SAM LET HERSELF into her office and gasped. The room felt like a sauna. The thermostat on the wall had been set to the highest setting, thirty degrees Celsius. She adjusted it to a more comfortable temperature and quickly hung up her coat.
A knock and then, “Sam?” had her turning to find Fiona in her doorway.
“Hi, Fiona.”
Fiona stepped back with a hiss. “Why is it so bloody hot in there?”
Sam shrugged. “I don’t know. The heat was turned way up, but I don’t know why.”
“Hmm. We should probably tell Kade.”
“No, don’t bug him. He’s slammed right now. It was probably the cleaning crew. I’ll just leave a note for them.” Sam stepped into the hallway to cool down. “Did you need me for something?”
Fiona smiled. “Yes. Kade closes the lab whenever there’s a fifth Friday in a month, which means tomorrow you have the day off.”
“I do?”
“Yep, and since Kade and Angus are going to be busy prepping for the shareholders’ meeting, I was wondering if you’d like to go shopping.”
Sam rubbed her hands together. “Ooh, a day without men… and shopping to boot. Yes, please.”
Fiona frowned. “We’ll still have a man with us.”
“Alasdair doesn’t count.”
“I won’t tell him you said that.”
“Probably a good idea.”
Fiona waved and headed to the elevator. “I’ll pick you up around ten.”
“Perfect.” Sam stepped back into her office, still uncomfortably warm.
* * *
Sam had been in the lab, bent over her microscope for close to an hour, when she heard the swish of the lab doors and turned to find Kade walking toward her.
She grinned. “Hi, honey.”
“Hi yourself. I thought I’d come and tell you I have lunch ready in my office.”
“Okay. Do you want to see what I was talking about this morning?”
He nodded. “Please.”
She put her sample away and then removed her protective clothing. Leading him to the computer, she pulled up her findings. “See, here’s the one from the sample you gave me at the beginning.” She pulled up the pictures that provided a side-by-side comparison. “And this is one of the refrigerated samples.”
“What’s the number on the refrigerated sample?”
“Three-two-nine-six,” Sam said.
“And the other?”
“That’s the one with the compromised immunity. Four-eight-seven-two,” she read.
“Shite,” Kade hissed as he stared at the screen.
She laid her hand on his chest and frowned up at him. “What’s wrong?”
“The sample with the weakened immunity is Fiona’s,” he whispered.
“Really?” She focused back on her findings. “Could it be a mistake? Maybe the blood was taken wrong.”
“Angus drew it, so we can be sure he made sure it’s right.”
“We’ll figure this out, Kade. I promise.” She shut off her computer and faced him again. “I’m going to need more information though, okay? Particularly symptoms.”
“Aye. We can talk about it on our way home tomorrow.”
“I feel your fear. What’s going on?”
His eyebrows drew together. “Not here.”
“Okay. Let’s go to your office. I’m starved.” Sam hung up her lab coat and then made her way with him to the elevator.
Once inside the elevator, Sam linked her fingers with his and waited for his emotions to calm. He took a deep breath and lifted her hand to his lips. “Thank you.”
She smiled.
The elevator arrived at his floor and although Kade dropped Sam’s hand, he kept his connection with her by placing his hand on her back. She led him past Anna’s desk and into his office and then turned to face him. “Tell me.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Sam, other than we’ve had several women die suddenly and the only thing we know is that it has something to do with temperature. We are all affected by heat, however, our women have a lower threshold. Fiona’s the worst hit. If the heat rises to just below seventeen degrees, she’ll pass out, among other things. Normally, we’re able to handle twenty degrees, but she’s not.”
Sam did a quick calculation in her head. “Sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit. That’s not particularly warm.”
“Aye.”
“So, if Fiona’s blood is the immune-deficient one, who do the other samples belong to?” He raised an eyebrow and Sam crossed her arms. “You don’t have to tell me, you know. I could find out by just touching you.”
“That might be easier.”
“Just tell me.”
Kade slipped his hands into his pockets and faced the window. “Payton and Shannon.”
“Shannon Fraser? She’s Cauld Ane?” Samantha groaned. “Of course she is. No wonder she felt like she was made for you! She literally was.”
Kade shook his head. “Don’t do that, sweetheart. Even if I hadn’t found you, it would have never been her. And she’s gone. Forever.”
She closed the distance between them. “Sorry. I’m just tired.”
“I know you are.” He kissed her forehead. “I can also feel your headache. You’re grumpy when you’re in pain.”
“Okay, don’t think you know me that well. Everyone’s grumpy when they’re in pain.”
“Point taken.”
Sam smiled. “Are you going to tell me what you said this morning?”
“I said a lot of things this morning.”
She stepped back and crossed her arms. “Start talkin’.”
He studied her for several seconds and then shook his head. “I simply reminded you that you should be thinking of me when you’re out tonight.”
Samantha snorted. “You are a ridiculous man.”
He advanced on her. “Do you need another reminder?”
She grinned. “I certainly wouldn’t turn one down.”
