Chapter 2
Noah staredin utter disbelief. “You’re hiring someone to what?”
Sami erupted from her chair. Why did he look so shocked? He said he’d been hired by her mother, that Babe knew about the ad. So why the sudden outrage? “To father my baby, of course. Isn’t that what we’ve been discussing all this time?”
“It may have been what you were discussing, but—”
She attempted to walk off some of her agitation, the chatter of her bracelets drowning out his words. “Don’t you understand? Ichose this method because a clinic is so… so clinical. It’s impersonal. Ithink that’s terrible! Having a baby shouldn’t be a clinical process. And it shouldn’t be impersonal.” She helped herself to another square of chocolate, savoring the creamy texture as it melted on her tongue. She instantly felt calmer. She held out the box. “Would you like one?”
“No. What I’d like is an explanation.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing.” Clearly the man had no appreciation for the finer epicurean treats in life. “I want to know all about the man who will father my son or daughter. Iwant to know what sort of genes will be combining with mine. What he looks like, what he thinks about, whether he has more than two brain cells rattling around in his skull.”
“Whoa! Time out.” He added something beneath his breath, aferocious slew of words she was better off not attempting to decipher.
She planted her hands on her hips and swiveled to face him. “What’s wrong?”
“Is that what all those men in the hallway are for?”
“Of course.”
“You’re looking for someone to father your baby?”
Her frown deepened. “Maybe I should also schedule a psychological exam, just to play it safe.”
“I suggest you schedule one for yourself, as well.”
He climbed to his feet, towering over her. Maybe it was his penchant for wearing black she found intimidating. Really, couldn’t he have softened the effect with a bit of lemony-yellow or peachy-coral? Or perhaps it wasn’t the intense black at all, but the way his shirt stretched over impressively broad shoulders and clung to powerful thighs. Or maybe it was the manner in which he fixed those piercing gray eyes on her. It took every ounce of self-possession not to squirm like a schoolgirl. She hadn’t felt this way since… Since… Well, good grief. Come to think of it, she’d never felt thisway.
“Have you lost your mind?” he demanded.
She scowled. “I suspect I have. Maybe if you moved all—” She gestured at the muscular wall of black blocking her path. “All that further away, Icould think straight.”
His eyebrow—his black eyebrow—shot upward. Amusement dimmed the anger glittering in his gaze. “Am I standing too close?” he asked blandly.
“Yes. To be honest, I’m typically one of those people with little to no sense of personal space. But with you…” She shook her head. “I may have to install a buffer zone.”
He took a deliberate step backward. “Better?”
“Much thanks.”
“Good. Now perhaps you can answer my questions. You put an ad online for sperm donors?”
“Yes. Though I worded it a bit more politely than that.”
“How politely?”
She swept to the coffee table by the chairs, bracelets jangling in agitation, and picked up a scrap of newspaper. “Didn’t Babe show this to you?”
He took the ad from her and removed his reading glasses from his shirt pocket. Another frown lined his brow, but Sami suspected this one came from his need for the glasses. At a guess he despised them because they gave visible expression to an irritating weakness. Aman like Noah might make allowances for weaknesses in others, but she doubted he tolerated them in himself. Propping the half-glasses on his nose, he read the ad aloud.
“‘Man between the ages of 25 and 40 needed to contribute his all in a brief romantic encounter. Will be well paid for his efforts. Required to produce positive fruit from aforementioned labor. Must sign contract that any and all results will be the exclusive property of recipient.”’
“See? It’s very tactful.”
“You mean it’s guaranteed to draw every nutcase west of the Mississippi to your front door.” He folded his glasses and tucked them away. “At least you had the good sense to rent a post office box for responses.”
“Of course.”
“I hope you also required them to send a photo, arésumé, and references.”
“Yes, I—”
She broke off. Wait just one darned minute. Something didn’t make sense here. It only took an instant to figure out what. He hadn’t seen the ad before! She studied Noah with acute suspicion. He returned her look with a knowing one of his own, no doubt anticipating her next question.
