The Lewis Legacy Series Box Set: 4-in-1 Special Edition Page 9

  Lexa leaned over to look at the ground below. In her shock at seeing him, she lost her balance and pitched forward, arms and legs flailing. A scream escaped, and a terrified look crossed her face. My, oh my, that sweet voice held amazing lung power as she cried out his name and fell toward the hard ground. Danger was always a good motivator. Thank goodness he was close enough to hopefully reach her in time, and the Lord blessed him with long limbs. At the moment, they were made for one purpose only.

  Rushing into action, Sam ran with outstretched arms and positioned himself directly below her. As Lexa fell into the cradle of his arms, they both tumbled to the ground in a sprawling tangle of limbs. At least his much larger body cushioned her fall, but she was right on top of him.

  “Ouch,” Sam muttered a moment later, gasping as he tried to catch his breath. All that came out were sputtering coughs.

  “Ouch.” Lexa tossed her braid behind one shoulder and echoed his cough with a hearty rendition all her own. Sam avoided touching her as she painstakingly extracted herself. She sat up on her knees and massaged the back of her neck. He was glad she’d moved. It was . . . unsettling. Her cheeks were flaming red, but it wasn’t from sunburn. Served her right. At least she had the decency to look remorseful.

  “Are you okay?” When Sam didn’t immediately answer, Lexa crouched over him and touched the middle of his chest with a cautious finger. “Are you okay?” she repeated, more urgent this time. “Speak to me. Oh, good heavens, you’re not dying are you?” Her voice sounded panicked.

  “Stop poking me. I’ll live,” Sam answered, his voice testy. He couldn’t ignore the way her touch electrified him. Sent every nerve ending into instant overdrive. That small hand rested right above his heart, bunching up his shirt. Swatting her fingers away before she moved them and caused even more trouble, he struggled to sit up on his elbows. “Alexis Clarke, what do you think you’re doing out here by yourself?”

  “You mean on a Sunday, don’t you?” And there it was. That saucy, I-dare-you-to-tell-me-what-to-do expression. Crossing her arms, she glared at him with that increasingly familiar defiance.

  “I repeat, what are you doing out here by yourself? It was a very foolish thing to do. I hope you realize that now.” Maybe he should quiet his tone, but she needed to learn a lesson.

  “Yes, Mother.” Lexa dusted off her hands and rose to a standing position. “Here.” She offered her hand. “The least I can do is give you a hand up. After all, I suppose you saved me.”

  “Don’t do me any favors.” When she roared, he shook his head. The woman confounded the bounds of normal propriety. “You’re a very strange woman. I don’t quite know what to make of you. Are you always this much trouble back home in Houston?”

  Waving away her hand, Sam pulled himself to his feet and dusted his hands. His pulse throbbed, his heart pounded in his chest. He was dizzy, but not from having the wind knocked out of him. He didn’t care to stop and examine the reasons why.

  “Don’t you dare laugh at me, Sam Clarke.” That defiant chin tilted upward.

  “Lewis.” He towered over her, but every defense crumbled as Sam lost himself in those challenging eyes, those tempting lips. She looked like she wanted to slap him or . . . More than anything on earth, he needed to play this one out.

  “Lewis, what?” Lexa stepped backward—a slow, baby step. Her eyes grew wide, and she shook her head and averted her eyes. He liked that she was rattled enough to say the wrong name. Liked her off balance.

  “My name. You just called me Sam Clarke. My name’s Lewis. Yours is Clarke.” His voice sounded odd—husky and thick. Sam understood it meant trouble, but nothing was stopping him now.

  “Do you realize what you just said?”

  Part of him wanted to run in the opposite direction, but Sam kept both feet firmly planted on the ground. Oh no, he wasn’t going anywhere soon. Neither was she since she made no move to flee. He lowered his head, his lips hovering above hers, only an inch away as he searched for a clue to what she wanted. Sam glimpsed his own hunger mirrored in those gorgeous eyes.

  “Together, you and me, we’re Lewis and Clarke,” Lexa mumbled. “You know, the explorer team?” Her question held a sense of wonder. Her eyes swept across his face and fell on his lips.

