Ryan
I couldn’t sleep.
I’d been tossing and turning for hours, but I couldn’t get my mind to calm down enough to actually allow me some rest.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Sam and Henry.
After leaving her house, I had returned home frustrated and confused but as much with myself as with her.
Waking up that morning, I’d never have guessed the day would have taken such an incredible turn.
Not only had I finally met Henry, but I’d gotten to spend so much time with him…with my son.
I knew I’d never be able to go back to the way things had been before. I needed to find a way to keep Henry in my life. I needed to convince Sam that I wasn’t the same guy I’d been seven years ago.
For a short period of time, I thought I might have done just that.
When she was writhing beneath me, consumed by lust and desire, I’d thought I’d finally broken through with her.
However, I had to remind myself that it was one thing for a woman to entrust a man with her body. It was a completely different story when it came to her heart.
I hadn’t made nearly as much progress with Sam as I’d thought.
I didn’t know what else I was supposed to do, how else to earn her trust back. She wasn’t making this easy by any means.
How could she have kept him from me for so long?
Rationally, I could understand her confusion and fear and why she hadn’t tried to reach out.
I’d been a complete ass, leaving and never coming back, but had I known about Henry, there’s no chance I’d have stayed away.
I would have been involved in his life.
I would have supported him and Sam.
I would have been an actual father to my son.
But she’d kept that from me, and even though I could understand why, it didn’t make that pill any easier to swallow.
Releasing a growl of frustration, I threw the bedcovers off myself and got out of bed. Storming through the house, I made my way to the liquor cabinet and poured myself a drink. Then, I went out to sit on the back porch.
As I sipped my bourbon, I stared out over the darkened yard, wondering what in the world I should do next. In order to be in Henry’s life, I had to win Sam over.
I felt like things were progressing, but not nearly fast enough to satisfy me. How could I make up for that night? For leaving her and never coming back?
Then, of course, there was the issue of my raging desire for her. It had only grown since being back in town, and that night in her living room hadn’t helped matters one bit.
I’d been reminded of how sweet her body was, and I knew I’d never be able to give it up.
I wanted her. Badly.
I’d left her house with a raging hard-on, and it had barely gone down in the short time since.
Sam was everything I didn’t know I wanted in a woman. She was gorgeous and fiery. Stubborn and smart as hell.
I was starting to realize that I’d rather fight with her any day of the week than live peacefully with anyone else.
She wasn’t just my best friend’s little sister anymore. Hell, she hadn’t been since that first night together. Since before that, if I was being totally honest.
Samantha Berner was becoming my obsession. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to let her go again, but I didn’t know how in the world I could keep her.
With a sigh, I sat back in my chair and stared up at the starry sky. I had no freaking idea where to begin. I lifted my glass to take another drink, but I froze when I heard something. It was strange sound I couldn’t pinpoint, almost like someone was stabbing something. It was coming from the front of the house.
Alarmed, I set down my drink and shot to my feet. I ran around the house and stopped when I stood in the driveway. Looking around, I didn’t see anything.
“Someone out there?” I barked.
There was no answer, but I hadn’t really expected one. Alert, I made my way to the front door and tested it to make sure it was still locked. Satisfied that no one had broken in that way, I crossed to my car to inspect it.
I stopped in my tracks when I saw that my tires were slashed.
“What the hell?” I murmured, moving closer and squatting down next to the front passenger’s tire. It appeared someone had ripped through it with a knife or something equally sharp.
Standing back up, I moved around the car. All four tires were ruined.
Fury burned through me, and I clenched my hands into fists. Who the hell would do this? I didn’t think I had any real enemies in this town, but maybe I was wrong?
I looked around again, knowing that whoever had done this couldn’t be far, but it was so dark I couldn’t see much beyond the circle of light cast by the spotlight above my garage. I could go looking for them, but that meant traversing the thicket of trees surrounding my property in the dead of night, and I didn’t know whether or not they were armed. They at least had something sharp enough to slash tires with.
Frustration mixed with my fury as I acknowledged that there wasn’t anything I could do myself. The best I could do was call the cops and report it.
Turning, I made my way back to the house, but I kept my guard up just in case. Whoever had done this likely wasn’t done.
I’d need to be careful, especially when I was around Sam and Henry. I couldn’t risk anything happening to them.
As I reached the front door, I decided not to call the police after all. If a report was filed, Sam might hear about it, and any progress I’d made with her would be completely undone.
I’d take care of this matter privately.
There was no way I was going to risk losing a chance to be in Henry’s life, or Sam’s. I’d keep them safe and figure out who was behind this, and Sam would never have to know.