Chapter 16Samantha
The moment my lips left Ethan's, a wave of panic surged through me. What the hell did I just do? My heart raced, and I felt the heat rising to my cheeks as I tried to maintain my composure. I kissed him. In public. Without thinking. I was lucky we were inside the shop and not out on the street—if anyone had seen that, the internet would have gone into a frenzy. I may not be as famous as I once was, but I'm still pretty damn well known. What was I thinking?
I forced a smile as I handed the card to the shopkeeper, trying to act as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Ethan, still looking slightly dazed, seemed to be processing things in his own quiet way. The girls were buzzing with excitement; whether it was over the jewelry or the fact that I kissed their dad, I wasn't sure.
As we left the shop and rejoined Victoria outside, I felt a rush of relief that the moment had passed without incident. But that relief was quickly replaced by gnawing anxiety. Why did I kiss him?
It was a thank-you kiss, a simple gesture of appreciation for everything he'd done for us. After all, Ethan had been nothing but kind and selfless since we met. Yes, that was it. I was thanking him.
And apparently, I'm reverting to the logic of a third grader. I should be embarrassed by my own internal monologue.
We walked down the street, the girls chattering happily, but I couldn't focus on their words. My mind was spinning, replaying the kiss over and over, analyzing every second of it. Had Ethan been surprised, or had there been a hint of something else in his eyes? Had I crossed a line, or was it just a harmless moment of spontaneity?
The more I thought about it, the more uncertain I became. And then, as if to torture myself further, I pulled out my phone and shot a quick text to the Harpies.
Samantha: "So, I did a thing… I kissed Ethan."
Open the floodgates.
Olivia: "OMG, what?!?! You kissed him?! Details, NOW!"
Grace: "You kissed Mountain Man?? Was it good? Please tell me it was good."
Natalie: "Samantha Harrington, you better spill everything."
I sighed, trying to figure out how to explain the situation. My fingers hovered over the keyboard as I tried to downplay the whole thing.
Samantha: "It wasn't a big deal, really. We were in this shop, and the girls were picking out some jewelry. I wanted to buy it for them as a gift, but Ethan was being all noble and handsome and stubborn and kept refusing. So, I just… kissed him. And he shut up. Yeah, so that happened."
Their responses were immediate, and, of course, merciless.
Olivia: "You KISSED him… to shut him up?? LOL, Sam, that is hilarious. Was it good, though? Like, did sparks fly? Were there fireworks?"
Grace: "Wait, was it a peck, or was there actual lip action? This is important information."
Natalie: "I'm with Olivia. You don't just kiss a guy to shut him up unless you really want to kiss him."
I groaned, knowing that this was going to be a thing. They were like sharks circling blood in the water.
Samantha: "It was a quick-er kiss, I guess. But yeah, maybe I wanted to. I don't know. It just happened."
Olivia: "Oh snap that's my Girl. Hell yeah you wanted to. And there's no shame in that. I mean, have you seen the man? Rugged, tall, built like a mountain…"
Grace: "And don't forget, he's a good dad too. That's like catnip for women. No wonder you kissed him."
Natalie: "You're into him. Just admit it. You've got this hot, single dad all to yourself in the mountains, and you're telling us you kissed him 'just because'? Please."
I felt heat rising to my cheeks again. Was I into Ethan? No, I couldn't be. I didn't even know the guy. Not really.
Samantha: "It's not like that, okay? It was just a thank-you kiss and maybe a bit of a distraction. What's the point of having all this money if I can't buy stuff for people I like? The jewelry was a few hundred dollars. He was trying to be all sensible. It was annoying."
I smiled and continued.
Samantha: "I must admit the look on his face was priceless. Anyway, I am NOT into him. I'm not trying to start something here. Besides, he probably thinks I'm crazy now."
Olivia: "If he does, it's in a good way. Trust me."
Grace: "Exactly. And even if it was just a thank-you kiss, there's nothing wrong with exploring that chemistry a little more. Who knows where it could lead?"
Natalie: "And if he does think you're crazy, he's still hanging around, isn't he? That means something."
I frowned at my phone, their words sinking in.
Samantha: "You guys are impossible. I just kissed him, that's all. Let's not turn this into a big thing, okay?"
Olivia: "Oh, it's already a big thing, honey. But we'll let you have your denial. For now."
Grace: "But seriously, Sam, keep us posted. We're living vicariously through you at this point."
Natalie: "I think you need to kiss him again. You know, as an experiment, for science. Yes, for science."
