Cat 'N Mouse (21 page)

There were full reports on Robyn and Dennis Anderson. Robyn graduated from an Ivy League medical school. Robyn wasn’t kidding when she’d said Dennis had hounded her through school along with her family and friends to get next to her. Robyn’s mother had wanted to file harassment charges against him. Yet she ended up marrying the guy. Dennis seemed on the level. Maybe he was just a lovesick puppy. He did eventually get the girl, but was he happy with the girl? Robyn seemed to care a great deal for Alexandria. Was he jealous over his wife’s relationship with Alexandria?

Mimi was a different story all together. She was a singer in France before she began her long employment with the Prescott’s. Her husband died shortly after they arrived in America. The file hinted of a relationship with Prescott but maybe he was reading more into it than there was. He also wondered if Mimi was around when Prescott’s wife died. That was worth knowing. The one thing he observed was that she seemed to genuinely care for Alexandria.

Sam’s eyes drifted toward the closed bedroom door. He heard her moving around and knew she would be out soon. He thought she would be happy being ‘Alexandria Prescott’. Most people would trade places with her in a heartbeat. Just goes to show that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

Maybe he should have been straight with her and told her the truth last night. But what was the truth? That he wanted more with her, but was scared to death of falling back into that dark place that he’d crawl out of. He was an ex-junkie trying to live his life one day at a time and had nothing to offer her. His life was screwed up and she needed someone who could keep her in the lifestyle she was accustomed to. The truth was that he just didn’t measure up. Not by his standards or her society.

The bedroom door opened and she walked out with the cordless phone glued to her ear. Smiling.

“I’m sure, Robyn. No, stop worrying. I’m fine, really. I want to get out of the apartment. Besides, I have too many things to do today.” She laughed. “I don’t know. I’ll ask him.” She glanced at Sam sitting at the counter. “See you in a bit.”

Sam stared at her because he couldn’t help himself. No bling today, just simple pearl earrings. Her hair was swept off her face into a ponytail. No designer red carpet outfit, just a simple linen white pants suit. To say the woman loved wearing white was an understatement. Did she realize that everything she owned was either white or red?

Today was all about the gala.

He handed her a cup of coffee, black, when she joined him at the island. He remembered she drank a special kind of milk in the red carton. They were out of it and he added it to the grocery list on the fridge.

“Good morning,” was followed by, “Did you sleep well?”

“Fine,” Sam lied. He’d lain there all night wanting to jump right back into bed with her, if only to hold her when she’d cried out in her sleep. Yet, he’d remained where he was and waited until she was quiet again. He’d even sneaked into her room to ensure she was okay. He’d found her lying across her bed, sheet kicked off. He covered her up again and went back to his room.

“Thank you.” She took the cup from him. After a mouth full, she screwed up her face.

“Too strong?” He already knew that. She’d complained about that before.

“You should patent this stuff and sell it as paint remover.” She dumped it down the sink, opened the fridge and grabbed the carton of orange juice. “Robyn wants us to pick up a package for her. I think it’s the sample design of the program for the gala. What do you think?”

It was all about being polite this morning. She’d stepped away from the drama of yesterday and their lovemaking. Quite frankly, he didn’t know what to think about it. The spoiled Princess was gone. She was all grown up today. Her rite of passage came when she’d laid him out flat on his backside.

“I’d rather not. It’s better if we stick to the plan today, the Foundation and the hotel. I don’t want to take any unnecessary risks. As a matter of fact, I’d rather not gallivant around town.”

“The gala is a few days away and what I need to do can’t be done here.”

“Fine, but we do it my way.”

He braced himself for the fight to follow along with the list of demands that always came when she didn’t get her way. Compromise was not a word she was familiar with.

“Your way it is.” Opening the cupboard, she retrieved a glass and poured herself some orange juice.

“Say that again. I think I need to get my hearing checked.”

“No need to be sarcastic. So…any thoughts?” She sipped her juice looking at the files he had on the counter. “On who the stalker is.”

