Chapter 5
“Aw, hell.”
“Darn it, Noah. Iknew you weren’t going to take this well.” Sami paced the length of the bedroom. “That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”
“Shy little Widget snatched your purse?”
“It was an act of desperation.” Sami paused in her tracks and attempted an encouraging smile. “Aren’t you proud she actually got up the nerve to do something so decisive?”
“Proud?”
Sami winced. “All right, maybe ‘proud’ isn’t the best description. But it shows promise,” she insisted doggedly. “It means she’s capable of standing up for herself when necessary.”
“So what did you do when Widget took your purse?” He held up a hand before she could answer. “No. Let me guess. You didn’t call the police.”
“Of course not. I’m shocked you’d even suggest such a thing. Why would I do something so cruel?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because a thief belongs in jail?”
“You think Widget belongs in jail? Our poor, little Widget?”
“Correction. Your poor, little Widget.”
“Oh, no you don’t.” She stalked closer, her bracelets jangling in time with each bouncing step. “You can’t back out of your responsibilities that easily. You’ve been working with her, too, which makes her ours now. And for the record, she only swiped my purse because she was starving and had a brother to care for and couldn’t find a job.”
“So what did you do?” He held up his hand again. “No, no. I’m getting pretty good at this. You took her and Pudge home and fed them.”
Sami shoved her chin in the air. “I assume by your nasty tone that you wouldn’t have?”
“Not a chance.”
“What would you have done?” It was her turn to hold up a hand. “Oh, no. Let me guess. You’d have turned her over to the cops.”
“In a heartbeat.”
“How would that have helped her?”
“It would have kept her from stealing anyone else’s purse.”
“For your information, she hasn’t stolen anyone else’s purse. Her run-in with me was a one-time mistake. By helping out, Iensure she’s training for a job instead of wasting away in a jail cell, miserable because she broke the law and even more miserable because her actions put Pudge into foster care.”
Noah thrust a hand through his hair. His expression remained grim, but at least he didn’t argue the point. “What’s she qualified to do?”
“Not a blessed thing. Yet.” She stopped him before he could make any more rude remarks. “But I intend to change all that. You’ll see. She’s going to be one of my greatest success stories. Heck. She’ll be her own greatest success story.”
“And in the meantime she and her brother live off of you, along with Rosie, Daria, Carmela, their children and all their various relatives?”
“They work for me, they don’t live off me. And even if they did, Ican afford it.”
“Honey, my father would have loved you.”
Sami released a groan of exasperation. “I see what your problem is now. You’re a cynic. You’ve lost all belief in the basic goodness of your fellow human beings.”
“I believe in their basic goodness. Ijust don’t trust that goodness to last in the face of desperation or temptation or revenge.”
That stopped her. “Revenge? What an odd thing to say.”
“Why?” He gave her a curiously intent look. “Haven’t you ever known people who wanted to take revenge for a wrong committed against them? Or that they believe has been committed against them?”
“Absolutely not. Maybe we should talk about the sort of characters you hang around, instead of worrying about me.”
“So you’ve never inadvertently acted in a way that would anger someone?”
She shrugged. “Well, sure. Isuspect I do it all the time. Take us, for instance. We’ve only known each other a few hours and I’ve already managed to annoy you any number of times.”
His expression lightened. “True. But nothing you’ve done would cause the depth of emotion needed for revenge.”
“Thank goodness for that,” she said with heartfelt sincerity, “or I’d be in deep trouble.”
“What about someone you’ve know a bit longer?” he persisted. “Someone you’ve managed to seriously annoy.”
Good grief! “This is crazy, Noah. How did we get on this subject, anyway?”
“You haven’t answered my question.”
“That’s because it’s ridiculous.”
“Humor me.”
“Oh, for crying out loud!” She fell back on the bed, arms spread wide, and stared at the ceiling. “No. Are you happy now? No, I’ve never—to the best of my knowledge—done anything to anyone horrible enough they’d want to take revenge. For your information, Ilike just about everyone I meet and they tend to like me, too.” She lifted onto her elbows and fixed him with a pointed stare. “Although the jury’s still out on you.”
“I’m crushed.” He approached, leaning against the bedpost closest to her. “What about the baby-maker you gave the boot to this morning? What was his name? Griffith?”
