Free Samantha’s Cowboy by Marin Thomas Page A

ran a finger between his neck and the collar of his tight shirt. “That computer is registered to your uncle, sir.”
    Absurd! His uncle wouldn’t steal from his own company. Someone must have had access to his uncle’s computer. “Is there an exact time and date the funds were withdrawn?”
    “July fourth at two-fifteen in the afternoon.”
    Wade had attended the Tulsa parade with Luke in the morning that day and later in the afternoon they’dstopped by his uncle’s for the annual Dawson Investments barbecue. Wade couldn’t recall if all the VPs had shown up for the event. Not that it mattered. Anyone could have slipped away for an hour or two unnoticed. Wade would need to view the building’s security tapes for that day.
    George checked his watch. “I’m meeting my wife for lunch. Is there anything else, sir?”
    “No. Thanks for coming in today.”
    “I hope you find the culprit who tampered with the account.”
    “Keep this between you and me for a while, all right, George?”
    “Sure.”
    Left alone, Wade returned to his desk and buzzed the receptionist.
    “Yes, Mr. Dawson?”
    “Veronica, get me the number of the company that operates the security cameras in the building.”
    “Right away, sir.”
    While he waited for the information, Wade paced his office, his thoughts straying to Samantha. His ego wished to impress her—change her opinion of him. He admitted he wasn’t the kind of man a woman like her would give a second thought. He didn’t walk with a swagger. Didn’t possess bulging biceps. Wasn’t tall—Samantha darn near looked him in the eye.
    And he wore glasses.
    Why don’t you wear contact lenses?
    Deep in his gut he believed Samantha’s question hadn’t been meant as a criticism. He’d sounded like an idiot when he’d explained that contacts dried his eyesout. He’d considered laser eye surgery—had even scheduled a consultation appointment with a doctor over a year ago, but he’d chickened out at the last minute.
    And you know why.
    Wade attempted to block out the annoying voice in his head, but the nasty bugger refused to be subdued.
    Because you hide behind your glasses.
    That’s insane.
    Or was it?
    Few were aware that Wade’s business smarts hadn’t come easy.
    Not until the third grade had his dyslexia been diagnosed. Once he’d been given the tools to overcome his reading challenges he’d embraced learning, but had continued to struggle to keep pace with the rest of his classmates. Then his mother had died and his uncle had taken him in and insisted he attend a prestigious all-boys school. If not for a sympathetic instructor who’d tutored him, Wade would have flunked out of the academy. The grade reports he’d brought home had been nothing short of a miracle. Only the fear of disappointing his uncle prevented Wade from conceding defeat.
    The battle continued in college. His uncle’s promise of a job at Dawson Investments upon graduation had motivated Wade to sacrifice friends, sports and a social life. He’d graduated near the top of his business class, then had been hired by Dawson Investments and handed Samantha’s trust fund to manage. Wade had believed his promotion to VP was a slam dunk—until this latest fiasco.
    What if his uncle was involved in the disappearance of Samantha’s funds? He shoved the thought aside.He’d view the security tapes before jumping to conclusions.
    Samantha won’t criticize you if you take off your glasses.
    How did he know? Because she intended to care for unwanted horses? Because she treated Luke kindly, had taken an old woman under her wing and had appeared genuinely concerned about his blistered hands? None of that means the pampered princess isn’t above putting you in your place.
    Samantha flustered him. She was friendly and approachable yet aloof and guarded. One minute she acted self-confident and downright bossy. The next uncertain. Her uncertain moments tugged at Wade’s heartstrings and he yearned to please her,