Page 2 of Stay With Me

Samantha laughed politely. “Sounds nice right about now. What time should I meet you guys?”

“Oh, I’d say around seven would be good. We’re going to Chapman’s. That fancy place overlooking the bridge on three-sixty. Do you know it?”

“I know where it is. I’ll see you then.”

“Okay, honey. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Samantha hung up and checked the time. She had enough time to squeeze in a Pilates class and shower before dinner. Ramone would have to wait until later tonight.

She powered down her computer and filed away a few loose documents, shaking her head slightly at one of them.

Poor Cammie.

Anderson Brick Company was cutting the fat yet again and decided, against Samantha’s urgings, that the small sales branch and showroom didn’t need a receptionist after all. The inside reps apparently didn’t have enough on their plates already and would now be forced to field incoming calls from their desks in between servicing customers. But whatever. Not her business. It was only her business to handle the ugly process of letting the bubbly girl go gently. First thing on Monday’s to-do list was to write a sterling letter of recommendation for Cammie. Maybe take her to lunch, too.

This job sucked sometimes. It would probably suck less if Samantha could manage to avoid becoming emotionally invested in the employees, especially since the board wasn’t emotionally invested at all.At least not with anything beyond the bottom line.

After flipping off the lights and locking up, Samantha trudged across the parking lot and immediately broke into a sweat. Mid-August in Austin was a scorcher, as per usual. Rain was a pipe dream. This was now day seventy-one of triple-digit temperatures. Maybe she’d skip Pilates.

She let her car’s AC blast her face briefly as she remembered her dinner plans.

No, Pilates was a requirement today. She’d never been to Chapman’s, but she knew it had a reputation for decadent dishes and irresistible desserts. Samantha was a petite girl, but the only way to stay petite was to get her exercise in daily. Especially being three years away from the big 3-0. She’d be single forever if she accidentally let herself go. Although, after all of two relationships and one disastrous summer fling from a couple of years ago, Samantha was starting to wonder if she should let guys like Ramone be her lifelong lovers.

* * *

After showering, blow-drying, curling, and makeup-ing, Samantha stood in her closet and scanned the clothes for something to wear. Her sister would probably insist on sitting outside at the restaurant. Something light and cool would probably be the best bet. She pulled a little red sundress off a hanger. Red was a good color on her. It made her mousy brown hair look more chestnut, and brought out the amber tones of her blah-blah brown eyes. She slipped on the dress and heard her phone vibrate from across the room.

Come to Mom and Dad’s first and have a cocktail,Jenna’s message read.We’ll carpool.

Cocktails. Of course.

Will do,she messaged back.

She slipped on a pair of wedge sandals, stuffed her phone and keys into a small clutch, and headed out the door, but not before casting a lingering glance at the steamy cover of the book waiting on her sofa.

“And I’ll see you later. Rrrrramone.”

Chapter Two

Nick

Hot. So hot. Stifling, suffocating heat that could only be cured by the warm breeze created by zipping through the shady trees of the greenbelt on a mountain bike.

Nick braced himself as he flew off a short cliff and landed deftly on the other side.

Small group ahead.

“On the left!”

The group glanced behind them and stepped to the right of the path.

“Thanks!”

Beepbeepbeepcame the notification of a call interrupting his fast-paced electronic music.

“Answer,” he commanded the Bluetooth device. “Hello?”