Page 16 of Baby Bodyguard

Chapter 3

Sami headeddown the hallway toward the back of the house, Pudge at her side. Even though she couldn’t hear Noah’s footsteps, she could feel him following her. How odd. Every sense she possessed remained alert to his presence—an odd warmth tracing a path the length of her spine, the suggestion of a delicious, alien scent tickling her nose, aquiver deep in her belly spreading heat throughout herbody.

Who the heck was this man and why had Babe hired him? He didn’t strike Sami as the employee type. He didn’t behave the least deferentially. Nor did he take well to direction. In fact, she’d already discovered he gave orders far better than he took them. And he’d admitted that this was his first assistant’sjob.

It brought her right back to her original question. Why was he here? The instant she found herself alone, she’d track down Babe and get some answers. Then she’d decide whether to enjoyher birthday present or exchange it for another model and brand.

Opening a door off the kitchen, she led the way outside to a small building. It had once been a garage, but when Widget and Pudge had come to live with her, she’d converted the ground floor into general-purpose rooms and the second story into a private apartment for her newfound friends. “Now everybody stay calm, all right?”

“You don’t know what’s going on in there, or you wouldn’t say that,” Pudge warned.

Sami sighed. “Great. Just great.”

“Why don’t I go first?” Noah suggested.

Before she could formulate an argument, he opened the door and led the way into utter bedlam. Immediately, he placed himself between her and the others in the room in a manner similar to when Uncle Reggie had arrived. It was sweetly protective, but annoying. She peeked around him and groaned. Two women were arguing at the top of their lungs in two different languages while children ran around the huge room laughing and screaming. Music blared from a huge boom box and clothes were strewn from one end of the room to the other. Athird woman sat huddled in a corner, looking utterly miserable.

Sami stared, openmouthed. What in the world? “What is going on?” she demanded. Not that anyone listened. “Hey!”

“May I?” Noah asked.

Since her way wasn’t working, she nodded. “Sure. Why not?”

He glanced at his dog and made a quick hand gesture. With a sharp bark, the dog burst into the room, amazingly gracefuldespite his limp, and swiftly corralled the children off to one side. The din lessened only slightly. Ashrill whistle took care of the rest. Ahush descended. The women turned and stared at Noah and Sami, while the children grouped around the dog, exclaiming in delight.

“You have a problem, ladies?” he asked.

They rushed him en masse, each trying to explain her particular concern. To Sami’s amazement, holding up his hand brought instant silence. Now why hadn’t that ever worked for her? “One at a time, please.”

The oldest of the women, Daria, slapped her hands on her hips, switching from Spanish to English. “The schedule’s gone and we can’t agree on what needs to be done when.”

“Where’s Rosie?” Sami asked. “She should have a copy.”

“Rosie has a doctor’s appointment.” Daria gestured toward the cluster of children. “So we don’t have no one to watch the kids. I’m trying to pick an outfit for Widget, but Carmela say she have to do the makeup and hair.”

Sami winced. Oh, dear. Arainbow of colors covered Widget’s thin face and her hair had been poofed into a teased mass that swamped her features. The poor girl appeared close to tears.

Pudge shook his head in disgust. “See what they did to my sister? How’s she supposed to get a job when she looks like some sorta freak?”

“Widget, why don’t you go in the bathroom and wash up,” Sami suggested. “Since we don’t have anyone to watch the children, we can work on your hair and makeup another time. This might be a better day to put together your résumé. Don’t you think?”

Sheer relief eased the tension in Widget’s expression. “I’d like that,” she murmured.

“I thought you might. Go to the computer room once you’ve cleaned up and you can work on that.”

Daria spoke up again. “Good idea ’cept Leonard is runnin’ an hour late. There’s nobody to help with that crazy computer.”

Sami swung around to face Noah. “Do you know anything about computers and résumés?”

“I gather you don’t?”

“It’s not my strong point, no. And don’t look so superior. Icould learn if I put my mind to it. Ijust haven’t chosen to—”

“Maybe we shouldn’t take that thought any further,” he suggested gently.

She grimaced. “Maybe you’re right. Let’s stick to Widget. Are you able to help her or not?”

“I suspect I can muddle through.”

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