Chapter 16 Sam
SAM
Ben turns to smile at Dolly as she walks up and says his name. He smiles back at her, reaching out to give her a hug. The irrational jealousy that surges inside me feels like a foreign object is lodged in my throat. I try to swallow over it, but can’t.
“Hey, pretty lady. I was hoping you’d be here this morning.” He smiles at Rosie. “This woman is hard to take out on a date.”
Rosie laughs. “Sorry, Ben. We’ve had some family issues going on lately. I promise she’s not actively trying to avoid you.”
Ben looks skeptical. The way his eyes are darting between the girls while avoiding looking at me makes me like him even less than I already do.
“Well, Miss Redford, I was hoping I’d get the chance to take you out today after you finish up here. Can you spare a few hours for me to treat you to dinner?”
The confidence and flirtation he’s exuding are the polar opposite to the panicked, blubbering man who ran from the restaurant when Duke and I crashed their last date. I clench my fist, taking a step closer to him.
His face pales, but he still doesn’t look my way.
I see Dolly’s head nodding in my peripheral vision.
“I can make that work. What time?”
I grind my teeth.
“Can I pick you up around six thirty?”
“Why don’t I just meet you there?”
My shoulders are tense. Rosie glances at me, her eyes narrowed.
“I want to prove to your brothers that I can be a gentleman. I’m sure they’d pick up a lady for a date.” He winks at Rosie.
What a fucking tool.
I take another step forward, shoving my hands in my pockets. His grin falters a bit, but he still doesn’t look at me.
Dolly smiles softly. “I really appreciate the gesture, but I think meeting you there would be better for me. Where do you want to go?”
Something like anger flashes in his gaze, but it’s gone in a fraction of a second.
“All right, whatever the lady wishes. Let’s go to Elmott. The 1864 Steakhouse there has the best prime rib around. Meet me at seven?” He leans closer, eyes dipping over her suggestively.
Is this the same anxious little fucker? What has changed?
She nods. “That works for me.”
He turns around and saunters off. Rosie and Dolly exchange glances, but don’t say anything to each other. I debate telling her she can’t go for safety reasons, but another idea comes to mind.
“Better hope he makes that reservation for three.”
Her eyes swing to meet my gaze. “What?”
I shrug, taking my seat in the lawn chair. “You heard me.”
She gapes at me before shifting her puppy-dog eyes to her best friend. “Please talk some sense into this man.”
Rosie fiddles with the tag on a loaf of sourdough bread.
“I’m sorry, babe, but I think for the time being, a chaperone is the only way you can date safely.
Sure, Ben is harmless, but the person who sent the letter was pretty clear they’re targeting you.
It’s really not safe for you to be going out on dates without one of the guys there, just in case. ”
She reaches out a hand and lays it on Dolly’s forearm. “I feel like a friend being there instead of a brother will feel a lot less invasive, but I’m sure Holden would be willing to go.”
Dolly balks, shaking her head. “Absolutely not. I’d rather not even go.”
“Cool. Text him and cancel. Better yet, don’t show up. Getting used to disappointment is a normal part of life,” I suggest.
Her eyes move over me, glazing over with clear annoyance. “Oh, I’m going. You’d better sit there quietly and let me enjoy my date. Got it?”
Her eyes lock on to mine, and I’m suddenly back on that boat, feeling her ass against me as she writhes through an orgasm on my lap with everyone around us. I wet my lips.
“You got it, Dollface.”
She took her sweet-ass time getting ready for the date, and now she’s wearing skintight flared jeans and a pink deep V-neck with a frilly neckline. She brushed her cheeks with blush and styled her hair in a pile of curls on top of her head.
I thought I was glad to see she didn’t wear a sundress for once—my personal favorite—but then she turned around, and I could make out the outline of her perfect, round ass.
I can’t decide if this is worse or not. My mood was already sour, and she’s grinning like a damn Cheshire cat as we pull up to the restaurant.
“Try not to let him see you when you come in. Maybe wait, like, ten minutes, till he and I are seated.”
I put my truck in park, eyeing her before I turn off the engine without a word. I get out and walk around to her side, opening her door for her.
“Hello? Earth to Sam. I need you to agree.”
I nod. “I heard you.”
“That doesn’t sound like an agreement.” Her brows furrow.
The sun is setting behind her, illuminating the flecks of blue in her gray eyes. She did something with her eye makeup to make them stand out more than usual.
I must be the biggest moron on this planet to agree to drive her to this damn date and chaperone instead of asking her on one myself. Her dark lashes brush across her cheeks as she blinks up at me.