“Come to think of it, Inever received your photo or résumé. I’d remember if I had.” Boy, would she have remembered. “So, if you’re not here in response to the ad, then why are you here?”
“Babe contacted me after she moved into her apartment. She’s concerned about you living all alone here and thought you might need help. Idon’t think she realized quite how much.”
“Hey!” Sami frowned at the reminder that Noah had been sent by her mother. “Maybe we should start over. Who are you? What are you doing here? And how is my mother involved?”
“You already know who I am. Noah Hawke, in case you’ve forgotten. Babe hired me as a birthday present. I’m supposed to work for you. In the traditional sense, Imight add. When I saw the others in the hallway, Iassumed you were interviewing someone for the job your mother hired me to do. That’s why I cut in line.”
“And what job is that?”
“Man Friday. Personal assistant. Valet.” He shrugged. “Take your pick.”
“Thanks, but no thanks. Idon’t need that sort of help. Ican take care of myself and all the other household positions are filled.”
“Except for someone to help make a baby?”
The barb hit home. “That’s none of your business.”
“Funny. Not five minutes ago you were interviewing me as a prospective father.”
“That was five minutes ago.” She pointed toward the door. “Now I want you to leave.”
“Certainly. I’ll be happy to go back to Babe and tell her that you’re no longer in the market for an employee.” He paused a beat. “Should I offer her my services as a baby-maker instead? Perhaps that can be your birthday present in place of a man Friday.”
“No!” He was being difficult on purpose. He’d also managed to find the one downside to getting rid of him. “No, Idon’t want her to know anything about this.”
“She’s going to find out one of these days. Or were you planning to keep her in the dark until the baby arrived?”
“I intend to tell her.” Sami tried not to sound too defensive. Not that it worked. She’d anticipated opposition to her plan once word leaked out. She just hadn’t expected it this soon. “But I don’t see the rush in bringing her up to speed.”
“What you mean is, if she finds out what you’re planning before the deed is done, she’ll do everything within her power to talk you out of it.”
Sami grimaced. Noah struck her as the type of person who’d prove himself right more often than not. How annoying, particularly when it happened at her expense. “She might offer her opinion on the matter.” Loudly.
“Got it.” His smile appeared far too smug. “Then I gather you’ve decided to accept your mother’s birthday present?”
“That’s blackmail!”
He folded his arms across his chest. “So it is.”
She stewed for a whole two minutes. “I gather I don’t have any choice?”
“None. Igave your mother my word that I’d do this job and I don’t go back on my word. Not ever.”
He was dead serious. Everything about him communicated that fact—from his set expression to the implacable tone of his voice to the tensed muscles ridging his jaw and shoulders. She considered her options. Maybe he wouldn’t be so bad to have around. He appeared strong. Capable. Intelligent. Maybe he could help with the interviews. She brightened. It might be fun to have a personal assistant. And it would make her mother happy. That alone made up for the inconvenience of having the opinionated Mr. Hawke in her life for a while. They only needed to iron out one tiny detail.
“Will you do what I tell you?” she demanded.
“I’ll be your employee, if that’s what you mean.”
As an answer, it left something to be desired. Amusement vied with irritation. “You haven’t done this for long, have you?”
He eyed her warily. “What do you mean? Done what?”
“You seem to have trouble taking orders.” Suspicion dawned. “Is this your first man Friday job?”
He hesitated a split second before a wry smile eased the hard set of his face. With that one change of expression he switched from cool and remote to dangerously appealing. “Is it so obvious?”
Well, good grief! It was his first job. “Now don’t you worry,” she said, exuding compassion. “I have every confidence that you can handle it. No wonder you’ve been acting strangely. You don’t know what you’re doing.”
A dangerous light sparked in his eyes. “I don’t know what I’m doing?”
“I didn’t think so.” She swept aside his concerns. “But that’s not a problem. You can consider this on-the-job training.”
He started to say something, then paused. “Does that mean you’re going to let me stay?”
Did he doubt it? Poor man. “Absolutely. How can I turn you away knowing this is your first job? You should have explained that right off. I’d have been much more sympathetic.”