He pulled her close and kissed her until she could barely breathe. She broke the kiss and dropped her head onto his shoulder. “Wow.”
“So?”
She stared up at him. “Of course I’ll be thinking of you, honey. I would have been even if you hadn’t played the slide show in my head.” She tapped his face gently. “Now I’ll just be wanting a little something more.”
“You could always cancel.”
“Nah, I’ll just make Cole kiss me if it gets too bad.” A low growl sounded in Kade’s throat and Samantha laughed. “Serves you right.”
“If he touches you, Samantha, I’ll know about it.”
“Of course you will, because I’ll tell you.” Samantha slid her hands around his waist. “Cole’s a friend, Kade. Nothing more.”
“Just make sure it stays that way.”
“It will. Besides, your sister wants to go shopping tomorrow, so it won’t be a late night.”
“Good. Let’s eat.” He pulled her to the table. “Chef’s prepared something glorious, I’m sure.”
* * *
Samantha checked her appearance in the bedroom mirror and felt satisfied with her choice of apparel. She wore jeans and a black long-sleeved tee under her 49ers football jersey. She finished off the ensemble with her favorite Nikes and pulled her hair into a ponytail high on her head. She and Cole would be watching a game between the ’Niners and the Lions, so the competition was on.
Despite her arguments, Kade had insisted, and she’d reluctantly agreed, to allow Alasdair to drive her to the bar rather than have Cole pick her up. She saw the logic to a certain degree, Kade not wanting his enemies to know exactly where she lived, but even though she tried to point out that Cole wasn’t an enemy, Kade wouldn’t hear it.
She’d promised to see Kade before she left, so she locked up her apartment and made her way to his door. He opened it before she had a chance to knock.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi.” He leaned down and kissed her and then pulled her inside. “You’re not wearing that, are you?”
Sam frowned. “Yes. Why? What’s wrong with it?”
“You’re too bloody adorable is what’s wrong with it. You need to go home and change into some kind of a sack.”
Samantha laughed. “I could always wear what I wore for our first dinner.”
“Absolutely not.” Kade sighed. “I should come with you.”
“You’re funny.” Samantha stroked his cheek. “Stop worrying. I’m going out with a friend. It’s no big deal.”
“And if I said I was going out with Shannon? Would you have an issue with that?”
Samantha couldn’t stop the quiet hiss that escaped.
He frowned. “I’m sorry, love. That was unkind.”
“If you’re really this upset about it, I’ll cancel.”
“Really?” he asked, hopefully.
“No.”
“Shite,” he said. “I don’t need you to cancel. But I do need you to be careful.”
“I will be.” Sam checked her watch. “I need to go. Where’s Alasdair?”
“He’s on his way up.”
She nodded. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”
“No. You’ll see me tonight.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
“Yes, stop by when you get home.”
“It might be late.”
Kade groaned. “You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?”
Samantha smiled and looped her arms around his neck. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know how I feel about you… you know my commitment, so I don’t understand where your reservation is coming from. I can only assume it’s based on information I don’t have. If it were simple jealousy, I’d feel it.”
Kade settled his hands on her hips and sighed. “The issue is that I don’t know enough about this Cole fellow.”
“What did you find when you investigated him?”
“Not much. Nothing more than what you know, actually.”
She ran her fingers through his hair absently. “So then what’s the problem? He’s obviously not a liar, so that should give you some comfort, right?”
“The fact that we can’t find out anything more than that is the problem. It’s as though his dossier has been scripted. Put there for those looking, but no other information, and that’s a red flag.”
“Kade, you’re trying to find something bad where there isn’t anything. I think I’m a pretty good judge of character, and I don’t get a weird vibe from the guy. He’s a friend, and everything’s going to go great tonight.”
“It will if he keeps his hands to himself.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“It’s him I don’t trust, love.”
“Kade, he doesn’t think of me as anything other than a friend. Seriously. How about we invite him over for dinner before he has to go home? He’s here for a few more weeks, and I’d love it if you two became friends.”
The doorbell pealed and Kade kissed her quickly before heading toward the door. “All right, love. We’ll host a dinner party for your friend.”
“Thanks for being so supportive,” she droned sarcastically.
“Any time,” he said and pulled open the door.
Connall stood with Alasdair on the other side.
Kade frowned. “Con?”
“Sorry to barge in,” Connall said.
Something silent passed between the men and Kade stepped back. “Come in.”
What’s wrong? Samantha wondered.
Kade glanced at her and shook his head.
She stared at him. Can you hear my words? Actual words?
He nodded.
Sam’s mouth dropped open. I thought we could only do that when we’re touching.
So did I.
Connall interrupted their exchange by greeting Sam, giving her a warm hug. “Is my brother letting you off the leash tonight?”
Sam chuckled. “More like I gnawed my way through.”
“Well done.”
“Are you ready, Dr. Moore?” Alasdair asked.
“Ah. Yeah.” She shrugged on her jacket and turned to Kade. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Aye. If you need me, call me.”
