Theirs To Treasure: Happily Ever After (Fate Harbor Book 1)

by Caitlyn O'Leary

Josie sighed. He didn’t sound angry in the slightest. Just confused. He seemed so nice, and she was a fraud. Such a fraud.

  “You think you’re getting a good thing, Sam.” She shook her head sadly, mad at herself again. Hadn’t her past taught her anything? “Well, I’m not a good thing. And I’ll prove it.”

  Josie looked up at him, seeing the confusion. Who could blame the man? There she’d been, climbing all over him, and now she couldn’t seem to get away from him fast enough.

  “Josie, you’re the best thing that’s happened to me since I’ve hit this town.” His smile was filled with admiration.

  Well, this should take care of it. Josie steadied herself, grabbed the hem of her workout shirt, and yanked it over her head.

  Fuck! I’m a dumbass. What was I thinking?

  She desperately wished she could immediately cover herself and slink away, but that wasn’t what this was about, so she looked up at Sam. She couldn’t read his expression. He seemed baffled, but he also seemed to be stunned. He kept looking down, and then up to her face, and then down her body, and then back up to her face. She couldn’t stand it anymore.

  “Now do you see? This can’t possibly do it for you. This won’t heat up your sheets, so let’s just call it quits now.” She pulled at her shirt so that she could untangle it enough to get it back over her head. Sam grabbed it out of her hands and threw it on top of the car.

  Not in this life!

  She might be small, but that made ducking under him easier. She snatched the shirt off the top of the car and tugged it back on, mortified.

  Did I just do that? I’ve lost my damned mind.

  “Baby, don’t think you’re leaving without me,” he growled. “We need to clear the air, and thank God you put that shirt back on, otherwise I would have lost my mind ogling your beautiful body.”

  What?

  Sam took advantage of her bewilderment to guide her around to the passenger side of the car. He gently helped her into the seat, buckling the seat belt around her.

  “It’s a quick ride over to my house. I’m alone for the next couple of days, so we can get this sorted out.”

  “There’s nothing to sort out,” she said when he climbed behind the wheel and started the car. She’d just wanted to show Sam what her body looked like. No false impressions, nothing hidden. She knew she was overweight, she knew she wasn’t in his league. Just get it out there and move on down the road, she thought. They could be yoga classmates. No more of this kissing business. What the hell was wrong with the Northwest, anyway? She hadn’t even been here a month and she’d already been kissed by the two best-looking men she’d ever met in her life.

  “We’re here.” Josie looked up in amazement. This wasn’t some little house. This looked like a log cabin mansion some influencer on Instagram might gush about. Sam laughed at the expression on her face. “Yeah, that’s what I thought when I saw it the first time. You know I live with Chance, right?”

  This couldn’t be happening. Everything seemed so surreal. Sam and Chance lived together? Sam was bringing her here after she had done everything to chase him away.

  She watched Sam as he parked the car and came around to her side to open the door. When she didn’t move, he crouched down and reached over to unhook the seat belt.

  “Why did you bring me here? What’s the point?”

  “Just give me fifteen minutes. You trust me, don’t you?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I take off my shirt for every man I don’t trust.”

  He barked out a laugh.

  “Seriously, I have to be at the bakery in less than an hour.”

  “You can leave in less than fifteen minutes, I promise.” Sam held his hand out for her, and she took it. She followed him up the stairs to the front door, noting how pretty the sunrise was. When he saw her looking at it, he stopped and put his arm around her shoulder. He nuzzled his chin against the top of her head, “It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” she breathed.

  “And what if I told you that you were gorgeous?”

  Josie couldn’t stop the involuntary jerk, and her head ended up hitting Sam in the chin. Mortified, she heard him chuckle, which made no sense at all. Sam opened the door and pulled her through the foyer to a back hall. Soon she found herself in a bedroom.

  “This is my room. The bathroom is there.” Sam motioned at a door that was ajar. “Why don’t you take a quick shower and I’ll scrounge up a fresh shirt for you to wear? Would you like coffee or hot chocolate for the road?” Josie just stood in the middle of the room, staring up at him.

