A Family Circle 1 - A Very Convenient Marriage Read Online Free PDF Page B

be sure to call and let you know I'm running late."
    He crossed the room to where she stood and reached toward her. Momentarily confused, Nikki half extended her hand, thinking he meant to shake it. But that wasn't what he had in mind. He did take her hand, but only to use it to draw her toward him.
    The wicked glint in his eyes dispelled the illusion of loving affection and gave Nikki warning of his intention. She turned her head slightly and the kiss aimed at her mouth landed on her cheek instead. Even that small contact had more impact than she liked. He was too close, too large and too male. She could smell the subtle, woodsy scent of his cologne, feel the faint, masculine roughness of his chin. She didn't like him being so close, forcing her to be so aware of him.
    Sam lifted his head and looked down at her with every appearance of adoration. "I'm sorry I worried you, sweetheart, but I'm glad you care enough to worry."
    Nikki guessed there were women who would have been charmed by his boyishly wicked smile. Foolish women who might actually enjoy this little game he was playing. If they'd been alone, she would have shoved him away and probably planted her fist in his face. But with Jason looking on, she couldn't do either. A quick glance told her that the other man was standing behind his desk, watching them with an indulgent expression.
    "That's all right, darling."
    Her smile was enough to chill Sam's blood but there was no time to avoid the spike heel that was planted squarely on the toe of his soft leather dress shoe and then slowly ground down. Pain sliced across the top of his foot.
    If they'd been alone, he wouldn't have bet money on his ability to resist the urge to shake her until her perfect white teeth rattled. Probably caps, he thought uncharitably. His hands tightened on her shoulders and their eyes did batde.
    She was a spoiled, rich little brat and the next year stretched ahead of him like an eternity.
    He was an overbearing, obnoxious, mercenary male and the next year was going to be absolute hell.
    "You two will have time for that later," Jason said, smiling at the pair of them. "Why don't you have a seat, Sam. I hope you don't mind if I call you Sam. I don't see any need for formality, do you?"
    "Not at all." Sam released Nikki's shoulders and swallowed a sigh of relief as she removed her heel from his foot. He resisted the urge to check for blood. From the feel of his foot, she must have sharpened the heel of the damned shoe into a stiletto.
    He sat down in the chair beside Nikki's and tried not to notice the subtle floral scent of her perfume, which was like a summer breeze wafting across a bed of roses. An ounce of the stuff probably cost as much as he made in a week, he reminded himself.
    "Nikki told me that she'd explained the situation with her grandfather's will to you and the necessity for this interview," Jason said. "She tells me that you'd just as soon walk away from this inheritance rather than rush her into marriage."
    The look Sam shot Nikki held grudging approval. He'd wondered how he was supposed to convince her grandfather's attorney that he wasn't marrying Nikki for her money. She'd done a perfect job of smoothing the path.
    "I don't want her to feel as if she has to make any decisions in a hurry. It's not like I'm marrying her for the money," he added, with a smile. Which was more or less true, since his money, the money for Mary's surgery, was coming out of what she already had. One thing he'd learned from doing undercover work was that it was always best to stick as close to the truth as possible.
    "I'm glad to hear it." Behind the smile in Jason's eyes was a shrewdness that warned Sam that it would be foolish to underestimate him. He steepled his hands together on the desk. "Nikki hasn't really told me much about the two of you. Where did you meet?"
    "Meet?" Sam looked at Nikki. He cocked one eyebrow, as if to suggest that she should answer the question. She swallowed and searched