"Bitch!"
Claire lunged at Samantha, but Dave yanked her back by the collar with one hand.
"I have never hit a woman." His eyes darkened, voice low and dangerous. "But I can start with you if you touch my wife. The love of my life. I will smash your teeth out."
He shoved her away like a rag doll.
Samantha blinked.
Dave looked terrifying… and, annoyingly, sexy at the same time.
He was in a white T-shirt. Blue jeans. White Nike sneakers. A three-day stubble on his face made him look rough, dangerous — and this was not the time to be thinking about how sexy her husband was.
She shut down her thoughts and focused on the problem at hand. CLAIRE HAD DRUGGED Dave!
"Dave, you have always known me," Claire cried, clutching her chest. "We have always been perfect together."
She pointed at Samantha, eyes blazing.
"She's only with you because of her father's deal! She doesn't love you. She can't understand you as I do!"
"Shut up and leave!" Dave snapped. "I only brought you here to tell the fucking truth."
He stepped closer, lowering himself to her level. "I don't care about anything else. I won't even press charges. Leave…, or I'll drag you out!"
"Drag me?" Claire let out a sharp laugh.
She got to her feet, brushing herself off with slow, deliberate arrogance.
"I am Claire Summerland. Daughter of Cher Pattison—heiress to Candyland, second only to Disney. Daughter of George Summerland, CEO of PanMobile, Pantech Worldwide, and CherryFood…"
She stepped closer, chin raised.
"...and Owner of Aire Music and Co."
Her gaze turned icy.
"So tell me, Dave, are you trying to drag me out… or the woman whose only claim to fame is her father's struggling company? The one who had to marry into your family to save it?"
"Shut up!" Dave's voice cracked with anger.
"I asked you a question." Claire tilted her head. "Are you talking to me… or that leech?"
"If I repeat myself again. You will regret it, Claire!"
Claire smiled slowly, then turned to Samantha.
"Hey, what do you think happens to your father's company if I get angry?" she said softly. "Or if Dave here makes me angry by… dragging me out?"
Samantha looked at Claire's cold gaze and knew the Sutherland heiress wasn't above destroying their lives. She wasn't bluffing.
She stepped forward quickly, pulling Dave behind her.
"Get behind me, before you do something you are going to regret."
Dave blinked, surprised. "So, you care about me."
"Who cares about that now?" she snapped. "She can destroy you!"
"I don't care," he said simply. "I'm just happy you forgave me."
Samantha turned sharply.
"Who said I forgive you? You still kissed her!"
Dave swallowed. Then his eyes lit up.
"I can wash my mouth with bleach to get her stain!"
"YOU ASSHOLE!" Claire screamed. "How dare you!"
Dave didn't even look at her. His gaze stayed on Samantha.
"I promised that we'd make this work," he said softly. "And I failed you."
Samantha's gaze dropped briefly on his lip. She understood what he was saying, but she was also… distracted.
"Mia?"
"Huh?" She blinked. "What?"
"I said this is my fault," he repeated. "Not Claire's. I'm the one who hurt you."
Carefully, he placed a hand on her waist and pulled her closer. "Tell me that you forgave me."
She hesitated. Then nodded.
His smile softened. He laughed loudly. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly.
His smell and heat filled her senses, and she felt warm and safe in his embrace. His strong arms tightened around her. She melted into him.
"Stop hugging him! Stop freaking touching him!" Claire shrieked, stomping in place like a child.
Snap! Snap!
Samantha and Dave pulled apart. Then turned around to see Nat and Cat giggling like schoolgirls as they snapped pictures.
"I told you!" Cat grinned. "He's in love with Samantha!"
"They look so good together!" Nat added.
"Sammy, what were you saying about your husband earlier?" Cat teased mischievously.
"Guys, stop it." Samantha buried her face in Dave's chest, embarrassed.
Dave smirked slightly.
"I am curious. What have you been saying about me?"
Nat and Cat exchanged a quick, nervous glance and looked back at Dave, and smiled awkwardly. They shook their heads.
"Nothing!" they squealed in unison.
Samantha pressed closer into him. Dave hugged her tight. He leaned down, his lips brushing her ear.
"I think you need to be taught a few lessons," he murmured.
She looked up, caught in his gaze.
"And how exactly are you going to do that?" she asked, biting her lips.
"And how are you going to teach me?"
Without warning, he scooped her into his arms. She shrieked, laughing.
"Slowly," he said, voice low and dangerous.
"OH MY GOD!" the sisters screamed, clapping and fanning themselves.
"So hot!" Cat gushed.
"Shut up. He is mine. He is mine!" cried Claire, near tears.
"No, baby," Nat stepped forward, her expression turning cold. "That's my girl's man."
"And what are you going to do?" Claire sniffled.
Nat's gaze hardened.
"I am the logical sister," she said quietly. "People think that means I'm harmless."
She stepped closer.
"They're wrong." Her voice dropped. "I destroy people logically."
A beat.
Claire shuddered. Nat didn't blink. A faint smile touched her lips. Cold, deliberate.
Claire clenched her fist around her bag. Nat was relishing watching her squirm. Her breath caught in her throat. Nat's eyes felt unnervingly familiar. That dangerous intensity in those eyes was something she had seen before... Dave.
Right now, Nat looks too much like Dave when he loses control. And something told her… the sweet, newly married bride had never seen that side of him before.