Sensual Confessions - Brenda Jackson [83]
“Do you get the feeling that we’re being watched, Blade?”
Sam’s question reined in his thoughts and he could only smile. Being watched was just the tip of the iceberg. Wait until his great-grandmother saw them. That’s when the interrogation would begin.
He glanced around, not surprised to see a number of curious eyes on them, mostly those of his relatives. They were trying to digest it all, making sure they weren’t seeing things, or drawing the wrong conclusion. In this case the conclusions they reached would probably be right. The woman standing by his side would one day become Mrs. Blade Madaris.
He smiled at her and said, “We are being watched. I usually don’t bring anyone to family functions.”
“Why not?”
“I’m a player, remember. It’s not good for my image,” he teased, and couldn’t help but laugh when he saw the frown on her face.
“Come on,” he said, taking her hand. “I see my parents over there, as well as my grandparents. And I’m sure my great-grandmother is around here somewhere. I want to introduce you. The last thing I want is for them to get ideas about us. We’re nothing more than friends and the sooner they know it the better.”
Sam nodded. “I agree.”
Blade figured she would. What he didn’t tell her was that although he would tell his family she was nothing more than a friend, there was not a single one of them here tonight who would believe it.
An hour or so later Blade had made the rounds with Sam by his side, introducing her to everyone. After claiming he needed to go discuss a business matter with Slade, he had left her in his great-grandmother’s and Syneda’s care, something that hadn’t gone unnoticed. Mama Laverne and Syneda were two of the most opinionated and nosy women in the Madaris family.
Felicia Laverne Madaris, who was sitting on one of the sofas, glanced up at Sam and smiled before asking, “So, how long have you and my great-grandson been seeing each other?”
Syneda noticed the surprised look on Sam’s face before she responded. “Blade and I aren’t seeing each other. We’re just friends. He’s sort of helping me out of a jam.”
Syneda and Mama Laverne exchanged knowing looks. First of all, Blade didn’t have female friends, he had bed partners. And Blade wouldn’t help any woman out of a jam unless there was something in it for him. But what was so crystal clear to both women, although the waters were evidently still rather murky to Samari Di Meglio, was that somehow, someway, Blade had singled her out. It was also rather obvious Ms. Di Meglio had no earthly idea just what that meant.
“I understand you’re expecting,” Sam said to Syneda, breaking into her thoughts. “Congratulations.”
Syneda beamed. “Thanks. I’m happy about it, although it did come as a shock, since I was on birth control. But that’s the thing about a Madaris man. If he wants to get you pregnant, a simple thing like a birth-control pill or a condom isn’t going to stop him.”
“Oh,” Sam said, and quickly looked away. She had nothing to worry about, since the last thing Blade would want to do was to get her pregnant. She was sure of it.
After meeting them, Sam was convinced that she liked Blade’s family. Some of them she’d met before, at Mac and Luke’s wedding. They were friendly then and they were friendly now. Christy Madaris Maxwell had pulled out a bunch of photos of her little girl and Sam thought she looked like a doll, absolutely adorable. For a moment Sam could envisioned her own little girl, who would look like her father. And for some reason a little girl with Blade’s features flashed across her mind.
She almost choked on the wine she’d been drinking. Lorren Madaris, who was married to Blade’s cousin Justin, and Caitlin Madaris, who was married to his cousin Dex, glanced over at her with concern. “Are you okay?” Lorren asked.
She nodded after clearing her throat. “Yes, I’m fine.” Deep down she knew she wasn’t fine. For some reason she’d just thought about being the mother of Blade’s baby.
Deciding that was the