“So? What about him?”
“Aren’t you worried that he’ll be angry over your rejection?”
“Not at all. It was a tiny hit to his ego. He’ll get over it.” Deciding that turnabout was fair play, she asked, “What about you?”
She’d startled him and it pleased her no end. “What about me?”
“Have you ever gotten someone mad enough they’d want to get even?”
He inclined his head. “Probably.”
“You have?” She stared in fascination. This story she had to hear. “And?”
“And… what?”
“What did they do to you?”
“Nothing.”
“Oh.” She tried not to look too disappointed. “Why not?”
He slowly straightened. “Do I look like the sort of person who’d stand idly by while attacked?”
“No.” A sudden thought occurred to her. “Do I?”
A broad smile slashed across his face. “You look like someone who wouldn’t see the attack coming, wouldn’t notice when it hit, and would probably try and make friends with the person afterward.”
She grinned triumphantly. “Now there’s where you’re wrong.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I do.” She folded her legs beneath her and stabbed her finger in his direction. “And I’ll tell you why.”
“This I’ve got to hear.”
“You’re wrong because the situation wouldn’t arise in the first place. Idon’t make people mad enough to want revenge.”
“Come on, Sami.”
“I’m serious.” She ticked off on her fingers. “I annoy them, though it’s never deliberate. Ifrustrate them, but it’s sort of an amused exasperation. Ipeeve, Iprovoke, Idefy logic. Ieven bemuse, bewilder, and beset people.” She grinned. “But mostly I get along with everyone.”
His gaze had softened during her citation, ahalf-smile curving the corner of the most kissable mouth she’d ever had the pleasure to sample. “You’re just one of those people everyone likes. Is that it?”
“Yup.”
“I can almost believe it,” he muttered.
“Now that we’ve gotten that straightened out.” Scooping up Mr. Woof, she hopped off the bed. “Are you ready to start work or would you like to have another philosophical discussion? Or are you going to take the rest of the day off like I suggested and familiarize yourself with the place?”
“Give me a few minutes to clean up and I’ll join you and Widget out back.”
“Great. I’ll see you there.” She paused at the door and offered her sunniest smile. “See how accommodating I am? Now how could you stay angry with someone like me, let alone want to take revenge?”
Not giving him time to comment—she wasn’t that idiotic—she closed the door with a good-naturedbang.
I don’t makepeople mad enough to want revenge, Sami claimed.
The minute the door closed behind her, Noah pulled an envelope from his back pocket and studied it. He’d found it sitting in plain sight on a table in her front hallway. No doubt the contents would give lie to her statement. He didn’t possess a single doubt it had been put there by the blackmailer. The thick creamy paper and the neatly printed handwriting matched the one Babe had shown him. Whomever had written it wasn’t taking many precautions and if Noah were allowed to involve the authorities, they’d have this guy nailed pronto.
Fumbling for his glasses, he opened the unsealed envelope and removed the single sheet.
Time’s running out. Pay now or measures will be taken.Soon.
Succinct and to the point. The words sent a chill through him that ate straight to his bones. What the hell had Sami done to get this person so angry? Because she was right. She excelled at bemusing, bewildering, and besetting. But she also was the sweetest, most generous person he’d ever met. Even as she frustrated, she made him laugh. And to hold her in his arms, to cover her mouth with his…
He closed his eyes. Something about this note bothered him, but sharing that kiss with Sami had gotten him so confused, he couldn’t think straight. As though sensing his irritation, Loner whined in concern, shoving his muzzle against Noah’shand.
He stroked Loner’s ruff, infuriated by his inability to consider the matter logically. Damn it! Babe had warned him. She’d seen through him from the start, recognizing a man who, like the wolf beneath his hand, would remain faithful and committed to his mate, loving her for the rest of hislife.
Noah had known for years he was destined to remain alone until he met the other half of his soul. How the hell could he have suspected she might take the form of a wary butterfly, garbed in a rainbow of sunshine and determined to soar high and free? One, moreover, oblivious to the net poised just above her flyaway curls?
He set his jaw. Whether or not Sami knew it, she’d just gained two protectors, both of whom would fight for her against any and all adversaries. “We’ll make sure she doesn’t get hurt, right, boy?”
