The Taming of Xander Sterne(13)

                ‘I don’t understand.’

                Not many people would understand a situation like hers. One where a father insisted upon, rather than objected to, his child’s surname being changed to her mother’s maiden name after the divorce. Malcolm hadn’t even wanted Daisy to possess his surname.

                ‘Your food is getting cold, Mr Sterne.’ She pointed out the obvious as she once again avoided meeting his gaze. ‘And I have several things that need my attention in the kitchen,’ she added before he could object. ‘But I’ll be more than happy to have that chat after I’ve served your coffee.’

                Xander frowned as he began to eat his cooling asparagus, his attention really on watching her as she left the dining room. He was totally aware of the defensive stiffness of her very straight spine and shoulders, and the vulnerable length of her neck as she tilted her head back just as defensively.

                Obviously he had said something to upset her—something else to upset her!

                But wasn’t it a little unusual to also change a child’s surname after a divorce?

                Not that he was acquainted with divorce on a personal level. His own parents had been unhappily married and probably should have divorced each other, but they hadn’t, so that when Lomax Sterne died, Catherine and her two sons had continued to keep the surname Sterne. His mother had only changed her name to Latimer when she married Charles, Xander’s stepfather.

                Xander knew he would object strongly to any woman wanting to change his child’s surname to her own, divorce or no divorce.

                Xander gave a shake of his head; he was taking far too much of an interest in the life of his temporary employee.

                * * *

                ‘Dinner was excellent, thank you.’

                Sam gave a nod of her head in acceptance of the praise as she placed the tray of coffee things down on the dining table.

                ‘Sit,’ Xander invited tersely as she began to clear the dessert bowl from the table.

                ‘I’d rather stand, if you don’t mind,’ she said, trying not to bristle at being ordered about so impolitely.

                His gaze was cool as he looked up from stirring sugar into his black coffee. ‘I do mind.’

                Sam gave a perplexed frown. ‘I really don’t think it’s appropriate for maintaining our employer/employee relationship for me to join you at the dinner table.’

                ‘I think the appropriateness or otherwise of our situation will be dispensed with the moment you have to help me prepare for bed later tonight!’

                Sam instantly felt the heat of embarrassment burning in her cheeks—a blush she knew would clash horribly with the red of her hair—at this reminder that this was one of the duties she had agreed to when she took this job. A totally ridiculous embarrassment, when she had been a married woman for over three years.

                Except she hadn’t been married to Xander Sterne.

                Xander Sterne was in a whole different category from Malcolm when it came to physical prowess. Despite the inconvenience of having had a broken leg for six weeks, which had seriously affected his mobility, he was still all lean muscle and barely leashed power.

                The thought of having to help him prepare for bed later tonight, including being available in case he needed help with his shower, was enough to make Sam feel hot all over, and she had to clasp her hands tightly together behind her back so that he wouldn’t see they were trembling.