Page 179 of Prey for You

She gave me a strange look, but then laid down and rested her head on my thigh. I drove with one hand and stroked her hair with the other.

“Bridge, I don’t want your dad’s shadow to haunt us for the rest of our lives.”

She shrugged. “Neither do I. But I don’t know if I can ever get rid of it.”

“I do. Or at least, I know the God who can.”

She sighed again. “I don’t know, Sam.”

“Aren’t you listening? I said,Ido.But don’t worry… we’ve got all the time in the world.”

59. Thank God

~ BRIDGET ~

My father died six months later.

I didn’t cry.

But when Sam came rushing home an hour after I found out because I’d texted him that I needed him, I banged him so hard he pulled a muscle.

I was just so damn glad he was there.

Interlude

There is a novella for Sam and Bridget that occurs during this point in their timeline:HoHoHo for You

It’s a little bit of fun (and some emotional healing for Bridget) and centers on Sam’s promise to make their own holiday traditions and be herAnti-Santaat Christmas time. (Remember, it’santi-Christmas, so it can be enjoyed year round, I promise!)

If you’d like to read that before you read the Epilogue, which occurs later in their timeline and concludes their main story, hop over to Amazon andpick upHoHoHo for Youon Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, or in paperback!

Otherwise, turn the page to read Bridget and Sam’s epilogue!

EPILOGUE: Two Years Later

SOUNDTRACK:The Cross (with Chris Tomlin)by Anne Wilson

~ BRIDGET ~

Sam stood behind the podium at the front of the church, with a death grip on the sides Because he’d rolled his sleeves up. I could see his tattoos and all those delicious lines that played up and down his forearms when he was holding onto something.

My favorite was when he grippedme.

As discreetly as I could, I slipped my phone out of my pocket and tapped out a quick, silent text for him to find when he was done.

ME: Is it your sin or mine when you display shameless forearm porn that makes me horny? There are children here, sir. I think I need to confess.

I smiled as I slipped the phone back into my pocket, hoping he’d read it while we were still here talking to people so I could watch his eyes go hot—then watch him squirm as he tried to pretend he wasn’t horny.

It was only fair. He made me squirm every day.

These moments were my only payback.

“…the world will tell you that your savior, yourGodis a bigot. A judgmental, partisan, wrathful dictator who holds yoursin over your head and asks you to toil your way through this life to pay it back. But they’re wrong.

“When Jesus was asked why we should forgive those who harm us, he didn’t say because it makes up for the awful things you did. He didn’t say because your brother would respond and stop doing what he was doing. He didn’t say “because he’s better than you, so he deserves it.”

Sam lifted his eyes from his notes and locked on me. My breath grew shallower.

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