Page 69 of Takeover-
Greta snorted. “You’re changing the rules.”
“I’d prefer to think of it as blazing my own path.” He paused. “But it’s not just mine anymore.”
It was also Michael’s. “I’ll take my lumps for… this inappropriate relationship,” he said to Greta. “I want what’s best for my team and the office. You can’t let William run them into the ground.”
Greta rubbed her forehead, then took her cell phone from her blazer pocket and stood. “Let me make a call. I’ll be back.” She walked away from the table.
Michael laid his hand on the table, palm up. Sam hesitated for a moment, then covered it with his own. Sam’s palm was sweaty and his pulse nearly as fast as Michael’s own. “He was in the locker room.”
Hell. “He couldn’t have seen anything.”
Sam shook his head. “But he very well might have heard quite a bit.”
“Or guessed from the clothing by the lockers.”
“Does it matter?” Sam sounded amused, but there was sadness layered on top.
“No. And I don’t regret that day at all.” He squeezed Sam’s hand.
Sam’s expression was thin. “I don’t want to regret it, but we did break the rules. A case could be made that I took advantage—”
“Hush. One could as easily be made that I came on to you. Especially since I did in Curaçao.” He paused. “I don’t regret that either.”
Sam exhaled. “Neither do I. That night was the second best night of my life.”
Curiosity got the better of Michael. “What was the best?”
“Last night.” Sam’s smile took on depth and warmth.
Just you wait.“There will be more.”
A redness tinged Sam’s neck and he coughed. “You’re not bothered by this at all, are you?”
He was. The position Sundra offered was everything he wanted—what he had once been. A correction for injustices done. But Sam—was more. Mornings and nights and all the times in between. Laughter and dinners and biking in the park. The job was, in the end, a job. Sam was everything Michael wanted in his life—someone to share it with. “Chance gives and chance takes. You cling to what’s important.”
Sam shook his head. “When you say things like that…”
“What?”
“I realize just how far I’ve fallen for you. Michael, I—” He looked up and froze.
Michael turned to follow Sam’s gaze, slipping his hand free in the process.
Greta had returned, but not alone. Dr. Vijay Malik stood beside her, looking none-too-pleased. “You two chose quite the interesting time for revelations.”
Michael stood. The sound of a chair scuffing carpet told him Sam had as well. “To be honest, I would have preferred a different venue,” Michael said. “But it seems someone had other plans.”
Sam stepped forward. “Regardless of us and whether we remain at Four Rivers, there are things you should know about William Vandershoot.”
“So I hear.” Dr. Malik gestured that they should follow.
Time to face their decisions.
