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“Lucky me,” I replied dryly. “Okay, Sam and I will see you at the rehearsal dinner tonight. Bye, buddy!”
I hung up before he could reply and dropped my phone back on the counter with a groan.
“What he’d say?” Sam asked, carrying a plate full of pancakes to the table.
“He heard about the vandalism,” I answered. “He was worried.”
She sighed. “Yeah, I’ll probably have to deal with him later.”
“I think he also suspects that we slept together.”
She closed her eyes and pursed her lips. “Shit, that’ll be harder to talk him through.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I think he’ll hold off grilling you until after the wedding, though.”
“Well, that’s somewhat of a relief.” She sat down at the table and jerked her chin to the empty chair across from her. “Come on. Sit down and eat. I’m sure you’ve got a busy day ahead of you.”
I did, so I slipped into the chair and grabbed a few of the pancakes off the serving plate. I drenched them with syrup, cut a small chunk, and shoved them in my mouth.
“Oh, my God,” I groaned. “These are perfect.”
Sam chuckled. “So glad you approve.”
I devoured the rest of my stack and grabbed a few more. When I finished those, I was full, but I wanted more. They were just that good.
“You should open your own pancake place,” I said, sitting back in my chair and patting my stomach. “You’d make a killing.”
Sam grinned. “Well, I appreciate that. I’d much rather run a bookstore, though, so pancakes will just remain an appreciated hobby.”
Standing, I grabbed my plate and took it to the sink. Grabbing my phone again, I checked and saw that I did have several messages and emails waiting for me. Sighing, I turned back to Sam.
“I have to go,” I said. “I’ve got some things I need to take care of before tonight.”
Disappointment flashed across her face, but she quickly hid it.
“All right. I’ll see you at the rehearsal dinner, yeah?”
I nodded, crossing back to her and pressing a kiss onto her forehead.
“Yeah, definitely. Let me know if you hear anything from the cops, okay?”
“Okay,” she murmured.
I didn’t want to go. I wanted to spend the whole day with her in my arms, but I knew I couldn’t. I had to work, and I had to figure out this whole Bill situation. I didn’t want him getting anywhere close to Sam or Henry.
“See you later,” I said, tipping her chin up to kiss her on her lips.
Forcing myself to break away from her, I made my way back upstairs to get dressed and then hurried out of the house, determined to protect the family I was desperate to hold onto.
Chapter twenty-two
Samantha
“Mama,Idon’twantto wear a tie!” Henry whined as I got him out of his booster seat. “It’s chokey.”
Exasperated, I slipped two fingers beneath his tie to test that it was plenty loose.
“It’s fine,” I told him. “And you look so handsome. This is a big kid party, remember? You’re my big boy, aren’t you?”
