Oh, Samuel

I open the front door to my father's home. The house is quiet though I saw his black Lexus parked out front. I know he's got to be around here somewhere.

I drop my bags in the doorway. I hear rustling from the kitchen. I quickly slip off my shoes and follow the noise. I round the corner from the living room into the kitchen.

"Hey Da-"

I stop dead in my tracks. There's a stranger standing in my dad's kitchen. A gorgeous stranger. His head full of thick dark hair that stops at his shoulder. His light colored eyes full of surprise as he stares back at me, scanning me. He's wearing a tight black tee that hugs his arms and chest with loose fitted jeans

I stand there in stunned silence. I'm starting to think that maybe I walked into the wrong house, but this house is decorated exactly like my dad has it. I'm definitely not in the wrong home.

"Oh, hey, honey! I wasn't expecting you!" My dad's cheery voice from behind me pulls me away from the staring contest I was having with the handsome stranger.

"Hey, Dad." I turn towards him, wrapping my arms tightly around his torso. "I decided to stay here for the summer." I smile up at him. "As long as you don't mind." I look back over my shoulder at the stranger, who is now rummaging through the my dad's fridge.

"Of course, hun. How's college life going? Your first year is done and I barely been able to see you with how busy you've been."

"I'll tell you all about it. I promise. But, first, who is that?" I point with my thumb behind me.

"Oh, right. You've never met him." He chuckles and spins me by my shoulders. "This is Samuel. He's an old friend from college. He lived out of the country for a long time after we graduated and just moved back." He walks me closer to the stranger. "He moved into the old house right next door actually. Samuel this is Willow. My daughter."

The stranger, Samuel, extends his hand towards me. It's large and his palms feel rough against my skin. "Nice to meet you, Willow." His voice is deep and silky smooth, sending a rush through my stomach and up my chest.

"You as well." My voice came out a little jagged and small. I pull my hand away, the feeling of his warm hands still lingering on my palms.

Seeing him closer his features become clearer. I can see a bit of stubble on his face, vague crows feet at the corner of his eyes, and specks of gray hair around near his ears.

"I've gotta run to the store and grab some beers for the barbecue tonight." My dad kisses the top of my head. "I'll be right back. Feel free to set up in your room."

I watch him rush from the kitchen and I hear the front door open and close quickly after. I turn back to Samuel.

"Barbecue?" I ask.

He hums before he answers. "Alex asked me to join him for dinner. We haven't seen each other in awhile have a lot to catch up on." He lets out a chuckle, the sound filling my ears and creeping up my spine. "I even forgot he had kids. You have a brother too right?"

I nod. "Yes. Noah, my older brother."

He sips the drink I didn't noticed he had before. "And how old are you?"

"I'm about to turn twenty. I decided to take a year off before I started college. My brother is twenty-four." I hesitate for a second. "How...old are you?"

Another chuckle, and my spine straightens once again. "Forty-five. A year younger than your dad."

I nod and make my way to the fridge. I pulled it open, searching for something to sip on. Keep my hands and mind busy hopefully. I decide on some generic soda, and pop the can open.

"So, you knew my dad in college?" I ask, taking a large sip from my soda. I keep small talk going, anything to keep listening to the way his voice sounds.

"Yeah. We kept in touch after I moved to Germany. When I told him I was coming back, he mentioned the house for sale next door." He leans his arm against the counter, the fabric of his shirt straining against his large muscles. His arms so full and strong I'm afraid the fabric might just rip.

I must of been staring, because when I look back up at his face he's already looking at me. One brow slightly raised and an unreadable expression painted across his face. I feel heat rise to my cheeks and I quickly look away. "I'm gonna go unpack my bags." I say a little too fast. He only gives a low hum in response as I rush from the kitchen.

God, he caught me checking him out. That's humiliating. I quickly snatch my bag from next to the door and dash up the stairs, debating hiding in my room the rest of the night.

After finishing stuffing all my clothes into the smaller dresser in my room, I sheepishly make my way back downstairs. My dad and Samuel nowhere to be seen, but I can hear their voices from the back patio. I walk over to the larger sliding glass door in the kitchen. I slip my finger under the large vertical blinds to peek out. But just as I start to push them to the side, the door opens.

Samuel stands in the doorway, peering down at me with a blank expression. He's close and I can smell his cologne. Minty and woody with a small hint of something else buried under it. He glances behind him before turning his head back to me.

"Checking me out and now stalking me, Willow?" His voice is laced with since mockery that makes my skin prickle.

"What? No. I wasn't-"

He walks past me. "Sure you weren't." He struts through the kitchen and into the small hallway at the other end. Slipping into the bathroom. I place my hand over my rapid heart, trying to urge it to slow.

Once I hear the door close, I slip out the sliding door. I see my dad sitting at the edge pool in his swim trucks and a tee shirt.  His feet dangling into the water. I can smell whatever meat is cooking on the grill, the top is closed but if I had to guess I'd say hamburgers.

