Page 3 of Saving Sam

“That is true for anyone, though, male or female, if they are in the right house. Anytime you want to come home, call me, I have a spot just for you.”

“Thanks, Connor, I appreciate that. I want to prove this is a job I can do, not just who my father was.”

“You have nothing to prove, and it’s never been about your father. You are one hell of a firefighter. I saw you at the academy, and all the instructors were impressed with your abilities to surpass a lot of the males in your class, who had a lot of respect for you.”

I smile, “Thanks, that’s good to know,” I mutter.

“My offer stands, you can come back here whenever you want.”

I stand up, then say, “Thanks, Chief, but I’m okay for now.”

“You are so damn stubborn.”

“I know, it’s my Taurus trait. It can be a curse as well as a blessing,” I tell him, smiling up at him, and he shakes his head. “You are going to be the death of me,” he mutters, wrapping his arms around me and sighing a deep breath.

I breathe him in again, soaking in his warmth, before stepping back, “Thanks, Connor, I appreciate you speaking with me. I should go get some sleep before I have to go back to the hospital.”

“Did you fly here, right after your shift?” he asks me, and I nod. “Where are you staying?”

“At Alisa’s,” I reply.

“Come on, I’ll drive you over there.”

“You don’t have to do that, I can get an Uber…” I start, and he cuts me off.

“Nonsense, you are about to fall out. The Uber guy may not wake you up, if you fall asleep in his car. At least I can make sure you get home safely.”

“Okay, thank you,” I say, not being able to argue against his logic.

“Jennifer, I’ll be back.”

“Yes, Chief.”

He leads me out to his truck, opening the door for me and allowing me to get in. When we get to Alisa’s house, he walks me to the door.

“Thanks for the ride, I appreciate it,” I tell him, my body humming with nervous energy.

“You don’t need to thank me, Samantha.” He pulls me into another hug, holding me tight to his chest.

I pull back with a smile on my face, then open the door leaving him standing there. My body hums with the feel of him still imprinted on me.

CHAPTER ONE

CONNOR

A year later

I take my seat, surprised to get an invite to Alisa’s wedding. The music starts, and I turn with the rest of the guests in time to see a smiling Samantha walking down the aisle in a beautiful pale purple dress. She’s carrying a bouquet of pink and white lilies, and looks absolutely stunning. I can’t take my eyes off her and follow her all the way to the front, where she takes her place as maid of honor to stand beside her sister.

The wedding march starts to play, and I look back in time to see Alisa slowly walking down the aisle, with the biggest smile on her face in a gorgeous white wedding dress. Her eyes are only on Matt Thorn. I glance at Matt at the front and see the love and awww shining in his eyes, as he watches his bride walk down the aisle. Beside him is the best man, Detective Derrick Monroe. He has his eyes on a special woman, and it’s not the bride.

Charlene ‘Charley’ Fairview is standing with everyone else, watching the bride and her new best friend walk down the aisle, but I can tell that she can feel Derrick staring at her. I watch as her face blushes, but she maintains her composure, then as she turns, she looks at Derrick, giving him the biggest and brightest smile, and he smiles back at her.

I take my seat, and my gaze goes directly to Samantha. I watch her as she watches her sister and soon to be brother-in-law exchange vows. When Alisa and Matt kiss, I watch as Samantha discreetly wipes a tear from her eye, then she grabs onto Derrick’s arm, as they follow Matt and Alisa down the aisle.

I catch her eye as she walks by, then follow the rest of the guests to the reception area. Samantha makes sure everything is perfect for her sister throughout the night. The couple share the first dance, then Samantha and Derrick join them, before I notice Samantha leading Derrick to the side and grabbing Charley, while pushing them both onto the dance floor.

She stands there watching the couples before she gets pulled away by the caterer. I continue watching her every move, not even feeling like the stalker that anyone could accuse me of being if they are watching me close enough.

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