Page 63 of Samuel

“I’m not good at that.”

“Tell me what it’s saying this could be.”

“Well… It could be round-ligament pain. Have you heard of that before?”

Evie shook her head.

“Looks like it’s pain caused from your ligaments stretching as Jellybean gets bigger.”

“That makes sense. It was so sharp, but only when I moved a certain way. Is it dangerous?”

“No. But you’re still going to sit there for a bit until we can make sure it’s not something else.”

Jellybean rolled, and Evie’s belly vibrated with her laughter.

“She seems to be enjoying the attention.” Evie smiled. “I think she might have a flair for the dramatics.”

“Hey, little one. Listen up. Don’t be scaring your mom and me like that, okay?”

Evie’s phone pinged at her desk and he watched her eyes drift closed again.

“Do you want me to get that for you?”

“No. Leave it. I’m sure it isn’t anything important.”

Sam stepped out of the barn, his eyes scanning the land until he landed on Evie, pacing under the oak tree. He shook his head. That was the very first place he should have expected to see her. The minute he got close enough to see the terror written on her face, he took off at a run. He was still a few feet away when he heard someone yelling at her through the phone.

“You fucking disgusting bitch. You think you can steal from me and then try to frame me? You have the fucking audacity to tell the police to look into me?”

“Dr. Bowman, what was I supposed to do? I gave the police the evidence that cleared my name. I did not tell them to look into you. If you are a suspect, that is not my fault.” Her eyes bounced up and she held her hand out, stopping Sam from walking any closer. “I hope they find the person responsible, but that is not me. I’ve left your practice. I expect that you won’t contact me again.”

“If you think I’m going to let a fucking slut who turned ME down like she’s the fucking queen of England ruin my name and shred my business apart?—”

Sam pulled the phone away from Evie’s ear and fought theurge to snap her phone in half.

“Who the fuck do you think you are speaking to Evie like that?” Sam growled.

The phone clicked and Sam looked at the screen. The bastard had hung up. One person stood up for Evie and the man turned into a coward. Why hadn’t anyone stepped up for her in Wisconsin? Just one person, and she might not have had to uproot her entire life. But wasn’t he thankful that she had? If she’d stayed there, then he never would have met her…

Evie paced back and forth in front of him. “How dare he! How can he say those things? To try and take this away from me. He’s going to try and ruin my reputation here after what he did to me before, and that’s going to come back on the ranch and, oh god. On you, Sam. I can’t have that. I can’t let him ruin what your family has worked so hard for. Not when you’re already struggling. And then where will I go? I’m getting huge.” She gestured to her belly, closing her eyes on a sigh. “It’s not like I’d be able to hide Jellybean like I was able to when I showed up here. And if you wanted to fire me right after finding out about her, there’s no way I’ll be able to get another job….and I can’t have that kind of instability. She doesn’t deserve that. This is her home. Our home. I can’t lose that. I can’t…” Evie clawed at the collar of her shirt. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to be?—”

Her eyes, wide with panic, locked onto his. “I can’t breathe, Sam. I can’t…”

“Whoa. Yes you can.” Sam reached for her hands, pulling them away from her neck, where she’d left raw red scratch marks across her peach flesh.

“No. It’s too t-tight. I can’t breathe. My chest…”

“Evie.” She was too far into the panic. Her eyes were wide open, but unfocused. Lost to the fear. Sam grabbed her arms, turning her so that her back was pressed into his chest, andlowered them both to the ground. In an instant, she was sitting curled up on his lap.

While he’d hoped the contact would settle her, Evie’s breathing was still too rapid.

“Slow down your breathing. You’re hyperventilating.” Her breathing didn’t change. Shit. He needed to try something else. Sam grabbed her chin and turned her face right towards his. “Baby. Tell me something you can see.”

She shook her head. “Yes. Something you can see. Now.”

Her eyes drifted over his shoulder. “The house,” she whispered.

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