Sam

Standing on Olivia’s porch, the chilly November wind whips through us like a blade slicing through butter. Fuck, it’s cold. Alec rests his hand on my shoulder with a heavy, supportive squeeze.

The door opens and my chest spasms at the vision of her, aching with my longing for her. It’s only been days since I last saw her, but they’ve been the longest and most agonizing of my life.

I fucking love her and only want to be with her, but with the Pete and Erin crap, she needs to figure out what she wants. Maybe—though I dare not give in to my fear—it’s not me.

As patient as I’m willing to be, I can’t make her feel, act, or be anything she isn’t ready for. That’s where my decision to leave and to have radio silence came into play, and I’ll admit, it was kind of my way of pushing her.

I knew pushing could go either way, but I need to know that she feels it too, the all-encompassing love that’s consuming me. Then Jonah’s call and talking to Paige changed all of that. I wasn’t going to keep my distance. Not now.

Pushing past the lump in my throat, I whisper, “Mon trésor.”

At first, her expression is impassive as she flattens her mouth, but then her lips tremble as she bites her bottom lip, trying to hold back her emotions. Her eyes glass over as the unshed tears form and her façade crumbles as big, fat tears spill like a waterfall and she emits a heaving sob.

I’ve got her. Rushing to her, I gather her in my arms, cradling her as I lead us into the house. Alec’s at my back, closing the door behind us.

“Sam, I’ve missed you.” She sniffs into the crook of my neck. Her tears and warm breath dampen my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

“I missed you too,” I whisper into her hair, her scent calming me. My arms hold her tighter, happy to have her close. I never want to let her go.

In his deep, distinguished tone, Alec quietly says, “Paige?”

Olivia peers over my shoulder at him, her gaze questioning. He plants a light kiss on her cheek and gives her a small, sincere smile.

“Where’s Paige, Livvy?”

“Ah, she’s upstairs, but…”

“We know,” Alec interjects. “That’s why we’re here. I’ll go up to her.”

Without further explanation, he ascends the staircase, never looking back, giving us privacy and also seeking out Paige. He needs to see her to put both his heart and mind at ease. Like me, he’s been worried sick. He wants nothing more than to cast his eyes on the girl who has fast become a granddaughter to him. Olivia looks on in bewilderment. Guiding her to the couch, I pull her into my lap.

“Sam, how did you know about Paige?”

“Jonah,” I admit. She rears back in surprise. “Before you castrate the man, hear me out. You’re right. He loves you, like a brother, and wants to see you happy. He knows I make you happy. You make me happy. He thought I should know, and he was right. You should have called me.”

“But, you needed space.” Her tone is small and lost.

“Livvy, no matter what’s going on, I want to know—no, I need to know. Yes, we’ve got a lot to discuss and it may not be pleasant.” I won’t sugar-coat it, and a warmth spreads through me because Bas would grin at this; he was always a straight shooter. “But that aside, I’m not going anywhere. I love Paige. I want to know if she’s hurt, if she needs me, if you need me.”

“Jonah?” she says, as if stuck on what I said minutes before, not comprehending anything I’ve said.

“Yes, Jonah called me and told me about Paige being in a car accident. He told me she has a concussion and some bruised ribs. I wasn’t sure about coming so I called Paige to see how she was.”

Even though she’d reached out to talk, I wondered if this was the end, if she was going back to Pete. I couldn’t handle that, then when Jonah called, I desperately wanted to be there for her and for Paige—but then I wondered, what if they don’t need me? What if she was leaning on Pete? Paige was their daughter, after all, and after what had happened, I wasn’t sure if she’d left her marriage or not. I called Paige to get the lay of the land before making my decision about coming or not.

“You called Paige?” she echoes, still looking confused.

Nodding, I continue, “She told me you’re not talking to Pete. She’s less concerned about that at the moment and more concerned that you have your big meeting with Mrs. Preston tomorrow and seem dead set on canceling it. We all know there’s no room to cancel it with the hotel launch plans in full swing. I’m here to take care of Paige so you can go. I’m here to help.”

Realization of what I’ve said dawns in her eyes as they widen, locking on me. She gasps, sucking in a jagged breath, then burrows farther into my lap. Her arms circle my neck and she kisses me with a ferocity I’ve never experienced before.

Heat flares within me, desire spreading throughout at her demanding kiss. Her urgency and pent-up frustration is evident in every seductive stroke and stab of her tongue, mimicking what I so desperately wish my cock was doing inside her. Tight. Warm. So, fucking sweet.

“Sam, I love you,” she moans, strong and sure. Her hands cup my jaw, holding me to her lips. So damn beautiful, raw and mine.

Swallowing her words in my mouth, I growl, “I love you too.”

Our lips tangle, each of us pledging our love with more than words. She is my everything. We still have a lot to discuss, but hearing her declaration renews my faith in us, in my promise to myself to find a way for us to be together.