Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
He didn’t know what he thought except he couldn’t get Samantha out of his mind.
“Fallon?” Brooklyn, Lizzie’s daughter, called to get her attention. The two were like sisters.
“Promise me you’ll think about what I said?” Fallon asked him.
He nodded and she turned to answer her friend, leaving Dex with his thoughts about his time on the island. Last night in the Bahamas, after bringing Samantha home from the club, he’d helped her out of the car and when she tripped on the stairs, he lifted her into his arms again and carried her to bed. He laid her down, watching her curl up, still in her dress because he was determined to be a gentleman, and fall asleep.
But not before she’d mumbled, asking him to stay. The desire to wrap his arms around her while she slept had been strong, which was why he’d escaped to his bedroom as soon as possible. Memories of that sizzling kiss had tortured him all night long.
But staying away had been the right thing to do. And that shouldn’t change. He had too much going on in his life to involve himself in Samantha’s. Not to mention the Ian issue. Even if he wished otherwise.
* * *
When the driver at the airport asked where Samantha wanted to go, she’d immediately said Brandy’s apartment. Since Samantha had no idea if Jeremy was still living in her place, the one he’d moved into, she’d opted for her friend’s. She’d face her ex-fiancé tomorrow, once she had a good night’s sleep and a clear head. She’d spent the day at Brandy’s and her friend had taken the afternoon off work to hang out with her.
Later that night, Samantha curled up in the corner of Brandy’s sofa, a pint of ice cream in one hand and a tablespoon in the other. If she kept up the junk eating, she’d have trouble fitting into her clothes.
“Thanks for letting me stay over,” she said.
Brandy was digging into her own pint of chocolate ice cream. “Don’t be silly. Stay as long as you want.”
“And I appreciate you holding down the fort at work while I was gone.” She didn’t know what she’d do without the one friend she knew she could trust.
“How about you stop thanking me for doing things I know you’d do for me, and tell me about your trip with the hottie quarterback,” Brandy said.
“Retired quarterback. Starting in September, he’s going to be the lead analyst for Sunday Night Football.” And Samantha was proud of him. It hurt that the only place she might see him from now on was on the television screen.
“Which means you have a good amount of time to spend with him before he begins his traveling to the games for work.”
Brandy sounded much too positive considering the state of Samantha’s life and she shook her head. “Dex did me a favor by coming to the Bahamas, but our time together is over. I have to figure out how to handle Jeremy, not a new man. Besides, I doubt I’ll be hearing from Dex again.” The thought settled like lead in her stomach.
“You don’t see the interested sparkle in your eyes that I do when you talk about Dex.” Brandy put her empty container on the coffee table, but held on to the spoon and sat back, leveling it at Samantha and using the utensil to make her point. “But I’ll let you live with your delusions for a little while longer.” She swung her feet over the edge of the sofa and rose to her feet. “Let me toss the empty containers.” She gathered up the trash and walked to the kitchen, returning with two bottles of water, handing one to Samantha.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. So, what’s your plan regarding Jeremy?” Brandy asked, settling back into her chair.
Samantha laid her head back, closed her eyes, and groaned. Then she opened her eyelids and met her friend’s gaze, determined to stop with the poor me routine. Even if it was just inside her head. “Tomorrow I’ll show up at the office and let it be known I’m back, I’m fine, and I’m in charge.”
Brandy grinned. “Damn right. Nobody gets my girl down. What about your living situation? The apartment is yours. It’s not right that he’s still there.”
Once Samantha had been settled at Brandy’s, she’d called her doorman and asked that very question. Apparently, Jeremy had no shame because he hadn’t moved out.
“You’re right. It’s mine and I want him out. My name is on the lease. If Jeremy shows up at the office tomorrow, I’ll head home and have the locks changed. Let the bastard find somewhere else to live.”
“And she’s back.” Brandy clapped her hands in approval. “You know I’ll support you, right?”
Samantha’s eyes watered at her friend’s loyalty. “I know, and I am so grateful to have you in my corner.”