Summer Love by Rashelle Workman Read Free Book Online Page B

Forehead
    Ten
     
     
    Simone allowed herself to crumple into a ball on the floor. The pain in her back flared to life, but she didn’t move. Not even when she heard her mom and sisters walk into the house. They came through the door in the kitchen. The edge of the door smacked into her foot. 
    “What the hell?” Sara yelled.
    “Simone. Simone.” Her mom rolled her onto her back.
    “What did you do to my sister?” Liv asked, stepping over her mom and Simone.
    “Nothing,” Sam replied. “Can you take the baby? I need to go to her.”
    “Damn straight,” Liv said.
    Simone’s heart began to beat loudly. She couldn’t hear anything else. Every movement happened in slow motion. She began defining time by the beats of her heart.
    Beat one. Sam’s boots came into view.
    Beat two. Her mom and sisters moved out of the way.
    Beat three. Sam picked her up and cuddled her in his arms.
    Beat four. She opened her eyes to Sam’s worried eyes staring down at her.
    Beat five. He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
    Beat six. “Hang on, love,” Sam whispered softly. “I’m going to get you some help.”
    Beat seven. Simone closed her eyes.
    Beat eight. Everything went dark.
     
    ***
     
    When Simone came to she was startled by an extra bright light. She opened her eyes and immediately knew she wasn’t at home. The room was bathed in sunlight. The walls were painted a frosted blue. Navy curtains hung at the three different windows. Sam sat on a cushioned window seat and was gazing out a large bay window.
    It was difficult not to suck in a breath at how handsome he was. His dark hair went past the collar of his gray pinstriped suit. The muscles on his arms and back strained against the jacket, making them more pronounced. He was turned so she could see his angled profile, the length of his lashes that curled slightly at the ends, and his soft lips. Her belly fluttered with wispy butterflies.
    “Where am I?” she asked when he turned to her.
    He stared a moment as though he were coming back from a long trip. “This is a bedroom in my house.”
    Simone sat up quickly, too quickly, and felt immediately woozy. The soft plaid comforter fell to her waist, revealing a white nightgown. She pulled the comforter over her chest. “How the hell?” That wasn’t where she wanted to begin. “Why?” she finally asked. “I told you no. What about Sabrina?” Didn’t he understand she couldn’t be away from her? She didn’t know how much time she had left. Six months. Two years. But she knew she didn’t want to waste time away from her daughter.
    Sam stood, came over to the bed, and sat. His hand reached out to touch Simone’s knee. Even through the covers her body responded to him.
    “Sabrina is here. She’s sleeping in another room.” He indicated a monitor on the nightstand.
    “How long have I been out?”
    “Almost twenty-four hours. I had a doctor come to your house and verify you were okay. He explained you were probably just exhausted so we let you sleep.
    “Your mom helped me pack a few things for you and Sabrina. I had a driver take us to the airport. Sabrina, you and I flew on my jet from a little airstrip near Bandon to Dallas.”
    While he talked Simone’s mind reeled. How had she slept through all of that? She didn’t remember any of it. And what about Sabrina? Who’d fed her? Changed her? Took care of her?
    Sam continued, “When we arrived here, I carried you to this room.”
    “And Sabrina?” she asked. “When’s the last time she ate? What about changing her? What about naptime and playtime and— ”
    Sam squeezed her knee. “I handled it. Sabrina is easy to take care of. She cries when she wants something. There are only so many things she could need.” He shrugged. “I figured it out.” Then he smiled. It was a sad smile. “Her mother, on the other hand, is a bit more difficult to figure out.”
    Simone sighed and leaned back. “I’m not difficult. I told you what I wanted. Coming here