I know I’m getting more and more wrapped up in Samuel, and I know that’s a mistake.

But I can’t help myself. For the next week, I keep my distance from Samuel, although there are moments, late at night especially, when I want to call him just to hear his voice.

Well, maybe just to feel his tongue between my legs again.

I don’t think I’ve ever gotten off so easily and hard, but Samuel can do that to me. His fingers, his mouth, it’s all exactly what I need. He pushes me so far and takes me over the edge only when he wants me there. It’s intense and incredible and the only thing that really ruins all of this, is the secret I’m carrying around inside of me.

At work, I try not to think about Samuel’s baby. I try not to think about him being the father at all, but it’s impossible not to. I find myself looking out the window and suddenly I’m thinking about Samuel raising my baby, about a life we can never have together.

We’re from two different worlds. We’re on different sides of the negotiation table. It’ll never work.

Friday rolls around, faster than I thought it would. I’ve been strong, kept myself from talking to Samuel. As I’m packing to leave, Ingram knocks on my open door and half enters. “Have a second?” he asks.

I nod. “Sure. What’s up?”

He’s kept his distance from me ever since I gave him that contract. I can’t tell if it’s because he’s pissed or what, but I haven’t bothered to care. I’ve been so busy with my other work that I haven’t had the time to think about how he feels.

“I spoke with the board,” he says.

I raise an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t I have been involved?”

“They’re rejecting the contract,” he says. “I wanted to tell you in person, before they announce it.”

I clench my jaw. “That’s a good contract.”

He shrugs, a cocky little smile on his face. “You shouldn’t have done it alone, Amelia. I know you’re the head of the company, but that’s not how things work around here.”

“It was a good contract,” I repeat. “You’re going to tank it, for what? Because you felt left out?”

His smile falters for a second. He steps into my office and the door shuts silently behind him. “Understand something, Amelia,” he says.

I cross my arms. “What do you want?”

“This company is mine. Your father was smart, set things up in your favor, but it’s mine. Maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow, but soon enough you’ll be gone. Don’t make any decisions without me again.”

I stare at him, and for a second I feel angry. This arrogant bastard is tanking a good deal just because he wants to have control of the company.

But my anger slowly fades. At least now I know where he stands. Now I know for sure that he’s my enemy, and that we’re not allies in this or anything else.

“Is that all?” I ask him.

His nostrils flare. “Be careful, Amelia.”

“You can go. Leave the door open on your way out.”

That pisses him off, and I know it’s a petty and meaningless victory, but it feels good. He turns and leaves my office, and I lean back in my chair, groaning.

What the hell did I walk into? I don’t know what my father was thinking, making me the head of this company. Ingram is a monster, and at least now I can see him for what he really is. But it’s going to be a fight from here on out trying to get anything done. Ingram’s going to try and sabotage me every step of the way, and if I fail at this negotiation, the board will ruin me.

Honestly, they might ruin me anyway. That contract was good, and as far as I’m concerned, it was a success. If Ingram brought it to them, they would have accepted it. I may be fighting a losing war, no matter what I do.

With all that swimming in my head, my cell phone starts ringing. I don’t really pay any attention as I answer it.

“Hey there, boss,” Samuel says, his voice deep and alluring, almost sending chills down my spine.

I hesitate a second. I probably wouldn’t have picked up if I realized it was him. “Hi, Samuel,” I say.

“How are things at the office?”

“Fine,” I answer. “How’s the mine?”

“Big and dark and scary,” he says, laughing. “Just the way we like it.”

I can’t help but smile a little bit. His laughter is so infectious. But that’s tainted as soon as I realize that I have to tell him about the contracts.

“Listen, I’m glad you called,” I say.

“Of course you are. You’ve been thinking about me.”

I glance at the window. “Not exactly.”

“Sure, you have. You keep thinking to yourself, if I can make you feel the way I did that night behind the bar, what else can I do?”

I bite my lip. “That’s not what I want to talk about.”

“But you’re not denying it.”

