Shadowing the Teacher (Perfect Pairs Book 3) (2 page)

Sam let her hands drop away from Ashleigh’s, her smile falling from her face.

She hadn’t thought about the possibility of her family trying to set her up with anyone. No one knew about her boyfriend of almost a year. She hadn’t introduced Bill to anyone yet, but that was her choice. She didn’t need everyone knowing her personal business. But it would have stopped this happening.

“No, I don’t need a fix up. Please don’t.”

“What do you mean? You’re so gorgeous any guy would be ecstatic to have you!”

Sam groaned and rolled her eyes. “Ash, really. I’m fine just the way I am.”

Ashleigh’s gaze fell away in obvious disappointment, and Sam pulled back her patience. “Look, I understand that you’re just trying to help, but I’m happy.”

Ashleigh smiled kindly and cocked her head. “Well, come to the lunch tomorrow anyway, and I’ll introduce you to Jack and Scott’s family. They’re all lovely. You’ll have a good time no matter what, I’m sure.”

Yeah, I know I will.

She’d have Laura and Ash to talk to, and there were a few other cousins she was looking forward to seeing, too. Sam turned as people began approaching the bride and decided to make her exit. A song she loved had just come over the speakers, and she began bouncing on the spot in time with the music.

“I better get back to your party, sweetheart. Congratulations again! You really are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.”

Ashleigh flushed pink and gave her a coy smile. “Thanks, Sam.”

A couple of her in-laws grabbed Ashleigh, so Sam turned and danced her way back to the dance floor. She was happy as she was, loud, big-assed, and proud of it. Well, mostly she was. She was a good person, and she had a lot to offer someone. She had a boyfriend, but she knew he wasn’t the one. She hoped one day she’d find a man who could love her for all her faults as well.

Chapter Two

Sam straightened up her blousy white top and tugged at the denim shorts that were rising up her thighs. They were far too tight. She’d put on a bit more weight, and her boobs were threatening to overflow the cups of her bra. “Shit, seriously gotta get onto a diet.”

She laughed at herself as she walked up the path of the spectacular, new home that was now Ashleigh’s. A diet? Her? Ha! They never worked. She loved her food far too much, and if she was really honest, she kinda liked being different from everyone else. Well, the women at her job or in her community. Here, in amongst her family she was almost an average size.

Ha!
Average, normal
. Her? She was insulting herself now.

She stopped just outside the front door and stared up at the home before her. The house itself was a double storey with a huge wraparound porch on the ground floor. It was practically brand new, with a carved wooden door that became clearer now that she was closer.

“It’s a mountain lion. Wow. Beautiful.” She rang the doorbell, then ran her fingers along the mane of the animal carved into the wood, the warm, natural fiber smooth beneath her hand. It was a spectacular piece of artwork.

The door swung open, and Jack stood on the other side of the threshold, all six foot four inches of him. She craned her neck to look up at him. He had a big grin plastered on his face.

“Samantha right? So glad you could make it.”

Sam felt her eyebrows rise in surprise and tried not to let it show too much on the rest of her face. How did Jack remember her after all the family he’d met for the first time yesterday?

“Yes, that’s right. You must have a perfect memory, Jack.”

She was terrible with names, and if Jack hadn’t been one of the grooms, she’d be standing here grinning and wondering who to ask to find out his name again.

He chuckled a rather deep, sexy laugh, and waved her inside. “Come on in. Ash is holding court out the back, and there’s drinks just over there.” Jack pointed to a large bar off to one side of the already full lounge room. “And heaps of food out the back.” He waved at the glass doors that opened out onto a huge porch.

Sam’s eyes were instantly attracted to the view of the mountains. “Oh my word! What an incredible view.”

Jack grinned, and they walked towards the doors. Jack’s happiness was an actual palpable thing as he stood next to her enjoying the sight of the Rocky Mountains outside their windows. They were a lush green and white tipped. Picturesque and perfect.

“Jack!” A booming male voice came from behind them. Sam jumped, and they spun around.

Jack yelled back. “Yeah, I’m comin’!”

He turned back to her, another playful smile playing across his ruggedly handsome face. “Sorry, Sam. Gotta start cooking the food. Have a great time, and I’m really glad you could make it.”

“Thanks heaps.” Sam gave Ashleigh's husband a big smile and watched him head off in the direction of the rotunda.