  “It’s simple, Baby. You’re going to shower, and then it’s a choice of coffee or hot chocolate. That gives us a little more time before you need to get back to your Sweet Dreams Dessert’s apartment.” Josie’s brain moved through molasses. How did he know she lived above the bakery? Oh, hell, she’d just take the damn shower.

  “Sam, if you have some extra sweatpants, that’d be great too,” she called over her shoulder as she headed into the bathroom. When she was done with the shower, she peeked out the door to make sure the coast was clear before exiting in her underwear and wrapped in a towel. The bedroom door was closed and a shirt and sweatpants were laid out on the bed. She quickly donned them, rolling up the waist four times and cuffing the legs so that she wouldn’t trip on them, and headed out of the room and down the hall.

  Sam waited for her in the foyer. He looked her up and down and gave a slow smile. “You look good in my clothes.”

  “You’re full of it, buster.” Josie couldn’t believe how ridiculously flirtatious this man was. Her insides warmed at what he said, as if her body believed the words her mind could not accept.

  Shaking his head, Sam led her to the kitchen. “Since you didn’t tell me if you wanted hot chocolate or coffee, I made both. I also cut up some fruit. My doctors have been telling me I have to eat healthier.”

  Josie looked at the selection on the island, as well as the two place settings, then back at Sam. “I want the hot chocolate.” She sat down at the stool and scooped up some melons and berries, while Sam poured the chocolate into both her mug and his. Then he sat beside her and put fruit on his plate as well.

  “Aren’t you going to ask me about my doctors?” he asked.

  “I was actually going to ask you how you knew Chance. I figured if you wanted to tell me more about the doctors, you’d tell me.” Josie looked over at Sam, and for the first time really studied the scar above his eyebrow. Most of the time his hair covered it, but this morning, he must have really worked up a sweat from his run and pushed his hair back because she could see that the scar extended from right above his eyebrow into his scalp.

  “Yep,” he pointed to the scar. “A head injury in Afghanistan. The doctors say I’m recovering nicely, whatever the hell that means. But it’s been almost a year.”

  “Is that it? Is a head injury’s all that’s wrong, or did you end up with more issues?” Josie probed.

  Sam looked at her shrewdly. “Now, Baby, what made you think to ask that? Did you serve?”

  Josie looked down at her plate of food and cursed herself for asking the question. She knew better than that, it was just that she was concerned. She could see the pain in Sam’s eyes, and it went deeper than just a physical wound. God, could she relate to that. Just because they treated you for the injury, it didn’t mean that the deeper pain was addressed.

  “Josie, I asked you a question,” Sam said again sharply. Josie’s head shot up immediately at the authority in his voice.

  “No, I never served.”

  “Then why did you ask if I had more issues than my injury? How did you know to ask that?” Again, his voice reeked with command, and Josie responded to it.

  “I was badly injured once, and the fallout was bad. I ended up with nightmares and panic attacks. It took me a long time before I could function normally again.” Sam set down his fork and turned on his stool so that he was facing her. Josie turned to look at her foo
d.

  “That’s quite a reaction to an injury. How were you injured?”

  “It was a long time ago.”

  “Turn around and look at me.” Josie immediately turned in her stool and gasped in pain at the sudden movement. Sam clasped his big hands at her waist, bracing her while turning her around the rest of the way so that she was facing him. “Would it help to be sitting in a chair with a back?”

  “I’m alright if I don’t make sudden moves,” Josie responded, very conscious of his warm hands holding her.

  “Josie, could you please start answering the questions I ask you.” Looking up at Sam, she saw that he looked frustrated, almost angry. She replayed the last two minutes in her head, and realized she’d deliberately not answered one question, and then unconsciously not answered another, and it seemed to frustrate him. Okay, piss him off.

  “Yes, it’s easier for me if I sit in a chair with a back.”

  “Soft or hard backed?” He clipped out the question.

