The Taming of Xander Sterne(54)

                * * *

                Sam lived in a state of trepidation for the next four days. Malcolm had given her until the end of the week to make her decision, but she knew him too well to believe anything he said, and lived in fear of him waiting for her at Daisy’s school again one morning or evening.

                And she worried even more when the days passed and she heard nothing further from him.

                Xander had assured her he had the situation under control, when Sam had voiced her concerns a couple of days before, adding that he would have some positive news for her by the end of the week.

                But he must also have been concerned Malcolm might turn up again at Daisy’s school because he had insisted on accompanying them in the car to and from school these past four mornings. Much to Daisy’s delight.

                And so giving Sam another worry—that her daughter was becoming altogether too attached to Xander. They all ate their meals together now, and had done since Sunday morning when Xander had insisted he would be eating all of his meals in the kitchen in future. And it was Xander who Daisy was eager to see when she came out of school every day. Xander that Daisy asked to read her a story every night before she went to sleep.

                Which was exactly what he was doing on Friday evening while Sam cleared away in the kitchen after dinner.

                It was all a bit too cosy for comfort.

                Sam’s comfort, at least; Xander and Daisy seemed perfectly happy with the arrangement.

                So, along with worrying about Malcolm, she also had the extra worry of how Daisy was going to react when the two of them had to move out of Xander’s apartment in just over a week’s time.

                Not that Sam didn’t completely understand Daisy’s infatuation; she was afraid she had one of those going herself where Xander was concerned.

                As if by tacit agreement, the two of them hadn’t spoken again of the things Xander had told her of his childhood. But the knowledge of those shared confidences was there between them, nonetheless, creating a subtle but discernible shift in their relationship. There was an unspoken companionship between them now, coupled with that underlying physical awareness. The latter on Sam’s part, at least.

                Xander had made no attempt to step over the line with Sam again, and that was despite the fact that his desire was more than obvious every time she helped him in and out of the shower!

                And was that disappointment she was feeling?

                Because Xander hadn’t made a single attempt to kiss her again?

                Was she actually feeling a little jealous of the closeness that existed between Xander and Daisy?

                No, not jealous exactly; how could Sam possibly resent any kindness and affection Xander might show towards Daisy? It was just that she ached to be closer to him herself.

                ‘Everything okay?’

                She almost dropped the plate she was placing in the dishwasher at Xander’s unexpected reappearance in the kitchen. Usually she was able to hear his progress down the hallway on his crutches, but the daily physio sessions were going so well that the physiotherapist had advised just yesterday that he need only use the walking stick now. After which Sam had been caught out more than once when Xander appeared unexpectedly in a room.

                She placed the plate in the dishwasher before straightening, her gaze focused somewhere over Xander’s left shoulder as he stood in the doorway; she was far too physically aware of him after her recent thoughts. ‘I was just wondering what Daisy and I should do over the weekend.’