

"Charlie," Sam shook his head.

"What?" Charlie held up empty palms. "She's also a yoga instructor.  I mean c'mon, I couldn't pass that up."

"I guess..."

"Oh, no.  Don't you start." Charlie reached for the vodka bottle again. "Just because you found," he made air quotes "the one" then returned to pouring out the clear liquid, "doesn't give you the right to put that on me."

"Charlie," Sam took the offered glass. "She is though.  The one."

His cousin paused midway towards bringing the glass to his lips. His jocular manner turned serious. "Yeah man, I can tell."  Just as quickly, he turned on the charm and toasted Ali, downing his shot.  Sam followed him. 

Sam yearned to talk to his cousin about how he felt about Ali, tell him his plans.  But this was not the time or place and Charlie was not in the mood to hear it.  Just like Charlie could read Sam's thoughts, Sam was pretty good at reading Charlie. Sam was a bit out of practice but he was sure Charlie was definitely off tonight, overcompensating.  Sam had a sneaking suspicion that Tasmine was a reaction to something or someone else.

"Speaking of Ali, she's been gone a long time." Sam got up and moved towards the railing that allowed him to peer over the dancefloor.

"Like five minutes," griped Charlie.

Leaning over the steel bars, Sam scanned the area below.  It took him a moment to spot her.  Ali and Emily were bobbing to the music, hands in the air.  Ali had her head tipped back and he could see her mouthing the words to the song.  She was happy.

"Who knew Emily had such a rockin bod?" Charlie was beside him, swaying slightly. "I barely recognized her."

Sam started to answer his cousin when his eye caught sight of a man cutting through the revellers, heading straight for Ali. 

"Sam, you need to get..."

Sam didn't hear the rest of what his cousin said as he sped down the stairs and on to the crowded dancefloor. Steering around a mob of girls, he came upon Ali just as the bulky fellow was within arm's length of her. Grabbing her hand, Sam pulled Ali out of the man's reach.

None the wiser, Ali's eyes widened in delight and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "It's about time!" she cooed into his ear, sending a frisson of warmth down his spine. "I missed you." 

There they were on a packed dance floor with Emily only inches away, the music pounding around them yet Ali's words felt so intimate, tickling his ear and bringing other parts of Sam's body to life.

It had been too long.

Over the past week, he had allowed himself to hold Ali but nothing progressed past that point. Sam wanted to go further but he was afraid of pushing her.  And Ali hadn't initiated anything. Sam simply assumed she wasn't in the mood and left it there.

But this felt very different.  Ali's sapphire eyes sparkled in the strobing lights.  She bit her lip, making it look plump and kissable. Sam swallowed. 

Running his hands over her arms, Sam tried to delay to think.  He took his time tracing Ali's form until his palms ended up resting on her hips.  He felt them sway to the music and he pulled her closer. Sam's body craved the feel of Ali against him. Her breasts pressed against his chest, her fingers playing with the ends of his hair. 

Ali knew how much Sam loved his hair being touched, caressed.  It was calming and exhilarating at the same time. It was all the sign Sam needed.