I laughed. Seriously, my friends are idiots. But their relentless teasing eased some of the tension. Then I clapped my hand over my mouth. I eyed Ethan, who was walking with a contemplative look on his face. What was he thinking? He is so hard to read with facial hair. I bet he is handsome without it. I shook my head. Stop it, Samantha.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket and took a deep breath. It was just a kiss. Nothing more. I wasn't getting into another relationship. I had sworn off men.
We walked with the crowds as the girls talked excitedly about their jewelry. They kept giving me random hugs, which made me happy. We walked until Victoria suddenly stopped in front of a sleek, modern storefront. The sign above the door read "TechX Wireless," with the familiar logos of various phone brands displayed in the windows. I gave her a knowing smile.
Victoria turned to me, and I could already tell what she was thinking.
She wanted to buy new phones.
"Ethan, I noticed that you don't have a phone."
Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "It's no problem. I must have dropped it when I was in the limo. I have insurance, I'm pretty sure. No harm. I don't really use it when I'm up here anyway."
"So let me make sure I am understanding you," Victoria said, her voice gentle. "You lost your phone while you were trying to save the lives of me, Samantha, and my driver."
Ethan shrugged. "Well, yes. I guess."
Victoria took him by the arm. "I will be buying you a new phone."
"But–"
Victoria put a finger to his mouth, getting close and entering his personal space. Ethan's hands moved to Victoria's hips without even realizing it. She did not seem to mind.
"Ethan, I could buy you everything in the world and it wouldn't be enough to thank you for what you did. It appears that acts of generosity make you uncomfortable as you are used to doing things on your own, but I assure you, taking kindness from others is as much for them as it is for you. So please, allow this sweet old lady to do this for you. Consider it an order from the Countess of Asbornue."
Ethan's eyes softened, and he whispered, "Yes, my lady."
Victoria grinned. "And I will also buy phones for the girls too."
Victoria walked into the store.
"Wait," Ethan said. "What?"
Ethan and the girls, who were wide-eyed by Victoria's behavior, followed.
I was shocked. Lady Harrington giving the full court press! Damn, that was both sweet and seductive. How do I learn that skill?
I followed Ethan, Victoria, and the girls into the store. I saw Victoria's expression shift slightly. There was a bit of color on her cheeks. But then there was a determined gleam in her eye, one that I knew all too well. She had something in mind.
She turned to Ethan. "Okay, my knight, which phone should we get you? I think the new iPhone is perfect. Your hands are big, so the large screen is necessary. We should also get you a high storage capacity, so you can take lots of pictures and videos. I mean, your girls are so adorable. You're going to want a lot of those. Yes, yes. This Max model should do."
She turned to a young and adorable blonde sales associate who was standing by. To the surprise of everyone but me, the young lady curtsied.
"Lady Harrington," she said. "It's good to see you again."
"Yes, it is, Emma. How are your parents?"
"They are wonderful, My Lady. Thank you for asking."
"And your brother? How is he doing at University?"
"He is doing well. Thank you for helping him with that internship."
"Oh you are welcome my dear. Let me ask you. Did Louis get you my order?"
"Of course," Emma said. "We have the phones for you and Ms. Samantha in the back."
"Perfect. I would also like you to bring one of these iPhones for Ethan here. The usual plans and protection, please."
Ethan shook his head. "Victoria, that is like an $1800 phone. I cannot—"
Victoria gave Ethan a stern look. He froze. I could tell he was battling with himself in his head. It's not like Victoria was intimidating or anything. He just didn't want to make a scene and embarrass anyone. I could tell. I can also say from personal experience how stubborn my aunt can be.
"Ethan dear," Victoria said in a low whisper.
He looked at her.
"The jewelry Samantha bought for your girls was several hundred dollars. We both have more money than we could ever spend. I do not mean to sound flippant about the price. To most people, $1800 is substantial, and I recognize this fact. But for me, it's a drop in the bucket. So please, just allow me to do this for you. Or do I need to kiss you to distract you from the price?"
Ethan's face blazed red and then scowled. I could feel my own face heating up. He muttered to himself and gave her a helpless look.
"You women are going to be the death of me."
Victoria did a little fist pump, but then she kept going. "I know that I have steamrolled you already, Ethan, and since you're a good man who respects women and doesn't want to cause a scene, you're going to let me have my way. So please, I need you to indulge me one more time."
Ethan turned back to Victoria. He appeared resigned. She continued, "Besides, in this day and age the girls really need phones."
Ethan frowned slightly, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. "Victoria, I appreciate the thought, but it's really not necessary. Samantha already bought them those beautiful pieces of jewelry. The girls have never really needed phones before, and I don't want them getting too attached to technology."
