Page 65 of Samuel

Her cheeks finally got some color back into them as splotches of red blossomed over her face. “I’m overreacting. Oh, God. I’m sorry. I let myself spiral. I’m so embarrassed.”

She tried to push away from his chest, but Sam tightened his arms around her.

“Why don’t you just let me hold you for a second longer, and we can go from there?”

He closed his eyes and waited to feel her settle back against him. It only took one heartbeat before her head was tucked back under his chin.

“You’re always so strong, Evie. You don’t have to be that way around me.”

“Yeah, well. A lot of good it’s done me.” She lifted her head and wiped at her cheeks.

God, it gutted him to see her this upset and he still didn’t know what that asshole originally said to her. His mind was bringing up every horrible thing possible.

“Your shirt is soaked through.” She gave him a watery half smile that had his heart going crazy. “I’m so sorry I cried all over you.”

“It’s just a shirt, Bluebell. It’ll dry.” He brought his thumb up to her cheek and swept away a tear.

“No, don’t be sweet to me right now. I’m barely hanging on.”

“Are you ready to tell me what he said?”

She groaned. “It’s not that big of a deal. I shouldn’t have reacted like this. I’m so sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. I want to know what he said. Mainly so I can shoot the asshole if he ever comes around here but?—”

“You don’t think… oh my god. No. He wouldn’t come here, would he?”

“Can’t ever be too careful. But we all carry here. You knowthat. He steps foot on this property, uninvited and making you uncomfortable, I’ll shoot him. No questions asked.”

“Youcannotdo that,” she groaned.

“I can, and I will.”

“Sam, he won’t come here. My mind just got away from me after he said…” her whole body shivered. Fuck. Whatever that bastard had said was bad. Sam knew it in his gut.

“What? After he said what?”

“He told me he should have taken what was his when he had the chance. Then I wouldn’t have had to go to a fertility clinic to get pregnant, because the baby would be his.” Every muscle in his body tensed.

“Evie. He’s a dead man.”

“I can take care of myself. He’s not going to show up here, but even if he did, I could handle it.”

“I know you could, but you don’t have to. You don’t always have to fight every battle all alone.”

“I’ve always known I would be okay on my own, even raising a child without a community behind me.”

“And when you meet someone? Someone who wants to be Jellybean’s dad. Someone who wants to give you more babies one day. What would you do then?”

Her pupils dilated and her breath hitched as a rosy blush bloomed across her face. He knew she understood what he was saying.

“Sam… I?—”

“Why do you sit under this tree every day?”

“What?”

“I see you out here. Always under this tree. It’s not the closest tree to the office. It doesn’t even have that great of a view. But there you are, under the cover of its canopy, every day.”

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