The Taming of Xander Sterne(65)

                The fact that Daisy was present this morning, and would be all weekend, was going to make even that brief conversation difficult, if not impossible.

                And Sam wasn’t sure her already frayed nerves could take the added tension, especially if Xander decided to spend time with them this weekend.

                Because they weren’t a normal family. And they never could be.

                Xander’s past record, of having been involved with a legion of women, clearly spoke for itself, and he certainly hadn’t made any rash declarations of love to Sam the evening before. He hadn’t needed to, she reminded herself, after she had made it more than obvious she’d wanted him as much as he’d wanted her.

                She had been a willing scratch to Xander’s itch, at best. And the fact that he meant so much more to her than that wasn’t his problem.

                That was something Sam definitely intended keeping to herself.

                Xander would run a mile if he thought for one moment that she had feelings for him. Worse, that she had been stupid enough to fall in love with him.

                Just the thought of leaving Xander at the end of next week, of never seeing him again, was enough to break her heart.

                ‘Daisy, how about I put a cartoon on for you?’ Xander suggested lightly as he stood up, very aware of the fact that Samantha was keeping her back turned towards the two of them for a reason; the slight shaking of her shoulders, and the occasional soft sniff he could hear, clearly indicating that she was crying.

                Could he feel any more of a heel than he already did? Xander wondered heavily as he accompanied Daisy into the television room and put a film on for her.

                He had taken advantage of Samantha last night. Had used her emotions against her—fear of her ex-husband? Her gratitude for Xander’s help? The compassion she felt for his past? Take your pick! And then he’d forgotten all of those things in order to take what he wanted.

                The fact that Samantha had left his bed before he had woken up, that she was crying this morning, had to mean that she regretted what had happened between the two of them last night.

                And Xander had no idea how to put things right between them.

                Did he apologise and tell her that he knew and accepted that last night had been a mistake?

                Even if it hadn’t been?

                Did he promise her it would never happen again?

                A promise, desiring her as much as he still did, that Xander knew he couldn’t keep.

                Or did he put her through the even worse embarrassment of being the one to speak first about last night?

                No, that last definitely wasn’t going to happen; it would totally humiliate Samantha, and that was the last thing Xander ever wanted her to feel in regards to him or their lovemaking.

                What he had wanted to happen was for the two of them to wake up in each other’s arms this morning, to make mind-blowing love again, before they discussed exactly where they were going to go with their relationship.

                Except Samantha had already left when he’d woken up this morning.

                Consequently there had been no opportunity for a repeat of the night before.

                Both of those things telling him that, as far as she was concerned, at least, there was also no relationship for the two of them to discuss.