Page 24 of Baby Bodyguard

He didn’t appear reassured. “Are you positive? Would you like to talk about why an ear injury to a stuffed animal caused such a reaction? I’m a good listener.”

She was tempted. Very tempted. “Maybe some other time.”

He must have sensed he wouldn’t get any more out of her. Giving a reluctant nod, he said, “I’ll hold you to that.”

She took the stuffed animal he handed over and crossed to his bed, sitting cross-legged on the end. “We seem to have gotten a bit off course.” She deliberately injected a cheerful note in her voice. “What’s next on our schedule?”

He started to say more, than shook his head. “Okay. We’ll play this your way. For now. Next on the schedule is unpacking.” He crossed the room to the dresser and tugged open a drawer. Returning to his duffel bag, he tossed it on the bed beside her and began removing clothes. “Were you planning to stay and watch?”

“I thought I might.” She peeked in his bag, hastily drawing back as he returned for another load. “Good grief, Noah. Are all your clothes black?”

“It’s a comfortable color.”

“Why?”

“Because everything always matches.”

“Oh.” More questions bubbled up, questions she didn’t have the restraint to resist asking. “Are you color blind?”

“Nope. Ijust don’t do colors.”

She chuckled. “I see. Afraid of committing a fashion faux pas, is that it?”

She’d actually managed to make him laugh, adelicious sound that filled her with warmth. “My secret’s out.”

Her nose disappeared into his duffel bag again. “And what’s in this small leather case under your boxers? If it’s a shaving kit, it sure is a weird shape. Ididn’t realize they made them triangular.”

He scooped the case out of reach and tucked it away in his top drawer, his reaction almost as extreme as when she’d seen Loner with Mr. Woof. “That’s none of your business.”

“Oh.”

He’d made a mistake, hiding the case away. Curiosity consumed her. What could be in it? Something he didn’t want her to see, that was for sure. It reminded her a little of the gun case Babe-Husband #4 had. But that couldn’t be. What would a man Friday need with a pistol? If she’d been a less trustworthy person, she’d have found a way to discover what the case contained and confirm once and for all whether or not her lurid imagination had gotten out of hand yet again.

She released her breath in a gusty sigh and gave it up. Her nature didn’t suit spying. She didn’t sneak well enough. Nor would she be any good at making up a plausible excuse when he caught her pawing through his dresser drawers. The truth always had a way of tumbling out, even those few dark secrets that shadowed hersoul.

“As long as you’re invading my privacy,” Noah said, “why don’t we discuss my duties.”

He didn’t phrase it as a question. Once again she had the distinct impression she’d lost the upper hand as his employer.How did he manage to do that? Maybe she didn’t have what it took to be a boss, though she’d never had the least bit of trouble giving instructions to the cook or housekeeper or gardener. Only to Pudge. And now Noah. Who’d have thought after all these years she’d discover she was a pushover at heart?

“Fine. Why don’t we discuss your duties?” She offered her most innocent look. “Care to tell me what they’ll be?”

He leaned against the dresser and regarded her with an unblinking stare as impressively intimidating as Loner’s. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

She shrugged. “Since you’re my birthday present, it’s a little difficult to know what you’ve been hired to do. Perhaps you should be asking Babe what she wants from you.”

“I’ve already explained this. I’ve been instructed to give you whatever you want.”

“I want a baby.” Had she really said that? It was the truth and for some reason, she couldn’t seem to help provoking him with it. “Were you offering your services in that department, too?”

His gaze never left her as he approached. Sami froze, unable to move or breathe. She could only watch as he walked toward her, his stride graceful and silent, his expression ominous. Even his eyes had darkened, the color the same dark gray of a fast-approaching storm front.

It took every ounce of self-possession not to tumble off the bed and scamper out the door. Why did Babe have to hire someone so tall, not to mention so aggressively masculine? Why couldn’t she have picked some sweet little old man who wouldn’t dream of planting himself inches from hernose?

“Maybe I shouldn’t have said that,” she offered in her most conciliatorytone.

“Do you want me to take you to bed, Sami?” He’d pitched his voice low, the sound rumbling like distant thunder. It had the oddest effect, sending a desperate tremor straight through her, atremor that took root deep in the pit of her stomach and spread outward in a swift wash of fire. “If you do, just stay right there and I’ll join you.”

That did have her tumbling off the mattress. “Noah—”

---