Page 13 of Sam
Standing in the shelter of Brice's arm, I note a weird look cross Sam’s face. Ignoring it, I ask, “What are you two doing here?”
Ben nods at Sam. “We’re picking Sam up and then heading to the gym.”
“Ah, okay,” I reply.
Ben continues, “Carly says your training is coming on great.”
Another smile breaks over my face. “It is. It was tough at first, but my lungs are getting stronger. Carly’s going easy for now, but we’ll step things up once I get the all-clear from my consultant.”
Ben frowns. “You take it easy; we don’t need you relapsing. You know I hate hospitals, and I’ve visited you way too many times in one this last year.”
Reaching over, I squeeze his hand. “I’ll take it easy, I promise. Carly’s working with the hospital. I’m not keen on being back there either. I never thanked you two and Carly for visiting me so much,” I say, glancing between Ben and Brice.
Brice hugs me again, “No thanks necessary, doll. Just glad you’re okay. Are you off home?”
“Yep,” I say, holding up my car keys. Turning to Sam, I ask, “Are you okay to lock up?”
“Of course, babe, no problem. Drive safe.”
“Will do,” I agree. “Bye, guys, I’ll see you next week.” They respond, and I turn on my heel and walk out the front door and go straight to my car and get in. Home isn’t far, so it doesn’t take long before I park in the communal parking we have. I enjoy dinner with my family, and then Uncle Liam, Aunt Sera, and their brood walk me home.
“Remember, we’re only next door if you need us,” Uncle Liam tells me, kissing the top of my head.
“I know, I’ll be okay,” I assure them, waving goodnight as they walk away. Taking a deep breath, I square my shoulders and walk into our lounge. “You can do this,” I tell the empty house.
Six hours later, I’m admitting defeat. Because I hadn’t slept at all, each tiny creak made me think a break-in was happening. At four a.m. I finally give up, and by five, I’m dressed for work and leaving the O’Shea compound. I may as well get started on work and then ask Sam if I can leave a little earlier. I might catch up on my sleep once it’s daylight.
It doesn’t take long to reach the offices, as there’s no traffic this early in the morning. Parking in my space, I note the light on in Sam’s workshop. He started work early again. The door to the workshop opens as I switch off my car, and Sam saunters over to me, a look of surprise on his face. “Ally?”
“Hey, Sam,” I nervously push my hair behind my ear, conscious that I’m not looking great with how tired I am.
“How come you’re here so early?” Sam questions, a look of confusion on his face.
Tilting my head down, I mutter, “I couldn’t sleep.”
“Hey,” Sam tilts my chin up with his finger, “I didn’t hear what you said.”
Tears brim in my eyes. I’m exhausted, frustrated, and fed up that something as small as sleeping in the safety of my parents’ home, surrounded by my family, isn’t something I was able to do. I felt like a failure.
“Babe!” Sam prompts.
“I couldn’t sleep because Mum, Dad, and the boys are away. I thought I could do it, but I couldn’t,” I burst out, and then promptly follow up my tirade by bursting into tears.
“Aw, babe,” Sam says softly, drawing me into his arms and wrapping them tight around me. My own creep around his waist. I hold on tight as I cry with both frustration and exhaustion. I’m still crying when Sam scoops me up and carries me towards his workshop. He sits on the sofa he has in the corner, with me on his lap, my head tucked into his neck.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, “I’m always crying all over you.”
“That’s okay, beautiful, you cry on me all you want, I’m not going to melt.”
Laughing a little, I take a deep breath, letting it out, my eyes closing. I’ve never felt this safe with any man besides my family members. I’m glad he’s not the type to panic when a girl cries all over him, considering I’ve done it twice. Once more, I breathe deeply, inhaling the smells that always make me think of Sam. His spicy aftershave, sawdust tinged with a hint of wood oil. It’s comfortingly familiar. I didn’t intend to fall asleep on him, but surrounded by his warmth, the beat of his heart under my ear relaxing me. Exhaustion takes over, and before I know it, I’m fast asleep.
CHAPTER 9
SAM
I know the second she falls asleep. Tilting my head to the side, I look down at the beautiful woman asleep in my arms. That she feels safe enough to do that with me, considering her history, means more to me than I can put into words.
The dark circles around her eyes worry me. Over the last month, they’d faded, and she’d started to pick up the weight she’d lost. She’d also stopped jumping at shadows. I’d been surprised to see her when she’d parked up in her spot so early. That she was having trouble sleeping almost a year after her attack broke my heart.
