Page 67 of Five Mountain Daddies

The Samuel I know seemed genuine, and kind, and sexy as hell, but there’s definitely more to him than meets the eye. I don’t know what I want from him, if I want to be involved with him, or if he’s just a business associate. Fact is, we work together, whether I like it or not. And I’m going to have hisbaby.

That big stranger’s baby. Callie and I finish up an hour later. I hug her goodbye and we exchange numbers. Hopefully I’ll have a friend in this town, someone I can talk to, but I definitely can’t trust her with this news about my pregnancy. Nobody can know about it. I can’t risk ruining this upcoming contract negotiation just because I was too stupid to make Samuel wear acondom.

I’m going to keep going forward. I have no other choice really. I feel like I’m spinning out of control, and there’s nothing keeping me from going completely off therails.

4

Samuel

I’m more prepared to meet the new president this time around. It’s been a few weeks since that introductory meeting, and although I haven’t heard much from her since then, the town is going insane withgossip.

I’ve heard every kind of rumor. People are saying she’s some kind of floozy from the big city, and that she has a string of ex-husbands. Others claim she killed her father to take over the company. It’s all sorts of small-town bullshit, and I don’t pay it any mind at all. I know there’s plenty of crap like that about me floating around out there. You can’t get away from the gossip in a small town likeWheelville.

Still, I can’t help but wonder about her. Not about the gossip, but about who she really is. I haven’t gotten that body out of my mind since the night we spent together. I’ve tried to forget her, almost went home with one of the girls that calls me “Big” behind my back, but decided against it. I just couldn’t bring myself to fuck some pathetic loser when all I really want isAmelia.

I know what people say about me. That I’m some kind of manwhore and criminal. It’s true that I got into some trouble when I was younger, but I’m not that guy anymore. And I’ve slept around, but that’s none of their fucking business. I fuck what I want when I want, and I can’t help it if I’ve left enough satisfied women in my wake that I’ve picked up this stupid fucking nickname. I can’t help it if it happens to beaccurate.

I smile to myself as I walk through the offices, wondering if Amelia’s heard about my name yet. She knows all about how I’m Big, and I bet she still thinks about it. I’m positive she’d be blushing if sheheard.

I haven’t mentioned my night with her to anyone, and nobody seems to remember it, or at least they don’t realize that she’s the one I took home that night. I can see why: she doesn’t look anything like she did that night normally. In the office, she’s all dressed up in business clothes, but that night she was letting loose, had her hair down, had an air of sadness about her. In the office though, she’s allbusiness.

I sit down at the conference room table across from Ingram and Amelia. I left Roy behind this time, mostly because I want a chance to talk to these peoplemyself.

“I’m glad you came, Samuel,” Ingram starts out. “We have a lot todiscuss.”

“We do,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “But I was hoping I could discuss it withAmelia.”

I smile at him and notice the ripple of annoyance that crosses his face, but he quickly gets rid of it. “I’m here to advise Ms. Evans,” he says to me. “Whatever you say in front of her, you can say in front ofme.”

“I’m not so sure that’s true, is it, Amelia?” I stare at her with a wicked smile, and I get a blush out ofher.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says softly. “But if you want to talk alone, we can arrangethat.”

She looks at Ingram and for a second, I think he might scream. Instead, he just stands up promptly. “Call if you need me,” he says, and he leaves theroom.

I grin at her openly once he’s gone. “Didn’t think you’d do it,” I admit toher.

She crosses her arms. “You think I can’t handleyou?”

I grin and lean toward her. “I know you can handle me,Amelia.”

She blushes again but meets my gaze. “This is a business meeting,” she remindsme.

“So what? Should we pretend that night didn’thappen?”

“Yes,” she says seriously. “Weshould.”

“I’m not going to. And I doubt you’re going to, either. How long was it until you could walkstraight?”

That gets a rise out of her. “Don’t be so… lewd here, Samuel,” she hisses. “We’re supposed to be talking about the contracts. Is this why you wanted Ingram toleave?”

“Yes,” I admit. “It’s exactly why I wanted him gone. I want to be honest withyou.”

“Saying lewd things isn’t honesty, Samuel.” She stares at me, and I get a chill. This woman isn’t some weak girl here to piggyback off her father’s legacy. I can see it in her expression, and it makes me want her even more. “We have a serious job todo.”

“You’re right.” I lean back in my chair. “Why don’t we get startedthen?”

She nods curtly, opens a binder, and startstalking.

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