Page 75 of Securing Samantha

Whiskey stood and made his way to the kitchen. He poured out the remainder of his coffee and placed the dirty cup in the dishwasher. “I best be going. Hope doesn’t like it if I stay gone too long.”

Chase frowned. “You’ll come back later for dinner? Bring Hope with you, then you can stay longer. Rollo loves having a playmate too.”

Whiskey nodded slightly. Samantha instinctively knew he didn’t plan to return. She made her way through the presents and people as Whiskey attempted to leave through the garage door.

She rushed out behind him.

“Whiskey, I know things feel awkward between us, but we once agreed to work together as a team. LJ will miss you. Please say you’ll come back,” she pleaded.

“Ach, lass, do you have any idea what it’s like watching another man touch you, hold you, and kiss you?” His voice came out soft, but she felt the anger.

“Yeah. I do. It’s the way I felt when I worried you fell deep into depression, you divorced me and planned to harm yourself. I searched everywhere for you until I went to Sharkey’s,” she whispered.

Whiskey tilted his head back and gazed at the ceiling. “I swear on my son’s head, nothing happened. I’ll admit I felt low at letting you go, but I thought I was no good and you deserved happiness with a man like Bryan. I pushed myself to go to the bar to prove I could live a normal life again. I hated every single moment. The crowd, the noise, and when she offered a peaceful respite, I grabbed it. I went back to her apartment. I kissed her. When she whispered my name in my ear. It wasn’t her voice I heard. It was yours. You see, I still secured your heart inside my chest and your voice spoke to me. I dinna do what you think. I left. I can’t take back my choice. Tell LJ I’ll come back later and take him home. I wish you only the best.” He slowly walked toward her and placed a kiss on her forehead and walked away.

In the late afternoon, Whiskey showed up. “How about a trip to the hill before it gets too dark?” he kneeled in front of his son.

“Can Mom and Bryan come watch? I want them to see how fast I can go,” he asked Whiskey.

“We don’t want them to miss it, son. Grab your hat, scarf and gloves.” He stood and watched his son retrieve his outdoor clothes.

Bryan picked up his coat while Samantha retrieved hers. Emma fell asleep clutching her new doll, and Samantha cast a glance at Kassie in desperation. Kassie shrugged her shoulders, helpless to assist her friend from leaving with her current boyfriend, and her soon to be ex-husband.

Whiskey and LJ led the way to the kids favorite sledding spot. He held the sled while LJ practically chomped at the bit in anticipation of flying down it.

“This is your steering wheel.” Whiskey handed him the wooden handle attached to the ropes. “Pull it this way to go toward the trees and pull it like this to go down the second hill.” He instructed his son.

“Watch me, everybody!” Whiskey gave him a slight push as LJ yelled all the way down. Samantha laughed and snapped pictures while she encouraged him to keep going.

She placed her hands in her pockets and bounced in place. The weather turned colder, and she forgot her scarf. LJ climbed off his sled and dragged it back up to go again.

Bryan, noticing her teeth chatting, pulled his scarf from around his neck and wrapped it around hers. She stood uncomfortably while he stuffed it down the front of her coat and tugged the lapels farther up around her, making it snug. She felt the heat of Whiskey’s gaze as he watched Bryan.

“Better?” Bryan asked.

Whiskey held his hand out to his son and waited for him to climb back on the sled. “Next time you come back, maybe invite your mum for a ride, we know how she likes to scream.”

Samantha’s cheeks no longer felt cold as the heat flamed to her face.

Whiskey felt pretty pleased with himself as he kept his gaze on their son and his chest puffed out. Bryan pulled her closer. Making Whiskey frown. Samantha pretended to struggle at getting her phone to create space between her and Bryan. She didn’t have any intention to rub him in Whiskey’s face.

LJ ran back up the hill. “Mom, do you wanna ride?”

“Do you even need to ask?” She pretended excitement at going down the hill with her son, yet she felt the pit in her stomach at leaving the two men alone at the top of the hill.

Whiskey held the sled, and she didn’t miss his hand guiding her to her position and holding the sled next to her ass. LJ jumped on.

“Since Bryan’s company, we don’t want him to feel left out. He might want a ride,” Whiskey suggested.

“Nah, Bryan’s gonna play with Mom while I stay here with you. He felt bad he didn’t get to come with us and asked her to play with him. He told her he’s counting the days. He’s fine.”

Samantha buried her face in LJ’s jacket and attempted to muffle the groan. Whiskey gave them a shove. Was it her imagination or did he push them off harder than he had done LJ? She never told Bryan what the team did for a living, and she cringed as she thought of the hundreds of ways SEALs knew to incapacitate their victims. Dread filled her. As soon as the sled stopped she rolled off, and laughed with her son pretending she enjoyed the ride. Her stomach lurched as she scanned the area where the men waited. Whiskey stood on the right and Bryan on the left. Both waited for her to choose who she returned to.

“It’s getting dark. Why don’t we go back to Aunt Kassie’s for hot chocolate and marshmallows?”

“Yay,” LJ exclaimed as he ran to Whiskey. Samantha continued to walk up the mountain to Chase and Kassie’s. Confusion filled her as she pondered on what to do.

Kassie generously offered Bryan a guest room upstairs. When Whiskey announced he and LJ needed to head home, Samantha hugged her son.

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