Loner shook himself from head to tail and scampered awkwardly toward the bedroomdoor.
“That’s right. Let’s go find Sami. We don’t want to leave her alone.” He gave Loner a new hand signal, acombination of two the animal already knew. “Guard Sami. Do you understand, fella? Guard Sami.”
He opened the door, allowing Loner to follow his instructions. Returning the sheet of paper to the envelope, Noah came to a decision. This was the last note he’d receive. If another message arrived, he’d turn it over to the police and to hell with Babe. Whomever was blackmailing Sami knew her. He was brazen in his approach. And he had access to the house. Noah winced. Either that or she’d neglected to lock the front door—adistinct possibility.
He didn’t have much time and after his latest conversation with Sami, he doubted she’d provide any insight. Everyone liked Sami. No one would want to take revenge on her. He slapped the envelope against his thigh.
No one it would seem… except thisguy.
“Uncle Reggie!”Sami exclaimed. “Perfect timing. That’s two visits in three days. How lucky can I get?”
“Actually, my dear, Idropped by to speak to you.”
“Can it wait? Noah’s come up with a great idea and you’d be a perfect addition to our group. We’re going to run through a practice interview session with Widget, Daria, and Carmela. Usually we just work with Widget, but yesterday Noah suggested we try it this way so the others gain some experience, too. Rosie agreed to watch the children and I need you to catch any mistakes we make.” She coaxed him with a smile. “You’re so good at spotting things others don’t. Will you help?”
He straightened his bow tie. “It would be my pleasure.”
“I knew you’d agree. You’re such a sweetie.” She linked arms with him. “We’re hoping if Widget has others there to encourage her, it’ll give her some much-needed self-confidence. We’re trying to get her to speak up when she answers questions instead of whispering.”
“Widget is a bit shy.”
“But you always bring out the best in her, Uncle Reg.” She planted a quick kiss on her uncle’s cheek. “If you’re there, I’m sure it’ll make all the difference.”
“About that conversation—”
“Any time you want.” Sami tugged on his arm. “Except for now. Come on. Noah’s waiting. We’d better hurry before he terrorizes everyone and Widget gives up talking altogether.”
“Great. You’re here,” Noah said the instant they walked in the door. “I need your help, Sami.”
She pretended to preen. “Now why doesn’t that surprise me?”
“It comes as a total shock to me,” he retorted dryly. “Nevertheless, Ithought it might be a good idea if you and I did a quick practice run-through. Widget and the others can watch and pick up some pointers.” He inclined his head in Reggie’s direction. “Good to see you, Mr. Fontaine. Would you be willing to critique our practice session?”
“Happy to,” he said, taking a seat next to Widget.
Sami rubbed her hands together and approached Noah. “Great. If you’ll move out of the way, I’ll sit behind the desk and—”
“Not so fast, hot-shot.” He leaned back in the chair, looking entirely too natural behind the intimidating expanse of rich mahogany tabletop. “I’ll be the employer this time around. Iwant you to play the part of the prospective employee.”
Say, what? “That’s not how we usually do it,” she protested.
“Which is probably where we’ve been going wrong. You’re too nice as the employer.” He didn’t make it sound like a compliment. “So today you get to show us the other side of the process.”
“Okay, okay.” So long as it accomplished their objective, she’d be gracious and let him take charge. Besides, he assumed the role so naturally. “What do you want me to do?”
“Walk in like you’re on a real interview.” He turned his most charming smile on the three women watching the demonstration. “This time you’ll observe while Sami and I show you how it works. Then you can take turns being interviewed.”
“Have you ever done this before?” Sami stalled. “Been an employer, Imean. Do you know what to say?”
“Do you doubt my abilities?”
“Not exactly—”
“Good.” He gestured toward the door. “Go on. Show them how it’s done.”
Giving in to the inevitable, she walked out, waited an instant and then opened the door. Before she could utter a single syllable, Noah cut her off. “You didn’t knock.”
“What?”
“I believe it’s customary to knock on a closed door in an office setting.” He addressed Widget. “If you’re not shown into the room by a receptionist or secretary, always knock first. Sami’s going back out to start over.”
“I am?”
“You are.”
