Page 1 of Running to You

CHAPTER ONE

Sam Wright liked being alone. He’d built an empire alone, and he wouldn’t apologize for that.

But maybe he should be a little more hospitable when he had houseguests.

Daniel stood in his office doorway, a container of nuts in his hand. “I guess if you won’t come out, I’ll have to come in.”

“Sorry.” Sam closed his laptop. “I had a couple of details to hammer out.”

“Big deal?”

“Yeah, pretty big.” The biggest of Sam’s career, though he didn’t tell Daniel that. His oldest brother was still getting his feet under him after coming back from the dead. Not literally, but close enough.

Considering what Daniel and his family had been through, Sam’s financial success seemed trivial. But putting together an eight-figure deal was not nothing. His cut would set him up for life.

As if he needed more money.

Daniel settled in the chair on the other side of the desk and held out the can of nuts.

“I’m good.”

Daniel pulled it back and ate a few, staring out at the dark night. Lights glittered on boats in the harbor below. “You always work so late?”

Though it was after ten o’clock on a Friday night, it wasn’t unusual that Sam was still in his office. “I lost track of time. Where’s Camilla?”

“Getting ready for bed.” Tearing his eyes away from the view, his brother leveled that intense gaze on Sam, the one Daniel had so often worn when they were growing up, though it was different now on his mature face. He seemed happy and healthy, more so than before he’d disappeared. “Why aren’t you on a date or something?”

“I have company.”

“Otherwise, you would be? Because we wouldn’t have noticed one way or another. You’ve hardly left your office all day.”

“Like I said—”

“Business. I get it. I spent my life at the hospital as if my work were the most important thing in the world. I’ve since learned that nothing trumps family.”

“I don’t have one of those,” Sam snapped.

His brother’s look—chin lowered, eyebrows lifted—told him Daniel hadn’t missed his sharp tone.

And…fine. Sam did have a family. Two parents and five brothers, most of whom lived nearby. None of them needed him hanging around, though.

“Maybe it’s time—”

The doorbell rang, loud in the quiet room.

“You expecting someone?”

Sam stood. “It’s probably a delivery driver. The houses aren’t well marked around here.” He passed his brother, thankful to have an excuse to escape the conversation.

The doorbell rang again, followed by pounding.

Sam picked up speed down the hall and around the corner, his brother on his heels. The entryway was dark, though enough light came from the lamp in the living room to illuminate the way. He reached the door and opened it, ready to give whoever was on the other side a piece of his mind.

The words stuck in his throat.

A woman stood on the stoop in the glow of the porch lights. He barely took in the sight of her before she spoke.

“Thank God I found you.” Then she stepped inside and slid her arms around his waist, hanging on like she might never let him go.