  Unless he was misreading her—and that was a distinct possibility—Lexa wanted it as much as he did. “I’ve heard of them.” He was only interested in exploring one thing. Hauling her into the circle of his arms, Sam ran out of patience. It was a move worthy of The Duke in one of his western movies. He’d never wanted to kiss a woman more in his life. He might regret what he was about to do, but nothing was stopping him now.

  “I’m going to kiss you, Miss Clarke. If it’s possible, please be quiet and try to enjoy it.” That statement even sounded like The Duke. Sam’s fingers tightened around her tiny waist, pulling her even closer, his lids lowering. They felt heavy, as if under the spell of a potent drug. He was powerless.

  “Make me,” Lexa challenged, her voice husky now, too.

  Bringing his lips down on hers, Sam covered her mouth with his own and kissed this feisty woman with passionate abandon. Something about her brought out long-dormant instincts. For one thing, she poured her energies into a heart-stopping kiss. He could feel the tension slowly easing from her body as Lexa relaxed in his arms and sighed a little against his lips. Sam wasn’t sure how he stayed on his feet, but he needed to keep them upright. Never in his life had he felt so alive. Or so out of control.

  He needed to stop. He needed to back away from her now and not look back. But she responded to him in the way he hoped yet dreaded she would. Her lips were so lush and soft, and Sam wanted so much more. Things he shouldn’t think about as a Christian man, a leader and mentor for the younger men. If needed, he’d pray for forgiveness . . . later. All he could concentrate on was the woman in his arms. As he kissed Lexa like a starving man at a feast, he lost track of time, dizzy with her nearness and the undeniable force of their attraction.

  In that moment, Sam knew he was lost.

  Forcing himself to finally back away, he released her. How long had it gone on? His stare met hers as he tried to regain his shaken composure. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, half under his breath. In his heart, he wasn’t sorry, but he didn’t want Lexa to think he intended to take advantage of the situation. Didn’t intend to devour her lips, but he’d certainly claimed them.

  They’d only known each other for two days. He’d already asked her out, and now he’d practically mauled her with his lips. What on earth was wrong with him? He’d never acted this stupid or impulsive around a woman in his entire life. He didn’t regret it for one moment, but he had a reputation to uphold in the TeamWork camp.

  Serious prayer was definitely in order. He’d be on his knees tonight. Lexa Clarke would keep him on his toes, but the signs were already there she’d keep him on his knees on a regular basis.

  “I said I’m sorry, Lexa.” His gaze focused on the ground although he knew she watched. Seemed that kissing quieted this intriguing woman. He’d have to tuck that tidbit away in case it came into play later on. A full minute passed without either of them speaking.

  “Sorry for what, exactly?” Lexa blinked hard, those lush eyelashes fluttering against reddened cheeks. Her fingers moved to her mouth and she left them on her lips.

  If her muddled emotions were anything like his, Lexa must be more than confused. But it was also pretty great in a lot of respects. His mouth still stung from their prolonged kiss. He’d feel it for a long time, forget it never. Sam scratched his head, knowing his dazed expression must mirror hers.

  “I’m sorry for telling you to be quiet. I’ve never said that to a woman before.” There was more to it than that, but he wasn’t talking. Not about that. Not now.

  “I’m afraid I provoked it. And, for the record, you did say please.”

  “Yeah, well, we’d better be getting back to the campsite.” Walking past Lexa, Sam retrieved her hat and waited for he
r to catch up. Together, they silently hobbled back toward the station wagon. “Are you okay?” He tugged open the passenger door and waited. “If you’re hurt, please tell me.”

  He wondered if he should fill out an incident report. As TeamWork leader, he should, but he didn’t want her to get in trouble for breaking the rules. It might send her running all the way back to Houston. Sam didn’t want to risk that happening. She was equal parts annoying, fascinating, challenging . . . and fun. Oh yes, he wanted to keep her around all right.

  “Other than having a bad sunburn and hurt pride, I think I’ll live.” Lexa climbed into the car. Leaning her head back against the seat, she released a deep sigh.

