Page 11 of Out to Get Her
Thankfully, Samantha’s phone chimed again before she could ponder what Erin might want from her.
WARNING: Mom’s doing a dinner thing! She’s summoning us all to the compound this weekend. Bring your gun. And the handcuffs. FUN TIMES AHEAD.
This one Samantha laughed at. “My sister this time.” She put her phone on silent and tucked it away. She’d deal with them both and turn the volume back on later.
Erin bit her lip and narrowed her eyes, deep in thought. “Melissa?”
“Melanie.”
“Right.” That smile returned. “The only other acceptable Keller, if I remember correctly.” She paused, but the smile never left. “No offense.”
“You’re not wrong. Assuming the other bit meant me.”
Erin laughed softly. “Of course.”
Oh, for crap’s sake, Sam, get a hold of yourself.
But all she really wanted to get a hold of right now was the woman in front of her.
Completely unacceptable.
“Then I agree whole-heartedly with your assessment of my family.” Samantha lowered her head and her voice. “Just don’t tell any of them I said that.”
“If you carry a gun and are still afraid of them, what hope is there for the rest of us?”
“That I have everyone else’s backs?”
Erin’s eyes narrowed, disbelief clear in her expression as she chewed on Sam’s statement.
Eventually, an amused smile reappeared. “You really believe that, don’t you?”
Samantha blinked at her a few times, then said, “Of course I do.”
It was the one thing she truly did believe. Because if she didn’t believe it, who else would make things better around here? Who else would fight for the people of Etta?
Sure, it was a tall order for one person, but what else was she supposed to do?
Awkward silence filled the space between them. Samantha was fully aware of it worming its way between them, filling more and more time and growing by the second, but her awareness didn’t help her one bit in trying to fill it.
Then she remembered therealreason she’d come here. Or at least her excuse.
“I actually came by to give you this.” She pulled a card from her pocket and handed it to Erin. “My card. And number. If you need it.”
Erin’s smile fell and her eyes widened in confusion as she slowly reached for the card. Or maybe it was fear? Samantha couldn’t tell, but it was a very not good look in those eyes of hers.
“Um… thanks.”
“If you have any trouble.” Samantha stumbled over her words like an awkward teenager.
“Trouble?”
“If Addie stirs up anything or the rumor mill takes over and anyone hassles you about the fire. Just let me know, and I’ll take care of it.”
“You want me to tattle on the meanies?”
When she put it that way, it did sound pretty ridiculous. “Sometimes the meanies need it pointed out that they’re being meanies.”
Erin’s expression relaxed a little, and she waved the card in the air. “Thanks. This feels like a lot of power to have.”
