Page 36 of Baby Bodyguard

“I think you’ll find me even more perfect,” Sylvester asserted.

He didn’t sound happy. Apparently, Thomas didn’t appreciate her complimenting another man. Noah could sympathize with that. He yanked free a few more weeds, feeling downright cheerful all of a sudden.

“We’ll see,” Sami said in a noncommittal tone. “I have a number of questions to ask first.”

“Ask away. Ihave nothing to hide.”

Noah heard Sami’s bracelets clatter and risked another quick look. She had her nose buried in a fistful of papers, no doubt her baby questionnaire. Jeez, she was gorgeous. Her hair had escaped her careful attempts to curb the wayward curls, surrounding her face in a halo of sunshine. From his angle hecould see the curve of her well-rounded backside encased in form-hugging red cotton. Her figure hadn’t escaped Sylvester’s notice, either. If she bothered to glance up and look at his expression, she’d have slugged the jerk on principal alone.

“Okay,” she finally announced, leaning forward to toss her papers onto the table in front ofher.

Sylvester followed each delicious movement coming from behind her cropped peek-a-boo top and it took every ounce of self-control for Noah to stay put. One wrong word and he’d be through the window, fist first.

“Question number one,” she began. “If you had to choose between giving me a bright red rose and a cute little daisy, which would you pick?”

“Huh?”

Noah ducked down, smothering a laugh. Only Sami could come up with such an inane question. He couldn’t wait to see how good ol’ Sylvester handled this one. As distracted as he’d been by Sami’s more obvious assets, he didn’t have a hope in hell of concentrating long enough to pass the interview.

“Which would you pick? Arose or a daisy?” she repeated impatiently. “Weren’t you listening? That’s not a very promising start to our interview, Mr. Sylvester.”

“I was listening, honest. I’d pick a… a…” He beamed. “I’d pick you a bright red rose. One that matches your tight red… er… bright red pants.”

“Oh dear.” Her breath escaped in a disappointed sigh. “I was afraid of that.”

“Did I say a rose? Daisy! Imeant a cute little daisy.”

“You do understand that I’m not interested in marriage, don’t you?”

“I understand.”

Under other circumstances, his utter bewilderment would have been good for a laugh. Noah grimaced. Too bad these weren’t other circumstances.

Sylvester cleared his throat. “But, ah… What does that have to do with roses and daisies?”

“Everything, of course.” She snapped her fingers. “Here’s a question for you. Does it bother you that I’m not wearing shoes?”

Noah groaned. He’d bet good money that question didn’t appear anywhere on those papers she held. She was probably still stewing over his comment during their practice interview session. Another handful of weeds strangled beneath hisgrip.

“No, Idon’t mind,” Thomas reassured. “I think your toenail polish is pretty.”

“I couldn’t make up my mind which color to wear so I’m trying out the top three choices until I can decide. There’s Shell Shock Pink, Insatiable Indigo, and Carnal Coral. The coral doesn’t quite go with my red pants, but I never worry about those sorts of details. Which do you like best?”

“Carnal?”

“Yeah, that’s the one I like best, too. Aren’t those names a hoot? Idon’t know where they come up with them.”

Her papers rustled some more and then to Noah’s dismay, the clatter of her bracelets indicated she was moving toward the window. He rolled closer to the stucco wall of the house, hoping she wouldn’t glance down and seehim.

“Okay. Are you ready for my next question?”

“I guess.” Thomas sounded a hell of a lot less enthusiastic than before. “These questions are awfully strange. Ican’t quite figure what they’ve got to do with making a baby.”

“They’re vital,” she insisted. “Now if I should select you over the other applicants, I’d like to get the job done as soon as possible. Do you have a problem with that?”

“Nope. How much of a hurry are you in?”

“A big hurry and by big, Imean huge. You see, there’s some opposition to my plan.”

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