His heart turned over in his chest, loving the way she stood beside him, trying to do right by him after her article. “I take it Eugene was the protestor.”
She nodded as her stomach growled. Sam chuckled and pulled his cell phone from his pocket.
Cat arched one perfect brow. “And you knew that was there all along?”
He grinned. “Yup. Now call someone to get us out of here so we can go back to my place to get something to eat.”
“Your place?”
“Yeah, I’ll make us something.” It occurred to him a meal was just an excuse to keep her around longer. He enjoyed being with her, enjoyed their easy comfort and intimacy. “Come with me in my car and then I’ll drive you back here tomorrow morning for work. I have to go right by here anyway.”
A bemused expression crossed her face. “One question, Sam.”
He shook his head in mock exasperation. “What’s with you and all the questions anyway?”
She grinned. “I was just wondering if this meal requires oranges?” she asked. “I have a couple more on my desk.”
Sam groaned. “Don’t even get me started again, Cat, or we’ll never get out of here.”
Chapter 7
Less than a half an hour later, after being rescued by maintenance and explaining in detail to Blain how she and Sam had managed to lock themselves in the storage room, Cat found herself sitting beside Sam in his Jeep. Of course, during her in-depth interrogation, she’d naturally left out the fine details of how they’d passed the hours while trapped inside said storage room.
Cat neatly folded her hands on her lap and studied Sam’s profile as he maneuvered through mid-afternoon traffic. There was no denying that something had happened in that closet, something less physical, more emotional, and very intimate. Something that would be hard to walk away from when she moved to New York.
A riot of emotions swept through her and tugged on her heartstrings. She’d had no idea that Sam would come to mean so much to her in such a short time. But falling for him would only end up complicating her well-laid plans. Wouldn’t it?
Cat turned in her seat, focusing all her attention on Sam. She concluded the tiny lines under his eyes were probably from worrying about Rio. A pang of guilt made her stomach tighten. God, she’d really had no idea her article would cause him such grief. She needed to make this right for him. No matter what it took.
Cat vowed to get to the bottom of this. If Eugene and Hawk were in cahoots, she’d find out. It was natural that Hawk would talk to Eugene for a follow-up, but Hawk had passed Eugene something and Cat was determined to find an explanation.
She opened her mouth, deciding Sam should know, and then changed her mind. He had enough to worry about without her adding to it, especially when she wasn’t one hundred percent sure. If Sam took that information to the cops and Hawk proved innocent, it’d get her in a shitload of trouble at work. Then who’d ever hire her?
Redirecting her thoughts, Cat stifled a yawn and rested her head against the seat. Exhaustion eased itself into her bones. It had been one hell of an afternoon. And to think tomorrow night, she’d have a repeat performance while he tested her responses to the serum.
At the thought of tomorrow night her pulse rate kicked up a notch. Another repeat performance from the skilled scientist would surely be her emotional undoing. She let out a long slow breath. How could she continue to be his lab rat and remain unscathed?
Sam pulled into his parking spot outside their condo, turned off the ignition, and shifted to face her. His eyes narrowed, his expression serious. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, feeling anything but. The way he looked at her with such tender concern made her throat tighten and heart ache. As she studied him, her chest hurt. Gut instinct told her to go home, run, lock the door, and never set eyes on Sam again. Entering into his territory, his personal space, and engaging in easy, playful banter over a casual meal would test the small brace holding the pieces of her heart together. She gazed into his Laguna blue eyes and felt herself drowning.
“How does grilled cheese sound? It’s my specialty.”
Apparently his culinary skills were right up there with hers. Cat gave an uneasy smile.
He must have sensed her hesitation. He didn’t give her a chance to voice an argument. “Let me make you something to eat and then I’ll walk you home,” he pressed. The sexy lilt of his voice pulled at her, drawing her deeper into a dangerous place.
He smiled and that was all it took for her rational thought to pack up and take a vacation. One simple smoldering smile from him had her giving into temptation and going completely against her best interests.
Cat stretched out her body. Her muscles hurt. In all the right places. “Okay. My fridge is empty anyway.”
Sam stepped from the Jeep and circled around to meet her. Gathering her hand in his he led her to his condo.
Suddenly, Sam stopped midstride. His mouth twisted into a frown. “Jesus, Cat. Two guys? At once?” He slipped his arm around her waist in a possessive manner and dragged her to him.
She felt his muscles bunch with tension. Tipping her chin, she took in the flare of anger in his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
He nodded toward her condo door.
Cat followed his gaze. “Oh.” She waved. “Hey guys, over here.”
As they came toward her, Sam widened his stance and tightened his hold on her. She heard him curse something incoherent under his breath.
“Sam, I’d like you to meet Mason and Luke.”
Sam just stood there, legs wide, feet planted, staring at the two with a scowl
