Page 73 of Samuel

“I’m pregnant.”

“Yeah, Bluebell. I’ve kind of known that since the day we met.”

“But she’s not yours. Isn’t that hard to get past?”

Sam growled. “That’s the one time you get to say that, Evie. Because she is. She’s more mine than any other man’s and I want to be the only dad she ever knows.”

Jellybean rolled beneath his hand. Her girl was already smitten with him.

“Sam.”

“I know it’s a lot, Evie, but I know you feel it too. There’s a reason you came into my life. A little tornado in the shittiest car I’ve ever seen. Ready to set my ass straight whenever I get out of line. We’re right for each other. It’s just right.”

His face nuzzled into the crook of her neck, and her eyes fluttered shut as he peppered kisses along her jawline.

“Sorry to interrupt you love birds.” Hank stood at the edge of the table with Jake by his side, clearing his voice and looking anywhere but at the two of them. “Evie, I wanted to let you know that Ryan Bowman has been taken into custody by one of my on-duty deputies. He’ll be processed for physical assault, stalking, and harassment. We’ll need written statements from you and Sam, but that’s something we can take care of tomorrow, along with getting you a restraining order against him.”

Evie nodded, sinking further into Sam’s chest.

“Thank you, Hank.”

“Are you feeling okay, Evie? Do you want me to ride over to the hospital with you so they can check on you and the baby?” Jake’s concern was so sweet, but unnecessary.

“I’m fine, thank you though. I honestly just want to forget he even showed up here tonight.” She pressed a kiss to Sam’s cheek. “I think I’m ready to go back to the girls now.”

Nineteen

“Are you okay?” Abby asked as Evie finally rejoined them. “Who was that?”

“I’m fine. My former boss thought he’d come harass me in person. Apparently, I really screwed him over when I didn’t allow him to frame me for stealing from his business. Oh, and he’s really against me having a baby on my own. He called Jellybean a bastard.” Anger stuck in her throat.

“Oh my gosh, Evie! That’s awful,” Grace said.

“Yeah. I feel a little shaken up, but I know Hank is handling things with Sam. Sorry I took your man away from you, Daisy.”

“Eh, I wasn’t ready to have him back quiet yet,” she laughed. “The men tend to hover when we are out in a crowd like this. It’s nice to just get in some girl talk without all that testosterone around.

“I think some girl talk is exactly what Evie needs to forget about her creep of a former boss. Can we talk about how much you upgraded with your cowboy? I bet that eye candy makes for a great boss!”

“Actually, Em. Seb is technically Evie’s boss…” Abby let the words hang in the air.

“Alright, only I am allowed to talk about how hot and handsome Evie’s actual boss is! But, at this moment, let’s pretend her boss is Sam, because I’m totally in my boss-employee forbidden romance era and I need to live vicariously through her.”

“Oh, god.” Evie groaned as she buried her head into her hands.

She appreciated the change of subject, but holy hell, she needed to stop being the center of attention.

“What is that?” Evie asked, pointing to the vibrant pink liquid in Emma’s glass.

“It’s a sugar cookie. Emma invented them. And they are to thank for my current predicament.” Grace smiled as she sat back and let her hand caress her belly.

“And… you’re welcome! Normally, it’s a shot that we all do to kick things off right on girls’ night, but I’ve been working on a cocktail version that isn’t quite as strong.” Emma took another sip before handing it to Daisy. “What do you think?”

Daisy took a tiny sip and started coughing, her eyes watering as she gave a thumbs-up. “Yeah, Em. I don’t think that’slessstrong than the shot.”

“Oh well. Seb will get lucky tonight.” Her shrug had the girls all laughing.

“I think all the guys know that tonight is going to end in them getting lucky.”

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