Page 3 of Covert

“Care to repeat that?”

Sam squared her shoulders and silently wished for an extra few inches. It would be difficult to appear threatening when she had to tilt her head back to stare her new employer in the eye, though it provided her with the perfect excuse to stop ogling his near-naked body.

Her gaze had been drawn to that damn towel too often for her liking and she needed something, anything, to distract her.

“You can’t fire me. I’ve signed a three month contract.”

Danger glinted in his eyes, the colour of molten chocolate, and she mentally chastised herself for comparing them to her favourite food.

“Contracts can be broken.” He took a step closer, making her all too aware of his broad, bare chest mere centimetres away.

Resisting the urge to run her hands over his muscular pecs and see if they felt as firm as they looked, she struggled to maintain composure. “I had an intensive interview. I’m sure your mother can vouch that I possess all the necessary skills for this job.”

He barked out a laugh devoid of amusement. “You honestly think you’ve got what it takes to be my butler?”

Sam bit back a smile. Dealing with Dylan Harmon would be easier than facing her brothers’ inquisitions for the last umpteen years.

“If you’re after someone with the right attitude, the right qualifications, and a genuine love of the job, then yes, I’m your woman.”

Her breath hitched as he stared at her, and she hated the helpless flutter deep in her gut that she may have taken on more than she could handle.

“Okay, Miss Piper. Consider yourself on trial for the next three months.” He took a step closer, bringing him within touching distance. “But if you make one wrong move, you’re out.”

Sam battled the urge to close her eyes and block out the hypnotic intensity of his stare. Instead, she took a steadying breath, wishing her erratic pulse would calm down.

As a waft of subtle aftershave with a hint of cloves hit her, she clenched her teeth, wishing her traitorous senses would stop misbehaving. So the guy had a great body, soulful eyes, a killer smile, and smelled good enough to eat? She’d dated better and come away unscathed.

Then why the jittery feeling that wouldn’t quit?

“Call me Sam.” She turned away before she did something stupid, like manhandle her boss on the first day.

“Samantha,” he said, determined to get the upper hand in true alpha fashion.

She knew that tone, the one her brothers used when they were beaten and didn’t want to give in too easily. So Dylan wanted to prove a point by calling her Samantha? No big deal. At least she’d survived his attempted sacking and it had proved to be a lot easier than expected.

“Can I get you anything else?” She gestured at the clothes laid on the bed, hoping he’d send her on an errand that involved being as far away from him and his skimpy towel as possible.

“Actually, yes.” His smirk and sardonic quirk of an eyebrow left her in little doubt she wouldn’t like her assignment. “Your first job can be to reorganise my underwear drawer. I want everything colour coded, neatly arranged, and segmented for every day of the week.”

Yep, she’d been right. He wanted to make her squirm. And oddly, the thought of touching his underwear did exactly that.

Heat flooded her cheeks, though she bit back a host of retorts about what he could do with his underwear and where he could stick it. “Fine.”

“While you’re at it, please choose me something to wear today.Undermy suit, that is.”

Sam risked a glance over her shoulder. She could’ve sworn he was laughing at her. However, he stood in the middle of the room, hands clasped over the front of his towel, trying his best to look innocent. She almost snorted at the thought.

How could Lucifer’s evil twin look innocent?

She stalked across the room, opened the top drawer of the dresser, and rummaged around. To her surprise, the first undergarment she laid her hands on was a thong. Leopard print, no less.

Stifling a grin, she hooked it with her index finger and held it out to him. “Perhaps this would be suitable for today?”

His jaw dropped. There was no other way to describe it, because she’d never seen a guy with so much poise appear so totally and utterly shocked.

“That’s not mine,” he said, distaste marring his handsome features.

“Really? Because it’s in your drawer.”

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