Part 13 (2/2)

”Kind of.”

He lifted a brow. ”Kind of?”

”Yes. I do go places other than work and home, Blade. I go grocery shopping. I get my hair done once a week. I get my nails done and occasionally a pedicure. Also, when I need to, I get a wax job and-”

She stopped talking. Clamped her mouth shut. Too late she realized she'd given him too much information, especially since he knew firsthand about her Brazilian wax job in an up-close-and-personal sort of way. She cleared her throat. ”Uh, you get the picture.”

He met her gaze. ”Yeah, I got got the picture.” the picture.”

Probably more than he should have, she thought. ”So as you can see I do have a life.”

”And I'm sure you want to keep that life, so I propose that when you're not home or at work that we hang out.”

She lifted a brow. ”Hang out?”

”Yes. Since we live next door to each other, it will be easy for me to drop you off at work each day and come back and pick you up in the evenings. I can also make sure you get to all your errands.”

Blood rushed through her ears upon hearing his offer. Her first impulse was to tell him where he could take his offer, almost certain that there was an ulterior motive. But then she decided to not be so quick to jump to conclusions.

”Why, Blade? Why would you waste your time doing that? You're an intelligent man, so I'm sure you know what I pulled last night was meant to break all ties between us.”

He shrugged. ”Breaking all ties between us is easier said than done, Sam, especially since your best friend happens to be my cousin's wife, and her husband is a man who is as close to me as a brother. When they worry about something, then I worry.”

She narrowed her gaze. ”So you're willing to put up with me so they won't have to worry?”

”That's the gist of it. There cannot and never will be anything between us. I think we both know that.”

She glared at him. Did he have to be so brutally honest? In a way it was for the best, since they both knew where they stood. But if that was the case, then what was that kiss all about a few moments ago? He had taken her mouth like always. Nothing had changed there. Not even her response to him. Or the fact that she wouldn't mind too much if he decided to take her right now. She wasn't sure why she had this fantasy about being taken on her desk, but she did.

She shook her head, not believing the path her thoughts had taken. This was not a good day. It had started off bad and now it had ended badly. She needed a gla.s.s of wine. She needed to spend time in her sauna. A relaxing soak in her hot tub sounded real nice. She needed Blade to move away from her desk. He was too close. He definitely didn't need to be within arm's length of her again. And she certainly didn't need to see up close how aroused he still was.

She cleared her throat. ”Fine, if you want to play babysitter, then knock yourself out.”

She could tell by the expression on his face he would probably like the pleasure of knocking her out instead, given how flip her response was. But he wouldn't. Blade was not a violent man. He might be pretty p.i.s.sed off with her, but he would not hurt her. She really and truly believed that.

And, she thought, glancing over at her flowers-or rather she hoped-that the person who'd sent them wouldn't hurt her, either. She was hoping that whoever he was, he was just trying to mess with her, scare her out of her wits. He had signed the card ”an old friend.” She tried to remember how many players she had humiliated over the years. Now she would be racking her brain for the rest of the day and probably all night, trying to figure out who it could be.

”Ready to go? I left my car at Luke and Mac's place, which is just as well, since I'll be using yours,” Blade said, breaking into her thoughts.

”Whatever. We'll take this a day at a time. I'm hoping this is all a bad joke and that nothing comes out of it.”

”Trust me,” he said, opening the door and then leading her out. ”I'm hoping the very same thing.”

The man picked up the phone on the first ring. ”Is there a problem?”

”The flowers were delivered with a card this time.”

He rolled his eyes. ”I'm well aware of that,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm. The woman was getting on his nerves. ”You said you understood why I have to do what I'm doing, and that I had your full support. Are you changing your mind now?”

”No.”

He smiled. ”Good. And I'll have something special for you when I see you again. And remember, no matter what, we're in this thing together. All I want to do is shake her up a little bit, scare her some. Once that's over, our life together can begin.”

The lie coming from his lips was bittersweet. First, he would take care of Samari Di Meglio, and then she she would be next. He couldn't risk anyone ever finding out he was the mastermind behind everything. He had waited years for this opportunity. would be next. He couldn't risk anyone ever finding out he was the mastermind behind everything. He had waited years for this opportunity.

”Love you,” he said, repeating another lie in a deep, husky bedroom voice, trying to remind her of what had happened between them the last time they'd been together, and how good things were between them when she did what he asked.

”Love you, too.”

He knew she did, and he would play it for all it was worth to get the results he wanted.

Chapter 15.

”I can't believe I ate so much pizza.” can't believe I ate so much pizza.”

Blade started the car and couldn't help looking down at Sam's legs. Not for the first time he thought they were definitely a luscious pair. He had been between them three times and there was still unfinished business. He still didn't know how they would feel pinned around his back while he was locked inside her body, rocking them toward one h.e.l.l of an o.r.g.a.s.m. He felt his lower body swell just thinking about it.

He tracked his gaze from her legs up to her face and saw that her eyes were close. And as if she felt him looking at her, she opened them and glanced over at him. She lifted a brow. ”Well?”

He swallowed. ”Well what?”

She rolled her eyes. ”Can you believe I ate so much pizza?”

He couldn't help but chuckle. h.e.l.l, yeah, he could believe it, since he was watching each and every time she slid a slice into her mouth, recalling how she had used that same mouth on him. ”Yes, I can believe it. I saw you.” He would tell her that much. ”Evidently you were hungry.”

She nodded. ”I was. I skipped breakfast and figured I'd get a bite to eat later. As you know, that didn't happen.”

Yes, he knew.

When she closed her eyes again he backed out of the parking lot. They rode in silence, and when he came to the first traffic light, he glanced back over at her. Her eyes were still closed, so he lowered his gaze to her thighs. Her skirt had inched up when she'd buckled her seat belt. He liked seeing her thighs, but definitely needed to say something to her about wearing those short skirts.

He chuckled to himself, thinking he really didn't have the right to tell her how to dress, and knowing Sam, she wouldn't hesitate to let him know it. It wasn't as if they were involved or anything.

Then what the h.e.l.l was he doing becoming her chauffeur? Her personal bodyguard? Frankly, he didn't have a problem with the latter, he thought as he drove the car through traffic. If anyone needed to guard her body it might as well be him. Not that he could lay claim to it or anything. It was just the principle of the thing. He smiled, wondering just what that principle was.

”What's with the smile?”

He glanced over at her. She had awakened from her nap. ”Nothing important.” Then to change the subject he asked, ”And what time do you plan on going into the office tomorrow?”

He watched as she drew in a deep breath before running her hands through her hair, to take advantage of the breeze that was coming in through the window.

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