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  Lexa forced herself to concentrate on the here and now as she carried the gorgeous yellow roses into the kitchen and retrieved a vase under the sink. She handled it with care since it belonged to her mother. As unemotional and unromantic as her father had been, he’d given her mother flowers on the occasional birthday or Valentine’s Day. Filling the vase with water, Lexa dumped in the contents of the preservative packet that had been tucked in the box along with the fresh blooms.

  Another knock. Busy in the kitchen, Lexa knew this time it was Sam. Her heart pounded with anticipation although it had only been a few days since she left the TeamWork camp. She could only imagine what seeing Sam would be like again after an entire year had passed. She pushed that thought aside—again. Tonight, and the entire week ahead, was about enjoying being with the man she loved.

  Smoothing her dress with a quick hand, Lexa fluffed her long hair and took another deep, steadying breath which proved futile once she saw Sam standing on her doorstep. He was making acquaintance with dear Clarice Swanson, her next door neighbor. Charming her from the looks of it. Goodness, the man could charm the shell off an armadillo.

  “I was meeting your young man, Lexa.” Clarice gave her a knowing wink. “Hang on to him, dear. He’s a keeper.”

  “You think so?” Lexa practically hauled Sam over the threshold. With a wave as Clarice made her way down the front walkway, she closed the front door. Leaning back against the door, she was literally swept up in his arms as he pulled her to him and peppered her cheeks, her forehead and then her lips with light kisses.

  “Is that the best you can do?” She pulled him toward her and planted one of the best kisses of her life on his expectant lips. At length, she eyed him with appreciation. He was dressed in khaki slacks and a gorgeous, medium blue, lightweight V-neck sweater. “I’d say you clean up pretty well, Mr. Lewis.” Lexa always loved sweaters on men. Even though it was warm outside, the night air could sometimes get chilly.

  “And you’re incredibly beautiful, Miss Clarke.”

  Lexa sighed. “It’s hard to know what to do with that, you know.”

  “Ah, but I thought you were getting much more adept at handling compliments.”

  “Speaking of beautiful, I was arranging a bouquet of absolutely gorgeous yellow roses delivered a few minutes ago. Have any idea where they might have come from?”

  Sam chuckled. “Probably another one of your many admirers. I figured you might like yellow roses. After all, what woman in Texas doesn’t?” Even as she acknowledged that sentiment, Lexa knew she’d love dandelions—weeds—from this man. She’d take anything he offered because it would come from the purest part of his heart.

  “You’re adorable when you giggle.” Sam helped her put the last of the long-stemmed roses in the tall vase after first plucking away a few of the leaves and trimming the bottom. “Ouch. I knew that would happen,” he complained after pricking his index finger on one of the thorns. He wrung his hand and raised his finger to his lips before smiling and holding it up. “Care to kiss it and make it all better?”

  She laughed. “After you just had your germs all over it? Not on your life.”

  “The threat of germs didn’t stop you from kissing me.”

  “Different and you know it.” They laughed together and bantered back and forth as they prepared to go to dinner. Her momentary fear that they might not have anything to talk about at the end of the TeamWork camp was dispelled completely. Lexa remembered to grab her sweater as they headed outside, although she suspected keeping warm anytime in the week ahead wouldn’t be a problem.

  “So, do you still have your job at Alamo World Financial?” Sam wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close as they walked together toward the station wagon. Lexa appreciated how he kept his strides purposely short to keep pace beside her.

  “Believe it or not, they hired someone else to take my place, but that person proved not quite competent enough to handle the workload.”

  “Are you going to bury yourself in work while I’m gone?”

  “What do you expect me to do? Pine away for the man I love?” she teased, before turning more serious. “Yes, I’ll probably pour myself into work. But don’t remind me.” Lexa buried her head against him, loving the feel, the smell, the everything of Sam. She wanted to savor every sense, every feeling, every emotion. “I don’t want to spend this week talking about financial planning or anything close to it. But I know one thing I’ll do while you’re gone. I’m going to practice making peach pie.”