The house was incredible. High ceilings, gorgeous furniture and an incredibly large and modern kitchen. If the rest of the house was this well designed and finished, then Ashleigh was one very lucky woman.

Another bonus of having two husbands I suppose. Three incomes coming in to pay the mortgage.

Sam giggled to herself and headed over to the bar.

“Hey, Sam, what can I get you?”

Sam stood stock still and stared hard at the man behind the bar, his red hair and freckles bringing up an old memory of a young boy she once knew.

“Travis? Seriously? Is that you?”

The guy behind the bar chuckled and leant on the wooden table with his large hands. He had to be at least early twenties now and hugely built, too. Nothing like the boy she remembered.

“Yeah, it is. How’ve you been?”

Sam smiled at the distant cousin she hadn’t seen since they were children. He was from Laura’s branch of the tree if she remembered correctly.

“I’m great, thanks. I’m a teacher actually, and loving it.”

“Still living up north?”

Sam nodded and began looking at what beverages were on offer. “I’m only a couple of hours away now. What about you? What do you?”

“I just graduated pre-med. Been accepted into Toronto university.”

“Oh, wow Travis, that’s awesome! Your parents must be so excited for you!”

The man behind the bar blushed a fiery red, and Sam actually felt sorry for the intensity of that heat. There was quite a bit of red hair in their family, yet most the female cousins had managed to escape it.

Thank goodness.

Travis pointed to the drinks in front of him. “Can I make you a cocktail, or would you like a glass of wine?”

Sam weighed up her options, and after consuming far too much white wine the night before, she went for the safer option.

“Just a Pepsi or something if you’ve got it to start with, thanks, Travis.”

He picked up a glass bottle of Pepsi, twisted the lid, and poured her a drink in the tall tumbler. “Laura and Ash are out the back with my sisters if you were wanting to catch up with them?”

Sam’s belly fluttered with excitement as she thanked Travis for the drink and took the few steps outside and into the fresh air. Summer smells of flowers and trees surrounded her. She closed her eyes and tilted her face up into the sun.

The heat spread over her skin, light filling up her insides and calming her down. She’d been worried about what would happen today, that she’d be pushed into meeting people who wouldn't accept her or love her as her own family did, but she shouldn't have worried.
This
was her family.

“Sam! Sam!”

Samantha opened her eyes and looked towards the female voices calling her name.

“Hey!” She bounced down the stairs and ran straight for her cousins. Laura’s belly was round and protruding, and so beautiful it made her heart clench with envy. Sam wrapped her arms around Laura’s shoulders, careful of not squashing the baby bump. “Just beautiful.” She rubbed Laura’s hard belly and smiled at her cousin.

“It's so good to see you Sam! I was so upset we couldn’t make it last night.”

Sam tilted her head at Laura, noticing the grey tinge to her cousin’s skin. “Ashleigh said you guys were sick?”

Laura nodded and took a sip of her water. “Yeah, Brandon brought some sort of gastro bug home from his work, and Tyler and I were really sick for the past few days. We’re better now, but I didn’t feel quite up to everything last night.”

“I can imagine.” Sam agreed, nodding her head wholeheartedly. She could justify missing a wedding when you were vomiting, but she couldn’t actually imagine being pregnant and sick. She was jealous of Laura’s big belly, she had to admit. She’d wanted a baby for as long as she could remember, but the man had to come first.

“So, anyone special in your life, Sam?” Ash asked from beside Laura.

Sam took a long sip of the cold drink she held and swallowed with relish. She hadn't realized she was so thirsty.

“Nothing to report on yet.” And that was technically true, although not wholly so. She didn’t know why she was avoiding the questions about her love life, but it probably came down to the fact that she didn’t want to answer the questions as to why she hadn’t brought him with her.

“But everything else is good with you?” Laura asked, rubbing her belly again in a hypnotic way that made Sam want to reach out and mimic the movement.

“Yeah, everything’s great really. Work’s good. I’ve just bought a house actually.”

“Fantastic.” Her two married cousins chirped at her, and Sam struggled to pull a smile up on her face. Despite the advances in her own life, new house, great career, awesome friends, she was slowly being left behind, but she didn’t want to just settle for anyone. She wanted to find true love to pair up, but her need for a family and love was beginning to gnaw at her.

Someone called out Ash’s name, and she looked up towards the house, waving at them frantically. “Oh, my mother-in-law’s here. I better rush. I’ll see you guys later on.”