“Listen, this is important.”

“So tell me in person.”

I pause a second. “Now?”

“No, tomorrow. The miners are having a little picnic over in Jackson Park. You should swing by, say hello to the boys.”

“You think that’s a good idea?”

“Sure,” he says, laughing. “It’s a great idea. They love you.”

“I doubt it,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m their boss.”

“Nobody cares about that. Just show up, have a drink, make small talk, and you can tell me what you want to tell me. All right?”

I know I should turn this down. It’s just going to drag me deeper into his world, and although it feels so good to be near him, I know I should be actively trying to get away.

But instead, I put my hand on my stomach. I’m pregnant with your baby, I think.

“Okay,” I say out loud. “Text me the details.”

“Will do. See you tomorrow, boss.”

He hangs up the phone. I groan to myself, dropping my phone into my bag. I know this is stupid, but I can’t help it. I have to get out of that house.

And besides, I want to see Samuel again, even if I know I shouldn’t. I’m going down a bad path here, but it’s a bad path that feels so good.

* * *

“Perfect day for it!” Callie exclaims as we climb out of her car.

I smile to myself. I’m glad I invited her along. It’s a good way of keeping my distance from Samuel, and besides, she knows most of these people already. I’ll look more like I belong here if I bring someone that actually does.

Plus, I like Callie. She’s optimistic, maybe even a little bubbly.

“Come on,” she says, pulling her bag from the back. “Looks like they’re already getting things going.”

I laugh and follow her gaze. “Are those… kegs?”

She nods, grinning. “Looks like five.”

“No, six,” I say, pointing at another keg stationed over near the horseshoe pits.

“Of course. Can’t run out of beer.”

We head down to the picnic, and I can’t help but grin. There are probably eighty people here, maybe even more, I can’t honestly count them all. There are several big wood tables with benches set up here, and several folding tables with food piled on them. People mill around, drinking beer, putting food on plates, and generally having a good time.

And it seems like everyone knows each other. Callie introduces me to like ten people, all rapid-fire, and they all seem to know who I am already. I catch a few names but it’s all mostly a blur as someone hands me a red cup of beer and Callie laughs, flirting with some guy I don’t recognize.

I fall into the crowd, holding my full beer but not drinking any, hanging around with Callie and the small group she’s gathering around herself. Periodically I spill some beer on the ground, making it look like I’m drinking, just so that nobody suspects anything. I don’t see Samuel anywhere, but I recognize a few of the other miners. Vernon’s playing horseshoes with Roy and two other guys I don’t know. Boone’s standing near a keg, talking to this guy named Arnold and another young miner. There are a few other faces I know, but mostly these people are strangers to me.

Except they’re not. As Callie keeps introducing me to people, I start recognizing last names, and slowly a picture of Wheelville starts to form. This is a small town, and these people are all a part of my life in some strange way. They all say they miss my father, which is kind of them, but I think some of them actually mean it. These people were my neighbors, teachers, babysitters. I even think this one old man is a distant cousin of some sort, although he just smiles and nods when I ask him about it.

I blend into the party and soon I forget all about being the CEO of Evans Energy. I’m the boss of most these people, but they’re not treating me like that. Instead, they’re treating me like just another young girl from the neighborhood, just another member of the family.

It feels good. Really good. I love this sense of community, and I’ve been missing it for a long time. I have vague memories of what it felt like to live in Wheelville, back before my father sent me away. I remember gatherings like this, big groups of people all smiling and getting along, drinking and eating and playing games. I remember friends and semi-friends and connections between people. I remember family and home.

This picnic reminds me of all that and more. It’s strange, but after a couple hours, I feel like I never left.

That’s when I spot him. I fill up my drink, happy as a clam and smiling about something Callie said, when I spot Samuel leaning up against a tree, sipping from a cup. He smiles and nods when I spot him, and I feel drawn over in his direction.

His smile gets bigger as I approach. “Having fun?” he asks.

“Where have you been?” I stop a few feet away.

