Page 70 of Samuel

Jellybean chose that exact moment to roll, squishing painfully on her bladder.

“I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it, but the baby is going to make me pee my pants if I don’t find my way to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

“Do you want company?” Emma asked.

“I’m good. No sense in having to stand in that line unless you really have to go.” Evie waved over her shoulder to the girls and made her way across the bar.

The hallway to the restroom was busy, but surprisingly there wasn’t a line. Evie was certain she would have peed her pants, or rather her shorts, if she had to wait for a stall to open up.

She finished up in the bathroom, excited butterflies dancing in her stomach at the thought of not only having so many wonderful things to share with the women, but about actually having a wonderful, supportive group of friends who would be genuinely excited for her to share.

A hand reached out and fingers wrapped painfully around her arm. Before she could even get her bearings, Evie was pushed up against the wall, a body grinding into her chest with so much force, it was hard to breathe.

“I told you, Evelyn, I would make sure you paid.”

Oh god.

Evie’s whole body went numb as her mind went blank. He was there. His threats were real. Ryan Bowman was in Texas, and the only thing Evie knew for certain was that after the way he’d been non-stop harassing her over the last few weeks, he terrified her.

She tried to push her former boss off of her, but he was too heavy. His punishing grip only tightened more each time she tried to buck him off of her.

Ryan leaned in, his hot breath hitting Evie’s face in a wave that made her gag. “You fucked everything up for me. If you had just gone out with me, we could both be sitting on a nice beach somewhere enjoying the money I’d been funneling away for an early retirement.”

“Dr. Bowman,” Evie winced. His hip was pressing painfully against her side, and Jellybean rolled against the intrusion. “Ryan, please. You’re hurting me.”

“You were right the first time, Evie. It’sdoctor.We aren’t coworkers anymore. I earned that title, and I think you’ll find things go easier for you if you address me as such.

“If you don’t want something to happen to that absolute abomination in your belly, you best come with me, and don’t even think about making a scene.”

Evie stared over Dr. Bowman’s shoulder, willing Sam to feel her distress. She just needed to catch his eye for a second…

Jesus, she was beautiful. Her hair bounced over her shoulders as she walked to the bathroom. She fit in perfectly with his friends, and that settled something in his chest, like a missing puzzle piece finally sliding into place. He’d wanted her to like them. And he wanted his friends to like her too.

“What’s going on there, Sam?” Hank laughed. “You look like your whole world is across the room right now.”

“I kinda feel like it is.”

“So, you and Evie? You know Daisy is going to insist on being your best man at the wedding.”

Sam laughed. “She’ll have to fight Seb for it. He’s also taking credit for things falling into place for us.”

“My money’s on my wife winning that fight.” Hank chuckled as he took another drink. “You’re okay that she’s bringing a little someone along with her?”

“Fuck. More than okay. The first time she let me feel the baby kick, I knew that was it. I want her and the baby in my life more than I want my next breath.”

“That’s amazing. I’m happy for you.”

Warmth settled over him. It felt great to talk out in the open about what he wanted. Even a hint that he was planning to make his relationship with Evie a permanent thing had his heart fluttering in his chest. He just hoped the damn machine in his chest wouldn’t think he needed a shock.

“I wanted to ask you something.” Sam hadn’t known whether to approach Hank about Evie’s old boss or not, but after tossing and turning the past few nights, he figured it couldn’t hurt.

“As a friend, or as the sheriff?”

Sam sighed. His tone must have given him away.

“As the sheriff.”

“I don’t have an update for you on the investigation for your cattle, Sam. I wish I did. I’ve got a contact in the Game Department I sent a message to, waiting to hear back from him on any crime that might be happening on ranches outside the county.”

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