Unleashed by Sara Humphreys

outstretched hand. “I’m your neighbor, Malcolm Drew. I just moved into my family’s summer home and wanted to come over and introduce myself.”
    When he took her hand in his, an electric shock went to the very core of her. Surprised, she instinctively took a step back. He loomed over her, and for the first time in her life she felt very small. “Yes, of course my grandmother mentioned something about that to me earlier today.” She took her hand back from his possessive grip.
    â€œMy family has owned that house for years, but only old Davis has really called it home.”
    Sam detected an accent of some kind, but couldn’t put her finger on what kind it was. She watched him slowly tour the studio. “It’s a shame really, since it’s so beautiful here.”
    He casually walked around her new studio as though he owned the place. He absentmindedly touched the brushes standing up in the various jars on the shelves.
    It was starting to piss Sam off. She didn’t even know this guy, and he was invading her space big time. “Yeah, well it doesn’t feel very beautiful after about eight weeks of digging your car out of snowdrifts and winds that cut through you to the bone.” Sam began unpacking one of the bags she brought in. This guy was making her nervous, and she had to do something other than stare at him.
    â€œYou grew up here then?” He leaned one hip against her drawing table.
    â€œYes, for the most part.” She avoided his gaze. “I went to boarding school for high school though. Nonie felt it was too desolate here in the winter and that a teenage girl might find trouble with nothing but time on her hands.”
    â€œNonie? Is that your grandmother?”
    â€œYeah. She and my grandfather raised me after my parents died.”
    â€œAre these your parents?”
    He picked up the framed black and white photograph from the windowsill and ran one finger along the edge. His hands were visibly strong, and she couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to have him stroke her with those long beautiful fingers. Her face flushed, and she quickly took the photo from him and placed it gently back on the sill. What was wrong with her? She had just met this poor man and was already imagining herself naked with him. Sheesh.
    She cleared her throat and hoped she didn’t look as embarrassed as she felt. “Yes. Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve got a lot of settling in to do here and…”
    â€œOf course,” he said. “I’ll leave you to it.”
    Before leaving, he turned to Sam and took her hand in his. His large brown eyes fixed onto hers, and everything seemed to stop. He towered over her, surrounded her, and zeroed in on her. She was right. His hands were strong, and they melded against hers perfectly. She couldn’t move. What the hell was wrong with her? She had always fancied herself an independent woman, but at the moment she wanted nothing more than to stay locked in this man’s gaze forever.
    Lifting her hand to his mouth, he gently brushed her fingers with his firm, warm lips. “It was lovely to meet you, Samantha,” he murmured, looking at her more thoroughly than anyone ever had in her entire life.
    Their eyes locked, and her stomach did a little somersault. Staring into those spectacular brown eyes, Sam got the oddest sense of déjà vu. If she didn’t know better she’d swear she’d met him before. As if he read her mind, he winked, and a crooked grin played at his lips.
    â€œIt was lovely to meet you too,” she said in a much huskier tone than she intended.
    With a smile and a nod he released her hand and seemed to glide out of the studio. Sam folded her arms in an attempt to still her quaking body. She drew in a deep breath to steady herself, and it dawned on her that he’d called her Samantha. Normally that would be fine, but she had never told him