His mouth twisted wryly at that description. ‘I’m actually a wolf in a wolf’s clothing. But even wolves have a heart, Samantha. And, for obvious reasons, I utterly despise bullies,’ he added harshly. ‘So...’ he straightened ‘...will you let me help you?’
Sam looked at him for several long seconds before she slowly nodded her head. ‘He gave me until the end of the week to make my decision.’
‘Big of him.’
‘He seemed to think so, yes.’
‘I’ll have something in place by then,’ Xander assured her grimly.
‘Then, yes,’ she accepted huskily. ‘Yes, I’ll gladly let you help me, if you really want to.’
‘I want to.’ He nodded tersely.
* * *
Sam lived in a state of trepidation for the next four days. Malcolm had given her until the end of the week to make her decision, but she knew him too well to believe anything he said, and lived in fear of him waiting for her at Daisy’s school again one morning or evening.
And she worried even more when the days passed and she heard nothing further from him.
Xander had assured her he had the situation under control, when Sam had voiced her concerns a couple of days before, adding that he would have some positive news for her by the end of the week.
But he must also have been concerned Malcolm might turn up again at Daisy’s school because he had insisted on accompanying them in the car to and from school these past four mornings. Much to Daisy’s delight.
And so giving Sam another worry—that her daughter was becoming altogether too attached to Xander. They all ate their meals together now, and had done since Sunday morning when Xander had insisted he would be eating all of his meals in the kitchen in future. And it was Xander who Daisy was eager to see when she came out of school every day. Xander that Daisy asked to read her a story every night before she went to sleep.
Which was exactly what he was doing on Friday evening while Sam cleared away in the kitchen after dinner.
It was all a bit too cosy for comfort.
Sam’s comfort, at least; Xander and Daisy seemed perfectly happy with the arrangement.
So, along with worrying about Malcolm, she also had the extra worry of how Daisy was going to react when the two of them had to move out of Xander’s apartment in just over a week’s time.
Not that Sam didn’t completely understand Daisy’s infatuation; she was afraid she had one of those going herself where Xander was concerned.
As if by tacit agreement, the two of them hadn’t spoken again of the things Xander had told her of his childhood. But the knowledge of those shared confidences was there between them, nonetheless, creating a subtle but discernible shift in their relationship. There was an unspoken companionship between them now, coupled with that underlying physical awareness. The latter on Sam’s part, at least.
Xander had made no attempt to step over the line with Sam again, and that was despite the fact that his desire was more than obvious every time she helped him in and out of the shower!
And was that disappointment she was feeling?
Because Xander hadn’t made a single attempt to kiss her again?
Was she actually feeling a little jealous of the closeness that existed between Xander and Daisy?
No, not jealous exactly; how could Sam possibly resent any kindness and affection Xander might show towards Daisy? It was just that she ached to be closer to him herself.
‘Everything okay?’
She almost dropped the plate she was placing in the dishwasher at Xander’s unexpected reappearance in the kitchen. Usually she was able to hear his progress down the hallway on his crutches, but the daily physio sessions were going so well that the physiotherapist had advised just yesterday that he need only use the walking stick now. After which Sam had been caught out more than once when Xander appeared unexpectedly in a room.
She placed the plate in the dishwasher before straightening, her gaze focused somewhere over Xander’s left shoulder as he stood in the doorway; she was far too physically aware of him after her recent thoughts. ‘I was just wondering what Daisy and I should do over the weekend.’
Xander stepped fully into the room, immediately dwarfing what had previously seemed a spacious room. ‘Strange, the two of us were just discussing that too. Daisy would like us to take her to the cinema tomorrow and then she suggested we all go swimming.’
Sam’s heart sank at the thought of a Xander-filled weekend; hours and hours when she would have to hide the growing feelings she had for him. ‘I really appreciate all the time and effort you’ve taken with Daisy this past week—’ she began.
‘But?’ He quirked one blond brow.
Sam still couldn’t look at him directly, that disturbing awareness of him thrumming beneath her skin. ‘But perhaps you shouldn’t spend quite as much time with her as you do? Daisy shouldn’t come to rely on your attention so much,’ she added regretfully. ‘We’re going to be leaving here at the end of next week, and—’
‘And you think I’m then just going to forget all about her, is that it?’ Xander barked harshly, more than a little insulted by that assumption. ‘You said you trusted me, Samantha,’ he said gruffly.
‘I do trust you.’ Samantha chewed on her bottom lip. ‘It’s just—I appreciate the time you’ve spent with Daisy, I really do. It’s simply that I know you’re still incapacitated, at the moment, and can’t do the things you usually do,’ she hurried on as Xander scowled. ‘That it must be boring for you being stuck in this apartment all the time, as well as frustrating. But you’re improving rapidly, and once you’re completely fit again, you’ll obviously want to return to your own life, and—’
‘And then I’ll no longer have time for Daisy, is that what you’re saying?’ Xander realised that he and Samantha had deliberately not discussed personal subjects again since revealing so much about themselves to each other on Monday. Possibly because neither of them were used to doing that? But Samantha’s implication now, that he was just going to cast Daisy aside like a pair of old shoes once he was fit again, was hardly fair.