I couldn't help but step in. He was trying to argue from a practical standpoint, which I could respect, but he was missing the point. "Ethan," I said, moving closer to join the conversation, "technology can be policed. Of course, we don't want them to spend all day scrolling. But the latest phones are amazing safety, tracking, and communication devices. And your girls are getting up there. Having phones is just practical; the good outweighs the bad by far."
He looked at me, his frown deepening, but I could tell he was considering it. I continued, "Think about it this way—this isn't about spoiling them or giving them unnecessary luxuries. Though you should know that I would gladly do that. It's about keeping them safe. You can set boundaries around when and how they use the phones, but at least they'll have them if they need them."
Victoria nodded in agreement, placing a reassuring hand on Ethan's arm. "Ethan, I understand your concerns, but think of it as a tool, not a luxury. It's about keeping them safe and connected, and you deserve that peace of mind."
Ethan's gaze shifted to the girls, who were watching the exchange with hopeful eyes, practically holding their breath. He let out a sigh, clearly outnumbered, and I could see the moment he relented. "Alright," he finally said, his voice resigned but not unkind, "but just for safety. No excessive screen time."
The girls' faces lit up, and then they looked at Victoria and me like we were aliens. They almost tackled Victoria.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you—" they both said. Quite a few people were watching and laughing at the girls' infectious joy.
Victoria laughed, and even Ethan was joining in. The girls, after much giggling, broke away from Victoria, righted themselves, and then in unison, gave a proper English curtsy and said, "We are very grateful to you, Lady Harrington."
The look on my aunt's face was priceless.
Hey, wait a moment! Where the heck was my curtsy?
Victoria beamed with pride at the girls' display of gratitude. Her gesture had been well received, and she was pleased to see them happy. However, her attention quickly shifted back to the task at hand as Emma returned with the phone for Ethan, and we began our search for the girls' phones.
We walked through the aisles, and it was awesome to watch the girls' eyes light up at the sight of the shiny new devices. They were trying to hide their excitement, probably because they didn't want to seem too eager. It was clear that Ethan had been anti-phone for a long time. He seemed to know that eventually, he was going to have to get it for them, and they already had tablets, so it's not like they were totally disconnected, but Victoria and I had convinced him of the need.
A man that actually listened. What a strange occurrence. Ethan and I talked while Victoria and the girls looked for phones. He didn't come right out and say it, but I was under the distinct impression it wasn't the phones he disliked; it was social media.
He really didn't like social media. It made me wonder a bit. Oh, and while we were talking, he still couldn't look me in the eye. The few times he did, his cheeks heated up a bit. It was super cute.
Victoria and I quickly got to work, chatting with Emma and explaining what they were looking for.
Within minutes, the girls had iPhones. I wanted to pay for this one, and my aunt objected. I told her that I insisted, and that I would fight her. She smiled at me and tried not to laugh.
"Fine," she said. "But lunch is on me."
"Deal," I responded. "But I'm getting dinner."
"Ladies," Ethan started, "you don't have to—"
"Ethan darling," Victoria said. "What did I tell you about money? If you want me to kiss you that badly, simply say so; you don't have to protest so vehemently."
Ethan gave us both an exasperated look. Victoria blew him a kiss.
Victoria held up one of the phones and started showing the girls some of the features. The girls started taking pictures of Ethan, who rolled his eyes.
Then, in a moment I wasn't thinking, I neared Ethan and put my arms around his waist. The girls took several pictures. Victoria moved in next to Ethan, and several more pictures were taken.
Ethan didn't seem to know how to react.
The girls, Victoria, and I looked at the pictures.
"Oh my gosh, those are so cute!" I said. "Girls, send me those."
"Me too," said Victoria.
The girls laughed. Then Maya said, "I think I need to set them up first!"
We did just that. After paying for the phones and spending some time with Adam, the store tech guy, I handed the girls their new phones and showed them how to navigate the basic functions. "These are yours now," I said with a smile. "You can use them to call or text your dad or us if you ever need anything. I'm going to put mine and Aunt Victoria's numbers in your phone."
Maya and Lily looked up at me, their eyes close to tears but their faces glowing with happiness. "Thanks, Samantha. Thanks, Aunt Victoria."
Damn, is this what having children is like? I might actually kidnap these two.
Lily grinned, clutching her phone tightly. "And thank you, Dad. We love you. It's time for kisses."
I watched as the girls ran to their dad, and he swept them up like they were nothing, even Maya who was tall for a thirteen year was tiny compared to him. It just reminded me how damn strong he was.
Victoria smiled warmly at them and whispered, "I think I might just kidnap them. Lock them up in my mansion."
I giggled. "I was just thinking the same thing."