A Favor (8 page)

“No worries, you earned it. Here’s Sam’s file. Once he’s done with Keno take him down to human resources and they’ll do the paperwork and take him from there for a few hours. Tomorrow he’ll start at the training facility, because he’s the new guy he’ll be doing the overnight shift and he’ll be due there from ten in the evening until eight in the morning.”

“So you aren’t worried Dr. Keno won’t approve him?” The words fly out of my tight throat.

“No, not in the slightest, remember, Sam’s going to be training only. I wasn’t worried about it before I went out to meet with him and after yesterday, I’m even more sure about what Keno will tell me. Yes, he needs the right temperament and he’ll be leading exercises close to what he did in the Rangers but he won’t be under the same pressure he was before. It’ll be fine.”

I can only nod, Taylor is right. With a sigh of relief my eyes go down to the file, not seeing a thing. Of course, it would be fine. By the time I look up Taylor is gone and I’m glad. Rubbing my forehead I try to focus on Sam’s file, with a start I realize I’m seeing his last name for the first time. Sam King, it fit him is all I can think. Curiosity drives me through the rest of it, his transcripts from Harvard, his release from the Army and I’m surprised to see he’s thirty five, he’s a year younger than Taylor. It’s odd, all the other things I know about him but other small things I don’t. I want to know absolutely everything about him, from his shoe size to his favorite color.

I can admit it now, I want Sam, any way I can get him. If it was just six months then I’ll take it, if it’s a week, I’m not proud enough to turn it down. I’ll figure it out, I will try so hard to give him what he needs from me and not be empty and cold and maybe if I get it right this time he won’t leave.

An hour later Sam is back with Dr. Keno and my eyes are on Dr. Keno and his smile and I can finally breathe deeply for the first time since Sam’s kiss by the elevator. Both of them go into Taylor’s office. My phone rings and it’s the last person I had called about Quincy Tucker. Taking careful notes, what I’m hearing from a current coworker is good and I’m able to wrap up my report on Robert’s prospect. He looks good and I’m sure he’ll fit. At the prospect of the interview tomorrow with Tim Nielson, I shiver with distaste, at least it will be Friday.

Taylor’s door opens, “Zoe, take Sam down to human resources and did you finish up on Tucker? Of course you did, thanks. On your way back up, can you get me an espresso? Regular coffee isn’t going to cut it today. Thanks.”

Dr. Keno waves his goodbye. Sam’s arm is up around me again as he leads me out of the office. “Sam, not where Taylor can see.”

Sam laughs and pulls me tighter, “You are adorable sometimes. Kiss me and I’ll think about it.”

“No, kissing you makes my mind all fuzzy.” The elevator stops on the fourth floor and two people get on. I nod a hello and want to elbow Sam for pulling me closer to him. It’s beyond obvious and I fight not to blush but fail. When the elevator stops at our floor I want to flee but Sam keeps me tight against him. “Sam, please, not at work. I’m begging you. I have to deal with these people day in and day out.” He shakes his head and his damn smile went from sinful to devilish and all I can think is, fuck it, and melt against him. I offer my mouth and he takes it, it’s a rough kiss, almost bruising but I don’t flinch. Deep down I feel the same way. It lasts only seconds though and then Sam pulls back, very slowly. That light is in his eyes and I know what he wants but that we have to wait.

It takes a minute to get my legs moving again and I turn to see the door being held open by a very interested administrative assistant. I go in with a muttered thanks, avoiding her eye.

Sam is at my back but gives me some space and I give him a rundown of the setup of the floor. When we get to Jill’s office I knock and wait until Jill calls out to come in. I introduce them and hand over Sam’s file. It’s stupid that the hair on the back of my neck goes up as Jill smiles up at Sam. Jill is married, then Jill giggles, giggles. Damn it. “Okay, well have fun. I’ll see you later, bye.”

Wanting to smack Jill I turn and pull Sam down for a kiss on the cheek, he smiles knowingly and I grit my teeth. Leaving the room without looking back, my only thought is, let Jill giggle at that. There’s no policy in place about employees not getting involved, so I’m not worried about that kiss in front of human resources in the slightest. What I’m worried about is making an idiot of myself.

