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Under the Covers; PG-13, Complete
Topic Started: Tuesday Feb 14 2006, 12:47 AM (2,337 Views)
Fanfics Admin 01
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I don't own any of these characters and the only payment I receive is feedback from our lovely readers. Permission to archive goes to the management of Second Chances and its approved back-up sites.

Under the Covers by SamiScarlettOHara-Rated PG

Chapter One

May 1961

Sami Brady raised her bleary eyes to the bedside table, squinting in the slice of daylight filtering through her blinds. As large black numbers came into focus, she let out a yelp of surprise.

"Eight-forty-five?!!" she shrieked. No, it couldn't be! Reaching frantically for her black cat eyes, she fumbled them onto the bridge of her nose and yanked the seemingly useless alarm clock closer.

"Eight-forty-five," she moaned, swinging her feet to the chilly wood floor, the offending time piece still in hand. She rubbed her forehead wearily.

"If last night wasn't bad enough, now I'll be late for work again. No doubt dear Kate will just loooove that, the old harpy." Sami rolled her eyes, locating her pink bunny slippers and stuffing her cold feet in their fuzzy warmth, rising from her small four-poster bed. Well, it was, after all, the third time this week. Plunking the clock down and shuffling off for the bathroom, she grumbled, "Isn't Monday ever supposed to be one of the good days?" Staring at her reflection, she added, "Well, it's safe to say you can officially cross Sundays off the good list." She began to remove the large wire curlers from her hair, recalling the sight of Dr. Brandon Walker dining with a fellow hospital employee -of the female persuasion, naturally- when he was supposedly "swamped" with patients needing his "special bedside manner".

"Oh, it was special all right, and you couldn't even wait to get to a bedside to give it to Nurse Bimbo, could you, Dr. Walker?" Sami snatched up a tube of toothpaste, squeezing just a little harder than was necessary to adequately cover the bristles on her toothbrush as she recalled the nauseating exchanges and endless canoodling that went on between her almost-fiancð”and Manda, a simpering brunette. Baring her teeth and brushing vigorously, she went on. "Well, your one-note apology won't cut it, Doctor." She shook her brush at the mirror. "No, indeed." She jammed the brush back in its holder and attacked her long blond locks, twisting them up into a French knot. Applying her face powder and lipstick with force, she railed on. "I'm tired of one-note apologies, and, what's more, I'm tired of men. " She stomped over to her closet, yanking out the simple black shift she wore for "no-nonsense" occasions. "I'm through. Here on out, no playboys or two-timers need apply." She kicked off her slippers and stepped into her lowest set of heels. "I mean it. That's it. I'm swearing off men . It's official. Over and out." One of the bunny faces looked up at her inquisitively from its spot on the floor. "Well, I mean it. You would, too, with my track record." She marched to her dresser, pulling a simple pair of pearl earrings from her jewelry box. "It's the subject of every family brunch. Poor Sami. Always unlucky in love. " She paused, hand on hip. " I swear, if I have to see John twitch that eyebrow and say, "Poor Peanut" one more time....." She dropped her hand. "Anyway, it's done as of lunchtime today. I'll go to see him, and that'll be that." She nodded her head firmly, then located her most unadorned black hat, placing it carefully over her upswept hair. Then, she stood back to survey the results. Good grief. The woman looking back at her appeared to be some sort of grieving widow, not a typical working gal. As she fetched her favorite pale blue scarf and matching cardigan, she reminded herself, "It's not a funeral, Sami- it's just the end of a relationship." She wrinkled her forehead in thought. And the end of picket fence dreams. No husband. No children. And a life of endless drudgery as Kate Kiriakis' secretary with only these four walls to come home to. Sami chuckled ruefully as she grabbed up her purse from where it was looped over the bedpost. "Sounds just peachy." She blew out a breath. "Well, maybe, I'll get a cat."

********************************************

The first thing to greet Lucas Roberts' eye out of the haze of sleep was, for the first time in a long time, not the slim curve of a model sharing his covers or a glamorous socialite scurrying around to find her slip before word got out where she was and what she'd been doing, but, rather, one God-awful gold bust sitting on a pedestal in one corner of the room that his dear mother considered to be "good art". His head immediately hit the pillow again, a groan escaping his lips that had nothing to do with a hangover for once. He turned his head to the side, taking in the hideous decor of his brand new bachelor pad, all sickly greens, burnt oranges and furry things hand-picked by his mother's less than discerning eye.

"That's right. I'm not in New York anymore, am I?" he asked of the misshapen sculpture.

" Nope. We said sayonara to the Big Apple a couple of days ago, remember, boss?"

Lucas squinted in disbelief at the warped features of the bust before footsteps caused him to look up at his bedroom doorway.

"Bart!"

The right-hand man strolled into the room, two Styrofoam cups of coffee in hand.

"Hiya, boss. Tie one on after I left the party last night , or do you usually look at statues like they're about to start flapping their gums?"

Lucas sat up with a smirk. "Very funny. How did you get in? I swear, you could be some kind of gangster, as good as you are at sneaking around."

Bart rose his brows, setting the cups on the nearby dresser and fishing a keying out of his pocket, twirling it significantly on his index finger.

"Well, thank you. I always did enjoy Jimmy Cagney as a kid, but you gave me a key, remember? For all those " just in cases". " He frowned. "Sure you didn't tie one on?"

"Very sure." Lucas reluctantly set his feet to the floor. ¡°I was a very well-behaved boy for Mother and all the board members." He rolled his eyes, rose, and stumbled towards the bathroom, nodding to the coffee cups on the way. "Thanks for remembering the drill, though." He considered his reflection in the bathroom mirror, rubbing his forehead wearily. "I might even pop the usual aspirin, too."

Bart paused in his examination of the apartment. "Job troubles before you're even on the job, boss? Lay it on me." He picked up the bust, giving it a quizzical look. ¡°Or is it the new digs? They¡¯re...uh... not quite as...uh...tasteful as say, the penthouse in New York, but, look at it this way... You could puke your guts out and no one would ever notice. " He hefted the statue a couple more times, then placed it back on its pedestal with a look of concentration. "Well, except, of course, the smell, but, if you aired out the joint for say, maybe a day or two-"

Lucas popped his head out, razor in hand. "All right, already, Bart." he chuckled. "That's not too comforting a thought, you know." He resumed shaving. "Besides, the real problem right now is what the hell I'm going to do with myself out here in the sticks. This is Salem, Illinois. Their idea of excitement around here isn't exactly the same as ours."

Bart strolled around the room a bit more, pausing to mug for the mirror above the bureau. "Aww, come on. There's gotta be at least a coupla cute tomatoes around. I mean, it's still Titan Publishing, ain't it, boss? And Titan Publishing means models. Those Midwest gals are pretty famous for getting into the modeling game. I once knew this one dame back in New York. A redhead. Swell gal, and the curves on that one-" Bart whistled long and low, motioning an hourglass shape with his hands. "Anyways, she was from the Midwest. Miss Corn Cob, 1958, to hear her tell it."

Lucas nearly nicked himself with the razor. "Miss Corn Cob??!! You gotta be kidding me."

Bart was throwing back his shoulders, making like Rock Hudson. His sucked in breath blew out with an audible whoosh. "Aww, she was a good egg, but you know what I mean, boss. Girls are girls all over."

Lucas smoothed his hands over his newly shaven features, considering that statement. A long, leggy parade of conquests past strode by. A grin began to form. He stepped back out of the bathroom, walking to his closet at a leisurely pace. Girls were girls all over. True enough. Just lay a good line on them, and they snap it up every time, Roberts.

"Uhhh, boss," Bart began, glancing at his watch with a bit of alarm. "Don't you, uh, think you better get a move on? I mean, I fully realize your mom's the head cheese and all, but, seeing as it's almost nine..."

Hand poised on his best blue-striped tie, Lucas smirked. "Take it easy, Bart, my man. In all our time at the New York office, did you ever know me to get there at nine on the dot?"

Bart shook his head, laughing. "Oops. My mistake." He held up one of the Styrofoam cups. ¡°Guess you've got time for a cup of joe, then, huh?"

Lucas took the proffered cup and took a sip. He quirked a brow, then handed it back to his employee and friend, mouth puckering. "Thanks, but I think I'll get some fresh on the way. Where did you get that stuff? Off the bottom of the Mississippi?"

Bart considered the cups sheepishly, ears tingeing pink. "Naw. There was this place called Bonnie's downtown. Not so great with the coffee, I guess, but the owner's quite a looker."

Lucas smirked again as he shrugged into his gray suit coat and reached for his briefcase. "I see someone's lost no time."

Bart shrugged. " I know a stacked dame when I see one." He winked. "But, you're the lucky dog. A whole roster of models and secretaries that ain't heard your lines yet."

Lucas grinned cockily as they both headed for the front door. Swinging it open wide, Lucas turned with a significant look. "In that case, Bart, my man, you might want to forget you have that key tonight."

Bart chuckled. "Sure thing, boss." He straightened his tie. "I might be busy sucking down some lousy coffee in the name of love, anyways."

Out in the hallway, Lucas pressed the down button on the elevator, chuckling. "Good luck."

"Same to ya." Bart's face grew mock serious. "But, if I was you, boss, I might make sure the lights are dim, maybe hide that whatchamacallit art dealy, if you really want the odds stacked in your favor, if you know what I mean."

Lucas feigned shock as the elevator doors opened behind him. "What? Bart, come on now." He stepped into the elevator. " All bad decorating aside, what type of girl could look at this face and say "no"?"

Chapter Two

"Brandon, I'm sorry, but I know what I saw, and I've decided it's the last time I want to have to see something like that." Sami bit her lip. No good. Too trembly. Dropping a handful of change into the parking meter, she squinted into the distance to see the skyscraper that was Titan Publishing. She blew out a breath of irritation. Even parking perks seemed to elude her. Well, that's life, Samantha Gene. No sense in crying over it. She squared her shoulders and slung her purse over her arm, beginning her long trek to the office at a good clip.

"Brandon," she began again under her breath. " I've had a chance to sleep on it, and here's what I've decided. It's over. The end. Finito." She held out a hand. "Now, I know this is kind of a surprise, but, but so was seeing you at the Penthouse Grille with that-that hussy." She sniffled a bit, pausing as if awaiting a response. "Oh, really? Is that so? Well, well-you-you can go c-cry on nursey's bony shoulders." Sami startled at the slight harrumph from a passing businessman. He peered at her nervously over his glasses. Sami flashed him her most benign smile, hands creeping up to casually pat her updo.

"Morning."

The man's bushy eyebrows swept up to his receding hairline. He cleared his throat a second time.

"Err, uh, morning," he spat out before hurrying on.

Sami slackened in her pace, shoulders sagging now.

"Wonderful. I'm late for work, a million and one blocks from the office, and now I'm scaring passers-by by breaking up with my invisible boyfriend." She gave her head a tired shake. It was then that the Java Hut sign caught her eye. Rushing inside, she told her inner alarm clock, "I don't care if I am late. I need some coffee before I face my next disaster." She cocked her head at the display of baked goods. It'd wreck her diet, but so what? She'd earned it ten times over. "One coffee, black, " she told the clerk. "And a jelly doughnut."

***********************************************

Lucas sped along in his red corvette, the wind ruffling his dark hair, the late spring sun warming his tanned complexion.

"My mama told me....you better shop around," he sang along to the radio. And, boy, oh, boy was he ever ready to do a little shopping, he thought, quirking his brow.

Not for a wife, of course. There were too many places he hadn't browsed yet. Not that his mother championed his style. She wanted her grandchildren, and she wanted them now, when people could still marvel over how young she looked to have any. It became painfully clear last night how dear Mom had pulled the strings to get his transfer and all too obvious why. He'd never shaken hands with so many tittering debutantes in his life. And, as for his position, it was an easy, throwaway magazine editorship.

"Nothing but "approving" models and getting my personal secretary to take dictation." He nodded slowly. "Roberts, you've hit the jackpot, and you almost didn't want to cash in." He chuckled at his own foolishness. It was then he pulled up to a stoplight and noted the Java Hut.

"My mama told me...you better...shop around..." He trailed off as he also noted the swing of black-clad hips and a glint of gold hair pulled up from an inviting curve of neck. Making an abrupt turn, he blessed Bonnie, whoever and wherever she was, for her inability to make a decent cup of joe, as Bart would put it.

"What's a hard-working executive without his morning coffee? " He smirked. "If I should happen to get a phone number to go with it, all the better."

*******

Stealing nibbles of her doughnut as she headed back to the front door of the restaurant, Sami resumed her practice speeches.

" Brandon, you asked me to forgive you, but I just can't. I don't ask for much, but a little loyalty and companionship would be nice-" Sami snorted. "Lovely. Now, I make it sound like I want a lap dog." Her mouth twisted in wry lines. "Yes, that's it. Brandon, you low-down, dirty-"

Sami broke off in a gasp as she abruptly fell into something solid. Something that went "oof". Styrofoam cracked, coffee ran in a brown river, jelly doughnut squished, her oh-so-ladylike hat leapt from her head, as if to say, "Abandon ship! We¡¯re going down!". But, she didn't go down. Instead, she was caught in a grip so strong, she felt almost as if she were not standing on her own two feet but rather floating.

"I'm sorry, miss. Are you all right?"

Pulling back, she looked up.

" No, I'm ..sorry...." she mumbled, trailing off in a daze as her eyes collided with a brown as deep and warm as her lost coffee. They were almost familiar, somehow, though she couldn't figure out how. Spying a slightly amused twinkle there, she felt her face begin to warm. Lowering her eyes, she went on, "I wasn't watching where I was-" As her eyes tripped downward, she clapped a hand to her mouth in horror. "Oh! Your suit!" His broad chest was an abstract of raspberry jelly, doughnut and coffee. Instinctively, she reached out and began to brush at some of the crumbs left by the doughnut. "I'm so sorry! I-" Her blush deepened as she felt hard planes beneath her hand. She felt a slight rumbling sensation beneath her palm as a chuckle traveled up and out. She yanked her hand back as if he were a hot stove.

"Ahem..." Sami chewed on her lip self-consciously. " I uh-I'd be happy to pay your cleaning bill, sir, if-"

The gentleman shook his head. "I'm not the only casualty," he observed, gesturing towards the front of Sami's sweater and dress.

She looked down, mouth popping open in dismay.

"Ohhhh...and I'm already late to work." She bit her lip again, nearly tearing up. "I swear if one more thing goes wrong-"

The man leaned a little closer, lowering his voice and raising his brow. "Oh, but I can make this into something very, very right."

Sami blinked, her heart thumping a little quicker. "What?"

He drew her into the shadows of the building , jerked his head in the direction behind him. " My office is just down the street. My secretary can call the one-hour cleaner's from there." Oh. She began to nod her head, trying to chase away the wildly inappropriate disappointment she felt. Dear God, Sami. What did she think he was going to say?

Then, his lips curved into a grin she could only term devilish. "The only problem is figuring out what to do for an hour without our clothes, but I think we can figure out something. I'm sure we've both got.. ..American know-how. So-"

Sami's jaw dropped, hand automatically swinging out to connect with his jaw in outrage, cutting off his ego-filled smooth talk.

