Catching Sam: Book 2 of 5: The MacDonald Brothers by Emily Matthews (best mystery novels of all time TXT) 📗

“Jesus. Fine. Her name’s Annie,” Sam relented.

“Annie, as in Sherry’s cousin?” Jake panicked. “Yikes. Sherry isn’t still looking for me, is she?”

Sam rolled his eyes. Leave it to Jake. “No, dumbass. Whatever lie you told her is probably safe. Annie moved into her own place, and I don’t think she talks to Sherry much.”

Relieved, Jake pulled the ball out of his pocket and bounced it on the ground once, preparing to serve. “So, wait.” He paused again. “Annie fits into the Rules?”

“Not exactly,” Sam hemmed.

“She obviously doesn’t live a hundred miles away. Did she sign a waiver?”

“She lives about a half a mile away from me, and no.”

Jake looked concerned. “Well, at least she doesn’t work for your company, and I assume she’s rich?”

“Wrong and wrong.”

“You’re breaking all three rules?”

Sam’s silence was his answer. Jake’s reaction was identical to Phil’s.

“Close your mouth, dude,” said Sam. “She’s different, Jake. I don’t know her that well yet, but there’s something about her. Something that intrigues me and makes me want to get to know her, you know?” he asked thoughtfully. “She’s not like all the pretentious, physically perfect women I’ve been dating. I’m even pretty sure her boobs are real.” He smiled, trying to ease the tension.

Jake chuckled and bounced the ball a few times, thinking.

“You know what?” he finally said. “You are a grown-ass man. You make huge, important decisions every day, a lot of times based solely on what your gut tells you.” Bounce. Bounce. “This is no different. If you want to pursue her, you should. Don’t second-guess yourself or worry about our stupid, made-up rules.” Bounce. Bounce. “I want you to be happy, bro, so, whatever you decide…I’ll support you.” Bounce. Bounce. “Close your mouth, dude,” he said, mimicking Sam’s voice.

Sam didn’t realize how meaningful Jake’s validation would be until he’d given it. “My little boy…all growed up.” He pretended to choke up and wiped a fake tear from his eye.

“Fuck you, man. Are we gonna play or gossip like a couple of teenage girls?” Jake threw Sam’s question back at him.

“Let’s play. Seriously though, thanks.” Sam slapped him on the back.

Driving home, Sam replayed the night over and over in his mind. Their sexual chemistry was off the charts. He’d never felt anything like it. He spent the night hoping they’d make love again, but she’d crashed hard and was sleeping so soundly, he’d have felt guilty trying to wake her. She hadn’t been kidding about the snoring either. He chuckled to himself.

In the morning, wanting to keep quiet, he avoided the master bath. In his search for another bathroom, he’d found a locked door, which he thought odd since she lived alone. Who was she locking out? And why?

And what was up with the watch thing? Asking her whether she was going to take hers off was a test of sorts. He just wanted to see if she would. The way she would grab and hold it sometimes made him think maybe someone special had given it to her. What if her ex-husband had given it to her? Did she still have feelings for him?

“Stop,” he said out loud. He was overanalyzing and assuming things, and that wasn’t fair to Annie. Yes, she had secrets—everyone had secrets. He would get to know hers and then go from there. He wouldn’t make excuses for her and would keep his eyes wide open, but unless she gave him a reason not to trust her, he would give her the benefit of the doubt. Or at least try.

He would handle this like the business decisions he made. Get the facts, be open to input and new ideas, but in the end, trust his gut. It hadn’t let him down yet.

Right now, his gut was telling him he needed food. Pronto. He texted Annie.

Coffee and doughnuts? I can bring it in twenty.

Hell, yeah, she replied almost immediately. Croissant instead of doughnut?

He sent back a thumbs-up emoji and made a U-turn to head back to his favorite bakery. As he walked in the door, she texted again. And please don’t fly to France for the croissant. Local is fine. It was followed by five laughy-face emojis, and he could picture her snort-laughing as she typed. That made him smile.

***

When she woke the second time, she put on some pajamas, wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and entered the bedroom next door, using the key above the door frame to open it. Curling up in the plush rocking chair, she wrapped the blanket securely around her. She sat in the near dark, surrounded by boxes. And a crib.

Sam had left a note saying he’d gone to play racquetball with his brother. She needed some time to gather her thoughts and was relieved she didn’t have to face him yet. Everything seemed to be moving so quickly.

She still couldn’t believe he was in her life at all, much less that he seemed to want to get to know her. Three years ago, never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined that any of her current life would be possible.

She had been in such a horrible place then, with her job and her husband. She was friendly but had no real friends. No one to go to coffee with or confide in. She’d essentially cut ties with her family, so it was always just her and Wayne.

Wayne had been her world for the time they were together. She met him during her senior year of college at a coffee shop on campus and was amazed that he gave her the time of day. He was handsome and smart and, like her, quiet and reserved. At least at first. They dated for only six months before tying the knot.

As soon as the rings were on, he’d changed.

He’d became more demanding and critical of her. It was subtle at first, but by the time their first anniversary rolled around, she was already looking for a