Page 65 of Obsession

“Just swab the inside of your cheek,” Nate said.

She did as he instructed and handed the stick to him. Then she repeated the process with the other stick.

“I’ll send a deputy with one sample to Jackson today, and get the other one off tomorrow, and ask both labs to put a rush on it. If we’re lucky, we should get the results from Jackson back by the middle of the week.”

Once Nate left, Emma rubbed her forehead with her left fingers.She was surprised when Sam pulled her to him, and she laid her head on his chest as his arms wrapped around her.

“You look like you could use a hug,” he said softly.

Oh, brother, did she need one.

“I’m sorry you’re having to go through this.”

“Thanks.” His steady heartbeat calmed her, and his arms around her made her feel safe, but she had things to do. Yet she didn’t pull away.

He tilted her face up until she was looking into brown eyes that were warm with compassion. She’d been such a fool years ago.

“It’s going to be okay,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“It’s good to know you have my back.” His touch sent shivers through her. Surely he felt the electricity between them when they were together. She held her breath, feeling his every heartbeat as he searched her face, his gaze going from questioning to awareness.

His touch sent shock waves through her as he cupped her chin and traced his thumb along her jaw. Emma’s head told her to run, but her heart held her in his embrace. Barely able to breathe, she slipped her arms around his waist. He kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose, and she leaned into him. Sam bent his head and lowered his lips to hers, kissing her softly.

Emma melted into his embrace, returning his kiss with a passion that came from the depth of her heart. Never before had she felt the way she did at this moment, not even when he’d professed his love and gave her a ring all those years ago.

Slowly he released her. “Wow,” he said softly.

“Yeah, wow.” She laid her head against his chest.

“I didn’t know that was going to happen,” he murmured against the top of her head.

“Are you sorry?”

“Oh no. How about you?”

Emma raised her head. “No, but does it complicate things?”

He chuckled. “For my part, it was already complicated.”

“So you were fighting it, whateveritis, too.”

“You might say that.”

She looked into eyes that made her feel safe and loved. She wanted him to kiss her again, but if he did, they might not leave. Evidently, he felt the same way, as he sighed and released her.

“I better leave now.”

“Yeah.” She moved toward the door with him. “And Brooke will be here soon.”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

She stared blankly at him.My backpack.Heat burned her face. “I’m a little distracted.”

“That makes two of us,” he said softly, then asked, “Did you get the file from Bell?”

“No,” Emma replied. “He won’t send it until after church.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you to Mount Locust instead of Brooke? I’m going there anyway. In fact, we could leave now.”

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