"How dare you!" Her eyes flashed blue fire, her chest heaving, little bits of sugar doughnut flaking off with each breath. "There's your American know-how!"

The man rubbed his jaw, licking his lips, undaunted. " Come on. I would've provided a towel, at least."

"A towel," Sami repeated, backing away and nodding her head several times in swift, angry fashion. "How very chivalrous of you. Thank you ,Mr.-well, I don't think I caught your name, but it doesn't really matter. You're the same....filthy playboy as the rest. " With that, Sami began to stomp away.

"Hey!" Sami heard the crunch of straw being ground into the sidewalk. A small, mirthless laugh sputtered out from her half-compressed lips at the mangled black remains dangling from his hand.

"You forgot your hat," he said tightly.

"Thanks," she bit out, snatching it from his hand and wheeling back around, walking away.

"Don't mention it!" he yelled after her.

Suddenly , Sami felt the urge to swivel around again. Marching back up to him, she added, "Oh, and if you ever approach me again, I'll call my uncle the COP." Nodding her head with a small sense of satisfaction, she turned once more and began walking, her steps more strident.

"Fine by me! You do that! A man can't be arrested for laying a line on a girl!"

Then in lower, dumbfounded tones, she could've sworn she heard something like, "How the hell did that happen?"

******

"Hey, Sami! Nice look." Jack Devereaux stood up from his perch on Sami's desk, tugging lightly on Sami's coffee-splattered scarf." A little unorthodox, but-"

"Jack," Sami pleaded, plunking her purse down on her desk and burying her head on her best friend's shoulder. "I'm in no mood. I'm having a bad, bad day and it's barely even started."

"Well, well,¡± Jack clapped his hands on Sami's shoulders. "I like bad days if it means a pretty girl in my arms."

Sami immediately disentangled herself. "Oh, not you, too, Jack," she groaned.

Jack frowned in a puzzled manner, perching himself on the edge of the desk and folding his arms. " 'Not me, too' what?

Sami shook her head, sitting down and pulling up to her typewriter. "Never mind. Just had an encounter with one of those men who thinks he has a way with women." She plucked at the stained front of her dress.

"Ah, so this isn't a new fashion trend?"

Sami smirked. ¡°No." Idly tapping at the keys to her typewriter, she asked, "How's Jennifer?"

Jack grinned. "She's good. We're kind of on our second honeymoon. " He laughed. "Second honeymoon, thousandth chance." He drummed his fingers on the table. "You'll have to come out to the house for dinner soon."

"Sure she won't mind?"

Jack reached out and pinched Sami's cheek playfully. "Don't worry. She knows we're just friends and sometimes editors. Here's your latest romance back, by the way." He produced a folded manuscript from his inner breast pocket. ¡°I still say you need to be submitting these for publication. You've got talent that ought to be seen by more than just me and the desk drawer."

Sami flushed as she deposited the bundle of papers in said drawer. "Thanks, but I couldn't possibly, Jack. I can barely show them to you, and you're my friend."

He snuck his hand over to Sami's on the desk. "Hey, with what you write, young lady, it's mighty tempting to try for more than friendship," he teased. ¡°But, alas, how does the lowly writer ever compete with the likes of the great and benevolent Dr. Walker? The inspiration he must- Oh, what? What did I say now?"

Sami pulled her hand away with a sigh, propping her chin in her hands. "You mean how does the lowly secretary compete with the bubble-headed nurse?"

"Aww, poor kid." Jack patted her hand. "You give him his walking papers this time?"

She shook her head. " Lunchtime."

"Thanks for the warning. I'll be eating lunch at my desk today."

"Thanks a lot, Jack."

He shrugged. "Not that I'd particularly mind giving Walker a good sock in the jaw, I just don't think I'd particularly enjoy him socking me back." At her morose look, he added. "Oh, come on. The guy's a fool. They'll be lined up around the block once they know you're on the market again."

"Thanks," Sami sighed. " But I'm not "on the market", Jack. Never again."

Jack rose his brows incredulously. "What? Oh, come on, kid, you don't mean that. What about Abby? Who's she going to grow up with if you never do the whole marriage and kids bit?"

Sami started stacking the papers on her desk in a more orderly way. "Well, you'll just have to have another one, or Jennifer has a brother, right? Kate Kiriakis's son, Lucas Roberts. " Sami snorted. "Boy, did she ever get around. Now, you may have to wait until he stops tomcatt-ing-"

Jack's face grew serious as his friend trailed off, a stunned look coming over her features. "Sami, you did remember he starts today?" No reply. "Sami?" He waved a hand in front of her motionless face.

"Oh, my God. Oh, my God," she whispered, eyes wide. She sprung from her seat, flying for the office door behind her, Jack following bewilderedly.

Descending on the desk, Sami swooped on a small framed photo. One glance and she clapped her hand to her mouth in horror.

"What?"

Sami jabbed a finger at the picture. " Same eyes-Same-same hair-just shorter-Same smile-Oh .Oh my God," Sami clutched her stomach. " I decked my boss. I decked my boss, Jack. I'm gonna be sick."

"Take it easy, Sami." Jack assisted her to the leather chair behind the desk. "What do you mean you decked your boss?"

Sami whipped around wildly, tapping the picture still in her hand. "I-I mean that that-that man here is the same-"

"Man who graciously offered you a chance to get your clothes dry-cleaned?"

Sami gulped as Lucas Roberts entered the room, freshly outfitted in a dark blue pinstripe, biting back the "Hardly" that sprang to mind at his harmless description of his offer.

Nonchalantly rounding the desk, he said, "Well, well, well, if it isn't the woman who called me filthy." His eyes raked her up and down. Reaching over the desk, he lifted the receiver to the phone in one fluid motion. "Well, what are you waiting for? Call your uncle, the COP."



Chapter Three

"Well? 'Sami', isn't it?" Lucas waved the receiver slowly in front of his new employee's vision, observing the jumpiness of her hands still folded over his old Military school photograph. " Well, Sami, isn't this what you prim types always do when a man makes a simple offer?" He affected a high-pitched voice. "Oh, my heavens!! A masher! Help! Help, police!" He leaned over the desk, his mouth twisting into a grin at the slow burn beginning in her bright blue eyes." Hurry! He might notice I'm a woman!" Watching her chest heave, he pressed a little further. "What's wrong? Are you afraid? " His dark eyes taunted her.

Sami's eyes flicked to the receiver, then back to him, her gaze narrowing on the way.

"What? So you can fire me?" she spat out.

His lips twitched with wicked glee.

"Ohhh, noooo," he replied in exaggerated tones. " I'd never do that." He cocked his head to one side, planting his free hand on the desk near hers. "It would be against my generous nature to throw a poor spinster secretary out on her ear. After all-"

Sami finally reached out and snatched the phone from his hand, slamming it home.

Jack jumped back.

"Okay...I'm..uh...I'm gonna- umm..yeah..." He pointed wordlessly to the door before attempting to rush through. He was stayed by Sami's hand on his coat sleeve.

"No. Stay, Jack. I know he's your brother-in-law, but I might need you to protect me from this-this pervert." Jack sagged helplessly in Sami's grip, recognizing the glint of determination in his friend's eye as she flung back, "And it'd be against my generous nature, Mr. Roberts, to send someone as spoiled and soft as you obviously are to get roughed up by a bunch of hooligans in jail. I've heard the stories-stop wiggling , Jack! " She turned from her nervous pal and flipped her eyes down Lucas's frame in a way that left him puzzled and pleased all at once. "They'd kill to take off that suit ."

Lucas licked his lips, unable to resist. "Oh? And they wouldn't be the only ones, would they?"

"Ohh, you are disgusting!¡± Jack wriggled free as Sami's voice boiled over with rage.

" You, sir, have got to be the most egotistical-"

"I-uh-I've-I've got umm...that is-the uh-the advice column doesn't write itself, you know-" Jack slowly began to back away. "With only half of J&J working on it now, it's a heavy worklo-oof!"

"Jack Devereaux! Would you please watch where you're going?" came the whining purr of Kate Kiriakis behind him.

"Sorry, Mrs. Kiriakis, just in a hurry to get the nose to the old grindstone, as Mr. Kiriakis used to say-"

"Unh, huh," Kate replied dryly, folding her arms over her chest. "Well, when Victor died, I was left in charge, so, your nose can wait just a minute or two, Jack." She motioned for him to stay. Jack slunk down in a nearby chair.

"I just came to see how you kids were getting on with Lucas. I thought I heard raised voices."

Like a child caught fighting over a toy, Lucas Roberts turned from devilish fiend to dutiful boy on a dime, affecting a wide, innocent smile.

"No. No raised voices," Lucas insisted, rubbing his hands together. "We were just, uh, discussing the first big project I've got planned. Everything's fine. Right, Jack, Sami?" Lucas gave them imploring looks.

Jack coughed a little. "Oh, sure."

"Peachy," Sami threw in unenthusiastically.

"All right," Kate replied a bit skeptically.

Kate's eyes swept Sami's ruined attire, a small gasp escaping her at the numerous coffee stains that remained even after Sami's trip to the powder room to scrub the worst of the incident off. "Sami, that outfit is absolutely disgraceful, and certainly not the image Titan Publishing wishes to project. You know something, between your constant tardiness and this, I'm beginning to wonder why Victor chose to hire you!" She drummed her long, blood-red nails on the oak desk. "Now, what on earth possessed you to show up like that, today of all days?"

Sami grit her teeth in a false smile, jerking her head in Lucas's direction. "Why don't you ask him?"

Kate raised a brow. "And just what is that supposed to mean?"

"It means-"

"Mom, Sami and I ran into each other out on the street. Some coffee got spilled." Lucas explained smoothly. "I kindly mentioned we should take care of the dry cleaning right away, but she'd have none of it-"

"Oh?" Kate pursed her lips. "So, rather than take a gentlemanly offer, you'd rather walk around like a street urchin, is that it, Sami? Well, perhaps I made a mistake in choosing you to assist my son if you haven't got more sense than that. I know you've got no experience with people of our caliber, but, my goodness-"

"Mom. It's fine. I think Sami and I can...reach an understanding." Lucas slid Sami a glance, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief.

Kate reached out and pinched her son's cheek as if he were three instead of nearing thirty, oblivious to his undertones. "You're such a sweet boy." Kate narrowed her eyes at Sami. "Sami, you're quite lucky to be working for my Lucas, I hope you know."

Sami broadened her smile till she feared her face might crack. "Oh, yeah."

"Good. Now that that's settled, there's oodles of work needing to be done, so I suggest you get to it." Kate began to walk away, then turned and paused at the doorway, wrinkling her nose at Sami's dress. "Just stay out of sight today. Lucas, enjoy your office, honey." She glanced to Jack. "Enough of this sitting around, Mr. Devereaux. There's work to be done."

Jack exchanged a glance with Sami. "Oh, yes , ma'am." He stood and followed her out, unable to help wondering what would ensue between the two he was leaving behind.

***********************************************

As soon as the door closed behind the two, Sami turned and hissed. " Kindly mentioned???! I hardly call what you said "kindly mentioning"!"

Lucas casually propped himself on the edge of the desk. "What? You've never heard of lightening up a bad situation?"

Sami began to ritualistically straighten papers in the "in" box. She snorted.

"Is that what men are calling propositioning a lady with corny lines these days?"

"Corny??!" Lucas sprang forward from the desk. "Woman, you've got to get your girdle unbunched or something. There are plenty of girls, plenty, who would've been putty at my offer."

Sami gave a short laugh. "How do you walk around with that ego?"

"Wanna see my black book, Sami?" Lucas reached in his jacket pocket, producing a small leather book, paging through it rapidly. Sami saw rows and rows of black ink. He smirked as her unnerved expression.

"Well, they can't be any decent women, and -and it's Miss Brady, to you," she threw out for wont of anything better, taking a stack of papers and retreating from the office without another word.

Lucas followed to her desk. "What are you doing?" he asked bewilderedly.

Sami was loading her typewriter with fresh paper. She glanced up briefly. "Work. But, I wouldn't expect a Mama's boy to recognize that." She glanced down at a report she'd been working on the other day and began typing away at rapid speed.

Lucas dropped back momentarily. He was the boss. Where did his upper hand get to? "Mama's boy??!" He shook his head quickly. "No. No, sister." He pointed to himself with his thumb. ¡°I¡¯m my own man."

Sami paused in her typing, cocking her head at her new boss.

"Oh? So that's why you turned into the good little boy when she walked in the room?" she taunted.

Lucas winced a bit, then recovered.

"Well, well. If you girls wonder why chivalry seems to be dead, it's because you've killed it." He made a broad gesture. "First, I offer to get your clothes clean and you cold-cock me in the middle of Main Street. Next, I save your pretty hide from getting fired by my mom, and I get insulted."

Oh, so that's why you did that?" Sami laughed mirthlessly. " Well, if you were hoping I'd kiss your feet or any other part of you in gratitude, you are sadly mistaken. I never asked to work for you, you know."

Yeah, so I gather." Lucas leaned in with an appraising look. "So, then, tell me why you didn't correct my version of what happened?"

"Well, I have this strange physical phenomena. I have to eat. I was backed into a corner. Thanks a lot, by the way." She resumed typing.

Lucas observed the firm set of her profile: squared jaw, set lips, brow furrowed. He couldn't resist a smile. She was actually pretty cute when she was angry and sarcastic.

"Yeah," he replied slowly, raising his voice above the din of the clacking keys. "So you do. How about we do that together?"

Her fingers stopped, poised above the typewriter. "Are you crazy? I didn't fall for your line the first time. Go try it on the models. They have no brains to stop themselves with."

Lucas pulled back, scowling. He rapped on the desk with his fist. "Fine. As your first job, I want you to call every available girl on the roster and have them come in. Tell them it's for a new.... campaign."

Sami rolled her eyes.

"Hey! Remember, Miss Brady. You've got to eat." He wheeled around with a shake of his head. "You, lady, are the worst time I've ever had with a woman," he muttered just loud enough to reach Sami's ears.

Sami's mouth popped open. She turned in her seat.

"And you, sir, are about the worst time I've ever had with a man."

Lucas turned at his office doorway. "Oh?" he smirked. "Didn't realize you'd been with any to compare me to."

Sami raised her chin. "Well, I have . A real man, unlike you. A doctor. We're practically engaged."

She must've imagined the drop in his features. "Yeah?" he grumbled. "Good for him. I sure hope he has a lot of sweaters to keep him warm at night when you're married."

With that, he turned with a smug smile and exited into his office, shutting the door just a bit harder than was necessary. There. There was the upper hand.

Sami sighed and yanked a fat yellow directory in front of her, beginning to flip through for the unmarried models' names witn a fair amount of disgust.

" Gee, you waste no time getting in good with the boss, " a voice joked behind her.

Sami turned. "Jack?"

Her friend stepped forward, snagging a fancy gold writing utensil from Sami's desk. "Forgot my lucky pencil."

