SAM WOKE THE next morning before the sun rose. She was surprisingly awake as she pulled on sweats and prepared for her run. She discovered she’d missed a call from Pepper during her evening with Kade, but she hadn’t heard her phone ring… hmm, must’ve been too wrapped up in everything Kade. She felt like she was falling hard and fast, and didn’t like it, but had no idea how to stop it.
She’d expected him to kiss her when he left, but instead, he’d smiled a devilishly sexy smile and kissed her cheek. Sam had to bite her lip to keep from pouting. She couldn’t remember the words he’d whispered, or she would have tried to look them up. So much for her hard and fast rule about dating the boss. She’d jumped at the chance of spending more time with him and couldn’t wait to see him at the office.
The sound of traffic brought her back to the present, and she walked across the road and headed toward the jogging path, finding a lovely little bench she could stretch on. Footsteps sounded to her right, and she glanced over to see Cole coming toward her. She straightened, and tried to keep a perplexed look off her face.
“Hey you,” he said.
“Hi,” she said. “I didn’t know you’re a runner.”
“Six days a week, if I force myself.” He smiled. “I like to run before classes, so the concierge recommended this place. I came yesterday as well. Is this your first day?”
She nodded. “My boss recommended it.”
“It’s a great trail,” he said as he stretched. “Hey, did you check out already?”
“Yesterday. How come?”
“I called your room last night to see if you wanted to join me this morning, and they said they couldn’t connect me. I asked if you checked out, but they wouldn’t say.”
She frowned. “That’s weird. Why wouldn’t they just tell you?”
“Maybe they think you’re an international spy.”
“Maybe they do.” Samantha laughed.
“Do you mind if I join you?” he asked.
“Do you think you can keep up?”
“That depends.” Cole raised an eyebrow. “Will you take it easy on me?”
“Nope,” she said, and took off. She heard him laugh as he caught up to her. “Took you long enough.”
They bantered back and forth for close to a mile before Samantha realized she was finding it difficult to run and talk at the same time. “Man, I’m outta shape.”
“Maybe you just ate too much the other night,” Cole said.
“Maybe. Could be how much I ate yesterday as well, and the fact I haven’t had a decent run in over two weeks.”
“What was yesterday?”
“Just a sec.” Sam held her finger up and took a few deep breaths. It took a few minutes, but she finally got her second wind and felt like she wouldn’t pass out. “Yesterday was my first day of work.”
“Right. The ‘wine and dine week,’ as I like to call it.”
Sam laughed. “Yeah, but on steroids. Seriously, these people eat like every two hours. I just can’t keep up. You should’ve seen one of the assistant’s faces when she found out I didn’t have afternoon tea. I found a muffin on my desk ten minutes later.”
“Wow.”
“I know. She even came back to make sure I’d eaten it.”
“Did you?”
“No. I couldn’t. I was still full from lunch. She made me promise not to skip any more meals.” Sam giggled. “Must be a Scottish thing.”
“Must be,” Cole said.
Samantha’s phone buzzed and she unzipped her pocket, checking the caller ID without skipping a beat. She stalled and slowed to a walk. “Sorry, it’s work.”
Cole paced her. “No worries.”
“This is Samantha.”
“Good morning, Samantha, it’s Payton.”
“Hi.”
“Are you all right? You sound out of breath.”
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m on a run.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Our staff meeting was changed to ten instead of eleven and I wanted to make sure you knew. Shannon said she sent the information out yesterday afternoon via email, but that she hasn’t gotten a confirmation from you.”
Sam checked her watch. Seven forty-five. “I don’t recall getting the email, Payton, but it’ll be fine. I don’t have anything else on my calendar that I’m aware of.”
“Excellent. I’ll let her know.”
“Thanks for looking out for me,” Samantha said. “I appreciate it.”
“My pleasure. I’ll see you later.”
Samantha hung up and frowned.
“What was that all about?” Cole asked.
“Nothing. Just a miscommunication.” Samantha sighed. “I should probably go.”
“I’ll go back with you.”
She smiled. “Thanks, but I’m okay. You finish your run.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
“Okay. But let’s get together this week.”
“Okay. Where?”
“I found a great little American sports bar not far from here. I’ll take you out for some beer and football,” he said
Samantha nodded. “Sounds great. Call me and we’ll figure it out.”
He waved and took off. Sam walked to the entrance of the path, contemplating the missed memo. She didn’t trust this Shannon character as far as she could throw her, but she figured this might be a battle she’d have to let go of.
She walked back to her apartment and got ready for work.
* * *
With the large grey clouds forming overhead, Samantha figured she’d probably need to buy an umbrella sooner rather than later. She chided herself for not bringing one. Luckily, she’d packed decent winter weather gear. She pulled on her beanie and matching scarf and shrugged into her dark green wool coat. After locking the apartment door, she pulled on her gloves and started toward the elevator. She stepped into the lobby and her heart raced when she caught sight of Kade. He was speaking with the doorman.
He was magnificent.
He glanced her way, almost as though he knew she was there, and smiled. A slow, let’s-take-our-clothes-off smile. She bit the inside of her cheek, grimacing as she bit the same spot she’d bitten yesterday. Still, it kept her from letting out a squeal of excitement.
Kade excused himself from his conversation and made his way over to her. “Good morning, Samantha.”
“Hi. How are you?”
“Better, now that I’ve seen you.”
Sam let out a quiet snort. “Charmer.”
“Where’s your umbrella?”