He seemed to have trouble breathing. “Let me get this straight. If I’d been experienced at this, you’d have gotten rid of me. But because I’m totally inexperienced, you’re keeping me on.”
She beamed, giving his arm another pat. “Exactly. Tell you what, why don’t you take the day off? Relax and try not to worry too much. You can start tomorrow.” She walked to the door and tugged it open. “Now if you’ll excuse me, Ihave more interviews to conduct.”
Noah followed her to the door and checked the hallway. “Make that interview.”
She gazed at him in confusion. “Excuse me?”
“Interview, singular. Not plural. Your prospective daddies seem to have taken off. All but that one gentleman who’s climbed on top of your highboy.” Noah slanted the man in question an amused glance. “You might want to reconsider him. He doesn’t strike me as too promising a candidate.”
She looked in the direction Noah indicated, her mouth dropping open. “Come down from there,” she demanded of theman.
He shook his head. “I’m not moving. Not until you get rid of that wolf!”
Sami watched in interest as Noah silently signaled Loner to back away. The two worked well together, their obvious attachment a delight to witness. She returned her attention to her final interview. “Okay, he’s out of the way. You can get down now.”
“He’s harmless,” Noah offered.
“Harmless!” The man gave a short, humorless laugh. “He chased everyone out of here. Growled at them, licked his chops, bared his teeth. If I hadn’t climbed up here, heaven knows what would have happened.”
“Exactly what did happen. Nothing.” Loner dropped to the floor and rested his head on his front paws. Heaving a sigh, the animal closed his eyes and began to snore. “See? Harmless.”
The man scrambled off the highboy, edged around Loner and scampered for the door. “Wait a minute,” Sami protested. “What about the interview?”
“Forget it. I’m not that desperate.”
The door banged closed behind him and Sami planted her hands on her hips. “Now what am I supposed to do?”
“I have a suggestion.”
“What?”
“Find yourself a husband. Then you can make as many babies as you want. It’s safer. And it’s smarter.”
“Oh, dear,” an amused voice came from the direction of the front door. “Am I interrupting?”
Noah placed himself squarely in front of Sami. “You are, if you’re here for the interview.”
She banged on his back. Not that it made much impression. The man felt like he’d been constructed from steel rather than mere blood and bone. “Move out of the way, you crazy man. He’s not here for the interview.”
“Loner?” The dog lifted his head, sniffed the air, then relaxed again. With a nod, Noah stepped to one side. “Okay. It’s safe.”
Sami glared. “You think?” Unfortunately, Noah proved as impervious to her sarcasm as to her fist. Brushing past him, she threw her arms around her visitor, relieved to have a minute to recover her equilibrium. Her brand new man Friday was entirely too disconcerting. “Uncle Reggie! How wonderful to see you.”
“Hello, my dear,” Reggie Fontaine replied, affection clear in his voice. “How are you?”
“I’m fine.” She grabbed his impeccably ironed collar, crumpling it in her enthusiasm, and gave him a quick kiss. “Where have you been? It’s like you dropped off the face of the earth. I’ve missed you.”
“I’m sorry, my dear. Sometimes business gets in the way of pleasure.” He glanced at Noah. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
She’d rather not. Unfortunately, considering her uncle’s obsession with “proper” behavior, she didn’t have much choice. “Oh, sorry. This is Noah Hawke. Noah, this is my uncle Reggie Fontaine.”
Reggie’s brows grew together as the two shook hands. “Hawke… Hawke… Now why is that name familiar?”
“You’re thinking of Mel Hawke,” Sami hastened to explain. “Mother’s ex-fiancé? Noah’s distantly related.”
An odd emotion shifted across Reggie’s face. “Is Mel back in Babe’s life? Ithought that was over and done with.”
Noah didn’t wait for Sami to respond. “No, he’s not back in her life. Yes, it is over and done with. And that’s not why I’m here.” He paused a beat. “I’m Sami’s employee.”
“Employee?” Reggie stared in surprise, his gentle blue eyes filled with a combination of curiosity and concern. “I have been away too long. When did this happen?”
