Sam did her best to enjoy the party. It was difficult though, to keep her mind off of what had happened at home. Was it starting all over again? She really didn't want to think about it, but she had to. She couldn't keep running. No, she wouldn't run anymore.

Holt came up behind her and lightly touched her shoulder. "Are you ready to go home?” he asked.

She turned and looked at him. The concern on his face was disconcerting. "Sure," she said, "I need to handle a few things there." She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. "I… uh, really think we need to talk. If you've got the time."

He nodded and led her outside to his car.

She would ask him to check the house for her. That's what she'd do. Nothing else. He didn't have to know everything. It was probably nothing. Her nerves had been on edge for a long time now. Nothing really bad ever happens in a small town like this. Not really. She wished that her heart rate would slow a little. Then again, with Holt sitting so near, it might be a while before it calmed.

Holt glanced at her as he pulled onto the main road. "You want to tell me why you fainted?"

"I'm not sure, but I think someone might have been in my house."

"Besides Golden Boy?" he asked.

"Who?"

He cleared his throat. "I meant Josh."

She noticed that his knuckles were white on the steering wheel. He was looking intently at the road but his mouth was set in a grim line. Could he possibly be jealous? Hmmm.... She'd have to think more about that later. She decided to let it pass for right now.

"No," she said, "someone went in through the front door. I know I left it locked tight. I'm always very careful about that."

He was giving her a puzzled look. "I always considered myself a good judge of character and I wouldn't have pegged you as the type to faint over something like an unlocked door." He grabbed her hand and held it tightly. "You want to tell me why it upset you so badly?"

She swallowed hard and took strength from the warmth of his fingers. "I had a problem with a stalker." She had difficulty getting the words out. Somehow it seemed that if it was brought up, it would become so very real again. She wanted desperately to put it far behind her. "He would leave messages on my answering machine and at my job." She shivered. "He knew where I lived." Her voice caught as she tried to control the panic that was again working its way through her. "He…he climbed in my window in the middle of the night."

Holt pulled off to the side of the road. Grabbing her shoulders, he turned her towards him. "This person—did they hurt you? What did they want?" He regretted the question the minute it came out. Her face was pale and drawn. He didn't want her to faint again. He didn't want her to relive what had obviously been a horrifying ordeal. He had to know though. He wanted desperately to protect her, but had to know from what.

"He said he would be back." She said. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "He said he would make me pay for what I'd done." She paused to catch her breath. Her heart was racing and she couldn't concentrate. The words were spilling out of her faster than she could control them. "I don't know who he is….I don't know what I did to make him hate me. I was just lucky that night. My room-mate came home in the middle of it." She looked down at her hands. "I left town right after. I didn't think he'd find me."

"Did he hurt you?" he asked again. His strong fingers gripped her shoulders.

She shook her head no as she squeezed her eyes shut. Tears slipped down her cheeks. She couldn't talk anymore. She had already told him enough. She tried desperately to get herself in control. She was stronger than this. His hands were still on her shoulders, gently kneading. Strong fingers working her shoulders, holding her together. She relaxed with his touch.

When his lips touched hers, a fire erupted in her heart. She needed to touch him, to feel him. She needed his strength and his stamina. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him toward her, desperately wanting him. His desire seemed just as strong as his tongue moved deep into her mouth, tasting, and enticing her. He gripped her tightly against him. Desire turned quickly to need as Sam returned his kisses, needing so much more.

He moved to her earlobes and down her neck, kissing and tantalizing with the tip of his tongue. Sam arched to give him better access as he moved to the cleft of her breasts, his fingers stroking her sides, pulling her closer. Sam gasped in small breaths. It would be so good to have him right there. So good. Her control came back to her in small steps and she reluctantly slowed him down by gently pulling away.

He stopped then, the embarrassment shining in his eyes. "Geez, Sam, I'm sorry." He shook his head as he sat back in his seat. "I didn't mean to take advantage of you like that. I don't know what came over me." He looked at her thoughtfully. "I'm not sure why I did that."

She laughed. "Well, I know why I did." She wiped the tears from her face and looked at him. "You really don't have to apologize. After all, it does take two."

He smiled at her, touching her shoulder gently as he manuevered the car back onto the road. She enjoyed the tenderness of the touch and drew strength from it. She didn't feel so alone anymore.

"I'll check the house out thoroughly when we get there," he said.

She nodded as she watched the road. "Please."

"You're a real puzzle, Sam." He glanced over at her as he turned the car into her driveway. "A puzzle I think I'll enjoy solving."