LITMIR.BIZ

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man didn’t like things made easy for him. “I slipped a note under your door. Besides, I do believe I start work at nine and until then my time is my own,” she said, aware of Erica’s speculative gaze.

      Blake must have been, too. He darted an irritated look at his half sister, then away, jerking his head at Joel’s retreating back. “What did the doctor want?”

      Was he jealous already? She felt a thrill of excitement but before she could answer, Erica said, “Joel’s taking Samantha out to dinner tonight.”

      Blake blinked in shock, but he recovered quickly, his blue eyes narrowing in on Samantha. “You can’t go. I need you to work for a couple of hours tonight. I’m expecting an important call.”

      “I’m sorry, Blake, but I’m entitled to some time off.”

      He shook his head. “Not tonight, I’m afraid. I’d do it myself but as you know, I have a function to attend in town.” He regarded her with a hint of smugness in his eyes. “That’s why I pay you the big bucks.”

      Samantha’s stomach started to churn. For all that she had wanted him jealous … for all that she anticipated him being difficult with the job … she still hadn’t expected he would be quite so obstructive. It was obvious he was going to be exactly that from now on.

      Well, she didn’t like being told what to do, especially when it was out of spite. Oh, boy, she was going to really enjoy not making this easy for him now.

      Her chin angled up at him. “Only for the next month,” she pointed out smoothly, suddenly wanting to throttle him.

      His mouth tightened. “Listen—”

      “Blake,” Erica’s voice cut across him soothingly. “I really think you’re being unfair here. If necessary, one of the staff can—”

      “Mind your own business, Erica,” he snapped, making both Samantha and Erica gasp. He grimaced, a pulse beating in his cheekbone. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” Then he looked at Samantha. “Go if you must,” he said, then twisted on his heels and stormed off.

      “Oh, my God, that was terrible, Erica,” Samantha muttered. “I don’t know what came over him.”

      Erica stood watching her half brother storm into the elevator. “I do.”

      Samantha sighed. “Yes, he seems to have a problem with you, doesn’t he? I’m sure he’ll be fine once he gets used to having a new sister.”

      “Half sister,” Erica corrected with a wry smile, then sat down on the chair opposite. “Samantha, I don’t think it’s me who’s upset him. What’s going on between you two?”

      Samantha was unsure how much she should confide in the other woman. When it came down to it, Erica was a Jarrod. Still, the others would have to know sometime. “I’ve given him my resignation. I finish up in a month’s time.”

      “What! But why?” Erica cried. “I thought you loved your job.” She reached across the table and squeezed Samantha’s hand. “Please don’t leave. I love you being here. You’re part of the family.”

      Samantha felt her heart lift, then take a dive as fast. She’d only just begun to know Blake’s family and now she had to leave. “It’s time for me to make a change.”

      Erica gave her a penetrating look. “There’s been something bothering you lately.” She paused. “Blake needs you, Samantha.”

      For the job, that was all.

      “Yes, he’s made it quite clear that’s why he’s making me work out my contract for the next month.” She couldn’t stop her lips from twisting. “He told me it’s nothing personal.”

      There was another pause, then, “I see.”

      Samantha realized she may have said too much. The other woman probably saw more than she should.

      All at once Erica gave a disarming smile. “You know what I do when I’m feeling down? I go shopping. How about I take you into town after lunch and we buy you a new dress for tonight?”

      Samantha knew Erica was trying to make her feel better. “It’s a lovely thought, but I’ve already got enough dresses. And anyway, I have to work. Blake’s going to make sure he gets his money’s worth from me from now on.”

      Erica waved that aside. “I bet most of your clothes are suitable for Vegas, not here. And please … no woman ever has enough dresses,” she teased, looking beautiful and happy but still slightly concerned. “Besides, I think it will do Blake good to do without you for a couple of hours.” She winked. “He owes me now for being such a jerk.”

      Samantha appreciated it and she tried to smile but couldn’t. “Erica, it’s not a good idea.” Despite being angry with Blake, she realized she’d probably pushed him a bit too much already today. She’d wanted to shock him into being jealous. Not give him a heart attack!

      “Phooey! You want to look good for Joel tonight, don’t you?”

      Samantha thought about why she’d accepted the invitation to dinner with Joel in the first place. This was about making Blake jealous, she reminded herself, so she still had to keep trying. She couldn’t give up after the first try.

      She nodded. “Yes, I do.”

      “Then let’s light a fire under him, honey, if that’s what he needs.”

      Samantha did her best not to give anything away, but they both knew Erica was talking about Blake, not Joel. And seeing that this might be her one and only chance …

      “Okay then, Erica. I’m in your hands. I have nothing to lose.”

      “Good girl! I’ll come by the office after lunch.” Erica got to her feet. “I’d better go and check on the staff member who burned her hand.” She smiled and headed back the way she’d come.

      As Erica left, Samantha sat for a few moments then looked down at the remains of her scrambled eggs. She just hoped she didn’t end up like her breakfast—out in the cold and barely touched.

      After lunch Blake’s bad mood increased as he watched Erica leave his office, taking his assistant with her for the afternoon. They were going shopping, for Christ’s sake! For a dress for Samantha’s date tonight!

      Damn Erica. His half sister was beautiful and smart, but, unlike his brothers and Melissa, he didn’t totally trust her. After listening to her for the last five minutes, he hadn’t changed his mind. She was unmistakably adroit at getting her own way, using his outburst this morning against him to make him feel guilty. It had worked like a charm, as she’d known it would.

      But it was Samantha he really needed to fathom, he decided, leaning back in the leather chair. He’d woken up thinking he’d go after her with an enthusiasm he rarely felt for a woman these days.

      And then it had all gone wrong. First, there had been the note slipped under his door that she’d already gone to breakfast and hadn’t waited for him. She’d never done that before, not here in Aspen or anywhere else they’d stayed throughout the world.

      Then he’d found her accepting a date with that gigolo doctor, Joel Remy. That was like going out with one of the ski instructors. Didn’t Samantha know women were lined up to sleep with these guys? He’d seen it all his life.

      Take a number, Samantha.

      What the hell was going on here? She suddenly seemed a different person. It was like she’d decided to place being a woman first, his assistant second.

      What had got into her? Was she trying to pay him back for not letting her walk out on the job early? Would she really do that? He grimaced. She was a woman, wasn’t she? She’d probably decided to have a farewell fling just to rub his nose in it.

      Thoughts of Samantha in bed with another man were suddenly anathema to him. He couldn’t let her do it. He knew

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