As Sami resumed flipping through pages, Jack stood silently watching, hands tucked in his pockets, a thoughtful expression across his handsome features. Sami caught his eye.

" Did you want something else? Because I'm swamped." She rocked back in her chair with a derisive smile. "Do you know your dear brother-in-law is having me bring in the entire roster of single models to choose from like they're sports cars he's taking for a test drive?"

Jack coughed back a laugh. "That's Lucas. We've all been waiting to see him settle down for some time."

"Hmmphh. Good luck. Appears it could be a long wait."

Jack continued to study her thoughtfully. "I don't know..." He shook himself out of his reverie. "Well, anyway, you asked if I wanted something else, so here goes. Did I hear you mention the infamous Dr. Walker as a boyfriend in the present tense?"

Sami pursed her lips. "So?"

"So, what happened to giving him his walking papers? Sami, you're a dear friend to me. I just want to know how many times you're-"

Sami gave him a weary look. "Shut up, Jack." She plopped her chin in her hands. "It's been a bad, bad day, and it isn't even noon yet. Let me have my illusions for a change, will you?" She blew out a long breath. "A girl's got to have something to protect herself with." Her gaze strayed to the closed door freshly marked "Lucas Roberts, Editor-in-Chief"., , her mind daring to let herself ponder what she might be protecting herself from.

Chapter Four

" So, in conclusion, Ms. Kane, Summer of Enchantment's layout will- Auggh, raisins. I hate raisins. They're so...shrivelly. Can you pick them out?" Sami's gaze jumped from her stenographer pad to a half-eaten bran muffin being casually extended across the desk. Shooting her boss's innocent demeanor a disbelieving look, she wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"You already took a bite out of it. It's all...ugggh....mushy. You shouldn't have gotten one with raisins if you can't deal with it."

Lucas smirked, and turned the muffin over in his hand. "Sami, I know I took a bite out of it. How else did I find the raisins? Look, I just took one small bite. It's not that mushy." He waved it in front of her face the same way he had with the telephone the other day. "Come on, Sami, it's your job to keep the boss satisfied. Do I have to call my mom in here?" He made a big show of cupping a hand to his mouth and pitching his voice towards the half-open door. "Oh, Mo-ther-" He began in a sing-song tone.

"Oh, give me that and stop enjoying this so much!" Sami rolled her eyes, reaching over the divide of the desk and snatching the muffin from his hand while he cackled with oh-so-annoying laughter. God, it was all she'd heard for the past four days through each and every humiliating task he presented her with.

'He's beginning to remind me of Eddie Haskell,' she thought as she picked at the first couple of raisins. As she flicked the dried fruit into the wastebasket resentfully, she stole a glimpse of him. 'Of course, Eddie Haskell certainly doesn't fill out a suit like that.' She plucked out one more raisin and started to send it to the wastebasket with the others before her own thoughts hit her. She paused with the raisin between finger and thumb. Wait a minute. What in the world was that? Lucas Roberts had proven to be the worst and most abhorrent of pigs in four short days. Who cared if he looked nice in a suit?

Lucas quirked a brow amusedly, pondering the sudden conflicting changes in her features. Oh, to know what Miss Prim 'n' Proper was turning a most delightful shade of pink and chewing her pretty little lower lip about. He leaned back in his cushy leather chair, propping his Italian-loafer clad feet on the desk, nonchalantly examining his fingernails. He began to whistle a little bit in the sudden silence. Lifting his head, he broke off and cleared his throat exaggeratedly.

"Well, Sami? Is that muffin going to have to be lunch or what?" A hint of a grin played at the corners of his lips." Some of us have important work to do, you know."

Pink darkened to scarlet in her cheeks as Sami tightened her mouth and narrowed her eyes. She sprang from her seat. "If 'important work' is torturing females all day long, you needn't go to all this trouble, you know." She flipped the raisin she was still holding at him. It landed squarely on his chest. He glanced down, then back up with surprise as she advanced on him, plucking out more to add to her arsenal.

"All-" A raisin to the shoulder. "You'd have to do-" Two more in his lap. "Is be yourself!" A rain of tiny dried fruit right on top of his highly stylized, pretty boy head. He watched with an odd mixture of shock, amusement, and something he didn't care to explore just then as she took the remains of the muffin and crumpled them on the desk in front of him.

" And it's Miss Brady to you!" With that, she scooped up her steno pad and pen, heading to the doorway in a huff, throwing over her shoulder, "Buzz me when you're ready to do real work!"

"Hey!" Lucas stood up in a shower of raisins and followed her out to the alcove her desk sat in. She was slamming around drawers and rattling papers. He grabbed her by the shoulder and forced her to face him. She angrily jerked away and began straightening papers again.

"I'll have you know I've done plenty of real work." Sami snorted. "Just because I'm the Kate Kiriakis's son doesn't mean I didn't earn this job." He scowled. " And why can't I call you Sami? My mother does."

'Yeah, your mother does. In the snottiest most disdainful tone, the old witch,' Sami thought.

Aloud, she said, " It's a matter of respect. A foreign concept you, I know. Not all men can be as kind and compassionate as my fianc·¹"

"Oh?" Lucas's voice took on an edge. "So he did pop the question. A couple of days ago you were only "practically" engaged." He took a hold of her hand, giving it a once-over. "Doc too cheap to buy a ring?" His fingers lingered on hers a moment too long.

Sami flushed and yanked her hand away. "No! We're not really engaged. Not exactly." Not at all, more like it, her conscience chided. Remember the half-hearted date last night? The cold pizza and the cheap wine? The "I don't think I'm ready to settle down with one woman" speech? "But, we do have an...understanding, when we're both ready." She lifted her chin. "He's too much a gentleman to pressure me."

"Oh, don't tell me," Lucas dropped back against the wall, rolling his eyes. "You're one of those kind of girls, aren't you?"

Sami frowned. "What girls?"

Lucas shrugged casually. "Oh, you know. The ones that are all dried -up and have "gentlemen friends" but no lovers." He shook his head slowly.

" No wonder you act like the grouchy schoolmarm from third grade. Not the marrying kind, huh?"

Sami flushed to the roots of her hair. She refused to divulge her dreams to this insensitive creep.

"Oh? And you're the marrying kind?" she flung back. " Mister ¡°Bring in All the Available Models So I Can Start a New Black Book"?"

Lucas shrugged. "Yeah, well, maybe it's the first thing we've got in common, except for the fact that I'm not ..ahem...allowing myself to be dried-up." He cocked his head to one side, pushing off the wall and daring to sneak a hand up to the back of her neck.

"It's such a shame, really. If you'd let yourself, you could be a really fun girl." She leaned against the desk, barely suppressing her shiver as his fingers brushed the exposed nape of her neck. Sami, you're not supposed to like this, an unwelcome voice chimed, in her head. She jerked away, sending papers slapping to the floor. With shaky knees, she bent down and retrieved the fallen items.

"Please try to remember I'm not one of those bubble-brained models that giggle and shudder at your very touch," she bit out, rising and stuffing the papers in uncharacteristically sloppy manner in the tray on her desk. "You'll get no "favors" from me."

Lucas's brows furrowed, his mouth taking a downward curve. "Did I even ask for any? Man, lady, not only are you one helluva cold fish, you're full of yourself, too!" He leaned across the desk, relishing her startled look. "I'm not sitting here waiting and hoping you'll suddenly stop being such an iceberg, or something." He made a broad gesture. "I've got girls lined up around the block, lady! Speaking of which, who's my next appointment?" He began to consult his date book.

"That would be me," a voice cooed behind them. Turning, they saw a Marilyn-type blonde. Lucas grinned, stepping forward to take her hand.

"Lucas Roberts, and what might your name be, my dear?"

"Sharon, but people call me 'Doll'. " She batted her ten-foot long eyelashes while Sami rolled her eyes.

"Well, that you are. That you are." He licked his lips, looking the curvy blonde up and down, then shot Sami a glance just in time for her to cease making gagging motions and affect nonchalance.

" Hold all calls, Miss Brady." He glanced again at Sharon. "We have some highly important business to discuss." He offered an arm to the tittering blonde. "Shall we, Doll?¡± With that, they disappeared into the office and shut the door.

Sami dropped into her chair with a sigh. She dropped her head in her hands. "I don't care. I don't care." She lifted her head, looking to the conspicuously closed door. "No. I don't care. I don't care." She dropped her head in her hands again with a groan. "Ohh, yes, I do, but why?"

"Maybe because he has that way of gettin' under your skin."

Sami's head shot up. A smallish man with brown curly hair was standing in front of the desk. "Hiya, Blondie. " he jerked his head to the door. "He busy?"

"He expressly wished for no interruptions, " she replied coolly. "Who are you and what did you mean before?"

"Me? My name is Bart. We share a boss. Perhaps he's mentioned me? I'm indispensable."

Sami peered at the man called Bart doubtfully. "No, I don't believe he has. What do you do for him? Pick out his clothes, brush his teeth for him? Because there aren't too many jobs left."

Bart chuckled good-naturedly. "So you're the cold fish he's been yapping about. Man you should hear him, on and on and on..."

"Oh?" Sami folded her arms with a scowl. "I don't think I appreciate that."

"Well, frankly, miss, neither do I. I can't get a word in edgewise, and that's a big deal for the Bartster. Trust me. As my ma use to say, Bart, you don't never shut your yap. You never clam it up-- I mean- " Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks, mouth popped open, eyes trained down the hall. Sami followed the direction of his gaze, and frowned in puzzlement. All she saw was Jack, accompanied by Jenn.

"Ohhhh!¡± Bart stuck out a hand as soon as they were in his vicinity. "J&J right? Of Ask J&J? I seen your pictures!"

Jack took the proffered hand with a bewildered look to Sami, who shrugged.

"Yeah, that's us. And you are...?"

"Bart. I'm Bart. One of your biggest fans." He pumped Jack's, then Jenn's hand vigorously. Then, he colored a bit, turning to Jenn, who was smiling uneasily, flexing her fingers painfully. "Not-not that I'm a regular subscriber to Bella magazine or nothin'. But, but I flip through them on occasion. Mr. Roberts had 'em lyin' around the penthouse in New York for the ladies."

"Ohh," Jenn said slowly. "You're that Bart. My brother has...uhh...spoken of you."

"Yeah? Well, I just think you two give some of the greatest advice since old Mrs. N. retired."

"Well, thank you," Jenn smiled, relaxing a bit.

"It's uh-it's not our regular job, "Jack stepped in. " This is just until I can get a column. A-a real column You know. Hard-hitting crimes and such."

"Jack, there's nothing wrong with what we do,¡± Jenn reprimanded.

"Yeah, well, telling lovelorn women how to keep a man will never earn me a Pulitzer."

" Jack, " a voice behind them broke in. "You do yourself a great disservice. Girls eat that stuff up. It¡¯s great."

Sami turned to see Lucas in the doorway, his jaw line suspiciously red, Sharon blowing him a kiss and wiggling her shapely rear down the hall, all three sets of male eyes following her. Bart whistled long and low.

Sami exchanged a look with Jenn.

"Oh, and that is the be- all end-all, huh? " Sami spread her hands wide. " How to Get and Keep Your Man."

"You skipped that course, eh, Miss Brady?" Lucas shot out.

Sami threw him a cold look. "I am the one with a committed relationship here."

"Yeah, so you keep saying." Lucas shoved his hands in his pockets, glanced around. 'So, where is he? Four days I've been here, and he still hasn't shown his saintly doctor mug around here."

"He's busy,¡± Sami defended, playing with the edge of her sweater sleeve. "He's doing real work, unlike somebody I could name."

Jack cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Uhh-"

"Yeah?" Lucas stomped his way over to Sami's side, shaking a finger at her. "I told you about that. Just because my mom's the boss-"

'Uhh, chief-" Bart tried to break in.

"Yeah, I know. It doesn't mean you didn't "earn" this job. Well, then I'd love to know what the qualifications were. How many numbers you could rack up? No, wait. How many yachts you owned? How many martinis you could down in one sitting?"

" Yeah, and what about yours, how many ways you could say 'no'?"

"Oh, boy,¡± Jack groaned.

"Apparently, some girls get by always saying yes." Sami looked pointedly at his jaw line. ¡°Looks like you have a strange rash developing. You might want to be careful who you choose to-"

"Uh, let's go to lunch, Sami," Jennifer swooped in, scooping up the surprised girl by the shoulders, smiling brightly and nodding a great deal. "It's uh, it's been a good long while since I had some good girl talk." Sami scowled, face crimson, but allowed herself to be led away like a scolded child.

"Oh, and I'm not included in this?" Jack burst out.

Jenn rolled her eyes. "Of course you are, Jack. You can sit there and smile and nod, okay?"

"Fine,¡± Jack muttered as they headed down the hall. "But, if the topic of choice gets ugly, please remember I'm one of the good ones."

As soon as the trio disappeared down the hall, Bart turned on Lucas with a grin.

"You got it-"

"Don¡¯t.¡± Lucas flopped back wearily on Sami's chair. ¡°Don¡¯t even say it."

"-Bad," Bart finished.

Lucas shot his friend a irritable look. "I told you not to say it."

"Aww, boss, that other blondie was somethin' else again, but this Sami girl-wowee. She's great. I wouldn't exactly call her a cold fish. More like a bloodthirsty piranha." Bart clicked his teeth as if biting into something.

Lucas lifted his head.

"And that's supposed to make me like her?!"

"I know. Weird, huh? But, it's too late to argue, because you already do."



Chapter Five

"Ah, baby, that's it...little lower...ahhhh...perfect..." He sighed contentedly under the ministrations of the nameless blonde with the killer shape and the willing nature, wriggling further beneath the bedspread. He quirked one eyebrow. "Oh, baby, that's it...." He gasped as her hot lips descended on him again and again, lower and lower until.....Wait a minute. Were those teeth? What was she doing with them? Playful nips were all well and good, but this..... He quickly sat up, whipping the blanket up with him. Innocent blue eyes peered out at him, a glint of golden strands winked out, soft inviting lips curved seductively in his direction. He relaxed a bit. Flashing his sexiest grin, he whispered, "Sorry, baby, I don't know what got into me. For some reason I thought I felt-"

She batted her pretty lashes. "Oh, you mean these?" Suddenly, she opened her luscious little mouth to reveal a set of razor-sharp teeth, not unlike a piranha¡¯s. Clicking them together with an amused expression, she descended once more and began to........