“We forgot to measure you,” I mumble.
“What?”
I lift a hand, getting ready to brush a stray hair out of her face. I pause before touching her.
“At the house, I was going to measure you.”
“You can bust out that tape measure later.” She rolls her eyes, turning away from me.
My hand finally moves forward to touch her cheek, slowly pulling the hair that’s trapped in her lashes aside.
“What are you going to do if he kisses you?”
The words come out like a pathetic, desperate plea, but I can’t take them back now.
She pauses, eyes lifting up to meet mine. She searches my face, but after a beat of silence, she says, “I guess I might let him.”
My jaw tics. I nod, knowing she has every right, and I can’t say a damn thing about it. My chest feels like it’s caving in.
“Then I guess I won’t intervene if he does.”
She nods, slowly turning away from me to walk into the steakhouse. I want to go in with her, to stay right on her heels to let him know he’s being watched. But I hold back, giving her a few minutes inside before walking in.
My skin is tight and somehow clammy. I text Duke.
Sam
You have to chaperone next time because I’m not a babysitter. This blows.
He responds with the laughing emoji.
Duke
I’ll come with you next time and buy you a beer.
I love my sister, but after what happened with Cain, I don’t trust men. There’s no law that says women need to get married. She should at least wait until she’s thirty … or fifty.
I go up to the host stand, tipping my cowboy hat toward the girl standing at it. She has bright blue hair and glasses.
“Did you see a gorgeous dark-haired girl in a frilly pink shirt come in a few minutes ago and meet up with a guy who looks like he should be shining her shoes instead of dating her?”
The girl’s eyes widen, but she nods.
“Table for one. Right beside theirs.”
She leans forward over the wooden stand, whispering, “Is she your ex?”
I shake my head, leaning closer. “No. She’s my best friend’s little sister.”
The girl’s mouth gapes open, mouthing the words, Oh my God.
“And you don’t like this guy she’s with?”
I nod. “Exactly. She can do better.”
She sighs. “Wow. Okay, follow me.”
She grabs a menu and a roll of silverware. I follow her through the cozy, dimly lit room with candlelight and tasteful vintage decor on the dark walls. I hate how the ambience is romantic and appealing.
The girl looks back at me, her voice still low. “Are you in love with her?”
The question catches me off guard, but I shake my head. She looks disappointed by the answer. I see Dolly up ahead, sitting across from dickface in a half-circle booth.
The girl sits me in the booth right beside theirs. I take the seat facing Dolly. He doesn’t see me.
The hostess leaves my menu and silverware and mumbles, “Let me know if you need anything.”
I tip my cowboy hat at her. Her fingers brush across the table as she walks back to the host stand.
I meet Dolly’s eyes, which are narrowed on the hostess as they follow her until she’s back at the front. The waitress stops at my table, blocking my view. She’s young. Her wild, curly blond hair is tied back in a low ponytail.
“Hey, hon. You waiting on someone?”
I shake my head. “Just me. I’ll take a tall Miller.”
She nods. “Bread? We have cinnamon butter.”
“Sure.” I nod.
She moves past me, finally revealing Dolly’s eyes again. She’s focused on something Ben is saying. My fingers drum across the table. I can only make out every few words that he says.
“… because you’re just that pretty. It’s blinding to look at you sometimes.”
Dolly blushes. I unroll the two forks and the steak knife, palming it to see how it feels in my hand. It feels good, but I’m pretty effective with just my fists when I need to be.
“Tall Miller and some fresh bread. Can’t help but wonder what the story is here, hon.” The waitress blocks my view again. She deposits my drink and bread on the table.
I take a long drag of the beer, but it doesn’t settle my stomach. “How’s that?”
“You’re too young and handsome for this bachelor-eating-a-steak-dinner-alone routine.”
“Maybe I like steak and being alone.”
She purses her lips. “All righty then, whatever you say.”
She moves away again. Dolly comes back into my line of vision.
I do like being alone. And a good steak makes everything better.
“… very protective. Which I completely get, but … glad you got away tonight.” Ben’s voice reaches my ears again.
“There’s been a development … in our family. My brother did something to protect me a few years ago, and now someone wants revenge. It’s all very James Bond and revenge-plot nastiness.”
I sit up straighter, giving her a look. She shakes her head, as if to tell me to chill out.
Great. Brilliant idea. Tell him everything.
Ben leans forward, grabbing her hand with his. The imaginary vision of my steak knife embedded in his hand brings a smile to my lips.
“Wow, that’s so … scary. I’m sorry. I …” His voice trails off as he leans closer to her.