“I’d wondered when I’d hear from you,” was the first thing his stepbrother said.
“Apparently, it’s my day to be harangued for my lack of communication skills.”
“I just figured curiosity would be burning a hole in your brain.”
“Indeed it is. I was speaking with Scarlet a few minutes ago. She seems a bit taken by you.”
“I assumed the same regarding you.”
“And doesn’t that bode well for the two of us?”
Sam was quiet for a few moments. Then said, “She’s the first woman since Cass who really struck a chord with me. I wouldn’t say I jumped right into something with Scarlet, but it didn’t take long to accept that there’s a myst
ique about her that crawls under the skin and stays there.”
“Yeah, I know exactly what you’re talking about.”
“Certainly I enjoyed her on my own,” Sam said. “But I’ll confess that I’ve been thinking what it’d be like if the three of us got together.”
“That was one of our topics of conversation.”
“You don’t say?”
As Michael made his way down the corridor to his conference room, he told Sam, “She’s flying out here on Saturday. Staying the weekend at the estate. Why don’t you join us?”
“Ah, damn,” he groaned. “That’s almost impossible to pass up.”
“So don’t pass it up.”
“When it involves Scarlet Drake, I wouldn’t. Except … I’ve got a lot scheduled for the weekend.” He shuffled papers that Michael heard over the line. Then said, “I do have a trainer coming up from Phoenix. She could take over my lessons.”
“Had a feeling you wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity.”
“Not sure it’s a golden one. I hate to rain on your parade, but if Scarlet’s investigating the family that’s going to put a damper on things if Mitcham and my mother are around.”
Michael explained, “I have a perfect solution for that. They’ll be in the city Saturday night for the opera and I’ll arrange for us all to have brunch on Sunday at the mansion. That gives Scarlet the chance to look around and appease her inquisitive side; then we have the evening to ourselves. She can interview Dad and Karina before she leaves and that’ll put an end to her suspicions.”
“Provided Mitcham allows an interrogation.”
“She doesn’t interrogate.”
Sam chuckled. “No, she doesn’t. She’s quite good at turning her questions into general discussion.”
“That’s not all she’s good at.”
This time, Sam let out a strangled sound. “Yeah. That woman possesses one hell of a body. And she knows how to use it.”
“She fits the ideal for us both.”
“Yes, she does.”
Michael said, “Then make arrangements for the weekend.”
“And let’s hope she doesn’t set off Mitcham.”
“Never any guarantees there.”
Michael dropped off and entered the conference room to start another series of meetings. While he also considered what lay ahead for him, Sam, and Scarlet.