Page 4 of Sweetheart

"You can go now," I added.

"Seriously?" he said.

I nodded.

"But we alreadyestablished there's no stranger danger. You even knew my name."

"And you still don'tknow mine," I retorted. "Obviously us going to the same school doesn't mean anything."

I shook my head.

"Besides everyone knows your name. You'retheSam Bishop."

"I have no idea what that means." He blew out a slow breath. "Listen, we don't even have to talk on the way back. I'll just drive you home, and you can pretend I don't exist."

"Tempting," I said, "but no."

"If you think I'm going to leave you alone in the dark on this creepy stretch of road, you're crazy," Sam said."That building back there looked like it came straight out of a horror movie."

When I didn't respond, he sighed.

"Fine. Guess I'll just have to drive beside you then." I rolled my eyes, but he probably couldn't see it in the dark. "I'll be in my nice Mustang with the newly upholstered, heated seats," he went on as a sudden gust of wind sent chills up my spine. "And you'll be walking in those shoes with your little stick."

"It's a bow," I muttered.

"What?"

Spinning to face him, I stopped, and to my dismay, Sam did as well, putting the car in park, looking as if he had all the time in the world.

"You're really going to follow me all the way back?" I said.

"Yeah," he said.

"Why?"

Sam gave a shrug."Got nothing better to do."

I frowned back at him."Are you always so stubborn?"

"Areyou?"

"School starts tomorrow," I pointed out. "It's senior year.Aren't you worried about getting a good night's sleep?"

"Not really," Sam said with a grin. "I amtheSam Bishop."

I sighed.

"Come on, let me give you a lift."

The fact that I was even considering it, despite all my reservations, showed just how awful these shoes were. Plus, honestly, with the wedding debacle and my car breaking down, it had already been such a long night. I looked over to find Sam staring back at me.

"Promise not to try anything," I said.

"I promise," he said.

"No accidental brushes of your hand against my thigh or chest. No groping."

Sam looked like he was biting back a laugh. "Cross my heart. Your virtue is completely safe with me."

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