Hopeful brown eyes with a trace of fear held his. He didn’t want to disappoint her, but he had to. What he had were a lot of speculations that if voiced, would only cause her more hurt. He wasn’t about to do that just yet. What he needed was proof.

“No.” Sam closed the files. “Ready to go?”

“S
am said you came in here, why?”

Alexandria turned her head toward the door when Robyn entered Tiana’s room. She’d snuck in after her arrival half an hour ago, or so she’d thought. Perhaps Sam had allowed her to think that by giving her the space she needed.

The room was all clear of Tiana’s things in preparation for another little patient, a four year old who Robyn believed she would love. She wasn’t ready to replace Tiana yet.

It was hard to believe Tiana was gone. The funeral was closed to outsiders, just family and close friends. Alexandria was not invited. The little girl held a special place in her heart and she wasn’t allowed to say goodbye.

How could she be mad at Tiana’s father? The poor man was trying to grieve in private. Being anywhere near the family, especially with the latest front-page story wouldn’t have accomplished that.

“Why are you hiding?”

Robyn pulled the chair by the door and set it next to Alexandria’s chair in front of the bed. Her eyes fell on the newspaper on the bed. Someone had left it on Alexandria’s desk in the cubical she used.

“When have you ever known me to hide from them?” She nodded at the paper. “It was a special delivery. Someone left it on my desk. I guess it doesn’t matter.”

But it did matter. The Foundation was her sanctuary and if that was invaded then where would she hide?

Perhaps you should stop hiding.

“Tiana’s funeral is this afternoon.”

“I understand Mr. Robinson’s rational behind not wanting you there, but that’s not what Tiana would’ve wanted,” Robyn said with a frown. “That little girl loved you.”

“We rarely get what we want in life.” Alexandria thought about Sam during the drive to the Foundation. They were polite strangers. It was as if they had never slept together.

“I worry about you. Sam told me about what happened yesterday.”

Robyn reached out and took Alexandria’s hand. She looked down at their clasped hands. Robyn’s hand was a shade darker, strong, nails bluntly cut while her own nails were perfectly manicured, her hands smooth, without scars.

“I’m not the only one worried. Sam is too. You shouldn’t be in here.”

She remembered the way Sam had held her, kissed her and touched her. If she closed her eyes she could smell him. It would never happen again. He was so professional and courteous she was choking on it.

“Ahh, my bodyguard. We’re joined at the hip.”

“He’s doing his job.”

“Oh, he’s certainly doing that.”

They had picked up a tail on the drive in to the Foundation and he’d skillfully maneuvered around so that he ended up behind the man following them and got his license plate. He called Matt before the man sped off. Matt had called him back a few minutes later to tell him the car was stolen. It was a tag-team effort with him and Matt. All business.

“You sound bitter.”

“Do I?” She looked at Robyn, her pink blouse bright against her white lab coat.

“Why do you do it? It’s like you live this double life. Then you hide out here waiting until the dust settles, and then you’re back at it again.”

“All I can tell you is that when I’m here I feel safe. I don’t have to pretend. I’m not just Warren Prescott’s daughter. What I do here matters. It’s important.”

“No one knows that more than I do. You need to chose one life and live it.”

“
One Life to Live
. Isn’t that a soap opera?”

“You’re not a character in a soap opera.”

“But I could be.”

Robyn frowned. “All I want is for you to be happy and find someone that makes you happy.” Robyn glanced at the paper on the bed.

“I met Damien for a drink yesterday and as you can see, it made headline news,” Alexandria said addressing Robyn’s curious glance.

“Oh.”

Buried in that, ‘
oh’
was the look of,
‘do you have rocks for brains’
but Robyn was too nice to say that. She had the look down pat.

“May I ask why?” She asked, very prim and proper like.

“Because he understands my life and the craziness that comes with it.”

“And the money,” Robyn added.

“Not everyone wants my money.” She hadn’t meant to sound defensive, but that’s exactly how it came out.

“By everyone, you mean Sam.”

“We’re from two different worlds,” Alexandria said shaking her head.

