CHAPTER TWENTY

Later that day while Sam wrapped up the Orr investigation, Paige went to Kirk County General Hospital where she learned that she did not have a concussion. After, she picked Ivy up from Dom’s house. Though she was too tired to think about food, she got a large take out pizza for Ivy. As they cleared the front door, Ivy’s cell phone rang and she took a few slices into her room.

Paige was stepping out of the shower when she heard Sam’s steps on the stairs.

He unknotted his tie as he entered the bathroom. “What a beautiful sight to come home to.” His eyes showed his appreciation. “Wish I wasn’t too tired to do something about it.”

Paige’s lips rose in a small smile, acknowledging the comment. “Wish I wasn’t too tired to let you.”

Sam met her half way across the tile and kissed her long and slow, then as he went to take his own shower, she made her way to the bed. She didn’t hear Sam get in with her.

* * *

The next morning, Saturday, was the memorial service Hailey had arranged for her brother. Hailey’s parents had flown in from Florida. The agents from the office and Mrs. Hendershot attended in a show of support for Hailey.

After, Sam walked with Paige across the cemetery parking lot to his truck. He realized he was holding her hand too tightly. He’d been doing that since yesterday, keeping her close. He couldn’t close his eyes without remembering being in the helicopter and seeing the farmhouse blow. He wanted to touch Paige again and again to chase the fear that had a choke hold on him at how close she’d come to exploding with the house.

They reached the truck. He blew out a breath and reluctantly released her to make her way to the passenger side.

As Sam reached his side, his cell phone rang. Ginny’s landline. “Hello Gin.”

“Dad!”

Sam smiled. “Hey, what are you up to?”

“I have to go try on my suit for when Mom and Herb get married.”

“Ah.”

“After, I want Mom to bring me to you.”

Jonah had missed him. Sam’s chest tightened as did his throat, but he kept it light. “Great.”

“See you after, Dad!”

The phone slammed in Sam’s ear and he was sure he’d never heard a sweeter sound.

* * *

At Sam’s house, Paige went outside to the back deck. She hadn’t changed out of the suit she’d worn for the service and it wasn’t warm enough for the brisk day. But she didn’t go back inside. Standing at the thick wooden railing, she looked out at Sam’s land.

A large expanse was cleared but beyond that were wild bushes and trees, their leaves now red, yellow, and orange, that made up dense woods. Sunlight lit everywhere she looked. Squinting into it, she breathed deeply of the cool air.

She’d left the sliding door to the living room open and could hear Ivy on her cell phone. She was speaking with Chad. With all that had been taking place, they hadn’t been able to have Chad over for the dinner Ivy had set up for two nights ago. Paige had suggested tonight. From the excitement in her sister’s voice, they were on.

She’d checked on Mrs. Orr’s condition with the hospital she’d been taken to. Mrs. Orr had a broken rib but was going to be all right. Paige’s stomach clenched and her heart rate sped up thinking of the farmhouse and how she might not have been able to get them both out.

But she had gotten them out. She’d taken out Orr. Managed to get the information to stop the bombings. Thames had taken so much from her, but he hadn’t taken everything.

She heard the door close and glanced over her shoulder as Sam walked across the deck. He came up behind her. He hadn’t changed clothes either and was still in a black suit that outlined the hard contours of his body to perfection.

“Cold?” But even as he spoke the words, he put his arms around her, over her arms, and pressed his much larger body to hers, warming her.

Using the railing for support rather than her cane, she turned and burrowed against him. “Yeah.”

“Want to go inside?”

“I like where I am just fine.”

She felt his chest rumble in a small laugh. He rested his chin on her head.

Against his chest she said, “I’ve been thinking about things.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve been thinking about my place with our squad. I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to give up my field post. I know I’ll need to prove myself and my value to the Bureau with each assignment because of my injury, but I can still work this post. I need to do it in a way I hadn’t in the past, and I will.” There was determination in her voice and steel. “If Biltmore and the Bureau want to force me out of here, I’m going to fight them. I’m going to fight them with everything I have.”

Sam cupped the back of her head and brought her closer. “With everything we have.”

Tears burned her eyes at Sam’s words, accepting them now. She drew back a bit and looked up at his handsome face, at this man she loved with a depth she’d never believed she could love anyone. Though she could feel her heart beating, knew it was inside of her body, somehow, it was also in Sam’s hands. He held it as surely as he was holding her now. “I’ve been keeping myself back from you. I’ve been uncertain of my future because of my foot and what that means for us and our future together. If you still want to have Ivy’s birthday party here, I’d like that.” Paige took a leap into deeper waters than she’d ever been in before, but this was Sam and she found it wasn’t as hard as she’d feared it would be. “And if you still want me to, I’m going to give up my apartment lease.”

Sam tenderly brushed back a strand of hair from her cheek that had been caught by the wind. He leaned down to kiss her. “Yeah, I still want you to.”

# # #

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