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The similar warm dynamic between this family and Dex’s own wasn’t lost on him.
Ian strode over to his mother and put an arm around her waist. “Something tells me Samantha is in good hands and we can go home soon.”
He glanced at Dex with a surprising approving look, his gaze friendlier than any time since Dex had whisked his sister off to the Bahamas. Or was it vice versa?
“Is that your approval I’m finally getting?” Dex asked.
“Speaking of your approval, Ian, we don’t need it. We didn’t need it all those years ago, either,” Samantha said in a chiding voice.
“What’s going on?” Emma asked, looking between her two children.
Riley put an arm on her mother-in-law’s shoulder. “Ian was being Ian. Come outside and I’ll explain.”
Arm in arm, the women strode out the door.
Dex glanced at Samantha, who attempted to cross her arms over her chest, then realized the pain was too much and winced.
“Watch it, sweetheart,” Dex said, hating to see her in any more pain than necessary with recovery. “You can glare at Ian all you want but no sudden movements.”
Ian raised a cocky eyebrow. “Seriously? You two think if you’d gotten together when she was young and you were so involved in football it would have lasted? I did you a favor.” His voice was as smug as his expression. “Besides, second chance romances are hot these days. Or so Riley says from reading romance novels,” he muttered, his cheeks flushing in embarrassment over what he’d just said.
Samantha laughed as did Dex.
“I gotta tell you, that was worth its weight in gold,” Dex told his friend. Because despite the banter and warnings, they were friends.
Soon to be family, if Dex had his way.
“Ian, you know I love you, right? And I turn to you when I need help. But you’ve got to let me live my life,” Samantha said.
Her brother let out a grumbling noise. “I’m still keeping an eye on him.” He pointed to Dex.
She opened her mouth to argue but he interrupted. “Sounds fair since I’d do the same with my sister.” He winked at Samantha, who despite being weak, worn out, and recovering, was still beautiful to him. “He’s given us his approval, sweetheart. Take it as a win.”
“Not that we need it,” they said at the same time and burst out laughing.
Ian rolled his eyes. “You’re lucky I love you, Sammy Bean. I’m going to find my wife.”
“Sammy Bean?” Dex turned to the woman he loved and who he’d all but decided had one nickname.
Beautiful. That’s what he called her and how he thought of her.
Mine, came next.
Her cheeks were bright red. “Come over here and kiss me,” she said, clearly wanting to change the subject.
Good thing he was on board.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Samantha had been home for three days… at Dex’s home, she amended. He’d been insistent she come to his apartment so he could take care of her in a place where she had no memories of Jeremy. Put like that, how could she refuse? She had no desire to return to the unit she’d shared with her ex. And she wanted to be with Dex.
She lay beneath a blanket on the sofa in the living room, frustrated by her inability to move without pain. She still needed to take the narcotics they’d sent her home with from the hospital and warned her she might need them for a short while. Not to overdo it. She was grateful to have Dex taking care of her but over being immobile and in pain when she moved.
After she’d settled in with Dex, her mother, Ian, and Riley had gone home but not until they’d brought over a suitcase of her comfiest clothes, and courtesy of the women, her toiletries. The rest of her siblings had been FaceTiming her nonstop and with so many of them, she’d had to limit how long she could talk to each between naps. Even Dex’s siblings, his father, and girlfriend, Lizzie, had stopped by for short visits, which she appreciated, as it gave her time to get to know them better.
The doorbell rang and she remained where she was.
“I’ve got it,” Dex called out and walked out from the office where he’d been on a long business call. They hadn’t discussed his situation with the network since their last conversation and she didn’t know what he planned to do, but he’d been tied up on the phone for a while.
