Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
So soon after surgery, the detective was overly persistent, something she understood but she was wiped out. Only after Dex threatened to call the nurses in to ask the man to leave, did he consent to go, but said he’d be back to follow up in case she remembered anything new.
True to his word, he’d returned around dinnertime but didn’t stay long. Nor did he provide them with any information about Jeremy or whether they knew his whereabouts.
The next visitor was Brandy, and Dex took a break so they could be alone.
Having shared such a traumatic event, they cried on each other’s shoulders. “You saved my life, you know,” Samantha said.
Brandy shook her head. “I screamed, my hand shook too hard to dial 911…”
“But you held my hand and talked me through the pain. I couldn’t have made it without you there by my side,” Samantha said over the lump in her throat.
“You were cracking Grey’s Anatomy jokes,” her best friend said, blinking back tears.
Samantha laughed. “Someone had to keep you calm.”
Brandy wiped her eyes and smiled. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I don’t think I’ve ever been so frightened in my life.”
“Same,” she whispered, the memories way too close for her liking. “So… how would you like a raise?” she asked, switching topics.
Brandy’s eyes opened wide. “I already know you need me to run things at the office. Don’t insult your best friend by offering me more money to help you out.”
“Sit down. Please.”
Pulling up a chair, Brandy lowered herself into it. “I’ll be there for whatever you need.”
It was Samantha’s turn for tears. “Thank you. But we will revisit this raise thing soon.”
She nodded. They spent the rest of her visit on lighter subjects and Brandy left when Dex returned.
* * *
Two more days passed, in which Dex only left Samantha’s side to do as she’d said, shower, eat something, and catch some sleep. The same with her family.
Finally, the surgeon walked in on day four for his morning visit. The family stepped out so he could examine the surgical site and he called them back in to give her the good news. If she maintained her progress, the doctor said he’d discharge her the following morning. Dex knew exactly where she’d be going, too, and it wasn’t back to the apartment with the memories of the man who’d hurt her both emotionally and physically.
After the surgeon walked out of the room, her mother jumped up from her chair. “I’m so relieved!” Emma said, hugging her daughter.
Samantha, happy but still pale, smiled. “You should go home to Michael, and you two to your kids,” she said to her family.
Emma shook her head. “You need me right now. Michael would have come but, like I told you, he’d just gotten over the flu and didn’t want to pass anything on.”
“I know, Mom. He’s a good man. I’m so happy for you.” She reached out and squeezed her mom’s hand.
The similar warm dynamic between this family and Dex’s own wasn’t lost on him.
Ian strode over to his mother and put an arm around her waist. “Something tells me Samantha is in good hands and we can go home soon.”
He glanced at Dex with a surprising approving look, his gaze friendlier than any time since Dex had whisked his sister off to the Bahamas. Or was it vice versa?
“Is that your approval I’m finally getting?” Dex asked.
“Speaking of your approval, Ian, we don’t need it. We didn’t need it all those years ago, either,” Samantha said in a chiding voice.
“What’s going on?” Emma asked, looking between her two children.
Riley put an arm on her mother-in-law’s shoulder. “Ian was being Ian. Come outside and I’ll explain.”
Arm in arm, the women strode out the door.
Dex glanced at Samantha, who attempted to cross her arms over her chest, then realized the pain was too much and winced.
“Watch it, sweetheart,” Dex said, hating to see her in any more pain than necessary with recovery. “You can glare at Ian all you want but no sudden movements.”
Ian raised a cocky eyebrow. “Seriously? You two think if you’d gotten together when she was young and you were so involved in football it would have lasted? I did you a favor.” His voice was as smug as his expression. “Besides, second chance romances are hot these days. Or so Riley says from reading romance novels,” he muttered, his cheeks flushing in embarrassment over what he’d just said.
Samantha laughed as did Dex.
“I gotta tell you, that was worth its weight in gold,” Dex told his friend. Because despite the banter and warnings, they were friends.
Soon to be family, if Dex had his way.
“Ian, you know I love you, right? And I turn to you when I need help. But you’ve got to let me live my life,” Samantha said.
Her brother let out a grumbling noise. “I’m still keeping an eye on him.” He pointed to Dex.