Sam

It takes a while for my brain to come back online after that explosive orgasm. One thing about my lover, he sure knows how to work me to a feverish climax. And I know I’ll have another one coming my way tonight, after the post-dinner party dust settles.

I’m looking forward to tonight. The McIntyres definitely know how to throw a party. They’re never dull affairs, and the food is always excellent, not to mention the company. I’m looking forward to meeting Jamie’s girlfriend, Molly. Beth has already regaled me with stories about Molly Ferguson, who apparently swept Jamie off his feet. Or maybe it was the other way around. It’s a little unclear. Anyway, I’ve heard they’re pretty much inseparable now—literally, as she functions as his eyes now. I can’t wait to meet the woman who stole the heart of that big, stoic former Navy SEAL.

I take a shower and trim my beard. Then Cooper takes the clippers from me and trims my undercut.

“I need to do laundry,” I tell him. “Most of my clothes are dirty from our trip.”

After I get dressed, Cooper shows me the laundry room which, like everything else in this place, is impressive as hell. There are five washing machines—count them, five!—and five dryers, plus a long folding counter with a granite top, a pressing station, a steaming station, and a small kitchen. There’s even a TV in there, in case you need to catch up on your shows during the rinse cycle.

I toss my clothes into one of the fancy glass-front washers, add some detergent, and turn it on. Then I hop up on a long, counter-height table and pull out my phone to kill time while I’m waiting.

“Who in the hell needs five washing machines?” I say to myself, baffled.

I hear soft laughter coming through the open door, and when I look up, there’s Beth, dressed in a billowy, pale yellow linen dress and a delicate white sweater. Her blonde hair is pulled up in a pony tail, and she’s wearing pink fuzzy slippers. She’s holding a fat bunch of red grapes in her palm.

“You can never have too many washing machines, right?” she says, grinning at me as she pops a grape into her mouth.

I shake my head. “I’ll never get used to how rich folks live.”

She gives me a pointed look. “You do realize that your boyfriend is as rich as Midas, right?”

“What?”

She nods. “He and Shane formed the business together when they got out of the military. Cooper owns half of McIntyre Security. He just prefers to be a silent partner.”

“Holy shit. I had no idea.”

Beth walks over to the counter and eyes it strategically.

“Don’t you dare try to jump up here,” I say, sliding off so I can lift her up onto the counter. Then I hop back up beside her.

We sit side-by-side on the counter, swinging our legs in unison like a couple of little kids, as the washing machine whirs away behind us. She holds her palm out to me, and I snag a grape, tossing it into my mouth.

Cooper walks through the open doorway. “How are you getting along with the washing machine?”

I roll my eyes at him as Beth snickers. “I know how to operate a washing machine. It’s not rocket science, you know.”

Shane follows Cooper into the room, his eyes widening when he sees Beth perched up on the high counter. “What are you doing up there?” he says, coming to stand in front of her, wedging himself between her knees. He puts his hands on her waist, and for a second, I think he’s going to set her down on the floor.

“Eating grapes with my BFF,” she says, batting her sex-kitten eyelashes at him.

“She looks so innocent, doesn’t she?” Shane says, shaking his head as if he knows something we don’t. “Don’t believe it for a second.”

Beth plucks a grape off the stem and pops it into Shane’s mouth. He chews it, then kisses her. “Please be careful, sweetheart. When you’re ready to get down, let someone help you, okay?”

Now it’s her turn to roll her eyes at me, and we both laugh.

Shane looks at Cooper. “Are you sure this is a good idea? Letting these two live under the same roof together?”

Cooper shakes his head. “Probably not. I think we’re just asking for trouble. But it’s too late now.”

We hear the chime over the intercom system that announces the arrival of the elevator. A moment later, Lia’s voice filters down the hallway toward us. “Where the hell is everyone?”

“We’re in the laundry room,” Shane calls back.

A moment later, Lia walks through the doorway. “Why is everyone congregating in the laundry room?”

Shane shakes his head at his youngest sister. “Don’t ask.” Then to Beth, he says, “I mean it. Don’t jump down from there on your own.” He looks at me. “Sam, you help her when she’s ready to get down.”

I salute the big boss. “Shane, I broke my leg, not my brain.”