The morning goes by quickly and I try to keep the disappointment from my face when Taylor leaves, announcing he’s taking Sam out for lunch. I treat myself to a tiny chocolate tart for dessert at lunch and then lecture myself on buying it just as a perk up for missing out on lunch with Sam. I’m back at the size ten I had been before I dated Troy but since I hated exercising, preferring walking or swimming to being stuck in a gym it’s a battle to stay comfortable in my size ten.

It isn’t like we need to spend all day together, but it is hard knowing he’d be doing overnights. Would he sleep okay?

Not surprisingly their lunch went long, Taylor has a habit of that and it’s almost two in the afternoon before Taylor is back. Sam isn’t with him, there’s still some paperwork that needed to be completed.

“Zoe, get the number for the dealership and sales guy Mickey we did that last buy from will you? Sam is going to need something and he likes my truck. I can’t remember what I paid for it.”

“Are we buying him a truck or he’s buying it?”

“Sam already busted my balls on his salary, he is not getting a vehicle out of me. Besides, he has more than enough money to buy his own.”

“Really? Sam had said he didn’t need the money when it came to working here. I thought he meant he just didn’t need it all that badly.”

“He wasn’t just talking, he really doesn’t need the money. Did you notice the windmills when you went out to his place? They’re on his land, he owns about thirty acres out there. It used to be a chicken farm, one of the largest family owned suppliers in Texas. Things didn’t work out though, Sam had to sell out and he made a deal with a company for the use of his land for the windmills. He’s getting a yearly payment for a lease on the fifteen acres they’re on and then quarterly profits. All of that plus his pay from the Army going into an account and rarely spent, he’s doing just fine.

Actually, come on into my office. I want to run something by you. Close the door. I’ve been thinking about asking Sam if he wanted to buy in as a partner. We’ve done well since Stanton left but there are times when I’ve met with prospects that aren’t DOD or our usual customers and I can tell that there’s hesitancy there because I don’t have military experience. It feels like it takes longer to land them and if maybe I had Sam at my side I’d close them quicker. Hell, I could just send him out, he’s the whole package. You’ve had some one on one time with him. He told me you talked him around and he’s shared his concerns. I’m sure now he trusts in us or he wouldn’t still be here. What do you think he’d say to the offer?”

A small part of me wants to scream with happiness at the idea of a way to keep Sam permanently but then I remember Sam’s words. “Right this second, I think the answer would be no but I think if you give him some time it would change. I think right now he’s still feeling out the whole situation, his condition for it to only be six months is apart of that.”

“You look worried?”

“I am, what if he decides it’s not for him after all and leaves again? I don’t think he’d go back home but he’s still assessing it all.”

“Maybe we just have to make it so that he’s so happy here he won’t go?”

Taylor is saying exactly what I’d been thinking earlier. “That could work.”

“I trust you’ll help out on that front where you can?”

My eyes go down, not ready to share my feelings about Sam yet. I nod in agreement. “But could we keep the deal we made out of any conversation with Sam?”

He’s quiet for a long minute, “I think that’s a good idea.” Taylor stands, “Sam mentioned you were going to take him shopping for clothes, after that you’ll go to the dealership. Give him the information on what I paid and let him haggle with Mickey from there. When he comes back, there won’t be much for the rest of the day. Go ahead and leave a little early and get it done.”

“Okay.”

We’re in the men’s section at Macy’s for only twenty minutes. We leave the mall with six pairs of jeans, four pairs of cargo pants, two dress shirts, four tee shirts in black and dark blue and five polo shirts in various colors.

When we get back into my car, I pull out the print out from Taylor’s purchase. “Here’s the printout from Taylor on his truck. He bought it last year, all the bells and whistles included. We have bought six trucks from them and four SUV’s in the last five years. Were you thinking of a truck like Taylor’s?”

“I like it well enough, it’s comfortable and I like it’s more of the old style with just two seats up front and a long bed. Spent some time researching it and there aren’t many complaints on it. An SUV doesn’t really appeal but I don’t have my mind made up just yet.

Are you sure you’re okay with coming with me? Taylor offered, I just didn’t want to take him away from his wife.”

“I don’t mind, at all.”

