Page 74 of Samuel

Evie immediately regretted taking a sip of her water. Her lungs burned as she choked on the cold liquid.

“Oh my god, are you alright?” Abby patted her back.

“Fine,” she gasped. “Sam and I have… I mean there’s been one time…”

“Oh, I think we just assumed he was helping you out withyour…needs. If you two are dating, what’s the hold up?” Daisy chuckled into her drink.

Why was it so hot in the dang building all of a sudden?

“Is it weird that we’re together?”

“Evie, are you kidding me?” Abby grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I love that you are with Sam. You’re exactly what I’ve been hoping he’d have in his life. The only thing you have to promise me is that if it doesn’t work out, we get custody of you.”

“Custody of me?”

“Oh yeah,” Grace giggled. “Don’t you remember? Once you’re in our girl group, there is no getting out. You’re part of the sisterhood. Stuck with us for the long run.”

“But Sam is your brother. And you all are friends with him.”

“Eh, he has the guys. He’ll be fine.” Abby shrugged. “Besides, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Hell, I heard it in his voice the very first time I saw him after you started working at the ranch. That man is in just about as deep as he can get and I doubt he’ll ever let go.”

“Speaking of being in deep,” Emma smiled. “Tell us more about how he helped take care of yourfrustrations?”

“Oh god, Em!” Abby’s face flushed. “I’m all for it, but maybe I don’t want to hearall about it.”

“I would never share…”

“No! You have to!” Emma interrupted. “It’s like law number one in this group. Abby can do a drink run for us if she can’t deal. Besides, she had no problem spilling the beans about her man and his piercings, and poor Grace had to listen to it.”

“That is a little different, Em. I’m not John’s sister. And Jackson has told me every embarrassing story ever involving John. I probably have a few I could tell Abby that she hasn’t heard yet.”

“Potatoes, tomatoes.”

“That’s not the saying.” Grace snorted into her lemonade.

“I’ll say this. Sam is incredible. He makes me feel seen in a way I haven’t ever felt before. He’s so protective of me. He stocked the office with my favorite snacks. He insists on driving me anywhere I need to go. And he’s been making me take my shoes off in the office so I don’t trip on things. It makes me laugh, but honestly, I feel so lucky.”

“That’s so sweet.”

“Are you giving away all my secrets over here?” Sam whispered into her ear. She jumped at the closeness, earning a slight chuckle from him. “Sorry, Bluebell. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s fine.”

“Here,” he held out his hand. “Stand up for a second.”

She threaded her fingers through his as he helped her stand, then watched as he sat in her seat. The next thing she knew, he was tugging her hand down, her body falling on top of his.

“How are you feeling?” he whispered into her ear.

“I’m okay. The girls helped take my mind off of… what happened.”

“Hank said he’s going to be in lockup for the rest of the week and he’ll hold him over the weekend. There’s enough there from him putting his hands on you tonight to do it. But I told him you’d be okay showing him your phone tomorrow.”

“Whatever he needs. I just want to make sure he can’t come around again.”

“I’ll make sure he can’t, Bluebell. I promise.”

Evie’s body relaxed as he wrapped his arms around her, letting his palms rest on her belly.

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