One Last Night Read Online Free PDF Page A

won’t knock me out and run out of here?”
    “I promise.”
    “Good. Then come on in.”
    We walked inside and I was really impressed. The loft was gorgeous. Windows that were two stories tall lined one wall, facing a courtyard below, full of lush green plants and flowers. Inside the place was done in natural woods and brushed chrome. Modern, but warm.
    “Wow.”
    Sam grinned. “Exactly what I was going to say.”
    “Looks nice, but is it all functional? Food and water?” I glanced over at the big flatscreen on the wall. “Good cable?”
    “Yup. According to Fabian it’s ready to go.”
    “Nice.” I sat down on a rich-brown leather loveseat. “I don’t know what to do first. And I feel bad.”
    Sam walked over and kneeled in front of me. “Carly, we’re going to find Anna. And when we do she’s going to need you. A lot. Rested and fed. Not exhausted and weak from hunger.”
    I shook my head. “You always know the right thing to say to me.”
    He smiled, but it was tight, not the wide, sexy grin I’d come to adore. “Not always.”
    It became even clearer to me how much my distrust had hurt him. “Sam…”
    He stood up and offered his hand, but wouldn’t look me in the eye. “Why don’t we start with some food?”
    “All right.”
    Sam led me into the open kitchen, digging through cupboards while I checked out the contents of the refrigerator. True to what his friend Fabian had said, the place was indeed well-stocked. Instead of putting together anything that would require actual cooking, I just pulled out things we could snack on.
    But before I could even try to eat anything, there was something I needed to do.
    “Sam, stop for a minute. I need to tell you something.”
    He turned around with a jar of peanut butter in one hand and a box of cookies in the other. “What is it?”
    “I’m sorry about last night. This morning, whatever.”
    “I told you, it’s fine. I understand.”
    “No you don’t.”
    He sighed and sank down onto one of the stool at the counter. “Carly…”
    “Just listen, okay?”
    “Fine.”
    I bit my lower lip and started pacing the room. “I know you’ll say this isn’t the time for this conversation, but it is. I’m worried sick about Anna but she’d want me to tell you what I’m about to say.”
    I couldn’t stop and look at him or I’d lose my nerve. Whether it was hunger or sleep deprivation or both, the words were practically fighting to get out of me and I wanted to let them go, finally.
    “From the second I first saw you I was hooked. Of course, I didn’t think you’d even look twice at me, but you did. So big and strong and sexy. And the way your eyes roamed my body, my face, it overwhelmed me, but in the very best way.
    “I told you before, I’m not used to guys actually being interested in me. The few relationships I’ve had were gradual and less than filled with passion. And I thought that was okay. That it was all I deserved. That I should count myself lucky that anyone would stoop to be with me.”
    “Jesus, that’s ridiculous. You’re amazing.”
    I smiled. “Thanks, but it’s hard to believe, even though I know you mean it.”
    I kept pacing, twisting my fingers together over and over to keep them busy.
    “It was all the typical high school bullshit for a while. Low self-esteem. Too many years being taller and bigger than the boys I liked. But even after school it clung to me, held me back.
    “And then there was Phillip. He seemed perfect. Way too good for me. Looking back, of course, I can see that’s what he wanted me to think. He wanted me to feel lucky to have him, and willing to do anything to keep him. And I was. I was the perfect girlfriend. Always did what he wanted. Wore what he liked, went where he wanted to go. My whole life was him. I barely saw Anna and my other friends. Hell, I almost got fired from Angelo’s for missing shifts because Phillip wanted to see a movie or needed me to run an errand for him.
    “But none