“Been keeping my distance.” He shifts against the tree.

“Why?”

He shrugs a bit. “Wanted you to have a good time before you told me whatever you gotta say.”

I frown at that. “You were… being nice?”

He shrugs again. “Something like that. I got other reasons, too.”

“Well, I’m glad you invited me,” I admit. “I’m having fun.”

“Good. I knew you would.” He looks past me, back toward the party. “It’s a good place. Good people.”

But he’s not smiling as he says that. In fact, he looks a little haunted, like he’s thinking about something else.

“You want anything to eat?” I ask him, trying to change the subject.

“Already ate.” His gaze comes back to mine. “You should tell me whatever you have to say.”

I take a deep breath. I didn’t want to do this, not anymore. This has been such a good afternoon, I wanted it to keep on going, but I know I have to get this out of the way.

“They’re not accepting our contract,” I say, maintaining eye contact.

He doesn’t really react. Just nods, leans over, and spits on the ground. “Figures,” he says.

“Figures?”

“I knew it was too good to be true. Those fuckers don’t care about what’s right.”

“Samuel,” I say. “I tried, I really did.”

“Yeah, I don’t blame you.” He looks angry suddenly. “It’s those greedy fucks that don’t know us from anyone else. Sure, we work for them, but they don’t give a fuck.”

“I’m not like that,” I say softly.

“I know you aren’t.” His face softens and he sighs. “Sorry. Just been a stressful week, is all.”

“We’re going to figure it out. I promise.”

He laughs a little bitterly. “You know, I don’t get why you seem to care at all.”

I look at him, confused. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“For the same reason all those bastards don’t care.” He gestures vaguely into the distance. “You’d make way more money if you negotiated a more favorable contract.”

I glare at him. “Is that what you think of me?”

He stares back at me and sighs. “No,”

“Good.” I step toward him, feeling that anger rise inside of me. “I’m not some little small-town idiot you can push around, Samuel. I want to help you, heck, I want to help all these people here. But I won’t take shit from you.”

That makes him perk up. A grin slowly starts to spread across his face. “Well, well, well. Are you starting to grow a pair, Amelia?”

“Asshole,” I say. “Don’t push me, Samuel.” I walk right up to him and I stop inches away, losing control of my temper.

“Don’t forget where you are right now,” he says softly, standing up straight. “And don’t forget who you are.”

I suddenly realize my mistake. For a second, I forgot that I was the boss and that Samuel is the head of the union. Before I can turn to look back at the crowd of miners behind me, he grabs my wrist, keeping my attention focused on him.

“Don’t worry,” he says softly, that grin so maddeningly attractive. “Nobody’s watching.”

He kisses me full and deep, and for a second I let him. But I quickly pull away. “Samuel,” I say.

He laughs softly. “What?”

“Somebody might see.” I step away from him, blushing like mad.

“Like I said, nobody’s watching. And plus, isn’t that part of the thrill? What we’re doing is wrong on so many levels.”

I glare at him. “That’s not what I like.”

“What do you like?” He cocks his head, stepping closer.

I back away, heart hammering. “Let’s just focus on our larger problem, okay?”

He laughs softly. “If that’s what you want. But I don’t think it is.”

Before I can say anything, I hear Callie call my name. I turn and she waves at me, gesturing for me to come join her. I wave back.

“I better go,” I say.

“Okay. Go have some fun. But don’t forget why you’re here.”

I look back at him. “Why am I here?”

“To remind you that we’re not just a bunch of numbers.” He gives me one more look before walking away.

I watch him go for a second, surprised. I knew Samuel wasn’t what he seemed, that he’s more than just some dumb small-town miner boy. Sure, he’s big and he’s handsome, but there’s a lot going on beneath that surface of his.

I walk away, frowning. His words keep echoing in my head as I rejoin the party.

These people aren’t just numbers, but that’s exactly how Ingram and people like him think. I have to strive to be different. I have to find a better way, or else I’m going to be lost completely.