All of a sudden she felt tired and something else snuck upon her. She was lonely. She wasn’t one to require company unless she wanted it. The company she’d craved in the past, she didn’t need anymore. Stability and calm, that’s what she wanted now. It occurred to he that she may never get that because a madman wants to end her life.

“Is that what Sam told you?” Robyn asked.

“More or less.”

“Maybe when this is over….” Robyn let her voice trail off with hope, being the romantic she was. “Sam seems really nice.”

“As nice as he is, first and foremost, the stalker needs to be stopped and he doesn’t have a clue who it is.”

“That’s not the impression I got when I overheard him on the phone earlier.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I don’t believe it.” Robyn started a conversation with herself. “How could I have missed it? It was right there in front of me like a beacon and I never saw it. But Dennis knew. He called it. I should’ve known. The night after the dinner…”

“You need to stop.”

Alexandria knew what Robyn was talking about, but she wasn’t going to go there. Didn’t want to. She thought she had hidden it well, but somehow Robyn had seen through it, or rather Dennis had.

“You’re in love with Sam. Not the Damien type love. It’s grown up love. Look at you. You’re a totally different person. You really do love him.”

“Why don’t you take out an ad in the paper?”

Ignoring her sarcasm, Robyn asked, “Have you told Sam?”

“Tell me what?”

•  •  •

Sam wasn’t sure what he’d walked into, but the look on Alexandria’s face said it all. It landed somewhere between shock and embarrassment. All conversation ceased. Robyn stared at him as if she knew something he didn’t, and Alexandria’s eyes shifted nervously to her lap.

“It’s time to head over to the hotel. We should keep on schedule.” Sam pointed at his watch. He figured he should say something to break the awkward silence.

“Let me get my purse,” Alexandria said and rushed out of the room as if someone had started a fire.

“Did I interrupt something?”

“In a word.”

Robyn had a way of looking at him as if she was trying to figure him out as though he were some kind of puzzle. That look of ‘I know something you don’t’ was still on her face. And she probably did, because he definitely walked into something a few minutes ago. He just wasn’t sure what, but he wasn’t about to hang around to find out.

Yeah, call him chicken or yellow, he didn’t care. If they were talking about him, he would bet money on it that it wasn’t a pleasant conversation. He wanted no part of it.

“She’s going across the hall and will be back in a minute.”

“I’ll feel better if—”

“I thought you were different.” Robyn met him at the door.

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, you’re excused.”

Robyn stared at him stone faced. Sam felt as though he was about to be blind-sided, and he didn’t like it one bit. She had something to say and since he was on the clock, he wanted her to get it over with.

“Shall we back up to the point when I entered the room because obviously I missed something.” Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t enlighten him. “This is the
point
where you fill me in,” Sam said.

He stood his ground and it appeared she wasn’t about to back down either, giving him the head-to-toe look. Her pager went off. She pulled the device from her lab coat and glanced at it. It clearly wasn’t important because she shoved it back in her pocket, focusing her attention on him once again.

“I didn’t expect you to judge Alexandria.” Robyn nodded toward the newspaper on the bed. “She needs you, not someone to tear her down like those sharks that call themselves reporters.”

“I’m not here to judge. I’m here to protect her. Nothing else.”

“Nothing else? I’d give that some more thought if I were you,” she stuck her forefinger in his face, “because I think you’re lying.”

And just like that, she called him out.

•  •  •

The next two days were a whirlwind of activities for Alexandria and Sam with the count down to the Foundation’s gala. Their relationship was strictly professional. They spoke of schedules and security details only. When they weren’t talking about business, they retired to their own corners, their bedroom.

Sexual tension hung in the air, buzzing around them like a bee circling a flower. They both pretended it didn’t exist. As long as they focused on work everything was fine. Yeah, right.

Sam wanted to change the venue for the gala, but Alexandria wouldn’t hear of it. They couldn’t get another site in such a short period of time was her argument. Plus it didn’t hurt that the hotel had thrown in a complimentary two nights’ accommodation as a result of the incident in the washroom. Both of them in the same hotel room, one bed, God help him. He pushed that thought to the back of his mind.