She went to her mini-kitchen. With one sharp motion of her fingers, she opened a mini-pack of Jelly Bellies. Bright, sugary flavors exploded in her mouth as she chewed.
Sam had told her she could call him when tempted to take Oxy. But did she really want to disturb him, considering how convoluted things were between them?
She’d manage the worry on her own.
Too soon, she reached the bottom of the bag. She peered at it, disconsolate. She ordered the mini-packs specifically because they offered built-in portion control. But now, in order to manage her stress, her choices were either to lay waste to all her mini-packs of jelly beans or contact Sam.
She moaned. Why was it so hard for her to reach out to others for help?
Angry with her own pride, she texted him.I’m struggling with a bout of worry. You invited me to let you know when I wantedto take Oxy, so I’m following through and letting you know.She added two smiling emojis, then sent it before she could talk herself out of it.
As soon as she did, vulnerability besieged her.What if he doesn’t reply? What if he thinks I’m a head case? What if he’s busy and my text is an annoyance to him?Their friendship had been jagged since the kiss.
His text response came back more quickly than any text response she’d ever received from him.I’m about to head to the supermarket. Want tojoin me?
Relief flooded her. She was struggling to think clearly about her dad’s presence in Camden, but Sam would be able to.Yes, please.
She pulled boots over her leggings and a pink wool coat over her white dolman top. By the time his truck reached her cottage, she was waiting on the side of the road beneath her turquoise umbrella. She clambered into his passenger seat, storing her umbrella near her feet.
He did not send the truck forward but instead considered her watchfully. “What’s going on?”
Oh, perish.
He was certifiably gorgeous in his black baseball cap, lightweight black jacket, work pants, and boots.
“I just found out that my dad was in the same town as my mom and Russell, the town of Camden, the weekend that Russell was murdered.”
Seriousness settled into the creases at the corners of his eyes.
“You can drive while we talk,” she said.
“Or I can sit here while we talk.”
“No, it’s okay. Drive.” It would be easier to get this out without the full, swoony weight of his attention on her.
The truck jounced forward until it hit smooth road. She explained how she’d found the navy recruiting ad and the theories she’d come up with. “I just ... I don’t know what to think.”
At a stop sign, he reached across to open the glove box. “Take a breath and drink this.” He pulled out a bottle of water and handed it to her. “Hungry?” He motioned to the packages of almonds resting in the glove box.
“I’m okay.” She refrained from saying she’d just inhaled jelly beans. “Thank you, though.”
Since she’d met him, he’d supplied her with electrolyte water, protein shakes, muffins, steak, and more. It seemed he was prepared, even now, to dispense mobile sustenance from his truck. He’d been raised on an Australian cattle station. Every line and curve of him exemplified masculinity. But at heart, he was a caretaker.
Tenderness for him wrapped around her ribs so strongly that it stole her speech.
Sam was reserved and honorable. Guarded and good.
If she tried to tell him that he was a hero, he’d disagree. He’d disagree because he’d tried so hard to be Kayden’s hero and failed.
His life experience had turned him into a reluctant hero, but he was a hero, just the same. She could see that as clearly as she could see the trees zipping past, clothed in autumn color.
He drove for a mile or more while she took long, clarifying sips of water. She only wished the water were colder, because sitting this close to Sam was giving her a hot flash.
He doesn’t want to kiss you, Genevieve! Youcan’t be more than friends.
“You found a clue today,” he finally said. “I don’t want you to lose sight of the fact that that’s a good thing.”
“It doesn’t feel like a good thing at the moment.”