  “Right now, a soft-backed chair.” Before Josie had a chance to finish her answer, Sam slid off his stool, lifted her up, strode into the family room, and placed her onto a sofa. He waited while she eased herself against the back of the sofa until she was in a comfortable position, then he sat down beside her. He looked at her and re-asked his question.

  “How were you injured?” This time he asked the question gently, and Josie had no defense.

  “My mom shoved me down the stairs.”

  Sam reached out and grasped her hand. “How old were you, Baby?”

  “I was thirteen.” As Sam swooped in to take her into his arms, she brought her hands up to push him away. “Stop. I just can’t do this right now. What time is it?” She watched as he tried to understand her question. When he did, he glanced at his watch.

  “It’s almost five-forty-five.”

  “I’ve got to leave. Elise doesn’t have a key to the bakery. I need to be there to open. I just can’t do this now.” Josie saw how conflicted he was.

  Sam really was a kind man. She could see he wasn’t just trying to satisfy some morbid curiosity. He really cared about what had happened to her and wanted to offer comfort. But she couldn’t handle it. She never talked about this anymore. She’d done her time on a shrink’s couch, and now the past was the past. She had a new life, focused on the future.

  But when he tenderly cupped her cheek, she wanted to melt into his touch.

  “I’ll take you home, but don’t think we’re done.” Josie saw the promise in his eyes. It scared her, but maybe she had a way to dissuade him.

  “If you really want to talk about my past, then you must lay your cards on the table, too. I want to know about your injury. I want to know everything. Then you’ll have earned the right to hear my story.” She wasn’t surprised to see the warmth in his eyes shut down as he crawled back into his own protective shell.

  Josie began the process of easing up from the couch, damning her time seated at the barstool. Her back was killing her. Once she got to the apartment, she needed to get into a corset and take a pain pill before going to work. She might even need two pain pills, and she hated the fuzzy effect they had on her. Elise would have to work the cash register this morning.

  Before she could get to her feet, Sam had once again lifted her into his arms. “Put me down, you big oaf. I’m too heavy for you to lift.” She looked up into his face, and he just arched a brow. “Seriously, Sam. Obviously you’re injured, and carrying me around can’t be good for you.”

  “I have a head injury. There is nothing wrong with my back or legs. Anyway, I’ve had to carry more weight than you through the desert, so this is easy.”

  Josie had to admit it felt wonderful to be in his embrace, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He took her to her car, and once again settled her into the passenger seat and hooked her seat belt. She smiled to herself. This seatbelt thing was extreme. What was worse was that she liked it.

  “You can’t mean to drive me into town. How are you going to get back to your house?”

  “I’ll jog back. You interrupted my morning exercise. Driving would hurt your back, wouldn’t it?” He looked at her, and she slowly nodded. He seemed satisfied that she’d answered honestly and started the car. They drove in silence to the bakery.

  “Stay put, I’ll help you out of the car.” Josie waited, grateful to have him help her out of the passenger seat. Just in the short ride, she’d stiffened up. Josie held out her hand for her stuff from the trunk, and once again just received that arched eyebrow, and she realized he would be walking with her to her apartment like a pack mule. At least he wasn’t carrying her up the stairs. God knew what the people of Fate Harbor would have to say about that.

  “I should have realized that the barstool was a bad idea,” Sam said as he easily navigated the apartment key and opened the door for her. He ushered her in and followed, gazing around the small apartment. Josie held her breath, waiting to see what he would think of her little home. “I like this, Josie, it fits you. I like all the color. The blues and greens and pops of red seem to suit you.”

  “Thanks, it makes me happy. I have to go get changed.” She started toward the bedroom, slowly and stiffly, when Sam stopped her.

  “Do you need help?” She looked down at the big and gentle hand softly gripping her upper arm.

  “Believe it or not, Sam Booth, I’ve been dressing myself for almost thirty years now, I think I’ve got the hang of it.” Looking up into his concerned face, Josie was glad that she’d said the words without heat, because she could see nothing but warmth and kindness.

