Bound by Blood (Cauld Ane Series) (9 page)

“Honestly?” He grinned. “I just thought you might like a little time to decompress after being bombarded by all those people.”

She let out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “Oh, thank you.”

Kade removed his jacket and laid it over one of the chairs. “I also thought you might like to know where the best jogging trail in Edinburgh is.”

Okay, now she was a bit disconcerted by how little he missed.

She grinned. “I’d love it. I think I may need to start as early as tomorrow morning at the rate I’m going.”

He led her to the bank of windows and pointed to the west. “That block of buildings there is where your flat will be. Just past that purview, you should see a trail in between a group of trees.”

As she watched Kade point out various parts of the university campus and outbuildings, Sam couldn’t help but notice his muscles ripple beneath his crisp white shirt. She suddenly wondered if her ridiculousness knew no bounds. She was noticing the man’s physique, obsessing over it, really. She waited for a break in his information and made her escape. She needed to remember she was there to do a job, not fawn over the hot doctor.

CHAPTER SIX

SAM HEADED BACK to her office and hit Pepper’s number as she closed the door.

“Sammi?”

Sam sighed in relief. “Thank God.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Pepper, I’m in trouble.”

“Why, what happened?” she squeaked.

“I think I might be falling in lust,” Sam admitted.

There was a brief pause and then the sound of guffawing laughter and the whinny of horses in the background.

Sam dropped her head back against the door. “Pepper?”

“You totally freaked me out! I thought you were really in trouble!”

“I’m sorry. I just don’t know what to do. I’ve never ever felt this way before.”

“I know you haven’t.” Pepper was still laughing. “Who are you lusting over?”

“My boss!”

“Not the hottie on the plane?”

“Who? Oh, no. He’s cute, but nothing compared to my boss. Pepper, he looks like he stepped off the cover of a romance novel, and on top of that, he has this incredible voice. He’s Scottish, but there’s something else there. If Alexander Skarsgård and Craig Ferguson had a baby, he’d sound like him. He has long hair and his name’s Kade, for freak’s sake. Kade! Did his parents do that to ensure every woman on the planet would want to procreate with him?”

“Long hair ala Brad Pitt in Legends?” Pepper asked, a hopeful sound in her voice.

“Think Keith Urban.”

“Ooh…even better,” she said breathlessly. “Holy cow. I might need to push my flight up.”

“I’m losing it, Pep. Seriously, I think this might have been a mistake.” Sam pushed away from the door and sat down at her desk. “I think I should come home.”

“Don’t you dare!” Pepper snapped. “You might be shy, Samantha Christene Moore, but you are no coward. Plus, this is your dream job.”

Sam sighed. “I know, I know. I just don’t know what to do. You know my rule.”

“No mixing business with pleasure, yeah, yeah,” Pepper droned. “Maybe throw that rule in the air and shoot the hell out of it.”

“That’s not a good idea.”

“How do you know? Take a chance for once, Sam. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“I could lose my job.”

“One you don’t actually need, right now, anyway. You have money saved, so if you had to come home and look for another job, you could.”

Sam sighed. “True. I just don’t know if I feel that brave.”

“Brave, schmave.”

Sam snorted.

“Does this fall into the category of being hit by a bolt of lightning wrapped in a rainbow?”

Sam couldn’t stop a giggle. “Oh, Pep. Yes. Really, you should have been an ad-man.”

“Let me tell you what you’re going to do. You’re going to throw caution to the wind and embrace whatever comes your way. Especially, if it’s some hot Scottish guy.”

“Pepper, he’s not interested in me.”

“How do you know? He could be feeling the same thing you are.”

Sam let out a snort of derision. “Ever the romantic, I see.”

“Do me a favor.”

“What?”

“Just go with it. If it’s meant to happen, then let it happen. Fall in love if you can.”

“No! Falling in love with your boss is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.”

“Well, shut my mouth,” Pepper retorted in a mock southern accent. “I mean, even a blind squirrel bumps into an acorn now and then.”

“Pepper, stop. I just need to know what to do until you get here.”

Pepper chuckled. “I just told you.”

“You’re no help.”

“Okay, how about this?” The clank of a gate latching sounded in the background. “Try to get a glimpse of him naked. Maybe he’s a troll under his clothing.”

Sam couldn’t stop the giggle that burst forth. “Oh, Pepper. I miss you.”

“Just about nine weeks now, my friend. I’m counting down the days.”

“Me too.”

“Okay, I just put Jonesy to bed in his stall and now I need a glass of wine and a long hot shower to wash the horse off me.”

“In that order?”

“Maybe I’ll start and end with the wine.”

“Nice. Thanks for the pep talk…pun intended,” Sam said. “I’ll Skype you over the weekend unless I have another crisis.”

“Sounds good. Love you.”

“Love you too.” Sam hung up, dropped her cell phone into her purse, and pulled open her door. She nearly ran into Payton.

“Oh, sorry,” Payton squeaked.

“My fault, Payton.” Sam stepped back. “Come in.”

“Thank you. I wanted to let you know your flat’s ready?”

“My flat?”

“Sorry, your apartment.”

“Really?” Sam’s eyes widened. “I thought it was going to take two weeks.”

Payton shook her head. “Well, there was a slight change. Dr. Gunnach had me make a switch.”

“What? Why?”

Payton hugged her portfolio to her chest. “I’ll let you ask him that.”

Samantha smiled. “Okay.”

“He asked me to see if you’d like to go on over now and make sure it’s acceptable.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine, Payton. I don’t want to interrupt your day.”

“You’re not, and Dr. Gunnach insisted.”

Who
is
this guy?

“Okay. If he insisted.”

