Page 3 of Daddy's Heart

George laughed and disappeared down the hall toward his office.

Chapter 2

City traffic wasn’t much worse in Chicago than it had been in Indianapolis. Though, Samantha doubted that would be as true during rush hour instead of a lazy Saturday morning drive.

She’d made the trek from Indiana with little fanfare. Having said her goodbyes to her brother the night before, she’d been able to get up and get in the car first thing. Leaving her hometown behind should have been harder, but Samantha couldn’t get the view in her rearview mirror fast enough.

A fresh start. Clean slate. And safe.

She blew out a long breath as she merged onto the off ramp. George said he’d meet her at a coffee shop. While sitting at a red light, she flicked through her phone until she found his text and put the information into her maps app.

A horn blew behind her, making her drop her phone.

“Fuck!” She grabbed it from the console and swiped the screen back to life while she made her left turn. The driver in the car next to her caught her attention for a brief moment. His lips were pinched together, his dark brow line lowered, and he shook his head with disappointment.

Within a blink, he was gone, and she forced her focus back onto the street. She had the map pulled up with navigation on, so she could listen to the directions without having to mess with the phone while she drove.

The traffic became thicker as she maneuvered farther into the city, but she managed well enough without missing a turn. Getting into an accident or having to call George because she was lost wasn’t how she wanted to kick off her new life. George was a good friend to her brother and helping her find a place to crash while she got settled was a huge favor. She’d find a way to repay him—and the stranger giving her a bed to borrow.

When George had called her to tell her the change of plans, her anxiety had rushed up her throat and choked her for a full day. She could either take the spare room at his friend’s apartment or could get a hotel. If she went the hotel route, her brother would insist on following her, and she’d had enough of his protecting to last a lifetime.

He needed to be home with his wife trying to salvage their marriage, not gallivanting off to take care of his little sister—again.

“Parking…parking,” Samantha spoke to herself, driving past the coffee shop she was meeting George at. “Where the fuck is the parking?” She growled her frustration and turned down another street until she found a spot.

Once parked, she leaned her head back against the headrest of her lime green beetle and took in several deep breaths. She’d made it. Five hours straight without stopping or getting lost.

And she really needed to pee.

Samantha gathered up her purse and threw her phone inside before climbing out of the car. Once on her feet, she reached her hands over her head, enjoying the stretch. Maybe she should have stopped at least once, but she’d been too nervous.

Leaving the car behind, she walked to the corner and turned toward the coffee shop. The summer heat rose up from the sidewalk, swirling around her ankles. She could already feel the humidity puffing up her hair. It would need to be put into a ponytail soon if she was going to stay outside for very long.

“Sam!” a voice called. George stood outside the coffee shop, waving an arm in the air like she couldn’t see through the five people walking ahead of her.

“I see you.” She laughed and hurried toward him. He grabbed her into a hard bear hug.

“You made it okay,” he said, pulling back and looking her over.

“George, it’s a few hours car ride. In a car. Not on a horse. Of course I made it.” He looked more aged than she remembered, but it had been at least five years since he’d taken a trip down to Indiana to visit.

“I know. Paul trusts me to take care of you while you’re here, and I already had to find you somewhere else to stay.” He dropped his hands to his sides.

“It’s fine. I could have gotten a hotel room for a few weeks. They have those now, those extended-stay places.”

He was already shaking his head before she finished speaking.

“No way. You’ll stay with Ryder. It’s second best to my place.” He looked behind her. “Where’d you park?

“Around the corner.” She gestured.

“We should probably get it off the street soon. People see all your stuff in the back and they might be interested in it.”

“I don’t have much. Just a few suitcases.” She shrugged. “But first, I need the bathroom.” She smiled and reached for the door. He was faster, and grabbed the handle, pulling the door open and guiding her inside.

The smell of coffee surrounded her. She breathed in, reveling in it, then pushed away the urge to look at the menu and headed straight to the back of the shop for the restroom.

Once she finished, she took a quick peek at herself in the mirror, then turned away. There was no hope for it. If she couldn’t fix the mess the humidity and driving had created with her tired eyes and hair, she just wouldn’t look at it.

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