“It’ll get better,” she said. “That’s really good for a first class, considering his history.”
“I went to Sunset Manor. They all send their well wishes.”
“You did?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?” he asked, not sure how he felt about her incredulity.
“I just didn’t think you’d go without me.”
“You jealous, sunshine?” he asked with a smile. “Afraid you’re going to lose me to one of those cougars if you’re not around to keep an eye on things?”
“You can’t lose something you don’t have, Sam,” she said, her voice quiet, and the rejoinder wiped the smile from Sam’s face. Her words bothered him more than they should have. And the knowledge that he was bothered irritated him.
Long after their phone conversation had ended, he found himself still mulling over his reaction to her words.
Was he losing focus on what was important in his life? He knew that he should be more concerned about finding Lally, but, despite the threat to his company’s reputation, he had no interest in getting personally involved with the situation. He was content to let Colby and Chambers solve the problem. He didn’t recognize himself anymore. After his disturbing conversation with Colby, he’d put on his running gear and headed straight for the animal shelter to see Trevor. And then he’d spent the remainder of the morning faffing around with the seniors.
His negligence had been amplified by the fact that he’d come directly back to the cabin and called Lia. And now he was more bothered about some throwaway remark she had made than he had been about Lally’s disappearance.
What the hell was happening to him? He had to end his fling with Lia. It was fucking with his mind. The next time he saw her, he would tell her it was over. It would be best for both of them.
Lia quietly let herself into Mason’s cabin the following morning. A quick glance around confirmed that Sam wasn’t there, and she knew he was probably out on his morning run. She got the coffee going and then sat down at the kitchen table with her palms wrapped round a steaming mug of coffee.
She had done a lot of thinking since her phone call with Daisy the previous morning and knew exactly what she had to do. It would take more bravery than Lia thought she possessed, but it had to be done.
The back door swung inward, and a sweaty, panting Sam stumbled into the kitchen. His face lit up for a second when he spotted her before it uncharacteristically went blank. It was so unusual for him to switch off like that around her that Lia was taken aback for an instant.
“Hey,” he greeted, lifting the hem of his loose T-shirt to wipe his dripping forehead. Lia tried not to react to the sight of his flat, ridged abdomen. Best not to let desire get in the way of what she had to say.
“Hey.”
“Shouldn’t you be in bed?” he asked, his voice carefully neutral.
“I feel much better. Just the occasional coughing fit and this voice.” She expected him to come back with something racy about her newly husky voice, but he said nothing, going to the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water instead. He twisted the cap off and drank thirstily before refocusing his attention on her.
“You don’t have to cook my breakfast or anything, I’ll grab an energy bar.”
Why was he being so . . . awkward? Lia knew why she was here, he didn’t. She had expected to find the teasing, friendly, incorrigible Sam Brand that she knew. Instead there was this cold, unapproachable, slightly intimidating man in his place. And she wasn’t sure how to react to the change.
It doesn’t change what you’ve come here to say, she told her herself sternly, strengthening her resolve.
“Sam, we have to talk,” she said, and he nodded. He didn’t look surprised. He didn’t look anything. It was unnerving. “Uh, there’s fresh coffee in the pot if you want some.”
“I’m good,” he said. He dragged a chair out from beneath the table and turned it around to straddle it. He put his water on the table and folded his hands over the top of the chair and focused all his attention on her. “What did you want to talk about?”
“Well, I . . .” She sucked in a breath.
Be brave, Dahlia.
“I’ve messed up,” she confessed. His eyes remained steady on hers, and she swallowed. “Sam, I’ve fallen in love with you.”
No reaction.
“I’m not telling you this because I want anything from you. I’m telling you because I wanted you to know the reason I’m ending our fling. I’ve complicated things. And this thing between us can’t continue. It would . . . it would hurt. M-more. It would hurt more. So it’s over, and I’m sorry.”
Still no reaction. Lia wasn’t sure what she’d expected from him, but this absolute lack of emotion wasn’t it at all. She bit the inside of her cheek hard enough to taste blood and felt the sting of tears at the back of her eyes. She blinked rapidly, not wanting to add to her humiliation by crying.