He had grown genuinely fond of Daisy. For herself. But also, Xander knew, because she was a miniature version of her mother.
He had grown more than a little fond of Samantha too. In fact, the desire he felt to make love to her was now a physical ache that he lived with on a daily basis. A desire he was determinedly denying himself from even attempting to satisfy, because he knew he shouldn’t take advantage of this situation.
Maybe it was selfish of him, but he had been putting off discussing Howard with Samantha again, had enjoyed this past week too much, having Samantha relax in his company, having her trust him, to want to ruin that peace and harmony. He had even taken to having cold showers every morning, in an effort not to ruin that trust by attempting to kiss her again!
That Samantha should now more or less accuse him of using Daisy as a diversion for his boredom, and that he would forget about her, and Samantha, once he was fit enough to resume his own life, just added salt to the wound.
Did those confidences he had shared with her about his father mean nothing to her? And what of the trust she had placed in him by agreeing to let him help her?
‘Well, thanks for that, Samantha,’ he grated. ‘Nice to know you think me insensitive as well as shallow!’ He turned abruptly, leaving the kitchen to walk down the hallway, and shut himself in his study before sitting down heavily behind his desk.
Before he said anything he might regret.
Such as, that he hadn’t been bored for a single moment these last few days.
That, despite the initial doubts he had voiced to Darius on the subject he liked having Samantha and Daisy living with him, and genuinely enjoyed their company.
That he woke up every morning with a smile on his face, in anticipat
ion of spending the day with them.
That he had the feeling his apartment was going to have all the warmth of a morgue after they left next weekend.
That it was testament to how much he liked Samantha that he had shared those confidences of his childhood, a subject he had never discussed with anyone outside his immediate family.
Damn it, Xander valued all of those things so highly that he had deliberately chosen to keep his desire for Samantha to himself, for fear that it might damage the peaceful existence they now had.
Maybe he did need to get out of his apartment for a while, away from both Samantha and Daisy, and try to get some perspective back into his life?
His assistant had been arriving promptly at the apartment at nine-thirty every morning this week so that the two of them could spend an hour or so going through what needed to be dealt with urgently, and what could wait until Darius either came back from his honeymoon or Xander was fit enough to spend the day in his office.
But he hadn’t been out of his apartment for weeks on a social basis, apart from to attend the wedding last weekend.
Security was downstairs, so Samantha would be safe enough from her ex-husband in his apartment, and a couple of hours checking out the Midas nightclub might be just what Xander needed to put himself, and this situation, back into perspective.
‘Xander?’
He had been so lost in deep and brooding thought that he hadn’t even heard Samantha open the study door. She hovered in the doorway looking across at him uncertainly.
She looked so very beautiful, with her flame-coloured hair loose and curling about her shoulders and down her back, her face slightly flushed from cooking and clearing away after dinner. Her small and perfectly rounded breasts were pert against the white fitted shirt she wore, her tailored black trousers clinging lovingly to the sweet curve of her hips and bottom.
Xander’s body reacted sharply to the sight of her.
So much so that the need he now felt, to stand up and move restlessly about his study, became an impossibility. ‘What is it, Samantha?’ he enquired softly.
‘I wanted to apologise. I didn’t mean to imply—I know that you genuinely care for Daisy—I just don’t want—I would never deliberately insult you,’ she finished lamely.
‘Just indirectly,’ Xander drawled. ‘Let’s just forget it,’ he dismissed. ‘You were probably right to be concerned.’ He shrugged. ‘I am basically shallow and insensitive.’
‘I didn’t say that.’
‘No, I did.’ He sighed. ‘What do I know about five-year-olds anyway?’
‘Well, you were once one yourself.’
Yes, he had been, and he knew exactly how it had felt to be so young and so totally bewildered by his own father’s dislike of him. As Malcolm Howard’s years of lack of interest in his own daughter seemed to imply the other man also disliked Daisy.
So yes, on that level Xander could relate totally to Daisy.
It was the increasing desire he felt to make love to her mother that had become the biggest danger.
‘Let’s not argue, Xander.’ Tears glistened in her eyes as Samantha looked across at him imploringly. ‘This business with Malcolm has unsettled me. I certainly didn’t mean to insult you by anything I said earlier.’
Xander knew that. Knew that Samantha wasn’t the type of woman to ever deliberately insult or hurt anyone. She was sweet and kind, and had been infinitely patient and understanding from the onset, despite his bad-temperedness. She was also a wonderful mother to Daisy.
Nor did he have a single regret about telling her about his own childhood; he knew that it had been necessary at the time. It had also, in some strange inexplicable way, continued to act as a balm to his own feelings about the past.
He drew in a deep and ragged breath. ‘You’re obviously tense and worried about your ex, and I should probably have talked to you about this sooner.’ He sighed heavily. ‘I didn’t because...’ He paused, knowing it had been selfish of him to want to keep the status quo for as long as possible. ‘After making extensive enquiries about Malcolm Howard, I’ve decided to make my strike against him through his business,’ he revealed grimly. ‘In fact, I’ve already set those plans in motion. Don’t look so worried.’ He gave Samantha a reassuring smile. ‘By the time I’ve finished with him Howard will wish he had never so much as spoken to you again, let alone threatened you by using Daisy.’
