Page 40 of Wishing Hearts

“I know, Harrison,” Sam says gently, shifting a little on the couch. He comes closer, threading his fingers through the hair at the side of my head. “I’m not askin’ you to pick me over Winnie. I never would. All I’m askin’ is that you don’t push me away.” He’s quiet for a moment before he adds, “And that you’re honest with me.”

I blow out a breath, nodding. “Exclusivity?” I ask. I don’t want to worry about potential STIs on top of everything else.

Sam’s face spreads into a slow grin. “Yeah.”

“And, uh…I’m not ready for overnights yet,” I say. “We need to go slow around Winnie.”

He nods, fingers toying with my ear. “Mkay.”

“And, uh…” My eyes drift shut. “Um.”

Sam’s lips ghost over my own. “One step at a time,” he says.

He gives me a soft kiss before leaning back, and I open my eyes. How does he make it feel so easy?

“Tell me something,” I say. Because even though I’m not ready for Sam to stay over quite yet, I’m not ready for goodnight, either.

Sam grins, hand falling back to my leg. “I’ve never broken a bone.”

“No?” I ask with a chuckle, grateful for the levity.

He shakes his head, toying with my thigh casually, fingers running over my jeans. “No, which is a miracle, really. I was always movin’, always gettin’ into trouble as a kid. Fell from a couple trees. Crashed my foster carer’s bike. All sorts of stuff. But never broke a bone.”

“Well, I hope Winnie has your luck. I’m just waiting for her to break something,” I admit.

“She a little daredevil?” he asks.

“Like you wouldn’t believe,” I answer. No fear, that one.

Sam smiles, and it feels nice to be able to talk to him about my daughter. To share that part of my life.

It’s a little surreal that he wants me to. I wouldn’t have anticipated that this happy-go-lucky guy I met in Plum Valley would be here with me now. That he’d be so unexpectedly even-keeled and compassionate—and a little vulnerable himself—under all that cheery glow.

I never would have guessed that one missed hookup could have led to all…this.

“Your turn,” Sam prods gently after a moment.

I think about it before answering. “My sweet tooth might be worse than Winnie’s.”

Sam barks a laugh, and I grin with him. “I’m gonna have to keep you two stocked in treats, aren’t I?” he says. “All right, stud. Good to know.”

Sam keeps talking about cake and sweets as he settles against the couch, giving me a little tug to settle in with him. And as I lean against Sam’s chest, feeling his laughter and words vibrate through me like a gentle quake, I let that little seed inside my chest grow.

Chapter 12

Sammy

“You hummin’ again, Sammy?” Carl asks.

I shrug, a grin on my face. “Maybe. Gotta problem with that?”

He glances at me from the driver’s side of the truck. We’re on our way back to Animal Control, and despite the temperate day, I’m a dirty, sweaty mess. Our afternoon was spent digging up an underground pipe to rescue the little peeping chick trapped inside.

Some days, I tell ya.

“No problem,” Carl answers. “Just curious about the good mood. Does it have somethin’ to do with that Doctor Bailey?”

My grin widens as I remember the way Harrison sent me off the other night. Despite the relatively serious tone of our first date—and the unexpected complications—I consider it a success. Plus, the way he kissed me before I left? How he pressed me up against his front door, hands cradling my face as if I were something precious he’d found and didn’t want to part with?

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