Page 83 of Running to You

“Yeah. Thank you for… I don’t know what happened.”

Panic attack, he figured. He’d worked with a client who had one every time they discussed the sale of his business. One time, the guy ended up curled on the floor in Sam’s office. Scared him to death.

But he’d learned what to do.

He pushed to his feet and held his hand out to her. When she slipped hers into it, he pulled her to her feet.

“Need a ride to your car?” Grant’s gaze flicked to Eliza but landed on Sam. “We’re right out front.”

Sam tossed the question to her. “What do you think?”

“We can walk. It’s not far.”

They stepped out into the sunshine and said goodbye to the guys. “Thanks for everything,” Sam shook Jon’s hand, adding, “Sorry about that. I uh… I got a little worked up.”

Jon’s eyes crinkled at the corners, a hint of amusement. “I get it.”

Sam turned to Grant. “I owe you one.”

“I don’t think that’s how it’s supposed to work, bro.” Grant pulled him in for a quick hug, then wrapped an arm around Eliza’s shoulders. “It’s going to be okay. God’s got you.”

She smiled up at him, blinking rapidly as if she were trying to stop tears. “It was good to see you again.”

“It won’t be the last time, I’m sure.”

The guys jogged to a shiny black pickup truck that had probably cost more than Sam’s had—which was to say, stupid expensive. But Jon was married to a movie star, so money wasn’t an issue.

Eliza gave one last wave, then she and Sam walked down the sidewalk toward the narrow street where they’d parked. She hugged herself against the cold.

“You need my jacket?”

“I’m fine.”

They turned at the corner, away from the busy street, and the traffic sounds faded. The cars that had lined the road earlier were mostly gone now, and the red Porsche stood out.

“Are you going to tell me who—?”

“I will. Soon.” Her words were flat and emotionless. He suspected it was taking all her energy to hold herself together.

He could wait. At least she wasn’t demanding to be taken to an airport or a bus station so she could go in search of Levi.

The way she’d reacted when he’d first said the name, it was as if she’d misplaced the guy. At least Sam wasn’t the only man Eliza had forgotten about.

Not fair. Amnesia was strange, and from what he’d read, it could last for weeks, sometimes months. It was good her memories were coming back. Not her fault he happened to hate her memories.

The pounding of footsteps, then…

Something crashed into him from behind. He lurched forward, landed hard on the asphalt. A fist pummeled the side of his head.

Eliza screamed. “Sam!”

He elbowed the guy on top of him, felt flesh and bone, and elbowed harder.

“Oomph.”

The guy shifted to protect himself, and Sam bucked him off, spun to his knees, and jabbed the heel of his hand toward the guy’s nose. But he dodged, and Sam’s blow glanced off his cheek.

Sam managed to get to his feet.