Sam nodded and kissed her newly married cousin, Ash hurrying away. There was a warm glow around the woman Sam had never seen look anything but lackluster.

“I never thought I’d see the day Ashleigh looked that happy.”

Laura sighed beside her. “Me neither. It’s so good. So … come sit down and tell me more about everything.”

Sam laughed as she was led to a cluster of chairs and began regaling Laura with stories of her students, her parents, and her string of failed dates. It wasn’t a marriage to two men, a massive property, and a baby on the way. But her life still made her happy.

****

Reid looked down at his trembling, pale hands, barely recognizing the implements that used to help him build homes. They stood outside Jack and Scott’s new home, a total mess. “You know we shouldn’t be here, brother.”

Kane stared at him a moment, dark flashes of pain evident in his eyes before he straightened his spine, turned towards the door, and knocked hard.

Fuck. This is not going to be good.

The carved wooden door that was a beautiful acknowledgement of their heritage swung open, and Jack greeted them with his characteristic devil-may-care grin.

“So glad you guys made it!”

He waved them both inside, and Reid hesitated before his foot could pass over the threshold. He could hear the happy noises coming from the backyard and through the house. His skin crawled like a slithering snake. The idea of having to stand again with too many people had panic rising inside him like the tide. The wedding had been bad enough.

“It may be better if just Kane stays. I’m feeling pretty strange today.”

He took a step back, and Jack’s smile fell. Kane twisted back around to stare at him.

“One hour, and we’ll go.”

Reid crossed his arms over his chest and inhaled sharply, his brother’s words circling in his head. That wouldn’t be too bad. He could probably do that. It was obvious his twin wanted to stay, and he owed Kane a lot.

“All right.”

Jack’s grin returned, and Reid forced his legs to move, the steps a jolting force up his legs as he moved down the long hallway and stepped into a brightly lit living room, buzzing with energy and people.

Whoa.

Dizzy swirls made his legs weak.

Fuck. I could lift half my car last year. Now look at me.

“It’s ok, mate.” Jack’s voice slid into his ear, and he realized he’d been cowering back from the room.

Jack patted him on the back, and Reid straightened, embarrassed by his behavior. “Yeah, thanks.”

“Drinks are that way.” Jack pointed across the room, and Reid almost smiled as his cousin pushed him towards the alcohol. He wasn’t a huge drinker, but today was definitely one of those days that his nerves could use some deadening. Kane headed off with Jack, and he made a beeline for the bar.

“Hey, mate, can I get you something?”

“Double whisky neat, thanks.”

The guy behind the bar whistled and picked up one of the bottles, pouring the amber liquid into a fresh glass within a few moments. Reid nodded and accepted the drink, tossing it back and wincing as it burned through his mouth and all the way down into his belly.

“Wow. You need another?”

Reid opened his eyes and saw the empty glass. It shouldn’t look like that.

He handed it back to the bartender, a young man who looked fit and healthy. He could never understand what Reid was feeling, but his compassion was noted and appreciated.

“Absolutely. Thanks.”

His glass was refilled, but this time Reid nodded his thanks and moved slowly towards the porch, sinking into an empty chair, his back to the house.

He’d struggled at the wedding yesterday to be around so many vibrant people, and today was no better. Everyone was too colorful. The clothes, the laughing, the drinking and eating. All of the things he’d avoided over the past twelve months. Life.

Reid pulled his sunglasses from his pocket, opened them and placed them over his eyes. His heart was beating too fast, and he focused on taking careful, even breaths. He could handle an hour, he could.

His eyes were pulled to the tree by the side fence, where two women stood.

It was her.

Samantha’s hair was so long it reached the small of her lower back, cascading down in flowing brown waves. She wore a pair of denim shorts that clung to her ample hips, and when she turned, laughing at something that was said, her large breasts wobbled and shook in the white top holding them in.

Lust stabbed him in the gut, and he groaned. The feeling was as foreign as the alcohol in his hand. He took another drink of his whisky, the warmth beginning to seep along his veins, relaxing him.

He assessed his body again and couldn’t believe the ache in his groin. He hadn’t felt anything like lust since his wife’s shocking death, and it made him look away in disgust that he could feel such a thing again. He wanted to die, not feel.

He angrily thumped his thigh with his fist, the pain destroying whatever warmth the sight of Sam had aroused.