Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
She shrugs. “I’m not ashamed or anything. I just know you.”
I tense. “What does that mean?”
“You would have thought you had to fix me or something.” She snaps her fingers. “Just like today. As soon as you knew I needed something, you took over. You came and got me. You had my car towed.”
I shrug. “I don’t think caring about you is a bad thing.”
She sighs, searching my eyes. “It’s not, but Elijah, I’m not your responsibility. I’m not yours to fix.”
You could be mine.
I almost say it, but I bite my tongue and hold it back. For five years now, I’ve wondered what we could have been if I hadn’t lied to her and told her that kiss meant nothing. Without thinking, I put my hand to her belly and can’t stop the thought. This could be my baby she’s having instead of some asshole’s.
“You and Kane are my family, Sassy. I would do anything for you.”
She reaches up and cups my cheek. “I know you’re a good man, Eli, but you don’t want to get mixed up with this.”
Her hand drops, and all I feel is cold detachment from her. “If you can just get me to Kane’s apartment, I can start getting my life back together.”
Before I can stop myself, I wrap my arms around her in a hug. She melts into me, and we stay like this for a few minutes. I know I need to let her go, but having her in my arms is a good feeling, and I don’t want to release her.
Darkness is starting to fall, and I reluctantly I let her go. “Come on. I bet you’re tired.”
She slides from my lap into the passenger seat, and I move back to the driver’s side. I leave the console up, not wanting it between us.
I start driving toward Whiskey Run, and Sam leans her head back on the headrest. We go a few miles, and when she’s still awake, I decide it’s time to talk.
“So what are your plans?”
She looks out the passenger side window. “Get a job.”
I clear my throat. It’s a bad idea. I know it is, but I’m going to do it anyway. I need to have her close and keep an eye on her. “I could use some help at the office.”
Her head immediately swivels toward me, and she points between the two of us. “You want me to come work for you?”
I nod, keeping my eyes on the road in front of us.
“I thought you had some great assistant at your beck and call.”
I glance her way. That almost sounded like jealousy, but her face is void of emotion. I shake my head. “I do have an assistant. Carrie does a lot around the office, but I need more help with some special jobs.”
She blurts out a laugh. “Right. It sounds like a handout to me. No thanks.”
I grip the steering wheel. For some reason, it’s super important to me that this happens. “It’s not a handout. You would be doing me a favor. Kane’s overseeing the new hospital—”
She interrupts me. “In Whiskey Run?”
I nod. “Yeah, it’s going to be good. People won’t have to drive into Jasper anymore. They can get their care right in town.” I glance over at her. “Anyway, Wolfe Construction is busier than ever, and I feel like I’m letting things slide all the time. I could really use the help.”
I keep driving, giving her time to think. I may have not been around Sam in years, but there’s no way she’s changed that much. She is always the first person to jump in when someone needs help.
She turns in her seat, and I hear the excitement in her voice. “And you think—?”
Her voice trails off. I turn onto the highway that leads to Whiskey Run. “Do I think what?”
She leans toward me. “You sure you want a pregnant lady around the office?”
“Yes,” I insist without hesitation.
Before she can ask me if I’m sure, which I know is coming, my phone rings through the speakers of my truck.
Kane’s name shows up on the caller ID. I push the answer button. “Sam is fine. We’re on the way home now.”
“What the hell took so long? Is she okay?”
I nod my head even though I’m thinking about her crying just moments ago. “She’s fine. She was asleep when I got here, so I let her sleep.”
“O…kay,” he drags out. “What was wrong with her car?”
I want to laugh. Telling him what’s right with her car would be faster and easier. “I’m having it towed into town. We’ll be there in an hour. I’m going to have food delivered to the apartment.”
He cuts me off. “I can grab something.”
I roll my eyes. Yeah, I’m sure he was going to eat pizza and beer for dinner. “It’s fine. Let me do this. How was the groundbreaking?”