Secret Tastes (Secret Dreams Contemporary Romance 4) by Miranda P. Charles Page B

preparing dinner, Ari?"
    "I'll help," Sam said.
    "No. You and Kris stay here and entertain your parents. They haven't even had a dip in the pool yet. Too busy checking out Adam's house."
    "I'm sure they're imagining it full of Sam's kids," Kris quipped.
    Sam winced. "I know."
    As Jasmine and Ari went back into the house, Kris said to Sam, "It must be a really impressive house. Those guys are so engrossed by just the plans."
    "It does sound impressive," Sam said. "Kane showed them to me when Adam and I went to his office to talk about the kitchen."
    "Well, I know someone who'd be so very disappointed she won't be living in it."
    "Who?" Sam asked curiously.
    "Sandy—Adam's ex."
    "Oh? How do you know that?"
    "One time, when we had dinner with the two of them, Trey asked Adam how the plans for his new house were going. Well, Sandy took over the conversation. She sounded like she'd already moved in and it's not even finished yet! She talked about what colours she wanted the walls to be, even what kind of cushions she'd be dressing up the couch with. She was really into it."
    "God, she really gets under my skin," Sam said with great annoyance. "Even during that first time I met her at that cooking event, we already took an instant dislike to each other."
    "I know. I don't get along well with her either. I think she's the type of girl who would never have many female friends. She's super competitive with other women," Kris commented.
    "How do you mean?"
    "The last time we had dinner with them, Sandy and I went to the ladies' room together. We noticed this male celebrity model pass by and she mentioned she'd seen a naked picture of him. She also read an article that said women from all walks of life wanted to throw themselves at this guy because he was super hot. I commented that I thought Trey was better looking than the model. Then she went on about how hot Adam was in bed and how she cried like a banshee whenever he made her come. It felt to me like she was saying her Adam was better than my Trey. I don't care how good Adam is in bed. He doesn't interest me. No one else interests me except Trey. That was why I made my comment. But Sandy sounded like she needed to win some point or something."
    Sam felt her face burn. She shook her head vigorously to erase the unwanted picture of Sandy and Adam in bed together. Arrgh! She couldn't stand the thought. Why did Kris have to tell her that detail?
    "Hey, you okay?" Kris asked, surprised by her reaction.
    "Sure," she said. "I just can't believe how annoying she is."
    Kris nodded her agreement. "I do wonder what Adam saw in her. And I wonder if their break-up is for real this time."
    I hope so, Kris. I certainly hope so.

    *******

    "Are you okay, Sammy?"
    "Yeah," Sam said, giving her mother a bright smile as they waited for her dad to finish checking in their luggage at the airline's self-serve baggage drop counter with Adam's assistance. She thought she was hiding her despondency well. She should have known her mum would notice.
    "It'll only be a month then you'll be together again," Helen said.
    "But then I'll be far away from you and Dad."
    "Oh, darling, it's not as if you normally see us everyday anyway. Even when you're at work, you don't necessarily talk to your dad everyday. As long as we visit each other every month or so, then things shouldn't be that different. But with Adam, I know how hard it will be for the two of you to be away from each other for weeks."
    Oh, her mother was an incurable romantic, and Sam didn't know what to say. Yes, the thought of not seeing Adam for a whole month, maybe longer, was already making her miss him. And she hadn't even left yet.
    He'd been so wonderful this past week. If that was an indication of what Adam would be like as a long-term boyfriend, then she definitely wanted him for something serious and committed.
    She sighed, remembering last night. Without a doubt, Adam knew his way around a woman's body. She never thought sex could feel like