by Lee Kilraine
“I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t we leave it up to Beck?” Devine turned to me with a confident smile because he held all the cards. The man could call my loan right now, damn it. Did he know Samantha didn’t know about the loan and would think I’d take the job without a care for her? The arrogant smirk on his face said yes. “What do you say, Beck? Care to wager your company’s future on my daughter? Or would you rather keep your company solvent and work for a nationally-ranked builder?”
I felt all eyes turn on me, but the only ones I cared about were Sam’s, only her eyes weren’t revealing a thing. Her beautiful green eyes were cool and her face expressionless.
But I knew a few things… I knew Sam had never abandoned me. I knew she was someone I could count on. I knew she was smart, talented, and sweet.
And I knew I needed to leap and take a risk for her—for us—or I’d regret it the rest of my life.
“Wager? I don’t think so.” I shook my head, my eyes still locked on Sam. “I’ll go with the sure thing. I choose Sam.”
“She can’t afford you,” Devine said, his voice so patronizing it was like a verbal pat on the head.
“Actually, I can. The day I turned twenty-one, mom told me she’d sign over all her shares of Devine and Sons whenever I wanted. I never needed them before now. I just texted her. Her lawyer is drawing up the paperwork as we speak. So once I sell my shares, I can afford a lot of things.”
“Whoa, wait. You’ve had access to those shares since you were twenty-one?” Wyatt asked, one eyebrow quirked high. “You could have had your stepbrothers’ positions all this time?”
“Probably. But, silly me, I wanted my father to award me the position because I’d earned it. But that never happened. I don’t know… It feels better this way.”
“Fine.” Devine frowned across the crowd at Sam. “You win. You let me buy those shares back and he’s yours.”
“I feel so cheap,” I said. Sam’s lips slid into a wicked smile.
“Not cheap,” Devine growled. “Those shares are going to set me back a fortune.”
Samantha shook her head. “Actually they aren’t. There are a lot of employees who’ve given their lives to Devine and Sons Builders. I met them all the years I worked there. Hell, they’ve contributed a heck of a lot more than my stepbrothers. I think it’s long past time they were rewarded for their hard work and loyalty.”
“Sam, think what you’d be giving up—”
“Nothing I value. Not anymore.”
“Sorry to interrupt.” Gray stepped into the fray. “But how exactly does this solve our little problem?”
“I’ll sell the shares to the employees—”
“Got that part—very cool by the way. Where I’m stuck is how that helps Beck and SBC.”
“Simple. I’ll pay off his loan with the money I get from the shares. How does that sound, Beck?”
Nothing tensed. No clenching in my gut, no squeezing in my lungs. I felt…kind of warm and tingly as a matter-of-fact. “That sounds like music to my ears. Just so you know it might take me years—decades even—to pay you back.”
Sam smiled a slow smile, her pink lips looking soft and kissable. “Fine by me as long as you understand you can’t get rid of me until the last dollar is paid.”
So I’d always owe her a dollar. I could live with that.
Chapter 33
Samantha
Four hours later when the gala had finally wrapped up, I stood on the front sidewalk of Lila’s house with one thought in my head. My feet were killing me. Oh, crap. Two thoughts. Because I knew from here on out, my life was changed.
“Hey, hey, hey, where are you going?” Beck came up next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, and spinning me into his chest.
“I’m heading off into a new adventure, Beckett Thorne.”
“You are, huh?” I felt his lips press a kiss against my temple. I loved when he kissed me there. I pretty much loved wherever Beck kissed me. I’d give him free-range of my body any day of the week and twice on Sundays. “Got room for me in those travel plans?”
“That depends…” I pulled back to look into his eyes. “You have beautiful eyes. Have I ever told you that?”
“No. Never.” His beautiful eyes smiled down at me. Intense, twinkly, and there was heat too. That heat was hard to resist. But seeing as how we were still standing on Lila and Denver King’s front steps, I managed. Especially because Lila and Denver stood in the doorway waving the last stragglers off, and I could see them over Beck’s shoulder.
“Beck, make sure Sam gets home safely tonight!” Lila called down the sidewalk.
He threw his hand up to acknowledge he’d heard her. Or he was stretching. Or landing an airplane. I didn’t really know. The only thing I knew in that exact moment was I had a warm, sweet feeling seeping from my chest through all my limbs. I think it was how happiness felt when it came at a person from lots of places at once. Like happiness had me in a full body tackle.
“Are you ready to head out?”
“Just as soon as you answer a question… Why didn’t you tell me you were thinking about accepting the job offer from my father? If you were afraid I’ve been waiting around for my father to offer it to me, I haven’t been. I used to think I started my business to prove to my father that he was wrong about me. To prove to him and my family that I was a smart, capable business woman. But I figured out I was really proving it to myself.”
“You don’t to have to prove anything to anyone. Especially not me. I think you’re damn amazing.”
“Thank you. I spent most of my life trying to be the son my father wanted. When I finally gave up two years ago and started my own business, I still hoped he’d see the work I was doing and be proud, you know? But even tonight, all he could see was what was in it for him. And it wasn’t me again. This time it was you, because you have a penis and I don’t.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize! Not about having a penis.” I looked at him in the moonlight and whispered, “I’m very fond of yours.”