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!" Lucas shrieked in a tone or two above a choirboy tenor as he shot up, fighting off the advances of his tangled suit coat , perspiration trickling down his face. ¡°What the hell was that?" he muttered. He shoved his wayward locks from his forehead. "Where the hell am I, anyway?" The usual post-sleep question sprang to mind. Lucas swung his legs down to the floor, still a bit shaky. Squinting into the semi-darkness, objects began to materialize. A desk here, a couple of small chairs there, a built-in bar littered with glasses. Ahhh...Lucas stretched, stood up from his large leather chair and stumbled over to said bar, picking up a nearly empty cocktail glass and twirling it between his thumbs, watching a lone olive swirl around in the trickle of alcohol left. He was at his office. It was just him, a few friendly drinks and a redhead named Twinkles. He darted a glance to the large couch in one corner. Sure enough, a slim arm and a mass of red hair peeked out from the absurdly feathered green coat she lay under. Man, he must've really knocked her out but good with his...skills. She was dead to the world. A grin of remembrance began to dawn in his features. He'd invited her for a late meeting about her prospects as a model. It was her first big break. And, oh, how grateful she'd been ."Works every time," he chuckled, giving the olive another shake. "Yessir, everything is all right, Lucas, my boy."
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Glass still in hand, he ambled over to one of the two large windows in his corner office, idly raising and lowering the blinds. So what was that sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach? As a fresh vision of tiny, sharp teeth reared up out of the dark night before him, he shuddered slightly, then shook his head, downing the last few drops of liquid still in the glass, slamming it down on the window sill and swiping the back of his hand across his mouth.

"Stupid dream, anyway." Lucas rubbed his temples tiredly. "Stupid Bart and his piranha analogies." He turned from the window, bracing himself on the sill. "I don't like her. I don't. No man wants a piranha for his girl." He turned again, flicked at imaginary dust on the half-open blinds, plucked the olive from the glass and popped it into his mouth.

"Not that I want a girl. Because, I don't. And even if I did, it sure wouldn't be-" He very nearly choked on the olive, arrested quite suddenly by a glint of gold winking up from a pool of streetlight. "Sami..." She looked different than he'd ever seen her thus far. Her usually tightly wound locks were down, flowing in soft curls that were longer than the current fashion, but that much more appealing for their quaint appearance, like something out of a fairy tale. Her dress was a simple, deep blue number that draped nicely over her well-shaped body and swished softly around her lovely calves as she walked. He sucked in a breath as her face turned towards his line of vision. Even from this distance, her eyes were so melancholy, her mouth set in troubled lines. She looked...lonely, searching, lost. But, the next instant proved she was not alone at all. A tall, muscled brute of a man with dark hair and complexion joined her in the circle of light, his arm casually draping itself over her small frame, his expression brooding, his dress, his walk, his manner flashy in that sort of way some guys had when they wanted every girl in the room to "ooh" and "ahh" over him. Not that Lucas knew anything about that. He had more class than to strut around like some damn peacock. As Lucas was pondering whether this corny muscle-bound creep was the much-lauded and very "understanding" Dr. Walker, and, if so, why a girl like Sami Brady would go for such a man, they disappeared momentarily, emerging a couple seconds later on the steps leading into Titan. Lucas hurriedly stepped back from the window, peeping from the protective shadows of the darkened room.

" ....can only stay for a minute... Reservations......need to make a good impression on Dr. Wesley." He caught the slightly chilly tones of the man.

"..won't be long...just forgot something, Brandon..." Sami's answer came, a bit wounded.

" Couldn't it have waited, Samantha??! Head of Pediatrics doesn't come along every day."

Lucas rolled his eyes, then flipped the blinds shut. ¡°What a horse's ass," he muttered. "I knew it." He shook his head in frustration, turning towards the room. "Not that I care, of course." Twinkles snored in reply, reminding him the room was otherwise occupied for the first time in several minutes. Twinkles. Whatta name. Whatta a gal. As he watched, the "ambitious" model shifted in her amazingly hard sleep, the coat plopping to the floor to reveal her scanty black slip. She groaned , stretched and seemed about to stir, but instead simply burrowed deeper into the nubby fabric of the couch, dangling her legs over the side, her rump in the air.

'"She's got knobby knees and a bony ass," his first thought popped straight from head to mouth. He wrinkled his brow in confusion at his own statement. Suddenly, she chose that moment to awaken.

Slowly, first one eyelid, then the other began to flutter. Another groan ensued. She flopped her hand up to her groggy eyes, as if light glared out of the dark at her. "Wha?" she slurred. ¡°Wha¡¯s that, lover? Who are you talkin¡¯ ¡®bout?"

"God," he groaned, grabbing for the nearest whiskey bottle. "I need another drink." He hoisted the bottle to his lips and took about half in one fiery gulp.

"Whee!" cried Twinkles, rising, lifting her arms and falling back directly on her aforementioned bony ass.

************************

"All right. Let's just get this over with, Samantha." Brandon scowled as they headed inside the main lobby of Titan Publishing. "I still don't understand what couldn't have waited. It's not like your career is like mine, no offense."

Sami tilted her head up at the large man steering her quickly towards the elevator, trying to remember a time when he wasn't always this impatient and cavalier towards her. Once upon a time, they'd been friends, but it seemed decades, a medical practice, and several all-too-willing nurses ago.

'Why didn't you get one of your precious hospital honeys to act the gracious and adoring girlfriend, then?' She thought, watching him jab the elevator button with force and fold his arms across his expansive chest.

"I told you," she said aloud. "Just some typing I needed for over the week-end."

"You let that twerp Roberts make you work week-ends?"

Sami bristled unexpectedly. "What do you know about Lucas Roberts being a twerp?" Granted, he was one, she reminded herself.

Brandon's frown deepened. " I hear things. He made a play for Nicky when she modeled in New York. Like she was a cheap call girl. She told me all about it."

Sami suppressed a sharp retort concerning Nicole Walker's well-known less-than-virtuous ways and merely replied, "Yeah, well, Nicky is there and Luc-Mr. Roberts is here." She laughed caustically." I wouldn't worry. He's got a whole roster of models to make a play for."

"See what I mean?" Brandon threw back contemptuously.

'Oh, and you are a model of virtue? What, doctor, do you follow the 'Hypocritic's oath'?' Sami averted her face to the safety of the moving numbers above their heads for fear of killing the good doctor in one glance. At least, Lucas Roberts didn't lead girls on. They all knew exactly what they were getting into. She shook her head slightly. To think, she was defending the bane of her existence to herself. Of course, he wasn't all bad. He'd at least had the presence of mind to make more reasonable demands on her today.

All it'd taken was throwing raisins at him yesterday. She raised a gloved hand to her mouth, nearly giggling at the memory of his face when she'd pelted him. Never saw it coming.

"What's so funny?"

Sami startled, glancing to Brandon. His face was a storm cloud. "Oh, nothing," she replied, somehow doubting he'd appreciate the story the way she did, whatever his opinions were of the man. The elevator dinged, saving the evening. "Oh, look. Here we are. I'll just be a minute."

As they headed down the hallway to her alcove, Brandon asked, "So, what's so urgent you've got to type up right away?"

Sami flashed Brandon a smile, toying nervously with her purse strap.

"Just some...papers..." She shrugged casually. "Nothing that'd interest you."

Brandon shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets. "You're probably right."

Sami rolled her eyes and strode ahead. 'Exactly why I'd never tell you.'

When she reached her desk, she unlocked her bottom drawer, blanching at the sight before her eyes. Empty. Completely empty.

"Oh, my God. Oh, my God," she wailed. She sprang up, rifling anxiously through the orderly stacks of paper, knowing the effort was fruitless. They were gone. Her stories were gone. Sami slapped a stack of paperwork on the desk and fell into her chair, burying her head in her hands. "Oh, my God."

"Samantha, what is it?"

Sami looked up, puzzled and mortified. " It was locked, Brandon. How could anyone get in there?"

Brandon pushed up one sleeve and consulted his watch with an impatient sigh. " Samantha, it¡¯s nearly half-past eight. Fifteen minutes past when we were to meet the Wesleys. I don't have time for this." He exhaled noisily at her blank stare and stalked off, muttering, " Guess I better go phone Tuscany and get a message we'll be running late."

Sami frowned absently. "Brandon, there's a phone right here. Brandon?" But, he'd already rounded the corner. Sami shrugged, sighed, and tried again to think of who might've taken her stories. Someone with a key, obviously.

"Hey, what's all the commotion out here?" a male voice slurred behind her. Sami wheeled around in her chair. A light went on in her mind. "You!" she cried, pointing at a rumpled and a quite tipsy Lucas Roberts.

Lucas furrowed his brow. "Me?" A redhead with a feathery green nightmare of a coat over a short black slip sauntered up behind him. "Him?" she repeated with a high-pitched cackle Lucas joining in.

Sami shook her head in disgust. "The work day was over barely three and a half hours ago, and already you're reduced to this?"

Lucas shrugged. "Well, you wouldn' go out wit' me. You, you piranha!"

Sami's mouth dropped. "Piranha?"

"Hey!" the redhead whined, slugging Lucas in the arm. " I ain't gonna play no second fiddle to no bottle blonde fish!"

Lucas leaned forward, fingering Sami's locks. "Oh, no, Twinks, baby, this is real. Miss Squarepants here would never dream of -of it. Ain't that right, Paresquants?" He tugged lightly on a curl. " Sproing!" He giggled. "Oh, I like that. Lookit this, Twinky, baby." He tugged again, watching as the curl took its natural shape again. "Sproing!"

Sami grimaced at his stale breath blowing against her face, trying to still her irritatingly rapid pulse at his nearness. "Kindly take your hands off my hair or I'll be forced to get my fianc·¹"

"Ohhh, the good doc? He here?" Lucas looked around, hands still holding on loosely to her hair. ¡°I thought he was here?"

Sami jerked away from his grasp. "He's making a phone call. But, while I've got you here, would you mind explaining-"

"I wanna see doc!" Lucas turned to his reeling companion. "You wanna see doc?

"I'd rather play doctor-" She pinched Lucas's cheek. "With you." She cackled a second time.

"Heyy-" Lucas grinned, then turned to Sami, draping an arm over her shoulder, caressing in quite a disconcertingly pleasing manner for all his drunkenness. "You wanna be my nurse?"

Sami narrowed her eyes. "Look all, I want to know is if you got into the bottom drawer-"

Lucas shook his head. "Naw, but I could get into some other drawers-I bet yours are- Owwww!" Lucas landed against his drunken companion with a whump, looking into Sami's outraged face Lucas leaned in again.

"Hey, I'm sorry, Sami. Seriously? You wanna be my nurse?" He began to pluck at the wide strap to her dress. Her heart gave a traitorous thump as his fingers brushed against her collarbone. She was on the verge of pushing him a second time when the girl he called Twinks shoved her way in between.

"Heyyy! I thought I was gonna be the nurse. She can be the grouchy receptionist at the front desk. I don' like'er!"

Lucas gave this some thought. "Yeah, she did throw raisins at me." He bobbed his head. "Okay. Grouchy retepsionist it is."

Twinks rewarded this with a third hearty cackle.

"Oh, good grief! Will you either lay that egg or shut up!" Sami finally exploded, springing from her seat. Lucas began to laugh madly while Twinks 's face crumpled. "I don't think thass very funny!" She sniffled. ¡°Make her take it back. After all, I'm your top model!"

Lucas dropped his shoulders. ¡°Did I say that? Because-because I meant to say you could be-that is-" He gestured with his hands ,slapping one a top the other. "On top-" He grinned a bit devilishly. "You know-"

"Ohhhhhh!" Twinks's face grew as red as her tumbled hair. Sami couldn't resist a snort of satisfaction. "Well, I never!" Twinks stomped over to Lucas's side, whipping her coat closed. "You can forge' about our contract!"

Lucas shrugged, turned to Sami. "You heard her! Tear up her contract, Miss Brady! Posthaste!" He dissolved into giggles again as Twinkles sneered at him and stomped away. "You had a bony ass, you know!" he called just as Brandon turned the corner, Jack not far behind, backing up as a furious red and green bundle nearly bowled him over on her way to the elevators.

"Whoa, whoa! " He took in Lucas's disheveled appearance. "I see my version of working late is not your version."

Brandon gave Lucas a cool once-over, then turned to Sami. "Did you find what you were after?"

Sami shook her head. "No." Sami narrowed her eyes at Lucas as he perched himself on the edge of the desk. "No thanks to him." She glanced up. "Jack, you're his brother-in-law. Tell him to give them back."

Jack raised a brow. "Give what back, Sami?"

"You know," she mumbled. ¡°What I keep in the bottom drawer."

Lucas shook his head. ¡°I don' know nothin' I was framed, your honor!"

He nearly lost his balance, reaching out and grabbing Sami's shoulder for support. "Whass in the bottom drawer? Anything good? Is dat where you hide your nice side? Huh, Miss Brady?"

"No, but I'd love to know where you hide your sober side, if he even exists!" She jerked away. "Come on, Jack. Make him give them back."

Jack shrugged. ¡°I would if I could, but fact is, he doesn't have them. I do."

"Jack!" Sami exclaimed, relieved and irritated both. "How did you get in the drawer? And why?"

"Well, uh- Jen's hairpin-and why? Well, I, uh-" He scratched the back of his neck. ¡°Well, I had some-uh-tweaking to do for you."

"Tweaking?" Sami frowned. ¡°What tweaking?

"Samantha-can we go?"

"Just a minute, Brandon." Sami folded her arms. "What tweaking, Jack? I don't believe we discussed-"

"Yeah, what tweaking, Jack?" Lucas interjected. He reached out and caught a hold of Sami's earlobe. "Tweak. Tweak. Tweak."

Sami flushed and pulled away, eyeing Brandon's reaction.

"Can we go?" is all he said. Sami rolled her eyes inwardly.

"Can I have them, please, Jack?" She held out her hands. "I know we share things pretty freely, but, to go into my desk and take them-"

"Yeah! You shouldn't oughta take them-" Lucas turned to Sami, brow wrinkled. "Whass them?"

Sami shook her head in frustration. "Never mind. Jack?"

"Well, uh, well, I would, but they're uh-they're not here." He smiled nervously.

"Not here?!" Sami's voice squeaked. "Where are they?"

"Safe. ¡°Jack replied with a nod. ¡°My house. I'll get them to you Monday morning sharp."

Sami narrowed her eyes. "I don't know, Jack. Your my friend and I trust you, but-"

"No worries,¡± Jack replied. "They'll be in the right hands come Monday morning." Boy, he hoped so. He hated watching his friend's obvious anguish, but it'd hopefully be worth it in the end.

Sami sighed. She wouldn't feel right till they were safely stowed away from prying eyes. "I don't know. Couldn't I just-?"

"Samantha, you heard the man, " Brandon interrupted. "Now, can we please go? I'll barely be able to salvage the meeting with nightcaps at this rate." He eyed Lucas coldly. "Looks like your boss has had plenty."

Sami nodded in defeat. "Okay. Fine. We'll go." She shook a finger at her friend. "But, nine o'clock, they better be in my hands. And the tweaks better be good ones."

"Don't forget to set you alarm, kid." Jack chuckled.

Sami half-smiled and pecked him on the cheek. "See you Monday, Jack."

As she began to exit, Lucas called out, "What about me? Don't I rate a goodbye kiss from Miss Prim'n'Proper?" Sami blushed to her roots, avoiding looking at the sensuous mouth that still seemed maddeningly appealing despite his current state.

Brandon stopped short. "You know, you'd do well to go after the woman that left here earlier. She was much more your taste. Samantha is a lady. Isn't that right?"

Lucas snorted. "Yeah, that's the whole problem."

"Oh, boy," Jack groaned, slapping a hand to his forehead.

