‘I’m so sorry, Samantha.’ Xander looked down at her, frowning as he saw her expression was just as unreadable. As if the shock, the possibility of seeing Howard again, had robbed her of all feeling. ‘You don’t have to do this, Samantha,’ he reassured her gently. ‘I can go downstairs and tell Howard that my lawyer will contact him on Monday morning as planned.’
Sam knew that would be the safest thing to do. But it was also the coward’s thing to do. And she no longer wanted to be that person. ‘No,’ she said firmly, determinedly rousing herself from the stupor of the shock of knowing that Malcolm was actually downstairs refusing to leave until he had spoken to her. And Xander...
It was her worst nightmare realised.
Well, no, that wasn’t strictly true any more; her worst nightmare was knowing she had fallen in love with Xander, while understanding that that love wasn’t, and never could be, returned.
So, did she want to talk to Malcolm?
Absolutely not.
Did she want this situation between the two of them settled once and for all?
Absolutely yes.
‘Is Daisy fully occupied with the TV, do you think?’ She chewed worriedly on her bottom lip at thoughts of her young daughter so much as realising that the man who was her father was actually here, in Xander’s apartment.
Xander’s mouth twisted. ‘She’s watching one of her favourite animated movies. Very loudly,’ he added dryly, as the volume was audible all the way down the hallway.
Sam nodded. ‘Then I would rather the two of us talked to Malcolm now, if that’s okay with you?’ She looked up at Xander expectantly.
‘Are you sure?’ He frowned darkly, obviously not happy with her decision.
‘Just say if you aren’t comfortable with this.’ Sam frowned, noting Xander’s pallor, the tightness of his jaw, the nerve pulsing at the base of his throat, and the grimness of his expression. ‘You’ve done so much for us already.’
‘The fact that Howard is here at all would seem to imply I didn’t do it quickly enough!’ He scowled darkly.
‘I’m really grateful for all the help you’ve given me.’ Sam frowned as he gave a pained wince. ‘I am grateful, Xander, but I can deal with the rest of this on my own if you would rather not be involved any further.’
‘That’s the last thing I want! Sorry,’ he muttered as Samantha flinched at the fierceness of his tone. ‘I apologise for raising my voice.’
She grimaced as she placed her hand lightly on Xander’s arm. ‘Your reaction is perfectly normal, Xander,’ she reassured him. ‘Believe me, Malcolm has this effect on most people.’ She gave his arm a reassuring squeeze before stepping away from him. ‘Let’s just get this over with, shall we—before I lose my nerve?’ she added shakily.
Once this conversation with Malcolm was over, and the matter was hopefully settled, Sam knew then would be the time for her and Xander to talk. If last night had made it awkward for them to continue living together for the next week, this added fiasco with Malcolm could make it impossible!
‘I should have been able to protect you from this confrontation,’ Xander said.
‘Because your instinct is naturally to protect rather than to destroy.’