  He laughed, helping her into the car. “Let me take the most gorgeous woman in the world to dinner.”

  ~~**~~

  “So, did you pick out that blue sweater all on your own or did you have some help?” Lexa asked as they sat across from one another at dinner at The Grotto a short time later. It was romantic and elegant and featured a small, cascading waterfall in the middle of the dining room and a pianist played quiet ballads in a corner.

  “My sister, Rachel, gave it to me for Christmas this past year. Said it would match my eyes.” Although his smile was broad, Sam rolled his eyes.

  “She’s right. Tell me more about your family.”

  As they waited for their salads to be delivered, Sam reached for her hand. He squeezed, but did not relinquish it. “It’s a big family with lots of stories.” His eyes sparkled.

  “Start by telling me about your mom and dad.”

  “This could take all night. I’m taking you to meet them later in the week, you know.”

  Lexa’s heart beat faster. “Really?”

  “They’ve been clamoring loudly for the honor of making your acquaintance. All right,” he said, taking a deep breath, “I’m the oldest of six kids. I’m the namesake, which means my dad is obviously Sam, Sr. My mom is Sarah, and my siblings are—in order—identical twins Rachel and Emily, followed by Will, Caty and Carson. Rachel and Emily graduated from the University of Texas in Austin a few years ago and now live out on the west coast.”

  “Is that where you went to college?” Funny, they’d never even discussed their education. They’d talked about everything else under the sun.

  “Yes. Degree in finance. You?”

  “Same, but at Rice.”

  Sam nodded. “Will’s a hotshot aeronautical engineer and Air Force pilot with grandiose dreams of working for NASA.” Sam chuckled. “I think watching Grandpa Lewis tinker with all those old airplane engines started something with Will. He’s a genius when it comes to scientific matters but lacks general common sense. My brother likes to tell God how things are going to be ordered in the universe. At least the universe according to Will. He also looks a lot like the person sitting across the table from you. Just a few inches shorter.” He grinned.

  “Catherine, or Caty, is my sweet Caty Bug, and I’m closer to her and Carson—the baby of all us kids—than the others. Those are the two you’re most likely to meet, along with my parents, when I take you to meet them at the family homestead.”

  Lexa eyed him, curiosity written in her expression. “Why do you feel closer to Caty and Carson?” Since she never had any siblings, it was wonderful to think Sam had so many.

  Sam shrugged. “Family dynamics, I suppose. They’re all great, but Rachel and Emily always have this little twin thing going on between them. They’ve pretty much done everything together their whole lives—same schools, same schedules, even dated twin brothers for a while.” He smiled. “Even though they have separate identities, I sometimes feel they’re also too wrapped up in the other. It would probably do them a world of good to go off on their own and find out exactly who they are as separate individuals for a while. I hope that makes sense.”

  “It makes perfect sense.”

  “Caty will be a sophomore at Wheaton College in September. Of all my siblings, I’ll miss her the most while I’m away on this TeamWork mission. She and I have always thought a lot alike and shared our thoughts with one another. I think she’s always looked to me as her protector of sorts, al
though she’s certainly very strong and independent in her own right.” He chuckled, obviously remembering a fond memory.

  “What are you thinking?” Lexa prompted.

  “Caty called me one night during her junior year of high school and begged me to come to one of the downtown hotels and rescue her from an overly amorous prom date who . . . let’s just say had big plans involving a hotel room. I picked her up, took her home and we spent an hour slow dancing together in our living room. She needed a prom date that night, not an overbearing big brother. Caty always asks me for advice and wants to know things like why guys grunt so much, slap each other on the back, smell their socks before putting them in the laundry hamper and wolf down their food so fast.”

  Lexa laughed. “And what about you, Sam?”

  He lifted his brows. “Me?”

  “Why will you miss Caty the most while you’re gone?”

