Page 50 of Baby Bodyguard

Sami winced. “I’d have waited a little longer than the first time you turned your back,” shelied.

“Like the second?” Babe’s laughter rang out. “Come on. You can’t fool me. Let’s get the cake cut. If you thank our guests for their presents at the same time, you can have everything over with at once.”

“Presents? Oh, Mom. You didn’t have people bring gifts, did you?”

“You know me better than that. Irequested everyone make donations to the local woman’s shelter in your name.” She tugged on Sami’s arm. “Let’s go.”

Sami resisted, her gaze locking with Noah’s. “Aren’t you coming?”

He shook his head. “I can watch from here.”

“You said you’d stick close,” she persisted doggedly.

His mouth twisted. “I’m as close as I’m likely to get.” The words hit and hit hard. “I’m your man Friday, remember? It would be better if we both keep that in mind.”

The music started up again and couples began drifting across the floor, slipping into the space separating her from Noah, parting them further still. The distance between them grew. She’d have gone to him, but Babe pulled heraway.

“Hurry,” she urged. “They’re bringing out the cake.”

Sami forced a cheerful smile to her lips, but something had broken inside. She didn’t understand it. She wasn’t a womancapable of loving a man. She didn’t want to fall in love. Love meant loss. Love ended. Love hurt. But she’d have given anything in that moment to have Noah’s strong arms around her, his husky voice rumbling in her ear, his gray eyes fixed on hers, filled with quiet understanding.

All around people were singing and cheering. She searched the room, desperate to catch a glimpse of Noah. But he’d disappeared fromview.

“Time to blow out the candles,” someone shouted.

More voices called out. “How many this year?”

“Twenty-nine.”

“Again?”

“You can do it, Sami. Make a wish,” Babe prompted.

“Better make a wish that you get to be twenty-nine again next year,” a woman from the crowd suggested.

“Oh, no,” Babe shot back. “She’s better off wishing we believed it!”

Good-natured laughter rippled all around and even Sami joined in. These were her friends and they meant well. They couldn’t know how difficult this night was for her. Babe presented a cake knife with a flourish and Sami spent time cutting slices and exchanging gossip with the guests. For those few, precious moments the shadows remained at bay and her laughter came easily. She even relaxed enough to enjoy herself.

After thanking her guests for their contributions to the woman’s shelter, she flitted from group to group, doing her best to make everyone feel welcome. Noah had been right. The champagne flowed freely and by the time she’d circled the room, no one even remembered why they’dcome.

Thank goodness for small favors.

Babe approached, Reggie on her arm. “See? That wasn’t so bad,” she said with a tentative smile. “I don’t know why you were in such a panic over a little ol’ birthday.”

“Damn it, Babe.” Reggie glared in a rare display of anger. “You know why birthdays are difficult for her.”

Pain shadowed Babe’s expression. “Of course I know.”

“I support most of your decisions, my dear.” He shook his head. “But this wasn’t one of your best.”

“Oh, Mother. It’s not all my birthdays that are so tough to take,” Sami whispered. “It’s this birthday. If you’d thrown a party last year or even when I turned thirty-two, it wouldn’t have been so bad. But did it have to be this year?”

“Don’t you understand? That’s why I did it. It’s time to move on.” Tears burned in Babe’s eyes. “You can’t keep living in the past, Sami. You need to embrace life, not hide from it. Iknow you don’t believe me, but you deserve to celebrate. And you deserve it this year most of all.”

Sami didn’t wait to hear more. Spinning away, she thrust through the crowd. People called to her, but she simply gave a shaky smile and a wave and pushed on. If it weren’t for her heels, she’d have made better progress and swearing beneath her breath, she fought to release the minuscule straps. Kicking them off, she hurried toward the exit. Finally, finally, she rushed through the door, racing across the lobby of the Hyatt.

With luck, Reggie’s limo would still be available. If she could just make it to the street. If she could just hold out for another minute or two. Asob ripped loose. And then another. To her relief, she caught a glimpse of the limo right outside the door. Bill, bless his heart, had commandeered the space in a NoParking zone. The instant she erupted from the hotel, he opened the backdoor.

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