“Noah’s right, Sami,” Reggie spokeup.
She groaned. Power and Noah did not work well together, especially when they were backed up by her uncle. She’d have to remember that. Turning around, she left the room and banged the door closed. It elicited another barked reprimand, one she deliberately ignored. Counting to ten, she pounded on the door before entering theroom.
“I didn’t say come in,” Noah toldher.
“Pretend you did.”
He directed his remarks toward the women, but his silvery gaze never left Sami. “Not waiting to be invited in is a risky move.”
“Being a smart aleck is a riskier one,” she shot rightback.
“Arguing with the boss is the riskiest idea of all. Oh, and one other tip.” He offered Sami a bland smile. “Be sure you wear shoes to your interview.”
Sami peeked at her neon-blue-painted toenails and grinned. “What if you keep misplacing them?”
“Then get a job as a lifeguard. That way you won’t have to wear them at all. Okay, now you’ve been invited in. What’s next?”
“I know this one.” She approached the desk with her arm outstretched. “How do you do, Mr. Hawke? I’m Sami Fontaine.”
He stood and leaned across the desk, shaking her hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Ms. Fontaine. Have a seat.”
“Thank you.” She started to curl up in the chair, then thought better of it. Spine rigid, feel planted squarely on the floor, she sat with her hands folded in her lap and grinned atNoah.
He frowned. “Is that gum you’re chewing, Ms. Fontaine?”
“Sure is. Passion fruit raspberry swirl to be exact. Want some?”
“Get rid of it.”
“This isn’t school, you know.”
“You’re right. It’s a job interview that’ll mean the difference between making your next rent payment or being put out on the streets. The gum goes.”
She puckered obediently, the warning challenge glittering in his eyes too good to resist. She hesitated, trying to decide whether to risk the repercussions if she dinged him with it or if she should settle for depositing it dab-smack on the center of his desk. Before she could make up her mind, Noah flicked a single finger. Instantly, Loner leaped to his feet and howled, scaring the wits out ofher.
Her instinctive shriek of alarm cut off abruptly. Uh-oh. She stared at Noah in wide-eyed horror.
He took one look and started to laugh. “Swallowed it, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” she croaked.
“Serves you right.” He cast a speaking look at the women who were doing their level best to smother their laughter. Even Uncle Reggie fought back a chuckle. “So far you’re getting a great lesson on what not to do. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was doing it deliberately.”
“Hey!”
“Unfortunately, I’ll have to assume that Sami makes a better instructor than employee.” He glanced her way and lifted an eyebrow. “Shall we continue?”
“Maybe we shouldn’t.”
Not that Noah paid any attention to her. Slipping on his reading glasses, he flipped open a folder and scanned it. “It says here that you haven’t held a job for the past five years. Would you mind explaining that?”
“I’m rich.”
“Ms. Fontaine!”
“Oh, sorry. Igather you want me to make something up, right?”
He ignored her question and asked one of his own. “Delia, how would you have responded to that?”
She slanted an amused glance at Sami before answering. “I guess I’d have explained that I’ve been raising four children for the past five years while my husband worked. But he died recently and I need the job to support my family.”
“That’s a good answer, Delia. It lets your future employer know you’re serious about working and not just bored and looking around for an alternate activity.”
“So what do we practice next that I can get wrong?” Sami asked wryly. At her question, Loner released a gusty sigh and collapsed on the floor. Oh,dear.
Noah didn’t appear any more enthusiastic than his wolf-dog. “This might be a good time to discuss our interview techniques.” He picked up a pencil and tapped it against the desk. “Alone.”
The women took the hint. They rose as one and scooted from the room, Uncle Reggie following behind, shaking his head. Even Loner trailed out thedoor.
Noah waited until everyone left before fixing Sami with a steely gaze. “Is this how you teach the women to behave at an interview?”
“Usually I’m conducting the interviews.”
“So you’ve said.” He tossed the pencil aside. “I thought you took this project seriously.”
“I do!”
“So it’s just me that brings out the worst in you?”
“You do seem to prompt an odd reaction.” Many odd reactions.
“The feeling’s mutual,” he muttered. “I suggest we come to an agreement.”
“I’m open to any and all suggestions.”
“Let’s agree not to torture each other unless we’re alone.”
