He sounded so wistful, Sam had the sudden urge to hug him. “If it’s what you want, you should go for it.”
He shifted his shoulders uncomfortably. “We’ll see. What about you? What do you want?”
That didn’t take much thought. “I want Silver Daughters to be okay and not collapse due to my incompetence.”
“Oh, well, I’m sure you’re doing your best.”
Sam grimaced.
“Sorry, that was an insufferably British response, wasn’t it?”
She smiled. “No, I was just thinking you sound like my dad. He was always on me about doing my best.”
“It’s not bad advice.”
“I know, it’s just…” Sam shook her head, gloomy again.
“Just, what?”
“I have no idea what I’m doing! I know how to tattoo, but the rest of it—advertising, managing, making sure everyone’s on the same page, it just feels like too much. Tabby and Nicole are here to help me now but soon they’ll be gone and I’m scared it’ll all go to shit.”
Scott put down his burger. “Samantha, trust me, no one knows what they’re doing. We’re all just making it up as we go along. Or copying people who also don’t know what they’re doing. You’re still showing up and trying to learn, that’s impressive.”
Sam felt tears prickle at the backs of her eyes. “Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me. You’re the one doing all the work.”
“I have to thank you. You’re letting me eat McDonald’s in your car.”
Scott took her hand and despite the cool of his fingers, a warm current rippled through her skin. “You asked for help when you needed itandyou just came second in a huge competition. I don’t want to be presumptuous Sam, but I’m sure wherever your dad is, he’s proud of you.”
Dear lord.With that comment, and the skin-to-skin contact, the threat of tears became actual dripping reality. Sam swiped a palm across her eyes, embarrassed. “This is the second time I’ve cried in front of you. You must think I’m a mess.”
“I don’t. I’ve thought many things about you, but never that.”
Sam gave a watery grin. “Thanks, Galahad.”
“Samantha, do I have to remind you I’m not a virgin again?”
She laughed. “It’s just a habit now. Besides, it suits you.”
Scott ducked his head and even in the semi-darkness, Sam could see he was blushing. His hand tightened around hers. “Feeling better?”
“Yeah, much. Thanks.”
They smiled, then glanced away. Sam felt as though she’d just done something indecent—flashed him or said a dirty word. There was a kind of electricity in the air and it promised mischief. Their food was getting cold.
“Your fingers are kind of icy,” she said, because she needed to acknowledge his touch.
“They’re always like that.”
“I remember.”
Scott frowned. “How?”
“We used to touch hands by accident when we played in my room, remember? When you first moved to Melbourne.”
The corner of Scott’s mouth quirked. “When we played ‘elves and knights and dragons?’”