Page 18 of Securing Samantha

“Oh. I didn’t notice the time. I’ll need to check on my son. Can you give me a minute?” she asked.

“Sure,” he told her as he walked about the room picking up a jar of tea or smelling a candle.

After checking with Edie, she grabbed her coat and purse. “I can join you.”

“Great.” Bryan held the door open and waited while she locked everything up for the night.

“Ty’s located right down the street; shall we take a stroll?” She turned in the direction of the restaurant.

“Have you lived here all your life?” he asked as they made their way down the sidewalk.

“No. A friend of mine brought me here after my husband supposedly died in an explosion,” she explained.

“Supposedly?” Bryan inquired.

“It’s a long story. In short, my husband is alive. How about you? Have you always lived in New York?”

“Born and raised. Have you ever traveled to New York?” He opened the door to the restaurant.

“No. I love to travel though. I’ve always wanted to tour Europe. Liam promised we’d go. Then I got pregnant, and life happened.”

“I’ll add you coming to New York as part of your contract. I love the hustle and bustle of the city. Word has it, I make a great tour guide.” Bryan held out her chair as the hostess seated them.

They placed their orders before he settled into business.

“I want to take your skin care line worldwide. Everyone’s advocating for more organic products. There’s a huge market for them. I have a small boutique chain to market your herbal teas. Of course, I think the skincare line will become a huge hit. The tea, we’ll see. I’ve tried all of them and they taste delicious. But I really enjoy the one called Whiskey and Sunshine.” Bryan paused. “Did I say something wrong?” He noticed her flinch slightly.

“No. Keep going,” she encouraged him.

The waiter placed their food on the table with fresh bread. Bryan picked up his knife and began cutting into his steak while Samantha picked at her salmon.

“I think my taste buds have died and gone to heaven.” He closed his eyes as he chewed.

Samantha tilted her head back and laughed. “Ty’s food comes from local ranches, including his own, it’s unbeatable.”

“Then why do you pick at the salmon like you want to stab it?” he asked.

Samantha smiled. “I guess I’m a bit nervous. Let’s continue.” He smiled back as he animatedly went into his plan for her expansion.

Whiskey’s guilt gutted him. He asked Shadow to take him to a florist and he purchased a bouquet of flowers. Her shop closed at seventeen hundred hours, and he hoped to catch her there to discuss LJ. Shadow drove to the corner and dropped him off.

“I’ll pick you up in an hour if I don’t hear from you. If you need to stay longer text me,” Shadow softly told him. “Good luck, brother,” his voice filled with sympathy.

Whiskey briefly wondered for who. Him or Samantha? He walked down the sidewalk and stopped as he watched a man hold the door and patiently wait while his wife locked up her shop. They walked side by side chatting until they came to the restaurant. His steps slowed as he neared the window. Samantha tilted her head back and laughed at something as the man smiled at her.

Whiskey stood to the side and watched as she leaned in while the man pulled a piece of paper from his bag. Their heads almost touched as he pointed to something. Samantha took the paper from his hand and shook her head, causing the man to chuckle. She intently read the item in her hand as the man observed her. Whiskey saw it. The man’s eyes roamed over his wife. Desire gleamed in his eyes as he waited patiently for her to finish. She seemed happy. The stress of their situation didn’t show on her face as she smiled and listened to the man talk. Sunshine deserved this type of life. Someone who made her happy and shared a life without worrying about crowds, people, and when he’d snap next. She deserved a life without him.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Samantha sighed as the bouquet of flowers showed up with another note. She headed to throw them out when Saint’s daughter, Miya, AKA Nugget, walked in the room. “Oh, how pretty Aunt Samantha.”

“Yes they are, do you want them?” she asked the beautiful precocious child.

“Oh, yes. Thank you!” She took the flowers and headed off to the kitchen to find a vase.

Samantha heard Miss Edie tell her where to grab a vase before she entered the room.

“You can’t avoid your friend forever. She misses you like the dickens,” Edie warned her.