“America is a big place. You wouldn’t need to work near your family.”
“I like it here. And I’d like for the next few days to be as painless as possible. So watch me like a hawk if you like, but I promise that I’m not trying to hurt the royal family. I sure as hell don’t want you here because then I feel like I’m in danger.”
The big man studied her for a minute before relaxing. “I feel like I should apologize, Ms. Milenne. I’m on edge.”
“Please, call me, Poppy, and you don’t have to apologize for doing your job.”
Samir appeared in the kitchen and smiled. “Well, I’m glad that you two have kissed and made up. Poppy, are you going to help me trim the tree today?”
Turning her back, she ignored him and cracked the eggs in the pan. “I doubt it. I have several loads of laundry that I need to do, and I need to bring more wood in. Not to mention that since you sent Taj away, I have to finish shoveling the walkway and driveway unless you want to be stuck here. What time do you want lunch?”
“I’m your boss. I declare that you don’t have to do any of those things.”
“You may be my boss, but Emine checks behind me, and if I don’t do my job, she’ll know. And she scares me way more than you do,” Poppy retorted. “I’m your se
rvant. I’m not your plaything.”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted it. Now, if the thought wasn’t already in his head, it would be now.
Unfortunately, Samir didn’t seem put off by her rejection. “All right. I’ll help you with your chores so we can relax and enjoy ourselves this evening. Maybe I’ll even help you trim your tree.”
He was volunteering to do her chores? That sounded like a nightmare. “That’s not necessary,” she said hastily. “I’ll see what I can do about getting everything finished up early. And it’s not my tree.”
“No, I insist. It’ll be my pleasure,” Samir said with an impish smile.
Great. Things were turning out just great. “Sit down,” she grumbled. “Breakfast will be ready soon.”
“What do you normally do for Christmas?” he asked conversationally as he sat down. “What would you be doing if we weren’t here?”
Poppy ignored the question and served the food. Pulling some orange juice from the fridge, she poured three glasses. “I hope you’re not disappointed that we don’t have champagne.”
“I’ll live. You know it’s telling when you ignore a question,” Samir said with a twinkle in his eye. “Breakfast looks amazing.”
“I hope you enjoy it,” she said shortly. “I’ll take my breakfast in my room and leave you alone.”
“Wait, no,” Samir said with his mouth full, but Poppy skirted around his outreached hand and escaped through the living room. Shutting the door behind her, she slipped into her bedroom and breathed a sigh of relief.
Funny. Seductive. Sexy. The combination really wasn’t fair. Digging into her breakfast, she made a plan. If she divided the chores and gave him half, it would keep him busy and he’d leave her alone.
Satisfied with her game plan, she leaned back and enjoyed her breakfast. She’d get through this. She just needed to avoid Samir Shadid.
With his tongue in his cheek, Samir read the note that Poppy had left for him. She’d given him the laundry while she bundled up and waddled outside to shovel the snow. He couldn’t help but feel marginally insulted that she’d given him housework.
“Try to stay out of my way,” he read softly and shook his head. Crumpling up the note, he tossed it in the wastebasket and smiled. Two could play at her game.
Donning his coat and pulling on his boots, he opened the front door and marched carefully through the snow to join her. “Got another shovel?” he asked cheerfully.
Her creamy pale cheeks were red from the snow. She straightened and glared at him. “There’s no way you did three loads of laundry and pulled out the rest of the Christmas decoration in twenty minutes.”
“Maybe I’m just that good.”
She rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath.
“Excuse me? What was that?”
Growling, she pointed to the toolshed. “I said that you can find some shovels over there.”
“Why, Ms. Poppy Milenne, did you lie to me?”