Tanner moved quickly, “Sam.”

“Not interested,” Sam replied without turning around.

Tanner had Sam’s arm at the elbow. A move he wouldn’t have thought twice about with any of the others. But it was a move that he quickly regretted when Sam flinched hard. His head whipped around to look at the offending touch. Fear clearly shone in dancing eyes and stole Sam’s breath.

Peyton’s warning came to mind; Sam didn’t like to be touched. Slowly, Tanner released his hand keeping it out in a show of calm surrender. Sam didn’t run.

Carefully he broached a potentially dangerous subject, “I’m not asking why, but are you afraid for him or of him?”