Sami glanced from one to the other, sensing some silent, intensely masculine communication between the two men that sent prickles of unease chasing down her spine. “Just now.”
“I’m a birthday present from Babe.” He folded his arms across his chest and planted himself squarely in front of Sami’s uncle. “Whatever Ms. Fontaine needs, I’m to give her.”
Reggie lifted an eyebrow. “Anything?”
“Anything,” Noah confirmed.
Sami squirmed her way between the two men. An elbow to Noah’s gut helped, though she suspected it caused more damage to her than to him. She massaged the bruise. Impossible man! “I believe you neglected to mention that part.”
“You’ll have to excuse the lapse,” Noah replied in a distinctly unapologetic tone of voice. “We haven’t had much time to go over my job description. Ithought we could do that when I moved in.”
“Moved in?” Reggie glanced from one to the other in alarm. “Do you think that’s wise?”
Noah offered a smile as innocent as that of a fallen angel. It suited his dark attire and pale, silvery eyes. His wolf-dog shifted to sit alertly at his master’s heels, adding to Noah’s dangerous appearance. “How else can I give her everything she needs?”
“Excuse us, please.” Reggie grasped Sami’s arm and pulled her to one side. “Have you looked into this man’s background? Is he safe to have in the house with you?” he asked in a low voice.
“No, Ihaven’t looked into his background,” she answered patiently. She peeked at Noah, suspecting he could hear every word. Sure enough, an ironic gleam drifted into his calm gaze. “He was hired by Babe. If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll find out whether she’s checked into his background.”
“You know how much I care for your mother. But she…” Reggie sighed. “I don’t mean to sound rude, my dear. But your mother’s not the most cautious woman in the world. I’d be very surprised if she did anything other than catch a glimpse of Mr. Hawke’s impressive physique and give her stamp of approval based on no more than her infamous instincts. Though why she believes they’re in the least accurate defies all logic.”
“She hasn’t had the best luck with men,” Sami conceded the point.
“Very gracious of you to state it that way, my dear. In my opinion, your mother’s ability to judge character is appalling.”
Sami privately agreed, not that she’d admit that to her uncle. As much as she adored Reggie, her mother received her first loyalty. “I’m sure she thought I’d need help now that she’s moved out,” Sami offered, hoping evasion might change the subject.
“Then…” Her uncle cleared his throat. “Your mother’s involved in another relationship?”
“If she is, she hasn’t told me about it.”
“But that’s the only time she moves out, isn’t it?” Regret lined his face and dimmed the blue of his eyes. “So. Iassume we’ll soon receive invitations for marriage number five.”
“Six.” Sami touched his arm. “She loved Daddy more than anyone, Uncle Reg. You know that. No one’s been able to replace him.”
“But still, she continues to try. Not that my brother is easily replaced.”
“Perhaps the next man will be different.”
Reggie’s chin firmed, as though anticipating a blow. “You’ve met him?”
“Like I said. If there’s someone new, she hasn’t told me about it.” Sami made a face. “You know how Babe is.”
“Yes, my dear,” he murmured with a melancholy smile. “I’m well aware of your mother’s eccentricities.”
“Well, this is a new one on me. She’s always waited for an engagement ring before leaving home. This time there wasn’t even a hint. Acouple of days ago she packed her bags, gave me a kiss on the check and breezed out the door. Ionly see her when she stops by to collect the mail.”
“What in the world is that woman up to now?”
Sami caught her lower lip between her teeth. How could she possibly answer that? Babe was impossible to anticipate. “Perhaps she wants to live on her own for a while. She’s using the Nob Hill apartment.”
That gave him pause. He stood carefully erect, his spine military-straight, his shoulders taut. He tugged at his crumpled collar, focusing on a spot an inch above her head. “Your mother is not one to live on her own for long. Isuspect we should prepare ourselves for the worst.”
“Perhaps it’ll be for the best this time.”
For some reason that only depressed him all the more. “We’ll have to hope so. Your mother deserves happiness. Perhaps she’d find it if she didn’t flit from—” He broke off, ahint of color slipping along his cheekbones.
“From husband to husband?” Sami asked dryly.