As we walk away from the dealership I’m thinking I wouldn’t have missed that for anything. One test drive and only a half hour and Sam had picked out what he wanted. He refused to haggle and written a check for a black truck just like Taylor’s, only Sam had paid three grand less. The truck would be washed and delivered the next day once the funds were confirmed from Sam’s bank. He had calmly stated the way things would go, negotiations belonged to him.

Mickey was a nice guy and I’d dealt with him in the past, he’d flirted with me and complimented Taylor from his shoes to his haircut. For Sam he’d rolled over and given Sam the floor within minutes, knowing slick words and flattery would get him no where. Without a doubt I can see why Taylor wanted Sam not just as a trainer but as a partner and it would be the best decision Taylor had ever made.

Sam suggests dinner out and I agree, traffic is building and it will be nice to get off the roads. Dinner is long and lingering and we talk about the city and how it has changed since I moved here. When we notice our waitress has come by for the fourth time asking us if we need anything else, we get the message. I attempt to pay my part but Sam won’t have it, refusing to allow me to even leave the tip. Sighing, I give in. I don’t want any arguments after dinner had been so relaxing.

When we get home I’m surprised by the sleepiness that hits me hard and fight back a yawn. Sam chuckles from behind me, “How is that possible after so much sleep last night? It’s only nine thirty.”

“Obviously, you needed the sleep. Go to bed.” He pulls me close but he only brushes his lips across my forehead and then he’s gone.

Sad, I watch him go. For a long minute I want to follow him and then another yawn sneaks up on me and I decide it’s for the best. I want him, badly but I don’t want to fall asleep on him.

I’m pissed as I lay in bed. After my shower, brushing my teeth and getting ready for bed, I can’t sleep even though I’m tired. After tossing and turning I give into need and pull out my vibrator. It’s Sam I want, it’s Sam I imagine inside me and it’s Sam’s name I cry out when I climax.

Standing in front of my closet I frown as I flick through the outfits I only wore for interviews, one I know I’ll need to wear today. The first time Taylor had asked me to turn up the heat for an interview, using it as just another challenge in the interview I had hesitated. It isn’t a way I feel comfortable dressing. Flaunting my curves, but I understood why and had agreed, for most women it was how they dressed on a daily basis. Still, it didn’t make it any easier. So instead of thinking about trying to attract Tim Nielson, I think about Sam. The dress I pick is white and short, coming to mid-thigh, I would have to tug it when I sit down. On someone thinner the dress would have been appealing enough but with the deep v of cleavage and my curves it’s pure sex. The dress is white and even though it had a thin slip beneath it, the red bra and matching panties I’m wearing are lightly visible beneath it.

When I smell the coffee I go still, shit. Even though I had Sam in mind when I picked this dress I hadn’t expected him to see me in it. A deep breath and I force myself out the door. If I don’t leave soon I’m going to be late. Sam is holding a cup of coffee, leaning against the countertop when he sees me, I wasn’t sure what to expect but it wasn’t what happens next. His whole body goes tense and his jaw flexes visibly. The cup slams down on the countertop with a clink.

“Why the fuck are you dressed like that for work?” He practically snarls at me.

My stomach flips at his anger and I can’t meet his eyes, “Taylor asks me to for interviews, and there’s one today. It’s basically a part of him gauging their response and behavior.”

“But that isn’t the way you want to dress, is it?” His shoots the question at me like a bullet.

Fingers clench tight against my stomach, I meet his eyes and shake my head.

“Go get changed now, I’ll call Taylor and he’ll be damned lucky it’s just a phone call.”

With a shaky breath of relief I nod and go back to my room and change. I yank off the dress and pull on basic black pants and grab a light blue blouse and it takes only two minutes. I’m buttoning my blouse when I reach my door and I can hear Sam. He’s loud and angry.

“I’m telling you right now this bullshit of you having Zoe dress like a fucking high priced whore and her hating it but doing it so she can keep her job stops now. If it happens again I will go down there and make you bleed, got it?” There’s a pause. “Exactly, it was a bullshit thing to do to her. It sure as fuck won’t ever happen again.”

It’s quiet and then I can hear the clink of his cup back on the countertop, he’d hung up on Taylor. I had no idea how I’d looked and wonder if Sam is angry at me for dressing the way I had.