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“No hiding, remember?”

I swallow. Maybe it’s not such a crazy question. For later.

“It’s something to be shared after tomorrow, if ever.”

“Samantha Davies,” he says. “Are you blushing about our date?”

Hearing him say it out loud tonight has me feeling all sorts of things. Things that are most certainly not helpful to feel before walking into a room with your boss and a few other people.

I clear my throat the way I assume a trained debutante would and say in a terrible southern drawl, “Now why ever would I do that, Thomas Landen?”

He breaks out laughing until he snorts. My nerves and excitement have me giggling like a proverbial schoolgirl.

Hank walks in front of the truck to go into the building and we both quiet down to the occasional chuckle.

“We’ll make a true cowgirl out of you, just you wait and see.” He reaches across the center console and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “I have an extra-early morning tomorrow, so I’m afraid I’m going to have to drop you off and head right home when this meeting is done.”

He must see a little disappointment in my face. I realize that I was planning on him coming over again after the meeting. Or at least hoping that he could.

“It’s probably for the best though,” he continues with a little smile, “because tonight is not a date. Tonight is a work event. And we can’t have our first kiss tied to a work event.”

His eyes search mine for several heartbeats. His hand is still on my cheek, and I manage to find my voice, somehow.

“Who made that rule?” I ask.

“The guy who wants to do everything absolutely right with you.”

Chapter 18: Tommy

Of course I’m ten minutes early for our date, but Sam is always ready with plenty of time to spare so it shouldn’t be an issue. We’ll get to watch more previews this way.

Who am I kidding? I feel like a kid in a candy store who can get anything that fits in his basket.

I unbuckle and pocket my phone, deciding to just use the buzzer to let her know I’m here since I’m too antsy. When I’m out of the truck, I shake out my limbs to try to calm my nerves and then shut the door. Before I can buzz her place, someone pushes the door open.

“Hey Tommy, what are you doing here?” Caleb asks.

“Picking up Sam for a movie,” I say, trying to not make it sound like a date.

“Nice,” he says. “Head on up, I’ve never seen her late for anything so I can’t imagine she’s not ready.”

“Where are you off to?” I ask, passing into the building.

“Groceries. Your brother now sends me lists each week.”

That sounds like Matt. “You guys hanging out tonight?”

“I think I might be able to convince him to keep me from destroying my dinner tonight.” He winks as he walks to his old pickup. I’ve always been confused about that truck. This guy brought in cash hand-over-fist steadily for almost a decade before his injury, but he’s always had that beater. I take the stairs two at a time and when I reach the hallway for the second floor, I hear it roaring to life. I’m surprised the windows don’t shake.

Sam’s deadbolt is thrown so the door is cracked open, which is odd. I knock all the same, not wanting to intrude.

“I’m in the bedroom so you can come back here!” Her voice is muffled and it sounds strained and my heart races.

My mind wars with itself, trying to figure out if she’s in danger or not.

No, not likely, she sounded calm, like she was expecting someone.

My gut sinks.