  Sam sighed and repositioned his hand on the tabletop, intertwining her fingers with his. “Caty shares my passion for the Lord. She’s a deep thinker. We can spend hours debating theological issues, and often do. We don’t always agree, which challenges me all the more. I don’t insist people agree with my opinion, but I like them to be able to adequately defend their position. Caty always holds up her end of the bargain in that respect.”

  “And Carson?”

  Sam smiled. “Carson shares that fierce love of the Lord, too, but he’s still very young. I believe he might pursue full-time ministry of some type in the future.”

  Lexa laughed. “Remind me never to get involved in a theological debate with you.”

  Sam gave her one of his irresistible, lazy grins. “I’d rather debate other things with you, Lexa.”

  “Such as?” She gave him a coy smile.

  “Saved by the salads.” Sam winked as their server placed them on the table.

  “Why don’t you pray that we can manage to get through this meal without causing a little scene,” Lexa suggested. Sam laughed out loud, and they bowed their heads to pray. For the rest of the meal, they sampled each other’s food, laughed, teased and enjoyed a wonderful evening. Every minute spent with Sam, Lexa learned something new or different about him. She’d always found it a ridiculous display when couples fed one another and stared like lovesick idiots across the table, but now she gladly joined their ranks.

  ~~**~~

  “I feel like I should be leading bonfire devotionals or singing right about now.” They sat facing one another a few hours later, her feet curled beneath her, his arm along the back of the sofa. The air between them was literally charged, and Lexa felt sensitized in every fiber of her being.

  “You can give me a little Bible lesson if you want.” Lexa kept her tone light, teasing. “I have an awful lot to learn. I don’t expect to keep up with you, but I want to be able to hold my own in those theological debates.” Maybe all the praying and studying she planned to do would also keep her thoughts a little more pure.

  “I don’t think I’ve seen anyone grow as much as you did at our TeamWork camp, Lexa.” Sam’s voice was quiet. His warm fingers inched a slow pathway to her shoulder, bringing a particular night under the tree to mind. The same night they’d shared such great conversation outside Maxie’s.

  “It’s been such an eye-opening, wonderful experience for me as a director to see that personal challenge and growth. And, you,” he added, shifting closer to her, quickening her heart the closer he came, “challenged me tremendously. I’ve learned more about myself because of your presence in the camp.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that.”

  “Oh, but I do,” he murmured, pulling her chin toward him, “but I don’t want to spend all night talking about it.” Lowering his mouth to hers, Sam kissed her for all he was worth. He smelled so good, so masculine. It was different from his rugged, natural scent at the work camp, but every bit as appealing. The TeamWork Sam was the rugged, cowboy Sam. This man was the more professional, polished Sam, and it was good to see both sides of the man she’d come to love. Her hands moved to the back of his head, fingering the curls at the nape of his neck in the way he loved.

  “What kinds of things did you learn about yourself, Mr. Lewis?” Her laugh escaped as Sam nuzzled her cheek.

  “You’re a very inquisitive woman, Miss Clarke. Enough talking. Why don’t you be quiet and let me kiss you some more?” Sam’s lids were heavy and she felt his staggered breath on her cheek. They had to be careful. His presence next to her on the sofa, and especially his kisses, did untold things inside her. The man was a potent drug, addictive and difficult to resist.

  “In just a minute.” Pushing him away with gentle hands, Lexa smiled but kept his hand anchored in hers. “I’d really like to know.”

  “Okay.” Sam leaned back with reluctance, those full lips smiling in only the way he could. “First, I have no right to judge anyone. Only the Lord knows someone’s heart and soul, and I need to leave it in His very capable hands.” When his smile faded, Lexa knew he was thinking about Josh. Sam leaned toward her again, his intent quite obvious.

  “And second?” Lexa prompted, her own lids heavy. She blinked hard and tried to regain her faculties, but wasn’t entirely successful. It was amazing what this man’s kisses did to her. This night was so incredibly romantic. She never wanted it to end.