"And you want to know what your problem is?" Sami began.

"Samantha, his problem is he doesn't know a good thing when he sees it."

"Ha!" Lucas interjected. "Pot. Kettle. Bla-"

"Ahem, Lucas, why don't we-" Jack attempted to herd his drunken brother-in-law down the hall, matching the younger man's staggering steps.

" He should pay for the Wesleys' first round of drinks for making us that much later, " Brandon grumbled. Glancing down at Sami, he added, "I'm sorry, Samantha. He's not just a twerp. He's a drunken idiot playboy. "

Sami blinked in surprise, suddenly wondering why she didn't feel more gratified he'd actually defended her honor instead of trampling it. Just as she was mustering a reply, a beeping noise went off in Brandon's coat. Normally, Sami despised the thing, but tonight, she silently blessed it. Her ticket to freedom. It'd been a lousy night, so who needed to add a lousy dinner?

"That would be the hospital." Brandon gestured to the receptionist's desk they'd just passed. "I'll just grab the phone here , then I'll drop you at home. Sorry about dinner, Sami."

'Oh, yes, I live to impress stuffy hospital faculty.' Sami managed a slightly disappointed look. "You are Salem's number one doctor." For nurses with incurable trampiness. She pecked him on the cheek. Just then, she noted out of the corner of her eye that Lucas had ventured back into the hall. His smirk was all-too-knowing, even drunk. Narrowing her eyes she turned back to Brandon with determination, laying her lips on his full force. Brandon grasped her by the shoulders, pulling away breathlessly. "Ahem....Samantha...the hospital...."

Lucas's smirk only broadened. Sami rolled her eyes, then pasted on a smile for Brandon. "Of course, darling." She stroked his forearm as he dialed the number. Which bimbette was it this time? she wondered idly.

**************************************

"Now, Lucas, are you sure you can get in all right?" Jack frowned at Lucas's weaving posture from his position in the driver's seat.

Lucas shook his head. "Yes. Don't worry. Bartie boy will be here in the morning. Bart. Bart. Bartie boyyy!" Lucas sang.

"You know, I'm beginning to think I made a big mistake," Jack mumbled to himself. The man could barely stand, after all, much less.....

Lucas got a bewildered look, stumbling forward. "Wha mistake, Jack?"

Jack shook his head, reaching out to help Lucas right himself. "Oh, nothin'. You know, you've made quite an impression for your first week," he said ruefully.

"Thank you, Jack," Lucas replied, oblivious to the negative undertones. "Well, hand the boss man his coat."

Jack passed the suit coat out of the open passenger door and chuckled as he watched his brother-in-law struggle into first one sleeve, then the other. "Well, good night, Jack.... Parting is sweet sorrow and all that. Don't-don't forget THEM on Monday and tell 'er-tell -er she's got pretty hair."

'Her? Her who?"

"You know. Miss Squarepants. Samiii. Tell her, okay? There's a good guy. Tell her okay?" Lucas called as he stumbled into the building. Jack watched him go with a mixture of amusement and fear as he alone held the knowledge of what had just entered the building with the drunken man, nestled in a safe place in his inner jacket pocket. He shook his head slowly as he turned on the ignition.

"Sami, forgive me. I just hope he's sober when he reads them," Jack muttered before driving away.

Chapter Six

"- And that's why Ma always told me, ¡®Bart, when you talk to folks you don't never-' " The right-hand man's chatter was interrupted by a distinct dinging sound and a swish of movement as one of his elevator companions hurriedly straightened back up. At Bart's look, he put his hands in his trouser pockets and painted on a smile.

"Oh, look, there's my floor!" came his voice, pseudo-suave and cultured. The slightly older man then rushed with catlike reflexes out the open doors, black hair quivering in haste, nearly tumbling into a young lady in the hallway. "Beg your pardon, ma'am."

"Oh." Bart frowned at the number displayed for a moment. "Geez. I thought he said he was visiting somebody on the ninth floor. My bad." He shrugged. " Well, it's been nice shootin' the breeze with you, Mr. Dimera! If things should ever go sour with Mr. Roberts, I'll look you up!" Bart called to the man's swiftly retreating back as the doors slid closed. Then, he looked to the elderly woman that was still standing beside him.

He noticed her newspaper tucked beneath her arm. "That today's paper?"

She gave him a mild smile and nodded.

Bart nodded back, shoving his hands in his pockets. "So, didja see how Dick Tracy made out today?"

"No, I don't usually read the comics anymore, young man."

"Ohh, gee, that's too bad. You know what my Ma says about that?"

"No, but-"

"Oh, well, she used to say, 'Bart, you care more about the funnies than any boy I know. You don't never do your arithmetic for all your wondering how that darn detective made out.' She never could remember his name and I'd say Ma, it says his name right on the front: Dick Tracy and she'd say-"

Alice Horton leaned back with an inaudible sigh, wishing for once she didn't have that sweet, grandmotherly reputation of hers.

**********************

The fires of hell. That was where he must be. The fires of hell, flames licking at the inside of his mouth, plucking at his brain, punishing him for his "wicked, wicked ways ¡°And, on top of that, the devil's pitchfork was tickling his face. Tickling? Wait a minute. Pitchforks don't tickle. Lucas attempted to lift one eyelid, then the other, but they felt like a pair of fifteen pound bowling balls. Finally, one eye peeped open long enough to collide with something extremely shaggy in the putrid shade of burnt orange. Sticking one hand out and feeling around, he figured out the tickling was the sickening sea of shag carpeting his mother had ever so thoughtfully laid out for him in the bedroom. He must've missed his mark last night climbing into bed.

"I wonder if I puked?" he mumbled. "Bart said you'd never be able to tell..."

Lucas attempted to raise up on his hands, head immediately flopping back down like a struggling infant's.

"Why the hell did I drink so much anyway?" he demanded of the carpet. Somebody with feathers and one hell of a bony ass, his faint memory reminded. Name started with a T.

Twaddles? Twitters? Twi-Twinkles?

'Yeah,' he thought with a grimace.' Twinkles.' All red hair and green feathers and cackles. He could think of better women he could've downed several cocktails and a bottle of whiskey with.

Little visions of blond curls bubbled up in his tired brain. He tried to remember what other foolish things he might've done. Sami Brady's agitated blue gaze popped up to join the scene. He could feel the silk of her hair in his fingers .

"Oh, yeah. Right," he grumbled with embarrassment. "Sproing."

What the hell had possessed him? Rather than answer his own question, Lucas attempted to rise a second time, successfully making it to a sitting position, but not without a howl of protest as the devil switched to a fiercer jabbing motion with a red-hot poker. He rubbed a tired hand over his face, went to scratch his stomach, realizing for the first time he'd slept in his suit. First thing after Bart brought the aspirin, he was going to the cleaners. Lucas wrinkled his nose at the heavy scent of alcohol, stiffly bringing his limbs up to shed himself of his suit coat.

The misshapen sculpture in the corner caught his eye. Its distorted gaze looked down on him with disapproval.

"What the hell do you got to be so self-righteous about?" he threw out. "You wouldn't know what to do with a body if you had one!" With that, he tossed the coat in the direction of the warped head. It missed by several inches, a sheaf of white papers spilling their way to the carpet as the coat fell with a little whumph.

Lucas scratched his head in puzzlement, crawling over to where the papers had landed.

Taking the top sheet off the pile, he plucked the little note attached off the front and tried to focus on the words to little avail.

"Something.. something....Please read. maybe be worth publishing......something... Jack." Lucas groaned, the words blurring as another shot of pain ripped through his skull. He chucked the paper to the floor without reading further, hitting the floor himself with a groan. Sorry, brother-in-law o' mine, he thought. But, whatever they were couldn't be important enough to read without a couple dozen cups of strong coffee and as many aspirin, he told himself as his eyes drifted back shut on the sight of ugly orange shag.

Bart stepped into his boss's apartment, reluctantly laying aside the funnies Alice Horton had kindly insisted he take as he surveyed the wreckage. An overturned fichus spilled his guts by the door, the lamp wore one black Italian loafer, while the other peeped over the top of an expensive vase. Venturing further, he peered through the half-open bedroom door. That God-awful excuse for art wore the boss's suit coat and the floor was adorned by a scattering of type-written papers, Lucas sprawled on his belly in the middle of it all. Bart ambled over, dug a wingtip in his boss's ribs. In response, Lucas groaned heavily and turned, peering up with bleary eyes.

" A bottle of aspirin and a gallon of coffee, please," he rasped.

"Well, hello, Saturday morning past!" Bart quipped. " Where ya been lately?" He glanced down to the papers. "Heavy reading, huh?" Lucas grunted in response.

"Don't know whose they are, but Jack left a note about publishing or something. I dunno."

Bart scooped one page up. "Passionate clinch, huh?" He wiggled his brows, straightening the papers as he read further. "Could be better than Dick Tracy." He rocked back on his heels. "You know who'd like this?"

"No," Lucas grumbled. ¡°But I'm sure you're gonna tell me."

"Bonnie." Bart nodded and grinned. ¡°Yessir. She 'd tell you if they're worth the magazine's time. " He tugged on Lucas' resistant arm "Come on, boss. Get yourself cleaned up. We're goin' to see my girl."

****************

Alarm bells jangled in her ears, stealing her from the faint edges of a dream. Sami slit an eye open.

Seven o'clock. She yawned, shut off the noisy bells, stretched and very nearly swung her legs out from under her fluffy pink down comforter when realization hit.

"It's Saturday!" She flipped a look to the faux brass object from hell, snatching it up in her hand. "You never wake me early on Saturday!" She shook the clock a little. It gave a faint buzzing whine of protest.

"Ugh. One of these days, I'm replacing you."

She slammed the whimpery clock back on the nightstand and flopped back on the pillows, the tiny bits leftover from her dream still floating in her brain. Jack holding a big sheaf of paper to his chest and laughing like a villain... Brandon's stiff lipped kiss last night.... Lucas Roberts' sly smirk curving out of the dark of the hallway at Titan, watching her walk away, her skirt awfully square-shaped in the back....

"Miss Squarepants," she muttered, his damnable drunken taunt ringing in her ears. "A whole lot he knows. ¡°Sami yawned, the night spent with the late, late show and a carton of Fudge Ripple coming back on her. "Not that I care what he thinks, of course."

She shifted, fluffed her pillows and tried to close her eyes again. Almost immediately, they flew back open. Shooting up in the bed, she folded her arms across her chest. " But what nerve! As if after a week of throwing out ridiculous orders at me, he really knows me!" She lifted her chin. "I could have fun, if I wanted to." She edged the lace of her ladylike white nightie. "I'm just...more practical about it. Nothing wrong with that" She nodded as if satisfied with the her own reasoning, fetching her robe and slipping into it.

Sami rose from the bed and padded into the bathroom. Catching a glimpse of her reflection, it was like her own tired eyes were scolding her from behind the mud mask for her excuse-making. She slapped a hand on the counter.

"Okay, so sometimes, there's something wrong with that. But, but I could have fun, if I tried. " Her own eyes looked back disbelievingly. "Well, I could! Look at my stories. Those girls don't sit around watching life go by while their lug of a doctor boyfriend plays up to-" Her mouth dropped a trifle.

She plopped down to the edge of her tub.

"Oh, my God. I AM Miss Squarepants." She stood, began to pace, sat down again. "Not only am I Miss Squarepants, I'm an idiot." She drummed her nails on the porcelain underneath her. "So , what are you going to do about it?" She tilted her head to one side. "Probably nothing." She tilted it to the opposite side. "No...something..." She stood, beginning to peel off her mask." I'll..." She flinched as the green face pulled at her skin. "I'll..."

She blew out a breath, looking at her newly-fortified skin, smoothing a hand over its baby softness. "I'll write a new story." She shook her head at the rosy faced innocence staring back at her. 'You can't fool me, Sami Brady', she thought.

"You're more of a chicken that green-feathered monstrosity last night!" she declared, flouncing away to the old typewriter in the corner. Winding a fresh sheet of paper in, she poised her fingers above the keys.

"Okay. So...title."

'The Boss and the Secretary....' a voice popped up in her head.

Sami screwed her mouth up. "No. Who'd believe it?" The Playboy and the Proper Lady?

"Noo..." Sami sighed. Uncooperative brain. Where exactly was it trying to drag her this morning?

"Forget title." She set her fingers to typing.

"The tall, muscular man threw back his dark hair and..." No. Not tall. Tall was typical. She yanked out the type-written page and wadded it up, replacing it with a fresh one. "The short, muscular man threw back his dark hair and smiled..." Kindly? Warmly? Gently? "...Devilishly and fixed his deep brown eyes on her." Sami paused, shrugged. No Shakespeare, but it was a start. " 'I'd say I was sorry for bumping into you, but, then, that would mean I was sorry to meet you," he said in a low, throaty tone. "I'd be happy to pay for your dry-cleaning, only...' " Sami suddenly pulled her hands away from the keys, mouth agog for the second time that morning. "Ohhh!" she exclaimed, ripping the paper from the typewriter with force and tearing it to little bits. "Lucas Roberts, your sickening Lothario fumes even sour my writing!" She slumped forward. "I don't like him. I don't." Her shoulders sagged. "So why are you writing about him?"

She shook her head and sprang from her little wooden desk chair, shedding her robe. "You know what you need, Sami? A good breakfast not hosted by your mother and the pitying eyebrow." As she selected a minty-green shift dress, she added. "And, I know just the place-Bonnie's." She made a face. "Just don't forget to avoid the coffee."

**************

"Tell me again why you dragged me out into the world before noon?" Lucas groused, scanning the diner with a moody eye, flipping the napkin holder open and shut, picking at the cinnamon roll he'd ordered from the wisecracking waitress named Hattie, idly wondering how she kept her job when half-soused. "nobody else is even here. They all have the sense to be in bed. Which is where I should be."

"Will ya quit whining for a minute and listen?? I told ya-you wanna know if you've got somethin' juicy in these here manuscripts, Bonnie's yer gal." Bart tapped the page he was reading.

"But, I'll tell you what I think-"

Lucas shrugged and gave his employee a surly look. "Who said I care what you think?"

"Ouch. Should I be offended there, boss?"

"No, it's just that who cares about some girly romance stories, anyway?"

"Well, you know, boss, I ain't one to step on no toes here, but your job-"

"Did somebody say romance stories?" a female voice popped in behind them excitedly.

Bart swiveled around, ears suddenly turning the color of a tomato. Lucas glanced up with a smirk. She was perky blond woman with a lot to offer, and most of it on display. The nametag pinned to her bountiful chest read "Bonnie Lockhart, proprietor". Lucas curved a brow upward, looking askance at his pal, who sat there with ears burning, clutching the papers for dear life and babbling,

"Uh, gee, yeah, uhh...yeah, you, you might say they're uhh...romantic...in ..uhh nature." Bart adjusted his tie, fidgeted with his fork, flinging a gob of eggs benedict to the floor. "Oops."

Bonnie chuckled good-naturedly. "Not a problem." She bent down to wipe up the dropped egg. Lucas's smirk broadened as he realized Bart's eyes were fastened somewhere near where her nametag was. "You're 'girl', " Lucas whispered in amusement.

