Under Duress by Meghan Carver

Author:Meghan Carver
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2016-08-22T16:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Samantha’s weekend plans had been completely demolished. She could accept that.

But as she lowered the visor against the setting summer sun, it seemed that her very life was speeding by like the businesses and homes at each exit of the interstate that looped around Indianapolis. She would never take Lily for granted again. She would do everything in her power to make a wonderful life for the girl. Family dinners. Vacations. Heart-to-heart girl talks. She would savor every normal moment that came her way.

She snuck a glance at Reid, stoic and absorbed in his own thoughts as he steered his Jeep toward a door Samantha hadn’t thought she’d darken for a while longer. What would normal moments be like with Reid? What if he was a part of making that wonderful life?

She choked on the thought, sputtering and reaching for her raspberry tea.

“You okay?” Reid’s baritone snagged at her. Did he really care? Did this man who had gotten himself kicked out of law school really care about anyone besides himself?

She sipped, letting the cool liquid soothe her ragged throat. “Fine.”

Of course he could. He had protected them so far. She couldn’t deny that. But what about once the bad guys were caught? She would go back to work. Lily would start school soon. And Reid? He would go forward with his plans, whatever they were. And whatever they were, they didn’t include her.

They better not include her. There was no way God would send her another bad boy. No way. If she needed anyone at all, and so far she hadn’t, she wanted it to be a good, safe, reliable man. One who was steady and secure. As far as she could tell, there wasn’t one within a hundred-mile radius.

Reid didn’t have any of those qualities.

Or did he? So far, Reid hadn’t exhibited any similarities to the man he used to be.

“Do I call him Grandpa?”

Lily’s timid question startled Samantha out of her thoughts. She focused on the supercenter as they whizzed past another interstate exit, trying to regain her bearings. Based on the street name at the exit, she figured they had another twenty minutes or so. Plenty of time to worry about showing up on her father’s doorstep with two strangers in tow.

Samantha held her open chocolate bar up to her nose and inhaled deeply of the bitter sweetness. Perhaps just the aroma would get those endorphins flowing and the sensation of relaxation started.

“I guess he’s not legally my grandpa yet, is he? Do I call him Mr. Callahan?”

The girl had a valid question. One that Samantha hadn’t yet considered. “Well, eventually you’ll call him Grandpa. But for right now, why don’t we leave it up to him? Sound okay?”

“Yeah. Is he nice? Will he like me?”

Without taking his eyes off the highway, Reid turned his head slightly toward Samantha. He raised his eyebrows as if he wanted to ask if her father would like him. Anxiety with the weight of an anvil pressed on Samantha’s shoulders, and she slumped in her seat.

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