Simply the Best Read Online Free

strolled across the lawn to the picnic table. “We never decided what time to leave.” He sat beside her. “Who is this lovely woman wanting to know if I’ve got family?”
    “I’m Bethany.” Her friend giggled and twisted her fingers. “Sorry. It was rude of me to ask.”
    “She’s my best friend.” Emma hesitated before slipping her hand into his. “How’d you find me? Sixth sense or are you spying on me?”
    Sam kissed her knuckles. “I went inside and asked your pal upstairs. Once he picked his jaw off the floor and swallowed his anger, he suggested I stop harassing you. Rose, I believe, intervened and told me to check outside. She’s been to the station a time or two to pick up the books we collected for the Christmas book drive.”
    “Report him,” Bethany interjected. “That’s crap.”
    “Rose noticed.” God. Go figure the woman in charge of hiring and firing everyone at the library would notice she fraternized with a patron for a bit too long. “Well, she’ll say something to him.” Then ream her out, too.
    “To answer your question, Bethany, I’m an only child. They broke the mold when they made me.” He smiled. “If I did have one, I’d introduce him to you.”
    “I’m going to sign in before I faint.” Bethany collected her things then winked at Emma. “I’ll run interference with Trevor. He needed the wake-up call anyway. Enjoy the rest of your break. Bye, Sam.”
    Emma waited until her friend walked out of earshot before she spoke. “She’s my best friend and loyal to boot, but she’s…Bethany.”
    “She’s lucky to have you as a friend.”
    “You’d better stop being so sweet. You don’t have to win me over. It worked.”
    Sam smiled and then trailed his fingers over her cheek. “You deserve to be treated well. I’m following my instincts.”
    “I see.” She stared at her hands. “The race starts at seven but the pits open at four.” She glanced at her watch. “Like fifteen minutes from now. Blaine will grab pit passes and a parking tag for us if I call him. It’s easier to get out afterwards if you park with the car hauler.”
    “You get off when? Five?”
    “Six.”
    “Then I’ll meet you here at six. Supper is on me.”
    “Sam.” She didn’t mind his graciousness, but she hated to sound so needy. “I can pay for dinner.”
    “Honey, I treat my lady well.”
    His lady. She rubbed her forehead. The headache from the morning started behind her eyes. Guys weren’t good. They were nice until they wanted something, and then the real man showed up. She wanted to believe in Sam’s integrity. Needed to. Except the fear and the past prevented her from doing so. “When’s the other shoe going to drop? When am I going to find out you’re a psycho killer on the side or a stalker or something?”
    “Emma.”
    “Come on. Guys aren’t this nice or this…everything you seem to be.” She disengaged from him and stood, putting distance between them. “I’m scared.”
    “You have nothing to worry about.” He swung his legs around the picnic table seat and faced her but didn’t get up. “I came on strong because I know what I want. I tend to have a one-track mind when I aim for something or in this case, someone. I’m yours all week and once I go back to work, we’ll figure something out. I’m not going to screw this up, even if I’m going balls to the wall.”
    She grasped her wrist, hiding the scars. “You’re going to break my heart.”
    “Not if I can help it.” Sam held out his hand. “I might not be the best man for you, but I’ll be the best man I can be and take care of you the only way I know how.”
    Footsteps crunched on the leaves behind her. “Emma?” she cringed. Trevor. When she turned around, he stood with his hands on his hips. “I told you. No visitors.”
    She’d had enough. “Oh for the love of Pete. Your mother has lunch with you every Tuesday. No one cares as long as nothing hinky is going on.” Good God. She and Sam