Shane and Cooper leave us to our own devices.

Lia gives me a curt nod. “Hey, red, how’s it going?”

“Fine, shorty. Where’s your better half?”

“He’s at the bar, talking to Jamie and Molly. They rode up in the elevator with us.”

“Oooh, cool,” I say, hopping off the counter. “I want to meet this Molly. I saw her briefly at Beth’s wedding, but I really didn’t get a chance to talk to her. I didn’t know they were serious.”

I grasp Beth by the waist and set her down on the floor.

“They’re definitely serious now,” Beth says. “Molly’s been living with Jamie since her crazy ex-husband broke into her apartment and attacked her. Now Jamie and Molly are inseparable.”

“Wait—what?” I say. “What the hell did I miss? Who attacked Molly?”

“Oh, that’s right,” Lia says. “You weren’t here when all that drama went down. You were on your” —and then she makes air quotes— “walkabout.” Molly’s asshat of an ex-husband broke into her apartment and assaulted her in her own bed, and my big brother took him out.”

I’m shocked I’d never heard anything about this. “Are you kidding me? Was she okay?”

“Yeah, she was okay,” Lia says. “Jamie got to her in time, before her idiot ex could do much damage. Jamie squashed him like a bug.” Then Lia makes a slashing motion across her throat.

“Jamie killed him?” I say, surprised.

“Dead,” Lia says. “Well, technically, Jamie didn’t actually kill him. The guy fell on his own knife.” She makes a scoffing sound. “Hey, my brothers don’t mess around.”

* * *

When we join everyone in the great room, Jake and Liam have arrived as well, and the party is underway. Everyone is congregating around the bar, where Cooper and Jake are acting as bartenders, and someone started up the sound system.

“Hey, what’s with the extra security in the lobby?” Liam says, taking the beer bottle Cooper hands him.

“I don’t suppose it has anything to do with our friends down in Sweetwater, does it?” Jake says, eyeing Cooper.

Cooper frowns at Jake. “You should go talk to Shane about that,” he says, nodding in the direction of Shane’s office.

Jake accepts a bottle from Cooper and heads toward Shane’s office. I’m tempted to go with him to find out more about the additional security arrangements. I guess I’m not surprised. Shane’s not going to take any chances with his pregnant wife living in the building.

I see Jamie and his new girlfriend sitting on barstools at the end of the bar, and I make my way down to them. “Hey, Jamie,” I say, giving him a heads-up to my presence before I lay my hand on his shoulder in greeting. For a change, he’s not wearing his dark glasses. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him without dark glasses on. His eyes… damn, they look so real. I’d never guess they were prosthetic.

“Sam!” he says, smiling as he turns to me. “Welcome back, man.” He offers me his hand, and we shake. “This is Molly Ferguson, my girlfriend. Did you meet her at the wedding?”

“I did, sort of,” I say, offering my hand to the attractive brunette. “I’m sorry I wasn’t at my best at the wedding. I didn’t really get a chance to say ‘hi.’”

“That’s quite all right,” she says, hopping off her barstool as she meets me halfway to shake hands. “I’m glad to see you up on your feet again. How’s your leg?”

“It’s not bad. I’m not back to one hundred percent yet, but I hope to be able to return to work in a few weeks.”

Jamie reaches for Molly, and she catches his hand. He pulls her close, and she leans into him, putting her arm across his shoulder and smiling contentedly as she drops a light kiss on his lips. His smile says it all.

I’m glad Jamie’s met someone special. He’s a great guy—I’ve always liked him. And they seem so comfortable together, as if they were made for each other.

Up close, I can see a faint starburst pattern of tiny scars around his eyes, but the damage isn’t that noticeable. I know that he lost both eyes in an explosion in Afghanistan, and that he wears prosthetics. But honestly, even this close, I can’t tell just by looking that his eyes aren’t real. And the way he moves his head and blinks is so natural, someone who didn’t know he was blind would never realize it just by looking at him.  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you without your glasses before.”

He grins bashfully. “Yeah, Molly likes to see my eyes, so I’ve stopped wearing them around family.”

“You should listen to Molly. You look fantastic.”

