The Pretend Boyfriend novel Chapter 86

Sam groans. "No. No more. I have a headache, and I'm sure as hell gonna have a monster of a hangover tomorrow."

"Going home to lover boy?" Thor's tone is nonchalant, but she catches the slight edge in it.

"I'm going home, period," she says firmly. Her relationship with Brian Morton is none of the staff's business, though they are curious enough to gossip daily about it.

"You're not in the position to drive."

"You're not either."

He grins. "Better than you. What do you say I drive you home and you can pick your car up later tomorrow?"

She glances at her wristwatch. "Tomorrow officially begins now."

"OK, later today."

He's still oozing charm. Smiling that slow smile that has several women at the tables around them tossing their heads to glance at him and her enviously. Sam wonders what it is about her lately that she seems to attract gorgeous men. Where were these men when she was twenty-five and lonesome?

"I don't know," she says. On one hand, she doesn't want to blow Thor off. He is her employee, for one, and it wouldn't do to sour employee relations. On the other hand, she has this prickly feeling that he's going to hit on her.

Well, if he does, she thinks soberly, I'm going to turn him down nice and easy.

But does she really want to? Especially when Brian is having a gay old time getting reacquainted with his old college flame, whatever the reasons. With Brian, she can never be one hundred percent sure why he does the things he does. Every time she thinks they are on to something major - like a new level in their relationship - he does something to make her doubt him completely.

He has been through a lot lately, and she knows she should cut him some slack. A lot of slack. But the terrible, choking feeling that he is with Adele Jankovic - fucking, no less - continues to invade her consciousness.

Another thought suddenly strikes her. Maybe she is barking up the wrong line of conviction. Adele Jankovic is unstable. Obsessed. Dangerous. Perhaps she has Brian in her clutches, and she has drugged him. Imprisoned him. Hurt him!

Is it even possible?

Sam sits up suddenly. She should be calling the police.

"What's the matter?" Thor says.

But why should Delilah do that to Brian, right? She already has Brian in her clutches - where she wants him. In actual prison. All she has to do is wait for two weeks. So what is Brian doing in her place? What, what, what?

Sam's head is spinning. She buries her face in her hands and groans. Thor is right. She is in no position to make monumental decisions, let alone drive home.

Thor gets up and firmly takes her arm.

"Let's get you home," he says.

Sam tries to straighten herself. But what the heck? she thinks. Why am I feeling guilty? It's not as if we have a commitment. Besides, he's the one who has been missing for two fucking days!

Thor is seemingly ill at ease. But he doesn't take his hands off her. Good thing too, because she would have fallen on her face.

Brian says shortly, "I see you've been busy."

"Why didn't you call me?" she demands.

But she knows the answer anyway. Because we don't have a commitment to each other and we don't have to clock in.

"I've been busy too."

"Uh," Thor says, "perhaps I'd better go."

"No, it's all right. I'm going," Brian says, straightening his back to his full height. "I won't be in your way. Just make sure you have yourselves a good time."

"No, Brian, it's not like that!"

Sam makes to push Thor off her, and then the unbidden thought stops her again. Why should she? Then she thinks of the gym and earrings and everything Brian has done for her - selling his car to fund their advertising campaign. Hell, everything. And the guilt comes back in waves. Guilt ... and a sense of commitment.