Free Sweeter Than Wine by Rita Hestand

he
asked.
    "That would be great." She nodded. "I'm
pretty exhausted."
    Sam nodded.
    He looked down at his jeans and shirt and
realized he smelled like fish. "Ya know…I heard that guy ask you
out for dinner."
    She shrugged.
    "If you want to go…go ahead."
    Lacey paused for a moment by the bathroom
door, and then turned to look at him. He saw her eyes going over
him slowly. Almost as though she were hungry for the site of him,
but that was just wishful thinking on his part. Her smile was shy,
"Yes, well, I didn't bring anything really nice to wear. And I
really don't know the man."
    "I can give you enough money for a dress…if
you want to go find something. They have a nice shop here in the
hotel…," he offered.
    "We agreed we'd go Dutch, right," she
insisted.
    "Fine, whatever…"
    "You seem angry that I'm not going out with
him…" she began coming closer. " Do you want me to?"
    He shrugged, "It's not that…" he assured her.
"I just I thought you might want to…"
    "Oh did you…you're forming a lot of opinions
about me, not to know me any better than you do. Just because I
came with you doesn't mean I'd go out with the first strange man I
met. I’m not some cheap pickup lady."
    "Lacey, I didn't mean anything, okay, I
certainly know a lady when I see one." his voice was low, seductive
and close to breaking into a rage he didn't quite understand. His
libido was doing overtime, and he didn't understand that
either.
    "Let's forget it and go to dinner, okay…" she
bargained.
    She turned and went to shower. He slumped and
then fell back against the bed. He was so tired, so keyed up and he
didn't understand why.

Chapter Seven
     
    The lights were low in the restaurant, there
was a piano bar, and everything was set for romance. Sam wished it
wasn't. He'd done good not to touch Lacey any more. He'd kept his
hands off. She had let her hair down and it draped over her
shoulders in curls, and his fingers itched to run through the
strands as it glittered red and gold in the lights. He wasn't sure
how any woman could go from a fishing mongrel one moment to a
completely sexy lady the next, but Lacey had managed it, and with
very little makeup and help with her wardrobe, too.
    Although she wore the capri's and t-shirt,
she looked lovely. She'd relaxed today despite the tension between
them. Sam was determined to try that himself. There was no need
being so uptight about keeping his hands off. He had disciplined
himself long ago where women were concerned not to grab, but to
invite a woman into his arms and heart.
    However, it was a blow to his ego that she
seemed to prefer every man around, rather than him. And he had been
nice today.
    They ordered fried catfish and as they waited
she seemed to avoid eye contact with him, looking about at everyone
in the restaurant.
    However, that could only last a short while,
as there were only a handful of guest eating here. The prices were
astronomical and most people opted for something much cheaper down
the road.
    "Sam, exactly how are you going to explain to
these people who you are? Your new folks, I mean." Lacey asked,
suddenly turning her attention on him full blast.
    Sam twirled his fingers around his wine
glass, as he contemplated her question. They had ordered a light
white wine with their meal and he was hoping it would settle his
nerves some.
    "I don't know. How do you introduce yourself
to people, when you are kin to them and they don't know it?" Sam
frowned. "Or is there any need to do so? Perhaps just seeing them
will be enough…"
    "I'll do everything to make things easier for
you; you've certainly been a good sport and shown me around the
area. The least I can do is help you with this." Lacey said and
reached for his hand.
    She was merely trying to make him feel
better, but the touch of her hand was warm and he glanced up into
her face and realized how serious she was.
    "Do you think it's wrong to tell them? They
have no idea about me. Maybe we should just go up to them and