  “Second, and as I know I mentioned before, a growing faith is better than a stagnant faith. What good is our faith if we allow it to sit idle? The way I look at it, our faith is like a garden. If it’s not nurtured or tended to lovingly, it will wither and die. On the other hand, if that garden is cultivated and watched over carefully, it will thrive. But it needs water and sun and love in order to grow.” He looked at her with a small smile. “Children are like that, too, you know.”

  “What? A garden?” She shook her head, confused.

  He grinned. “Children have that completely honest approach to faith. It’s fresh, and it needs to be nurtured, obviously. But look what happens when we feed them from God’s word, when we share our love and model faith in action. I’ll tell you something that gets me every single time is when the kids’ choir sings at church. Those kids—with their shining faces, big eyes and willing spirits—open their hearts to what the Lord can do through them.” Sam’s eyes misted and he touched his chest. “It grabs this old heart every time. Just wraps itself around me and tugs away.”

  Lexa squeezed his hand. “You get my heart every time, Sam Lewis.”

  Sam looked at her for a long moment. “And you, Lexa Clarke, are my heart.”

  She grinned. “We’re pretty sappy, you know, cowboy.”

  He winked. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, beautiful girl.”

  “So, I take it you’d like to grow your own little garden of kids someday? So you can nurture them?” With a lot of men, a question like that would probably have them hopping away faster than a jackrabbit, but not Sam Lewis.

  “Hmm,” he murmured, pulling her to her feet to walk over to the front door together. Leaning against the doorframe, Sam studied her, not speaking for a long time.

  On the opposite side of the door, Lexa tilted her head, trying to figure out what he might be thinking. It was a near impossible task. In a lot of ways, he was a complex and fascinating man.

  “You didn’t answer the question.”

  “Quite honestly, I can’t wait to have children of my own. It’ll be one of the greatest thrills of my life. I wholeheartedly welcome the challenge, but I also realize it’s not the easiest responsibility.” Sam pulled her to him, leaning his forehead against hers. “I want as many kids as the Lord wants to give me. But,” he whispered, moving his lips down to brush a gentle kiss on her upturned cheek, “it takes two to create those children. And I look forward to that part,” he said, moving his lips toward hers, “very, very much.” His kiss stirred her all the way to her toes.

  “Oh, Mr. Lewis, the things you say,” Lexa teased, kissing him again before pushing him out the door with playful hands. She was ti
ngling all over. It was going to be so hard to let this man go.

  Chapter 46

  Lexa went through the motions of attempting to get some work done in her office every day while Sam attended to his TeamWork business. She ached to be together with him whenever possible. They had to squeeze in as much time—and make as many memories—as they could before he left Saturday on his flight overseas.

  Sam met Lexa at her office, charming everyone in the process, and they shared lunches, picnics in the park, feeding the ducks at a pond near her townhome, and taking long walks. They sat together at the prayer meeting in his church where Sam proudly introduced her to everyone.

  Sam showed her his small apartment not far from his family’s home, but they didn’t linger. It looked like a typical bachelor’s home, used primarily for sleep. Sports equipment was stashed in every corner, and the man obviously loved books—they lined the shelves in the living room and were piled high on every available table.

  They made a couple of dinners together in her townhome, sharing them by candlelight. Sam was surprisingly adept in the kitchen, preparing a delicious shrimp and pasta dish. Lexa watched, amazed, as he seasoned and sautéed like a pro. A man who looked as good as he did, and could cook, too? Not wanting to swell Sam’s head, she hugged that thought to herself.

  When he insisted on washing their dinner dishes, Lexa knew Clarice was right. She had a keeper. She also tried making a peach pie for the first time in her life. Sam claimed it was the best he’d ever had, which she rather doubted since he’d already told her that Grandma Lewis made the best in the world. Still, Lexa knew Sam appreciated her thoughtful efforts. When he came home in a year’s time, she wanted to present him with the most mouth-watering peach pie he’d ever tasted.