  “Just do me one favor.” Sam slid onto the seat beside her.

  “Depends.” Lexa crossed her arms again. “Okay,” she relented. “I’ll try my best. What’s the favor?”

  “The next time you decide to do something foolish, ask someone else to come along. And here,” he said, reaching into the backseat and thrusting a water bottle in her hands, “drink some of this. Your mouth must be a little dry by now.”

  His humor recovered, Sam laughed when Lexa gaped at him. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you it’s not polite to stare?” he teased, pulling out of the clearing in yet another cloud of dust.

  Chapter 11

  After her shower, Lexa sat cross-legged on her bed, towel drying her hair. Even though she’d been a fool and falling on top of Sam at the worksite had been the ultimate humiliation, she smiled. She’d never been kissed like that in her entire life. Never kissed a man like that. Her breath slowly filtered back into her body. As difficult as it was for her to believe, Lexa suspected Sam hadn’t kissed a woman in a long time. He must be making up for lost time. In a big way.

  Noting a lump under the bedcovers, Lexa pulled aside the lightweight blanket and spied yet another Bible. Did everyone at the Bible study notice she didn’t have one? This one was well-worn in the extreme. Fingering its binding with reverence, she recognized its owner before she turned it over and saw Sam’s name embossed on the front cover.

  Judging from the Bible she’d seen him hold at the bonfire and again this morning, Lexa figured he must have gone through a dozen of the Good Books in his lifetime. It was something he treasured. Because his faith and God’s Word meant so much to Sam, she appreciated his thoughtfulness in giving it to her. It was a precious gift.

  Opening to the dedication page, Lexa ran her finger over his handwritten name. Samuel J. Lewis, Jr. She wondered if the small, precise lettering was his. Wincing because of her sore thumb, Lexa stopped when she reached the book of Jonah. She read how the Lord commanded Jonah to go and preach in the city of Nineveh as a result of the wickedness there. Instead, Jonah took off in the opposite direction and headed for Tarshish. He boarded a ship and the Lord sent a storm upon the ship—a storm so great the sailors cried out to their own gods to save them. Confronting Jonah, the sailors demanded to know what he’d done to so anger God.

  Closing the Bible, Lexa’s brow creased. Was God mad at her? Mad because she’d pushed Him out of her life for so long? She certainly didn’t hate Him, but she had so many unanswered questions. Why had He taken her mother away, leaving her with a father who couldn’t show his love for his only child? Maybe it wasn’t her place to question God’s purpose.

  Perhaps Sam was right, and she was more like Jonah than she wanted to admit. When she’d asked Jesus into her heart, she wanted to belong to Him, wanted Him in her life. But then what did she do? She pushed him away for years, running in the opposite direction. Just like Jonah.

  Winnie sat down quietly on the bed beside Lexa, holding a bottle of aloe. “You look like you could use some of this.” Her soft voice was as soothing as the gel Lexa needed on her neck, arms and every other part of her exposed to the sun at the worksite. “Don’t worry, I won’t ask what happened, sweetie. I just hate it that you’re going to really hurt tomorrow. Do you want me to help you rub in the gel?”

  “I’d appreciate it. Thanks, Winnie.” Lexa looked at her with grateful eyes. The coolness of the gel eased the stinging of the sunburn, but Lexa knew it was fleeting. She winced as Winnie spread the gel over her arms. In the morning, she’d be left with a glaring reminder of her foolishness and resemble a crustacean. She had no one to blame but herself.

  “You’re welcome. I’m going to leave the bottle here on the floor beside your bed. Use as much as you need. We’ve got lots around here.” Winnie climbed under the sheets of her bed. Pulling them up around her, she gave her a sweet smile.

  “Good night.” Watching her, Lexa thought what a wonderful mother Winnie would make someday. She was so nurturing and kind to all the TeamWork volunteers. Earlier in the evening, she’d brought her a sandwich from the canteen supply, knowing she’d missed dinner.

