Page 43 of Securing Samantha

“I can’t do this,” she whispered. She shook her head as he advanced. A whimper came from his coat, and he dug inside his jacket.

“Hope’s restless today I forgot to ask if you minded if I brought her with.”

“You brought her with?” Samantha was ready to tear out the bitch’s hair.

Her hand gripped the mortar in her hand as Whiskey pulled out the sweetest ball of fur. “I need to grab her little wee pad; I’ll be right back.”

Samantha choked back the laughter. “I take it, you’re Hope. I’ve heard all about you and I’ll admit I felt quite jealous. After meeting you, I’m hopelessly in love.”

She cuddled the sweet puppy as Whiskey walked in with a couple of wee pads and a large cardboard box. “I can leave her in the box to keep her from weeing all over the shop. We worked on potty training over the weekend. I hope you don’t mind.” His worried gaze soaked her in. Confused at her previous behavior, he searched for the cause.

“LJ said she was pretty. He didn’t do her justice, she’s gorgeous.”

“She a wee thing right now, but the new trainer at the hospital bred her. Kassie gave her to me. She said as soon as she saw her, she knew Hope was meant for me.” He gently took Hope from her arms and placed her in the box.

Samantha didn’t argue the fact. Seeing the tiny puppy cuddled in his arms made her wish he met LJ as a baby.

“There ya go. You got the sad gaze in your eyes again, is it me?” He seemed fidgety.

“No. It’s not you. I pulled a couple of teas I blended when I returned. Bryan sold Whiskey and Sunshine to one of the huge hotels in New York. I need to step up production. Will you help me pick between these two? I need to take another to New York, and I can’t decide.”

“You’re going back to New York?” he asked.

“Yes, but not until I get you settled with LJ and your parents. I’ll come back in time for dinner on Sunday,” she informed him.

“Are you seeing this man? Tell me the truth. I know I buggered things, but I worked really hard with LJ. I’m trying.”

“I know you did very well. He asked Saint to report he finished his kitchen duty and raced to make his bed without complaining. How did you accomplish it?”

She poured tea in the teapot while he sat in the stylist chair.

“Aye lass, he said all the girls carried nicknames and he wanted a call sign. What were ya thinkin’ not letting our boy earn his call sign?” He teased.

“Did he earn one?” she laughed.

“Not yet, we need to come up with a good one. He’ll earn it honestly, no giving it out for free,” he proclaimed.

“Did you tell our son how you earned your name?” She bit her lip in laughter as she handed him a cup of tea with a bit of cream and a spoonful of honey.

“Lass, his tender ears don’t need to hear how I stumbled over his Ma and whispered in her ear how beautiful she was…”

“You knocked me to the ground and rolled to keep me from getting injured and as I recall, your last words were, ‘See Leo, I’m as smooth as Whiskey.’” She reminded him, laughing.

He playfully scowled. “I don’t recall it happening in such a way. I charmed you with my dancing.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Are you seeing him?” he asked quietly.

“I enjoy his companionship when I go to New York. His company is testing my product to mass produce. It passed all the initial inspections and we’re on the second phase,” she explained.

“I don’t remember things very well, but I do recall we always told each other the truth,” he softly spoke.

Samantha sighed. “Whiskey, you served me with divorce papers.”

“I know I did, lass.” Her heart raced as he moved closer. He smelled of sandalwood. His hand wrapped in her hair as he drew her close. His mouth covered hers. He tentatively swiped his tongue along her bottom lip coaxing her to allow him in. She gripped his shirt tightly, and a moan escaped her. “I see you remember me. No one will know you the way I do.”

Samantha’s eyes popped open. She stepped back. “Did you…kiss me because of Bryan?”

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