Page 37 of Baby Bodyguard

No joke, Noah almost said aloud. Perhaps because her idea was the most idiotic notion he’d ever heard. Not that she’d agree withhim.

To his dismay, she reached out of the window—her hand directly above his head—and plucked a hot pink bougainvillea blossom. Hell! If she dropped her gaze just a few feet she’d see him lurking beneath her like some sort of Peeping Tom. Why the devil had he agreed to take this job? He must have been crazy.

“You see, this new man I hired—the one who misunderstood my ad?” She plucked another blossom. “For some reason he’s not too keen on this idea. Not that it’s any of his business. But he could make things difficult if he chose.”

“So fire him.” Sylvester’s voice sounded fainter than before. More muffled.

She sighed. “I can’t.”

“Why not? It’s simple. Just say, ‘You’re canned, buster.’ End of story.”

Where the hell had Sylvester gone? Noah wondered. He sounded like he’d fallen down a well or moved to anotherroom.

“I can’t do that. He’s my birthday present from my mother. What am I supposed to tell her? That I don’t like him because he doesn’t approve of my having a baby?” She sighed, her hand hovering in midair. “That would go over well. My mother would kill me if she found out about my plan. But I really, truly want a child.”

“And that’s where I come in, right?”

Sami’s hands flattened on the sill and she leaned part-way out of the window, searching for more blossoms. If she poked her nose forward one more tiny inch, she’d see him. Worse, her peek-a-boo top offered far too little “peek” and way too much “boo.”

Noah silently swore, forcing himself to do the decent thing and look away—but not before allowing himself one final second to drool. Desperate for a distraction, he fixed his gaze on an intrepid millipede marching determinedly out of the garden and into the grass.

Above him the bougainvillea swayed as Sami plucked another flower and he risked a quick upward glance. Apparently satisfied with her choices, she proceeded to stick the blossoms into her hair. If this had been any other time he’d have found her actions downright adorable. But forced to watch while groveling in the dirt, infuriated him. Why the hell hadn’t he had the foresight to pull the damn bush up by its roots when he’d first gotten here and toss it in the nearest trash barrel? It would have saved him a truckload of trouble.

“Yes, helping me get pregnant is where you come in,” she addressed Sylvester. “Maybe. If I approve you, I’d like to get started right away. Do you have a problem with that?”

“Not a one. I’m ready, willing—and if you turn around—you’ll see I’m perfectly able.”

She drew back from the window and Noah slowly rose from his cramped position, easing his aching muscles.

“What do you—” Her question ended in an earsplitting scream. “Thomas! What in the world are you doing?”

“You wanted to get started right away. Well, babe, let’s go.”

Noah didn’t wait to hear more. One glance in the window confirmed his worst fears. With a roar of fury, he grasped the sill and vaulted into the room. Sheer rage took over and he charged flat-out toward the overly enthused man. “You son of a bitch!”

With a yelp of horror, Sylvester stumbled backward, holding up his hands before deciding they’d be put to better use elsewhere. “Who are you?” he cried. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Who am I? I’m the man who’s gonna knock your teeth out.” Noah cocked his fist. “As to what I’m doing. That should be obvious. I’m taking out the garbage.”

“Wait! Let me explain.”

“No need. Some things speak for themselves.” In two steps, Noah caught hold of Sami’s latest baby-making disaster and took great pleasure in slamming him through the door of the parlor into the foyer. At the sound of the commotion, Loner came tearing down the hallway, barking ferociously. Noah bared his teeth at Sylvester’s terrorized expression. “Start running, buddy. It’s your only chance.”

“My clothes! You can’t make me leave without my clothes.”

“I can’t.” He snapped his fingers at Loner who howled in fury. “But my wolf can.”

With a shriek of panic, Sylvester gained his feet. Yanking open the front door, he scrambled through it. Sami provedmore generous than Noah. She snatched up the clothes scattered across the parlor and raced to the door, tossing them onto the porch.

“And don’t come back,” she shouted.

Slamming the door closed, Noah turned on Sami. “Your turn,” he announced in a low, dangerous voice.

“Me? What did I do?”

He caught her arm and ushered her back into the parlor. “Loner, guard,” he commanded before closing the door. Releasing Sami, he schooled himself to silence and waited.

“You called Loner a wolf.”

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