Anguish scored his face with deep furrows. “I apologize, my dear. That was unforgivably rude.”
She patted his arm. “Not rude, Uncle Reggie. Just honest.”
“Well, Ms. Fontaine?” Noah interrupted. “What’s the verdict? Do you risk life and limb to keep me on? Or should I go now?”
Sami gave her uncle a reassuring smile before rejoining her “employee.” It bordered on the ridiculous to refer to him as such. She’d never met a more fiercely independent soul. His eyes had darkened in the few minutes she’d been talking to her uncle. They appeared harder, more untamed, blazing with a coldness that sat oddly with such a passionate spirit.
“How can I refuse my mother’s birthday present? Or refuse you the chance at your first man Friday position?” she asked lightly. “You understand that I’ll need references and a copy of your résumé?”
“Otherwise I’ll be forced to put my foot down,” Reggie explained in a no-nonsense voice.
“That’s not a problem.”
“When will it be convenient to move in?”
Before he could respond, apint-size boy burst through the door. “Hey, Sami! You oughta see the car out front. It must take up a whole block. And there’s this great big guy standing there. He’s wearing a uniform and everything.”
“Hey, Pudge,” Sami greeted her helper. “You’re late. You didn’t get another detention at school, did you?”
“Nah. I’ve been outside helpin’. You’re the one who’s late. Oh!” He snapped his fingers. “I almost forgot. You better come quick. That’s what I come to tell you.”
“I believe this is my cue to leave,” Reggie announced.
“Oh, no,” Sami protested. “Must you? Can’t you stay for dinner?”
He slid a quick glance in Noah’s direction. “Not this time, I’m afraid. But we’ll make arrangements to get together soon.”
“Promise?”
“I always keep my promises, my dear. You know that.”
“Is that car yours?” Pudge interrupted. “That big one out front?”
Reggie smiled in amusement. “Indeed, it is, young man.”
“And the giant, too? Does he belong to you?”
“He’s my driver.”
“Wow.”
“Pudge?” Sami cut in. “You mentioned a problem?”
“Oh, right. You better get out back fast. All hell’s breakin’ loose.”
“Pudge!”
The boy sighed. “It just don’t sound right to say all heck’s breakin’ loose. And besides, that’s not what’s going on.”
Reggie gave Sami’s cheek a quick kiss. “We’ll talk soon, yes?”
“Of course,” she confirmed absently. What in the world had happened? “Any day you’re free is fine.”
“My dear—” Reggie broke off and shook his head with a rueful smile. “Forget it. Another time.”
Something in his voice snagged her attention. “Uncle Reggie?”
“Never mind. We’ll catch up later.” Giving her a final hug, he made his way to the front door andleft.
“What’s the problem, Pudge?” Noah asked, his watchful gaze drifting from the boy to Sami. “Perhaps I can help.”
Help? Not good. Not good at all. Noah had a most unfortunate character flaw. He liked to be in charge. This was definitely one situation she preferred to handle herself. “I can take care of it, no problem,” she hastened to say. “You were going to relax for the rest of the day, remember? You don’t start work until tomorrow.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Do I look like I need to rest?” He didn’t give her a chance to answer. “Why don’t I watch, so I get an idea of normal procedures around here?”
Pudge tugged on her arm. “Hurry!”
Sami blew wispy curls from her eyes. She had the distinct impression she’d run out of choices. Noah intended to follow her outside whether she wanted him to or not. “Okay, fine. Just don’t scare anybody.”
Silver-gray eyes impaled her. “Scare anybody? What does that mean?”
Sami planted her hands on her hips. “You can be very intimidating, in case you didn’t know. And I’d rather you didn’t upset anyone by saying something provocative or bulging your muscles at them or giving them that look of yours.”
“What look?”
Pudge danced from foot to foot. “If you don’t come now, they’re going to kill each other,” he warned.
Noah placed himself in front of Sami, once again. “Not while I’m around to stop it.”
She started to shove him out of her path, then thought better of it. Skirting him, she shot a quick glare over her shoulder. “That look, Tarzan.”