One Night Stand Read Free Page B

pressed forward until they were nose to nose. “I want to know where my sister is, and I want to know right now.”
    Not cowed in the least, Sam smiled at him. “If she wanted you to know where she was, she would have told you. You think I’d betray her trust?” She blinked teasingly.
    Caleb sneered. “I think you’d betray your own grandmother if it suited your purpose.”
    Ouch.
    Sam felt the sting as if he’d slapped her. “Fuck you, Caleb,” she said as she shoved past him, “and the horse you rode in on.”
    *
    I’m such an ass .
    Caleb watched Samantha stalk away. He hadn’t meant what he’d said. Hell, he didn’t mean most of what he said when he talked to her, but he wouldn’t apologize for it either. That woman pushed his buttons something fierce, and she knew it. So, no. He wouldn’t apologize. Not to Samantha. His sister had taken off to parts unknown, and he wanted to know why. If it had anything to do with that idiot she’d been dating, well, then he and the boys were about to have a little fun. He was responsible for her. For all of them. He wouldn’t let them down again.
    Their parents had been killed twelve years ago, leaving a deployed Caleb in charge of his three grieving siblings. Amanda had been the worst. He’d returned home to find her livid at him for being away, unwilling to even give him the time of day. Not one word.
    For a whole year.
    He’d struggled to regain her trust, and he wasn’t about to let her pull away again. Period. He was the head of this family and if there was something going on, he should know about it. And he definitely knew there was something going on. Just as he knew Samantha was at the heart of it. Another one of her harebrained ideas, no doubt.
    He, Brandon, and Alec had all been calling Amanda’s cell for the last three days. Oh, she’d called back all right. She left a voice mail on the receptionist’s phone over the weekend when she knew no one would be there to answer. Said some shit about getting away and that she’d be okay. Caleb knew he was overreacting, but he somehow couldn’t stop himself. Good God, I’m a controlling bastard, aren’t I?
    “Well played, brother.” Caleb glanced up to see Alec, the younger of his two brothers, leaning in the doorway.
    “Shut up.” Caleb pushed past him into the hallway. He ignored a scowling Caroline as he walked by and continued down the hallway to the elevators that would take him to his own office. Alec fell into step beside him.
    “You knew we were tracking her. Why did you even bother going to Sam?” Alec asked.
    “Thought it would be faster.” Caleb hit the elevator button.
    “Right. Faster.” Alec spit out a laugh. “How’d that work out?”
    “Swimmingly.”
    Alec snorted. “You two have been dancing around each other for years. When are you gonna admit you’ve got a thing for her?”
    Caleb punched the button for the elevator again. “You’re out of your fucking mind if you believe the bullshit you’re spewing. That woman is a menace. I haven’t known a moment’s peace since she and Amanda became friends. Don’t think I don’t remember who’s responsible for that.” Caleb glared at a guilty Alec.
    “Hey now.” Alec raised his hands in defense. “I like Sam. She’s been good for Amanda and you know it.”
    Caleb pinched the bridge of his nose, biting off his retort. Whether he liked it or not, Samantha had been the only one to get through to Amanda after their parents died. Which was the whole reason he tolerated her in the first place.
    “You realize Amanda will have our balls on a platter when she finds out we tracked her.” Alec leaned against the wall next to him. “I, for one, like my balls right where they are.”
    “As long as she’s safe, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass how mad she gets.” Another punch of the button. Where the hell was the elevator? “Wait, tracked her? As in no longer tracking? You know where she went?”
    Alec drew out a sigh. “Of