  “I’m not talking about the clothes, I mean your brace. You wear a brace, don’t you?”

  Heat suffused her face, neck, and chest. Talking to this gorgeous man who made her think of silk sheets and hot sex about the clunky back brace that she wore when she was in real pain was the last thing she wanted to do.

  But maybe this was the perfect thing to do. It was what she’d been trying to make clear when she’d taken off her T-shirt to show him her less than stellar body. Once again, he looked at her like he wanted her, and that was the stuff of dreams. Let him get one good look at the goods, and he’ll be running fast in the other direction, she thought. Besides being overweight, she had scars and an orthopedic back brace. She was as far from sexy as it got.

  “You’re right, I really could use some help.”

  “Do you need to take something for the pain first?” Sam maneuvered her to the couch and helped to ease her into the perfect reclining position against the cushions. He must have noticed how she sat on the sofa at his house. Josie breathed out a sigh of relief.

  “The pills are in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom.” Josie closed her eyes and was surprised when she felt a hand touching her shoulder. Sam handed her a glass of water and held up two bottles, one containing muscle relaxers, the other containing pain pills. He was reading the labels.

  “One muscle relaxer, and two pain pills please.” Josie held out her hand. Sam gave her a hard look.

  “Are you planning on driving in the next six hours?”

  “Nope. Just working.”

  “You should be resting,” he admonished.

  “Sam, I’ve been dealing with this for eighteen years. I know my body, I know my limits, and I know what I’m capable of. Please give me my medicine. Then if you really want to be a help, you can help me into my back brace.” Josie didn’t say that the biggest help would be for him to finally stop coming on to her, so she wouldn’t be tempted anymore by this handsome man, thinking he wanted her. Sam handed her the pills, and she took them and drank the entire glass of water. Once again, as she started to get off the couch, Sam was there to help her up.

  “I’m going into my bedroom to get a change of underwear. As soon as I’m done, I’ll call you in.”

  Sam watched Josie walk stiffly through the bedroom door and close it. He really hated to see her in so much pain. It was his fault since he’d her sit at the ki
tchen island on the barstool. He was familiar enough with different kinds of injuries, and he’d known from yoga class she had a back injury.

  I’m a selfish asshole. If I hadn’t been thinking with my dick, I would’ve been paying attention to her needs.

  She taken some powerful meds. He was amazed that she was going to be able to function at work, which indicated that she’d been dealing with the injury and pain for a long time. The yoga, her precise posture, and the brace, must all be very important parts of her pain management program. Perhaps she needed surgery. He could have her recuperate at the house. Chance and I could take care of her…

  Sam caught himself. Where the hell had that thought come from? He barely knew Josie, and now he was thinking about taking care of her for six to eight weeks after she had surgery? And he was throwing Chance into the mix? God, there was something about this woman. He couldn’t figure it out.

  “Sam, are you sure you want to help?”

  Sam shook his head, breaking free of his wayward thoughts. Josie peeked her head out of the bedroom door. He pushed open the door the rest of the way and stopped short. She was breathtaking, with curves in all the right places, and that butt encased in sky-blue, lacy, boy-short panties, with a lacy bra to match. Her stomach was rounded, and her hips were a wide work of art. Sam had never liked skinny women. Instead, he liked full-bodied figures on women, women who looked like he could sink his fingers into their flesh while making love to them for the entire night.

  Josie must have seen the lust on his face, because she frowned. “Quit it, Sam. You haven’t seen the bad part yet.”

  She turned around and he sucked in a deep breath as he saw the pink scars bisecting her back, marring her beautiful skin. Obviously, she’d had multiple surgeries, because he could see newer surgical scars on top of older scars. She turned back around. “Now, can we just cut the crap and get to the part where we’ll be friends? No more flirting and certainly no more kissing?”

  She held out the bulky brace to him, and he stepped forward as if in a trance. Her eyes were slightly dilated from the medication, but there was nothing wrong with her speech or the fire in her expression as she tilted up her chin and glared at him.