"Shhh..." Bart begged, ears turning even redder.

Bonnie stood, leaned against the back of Bart's chair, blowing a bubble with her gum and popping it. "So, uh, Bartie, who's your important-looking friend there? He's cute." She winked to Lucas, who couldn't resist an arrogant lift to his head. She flipped her eyes back to Bart, pinching his cheek, which redden on contact. "Not as cute as you, Bashful, but-"

"I'm Lucas Roberts, editor of Bella magazine. I'm just, uh, pursuing an exciting new author here...." Lucas picked up several pages, searching for a name while Bart rolled his eyes. "Well, he or she seems to want to remain unknown for now, but..."

"OOh-lemme see-" Bonnie snatched a story from Bart's hands and sat down, beginning to read. Lucas shrugged and took the one nearest him and started in, too. Bart blushed further as Bonnie read the good parts under her breath. No one noticed the small, blonde addition to the room. She advanced further, pretty sure she recognized the man with the brown, somewhat curly hair and the nervous, high-energy way about him. The dark, highly-stylilized head opposite looked unfortunately familiar as well, even from behind.

"And, with a sultry look," Bonnie muttered, Bart engrossed with the way her scarlet lips moved. " He began to weave his way down...."

"Excuse me, could I get a little.." Sami trailed off with a disgusted look as she, indeed, locked eyes with none other than the Lothario himself. A disconcerting spark began in her tummy, which she impatiently shook off, putting a hand to her hip. "Well, Mr. Roberts. Didn't expect you'd roll out of bed before the crack of sundown. What's the matter? You got to tuck in a few early morning shots of vodka in your OJ?"

Lucas looked up to retort, but got lost a moment in the way her blue eyes flashed beneath her black cat eyes and the way a golden curl or two was escaping her normal severe updo. He could still recall how they felt beneath his fingers....

He shook his head impatiently. "Well, and we both know you got in early, didn't you, since Dr. Good Times had to cut your lovely evening short? All tucked in bed with a warm cup of milk by ten o' clock? Or did you splurge and wait till the late, late show went off at ten-thirty?"

Sami flushed. "I'll have you know the late, late show isn't over till-" She broke off at Lucas's smug smirk.

She spied the paper in his hand. "What is this you're reading, anyway?"

Before she could scan a single line, Lucas quickly shielded it with his hands.

"Oh, no, no, no. I can't let you in on this, Miss Squarepants." He leaned forward conspiratorially. "Not for the cold fishies." He threw a glance to Bart and Bonnie, who sat with rapt attention, popping her gum and leaning forward as if eating up the scene before her. "Wouldn't you say so, Bart?" Lucas continued. " Not for virgin-"

Bart was making cutting motions across the neck, harrumphing significantly and clicking his teeth as if biting into something as Sami descended on Lucas.

"And just how would you know that I'm..?" Sami drew back huffily. "Never mind. At least, I know what to expect in my bed every morning."

"What? Your teddy bear?"

"Ohhhhh!" Sami stamped her foot, then reached for the half-eaten cinnamon roll on Lucas's plate and flung it in his face, smiling in a satisfied way at his surprised look as he brushed off crumbs from his best sweater. She turned to Bonnie. "You know, I'd make sure this man pays you well, as you've just lost a customer."

"Ah, hon, don't take on that way." Bonnie chuckled, stood and patted the younger girl's hand. "You know your problem? You've been hanging onto that doctor friend of yours too long. From what I can see, the two of you could really make some, you know-" She waved in Lucas's direction, then back to Sami, giving her a significant look. Lucas perked up, eyeing Sami's reaction to Bonnie's intimation curiously.

"No, please. I'll lose my appetite. " Sami's hand flew to her stomach. "In fact, I already did."

Lucas scowled. "Yeah. Let her go. She'll probably just start throwing her own food around if you give her a chance."

Sami snorted. "Yeah. Beware if he suggests picking up your dry-cleaning bill." She started to stomp off, then wheeled back around. "Enjoy your...filthy little stories there. She turned on her heel and headed back out, sending the door flying and the little bell jingling madly.

"You bet! See ya Monday!" Lucas yelled out the door before turning to settle back in his chair. "What?"

Bart and Bonnie were exchanging looks, the former's shyness seemingly banished by some sort of common link.

"He's got it....'"Bonnie begin.

Lucas held out his hand in protest. "Don't say it."

"...Bad." Bart finished with a grin.

Bonnie leaned back casually on a chair. "For that matter, so does she."

Lucas shook his head slowly, looking back at the retreating figure through the glass window. "Naw....really?" He winced at the slightly hopeful upswing his voice took on the "really".

Bonnie chuckled. "If I know one thing, it's smitten women and that woman is smitten."

Lucas pondered this. "I'd hate to see what she'd throw at me if she hated me." As both began to open their mouths to speak again, Lucas silenced them with his hand. "Now, really, I don't want to discuss anything to do with Sami Brady anymore." He picked up the story he'd been working on, searching for his place.

and she fused her body to his, lips meeting his in an unabated hunger she'd never known existed prior to this.

Pulling back, Sally whispered urgently, hands framing John's face, her words falling like raindrops, splashing one atop the other in their eagerness to be heard. "I want to be loved, loved like I've never been loved before. Please, John , Please, love me. I'm yours." With that, she fell against his sinewy frame, allowing herself to be carried from the deck of the boat, down, down to the chambers below where secrets lay, and secrets would be revealed. She clawed at his clothing, he at hers, falling to a passionate heap...

Lucas curved his lips into a smile. Now, this girl-for, the writing undoubtedly smacked of the female touch-this girl he'd like to meet. "I wonder who she is?"



Chapter Seven

"Morning, Sami. The boss in?" Jack Devereaux nodded towards Lucas's closed office door, taking his usual perch on the edge of his friend's desk.

Sami shook her head slowly, a contemptuous smile playing at her lips as she tapped a pencil to her wristwatch. "Jack, it's only half past nine. Bright and early doesn't come till noon for Mr. Roberts and his dear bride, the whiskey bottle."

Sami tilted her head, her eyes taking on an expectant expression. "Speaking of bright and early, didn't you say...."

Jack suddenly leapt off the desk as if it were burning a hole in his britches. " HaHaHa. Not till noon. Whiskey bottle for a bride... Good one, Sami." He lifted a hand in salute. "Well, see ya around..." He moved as if to back away.

"Jack?" A slight warning edge to her tone.

Jack stuffed his hands in his trouser pockets and slowly continued backing up from the suspicious look growing in his friend's bright blue gaze. "Well, I'll just wait for lunchtime and come-"

"Jack!" Sami sprang from her seat, impeding his backwards progress down the hall with a swift snatch of tweedy sports jacket. " Okay. Where are they?"

"Where are what?"

Sami shook the sleeve in hand a little. "You know what! My stories! Where are they?"

" Ohh...your stories.." Jack nodded, then frowned in a puzzled way. "You're stories...Umm...don¡¯t you feel like some coffee, Sami? " He glanced to the coffee room visible down the hall. "I could sure use some coffee. A nice, big mug of-"

"Jack Harcourt Devereaux!" Sami hissed. "If you don't tell me where-"

"Ahem. Nice way to start the morning, Sami," came a snobby female tone from behind. Both Sami and Jack slid their gazes round to see Kate Kiriakis with arms folded across her tasteless if expensive suit jacket, eyes narrowed.

"Manhandling fellow employees isn't a becoming trait in our receptionists, Miss Brady."

Sami's cheeks burned furiously, her hand abruptly dropping Jack's coat sleeve and smoothing it out.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Kiriakis," she offered tersely. "But-"

"It wasn't exactly manhandling so much as...uhh.." Jack rubbed his hands together in a nervous gesture. "as being..."

"Playful,¡± Sami blurted out, feeling anything but.

Jack glanced to his friend, back to the harpy he called boss, nodding. "Yeah. That's a good word for it. Playful."

"Unh, huh," was Kate's dry reply. She shook her stiffly sprayed hairdo. "Well, if it's playtime you two want, that can easily be arranged." She gestured sharply down the hallway. "All you need do is clear out your desks and trot off to the schoolyard."

The pair looked to each other then shook their heads simultaneously.

"Oh, no, no need,¡± Sami began.

"We're all through...ahem...playing."

Kate narrowed her eyes a second time. ¡°Good." She reached out and adjusted Jack's tie. ¡°Well, then, I'd say you've got some letters to answer." She threw a cold glance to Sami. "And you, Miss Brady, should be attending to my son's business, shouldn't you?" She began to saunter away.

"Yeah, like cleaning up the leftover feathers and fumigating the couch?" Sami muttered towards Kate's back.

Jack clapped a hand to his mouth to keep his snickers from escaping as Kate swiveled around.

"What was that, Miss Brady?"

"I was just saying...papers...I need to clean up some papers and I...wish I had a...pouch...you know, to gather the papers...faster in." Sami held her hands in a circle away from her body.

A small laugh escaped Jack that he quickly covered with a cough.. "Well, sometimes we could all use-mpphh- darn tickly throat today. Excuse me-pouch, couldn't we, Mrs. Kiriakis?"

A disbelieving look crossed Kate's features. "I suppose. But, however you do it, just get it done, Miss Brady." She shook a finger, blood-red manicure glinting in the artificial light from the overhead lights. "Just remember, I'm keeping my eye on you." With that, Kate turned the corner out of their sight.

As soon as was deemed safe, Jack and Sami burst into laughter.

"Just remember, I'm keeping my eye on you!" Sami imitated the slick, snotty tones of their superior perfectly.

Jack chuckled, shooting a glance in the direction Kate had disappeared.

"Speaking of schoolyards, she reminds me of one of my teachers in grammar school. Old Battleaxe Bates, we called her."

"I know what you mean, Jack," Sami giggled." I half-expect her to whip out a ruler to whack my hand like Sister Mary Agnes used to when I was late with a writing assignment." Sami's giggles abruptly dissipated. She shot Jack a questioning look.

"Speaking of writing...."

Jack backed up again, plastering on a grin. "Were we?"

Sami nodded slowly, advancing on him. "Yes, we were, Jack."

"Funny. I don't seem to remember...." Jack stepped back another pace or two.

Sami folded her arms over her chest. ¡°Yeah. That is funny."

"Yeah. Funny. Goofy old Jack. Always good for a laugh-"

As Jack reached a wall, Sami retrieved his coat sleeve,. "I'm not laughing, Jack. "

"So you're not,¡± Jack observed uneasily.

"Two words, Jack. My stories. Where are they?"

"Uhh...isn¡¯t that five words?"

"Jack,¡± Sami ground out. "You are severely testing my patience and our friendship here."

Jack blinked rapidly. "Why, Sami! I'm hurt! Here, I thought we were comrades-in-arms, having a little fun at the old battleaxe's expense and you-"

"Jack!" Sami tugged at his sleeve impatiently. "Stories. Now. Where?"

"Hmm...Sami, you'd better cut out the late, late show. You're starting to sound like Tarzan."

Sami spied a prized object in Jack's breast pocket. With one swift moment, Sami reached in and pulled out the lucky gold pencil and waved it triumphantly in the air.

"I will break it, Jack! I will break it!"

Jack reached out for the object he credited with helping him get straight A's all four years at Salem U. "Oh, you are not playing fair here, Sami! Now, really-"

Sami held the shiny pencil between her fingers, preparing to bend it.

"Okay, okay....uhh...Jennifer has them. Now, can I have my pencil back?"

Sami gave him a guarded look. "Not so fast. Why does she have them? I didn't remember editing was a team effort with you as well as the advice column."

Jack shrugged. ¡°Well, everyone needs a little extra input now and then, right? I just wanted to know what she thought of the ..tweaking."

"I would've appreciated being told," Sami snapped, still brandishing the beloved writing instrument, then relented at her pal's hangdog expression. " Though I suppose there isn't any damage done." Sami tucked the pencil back in his breast pocket. "Is she in the office? I'll just go ask her for them." Sami started down the hall." I'm sorry I'm so protective. It's just that they're kind of my babies...."

Jack swiftly moved to step in front of Sami before she could go further.

"Sami, she's not here. She's home. Measles. Abby has the measles. You never have, so-"

Sami frowned, arms akimbo. "Now, isn't that funny? Abby had the measles a few weeks ago. We were going to have bridge night, you and Jenn, me and Brandon, remember?"

Jack's mouth hung open momentarily. "Is that a fact?"

"Yeah, as John would say, that's a fact...you went on and on about how poor little Abby, so itchy and not wanting her daddy to leave her in her hour of need..."

"Oh, boy." Jack began a slow backwards dance for the third time, Sami matching step for step.

"Wouldn't you like some coffee? I still could use some coffee...and maybe a doughnut and....protective headgear...." Jack made it to the coffee room at last, but instead of pouring coffee, he shielded his sandy blonde head from anticipated blows. He was surprised however by a soft sigh. He peeked out of his circle of protection to see Sami fiddling with her hands, biting her lower lip.

"Jack. Just tell me what happened to them. They're important to me. You know how I feel about them possibly ending up in the wrong hands..."

Jack's heart sunk at the fearful expression his friend wore. He turned away, hands shoved in pockets.

'Now, I'm really going to need that protective gear," he muttered, looking at his shoe, contemplating their possible need of polish. He sucked in a breath. "Sami, Igave'emtoapublisher."

Sami squinted uncomprehendingly. "What?"

Jack turned, bracing Sami's shoulders, half in attempt to steady her, half in effort to keep her arms from thrashing in his direction. "Sami, I would've asked. Believe me, I would've. But, you never have faith in yourself. I had to show you your stories are better than you think."

Realization came and stole the color from Sami's face. "Jack. You didn't!" She shook her head rapidly. "Oh, my God. Tell me you didn't! Get them back. Get them back!" Her voice rose shrilly, her arms jerking free of his grasp.

"Sorry, kid. They've probably been read by now."

"I don't care!" She clutched at his sleeve once again. "Tell me who has them, and I'll go get them myself. I'll sneak in their office and I'll-"

"Well, Sami, that's the other kicker...." Jack quickly removed his favorite pencil, hiding it behind his back. "You're not going to like this, but the person who has your stories is-"

Jack's words were broken into by a distinctly happy whistle. A nearly disgustingly happy whistle.

Lucas Roberts strolled in as fresh-faced and full of pep as Jack could recall seeing his brother-in-law. He shot a look to Sami. She was perturbed and suddenly quite preoccupied, her eyes never leaving her boss as he moved about the room. Jack quirked a brow.

Lucas nodded cheerfully. "Jack."

"Lucas," Jack tried to smother a grin as Lucas reached out for a mug from the counter and began to fill it, still whistling, Sami eyeing him with an utterly mismatched look of disdain and , if Jack was reading his friend correctly, desire.

Lucas dropped in two sugars, glanced to Sami. "Miss Squarepants."

Sami's expression popped like a cartoon cloud. She rolled her eyes." Captain Insufferable." She folded her arms over her chest. "So, whose bed did you roll out of?"