I walk up and sit next to my dad, careful not to get my baggy jeans wet. "Hey, hun." I smile at him in response. "What do you think of Sammy?"

"Oh, he's alright I guess. I haven't spoke to him much."

"I guess you're right. I'm just so excited you finally got to me him. We were very close back in college and he's one of my closest friends."

"You haven't mentioned him much."

"I have just not by name, I guess. Or you weren't paying attention." He laughs, nudging my shoulder with his.

"You think he remembers any embarrassing stories from your college days?" I nudge him back.

"Oh, I'm sure he does. But I'll ban him from talking about them." He laughs and I smile back at him. I've really missed him during my time in the dorms. I wish I had more time to visit, but my classes take up so much of my time.

"Burgers will be done soon." The silky voice from behind us almost makes me jump. I didn't even hear him come out. I turn back. Samuel is standing at the grill, flipping the meat sitting on the racks with a beer in his other hand. The muscle in his arm flexing as he does so and I quickly look away.

"Good, I'm starved." My dad says, patting his stomach.

After eating and chatting with my dad about college, leaving out the few parties I attended, the three of us make our way back to the kitchen. I sit on a stool at the island next to my dad and Samuel leans over the island on the other side. I avoid looking in his direction completely. I'm not risking checking him out in front of my dad.

Samuel reaches for another beer from the pack while my dad stands to grab a bottle of his old whiskeys. "Want one?" Samuel ask, holding out a beer to me.

"Sammy, she's not even twenty yet." My dad says as he pulls two glasses from the cabinet.

"Oh, don't pretend like you didn't drink at her age. It's just a beer Alex." He raises the beer to me once again.

"You can have one." My dad says, holding his finger up to me for emphasis as he sets the glasses onto the counter. I nod and grab the beer from Samuel's hand, our finger lightly brushing across each other.

"Thank you." I twist the lid off the bottle and bring it to my lips. I let the bitter liquid coat my tongue and swallow a large mouthful. I set the bottle on the counter and look up. I see my dad watching me with suspicion. I scan his face before I realize why he is looking at me like that.

I scrunch up my face and stick out my tongue. "Oh, yuck! That's not how I expected it to taste." I say, not trying much to convince him I haven't drank it before. Samuel chuckles, and I try hard not to turn to see his lopsided smirk his been doing all night.

"Oh, stop. I knew from the moment it hit your tongue." He says, pouring whiskey into the two glasses and waving his hand at me. I smile at him, trying my best to look innocent. He rolls his eyes in return.

After finishing my beer and chatting idly with the two men, I make my way upstairs. Taking a nice long shower and climbing into bed. Drained from the long drive from school and fall into a deep sleep rather quickly.

I wake up tangled in the thick blankets. I untangle myself and climb out of bed. I pull open my door, still in my sleeping shorts and matching button up top. Rubbing my heavy eyes, I walk out into the hallway just as the bathroom door directly into front of my bedroom door opens.

Samuel walks out, running his hand through his thick hair. He glares down at me, eyes scanning me. He wearing the same tee he was yesterday, and a pair of dark sweats the hung loosely on his hips, threatening to easily slip off. I sudden feel slightly insecure with my outfit choice. Cartoon-ish flowers and cutesy animals decoring the pajama set I'm wearing. I cross my arms around my body.

He walks past me, his arm ever so slightly brushing against mine and he walks into the guest room next to mine. He closes the door behind him.

"Willow? Is that you?" I hear my dad call from downstairs. I follow his voice to the kitchen and see he already has breakfast ready. Eggs, bacon, sausage. The usual stuff he makes. "Here." He pushes a plate across the island and I sit on the stool in front of it.

"Thank you, Dad." I smile at him and begin eating my simple breakfast.

"You're welcome, hun." He sits down with his own plate, placing another plate in front of the empty spot next to me.

"Last night Samuel notice some things wrong with his house. He's hiring people to fix it, but he will be staying with for a few weeks. I hope you done mind." He says, as he tosses and sausage link into his mouth.

I swallow hard before I answer. "I don't mind."

"Oh, good. He will be staying in the empty guess room upstairs." I nearly choke on my eggs. My dad pats my back hard, while I cough of the rogue egg. "Let me get you some juice."

He rushes up and grabs a glass, quickly filling it up with orange juice. He hands me the glass and I greedily chug it down. "Slow down sweetheart."

"The guest room next to mine?" I ask, my voice harsh from coughing.

"Yes. I hope that's alright. I don't really want to give up my master bedroom down here, but if it would make you more comfortable."

I wave my hand at him. "No, no. It's fine. Just wondering." I keep my voice casual. But, having the sexist man I've ever seen sleeping just a few feet from me is making my heart rate pick up a little.

My dad looks at me with a slight concern on his face. "Really Dad. It's ok. I don't mind."