He kissed her quickly and Sam followed Alasdair to the car. She slid into the backseat and secured her seatbelt. As Alasdair started the car and pulled out onto the street, Sam decided to do a little experiment.
Hey, I love you, silly man.
She waited for several seconds and just when she was about to give up, she heard him.
I love you too.
Sam sighed.
“Dr. Moore? Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” She caught his eye in the rearview mirror. “You don’t have to stay when you drop me off. You can come back later.”
“I’m not dropping you off. I’m joining you.”
“Wh-what?” she stammered.
“Don’t worry, Dr. Moore, you won’t even know I’m there.”
She pulled out her cell phone and punched in Kade’s number.
“Yes, love, he’s going to stay,” Kade said as he answered the phone.
“No, he’s not. Tell him he doesn’t have to.”
“He bloody well does have to stay, and we’ll not discuss this any further.”
“Kade, I’m a grown woman. Are you seriously telling me I’m required to have a babysitter everywhere I go?”
“Only when you go somewhere without me.”
“I didn’t sign up for this,” she snapped.
“Sweetheart, I’m in the middle of something with Connall, can we talk about this when you get home? I promise, I’ll explain.”
“Fine,” she huffed. “Bye.”
She hung up and tried not to squeal in frustration. She pushed the button for the privacy window and dialed Pepper.
“Sam?” Pepper sounded tired.
“Oh, sorry, it’s early, huh?”
“Yeah, but that’s okay. What’s up?”
Samantha groaned. “I now have a babysitter.”
“What do you mean?”
“Kade has assigned me someone to go with me on my night out with Cole.”
“Like a bodyguard?”
“More like a freakin’ wet nurse!” Sam snapped.
Pepper chuckled. “You’re a bit old for breastfeeding, aren’t you?”
“Pepper!”
“Sorry.” Rustling sounded in the background and then she heard Pepper yawn. “Let’s break this down logically, okay? Did you or did you not get attacked just a few days ago?”
“So?” she grumbled.
“So, do you think maybe Kade’s just being a good boyfriend and making sure you’re safe? He’s got a lot of money, so he has resources most people don’t.”
“That doesn’t give him the right to watch me every second of every day.”
“I personally think it’s really romantic,” Pepper said.
“Coming from the eternal bleeding heart,” Samantha complained.
“Look, I get that you need your down-time and that you haven’t had any in a few weeks, and I get that you’re an emotional wreck, but you’re the one who said you trust him implicitly, so what’s this really about?”
Sam felt tears threaten to fall. “I can’t tell you.”
“Aw, honey, you can tell me anything. I don’t understand what’s so bad you can’t tell me.”
“I know,” Sam said. “I’m sorry, but I can’t, and I think that’s what’s driving me crazy. I can’t share the biggest part of my life with my best friend.”
“You know this just makes me more curious?”
“I know. It would do the same to me.”
“Will you be able to tell me when I get there?” Pepper asked.
“I hope so.”
“Okay. Well for now, I have to trust your judgment about this Kade guy. If you love him as much as you say you do, then he must be pretty incredible, right?”
“Yeah, he is.”
“Then trust him. I’m sure you’re blowing the whole bodyguard thing a little out of proportion.”
“Whose side are you on?”
Pepper chuckled. “I’m on the side that keeps you safe.”
“I swear I feel like I’ve been dropped into some James Bond movie. Coming from our little town, I would have never guessed that I’d move to Scotland, fall in love with a billionaire, and run the risk of being kidnapped. It’s all very overwhelming.”
“He’s a billionaire?”
Sam snorted. “That’s what you took away from that?”
Pepper laughed. “It’s not like you didn’t grow up with money, Sam.”
“No, I know. But Daddy never had security or drivers at his beck and call.”
“Listen, this is all temporary. You’re going to have an amazing time with this Cole guy… I’m jealous, by the way. Two hot men in less than a month… not fair.”
Sam stared at her hands. “I wouldn’t call Cole hot, necessarily.”
“Kade sure as hell is. I haven’t seen Cole yet. How about you take a picture tonight and send it to me?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Are you off the ledge?”
Sam sighed. “Yes, I’m away from the window.”
“Good. Cut your man some slack. If he had some weird agenda, you’d know about it. You always do.”
“You’re right. I guess it just irritates me that he’s making these judgment calls without talking to me.”
“You never were good at being taken care of. Even as a kid you hated being treated like a child.”
“When was I ever a kid?” Sam challenged.
“You’re kind of acting like one now.”
“I’m ignoring you now.”
“Okay, so long as I got my point across.” Pepper laughed. “Talk to Kade. You’ll figure it out.”
“I can’t wait for you to get here.”
“Me neither.” Pepper yawned. “For now, though, it’s two hours before I’m supposed to get up for work, so I’m going to say good-bye.”
“Sorry, friend.”
“No worries. You’ll make it up to me when I fall in love.”
Sam laughed. “Damn straight.”
“Have fun tonight. Remember to take that picture.”
“I will. ’Bye.”