Page 88 of Samuel

“I don’t ever want to hear you say that again.” His voice rumbled low in his chest. “It isnotyour fault that someone came into your space and assaulted you. I’m not leaving you and Jellybean unprotected here. I can’t. Until we know who this guy is, fuck, until we know if he’s working with anyone else, I don’t want you here by yourself.”

“I can’t lose my independence, Sam. It’s just a lot all at once.”

“Then you won’t move into the house.”

“Thank you.” She sighed and relaxed against him.

“I’ll just move in here.”

She buried her face into his chest and growled. “That’s not really maintaining my independence, Sam.”

“It’s not that crazy of a thought, though, is it?”

“Yes, it is! Where are you going to sleep? There’s only this bed.”

Exactly.

“The couch is fine. I want to be close to the door anyway.”

“That couch is going to kill your back and you know it.”

“Look, I’ll sleep on the couch, on the floor, outside the apartment door. I just want to make sure you are safe. Now, close your eyes and try to rest. And don’t worry. As soon as you fall asleep, I’ll make my way back out to the living room.”

“Don’t go anywhere. At least for tonight.” Her fingers tightened their hold on his shirt. “It’s not beyond repair.”

Twenty-Three

Dusty rose colored light streamed into the bedroom as Sam opened his eyes. He blinked, trying to wipe the sleep away from his eyes.

Holy shit.

He’d slept through the night.

He’d slept through the night, with Evie wrapped in his arms. Her warmth suddenly surrounded him, and he never wanted to move again.

Sam let his eyes wander over her body. She was pressed into his side, her face resting peacefully on his chest. He hated the way the bruise on her cheek had darkened even more in the hours overnight, but her lip was looking a little less raw.

Her belly rested against his hip, and he couldn’t resist sliding his hand down over the swell to see if the baby was awake. He waited, holding his breath, until there was a sudden thump against his hand.

“Hey, little one. Are you hungry? ” he whispered. “I don’t want to miss out on you moving, but I have to go make something for you and your mama to eat. So, no more rolling around in there until I come back. Okay?”

A tiny kick landed right in his palm and Sam had to stifle his laughter.

“That’s my girl.”

Ten minutes later, Sam cracked the last of the eggs into the bowl and began whisking. His plan was coming together. Bacon sizzled away in the pan, fresh fruit already neatly chopped and in a bowl. Now, he just needed to finish the scrambled eggs and everything would be ready for when Evie got up.

A groan pierced through the symphony of kitchen noises. Abandoning the sizzling pan in front of him, Sam took two steps closer to Evie’s room, waiting. A second later, the same pained sound came again, but this time, Sam didn’t wait. He rapped once on her door, before all but knocking the damn thing off its frame as he shouldered his way in.

Sam’s eyes went wide at the scene in front of him. Evie was sitting on her bed, half dressed with tears in her eyes as she ran her hand over her belly. He walked right over to her, sinking onto his knees in between her legs.

“What’s wrong? What is it?” His chest constricted painfully as he searched her eyes. Fuck. He let out a measured breath to release some of the tension as the agonizing seconds passed while she continued to cry.

“Sam,” she sniffled.

“What, Bluebell? Is it the baby? Are you in pain?”

She shook her head. “I can’t get this stupid dress over my boobs. They’re too big now and it won’t zip up.”

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