The Taming of Xander Sterne(17)

                After spending just a few hours in Samantha’s company, however, he found himself definitely regretting that lack of mobility.

                ‘That’s very kind of her.’ Samantha smiled. ‘Andy’s very easy to get along with.’

                Xander nodded. ‘I bet Daisy is good at ballet too?’

                Her smile became openly affectionate. ‘She loves it.’

                ‘And does Daisy spend much time with her father?’

                Sam drew in a sharp breath as she realised that Xander had been lulling her into a false sense of security these past few minutes, and that he had now decided to pounce. No wonder he and his brother were so successful in business; most people would know, from a single meeting, to be cautious where the brooding Darius was concerned, but they would feel less of a need with the supposedly easy-going Xander.

                But perhaps she was being unfair, and Xander hadn’t had this hard edge to him before his car accident six weeks ago?

                No, he’d still have had the edge, Sam decided ruefully, he just chose to hide it behind that easy-going charm. A charm he was making no effort to maintain in front of her. And why should he? She was here to work, not be charmed into his bed as so many other women had been.

                Her eyes narrowed. ‘Daisy will be spending all of her time here with me for the next two weeks when she isn’t at school.’

                ‘That didn’t exactly answer my question.’

                Sam maintained that steady eye contact. ‘I thought it did.’

                His mouth firmed. ‘Is your husband away?’

                ‘Ex-husband,’ Sam corrected. ‘And I have no idea whether he’s away or not. Now if you will excuse me?’ she added briskly as she gathered up the used dessert bowl. ‘I still have to tidy up in the kitchen.’

                ‘It can wait.’

                ‘I’m tired, Mr Sterne, and would like to relax for a while before bedtime,’ she stated firmly.

                Xander only just managed to bite back his frustration with the way Samantha continued to avoid or refused to answer any of his questions about her marriage or her ex-husband. Deepening the mystery she was fast becoming to him.

                Because there was something very intriguing about the way she clammed up every time Xander so much as mentioned her ex. And the fact that she had no idea whether or not he was even in the country, let alone when he would be seeing his daughter again, was decidedly odd.

                When did the man see his daughter?

                More importantly, what had the other man done to Samantha to cause those shadows in her eyes every time the subject of him was so much as mentioned?





                                      CHAPTER FOUR

                ‘ARE YOU GOING to stand in the doorway all night or do you actually intend to come into the room, where you might actually be of some use in helping me?’ Xander Sterne rasped impatiently from where he sat on the side of the huge four-poster bed that dominated his bedroom.

                Sam had taken one look at Xander and frozen where she stood, her heart pounding in her chest and her pulse racing.

                But she wasn’t drooling.