“He’s good for me, too. He makes me see myself in a different way and try new things that help me step out of my comfort zone.”

“You balance each other,” Jayne agreed. “Sam needs that. I’ve known him since he was a baby, all the kids. I was friends with his mother before she passed. It was hard on Pete and the older kids, but they bonded over taking care of Sam. I think he likes the idea of making women happy but didn’t want to open himself up to being hurt. He’s open with you.”

“He’s also not here,” Bella grumbled.

Tater barked when someone knocked on the door a moment later. Jayne raised a knowing brow and smiled.

“They’re probably looking for you,” Bella said, but she walked to the door with anticipation making it hard to draw a full breath.

She let out a shuddery gasp when it opened to reveal Sam standing on the other side. Tater wagged his tail and tried to lift his cast to jump on Sam, greeting him like he’d been gone for days. Bella understood the feeling.

“I’m sorry,” he said without preamble, then glanced past her to Jayne. “I’m sorry for everything. I shouldn’t have let my brother get to me that way.”

“You didn’t deny the things he said,” Bella said. His words had hurt her.

“I’m sorry for that, too.” Sam frowned, his brows drawing low over his blue eyes. “Last night wasn’t casual for me, Bella. My feelings for you aren’t casual, but they’re scary as hell because I don’t have the best track record. And I don’t want to hurt you.”

Hope sprang to life in her heart, and she pressed two fingers to her chest like she could keep it at bay.

“Can you come out here?” Sam gave her a sheepish smile. “I have a surprise for you.”

With an encouraging nod from Jayne, she gathered the puppy and closed him in the house, then followed Sam into the front yard only to stop short.

Jake Combs was standing near Sam’s SUV in a Vanderbilt sweatshirt, jeans and flip-flops, holding a guitar and looking nearly as shocked as Bella felt.

“Merry Christmas, ma’am,” he said in his slow drawl.

“Um, Merry Christmas.” She glanced toward Sam. “What’s he doing here?”

“I sort of begged him.” Sam ran a hand through his hair.

“I’m a sucker for a good love story,” Jake added.

“A love story,” Bella murmured.

“The start of ours, I hope,” Sam told her. He held out a hand. “The kind where we start as best friends and end as so much more. Would you dance with me, Bella?” It was a simple request, but it meant the world to her.

As if Sam could read the emotions tumbling through her, he took a step closer. “Would you give me a chance to prove that you’ve captured my heart? Please let me try again. I promise I’ll do my best to be the kind of man you deserve.”