I hoped she was right. As soon as the thought entered my mind, guilt flooded me. I should’ve had optimistic hope that Michael had been rehabilitated. But I would’ve been lying to myself. I saw it in his eyes during the last visit I’d made to the facility. The gleam when he’d brought up our parents, saw the pain on my face. He would always enjoy hurting me. Especially when I was the reason he’d been caught. Why he’d been locked away.

“Just promise me you’ll give it some thought,” E said, bringing my attention back to her.

“Give what some thought?”

“Making a move on that man.”

I groaned. “I’ll think about it.” Who was I kidding? I hadn’t been able to think of anything else.

I shut the door to the storage shed, taking a moment to lock it behind me. Not for fear of human thieves but critter ones. Raccoons and other creatures were crafty with their paws when the chicken feed inside called to them.

I turned to head to the greenhouse and caught sight of Sam heading towards me. “Coming to visit the chickens?”

“They do make good friends,” he said with a chuckle. “But I was actually coming to see if you wanted to meet up at The Catch this Friday.”

I struggled to find a kind way to say no. And figured honesty was the best I was going to get. “No, thank you.” Because as much as I was beginning to let people into my world, I had zero interest in going on a date with anyone. That was a kind of vulnerability I wouldn’t be ready for anytime soon.

“No, thank you?” He said the words as if he were confused.

“I appreciate the offer, though.”

A hard glint flashed in his eyes, and he moved closer. “You fuckin’ your boss?”

I stiffened. “Who I do or do not have sex with isn’t your concern. I don’t know you. You don’t know me. Now, please back up. I have work to do.”

Instead of stepping away, Sam moved in even closer, crowding me against the door of the shed. “Maybe you should get to know me before you say no to a date, then. It’s rude.”

My breaths came quicker, each one tripping over the next. I didn’t do well with feeling boxed in. Feeling like I had no way out. “Step back,” I gritted out.

“Or what?” he said with a sneer, leaning in even closer so his face was right next to mine.

I moved without thinking, a decade of self-defense classes springing to life in my muscle memory. I brought my knee up hard and fast. But Sam must’ve had some sixth sense because he moved at the last second, meaning I got more thigh than balls. He slammed me against the shed door. “What the hell, you crazy bitch?”