The Taming of Xander Sterne(31)

                ‘Malcolm?’ His date for the evening had obviously tired of waiting as she looked over at him in puzzled enquiry.

                Malcolm turned to smile charmingly at the other woman. ‘I’ll be right there, Sonya.’ His eyes hardened as he turned back to Sam. ‘This conversation isn’t over,’ he warned her softly.

                ‘Oh, it’s most definitely over,’ Sam assured him.

                He smiled tauntingly. ‘No, Sam, it really isn’t. I’m sure I’m going to find you so much more fun now that you’re all grown up.’

                Sam’s eyes widened in alarm. ‘We’re divorced.’

                ‘So?’ he taunted. ‘Never heard the phrase one more for the road?’

                Surely that applied to a drink, and not—not—

                ‘We have a deal,’ she reminded shakily. ‘Daisy and I will stay out of your life and you will stay out of ours.’

                Malcolm gave an unconcerned shrug. ‘And I’m willing to continue doing just that. For a price.’

                ‘I already paid your price.’

                ‘And now I’m going to collect the interest.’ His eyes had narrowed darkly. ‘Give my daughter a hug for me when you see her,’ he added softly. Threateningly.

                ‘You—’

                ‘Enjoy the rest of your evening, Sam,’ Malcolm taunted before turning on his heel to join his date for the evening, his hand beneath the other woman’s elbow as the two of them then proceeded, as Sam had suspected that they might, towards the ballroom where Andy and Darius’s wedding reception was being held.

                Oh, why hadn’t she left sooner? Why had she come here at all?

                ‘Everything okay, Samantha?’

                Sam was shaking so badly, her knees knocking so much, she wasn’t sure she was going to be able to remain standing for much longer, let alone be capable of finding a suitable answer to Xander’s puzzled query.

                Was everything okay?

                It couldn’t have been less so.

                Not only had Sam seen Malcolm again when she had been least expecting it, tonight or any other night, but he had definitely threatened her, and used a tacit threat against Daisy as leverage to cash in on it.

                And the intelligent and astute Xander had been a witness to that meeting. Even if he could have no idea about the content of their conversation.

                As for Daisy?

                Sam looked down anxiously at her young daughter. She’d walked over with Xander, her hand still resting trustingly in his. Had Daisy recognised Malcolm as her father?

                There was nothing in Daisy’s face to indicate that she had. Her expression was one of tiredness rather than any sign of recognition for the man Sam had been talking to; Daisy’s eyelids were drooping and her cheeks were slightly pale.

                And really, why should Daisy recognise Malcolm? Her daughter hadn’t even seen Malcolm since she was two years old, and only rarely before then.

                ‘Who was that man, Samantha?’

                She swallowed before answering. ‘Just someone who obviously mistook me for someone else.’ She shrugged dismissively.