Lucas took a sip of his coffee, nearly choking with laughter. He waggled his brows. " You really want to know? " He set down his mug. "Well, she's about 5-8, brunette, great pair of legs......incredibly round.." He circled the air significantly.

"Ohh!" Sami shook her head. "I most certainly do NOT want to know!¡± She glanced to her friend. "Jack, wipe that smirk off your face before your pencil becomes splinters. Let¡¯s go somewhere else to finish our discussion."

Jack smiled weakly. "Discussion..?'

"Don't test me, Jack-"

"Ohh, that reminds me!" Lucas snapped his fingers, placing an arm around Jack's shoulders. "We have something that needs...immediate discussion." He threw a faux-apologetic look to Sami. "You understand , of course, don't you. Miss Square-"

"We were talking first. Or didn't your fancy military school teach you anything about politeness in between Poker lessons, drunken marches and conquests 101?" Sami whipped over to Jack's other side, taking the usual sleeve in hand.

"And where did you learn to speak to your boss that way? The Secretarial College of Uptight Bit-?"

"Whoaa, now! Nice to be popular, but this is something else again!" Jack interjected, looking from one matching scowl to the other. "Lucas, to be fair, I was speaking to Sami first."

Sami grinned in triumph, sticking out her tongue. "There, you see-"

"Oh, the essence of maturity you are, lady," Lucas grumbled.

""Now, now, not so fast, Sami. Lucas here is my...superior. I owe it to him to hear him out." His smile grew weaker as Sami's rage boiled further, threatening to spill out over the edges.

Lucas took his turn to grin smugly. "There, you see, Miss Square-"

"The name is Brady! Miss Brady!"

Lucas smirked. Sami wrinkled her nose in disgust, wheeling around on the other object of her infuriation. "And you, Mr. Devereaux-I'm not letting certain things go," she hissed.

Jack's smile grew weaker. "What can I say, kid? I'm sorry."

Lucas clapped a hand on his brother-in-law's shoulder. 'Of course you are, Jack. Aren't men always sorry about something with women?"

He grinned as Sami's chest heaved a little more. "Come on, let's go talk in my office, shall we?" What I want to discuss Miss Sq-excuse me-Brady simply wouldn't understand."

As he shepherded Jack out the door, Sami snatched up his neglected coffee mug. "Wouldn't want to forget this!" She made moves to slosh some of the brown liquid her boss's direction. Instead, a large, tanned hand zipped out and grabbed for the mug just before the first splash could hit. Fingers brushed momentarily. Eyes met, blushes abounded as each felt a tingle neither would care to admit.

"Nice try, Miss S," Lucas's voice came throatier than usual.

"Go have your "guy talk","Sami flung back, but without as much earnest indignation as normally colored her tones.

Without another barb exchanged, Lucas left, Jack in tow.

Sami remained in the coffee room, rooted to her spot. She couldn't have told how long she stood there, who came and went to get coffee and chatter about the latest Audrey film or new hairstyle. Nor who said hello, goodbye, tittered her way or wondered at her seeming daze to their fellow secretaries. Her thoughts were mostly random, shapeless, and untouchable, some troubles momentarily floating away while new ones settled vaguely in. The only words she could pick out were paradoxical at best:

'I hate him. I really hate him. And why? I hate him because...I like him.'

"Ohhhh!" Sami finally cried in frustration, stamping her patent leather pump into the soft gray carpet of the coffee room before flouncing away.

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Chapter Eight

"Okay, so what's with all the whistling, brother-in-law of mine?" Jack turned and closed the office door, observing that the quiet discomfort surrounding Lucas immediately following their exit from the coffee room was fading, a redoubled effort at mysterious joviality returning. Jack watched Lucas with an amused expression as the younger man did a fair imitation of Gene Kelly, twirling around before swinging his mug and briefcase down to rest on his large oak desk, having resumed his tune from earlier.

"Life is good, Jack." Lucas offered his coffee mug in salute, taking a sip before picking up his song where he'd left off while he checked the notes left on his desk, in good enough humor to even begin to admire the sharp, pointy lines of Sami Brady's handwriting reminding him of appointments to come. He paused with a small grin as he shuffled through the numerous notes.

Jack quirked one brow.

"Care to elaborate on such a rare display of extreme optimism? What is that song, anyway? 'When You Wish Upon a Star'? Who were you out with last night? Jimney Cricket?" Then, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall, his mouth took a downward curve. "Never mind. I think I'll pass on the full details. Old married man that I am."

Lucas smirked. "May I never become the henpecked husband. Jenn is my sister and all, but, if she stops you from wanting to know juicy stories-"

"Yes, she is your sister, and my wife, so knock it off there, boss man, before I-"

"Relax, Jack, relax!" Lucas chuckled, holding out an appeasing hand. ¡°I¡¯m not about to muddy the good name of Jennifer Devereaux. Heck, there wasn't even a brunette."

" Ohh....so, that was meant to irk Sami." A slightly smug grin flitted across Jack's features.

Lucas shook his head. "Don't say it like you know me so well." He plopped into his cushy leather chair, some of the edge of his enthusiasm cut off all of a sudden.' Damn nuisance, these sudden stomach ailments,' he thought as he felt a tiny lurch. He grabbed a pen off his desk, idly tapping it on the wooden surface.¡± I was just...setting her off-balance, so to speak."

"You set her off-balance, she tilts you right back." Jack shoved at the air as if to set his brother-in-law askew himself." Sounds like a match to me."

Lucas snorted. "Yeah. Made right in the factories of hell, with Satan's seal of approval written all over it." He chucked the pen at his in-box, which was alarmingly full. Papers slumped over the side, spilling in a colorful array. He blew out a breath and began to pile them in an untidy heap. He glanced up with a defensive look.

"She can be quite the pill, you know, Jack."

" Yeah, and you can be a thickheaded and lazy. They're called idiosyncrasies. We learn to leave with them."

"Or not," Lucas threw back. ¡°It¡¯s not like she even gives me half a chance, anyway. I think she's got a permanent case of the Artic chills."

Jack gave a short laugh. He shoved his hands in his pockets.

"You know, I've known Sami a lot longer than you. You might be surprised. Why, I remember the first time I met her. I was just an occasional contributor then. I'd come up to turn in an assignment and see Jenn and there was Sami, dressed to the nines and looking so lost, out in the lobby. Turns out she was waiting to be interviewed. She was very sweet, bashful as could be. She said one day she wanted to see her name in print. I told her to beware of the lady drag-on...." Jack trailed off with an apologetic smile. 'Ahem, that is-you know-your mother-Mrs. Kiriakis-she can be..."

"Jack, I know my mother." Lucas screwed his mouth up in wry lines. "I also know Miss Brady. Sweet and bashful, she's not. " He paused thoughtfully. An image of her woebegone face in the streetlight a few nights ago resurfaced, followed by that sudden softening her pretty features underwent when their fingers brushed earlier that morning. He shook them away with a sigh, flipping open the locks on his briefcase. "Prim, yes. Snippy? Like a schoolmarm. Laced tighter than a pair of roller skates, sure. But...." He cut off his own diatribe. ¡°Enough of discussing the virtues of Miss Brady," he muttered. He extracted a sheaf of papers from his case. He gestured to one of the small chairs grouped in front of the desk. "Let's just get down to business before my stomach turns any more sour."

"Sour stomach, eh?" Jack gave him a significant look, waggling his fingers. "Kind of fluttery? There's a diagnosis for that you know. "

"Jack-"

"And they call it, puppy love,¡± Jack sang in a mock-serious tone.

"Jack!" Lucas grit out. 'You're starting to remind me of Bart and that...Bonnie woman he likes so much."

"Okay, okay. You don't have to get nasty. Sorry." Jack nodded to the papers, tucking away his grin at recognition. 'So, uh, you found them, then?"

Lucas nodded. "I question stuffing them in a jacket pocket rather than leaving them on my desk, but-"

He paused, looking curiously at Jack's suddenly agitated expression

"Sit down, Jack, sit down. I'm not mad or anything. I like them. A lot. Just what this magazine needs."

"Really? You think so?" Jack lowered himself on the edge of a chair, trying not too look to eager.

"Well, yeah, I think so." Lucas tapped the papers, his voice took on an enthusiastic sound once more. "This type of thing is just what Bella needs to get back to the top of the magazine heap. Red-hot romantic stories." He paused with a slight flush hitting his cheeks under his tan. "Not that I go in for that type of stuff myself, you understand."

Jack stifled his smile. " Yeah. Didn't think you were such a fan of the genre there, Lucas."

"Well, I'm not." Lucas scratched the back of his neck. "If I'm excited, it's only so I can prove to certain people there's a reason I've got this job."

"What, your own mother has stopped giving you credit for being the smart son?"

"Haha. Very funny." Lucas smirked. "Besides, it's not her I'm thinking of."

Jack cocked his head. "Oh, I see. Well, if it's not dear old mom, it must be..." Jack began to tick the possibilities off on his fingers. "Jenn? No, if you cared what big sis thought, you'd come to the family barbecues more often and stop chasing "every skirt that wiggles just so", as she once put it. Me? No, you know I tolerate you despite your loafing ways."

"Gee, thanks,":Lucas interjected. "You've been talking to Miss Brady far too long."

"Just stating the facts like a good reporter, sir. Now, then-" He stopped short. "Ah, that's it. Sami."

"What about her?" Lucas mumbled.

"It's Sami. Who constantly makes digs about how you got your job? Sami."

"Bingo. But, I don't care what Miss S thinks. I just wanna shut her up for a minute and drag her off her high horse."

"Sounds fun,¡± Jack quipped.

"Haha, again. You're a real riot today, pal. Why don't you send your stuff to Reader's Digest or something?"

"Hey, who's kidding? She might even like it."

Lucas snorted in derision at that one. "Seriously, though. What has she got to be so high and mighty about? What exactly has she ever done except type letters and get coffee? Oh, and throw food. Let's not forget that."

"You'd be surprised,¡± Jack said in a low tone, wishing he could just kick his guilty conscience and the image of Sami's fearful eyes in the corner.

Lucas shrugged. "Fine. You win." He rubbed his forehead wearily." I-I don't want to talk about her anymore." He glanced back at the stories. "I want to talk more about this author. I want to drum up a big campaign. Ads all over the places. I've already got some preliminaries drawn up in the art department." He held up a sketch of a woman with golden hair spilled out behind her, half-reclining with a dark-haired shirtless man on the deck of a boat, the words "Bella Magazine-Feel the Romance¡± emblazoned at the top.

Jack cleared his throat. " Nice."

Lucas nodded, setting the sketch aside. "Well, it needs the title and author yet."

"Uh, huh." Jack tugged on his tie.

"I've just got one question, Jack."

"What-what's that?" He hated ties. Damned uncomfortable.

"Who is she?"

Jack dropped his hands from the brown-striped noose." Uhh...Funny you should ask. Uhh-"

His words were broken by the sound of the swinging door.

Both men turned to see Sami Brady in the doorway, her face quickly going businesslike cool as her eyes momentarily picked up on Lucas's gaze. He just as quickly hooded his interest in mild annoyance.

'Something you wanted, Miss Brady?"

Jack sprang from his seat with the grace of a track star, tucking the telltale papers under Lucas's briefcase and casually leaning on it.

"Your ten-fifteen is here, Mr. Roberts, as if you remembered." She pointedly avoided Jack's gaze.

Lucas smoothed down his hair and began to fiddle with his suit. " Uhh...Of course, I remembered. I can keep my own schedule. I don't need a mother. Don¡¯t I look like a professional to you?"

"Uh huh,¡± Sami replied in a less than believing tone. She flicked her eyes up and down, cheeks warming slightly as she tried not to admire his "professionalism". She stalled at the green object sticking to his pants, a smirk suddenly lighting her face, her discomfiture mostly forgotten.¡± And-and I suppose you don't need any help...looking professional?" With a hesitant hand she reached out. Lucas jumped about a mile in as her fingers touched the fabric of his dark blue dress pants. His eyes followed her fingers as they plucked what looked to be one of Twinkles' leftover feathers from the front of his pants and waved it in front of him.

"Your girlfriend is molting."

Jack coughed out a chuckle as Lucas shook off his startled feeling, narrowing his eyes.

"She's not my girlfriend," he blurted like an embarrassed twelve year old. Wait. That wasn't the zinger he'd had planned. Damn Sami Brady. Damn her and her captivating blue eyes.

Sami avoided the slight lift in her spirits at his statement along with his gaze.

"Pity. You were so well -matched. One cackling chicken and one cocky rooster."

"And one squawky peahen makes three," Lucas shot back. " Look, Miss Brady, why don't you just-"

"Lucas! Do you plan on keeping me waiting all morning, or do I have to show myself in?"

Lucas flushed scarlet as his mother stalked into the room. "Mom! I-uh-"

"Your ten-fifteen, Mr. Roberts,¡± Sami announced icily. As she started to walk away, she muttered, "Oh, no

I don't need a mother."

Kate shot Sami a disdainful look. "Insolent..." She threw a look to Jack still leaning hard on the briefcase. "And you, Mr. Devereaux, are still here because..?"

Jack raised his hands in a pacifying gesture. Consider me-oops.." He was interrupted by the familiar slapping sound of papers hitting the floor as the briefcase shifted. Sami paused in the doorway, rolling her eyes Men. Helpless as toddlers, feeling her heart soften for her friend at the same time. He got so nervous around the old dragon of a boss. "I'll help."

She re-entered the room, puzzled as Jack quickly swooped on the pile. "Oh, no, no need. I'm the clumsy one-"

She plucked up a paper or two.

"Jack, don't be silly. I can-" She paused, looking over an eerily familiar picture with an eerily familiar title. "Help.." She glanced down at the papers in her other hand, her own words wrought from her very own heart and hand staring her in the face. John. Sally. Love Me. Falling to a passionate heap. Her mind froze, her mouth dropped, her eyes refused to register what she was seeing. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

"Well, " cut in Kate Kiriakis' voice sharp and stinging as a needle. "Are you going to sit there all day or do I-?"

"Sami?" Jack paused his own clean-up efforts, waving a hand in front of her face. "Sami?"

Nothing. Then , the sound of papers swishing back to floor, followed by sudden swift jerk of his coat sleeve. They made a ridiculous picture, the petite blonde, dragging the much taller man out into the hallway. Jack hardly knew what he was about until he found himself pinned to the wall, Sami Brady's wrathful expression bearing down on him.

"Jack Harcourt Devereaux, " she hissed for the second time that day. "Explain yourself!"

"Well, I.. uhh...he¡¯s the publisher?" he offered with a weak smile, warding off the oncoming blow. "You'll be famous as soon as he knows who you are?" he added from underneath the protective circle of his arms, feeling her fury coming off in waves. "Oh, boy."

"Not a word, Jack Devereaux. "She shook a finger at him. "Not a word."



Chapter Nine

Her face had gone several shades of scarlet, her breath in rapid spurts of outrage. "You-you-I don't know what-to-call-you! Wait. Yes. I. do. Jack .Devereaux, you. are. a. lying. sneaky. low-down. b-"

"Sami, breathe!" Jack broke in pleadingly.