He leaned in to look at my eyes, probably trying to see if I was tipsy. I might have been. Just the teensiest weensiest bit. Like a skosh. That’s a thing, right? A skosh. Lila had bought the most delightful champagne. I’m not a big drinker. But when the last guest had left the fundraiser, Lila insisted on a toast with us all. And then Denver made a toast. And Ash made a toast. Somewhere around there was when I realized I’d been so busy circulating during the gala, talking to people, answering questions and accepting congratulations, that I’d forgotten to eat anything.
“I’m fine.” Although I’d forgotten my question. Wait, no. The job offer Beck had almost accepted. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t tell you about seriously considering your father’s job offer because I was afraid it would hurt you. And I’ve hurt you enough. I don’t ever want to hurt you again as long as I live, Samantha Devine.”
“Do you want to work for him? Because I know he’s your business idol. So if you want to work for him, you should. You shouldn’t let me or anyone steal your dreams.”
“Was. Was my business idol. I never want to work for your father. If he’s too damn blind and ignorant to recognize how smart, talented, and special his own daughter is, then he’s not the man I thought he was.”
His support took my breath away. I went up on my tippy toes and placed a kiss on his chin. I must have wobbled a bit because he put his hands on my upper arms to steady me. I could have told him it wouldn’t work because those blue eyes of his made me go wobbly on the inside.
“I’ll be honest, I do have dreams that involve a Devine, and as soon as she sobers up, I’m going to convince her to help me make them come true.”
“I really hope you’re talking about me. Because number one: I do happen to be tipsy, and number two: I have dreams that revol
ve around you too.” I leaned in and whispered, “Some of them are a little dirty.”
He laughed and led me down the sidewalk. “There you go, already helping make my dreams come true.”
“I just realized something,” I said.
“What?”
“I can’t drive home. I mean, I probably could—but I shouldn’t.”
“No, you shouldn’t.” I saw his smile, bright white in the moonlight. “Keys?”
I fished around my purse and handed them over.
“Hey, Eli! Drive Sam’s car home, will you?” Beck tossed my keys to Eli, who was ahead of us on the driveway.
“Sure thing. On the condition you two get this worked out,” Eli said. “Tell Sam about the pie.”
“Did Lila serve pie tonight? Because I love pie and I didn’t get any.”
“I’ll get you pie tomorrow.” Beck wrapped his arm around my shoulders and steered me down the driveway to his big black truck.
I remembered that I had plans for his big, black truck. Me, Beck, and his truck.
“What are you smiling about?”
“Oh, nothing. Just putting something on my to-do list.” Try to focus, Samantha. “Would you really have taken the job with Devine and Sons?”
Beck stopped walking and turned me around to face him, his face serious. “Yes, I would have. If that had been my only option I would have. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you dare be sorry. I love how much you love your brothers and try to protect them.” I’d been looking for a love like that my whole life, and I stood there breathless in wonder that I could have that. That Beck might love me like that. I looked up into the December sky and sent up my wish to the universe. I really hoped I had enough good karma or feng shui or positive energy stored up to let me have Beck. Forever. My breath caught when a shooting star streaked across the sky. I’d take that as a sign.
“I have a confession. I’m not a big drinker.”
“I think I figured that out.”
I peered up at him. “Is that a deal breaker for you?”
“Depends on what we’re talking about. If it’s to compete in the Beer Olympics, then maybe. But if we’re talking friend, lover, partner, life mate, my better half—then not on your life, woman.”
I shivered. Not from the cool, crisp air. No, that was refreshingly sobering, which I needed. It was Beck calling me “woman” in his deep, dark smooth-as-molasses voice. It reminded me that having Beck in my life (if the universe was going to grant that) meant also having him in my bed. Or his bed. I’d be fine with that. He had a king-size bed so there was lots more room for maneuvering. No, I wasn’t going to expand on that—just use your imagination.
What was I thinking a minute ago? Ah, right. I might have had a bit too much to drink.
“Sam, let’s go sober you up. Because I want you totally sober before we talk about us.”
“That’s a good idea. But can you just give me a preview to hold on to? Is there an ‘us’? You know, with a future?”
“Considering I’m going to move heaven and earth and do everything within my power to ensure that, yes. Because, baby, I’m stubborn and driven, and when I set a goal, I go after it with single-minded attention.”
I sighed. “Oh, yeah. I think I’ve benefited from that single-minded attention a few times.”
The drive to Beck’s went quickly, but I admit I was a bit distracted by running my hands over his arm and thigh and tasting his neck and jawline, and you know, places I could reach, while he laughed and groaned and tried to fend me off so he could drive.
“Samantha Devine, you are asking for a heap of trouble. The minute I get a cup or two of coffee in you, all bets are off, and you’ll feel like you’re fending off a twenty-seven-armed octopus.”
