“No, they’re my goddaughter.” She heard the love in his voice.
Cat felt her heart tighten. Sam had a goddaughter and plastered pictures of her all over his walls. Well, that simply confirmed it; there was way more to this man than met the eye.
Cat closed the bathroom door and washed up. When she stepped back into the hall, she took another moment to look at the pictures of the beautiful baby girl. She wondered if Sam wanted kids.
“What’s her name?”
“Samantha, after me.” She could hear the pride in his voice.
“She’s beautiful.” Cat stepped back into the kitchen as Sam placed her sandwich on the table.
“I’m babysitting her this weekend. Maybe you can stop by.”
Cat saw the love and longing shining in his eyes. Her stomach rolled, but not from hunger. “I’d like that.” Her own voice was rough with emotion.
Turning her attention to her sandwich, she bit into it. Trying for casual she said, “This is delicious.”
“Good,” Sam said.
“I’d have to say this is the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had.” She grinned and added with a wink. “Probably because I didn’t have to make it.”
Sam chuckled and sat beside her, taking a bite out of his own sandwich.
Cat glanced around. “Where’s Rio.”
“At the lab. After I drop you off, I’ll go get her. Sometimes I leave her at the lab, but I’d feel better if she’s with me tonight.”
A few minutes later, after their sandwiches were gone, Cat sat back, stretched, and gave a contented sigh. She glanced at the clock, knowing she should go, but not wanting the day to end.
“I should probably go. It’s getting late and you need to go get Rio.”
“And we still have a lot of work ahead of us tomorrow night,” he reminded her. “Come on. I’ll walk you to your door.”
As she walked by another stack of pictures of Samantha on her way to the door, she thought of her nephew Matt, and how much she loved to snuggle and play with him. How much joy and love he brought into her life.
She felt Sam’s hand close over hers. When his thumb softly brushed her skin in a warm caress, she wondered, for the first time in ages, what she really wanted in life. She’d been living her father’s dream for so long she’d forgotten what her own dreams were, what made her happy.
She swallowed, needing time alone to sort through her feelings. “I’m fine, Sam. It’s just across the courtyard.”
He ignored her protest and followed her to his door.
She rolled her eyes. “You’re worse than my brothers.”
He dipped his head. His hair fell forward and she didn’t even hesitate to push it off his forehead. “I promised them you were in good hands, and I don’t break my promises.” When she gazed into his eyes, she knew there was a new closeness between them. She felt it in every fiber of her being.
Like the true gentleman he was, he helped her with her coat, circled his arm around her shoulder, and hastily walked her across the dimly lit courtyard.
Standing outside her condo, she crimped her neck to look at him. Warmth settled in her stomach. “Thanks, Sam.” Turning around, she inserted her key into the lock and pushed open her door. “I’ll see you in the morning then,” she said, remembering she’d left her car at the office.
Sam cupped her elbow and urged her back. His roped muscles tightened. “Cat. I was wondering,” he said, his voice a gruff whisper.
She twisted to face him. Dear God, when his deep blue eyes looked directly at her like that, it was possible to forget every sane thought. He tucked her hair behind her ear. A grin curled his mouth as he inched forward. His sensuous lips were so close she could almost taste them.
She squared her shoulders, her spine starched. “What is it?”
His rich baritone licked over her thighs. A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Should I leave my blinds open tonight?”
She froze. Her mouth opened in a silent gasp. Holy hell, he knew. All this time, he knew she’d been secretly watching him in his bedroom. She bit back an agonized groan.
His eyes were full of teasing warmth as they moved over her. His smile brimming with tenderness. “Or have you had your fill of me?”
“I…I…”
He leaned in and pressed his ear against hers. “Why don’t you leave yours open, too,” he said, his voice full of tortured promise. “After I get back from picking up Rio, I’ll meet you at the window.”
Less than an hour later, Sam pulled into the parking lot, Rio in tow. With long, hurried strides, Sam rushed to his condo, all the while wondering if Cat would indeed play his little voyeur game. His cock thickened as a wave of anticipation took hold.
Of course, he knew she watched him at night. Hell, he had to be watching her to know she watched him. On many nights he’d purposely left his blinds open, hoping to get a glimpse of the sexy woman across the courtyard. The sight of her always played havoc on his senses. Once her lights dimmed, he’d retreat to his own bed and imagine there wasn’t a courtyard separating them.
He pushed past his condo door and locked it behind him. After securing his tired chimp in her bed, he rushed to his bedroom. Sam opened his blinds and peered into Cat’s window. Her outside light cast mysterious patterns on her walls. He took a moment to reminisce about the way her body had opened up to him this afternoon. He could still hear her sweet voice in his head. Calling out his name, begging for him to take her where she needed to go.
Desire moved over and through him as he recalled the way she’d
