Page 51 of Baby Bodyguard

She flung herself inside. No sooner had the door slammed behind her than the tears came, fast and noisy and turbulent. Hot tears, messy tears, two decades’ worth of agony rising up from the depths of her soul and spilling down her cheeks.

Where was Noah? Where was he when she needed him most? And then she remembered.

They were night and day. Opposites destined to meet, but never unite.

Noah didn’thave to see Sami leave to know she’d gone. It was as though the life and energy had been abruptly snuffed from the party. He started for the exit, his suspicions confirmed when he found a familiar-looking pair of red suede shoes carelessly discarded near the door. Snatching them up, he went after her, calling himself every sort of idiot.

He’d been hired to protect Sami, to find out who was blackmailing her. Instead, he’d raised as many barriers between them as possible… before deserting her. He could only hope she wouldn’t be forced to pay the ultimate price for his stupidity. Just imagining the potential consequences had him breaking into atrot.

Next, he came across her peacock feather lying forlornly near the fountain and snagged that, as well. Racing down theescalator, he slammed through the doors onto the street outside the Hyatt, arriving just in time to see Reggie’s limo pull away. He swore furiously. This was all his fault. He should have stuck by her side like he’d promised. Lifting his arm, he whistled for a cab. At least he knew she hadn’t been snatched, though he found it poor consolation.

The fact remained she could have been taken and he wouldn’t have been anywhere around to prevent it from happening.

The drive to Pacific Heights seemed interminable. The second the cab drew to a halt, Noah tossed a fifty at the driver and bolted for the front door. Darkness enshrouded the hallway, the silence oppressive rather than comforting. Who’d have thought he’d long for the day when bracelets chattered and bare feet slapped against red oak flooring while a miniature blond dynamo scolded Loner for playing with hertoys?

At the thought of his constant shadow, Noah called softly, relieved when the animal padded obediently into the foyer. If anything had happened to Sami, the dog would have lost no time in communicating that fact. “Find her,” Noah ordered, signaling his instructions.

Loner took off down the hallway and dashed up the steps to the second story. Noah followed, startled to discover the dog sitting at attention outside his bedroomdoor.

“She’s in there?” He gave Loner’s ears an appreciative scratch. “Stay here, boy. Guard the door. Idon’t want anyone disturbing us.”

Leaving the dog at his post, Noah quietly entered the room. None of the lights had been turned on, but he didn’t need them. He knew where he’d find her. Silently crossing to the windows, he stood in front of the semi-transparent drapes. Samihad curled up in the bench seat on the far side, staring out at the scattered lights dotting the blackened bay. Looking for sea monsters or making wishes?

He searched for the right words to open the conversation. But all he came up with was a rather lame line. “You left the party without me, Cinderella.”

“I’m sorry.” She’d been crying, he could hear it in her voice. As always, it tied him into knots, left him helpless to know how to fix the problem. “That was rude of me.”

“You don’t need to apologize.” He swept the curtain to one side and set her shoes next to her. “You also forgot these.”

Still she didn’t look at him. “I do that a lot, don’t I?”

“I’ve noticed a certain tendency on your part to lose shoes.” He cupped her shoulders and massaged the tension kinking her muscles. “What’s wrong, Sami? Why did you run off?”

She shrugged. “I needed to bring a fast end to a bad night.”

“I assume something brought the evening to a head.” He waited a beat. “Would you like to tell me about it?”

“Not really.” Her shoulders grew rigid beneath his hands. “But I will, anyway. You deserve an explanation after all you’ve done for me.”

“Explain because you want to, not because you think I deserve to know.” When she didn’t say anything further, he prompted, “Why is your birthday such a difficult time for you?” He took a wild guess. “Is it the day your father died?”

“No. No, not that.” He heard the harsh give and take of her breath. “It’s the day my sister was born.”

“You have a sister?” he asked in astonishment. “A twin?”

She shook her head. “We were born on the same day, but ten years apart.”

“I don’t understand.”

“It’s simple. Nancy would have been twenty-one today. Afully matured adult.” Sami’s voice dropped. “At least, she would have been if she’d lived.”

He began to comprehend. “Aw, hell, Sami. I’m so sorry.”

“She was killed in the same accident as my father.”

“I can understand why that would make your birthday tough, but—”

“It isn’t because she died,” Sami corrected sharply.

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