She gave a worried frown. ‘What are you going to do?’
‘What am I doing?’ Xander corrected grimly as he stood up, his erection having finally subsided. ‘Howard Electronics is shortly going to experience a severe problem with the loan they’re currently requesting from their bank, putting in jeopardy the plans Howard currently has for expansion into the Japanese market,’ he added with satisfaction.
Xander had also cancelled Howard’s membership to the Midas nightclub the day after he and Samantha had spoken, a move guaranteed to ensure the other man knew exactly where his troubles were coming from. It shouldn’t take too long, once Howard discovered his membership to Midas had been discontinued, for the other man to make enquiries and realise Xander was also behind the difficulty with his bank loan. A deliberate move on Xander’s part, to ensure that he became Howard’s target, rather than Samantha or Daisy.
‘You can do that?’ Samantha eyed him doubtfully.
Xander gave a grim smile of satisfaction. ‘I can when it turns out I have a financial interest in the bank Howard uses. At the moment he is running around like a headless chicken trying to secure a loan from another bank.’
‘And what happens when he stops running around in circles?’ She frowned.
Xander grimaced. ‘My lawyer will have contacted him before then, strongly suggesting Howard comes to his office for a meeting. A meeting at which, in exchange for a guaranteed loan from me, with a low interest rate, he will sign a contract agreeing never to come near you or Daisy ever again. This needs to be settled once and for all, Samantha,’ he insisted huskily as he saw she still looked worried.
‘What if he still doesn’t agree?’
‘He will.’ Because if he didn’t Xander would feel no compunction whatsoever in breaking the other man completely.
She gave a shake of her head. ‘I can’t let you do that.’
‘It’s already done, Samantha.’
Sam could only stare at him. This was insane. Unbelievable. She had known Xander was extremely rich, but it seemed he was even more powerful than she could ever have imagined. And she had never dreamt that he would go to such lengths on her own and Daisy’s behalf.
Xander took a step forward to look down at her searchingly. ‘I won’t let him hurt you, or Daisy, again, Samantha.’
That was laudable, it really was, except that Sam had realised these past few days that it was Xander himself who was now capable of hurting her, far more than Malcolm ever had, but in a completely different way.
She had been fighting her attraction to him all week, avoiding being alone with him whenever possible, as well as keeping their conversations light and impersonal. It hadn’t always been possible to remain completely immune, of course; shower time with Xander had become both Sam’s daily torture and pleasure. Especially given his blatant desire.
But Sam had put his arousal down to the weeks he had been denied a sex life, rather than a direct response to her. Xander was probably so sexually frustrated, after almost two months of drought, that he would have responded physically to any woman, rather than specifically to her.
Nevertheless, that hadn’t prevented Sam’s own reaction to all that taut, tanned, and naked flesh: wide and muscled shoulders she ached to touch, a sleek and lean chest, his waist and hips narrow, his legs long and muscled.
His hair had also grown longer this past week, falling in shaggy blond waves onto the back of the rounded neckline of
his T-shirts, and falling silkily over his forehead.
He looked even more like a sleek and muscled Viking about to plunder and pillage and—
‘Samantha?’ Xander queried huskily as he took in the slightly fevered glow to her eyes and the delicate flush that had appeared in her cheeks, the tenseness of silence between them now such that he could hear the clock ticking out in the hallway.
Her gaze was focused on his mouth as she moistened the plumpness of her own recently chewed lips with a sweep of her tongue. ‘I should get back to the kitchen.’
‘I thought you had finished in there for the night?’
She looked flustered. ‘I— Not quite. I—I’ll leave you to—to get on with whatever it was you were doing when I interrupted you.’
He shrugged. ‘I was just sitting here thinking of going out.’
She raised startled eyes. ‘You were?’
‘To the club.’ Xander nodded. ‘But I’d really rather stay here. With you.’
Dark lashes fanned against Samantha’s cheeks as she lowered her lids. ‘You would?’
‘Look at me, Samantha.’
She gave a slow shake of her head. ‘I’d really rather not.’
‘Why not?’
Her gaze flickered up to his and then quickly away again.
Clearly she had seen and correctly read the desire he was no longer making any effort to hide.
The same desire he had been fighting for the past week. A desire he wasn’t sure he was capable of fighting any longer. He wanted Samantha so much right now he could no longer think straight. And her scent was driving him insane; insidiously warm and desirable woman combined with an underlying floral smell, possibly lavender soap?
‘This really is a bad idea, Xander.’
‘The most enjoyable ones usually are.’ He stepped forward to take her in his arms, the softness of her curves instantly accommodating his much harder ones.
She placed her hands on his shoulders in an effort to hold her body away from him. ‘We really shouldn’t do this, Xander.’ Her voice was pleading, asking for a level-headedness he simply couldn’t give her right now.
The Taming of Xander Sterne Page 11