Page 99 of The Spare

But something tells me this turbulence is just beginning.

Chapter Forty-Three

Sam

The warm scent of seared garlic, rosemary, and slow-roasted ribeye fills the kitchen, mixing with the heady fragrance of dozens of fresh white roses. Candles flicker across every flat surface in the room, casting an intimate glow against the dark wood.

Being back home four days after she absolutely killed it in front of all of the attendees of that conference feels surreal. I pull Alexis tighter against my chest, sliding my arms around her waist from behind. Pressing my face into the crook of her neck, I inhale her sweet, familiar scent that’s driven me crazy for months.

Lexi leans back into me, resting her head against my shoulder. The relaxed intimacy between us is like a balm to my soul. I exhale for what feels like the first time since we boarded that plane five days ago. The flight out west had been rough, both emotionally and physically. The air was choppy half the way there, sending tremors through the cabin that had her gripping my arm like her life depended on it.

But she made it.

We celebrated with room service and a celebratory drink before getting a much-needed night’s sleep. Then she took the stage in front of hundreds of her peers and delivered a brilliant presentation that had the entire room on their feet. I’ve never been so damn proud of a human being in my entire life. I nearly popped the buttons from my shirt.

And, frankly, I’m just grateful she didn’t throw me off the plane somewhere over Denver after the stunt I pulled. Reaching out with one hand while keeping her pinned against my chest with the other, I mess with my phone on the counter. A second later, the smooth intro to Al Green’s, “Let’s Stay Together” begins to drift through the speakers.

Alexis giggles, a beautiful sound that vibrates straight into my heart. “Al Green?”

“Don’t mock a classic,” I murmur, nuzzling the soft spot right below her ear until she shivers. I turn her gently in my arms until she’s facing me, resting my hands on her hips.

I look down at her, taking in the rosy flush on her cheeks as the room fills with warm soul music. My heart is beating so hard with the undeniable feelings I have for her. I can’t keep it in anymore.

“I love you, Lex.”

Her lips part slightly as she stares up at me in stunned silence.

“I love you,” I repeat, holding her face in my hands. “I don’t ever want to let you go. I know you only agreed to one year with me. That was the deal. But how the hell am I supposed to move on without you? How am I supposed to go back to a life where you aren’t here with me?”

I gaze down at her, every ounce of my soul exposed. “Please stay,” I beg, my voice cracking. “Let’s make a real go of this marriage. No more contracts. Not because we have to do this to save the vineyard. Just two people who belong together.”

Alexis stares at me. The tears welling in her eyes glitter beneath the candlelight. For a terrifying second, the world stops spinning.

Is it too late? Is she trying to let me down easily after all of the mistakes I’ve made? Will I have to get used to remaining her friend, watching from a distance while she moves on with her life… with someone else?

Suddenly, a tear spills over her lash line, and a radiant smile breaks across her face. “Yes,” she whispers. “I want that too. I love you so much, Sam.” She wraps her arms around my neck, pulling herself up to kiss me.

I catch her around the waist, lifting her slightly off her feet as I kiss her back, pouring all the love I have in my heart for her. I can’t believe it. After all of these years, this is real.

We’re real.

“Stay right here.” I grin against her mouth, reluctantly letting her feet touch the floor. “I have something I need to show you.”

I rush from the kitchen, hurrying down the hallway to my study. I grab the small wooden box, the high school time capsule, she’d apparently found when she was packing to leave. Tucking it under my arm, I head back toward the light of the kitchen, ready to lay every last secret on the table.

Knock, knock, knock.

I round the corner into the living room to heavy knocks on the front door. I’ve barely begun to swing it open when my mother pushes her way into the foyer.

Dropping her designer handbag onto the entry table, she stops as her icy gaze sweeps over the dim room. I don’t miss the way she takes inventory of the candlelight and the hundreds of roses before she finally lands on Alexis. My beautiful wife no longer wears the dreamy smile of someone professing their love to another. She stands near the island, now looking apprehensive.

Every drop of warmth in my blood turns to ice.

My mother assesses the scene with a wicked curl on her lips. “Well,” her voice drips with condescending disdain. “Don’t you two look cozy playing house?”

“Why are you here?” I bite out, stepping between Alexis and my mother. The wooden time capsule pressed tightly between my arm and my chest. Anger surges through me. “I changed the locks on the main gate. How did you get in?”

“It’s my family’s estate, Samuel,” she answers, ignoring my rage completely. Mother steps further into the room. “You two aren’t fooling anyone with this little romantic facade. And soon enough, I’ll be able to prove it.”