Page 45 of Theirs to Treasure

“I think with all the orders she got, our girl is walking on air,” Chance answered. Josie watched as a slow, satisfied smile made its way across Sam’s face.

“Well, that does my heart a world of good.” Sam walked over and stood beside Josie, while Chance pivoted to get on her other side. Then they each took an arm and led Josie out of the booth.

“Wait! I have to stay until the cake is cut!” she protested.

“We heard about the cake cutting ceremony from Lola over at Hart’s Diner. That’s how we found out you were here instead of at home resting. You don’t have to do it, the other bakery owner never did.”

“Sam’s right, you don’t,” Chance said firmly.

They walked swiftly off the school grounds. The only concession they made for her was modifying their steps so that they matched her smaller stride. When they got to Sam’s truck, Sam picked her up and put her in the backseat, and Chance immediately crawled in back with her. Sam went around to the front. Chance fastened her seat belt and then his. It was a couple of minutes before Josie realized they were on the road to their house.

“Guys, you said you were taking me home.”

“We are, to our home,” Sam said. It seemed like he was in a bad mood. Then Josie replayed the events at the school grounds.

“Sam! Did you hit Dane?”

“Yes,” Sam answered succinctly. “And I’d do it again. How dare he put you in a position where you’d be in such pain.”

“He didn’t do anything. I’m the one who ultimately made the decision to stand in that booth today.”

“What do you mean, stand?” Sam demanded. “You were sitting on that stool.”

“I was standing most of the time, they just got me the stool the last half hour,” she explained.

“Goddammit. Standing’s even worse than sitting on a stool without a back. What was he thinking?”

“He didn’t know. Dammit, don’t blame him, blame me. I’m a big girl,” she muttered.

The truck stopped. They both must have misheard her, thinking she’d said “Boy, am I a big girl,” because Sam flung open her door.

“Zee, I told you not to poke the tiger,” Chance cautioned.

“I’ll say whatever the hell I want,” she said. Sam reached in to pick her up.

“Stop it, I can walk.”

Sam must have caught on she was pissed. “Fine, let me help you, you’re hurting.”

“Yes, my back hurts a little, but what’s really hurting is my sense of pride.” She allowed Sam to help her onto the driveway and assist her up the stairs. She might be pissed, but she wasn’t stupid.

“We need to dial it back a bit,” Chance said. “Both of you.”

* * *

Chance hid a grin as a pair of brown eyes and a pair of green eyes glared at him. “Josie, do you need medicine? Heat? Ice?”

“No, it’s calmed down.”

“Let’s see if we can get Mr. Booth to do the same, shall we?” He took Josie’s hand and held it as he led her down the hall to his bedroom. It still smelled faintly of fresh paint. When they got to the room, Sam turned on every light. A smile bloomed on Josie’s face. Sam had told Chance about what that asshole ex-boyfriend had said about having sex with the lights out. Good to see his brother still knew how to score some points with their girl.

“This room looks different, what happened to it?”

“I wanted something big enough for the three of us, so I had it re-done.”

She looked around, fascinated.

“That’s what happens when you have more money than God.” Sam laughed.