Page 24 of Securing Samantha

A few minutes later, Becky texted back.

HELL YEAH!

She texted Bryan Becky’s information and slid the phone in her back pocket. She pulled the box from the counter and headed toward the back. Grabbing a couple of jars of her new face cream, she stuck them in the crook of her arm to take up front. The bell over the door chimed, indicating a customer. She pasted a smile on her face as she rounded the corner. She stopped in her tracks.

Whiskey stood in the middle of the store holding a large bouquet of flowers. What was it with people and flowers? If she never saw another petal again, it’d make her day.

“Hello, lass,” his accent deepened and sounded sorrowful.

“What do you want, Whiskey?” She made no effort to move toward him. Nor did she miss the flinch when she used the name he insisted she call him.

“I wanted to apologize. I sent the divorce papers and didn’t discuss them with you. I hoped we might have dinner together and have a talk.”

She shook her head. Unbelievable. He shredded her heart in two and now he wanted to discuss things.

“I think the divorce papers said it all. However, I contacted my own attorney and he’ll be contacting yours. I have no use for the house. LJ and I will never stay there. I don’t need spousal support or child support. I’ve managed all these years and have no intention of taking money from a man who doesn’t want anything to do with his son,” she told him.

Whiskey stepped forward and she stepped back. He scowled at her as he held out the flowers. When she made no move to accept them, he sighed and laid them on her counter.

“Lass, I sat up all last night and did some powerful thinking.”

“I bet you did.” The memory of his arms wrapped around the pretty blonde reminded her to stay mad.

“I did. Lass, I might’ve acted hasty in a few things. I came to the realization some of the things you mentioned are true.” His chest puffed out as he made his announcement. “I decided I want to know my son and be his Da. I want supervised visits with him. Only because I don’t want LJ scared of me and I don’t know all my triggers,” he rushed out his explanation. “The team agreed to act as chaperones and I thought if you approved, I’d ask him over for the weekend with his Uncle Leo.”

Samantha moved behind the counter to keep a division between them.

“It’s not possible. LJ and I leave for a vacation in the morning. We’re flying out tomorrow and won’t return until Sunday,” she informed him.

His eyes widened in surprise. “Oh. I didn’t recall you mentioning leaving.” His hand ran through his hair.

“When you divorce people without notice, they tend to not share their schedules unless a child’s involved. Up until now, you made it clear you wanted nothing to do with my son. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but if you think I’ll stand by while you hurt him, you better think again,” she warned.

He stepped closer to the counter, and she stepped back, keeping the widening gap between him. Whiskey seemed flustered.

“Damn it, lass, I made a mistake. I didn’t talk to you?—”

“No. You didn’t. You haven’t done anything with me. Even knowing your child was held at knifepoint and your wife held at gunpoint didn’t bring you out from the mountain. You’ve insisted Liam died. I agree. My husband’s gone and nothing I say or do will bring him back. You finally got it through my head, Whiskey. You want nothing to do with me. I don’t know what spurned this change of heart about our son and I won’t stand in the way of you nurturing a healthy relationship with him. This weekend won’t work out and next weekend he’s at his grandparents. You can have him with the team the following weekend.”

Whiskey nodded. “What about you, lass?”

“Claire discussed the idea of continuing separate sessions, and I agree.”

“No. You misunderstand. I want to spend time with you.”

“You can’t. You made it clear yesterday when you served me with divorce papers. We aren’t married anymore. We’re done, Whiskey. You got what you wanted. You pushed me away. I wish you the best. I hope you continue to heal. Not only for yourself but my son deserves a good Da. He’s the most precious thing to me and I won’t tolerate you making him unhappy.”

Whiskey nodded. The bell chimed above the door and Samantha put a smile on her face and greeted her next customer. She watched as Whiskey slipped out the door and out of her life.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Whiskey walked into the team headquarters. His shoulders slumped as he walked into the kitchen.

Shadow cut up vegetables while Taco seasoned chicken for fajitas. Saint showed up a few minutes later with a couple of files in his hand and a grocery sack of avocados, fresh cilantro and tomatoes.

Shadow handed him a cutting board with tomatoes. Whiskey chopped all the while muttering to himself. When he finally glanced up to see the men watching him, he handed over his job and sat on one of the bar stools.

“Where’s Leo?” he asked.

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