Death Sung Softly by David Archer Read Free Book Online Page A

because I didn't want you to think anything bad of me, but I can't deny that I think you're a pretty wonderful woman, and sometimes, I think about—us. Being an 'us,' I mean, I think about us being an 'us,' and—I think you think about it sometimes, too.” He seemed to be struggling for the words he wanted to say, and paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. “If I'm wrong, I'm about to feel like a real idiot, but if I'm right, then I think we need to be grown ups and talk about it, don't you?”
    Indie sat there for a long moment, and it was Sam's turn to be nervous. When she finally opened her mouth to speak, it was very softly.
    “Sam, I've been all on my own for a long time, now, just me and Kenzie. I've met a lot of guys, and it's always seemed like all they want is to get close enough to make me want them, and then they're done. I've had my heart broken a lot, y'know? And so has Kenzie, when she gets to liking a guy who seems to like me, and then he’s just gone.” She looked down at her hands, which were nervously fiddling with the salt shaker, and shoved it away. “When you first made your offer, I thought you were just another guy out to get into my pants, and I was desperate enough I thought about it, just because it would mean Kenzie had a place to stay for a while. But you made it clear, right from the start, that you weren't like that, and even though I didn't believe it at first, I began to after a few days. You could have made a move on me after you bought Kenzie her own furniture, and I'd have felt like I had to go along with it out of gratitude, as much as out of desperation. I would have understood it, even if I didn't really like it, but again, you weren't like that. You were just a great guy helping out a girl who needed it, but then you went even further and gave me a real job—one after another, if you think about it.”
    She let out a long sigh. “Sam, no one's ever been there for me like you have, and yeah, I know we haven't known each other for a long, but the truth is, I think you're the greatest guy on earth. Do I wanna hop into bed with you? No; I won't pretend I haven’t thought about it, though, and if you tell me you haven’t had a fantasy about me, I'll call you a liar. We're a man and a woman living in the same house, we're both feeling a mutual attraction and neither of us has anyone, so of course we're going to have fantasies about each other. That's normal; rushing into something wouldn't be. Do I like you? Oh, yes! Am I thrilled to know you like me? Oh, hell, yes!”
    She looked up into his eyes. “The question is, what do you want to do about it?”
    Sam smiled at her, and she smiled back. “I think,” he said, “that we've just taken the first step, don't you?”
    Indie smiled back. “Yeah.”
    “Indie, I would like very much to date you. Would that be something you'd consider at this point?”
    Her smile got even wider. “I would love it!” she said.
    Sam reached over and took her hand, and she let him hold it. He leaned forward and looked her in the eye. “Is this the part where I get to call you my girlfriend for real?” he whispered, and she burst out laughing.
    “Sam,” she said, “I can honestly say I thought you'd never ask! Yes, if I can call you my boyfriend!”
    Sam reached into his pocket and pulled something out in his closed fist, and held it out to Indie. “When I was in school, if I had a steady girlfriend, I always gave her my class ring. I don’t have that anymore, but I wonder if you'd like to have this?” He opened his fist, and there lay his Police Academy ring. “I'm not trying to make this a permanent thing, Indie, I think it's way too early for that, but if I can find a place inside that beautiful heart of yours for now, I'll be a happy man.”
    Indie reached out and took the ring, slipping it onto her finger, and they both laughed as it spun there. “Yeah, it's a little big,” she said, “but it kinda makes me happy that you'd