A clanking sound came from my kitchen. I startled awake in a panic. Someone was in my kitchen.
Then I remembered Sam showing up too drunk to walk. I looked over the back of the couch toward my bedroom. It was dark, but the moon shining through the bedroom window cast enough light that I could see he wasn't in bed. I checked my watch. It was four in the morning.
I rose from the couch and went into the kitchen. Sam stood at the sink drinking a large glass of water as he looked out the kitchen window toward the ocean.
He must've heard me or sensed me, as his head turned. He gave me a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry about tonight."
I crossed my arms over my chest, hoping that it would steel my guard against the sexy man with a sheepish smile from breaking through. Even after a drinking night, he was delectable. He wore faded jeans that showed off his assets, both his ass and his dick. His T-shirt pulled across his broad chest.
"What happened?"
He leaned back against the counter. "I drank too much."
I laughed despite my desire to keep this serious. "No shit, Sherlock. Why? Did you and Max go out on a bender?" It occurred to me that I should've asked about Max.
"Max headed back to New York today."
"So, you celebrated by drinking yourself into a stupor?"
He sighed. "I just had a lot weighing on me." He looked so tired and sad. I wanted to go to him and comfort him.
That would be dangerous, so I put the wall back up. "You mean like building a bar to compete with me?"
"No. We’re not doing that."
I arched a brow. "So, what are you doing?"
"I don’t know.”
I unhooked my arms without even knowing it. It was a sign that my resolve was waning. "You were pretty drunk when you showed up."
"Yeah, again, I'm sorry about that. "
It was shocking how sober he seemed considering how out of it he’d been just four hours ago. "Do you remember what you said to me?"
His green eyes that had been glazed over when he arrived were clear, direct. "Every word. I meant all of them, Kate. But either I blacked out or you never answered that last question."
On the off chance that he really didn't remember what he’d said, I pretended not to know. "What question?"
"What do I have to do to get another chance?"
"What are you willing to do?" The words were out of my mouth before I could think better of them.
He straightened, leaning forward slightly, telling me my words had the impact I was afraid they had. They gave him hope.
"Anything. You name it, I’ll do it."
"Will you roll around in honey and then go sit on a hill of fire ants?"
His lips twitched upward. "Do fire ants like honey?"
I didn't know.
He stepped toward me, and while instinct had me wanting to step back, I didn't move.
"Would you give all your money away to your mortal enemy?"
His smile widened, clearly amused by my comments. "In an instant."