Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Bardot?” he’d snapped after I made my comment about his ugly mug. “She’s my little sister!”
It probably hadn’t been the smartest reply, reminding him that Samantha was a woman and a fucking sexy one at that.
“You don’t take women to your Winnetka home,” he’d growled. “So what the fuck is going on between you two?”
I’d held up a finger to Samantha and walked across the room so I could talk to Landon in private.
“I’m only going to say this once,” I’d replied in a steel voice. “Samantha is mine. What happens between us is our business and no one else’s. However, because you are my friend and I respect the hell out of you, I’m going to share my intentions. I knew that Samantha was my future the moment I saw her, just as you did with Zoe.” I’d known that comparing our situation with his and his wife’s would make it harder for him to object. “I’m going to marry her, have a family with her, and grow old with her.”
Landon had been silent, so I’d forged ahead. “You don’t have to like it, you can hate me all you want, but I’m warning you right now, Heath, you better keep that shit to yourself. If you ever make Samantha feel like she has to choose between us and her family, I will make Zoe a widow. Is that clear?”
Again, Landon had been quiet so long it had become a little awkward. Eventually, he’d sighed, but when he’d spoken, I could hear respect in his tone. “I don’t want Samantha to feel torn in opposite directions. I love my sister and want her to be happy. So let’s get two things straight. One, Samantha and I will be having our own talk. If she doesn’t love you and doesn’t want to stay with you, then all bets are off, and I reserve the right to bring her home without your interference.”
Since I couldn’t agree to that, I hadn’t said anything, letting him infer my agreement.
“Second,” he’d continued. “If you hurt my little sister, there won’t be enough of you left to identify after I’m done.”
“Understood.” If she were my sister, I would have made the same threat.
“One last thing.” He’d paused, but I’d simply waited for him to finish rather than interrupting. “As far as I’m concerned, Samantha will always be my innocent little sister. Don’t burst that fucking bubble by pawing all over her in front of me.” I’d practically heard him shudder, and a chuckle had escaped my mouth.
“No promises, friend.”
“Fucking hell.” I’d heard him grunt as I hung up.
I stole a peek at Samantha and felt a sense of contentment as my eyes roamed over her sleeping form. Unfortunately, the shitstorm created by the inspection report had forced us to return to my office and work until after the sun had gone down. I’d been anxious to get my girl home, and with every new thing that came up, every phone call, every email, my mood had plummeted.
Now, with every mile that brought us closer to home, I felt the stress of the day melting away, leaving peace that I knew I’d only ever feel in Samantha’s presence. She’d impressed the hell out of me today and seeing her turn into a confident, savvy businesswoman had turned me on more than I expected.
She’d fallen asleep barely ten minutes after I hit the open road just past the city. I knew she was exhausted and I should let her rest, but I was barely hanging on. If I didn’t make Samantha mine really fucking soon, I would lose my ever-loving mind.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I hit the button for the garage and pulled my car inside.
After quietly exiting the vehicle, I went around to her side and opened the door. Crouching down, I gently unbuckled her, then scooped her into my arms. Then I carried her down the hall to the primary suite and laid her on the bed. She stirred a little when I removed her shoes and tenderly kissed her forehead but settled back down immediately.
If I lay down with her, I wouldn’t be able to leave her alone, so I changed into a pair of sleep pants and padded to my office. Just before I stepped inside, I remembered her suitcase and went to retrieve it. I took it into our bedroom and set it in the closet. For a moment, I considered finding her a pair of pajamas in case she woke up and wanted to change out of her work clothes. Ultimately, I decided that if she wasn’t sleeping naked in our bed, she would at least be wrapped up in me. So I lifted her suitcase onto a shelf I knew she couldn’t reach, then dug out one of my old University of Chicago T-shirts and laid it at the foot of the bed.