Dakota Heat (Book 3 - Dakota Hearts) by Lisa Mondello Page B

was trying to hold back being in the room.
    “I’m sorry for forcing you to do this, Kate. I told Sam I’d be fine at the motel. He told me this was Wade’s room and how hard it was for all of you when you lost him. I don’t want to make things more difficult for you.”
    Kate waved her off with a weak smile. “Don’t be silly. There’s no safer place for you to be than fifty feet from that house,” she said, pointing across the driveway. “Sam has a very dangerous job and he won’t be able to do it safely if he worries about the woman he loves.”
    “Oh, I think you…Sam doesn’t…”
    “Love you?” Kate said with a chuckle. “Dear, I know my boys better than they think I do. And I know when one of them is in love. He may not know it yet, but he definitely is. Logan was always madly in love with Poppy. Now he’s happy and planning a wedding that should have taken place years ago. Hawk, well, I saw that one coming long before he did. It was if he and Regis were cut from the same cloth. It’s only a matter of time before the two of them will be announcing wedding plans and I couldn’t be happier. And Sam? I thought I was happy enough to have my son home for the season. But when I see him with you, I know he’s found someone special.”
    Summer started to protest as Kate lifted from her seat.
    “Don’t bother to deny it. I see the way you look at him too. He told you about Wade? Sam never talks about Wade to anyone. Not that I know of anyway. That’s something.”
    “I…don’t know what to say,” Summer said.
    “You don’t have to say anything. You’ll be safe here. Ethan and my husband, Donald, will be right across the driveway in the house every night. And Sam? Well, I know he spent last night with you.”
    Summer’s cheeks flamed.
    Kate chuckled at her reaction. “It’s none of my business. He’s a grown man and you’re a grown woman. And I’m just a mother who wants her boys to be happy. I think you make Sam happy and for that I’m grateful. I think even Wade would approve of giving up this room for you.”
    Summer wanted to cry. “That’s very kind of you.”
    Sam appeared in the doorway with her other suitcase. He looked at both of them. “Everything okay?”
    “What took you so long?” Kate said, winking at Summer.
    “I was talking to Hawk and Logan.”
    “Well, I’m not cooking dinner tonight. Daddy is taking me out for dinner and dancing. Who knows, maybe we’ll find a hotel room and have a little...you know.”
    “I don’t need to hear this, Mom.”
    Kate rolled her eyes. “Boys. Feel free to make use of the kitchen.” She gave Sam a squeeze. “Just don’t blow anything up.”
    “You’re never going to let me forget that, are you?” Sam said as Kate walked out the door, laughing.
    “What’s that all about?”
    “Ian and I did a little experiment in the kitchen when we were about ten years old and…let’s just say it didn’t exactly turn out as planned.”
    “Oh, no.”
    Sam shrugged. “As I recall the fire department did come to the house and there were some kitchen cabinets that needed to be replaced. But that was a long time ago.”
    Summer laughed. “I think I’m going to like it here.”
    She turned to look at Sam and instantly knew that staying here so close to him was going to be a mistake. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked into the gray eyes that gazed down at her. She wanted to be with Sam. She wanted to feel the strength of his embrace again as she had last night when he’d held her. She wanted to feel him against her as he kissed her lips. She wanted him to hold her in an embrace that left only them as the world melted away.
    And she wanted to feel his warm breath on her skin as he made love to her.
    The realization struck her hard. She only hoped that when all of the drama of this crisis was over, she could return home with her heart still intact. Sam McKinnon was a man who loved his job and was always leaving, chasing another