  Would there be a storm in her life one day like the one God sent to Jonah’s ship? One that brought her to her knees and forced her to make a decision whether to follow God’s will or reject it? She’d made a decision all those years ago, but choosing to follow His leading was another story now. In her heart, Lexa wanted to believe God cared about her. She needed Him to care about her.

  Turning off the light anchored on the wall above her bed, Lexa vowed to read more in the Bible the next night. And the next. Before she fell asleep, Lexa wanted to try and pray. She might not say the right thing, and she might feel pretty stupid. Still, she wanted to try, and hoped the Almighty could hear her prayer. And so, she prayed.

  ~~**~~

  Lexa awoke on her own the next morning without anyone tugging her out of bed. She caught Rebekah and Amy exchanging amused glances. Sheila kept her nose stuck in her Bible as usual, peering over the top at her every now and then.

  “I hear you had yourself a little adventure yesterday.” Josh kept his voice low as he seated himself beside her at the breakfast table. He laughed under his breath when she stared at him.

  “Don’t worry. No one else needs to know.” He leaned close. “Beck went to Sam when you went missing.”

  A frown tugged the corners of her mouth. “Everyone probably has their suspicions. I honestly don’t know what possessed me. I was bored, and foolishly thought I could get a little work done. I suppose I was also rebelling against Sam’s rule of no work at the worksite on Sundays.”

  Josh laughed. “Well, he wasn’t the first one to think of that particular rule. It’s also a commandment.”

  “Give me a break, Josh,” she snapped, sounding more harsh than she intended. “We’re not kids here.”

  Josh looked at her askance. “And you don’t like being told you can’t do something.”

  Lexa blew out a sigh. “I certainly deserved that. Look, normally I play by the rules. I guess I decided to do my own thing for a change. And look where it got me.”

  “So, you learned your lesson. Because you had something to prove.”

  Lexa opened her mouth in protest, but faltered. The man might be young, but he was smart and intuitive.

  Josh watched her with an odd look in those green eyes. His gaze traveled to her arms. “It looks like you got a painful sunburn, too. That must hurt.” He touched her arm, but withdrew his hand when he caught her warning glance. Even the brief touch left white finger marks on her arm. He murmured appropriate sympathies as she cringed.

  After one of the men prayed for their breakfast, Josh turned to her with his most charming smile. “Care to walk to the worksite with me this morning, gorgeous?”

  “I can’t,” Lexa told him with genuine regret. “I’m pledged to help out in the schoolroom today. Stop being so kind. I know I’m anything but attractive this morning.”

  Josh looked straight into her eyes. “You’re a lovely woman, Lexa. Don’t let anyone ever tell you differently.”

  She tried to hide her surprise. Was Josh looking for more than friendship?

  He watched as she took a bite of toast. “Maybe later this week you’ll lend a hand with the building, and we can work together ag
ain. I think we make a pretty good team.”

  “As long as you promise to keep the pesky armadillos at bay.” Lexa laughed, but it rang hollow. This work camp was getting more interesting by the moment.

  ~~**~~

  The one-room school was hot, cramped, and bustling with nearly thirty school age children ranging in age from about seven to thirteen. The children over thirteen were expected to help their parents and the volunteers with the building project. Lexa sat in a corner and watched as Rebekah led everyone in singing a few fun songs. Then she stood with the others as they recited the Pledge of Allegiance before they broke into smaller groups and separated into different corners of the room. Rebekah assigned Lexa to assist Natalie and Amy with the youngest group.

  “Are we allowed to teach Bible stories?” Lexa whispered to Amy.

  “Here.” Amy handed her a stack of papers, a box of crayons and some colorful stickers. Satisfied a few moments later that all of the children were busy coloring, Amy walked over to stand beside her. “We’ve got a mix of kids here. Some are them belong to the people whose homes are being rebuilt. Others are the children of migrant workers. To be honest, they’re lucky to get what little education we can offer them. But to answer your question, the parents are all made aware from the start that we’re going to teach Bible lessons and songs as well as the usual subjects.” She grinned. “Especially with Sam in charge.”

  “I thought we were here to help rebuild homes destroyed by the floodwaters.”