Save Me


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Contents
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Chapter 1
 
 
 Chapter 2
 
 
 Chapter 3
 
 
 Chapter 4
 
 
 Chapter 5
 
 
 Chapter 6
 
 
 Chapter 7
 
 
 Chapter 8
 
 
 Chapter 9
 
 
 Chapter 10
 
 
 Chapter 11
 
 
 Chapter 12
 
 
 Chapter 13
 
 
 Chapter 14
 
 
 Chapter 15
 
 
 Epilogue
 
 
 Who will be the next Donovan to fall in love?
 
 
 One
 
 
 Want to know a little more about Ryleigh’s BFF Ivy?
 
 
 One
 
 
 Two
 
 
 Three
 
 
 Four
 
 
 Five
 
 
 Six
 
 
 Seven
 
 
 
 
 Also by Samantha Chase
 
 
 About Samantha Chase
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Copyright 2023 Samantha Chase
 
 All Rights Reserved.
 
 No part of this book, with the exception of brief quotations for book reviews or critical articles, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.
 
 This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
 
 Cover Design: Kari March Designs
 Edits: Jillian Rivera
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Praise for Samantha Chase
 
 
 
 
 
 “If you can’t get enough of stories that get inside your heart and soul and stay there long after you’ve read the last page, then Samantha Chase is for you!”
 -NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Melanie Shawn
 
 “A fun, flirty, sweet romance filled with romance and character growth and a perfect happily ever after.”
 -NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips
 
 “Samantha Chase writes my kind of happily ever after!”
 -NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Erin Nicholas
 
 “The openness between the lovers is refreshing, and their interactions are a balanced blend of sweet and spice. The planets may not have aligned, but the elements of this winning romance are definitely in sync.”
 - Publishers Weekly, STARRED review
 
 “A true romantic delight, A Sky Full of Stars is one of the top gems of romance this year.”
 - Night Owl Reviews, TOP PICK
 
 “Great writing, a winsome ensemble, and the perfect blend of heart and sass.”
 - Publishers Weekly
 
 “Recommend Chase to fans of Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Well-written and uniquely appealing.”
 - Booklist
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Chapter One
 
 
 
 
 
 I wonder if fish get thirsty…
 “So that’s how I found out I have a shellfish allergy,” Jarod Milner, the world’s most boring date, explained.
 Ryleigh Donovan wished someone would come and save her from the worst date of her life, but apparently no one in her family could sense her extreme unease.
 No matter how many times she tried to catch their attention.
 Having dinner at her family pub was never her first choice when she went out with a guy, but tonight’s date was really more of an ambush.
 Her mother had called and said they were having a problem with their computer and because Ryleigh was sort of a tech geek—or as she preferred to be called, a tech goddess—she agreed to come to the pub to check it out. As soon as she arrived, her mother immediately ushered her over to a booth and introduced her to Jarod the periodontist.
 “I wasn’t too upset about it because I never liked fish,” he went on and Ryleigh swore she was going to go back into the office, upload a virus onto her parents’ computer, and then leave on a two-week road trip without her phone.
 That would teach them.
 Actually, it wouldn’t. It didn’t seem like anything would. She’d begged, pleaded, and carried on about how she did not want to be set up with anyone—and especially didn’t want any surprise dates—and yet, here she was.
 “It’s also why I never go out on a boat. I get seasick.”
 I wonder if fish get seasick…
 Seriously, she’d had her share of bad dates, but this one was going at the top of the list. The previous reigning champion was the time she went out with Leo, the accountant. He’d talked numbers all night and lectured her about her financial status and how far behind she was on her retirement fund. She was twenty-four at the time and told him she wasn’t worried about retirement just yet. Then he got annoyed by her so-called snarkiness and walked out—sticking her with the bill.
 Oh, how she’d practically kill to have Jarod walk out right now because of her snarkiness…
 Although, it was hard to be snarky when she couldn’t get a word in because he had done nothing but talk about himself all damn night.
 Yeah, she was definitely putting a nasty virus on the office computer as soon as she was done here.
 With a sigh, Ryleigh glanced around the pub hoping to catch someone’s eye who would read her desperate need for help.
 Uncle Ronan was busy chatting with Joe Denton, undoubtedly talking about the upcoming Super Bowl. Her brother Jamie was making drinks behind the bar while talking to some blonde who’d been coming in here more and more lately. He didn’t look too happy, so there was zero chance of him even paying any attention to her. None of her other siblings had shown up to get something to eat, and her mother was suspiciously absent.
 You better be guarding all your electronics, Mom. I’m gunning for them…
 The door to the pub opened