The elevator chimes, and a moment later Shane’s eldest sister, Sophie, walks in. Damn! I’m not into women, but even I can admit she’s a knock-out. A tall, curvy brunette, she reminds me of an old-fashioned Hollywood movie star. Dressed in a form-fitting, cobalt blue sheath dress with matching heels, a string of pearls around her neck, she’s all glam. Her long, lustrous hair is pulled up into a complicated do, and she’s wearing an impressive pair of diamond drop earrings.

Sophie smiles warmly at everyone, but she heads right for Beth, giving her an affectionate hug. “Hi, sweetie,” she says to Beth, kissing her on both cheeks. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling great,” Beth says. “I’m so glad you could make it this evening.”

With her arm still around Beth, Sophie turns her attention to me, giving me a gracious smile. “I wouldn’t miss this party for the world. Hello, Sam. Welcome home.”

* * *

The rest of the guests arrive—Gabrielle Hunter and the uniformed caterers from Rinaldo’s, Erin and Mack from the bookstore, and Shane’s parents, Calum and Bridget McIntyre. Beth’s pretty mom, Ingrid, arrives, along with her intensely hot—and way too serious—brother, Tyler Jamison, who absolutely looks boss in his black suit, white shirt, and black tie.

“Sam!” Erin cries, running into my arms. “Oh, my God, it’s so good to see you.”

I hug the little pixie back, then shake hands with Mack, who never seems to wander far from Erin. At six-foot-six, Mack towers well over little Miss Erin O’Connor, and he shadows her like an avenging angel. I know she’s got the biggest crush on the man, but he’s way too old for her, and now they’re sort of stuck in limbo.

“Hey, welcome back, Sam,” Mack says as he releases my hand. “I could sure use you back on duty, man. I’m feeling a little out-numbered by all the females in the store.” He says this peering down at Erin with a rueful smile.

Erin turns to Mack and smacks him on the arm, grinning. “Oh, stop. You are not.”

“Don’t worry, I hope to be back on duty in a few weeks,” I say, bumping fists with the big guy.

I’d forgotten this party was being held in my honor until I noticed a meet-and-greet line forming behind Erin and Mack. When Erin and Mack move away to grab drinks from the bar, Beth’s brother, Tyler, who looks every inch the uptight homicide detective that he is, approaches. It’s hard for me to believe he’s Beth’s brother. He’s dark and moody and so damn serious all the time, while she’s all sunshine and light. They couldn’t be more different. The only physical trait they share is their eyes, which are a gorgeous blue-green. On her, with her blonde hair, the eye color isn’t unusual, but on him, with his dark hair and even darker demeanor, it’s very unexpected. And he’s technically old enough to be her father, so there’s the age difference thing as well.

“Sam,” Tyler says, shaking my hand. “Welcome home. I’m glad to see you’re recovering well from your injuries.”

“Hey, Tyler. How’s it going?”

He tightens his hold on my hand. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did for Beth. If you hadn’t been there—”

“Hey, it’s in my job description, right?” I say, laughing off his praise. I don’t need to be thanked for protecting my best friend. I would do the same thing all over again, without hesitation.

Tyler doesn’t even crack a smile. “I’m in your debt, Sam.”

“It’s okay, Tyler,” Beth says, linking her arm with his and effectively pulling him away from me. “I’m okay. The baby’s okay.”

Tyler kisses the top of his sister’s head. “Hello, kiddo.”

“Here, Tyler,” Cooper says, reaching over the bar counter to hand him a tumbler of what appears to be a double shot of whisky. “You look like you could use this.”

Beth’s mother pulls herself away from Bridget McIntyre to join us, giving me a heart-felt hug. “Hello, dear boy,” she says, kissing my cheek. She pulls back and looks me over from head to toe. “You look wonderful. So much better than the last time I saw you, which was at Beth and Shane’s wedding. How are you? How’s your leg?”

“Almost as good as new, Mrs. J.”

At that moment, Gabrielle Hunter walks into the great room in a pristine, white sous chef uniform, which contrasts dramatically with her thick braid of bright red hair. Behind her are two Rinaldo’s catering staff members, also in uniform, pushing two industrial carts laden with stainless steel covered containers.

“I hope you guys are hungry,” she says. “We brought a ton of food.”