Sensual Confessions - Brenda Jackson [84]
Sam knew that her own parents would jump for joy if either she or Angelo presented them with a grandchild. The thought of having a baby had never crossed her mind before, but now with so many pregnant women here tonight, she found herself thinking about it. And whenever she did, those thoughts would include Blade. She wasn’t ready to think about why that was the case; for now she would just accept that it was.
She turned, knowing the object of her thoughts had returned to her side. He smiled at her. “Missed me?”
She chuckled. “Of course.”
He glanced over at his family. “Excuse us for a minute.” He took Sam’s hand in his and led her over to a secluded spot near where the band had been playing earlier.
“I’ve made arrangements,” he whispered. “Alex wants to talk to you before the party ends tonight. We’ll use Jake’s office. Will that be okay?”
“Yes, that will be fine. The sooner he finds out something the better. It’s been crazy at the office with everyone looking over their shoulders.”
He nodded in understanding.
“Sam! I didn’t know you would be here.”
Blade and Sam turned when Luke and Mac walked up. Sam gave her best friend a hug. “When I saw you in the office before you left town on Thursday, I didn’t know, either,” she said to Mac. “Blade had asked me the day before but I turned him down. And then he kept pestering me about coming, so I changed my mind Friday morning.” She chuckled and added, “He finally asked me nicely instead of making it an order.”
Mac nodded as she and Luke glanced over at Blade, who only shrugged his shoulders. “I thought it was best to bring her with me instead of leaving her in Oklahoma with that crazy person still on the loose.”
Luke stared at Blade a moment. “I can see you thinking that way.”
Luke knew it was a lie even as he said it. He couldn’t see Blade thinking that way at all. For Blade to bring Sam to the party could only mean one thing. A woman had finally captured his cousin’s heart.
Chapter 21
Sam glanced around at all the people gathered in Jake Madaris’s office. She had assumed that only she, Blade and Alex would be there, and was surprised when she walked in and found others waiting.
When Alex Maxwell saw the obviously confused expression on her face, he explained, “I’m going to do everything I can to find out who sent you those flowers, Sam. But these other folks are sort of my backup just in case things get crazy, like they did with Mac last year. Besides, I’d like them to hear everything in case they latch onto something that I might miss.”
Sam smiled. She’d heard all about Alex Maxwell and his ability to solve cases, so she doubted he would miss anything. And then, glancing around the room, she realized she knew about four of the others, as well. They were former members of the U. S. Marines recon forces. And two of them were former CIA agents.
“I’m sure you know everyone, but I’d like to reintroduce everybody anyway,” Alex said.
“All right.”
“First is Ashton Sinclair.”
She smiled and then walked straight over into Ashton’s outstretched arms. She knew Ashton very well, since he was Mac’s cousin.
Ashton glanced down at her with a grin on his face. “Have you been behaving yourself?”
She smiled. “Trying to.”
A serious expression then appeared on Ashton’s face. “Alex will find the person responsible. In the meantime take every precaution.”
She nodded. “I will.” She smiled widely. “I understand congratulations are in order for you and Nettie.”
He laughed. “Yes, we’re having a girl. Nettie and I are ecstatic and the boys are excited,” he said of his sons, six-year-old triplets—Hunter, Wolf and Brody.
She was introduced to Drake Warren and his wife, Tori. They were former CIA agents. She gave them hugs, as well.