Payton peered down at her open portfolio. “If you like it, we’ll organize your things to be moved from the hotel. Dr Gunnach said he’s available to take you to dinner tonight if you’d like.”

“Did he insist on that as well?”

Payton turned nervous eyes on her. “Oh, he would never, Samantha. Did I make it seem as though he would? I’m so sorry. He just wants to make sure you’re comfortable.”

“I’m sure he does, Payton. Don’t worry.” Sam shut down her laptop and set it in her leather bag, then gathered her purse. “I’m ready.”

“Great. Alasdair is waiting downstairs.”

Sam followed her from the office and locked it. “Are you sure this isn’t keeping you from something far more important?”

“Right now, Samantha, you are my priority.”

There was a finality in her statement. Like Samantha would have no chance of arguing with her or trying to make Payton change tack. They made their way downstairs and slid into the ever-familiar car that Alasdair stood sentry over.

They drove around the block and pulled up in front of the building Kade had motioned to earlier. “Okay, seriously, Payton, we could have walked.”

“Well, you’re free to walk on your own time.”

“I take it running with me in the morning wouldn’t be in your wheelhouse.”

Payton’s face contorted in horror. “I don’t run. Not even when being chased.”

Sam giggled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Payton grinned. “I have to run errands this afternoon, so Ali’s going to wait here for me.” She climbed from the car.

Sam followed.

The lobby of the building was somewhat unassuming, but the doorman was friendly and grinned at the ladies as he held the elevator door for them.

“Alan, this is Dr. Moore. She’ll be on thirty-two,” Payton said.

“Aye, Miss McFadden. I’ll watch after her.” He turned to Sam. “Welcome.”

Sam smiled. “Thank you.”

Once they stepped off the elevator, Payton led Sam down a long hallway. She slid the key into the lock and pushed open the door. “Here you go. If there’s anything you need, let me know and I’ll make a note.”

Sam walked into the apartment and her mouth gaped open. Old met new in the large room. Floor-to-ceiling windows faced the university and the jogging path Kade had shown her earlier. The apartment was tastefully furnished with slim-lined and classic furniture. There were two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Payton called one of the bathrooms an en suite…the one Sam would have referred to as the master…but either way, the place had plenty of room for her and Pepper.

“It’s beautiful, Payton.”

“So you approve, then.”

“Of course I approve. I can’t imagine who wouldn’t.”

Payton smiled. “Excellent. Is there anything you’d like changed?”

Sam shook her head. “Nothing. It’s exquisite.”

Payton’s phone rang and she answered it. “Hello, Dr. Gunnach. Oh, yes, we’re here now. Yes, she’s very happy. Yes, she is happy with it. I’m uncertain. Shall I ask her?” She pulled the phone away. “Would you like to join Dr. Gunnach for dinner?”

“I actually thought I might unpack and then order in. Is there a pizza place close by that delivers?”

“Yes.”

“Great. Then I think I’ll order in and take a rain check on dinner.”

Payton nodded and relayed the message to Kade before hanging up. “Let’s head on over to the hotel so we can get you checked out.”

* * *

Samantha loved her new place. After she’d checked out of the hotel, her bags were delivered to the apartment and she went about unpacking. Payton had left her the number to the local pizza place and once she’d taken a shower and dressed in sweats and a tank top, she ordered a large combination. Gluttony, she knew, but she was surprisingly hungry and at least she’d have some left over for dinner tomorrow night.

The doorbell pealed and Sam grabbed her purse and made a run for the door, her stomach growling. She pulled the door open as she rifled through her wallet. “What do I owe you?”

“Nothing.”

Her head whipped up and she found Kade holding a pizza box and a bottle of wine, grinning on the threshold. He was entirely too gorgeous to be legal.

“What are you doing here?”

“Pizza delivery guy isn’t working for you, eh?”

She laughed. “I don’t tip unless you’re wearing the hat.”

“Ah. I’ll remember that next time.”

Sam waved her hand. “Come in.”

She stepped aside and Kade walked in. Sam noted his jeans and soft long-sleeve tee. Totally opposite of the buttoned up suit he was wearing today. He was even better looking, if that were possible.

She glanced down at her sweats. New though they were, they were still sweats. She wore no make-up, and her hair was pulled up into a scrunchy. She groaned.

“Um, how did you…”

“Know what kind of pizza you liked?” he finished.

She raised an eyebrow. “I was going to ask how you got hold of my order, but we can go with that.”

He grinned. “They accidentally delivered to me.”

“Oh? I’m sorry. I must have given them the wrong address.” She rummaged in her purse. “I wrote it down. It’s somewhere in here.”

Kade chuckled. “No, Samantha. I live here too.”

She let out a nervous squeak and then cleared her throat. “Excuse me?”

“Down the hall. We’re on the same floor.”

She let out a relieved breath. “Oh. Right. Sorry. I didn’t know.”

“No worries.” Kade glanced back at her. “Do you drink wine?”

She nodded as she closed the door. “Religiously.”

“I hope you like red. If not, I have white at my place.”

“No, I love red.”

Sam followed him to the kitchen and watched as he pulled cabinet doors open looking for glasses and plates. Then it dawned on her that he’d hijacked her evening.

* * *

Kade watched her surreptitiously, hoping she wouldn’t object to him being there. When Payton delivered the message that Samantha had wanted a quiet night in, he’d been philosophical about her decision…for about an hour. Then he’d realized he had no idea how he’d get through the evening without seeing her.

Payton mentioned she’d given Samantha the number of the local pizza delivery place, and he’d called the store at least four times before her order was confirmed. Once it was, he changed the delivery address to his and put his plan in motion.