“Torture?” she repeated nervously.
His mouth eased into a smile. “Maybe ‘torture’ is a bit strong.”
Sami froze. His smile drove every thought from her head but one—the memory of his kiss. His arms had been so deliciously tight, his mouth moving on hers with urgent hunger, the taste and scent and feel of him driving her insane with need. He’d touched something deep inside and she didn’t know whether she’d ever recover. Not when the memory of that one embrace kept slipping beneath her guard, haunting her at the oddest moments.
“Sami?”
She inhaled deeply, fighting to focus on the present and push the past into a dark, forbidden corner. What the heck had they been talking about? “Would you mind repeating that last part?”
He grimaced. “You’re right. Maybe I should have said provoke instead of torture. We need to stop provoking each other during these practice sessions. It’s not fair to the women.”
“This next month is going to be a difficult trial period, isn’t it?” For both of them. “Do you want me to return you to Babe?”
He stilled. “Is that why you’re acting this way? So I’ll quit?”
“No.” She shrugged, experiencing a twinge of guilt. Maybe she shouldn’t be so hard on the poor guy. He was just trying to earn an honest wage. “I pretty much act this way all the time. Sorry.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that.”
She leaned closer. “Trust me, I’ll grow on you. Just give it time.” She half expected him to offer a clever comeback.
Instead, he planted his hands on the desktop and leaned toward her until they were within a whisper of touching. “Honey, you’ve already grown on me.”
Her eyes widened. “Aren’t you going to say something rude?”
“Why would I do that?” His dark, rough-edged voice sank into her pores, touching places she’d guarded for over two full decades. She had no protection against him when he looked at her like that and it terrified her. “I like your sense of humor. Ilike your personality. And I’m downright crazy about your mouth.”
She fought for composure. It would be so easy to get lost in his words, to believe what she saw gleaming in the silvered depths of his eyes. She moistened her lips. “But…? There was a ’but’ to your comment, Iassume?”
“I’m afraid so. These women need your help. They’re not rich. They can’t afford to indulge their sense of humor. These jobs are vital to them, as you well know. Otherwise you wouldn’t be working so hard on their behalf.”
She closed her eyes. “You’re right. Idon’t know what came over me.”
“Sure you do.” Something in his tone had her eyes opening again, filling her with a painful awareness of him as a man. He closed the remaining distance between them and brushed his mouth across hers. “It came over me, too.”
“We weren’t supposed to do this, remember?”
“Then stop me.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Neither do I.” But he managed to, anyway. He sank back into his seat with a display of willpower she could only envy. “It’s going to be an interesting month, wouldn’t you say? And just so you know, I’m a ‘no deposit, no return’ employee. Babe won’t take me back and I’m not leaving until my job’s completed.”
“Your job? Just so I have it straight, what’s today’s description?”
“Man Friday has a certain appeal.”
“Yeah? Well, Ididn’t realize that a man Friday ever completed his job.”
“This one does.” His tone held a distinct warning she’d be smart to heed. “Babe only hired me for a short time. When I’m through here, you’ll be the first to know.”
His comment sent Sami sprawling across the tabletop to yank open one of the desk drawers. Grabbing a familiar-looking gold foil box, she sank back into her chair, ripping off the lid. “This calls for some serious chocolate.”
“Do you keep boxes of chocolates in all the rooms around here?” he asked in amusement.
“Absolutely. I’m prepared for any emergency.”
“And what’s prompted this emergency?”
Her throat felt tight and she swallowed hard. “I don’t like talking about endings,” she finally whispered. “I’m not very good at them.”
“And that calls for chocolate?”
“It does if you want to feel better about bad things. Or even feel better about good things.” She waved a square at him before popping it into her mouth. “Chocolate makes everything better.”
He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, his face drawn taut. “In that case, pass the box.”
She shoved it in his direction and chuckled at the absurdity of their situation. Here they sat, each consumed with desire for the other, but they were both too wary to pursue the attraction. “We make quite a pair, don’t we?”
He didn’t open his eyes, but she knew he understood what she meant by the hint of a smile that eased his expression. “Honey, we make one hell of a pair. And one of these days I’m gonna prove it to you.”
And that, Sami decided, called for another round of chocolate.