“I completely forgot to bring one from home and haven’t bought one yet. How soon will it rain, do you think?” As if on cue, the heavens opened and the rain came down in sheets. Sam frowned. “Well, that’s just great.”
Kade chuckled. “Lucky for you, I have one big enough for two.”
“You walk to work?”
“Unlike Payton, I like to walk.”
Sam raised an eyebrow, surprised he’d know that about an assistant.
He grinned. “Everyone knows her aversion to walking.”
“Oh.”
Once he guided her through the lobby and out onto the street, he opened the umbrella and held his arm out to her. She slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow and he pulled her close. “We’re going to have to make a bit of a run for it,” he said. “Ready?”
She nodded. “Ready.”
They took off toward the Gunnach high-rise, ending up under the awning of the café within just a few minutes. Kade shook out the umbrella and grinned. “We made it.”
Samantha laughed. “Yes, we did. You’re a pro.”
He opened the door to the café and waited for her to precede him inside. “I don’t know about that, but keeping the beautiful woman next to me dry is a good motivation.”
“You’re really going to make me break all my rules, aren’t you?”
Kade leaned down and whispered, “That’s the plan.”
A shiver stole up her spine, and she had to hold back the desire to kiss him in the middle of the small restaurant.
“Have you had breakfast?” he asked.
“Not yet.”
“Neither have I. Will you join me?”
She checked her watch. “What about the staff meeting?”
“We have plenty of time. They also won’t start without me.”
“True,” Sam said. “Yes, I’d love to join you.”
Kade bought her breakfast, and they chose a cozy table in the corner to sit and eat. Sam tried not to notice his lips as he sipped his coffee and then smiled at her. She removed her coat in an effort to distract her thoughts.
* * *
Kade watched her as they ate. She looked like someone in a magazine, advertising the perfect American winter scene. She’d removed her black beanie and gloves when they entered the café, and as much as he loved the sight of her silken hair, the beanie was just so bloody adorable, he wanted to find an excuse to go back outside.
When she took off her coat, he had a moment of shock to see she was wearing a skirt quite similar to his tartan. If that wasn’t some kind of a sign, he didn’t know what was. And if there was anything sexier than a woman in tall boots and a short skirt, he’d like proof.
Payton had informed him that Sam had been on a run that morning when she’d called her, and he wasn’t happy that she’d gone out so early alone. His next call had been to Alasdair to get a protection detail on her. He could potentially be overreacting, but once the clan figured out she was his mate, other people would as well. He’d taken care to rule differently than his father before him, but he didn’t want to become complacent.
“Kade?”
“Hmm? Sorry.”
“Did you forget something again?” she asked.
He grinned. “No. I was actually trying to figure out the best way to get you to have dinner with me tonight.”
Samantha raised an eyebrow. “You could ask.”
Kade cocked his head. “Ah. That easy, eh? Right. Will you have dinner with me tonight?”
“No.”
“What?”
Samantha laughed. “I said you could ask. I didn’t say I’d agree.”
“So, I’m back to my scheming then.”
“That sounds ominous.”
He squeezed her hand. “Only to you.”
“We don’t want that.” She blushed and pulled her hand away. “Yes, I’ll have dinner with you.”
“Would you like me to cook for you, or would you rather go out?”
“You can cook?” she asked in delighted surprise.
“I can.” He rose to his feet and held her chair for her. “You just tell me what you do and don’t like.”
“I like everything.” Samantha stood and gathered her purse and outerwear. “But if you need time to plan, we can do it another day.”
“Tonight will be perfect. I’ll walk you to your office and we can go on up to the meeting together.” She stalled and Kade found himself closing the distance between them. “Samantha? Are you all right?”
* * *
Samantha bit her lip and pondered the question. Other than the fact that you’re making me fall in love with you and that scares the freakin’ pants off me? Yes, I’m fine.
“I just don’t want to keep you from anything. You must need to prep for the meeting, right?”
He shook his head. “Anna has everything under control. I’m yours for the morning.”
Samantha forced a smile and nodded. “If you’re sure.”
He laid his hand on her arm and gently squeezed. “You want to run, don’t you?”
She blinked in surprise. “You have no idea.”
“Your fear is pouring off of you. Just relax and trust me.”
“But I don’t know you,” she countered even as her panic began to fade.
“You know me well enough, Samantha. If you listen to your heart, you know you can trust me. It’s important you don’t sabotage your own feelings.”
“Why is it important?”
“We’ll talk tonight, all right?”
She took a deep breath and gave him a reluctant nod.
Kade’s eyes bore into her. “Your mind is fascinating.”
She frowned. “You acting like you can read my mind isn’t making me want to trust you.”
He chuckled. “Sorry. I’ll stop now.” He rubbed the arm he still grasped. “Calmer?”
“Yes.” Which doesn’t make sense.
“I know this doesn’t make sense right now…”
She pulled away from his touch. “Okay, now you’re just freaking me out.”
“Why?”
He stared at her with such sincerity, she wasn’t sure if she was being fair. But he seemed two steps ahead of her, and when she could focus logically, she knew something out of the ordinary was going on. She also knew she didn’t think she could handle whatever it was.
“Samantha?” he pressed.
“Never mind. Let’s just go.”
“Would you rather meet me in the conference room?”
She grimaced. “Would that be okay?”
“Of course. Don’t worry about this, all right? I’ll explain everything.”
He led her to the elevator bay and pressed the down button, waiting for her to step onto the elevator before pressing the up button. Samantha watched him as the doors closed, and her heart felt both bereft and nervous as she rode down to her office.