Sam strode across the room and sat down next to Clover. The couch creaked and groaned under his weight; he was a big, solid man. Clover found herself sliding up against him and desperately tried to scooch away, but the couch was slanting downward towards him. He was wearing cologne with notes of cedar and lemongrass in it, which mingled with the animal scent of his own musk.
She leaned to the left so she wasn’t pressed right up against him, but her leg was still pressing against his. He was like solid rock.
“Oh, Mr. McCoy!” Bonnie simpered. “I didn’t see you there.” Then her expression turned doubtful. “She just arrived in town yesterday, and already she has a job with your family?”
“I believe that’s what I just said thirty seconds ago, yes.” Sam’s voice had an edge to it. “She came to our property today, applied for the job and we hired her. She starts tomorrow. Nine a.m. sharp.”
He glanced at her for confirmation, and Clover nodded in agreement, at a loss for words. Why would he help her?
“Well, they’re living in a boarding house.” Bonnie frowned doubtfully.
“Which is not illegal. It is a very clean and well-kept residence, which has been run by the same family for generations. A very well-liked local family. Are you saying there’s something wrong with this boarding house?” The edge in Sam’s voice had gotten considerably sharper.
Bonnie wilted visibly. Sam could get away with saying that kind of thing; Clover couldn’t have.
“Not at all,” she said. She stood up and glanced back at Clover. “But who will watch the children while you’re at work?”
“I will.” Imogen’s normally sweet voice had turned hard. “We’ve already worked it out. The youngest is ten and the oldest is thirteen, so legally they could supervise themselves, for that matter, but they will be under my supervision.”
Bonnie harrumphed. “I’ll need to interview the children right now, to make sure that everything is in order.”
Clover tensed. Her siblings wouldn’t interview well, she was sure of that. They were nice to everyone who was nice to them, but like her, they tended to be on the defensive side when snooty authority figures looked down their noses at them. It came from growing up with ragged hippie parents who proudly wore hand-me-downs and vowed not to be oppressed by the man.
“Then you’ll need to bring a lawyer. And all of my employees have access to the family law firm,” Sam said coldly.
Bonnie’s expression turned frosty and indignant, but she gave a short, sharp nod and turned and left the room.
“Breathe,” Sam said, and Clover realized she’d been holding her breath.
“She said that someone called her and reported some concerns about my family. At first I thought it was you, trying to run us out of town.” She looked at him accusingly.
“It most definitely was not me,” Sam said. “I don’t use underhanded tactics. If I want someone to leave town, I’ll tell them to their face, and I’ll tell them why.”
She had a feeling that was true.
“What brought you over here in the first place?” she asked.
He held up her wallet. “You left this in my office. Fell out of your purse.” She took it, and realized that her hand was shaking. Mingled anger and frustration swirled in the pit of her stomach. Now she owed Sam a favor, and she hadn’t even resolved the issue with her sister, and…
“She’s left the property,” Imogen said, looking out the window. “Shall we go give the children the all clear?”
“You are a lifesaver.” Clover rubbed her face with her hands. “Yes, that would be lovely. Thank you so much for your help.”
“Oh, pshaw. I didn’t like that interfering twit from the second I saw her climb out of her car.” Imogen left the living room.
Sam turned to smile at Clover. She was still sitting so close to him that they were crushing up against each other. She could stand up now; Bonnie was gone. Why didn’t she stand up? Any minute now, she’d stand up.
“Actually, you might want to make it 8:30,” Sam said to Clover. “So you can fill out the paperwork.”
She stared at him as if he’d grown two heads. “Huh? Did I miss part of the conversation somehow?”
“You need to fill out paperwork,” Sam said patiently. “For the job.”
“You… Oh, I thought you were just saying that to cover for me.”
“Nope. We really do need someone to do social media for our company. Should have brought someone in a long time ago.”
Was he making fun of her? No way he really wanted to hire her. “I promised my sister I’d go to the doctor with her tomorrow afternoon. I already told you that.”
“Then just get set up tomorrow morning, and start your first full day the day after tomorrow.” Great. He had an answer for everything. Except the one thing she wanted to know.
“Are you ready to tell me what you have against my sister?” she demanded.
“Not yet.”
She stood up so she wouldn’t be pressed up against his hot, hard body anymore. “You are a control freak and an asshole.”