Now that things were back to normal, her mom kept hounding her again, until finally, one day when he’d invited her to his place for a private dinner, she broke down and told him.
“What?” Samuel said, looking up as he paused eating.
She had called his name during a lull in the conversation, and it took her a bit of time to formulate the words. Samuel was patient, folding his hands over each other on the table, ignoring his food as he looked at her. She told herself to hurry up, or he was going to end up eating a cold dinner because of her.
“Um, so the thing is… my mom has been asking about meeting you and Brianna. I’ve been trying to put her off, but she’s getting pretty insistent. I’m worried, one of these days she might just follow me when I come to meet you outside the apartment to ambush you, so I thought I should give you warning.”
“Oh,” he said, looking down to continue eating. “Is that all?”
Camila hesitated. “Is… it not a problem?”
Samuel looked at her seriously. “Not at all. I would love to meet your mother. After all, I am serious about you, and meeting the parents should happen in a situation like this, right?”
Camila could feel her face warm up. He took a drink from his glass as he watched her, eyes practically dancing with mirth at her flushed face, and she ducked her head, taking a drink of water herself.
“So I was thinking that she could come over here for dinner to just meet you both. Still okay?” There was no way she could invite them to her place instead. It was comfortable enough for two, but four people would be crowding a bit. Not to mention the fact that Brianna wouldn’t have been comfortable.
Later that night, long after dinner was over and they’d had a glass of wine in a parlor with an open fire place burning. Camila sat with her legs folded on the seat, leaning against Samuel. She was feeling a slight buzz from the wine, not enough to get her drunk, but she did feel warm. Samuel was leaning back against the seat with his arms wrapped around her. With her hands pressed to his chest, she raised up, as he leaned down, and their lips met in the middle in a kiss.
They had made out a few times after the first time, and it always made her body burn as well as soothed her at the same time. It felt so amazing, that she was afraid to push for more in case she lost this feeling. She realized she had never been so patient with a guy before, and vice versa, in her previous relationships. Compared to this, they felt like a rush to have sex, while this was just the right side of comfortable and passionate.
Unexpectedly, a phone rang, cutting off their make out session. It was Samuel’s, and he answered it with a frustrated look.
“Hello?” he said, his voice low and husky.
He stared at her hungrily the entire time, and Camila couldn’t help shivering. But then, his expression changed and he looked away. She frowned, wondering what was wrong, when he looked at her again with a strange expression.
“Adrien, how are you talking to me right now? Inmates aren’t allowed phone calls in prison. I already know you rejected your one phone call.”
Camila heard the words and went still, the blood leaving her face so fast that she was left dizzy. Samuel saw her expression and dragged her against his chest with his free arm.
Adrien was even violating his protection order from incarceration. Somehow, it didn’t surprise Camila at all, because he was certainly proud enough, and stubborn enough, to do it. Samuel cut the call off and made a different call. Camila didn’t see to who.
“Do something,” Samuel said, demanding. “My brother, Adrien Kane, somehow managed to call me when he should be locked up. Have something done about it immediately.”
Camila was close enough to hear their answer.
“Of course, sir. I will see to it immediately.”
Samuel held her close in his arms as she closed her eyes and tried to ignore what was happening, because she couldn’t deal with it.
“You had better. And call me back when it’s done.” Samuel shut the call down and set the phone on the table.
Samuel pulled her into his lap, cuddling her close. She felt safe and protected in his arms. She was drifting off to sleep when the phone rang again. Samuel gripped her close as he leaned forward and grabbed the phone.
Opening it, he said, “You’d better have answers.”
“Yes, sir. His cell was searched. He somehow acquired a burner. He’s had no visitors, so we have no idea how that was accomplished and he’s not talking. He’s in solitary right now for violating prison rules.”
“Good. I don’t care what it takes, I want to know how he acquired that phone, and you’d best stay vigilant and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he instructed the man on the other end of the call.
“Yes, sir. Goodnight.”
Samuel didn’t bother replying, he just ended the call. “I will do everything within my power to keep you safe, you know that, right?” he said gently, stroking her cheek as he gazed into her eyes.
“I know,” she whispered, leaning forward to kiss him.