Her anger was like a punch and the fire in her eyes reminded him so strongly of Maya, it was as though he were transported back in time. He was speechless for a moment as he took in the rage that emanated from her. “Samantha, I never knew about you. When your mom and I broke up, she—she never told me she was pregnant.”
Samantha stared at him, her mouth agape.
“I swear. I had no idea you even existed until a week ago.”
Samantha closed her mouth. “You’re lying.”
“No.” Sam stepped closer to her. “No, I’m not. Your mom told me about you when she asked me to help you.”When she needed something. Sam clenched his jaw in anger and frustration. “You have to believe me.”
“Sam! Sam? Is that you?”
Sam froze at the familiar sound of Paige’s voice. What was she doing here? He threw a nervous glance at Samantha before turning to face Paige. “Hi, honey! What’s going on?” His casual tone sounded forced, even to him.
Paige approached and kissed him on the cheek as she linked her arm with his. “I was just coming to the office to see you, and here you are.”
“Yeah, here I am.” His eyes flicked to Samantha, who shuffled her feet and folded her arms across her body.
Paige looked from Samantha to Sam in the silence that followed. She extended her hand to Samantha. “Hello. Paige Doyle, Sam’s fiancée. Are you the new intern?”
“Yes, she’s the new intern.” A knot built in his stomach.
Samantha’s eyes widened, then narrowed at Sam as she shook Paige’s hand. His stomach tightened, and he was vaguely nauseous.
“Oh, that’s great.” Paige smiled. “Nice to meet you.” She gazed at Sam, then turned back to Samantha. “He may be a tough boss, but he means well—don’t let him get to you!” She turned to Sam. “How about a drink? We’re close to our bar.”
“Um, yeah. Sure.” He turned to face Paige. “It’s freezing. Let me finish up here, and I’ll meet you.”
“Sounds great!” She quickly kissed him and waved goodbye to Samantha.
Before Paige got even half a block away, Samantha was yelling at him. “Nice,Dad. Can’t even acknowledge me to the woman you’re going to marry. Mom was right. Wewerefine without you. I should’ve listened to her.” She wiped angry tears and stomped off. Stricken, Sam followed.
“No, it’s not like that. Listen, we just met—you’re all grown up and I didn’t even know I had you. I can’t just spring that on my fiancée in the middle of the street. Listen, I’m going to tell her, but right now is not the best time. What about your mom? Did you tell her where you were? That you were coming to see me?”
Samantha stopped walking.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Sam softened his voice. “I get it, you’re angry and you have no reason to believe me. Ireallydid not know about you. But if I had...” He stopped as his anger at Maya threatened to erupt. “Just believe me, now that I do, I would really like to get to know you—maybe be part of your life. No matter what your mom says.”
Something flickered in Samantha’s eyes, and hopeful, Sam continued, “Just think about it. Ask her—she has to tell you the truth.”
Samantha gave a barely perceptible nod and turned away from him as she headed for the subway station. Sam stared after her, and his heart ached. Every time a woman walked away from him, she managed to take a piece of his heart with her. And he never got it back.
SAMMETPAIGEfor a drink at her favorite place, The Dream Bar. He knew he had to tell her about Samantha, but she greeted him with a huge smile and a kiss and started right in about wedding plans, and he couldn’t find the right moment. She seemed to have reconciled the issue with the linens and tablecloths and was going on about this fabulous wedding cake designer she had found out about.
“We have an appointment with her next week. Okay, Sam?” Paige squeezed his hand. “Are you with me? I want to you to come and help me choose the cake.”
Sam sipped his drink, making forced eye contact with his fiancée. Her lips were moving and sound was coming out, but Sam could not seem to focus on her words. Glimpses of the pain and anger in Samantha’s face flashed before him and his mind wandered as he wondered how he’d get to see her again. He hadn’t gotten her cell number, so he had no way to contact her, save going to the coffee shop—which was not ideal, as Maya had made it clear she wanted Sam to have nothing more to do with Samantha. He’d give her a couple days.
“Sam? Sam, are you with me?” Paige was smirking at him. “Cake tasting. Next week.”
“Of course.” Sam grinned at Paige and focused on her. “Whatever you want.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
MAYA
New York, 2012
“WHATTHEHELL,MAYA?” Ami said, scolding her friend. “I leave town for, what, not even two weeks, and S-A-M is back in your life.”