Ha! Did he seriously think that was any kind of a threat that would get me to stop? Half my dreams starred him doing exactly that. It was the sobering thought of not making it to his king-size bed if I distracted him off the road that made me sit on my hands and behave.
* * * *
Thirty minutes later, when the caffeine and my metabolism were doing their thing, I watched Beck build a fire in his fireplace from where I sat on his large, soft leather couch.
I had mixed feelings now that the last five months of my life were drawing to a close. I liked spending time with Beck, even when we were butting heads.
The fire caught, and Beck grabbed the coffee carafe and refilled both our mugs before sitting on the couch next to me.
“We did okay, didn’t we, Beck?” I searched his face, hoping he felt as satisfied and proud of the work our two companies had done together as I did.
“We did. These last five months, being around you, has changed my life.”
“Care to sign on to another joint venture?”
“That all depends. Who’ll be in charge? What’s the scope of the joint effort? What’s the completion date? I feel like we’d need to agree on some key points before I can sign on.” He leaned forward, setting his mug on the coffee table, and then turned his sexy eyes back to me.
“Obviously. Do you have any thoughts on any of those?”
“I do. I like the idea of equal partners. The scope? Very wide-ranging. Worldwide, 24/7, with no completion date.”
That sounded a lot like forever.
“You’re willing to meet me halfway?” I held still, but in my chest there was this feeling like a firework had just burst, the kind that sends sparks shooting up higher only to flare again in a barrage of crackles and sparkling trails of gold, silver, and white lights.
“I’m willing to bend over backward.”
“Are you saying you’re willing to try the ‘R’ word?”
“I’m willing to try a lot of ‘R’ words. I want to reconnect and reconcile. I want to reclaim you for my own. I want to ravish you and bring you rapture. I want to set you on a pedestal and revere you. I want to respect your talent. I want to romance you. I want to take a risk, let go of my control, and let you be the sun my world revolves around.”
I sucked in my breath. “That…sort of sounds like a relationship.”
“It definitely is. Fifty-two weeks a year multiplied by however many years you’ll put up with me.”
“You’re an easy man to put up with. You’re a very good man, Beckett Thorne.”
“And forget about no strings attached. I want the two of us trussed up together and double-knotted. I’m talking ball and chain, sweetheart.”
“So you’re saying yes to lingering and cuddling, and hours of passion and appreciating each other?”
“Hell yes. And I can buy you flowers any damn time I want.”
“I’d love that. Does that mean I have to volunteer to do your laundry?”
“Hell no. I can do my own laundry.”
“Be still my heart.”
He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me. A hard, passionate kiss that promised me everything. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on tight because I wanted everything he had to give me.
“Beck,” I whispered. “Will it freak you out if I tell you I love you?”
He pulled back, his eyes filled with wonder. “No. What’s freaking me out just a little is that… I trust you completely. I haven’t trusted anyone except my brothers since I was eight years old. But I trust you. I’m giving you everything I have. All the parts of me I kept boarded up and locked away.”
My breath got stuck in my throat because now that I knew his history, it blew me away that he was willing to risk his heart again. With me. I leaned forward, touching my lips to his.
I’d been looking for someone to trust me—to love me—my whole life. I would never, for as long as I breathed, betray his trust. But I didn’t need to tell him with words. I’d happily show him a day at a time.
Talk about the Beckett Thorne thrill ride. Rid
e of a lifetime? That sounded almost long enough.
Epilogue
Beckett
Three weeks later, December 24th…
“Swing, batter, batter, swing!” Ash yelled at Sam through the batting cage fence.
“Ignore him. You’ve got this, Sam!” Gray paced up and down the length of the cage. “Don’t let him in your head!”
I got a little distracted looking at Sam’s ass as she settled into her batting stance, but Gray’s voice got my attention. “Gray, what the heck? It’s just batting practice.”
“What are you talking about?” Eli’s head swiveled my way. “Sam is going to be our secret weapon to finally winning the championship in the coed summer league next year. Do you know how long we’ve been trying to beat Big Eddie’s team?”
Right. Three years. And Eddie was always happy to remind us every time we walked in his bar. “I get that, but you do realize summer league is still eight months away.”
“Not taking any chances, bro.”
Her swing was a thing of beauty. Hell, even if she couldn’t hit, which she damn well could, I could watch her wiggle her sexy ass all day long as she took her batting stance. Damn. I might need to cut this practice short.
“You’re swinging too soon,” Ash said.
“No, I’m not.” Sam swung and smacked it to the back of the cage. Would have been an easy double, possibly out of the park. She stepped back from the batter’s box before sending Ash an I-told-you-so grin.
“No you’re not. I stand corrected. Okay, out you go. Eli, you’re up next.” Ash opened the gate for Sam to exit the cage.
“Let’s go, slugger.” I grabbed Sam with an arm around her waist and spun her gently into my arms. “I just remembered an errand Sam and I have to do before we hit the Christmas party at the Y.”
“What errand?” She blinked up at me, and I pulled her in tighter. Her eyes grew bigger and then sparked with interest and heat. “Oh, right. I forgot. The errand. The really important errand we totally talked about this morning. The one on my list.”
