Chapter Fourteen

Sam glanced across at Robyn as he climbed up into his SUV. She had settled quietly into the passenger seat, her gaze locked on some point outside of the window. Everything about her body language stated that she was still reacting to what had taken place upstairs in his bedroom. Seeing her off-balance was a new experience. And that struck an odd note within him, one that started from the moment their eyes had met in the kitchen.

From the moment he'd met her, she had been in control. Even in the face of Mark's deception at her original hiring, she'd hardly blinked. Somehow, she managed to be warm and caring, while yet remaining cool and level-headed. He had never seen her back down, or apologize for something she felt strongly about. But this she was having trouble with. He wondered why. He wondered what she would be like if she really lost her head.

Sam put the truck into gear much more firmly than he intended. He needed to put that last thought firmly from his mind. That kind of thinking could lead to some very dangerous territory. He caught Robyn's quick glance toward him as the truck jerked, the way she nervously licked her lips.

"I'm sorry again for barging in on you." She spoke quietly, and her eyes darted back toward the road ahead. "That was an unpardonable invasion of privacy. I promise it won't happen again."

"I think unpardonable might be pushing it," Sam said, fighting to keep the humor out of his voice. She appeared to be really agonizing over this. There had to be more going on than simple embarrassment at walking in on him.

He should have assured her that he felt at fault. That he was the one who should have realized the folly in laying back on the bed when he was so tired. But he'd only intended to be there for a moment while he tried to figure out his next move in contacting Sandra. None of his efforts of the morning had proved successful. And yet, a flash of memory stopped him. It was the memory of the look in her eyes just before she'd slammed the door. It hadn't registered before, but now it came back with startling clarity. Robyn Sommers found him physically appealing. A sensation of almost-pleasure flowed through him as he admitted to himself that the feeling was mutual. He couldn't prevent the smile that came then.

Robyn shot him another look. This one wasn't hesitant as the previous one had been. His smile grew. "No. Unpardonable just won't do," Sam couldn't help prodding. "I'd say this ranks right up there with high crimes of the state. You should be drawn and quartered."

Her expression relaxed into a smile, and she shook her head. "I've forgotten that you're one of those art types. You probably posed for some nude painting class when you were in college."

"You mean you didn't?" Sam shot back.

Robyn gasped. "No way, Sam. No way I'm believing that you posed nude."

Sam chuckled and shrugged as if it were of little consequence.

"Sam?" Robyn beseeched, looking as if she was beginning to believe.

Sam just smiled. He'd leave her to stew over that one. Deliberately, he changed the subject. "But, I am glad you woke me. I'd hate for Beth to have to be stuck in the office waiting for me. That makes me feel like such a bad parent to see her just sitting there as if she's been forgotten."

"Been there a time or two?" she asked sympathetically.

"Or two."

"You sounded like you were having one doozy of a dream though," she was continuing. "That's why I came in like . . . like . . ."

"Like you were charging to my rescue?" Sam filled in the blank. "A maiden on a white horse coming to rescue me?"

"Now there's an idea for a fairy tale."

Sam acknowledged the statement with an amused lifting of his eyebrows. "Well, whatever it was that I dreamed, I've forgotten it. So it couldn't have been overly important." Turning the conversation to another subject, he continued. "By the way, I'm going to be working late tonight. I'll ask Mark to come by around seven to relieve you."

"I don't mind staying," she told him.

He shot her a glance. "You're sure? It could be after nine before I get in."

"Well then, I guess I'll be putting Beth to bed."

"You're very good with her," he observed, marveling at how well she had integrated into their lives in so short a time. He figured that he should probably be worried about that, but he just couldn't today. Her presence seemed a blessing. "Do you have any children of your own? I suppose I should have asked you that in the beginning."

"No, I don't have any children yet. But I do hope to someday." She looked thoughtful. "After I've found that right person to share my life with."

"That's the trick, isn't it? Finding someone who feels the same way you do, at the same time that you do."

"Yeah, exactly," Robyn mused half to herself. Then, more loudly. "Plus I can relate to where Beth's coming from because I've been there. I lost my mother when I was very young, and was raised by my father. Regardless of the generational differences, there are some things that just don't change."

"How did you lose your mother?"

"She died. I was six."

"I'm sorry."

"Thanks. It was a long time ago."

"She's quite taken with you," Sam admitted. "She couldn’t stop talking about you last night after you left. And I couldn't help but notice how well the two of you got along at dinner."

"She's a wonderful child. Easy to love. I think we're becoming great friends."

Sam smiled, liking the sound of that. Beth made few friendships, but the ones she did were highly valuable to her. He was happy to know that the feeling was reciprocated. But a small niggling question remained in the back of his mind. He pulled into a parking slot at the school, turn to her and voiced it.

"What happens after?"

"After?" Robyn's confusion was evident.

"When this is all over," he clarified. "When you're not being her bodyguard anymore."

Her expression showed the moment understanding arrived. She sobered, brow furrowing. "I was hoping that we could still be friends. After."

Some nuance of her voice, or maybe it was her eyes, suggested to him that she wasn't only talking about herself and Beth. The silence stretched for a beat, and then he asked the obvious question. "Are we friends."

"I'd like for us to be," she replied.

Sam smiled, and offered her his hand. He didn't even have to think about it. "Friends it is."

Robyn burst into laughter, but allowed her hand to be engulfed in his. They shook on it. "Okay, friend, let's go get Bethany before the teacher starts handing out demerits."