Chasing Sam: Vegas Mates Book 1 Read Online Free PDF Page B

coming”.
     
    ***
     
    “So, premed at Duke?”
    “Yes, I have one more year left before I
start my residency.”
    “Congrats. That’s quite an
accomplishment.”
    “Thanks. What do you do, Chase?”
    “I am a Sergeant First Class Army Ranger and
the medic for my unit.”
    “That’s a mouthful,” she said and smiled.
“Have you traveled a lot with the army?”
    “Yes, I’ve seen my fair share of
places.”
    “I want to work with Doctors Without Borders
once I finish school.” She sat back in her chair as Chase digested
her comment. He sipped his coffee and met her gaze.
    “I think that’s a noble calling. I have been
able to keep my unit safe and send them all home to their families
every time we deploy.”
    “I’m sure they will be eternally grateful.
The army doesn’t know that you are…a shifter?”
    “No, I serve time and then retire. Then I
enlist again and serve again. A few have questioned me, but I shrug
it off, and they move on. Usually they are so glad to get someone
with medical training that the rest doesn’t matter.”
    “Are you a doctor?”
    “An EMT.”
    She nodded, processing his answers. “How old
are you?” He’d said he had retired at least once.
    “I’m seventy-five.”
    Sam swallowed. She hadn’t pegged him for
being that old, but his age certainly explained why she’d never met
him at his parents’ house.
    He’s a lot older than me.
    “ Some of those candidates your father has
picked out are bound to be older as well.”
    Really?
    “ Yes, really,” her wolf assured.
    “I think being a doctor where there aren’t
any is a very worthwhile goal.” He placed his hand over hers on the
table and stroked the top with his thumb. Just that small touch
bordered on sensory overload.
    “ He is meant to be our mate. You have to
ask him, Samantha.”
    I can’t. What if they kill him? I could
never live with myself. Or I’d turn into a hateful, unhappy bitch,
like my mother.
    He squeezed her hand. “Samantha,” he coaxed.
“What’s wrong?”
    Bonnie walked up and interrupted. “Here we
are, sugar.” Sam pulled her hand away and straightened in her
chair. She took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. Bonnie was
laying out the food on their table. “Blueberry pancakes and bacon
all around. You two let me know if I can get you anything
else.”
    Sam smiled up at Bonnie. “Thanks,
Bonnie.”
    “No problem, sugar.” The middle-aged woman
scurried off. She was the same age as her mother, but Bonnie showed
her age more. Her skin was thinner, and she had grey threaded
through her hair. Bonnie had always been more of a mom to her than
her own. It was hard to come to grips with the fact that her own
mother made choices based on what it would get her or the family.
She’d been raised by the housekeeper, Ellie, and by Bonnie, and by
all her other friends’ mothers. To her knowledge, her own mother
had never once helped her with her homework, or brushed her hair,
or even gone shopping with her unless it was for a family function
and she wanted to pick out the clothes Sam would wear.
    “Sam…what’s eating at you?”
    The tears returned to her eyes. God, he
cared about her, and he’d only known her a few hours.
    “ I told you, he’s supposed to be our
mate.”
    But…
    “ It doesn’t matter Sam. When a wolf finds
a perfect match, there is an instant connection.”
    “My parents don’t think being a doctor is
important. Well, at least my mother doesn’t. I’m not sure how my
dad feels.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean my mom wants me matched and
politically active in the noble hierarchy, and I want to go be a
doctor in Africa or South America. My dad appreciates my dreams and
goals, but obligation comes first. I’m a first daughter in the
second-oldest noble family. My mate will have a seat next to my
father on the council.” She released a heavy sigh. “I turned
twenty-five this year.” Sam paused, assuming his wolf was filling
him in on the