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Me: Thatcan’t happen. Not by me. Not by you. He knows people.

Sammy:So do I, babe. So do I.

I put myphone away before I said something stupid. Like how I would like it if he didthat for me. Will was a problem. And he was one I couldn’t figure out how tosolve either. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake him off.

“What’swrong?”

My headsnapped up, finding my mother standing with a tray of sandwiches in her arms.

“I wastalking to you, but you didn’t respond.”

“I’msorry.”

“Are yousure you’re okay?” she asked, a deep frown settling between her brows.

I nodded,helping her with setting the rest of the table. Once everything was in orderand we began eating, my thoughts traveled back to Sammy. How he had been withme. How different he was compared to Aaron. How different he was to most of thebikers I had met and come across. While he was rough, aggressive, and outrightmean at times, there was a piece of him that was made solely for me. It waslike he had never shared it with anyone before and knowing that I could reachit, made him feel vulnerable. I wondered if that was why he seemed angry allthe time.

Maybe he was scared of what I would find out or that I would gettoo close. Maybe he was scared that he would fall in love with me. We had bothjoked about it but the fact that we weren’t sleeping with anyone else, it mademe wonder if it could actually happen.

“You like him.” Mom smiled. “God, I miss that. Thosebutterflies. The pitter-patter of your heart. The sweaty palms.” She sighed.“It’s been a long time since a man made me feel that way.”

“I thought you had a new guy,” I said, realizing that I neverdenied that I felt those things with Sammy because there was no sense really.My mom knew me. Between her and Shawnee, I wasn’t sure who knew me more.

“Yeah, but he’s just...” She waved it off. “It doesn’t matter.So, I heard Shawnee met an older guy.”

“They’re just friends and he’s married. She’s looking intothings for me though. I’m hoping she can help me figure out what Will wants.” Ihad texted her the other night, asking her to keep it on the down low. I didn’tneed word getting out that she was trying to find out information on Will. Hewouldn’t think twice about having her killed, so I warned her to keep her safe.I had also learned quickly that with Shawnee, if you wanted something kept asecret, you tell her. She would close that shit up tight until she was told shecould reveal said secret. And even then, it wasn’t enough. If she said shewouldn’t tell anyone, she wouldn’t. It was one of the many things I loved abouther. Especially when I had told her I was going to divorce Aaron. Even thoughit was too late and it had never happened, it was nice having a friend by myside when a lot of the time I felt so alone.

My mom and I spent the rest of the afternoon talking about theguy she wasn’t overly interested in but every time she brought up Sammy, Iturned the conversation back to her. I didn’t know what was going on between meand Sammy, but I knew that I liked what we were doing. There was nothing wrongwith just having sex. It wasn’t like I was ready to settle down and get marriedagain. But if Will had his way, I would end up with him. I grimaced at thethought.

Later that day, my mom had gone out. Only after I insisted thatI was fine and didn’t mind being alone. I was about to curl up on the couchwith a book when my phone rang.

My eyes widened when I saw who was calling me. And not justcalling but video calling.

“Aww, Sam, did you miss my pretty face?” I teased, resting thephone against a throw pillow and curling my feet under me.

He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “Nah but I do missyour pretty pussy.”

I grinned, my cheeks heating. “I have to say that I’m surprisedyou’re calling me and a video call no less.”

“I’m bored.” His eyes burned into me. “You alone?”

“Yeah, my mom went out.”

“You didn’t want to go with her?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No. Going out means I have to deal with people.” I wonderedwhere he was. Looked like he was leaning against a headboard. “You in bed?”

“I am.” He smirked. “I hate going to the apartment, so I’m notat home.”

“Oh.” My stomach fluttered that I was getting a little moreinsight into the man I was currently fucking. “Why do you hate the apartment?”

“Too many memories. Morning afters. Awkward moments.”

“Ah, yeah.” I laughed lightly. “I get that.”

“Why, Red, do you have a lot of notches on your bedpost?”

I snorted. “Not as much as you, I’m sure.”