Page 42 of Baby Bodyguard

He crossed to the sitting area and picked up her questionnaire. He waited for her to say something or to take the papers from him. When she didn’t, he pulled out his reading glasses and scanned the pages.

A notation at the top of her list reminded her to ask for the applicants name, age and marital status. Next came her infamous rose versus daisy question. Then there were several dozen more questions, all neatly typed and printed. Finally, in the margin beside the questions, alist of characteristics were scrawled in what could only be Sami’s inimitable handwriting—feminine and appealingly loopy.

Powerful, she’d written, both mentally and physically. Calm. Logical. Patient. Must have common sense. The word “must” had been underlined several times. Kind. Generous. Willing to pitch in at a moment’s notice. Protective. Loves animals. Owning a wolf a plus. His mouth twitched as he read that one. Strong, gentle hands. Looks good in black. Clear, direct eyes. Gray color another plus. Can kiss like a dream. Most of all… must understand the importance of family.

It took a long moment before he could gather his control enough to speak. “This is quite a list.”

“See? Ireally did have some good questions. And you doubted me. Ha!” She smiled in triumph. “That’ll teach you.”

He waited until her bravado had died before gently explaining, “I’m not talking about the questions. Imean the list you made beside the questions.” He slipped off his glasses and tapped the papers with the earpiece. “Is this how you see me?”

Shock darkened Sami’s eyes. Apparently she’d forgotten about the added notations. “The… ah… list?”

He held out the pertinent page. “Would you care to refresh your memory?”

She snatched it from his grasp and hastily read through it. “Oh. Oh, right. This stuff.”

“Stuff?” Thoroughly irritated by her attitude, he tossed his glasses in the general direction of the coffee table. They clattered against the wood, before sliding to the floor.

Her shirt rose and fell, betraying her agitation. “Just me being silly,” she claimed.

He wasn’t about to let her get away with that. “So you didn’t mean any of it?”

“Well maybe the part about the eyes. And the wolf.” She cleared her throat. “Oh, and this little bit here about you looking good in black. Imust admit, you do have a way with that particular color.”

“What about the rest?”

She gave up, surrendering to the inevitable. “What do you want me to say, Noah? That I think you’re wonderful? That I think you exemplify all the qualities I’m hoping to find in the man who will father my child? Okay, fine. Iadmit it. Yes, that’s how I see you. You’re all that and more. In fact, you’re I-Can’t-Believe-It’s-True-Try-Not-To-Drool-When-You-Look-At-Him Mr. Perfect. Satisfied?”

More than satisfied. “Then why are you resisting my suggestion?”

“Because I have a funny feeling you’re after permanent and I don’t do permanent well. Ichange my mind more often than my nail polish.”

“I rarely change mine.”

That cheered her right up. “Precisely my point. We’re opposites.”

“It gives us balance,” he countered.

“Not when I like taking care of people and you enjoy chasing them off.”

“Only the bad ones.” He gave her a little push in the appropriate direction. “Protective, remember? It was one of the characteristics you appreciate.”

“Maybe so, but you’re also logical.” She made it sound like a defect.

“Don’t you think one of us should be?” He indicated the paper she still held. “Honey, it’s all right there in black and white. Logical. Protective. Calm. Common sense. By the way, I’m delighted you think one of us should have some.”

“I’ve decided to scratch out that part.” She snatched up a pen, putting action to words, ripping the paper in the process. “It gets in the way.”

“In that case, I’ll try and keep common sense and logic to a minimum. Would that satisfy you?”

“You’re too overwhelming.”

“Correction. I’m physically and mentally powerful.”

“Right. That part goes, too.” She started to scribble over that, as well, managing to poke a hole through the page. Then she hesitated. “You’re not going to give up on this, are you?”

He shook his head. “No. And I’ll go one better. I’ll tell you what I really think about your plan.”

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