"Yes, breathe, Miss Brady," added a slightly amused male voice behind them. Sami whipped around to see Lucas Roberts casually leaning against the wall, thumbing through the pages of one story. He glanced up. "They're just fiction. Slices of life. People kissing, having fun...but you wouldn't know anything about that."

Jack's mouth popped open as if to speak.

"Not.a.word.Jack." Sami bit out between shallow breaths. Then, she whirled back on her tormentor. "And as for you-I doubt you understand those stories at all! Some-somebody wrote that with more in mind than some tawdry magazine ad!"

"Oh?" Lucas's voice perked up with interest. " And what do you know about it exactly, Miss Brady? Are you....in-cahoots with this writer?"

Sami shot Jack a silencing look. " No. Of course not Why-why would I be?"

Lucas raised a brow, his eyes beginning to light with a taunting look.

"Oh, no reason... except you're trying to sound like you're a literary expert all of a sudden and , rumor has it, you were once known to be a would-be writer."

Sami gasped, eyes zipping to Jack's in a flash.

Lucas smirked. "Yes, Jack told me. He told me everything. " Lucas advanced on Sami slowly. "He told me all about how you met, how-ahem-"sweet" you were, and all about your little dreams of having your name in print." Lucas's smile curved into mocking fashion. Sami gulped. "Well, I've got news for you, Miss S." He waved the pages in hand. "You'd have a lot to prove if you wanted to compete with what I've seen here."

Sami swept away the simultaneous glee and vexation produced by his unwitting words. She gestured to the manuscript.

"Oh, so you really like that, huh?" She crossed her arms, snorted and assessed him critically. " Didn't figure you to be much of a reader, Mr. Roberts. How ever do you find the time between...."appointments"?"

"Yes, Lucas," chimed in the most unwelcome voice on the planet in Sami's mind. Kate sidled up to join the odd assemblage in the hallway, patting her flippy brown hair. "Why is it you made a special point of setting up a meeting with me only to leave me waiting? Not very professional, darling, to say the least."

Lucas flushed a bit. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, mother," he replied in a tight voice. "I wanted to see what could've possibly distressed Miss Brady so about these stories." He flushed further as Sami gave him a quizzical look at the sincere note in his voice, adding in a more biting tone, "Of course, to someone with a more....prim mindset, some of this might just be too much."

Sami raised her chin. 'A whole lot you know, buster,¡¯ she thought.

Kate rolled her eyes. "Lucas, dealing with your secretary can wait." She shot Sami a frosty glance. "Unless I'm mistaken, Miss Brady's opinion on something we may publish bears no weight here, anyway."

Lucas shrugged. "That's what I pretty much told her, mother. " He held out the manuscript. "Why don't you have a look for yourself? It's just what this magazine needs."

Kate took the proffered pages and began to peruse. She quickly smiled. "Good...good..."

"I told you," Lucas boasted." Our readership should explode."

'As if it were you who would be responsible,' Sami thought with a an inward snort.

Kate glanced up. "You see, Miss Brady? This is why you'll always be a secretary. You don't know a good thing when you see it."

Jack glanced to his friend, silently watching the subtle changes in Sami's face as the other two both seemed to be both handing her her dreams and insulting her all at once. He tried to telegraph a ,"Don't you want to rub it in their faces?" look , but Sami merely compressed her lips and gave her head a tiny shake in the negative.

To Lucas, Kate added, "Honey, I think you're finding your niche. Let's go back to the office and contact this author and-"

Lucas smile sheepishly. "Well, that's the thing I needed to get out of Jack earlier. You, see, there's no name on these manuscripts. In fact, Jack...." He turned to his brother-in-law, who was still trying to communicate silent encouragement to Sami that kept falling flat. Jack hurriedly turned his attention to Lucas, who was now giving him a slightly bemused look.

Jack ran a hand through his blond hair, pushing back the errant locks that always seemed to flop down across his forehead, mindful of the three separate gazes now on him, one questioning, the other apprehensive at the same time it was angry, the third...well, barracudas had nicer looks."..Uhh, yeah...uhh...chief?" He tried to tamp down the uncertainty in that last word, clearing his throat over Sami's disgusted snort-her third of the day, at least, by Jack's count. Sami narrowed her eyes and shook her head slightly again. Jack gestured with his hands, but Sami squared her jaw. He finally nodded in defeat. In the next moment, he caught sight of the other two, whose looks were ranging from bewildered to mildly suspicious...and contemptuous-that was Battleaxe Kate-perfectly normal on her part. But, Lucas...he cleared his throat again and tried not look like he'd been caught at something at the same time he tried to reassure the mounting fear in his friend's pretty blue eyes. " Well, uhh...What can I do you for?"

Lucas continued to shoot curious glances between Jack and Sami, but went on. "Well, it's rather simple, actually, Jack. I just need a name, so I can tell her how famous she's going to be."

Jack swallowed. "A name?" He fiddled with his jacket sleeves, tugged at his tie.

"Yeah...a name...you brought these stories to my attention...you must know her."

"A name." Jack turned, impatiently swept back his hair again, turned back." A name...it¡¯s uh...it¡¯s..." He spied a steno pad on a nearby receptionist's desk. There was a big red heart drawn on it with Joelle loves Jim written in the middle. "Love," he blurted.

"Love??" three voices echoed incredulously.

"Love," Jack repeated, a bit of the Sinatra record he'd put on the other night popping back in his head. Some thing about luck being a... "Lady Love."

"That's it? Just.. Lady...Love?" Lucas frowned. "I don't get a first name?"

Sami furrowed her brow at his seeming disappointment. "Haven't you ever heard of a pseudonym?" she couldn't resist throwing out. "It can protect decent ladies from being tracked down by ...panting wolves."

"Yes, I have heard of a pseudonym," Lucas flung back, smirking in her direction. " And, you needn't worry about any panting wolves, Miss Brady. I just wanted to know how to write out all the handsome royalty checks that'll blow your pathetic salary out of the water."

Jack threw her a significant look. She threw back a definitive "no". "Well, maybe she doesn't care about the money," Sami offered. "As if that'd enter your one-track mind. Besides, don't you think if there's something to be said for a little mystery? Or must everything be as transparent as your girlfriends' clothing ..and brains, or should I say lack thereof?"

"Well, if you had your way, we'd all be back to corsets and thousand-layer petticoats, isn't that right, Miss Brady?"

Sami answered him smirk for smirk.

"Oh, you'd find a way around that hardship, I'm sure-"

Kate pursed her lips. "Well, this is all very amusing, but, since Jack is the one who knows something here, I'd like to hear more about this...person."

Jack nodded, peeking hopefully at Sami once more, sighed at the glint of stubbornness apparent in her eyes and plunged back in to his seat-of-his-pants explanation.

"See, this Lady Love I met quite by accident...a happy accident, of course.. she's uhh...she¡¯s a bit of a...recluse...you know how some authors are.. too modest for their own good..." Sami rolled her eyes. "Anyway, suffice to say...she'd much prefer to keep her identity a secret from everyone...but me."

"Oh," Lucas sighed in frustration, causing Sami to stare in wonderment again.

"Well, personally, I like it, honey," Kate interjected. " I hate to agree with Sami Brady about something, but it's a very good angle. " She gestured a headline in the air. "Lady Love...The mysterious romance writer of Bella magazine...."

Lucas nodded slowly. "You know, Mom, you're right. Good thinking."

Kate smiled. "And I have that cocktail party planned with the board and some of the other prominent businesspeople of Salem tomorrow night...I bet if we put in some work and get something ready to show them then?"

She put an arm about Lucas's shoulders. "Honey, I must say I'm proud of you."

Lucas shrugged. "Well, I know a good thing when I see it. As do you, Mom."

"We certainly do." Kate glanced to Sami as the two began to depart. " Oh, Sami, I'd like to discuss your role at the cocktail party with you later, but, for now, could you get us some coffee? And watch how much cream you put in please?" Her biggest, fakest smile spread over her features. "Thank you."

"Yes, thank you, Miss Brady," Lucas added with a twinkle in his eye. "Some of us have important work to do, you know."

"Oh, I'll watch the cream all right, but no one said anything about how much spit,¡± Sami muttered as soon as they were out of earshot. " 'Honey , I must say I'm proud of you' 'Oh, I just know a good thing when I see it, as do you, Mom.' As if they had anything to do with it. Didn't know we were going to have a meeting of the Mutual Society of Mother-Son Back-Patters."

"HaHa...good one, good one, Sami." Jack rubbed his hands together. "Well, that turned out fairly well despite that, don't you think? Anyway, I¡¯ll let you do what you will to your publishers' coffee.. I'm off . Letters don't answer themselves..."

Jack stopped short as the usual sleeve was snagged. "But, there's a first time for everything, right?" Jack chuckled ruefully as Sami twisted the fabric in her fingers. "Sami, Jenn's gonna kill me if she has to patch the elbows on this one."

"Don't think you're off the hook just yet, Jack Harcourt Devereaux! This is still mostly your fault!"

"Sami, as much as I like hearing my full name, don¡¯t you think we've hit the limit on that for one day? Look at it from this angle. You're going to be published. Published. Don't you think I ought to get a thank you or something for launching your literary career?"

"A 'thank you'? for 'launching my literary career'??! Are you crazy??!!!!" Her chest began to heave again. "Jack, you hijacked the rocket and sent it to Planet Playboy! That's not launching my literary career! That's

that's-"

"Sami," Jack pleaded for the second time that morning. "Breathe."

"I will most certainly not breathe!" Sami gasped irrationally. "You took something precious and-and you-and you-"

"Sami. Please, for your sake, calm yourself. I know I should've been more...upfront. I'm sorry."

"Oh, that's rich, Jack. Fine for you to say be calm! It's not your life's work, your deepest, most personal -"

She caught his guilt-ridden gaze, narrowed her eyes, pursed her lips in spite, but breathed deeply, anyway, dropping the much-assaulted jacket sleeve. "Not a word, Jack," she ordered again. Sami paced the length of the hallway, irritably tucked a stray hair or two back into her perpetual bun, then traced her steps back again while Jack watched with silent apprehension.

" 'Jenn's reading them,' he says," she muttered, accenting each word with a little snap -snap of her heels.

Jack's eyes followed her from one side of the hall to the other. " 'Needed tweaking', he says." Her voice and steps mounting to an angrier and angrier pitch. " 'They'll be in the right hands Monday morning', he says!" She stopped short " 'Right hands'???! You call that gin-soaked, disingenuous play-" She censored herself with a quick glance to the closed office door. She shook her head. "And that-the Wicked Witch of the West? My God, Jack, if you were going to sneak them to a publisher, did it have to be-?" She shook her head again, silent for a moment as she processed. Finally, turning to her friend and betrayer, hands on hips, she spouted, "Well? Why aren't you saying anything??!!!"

Jack couldn't help a chuckle. "You told me not to, kid. I figured with all I'd done, I better. Following your orders now.....Lady Love." He reached out and gently tweaked Sami's nose.

Sami dropped her tense shoulders, shook her head a third time, slower than before, and broke into a smile in spite of herself. "All right, Jack. You win. Thank you...for doing what you thought seemed right. But, remember-this is between us."

'And Jenn."

Sami sighed.

"She's my wife. She knows about the stories, anyway, Sami. You know that. You can trust her."

Sami bit her lip. "She's also Lucas's half-sister, you know." She blew out a breath.. "Fine. But, I just have one more thing to ask before we close this subject..."

"What?" Jack gave her a concerned frown.

Sami dropped her head to his shoulder with a laugh. "How does a writer as imaginative as you come up with a name like 'Lady Love'?"

Chapter Ten

"So, tell me why we're doing this again, boss?" Bart plucked a small bottle of perfume off a nearby shelf and took a whiff. "Phew." He coughed and waved the air in front of him, setting the bottle back down in a hurry. " Well, whatever the reason, don't buy that one that one, that's for sure."

Lucas turned from the glass display case he was leaning on and the young redheaded salesgirl he was leaning on it for, smirking at his still half-choked friend. "Bart, quit clowning around. I already told you. Jack knows this author...and her name sure isn't "Lady Love". And the way Miss Squarepants herself was acting, she knows her, too." He turned back and pointed to a large, expensive-looking bottle behind the saleslady's head. "Hell, she might even be at that party tonight. Who knows? It'd sure be nice to not spend the whole evening impressing those board people. It's nice to have Mom proud of me and everything, but, man, it could be a real yawner...this work thing I've gotten myself into..." He shook his head." But, even if she's not, I want to get her a little gift...you know, maybe entice her to let herself be known."

Bart frowned, shoving his hands in his pockets.. "Makes sense.....I think." He paused in thought, tilting his head. " Wait a minute. Don't tell me you're stuck on some dame just based on those come-hither stories. I mean to say they're good-woo, boy, were they good, but -"

Lucas rolled his eyes as he took a whiff of the perfume the salesgirl handed him, then passed it back with a shake of his head. "Bart, it's just a gift. A polite gesture for all we hope she can do for the magazine. Nothing more." Lucas nodded to the biggest and most expensive bottle yet. "How about that one, miss?"

"Midnight Lace...excellent choice." She retrieved the bottle and started to hand it over. Lucas smiled charmingly, halting her with a hand to the wrist.

" I've got to know what the scent is like on skin."

The salesgirl giggled and blushed pink. "All right, sir." Bart shook his head as he watched his boss spritz a little of the perfume on the girl's wrist and leaned in to inhale while she tittered. How the hell did he always manage it?

**

"Jennifer, it was very nice of you to call me up to go shopping, but I have only one lunch hour, and it's not going to be spent-"

Jennifer chucked the hat she was trying on back in the bargain bin. "Sami, I just want you to hear me out. Think about what you're throwing away. I know you're a little embarrassed, but-"

"A little embarrassed?!" Sami stopped short, whipping the cherry-colored scarf from her neck and plucking up a pale blue one from the bin. " Those are my innermost, deepest thoughts and -and dreams and your husband-dear though he may be- put them in the hands of-of -"

"My brother," Jennifer supplied smoothly. "Who is granted not always the most...kind or responsible of men, but, think about it-he can't be all bad to you. From the sounds of it, he's just raving about your stories-and let's not forget, they are your stories." She turned from the mirror, raised her brows saucily, the little row of flowers on the hat she was trying quivering. "If there's anything....risquîQabout them, you put it there."

Sami's mouth popped open, then shut. "But, but that was for-that is to say, it wasn't for..."

"How's Brandon these days? I haven't talked to him much in a long time."

Sami fiddled with her gloves. " It's not that different for me." She snorted. "I think you might have more luck asking one of the nurses. I barely persuaded him to escort me to the dragon lady's party."

Jennifer frowned sympathetically.. "Well, I can remember a time when I thought a lot of that man." She removed the hat, checked the price tag and carried it to the checkout counter. " Well, if you ever decide you've had enough, I know someone whose a little rough around the edges, but -"

Sami held up her hand in entreaty. "Jennifer, don't say it-"

"Why not? There was a time I'd hate to say it, but you might just be what Lucas Roberts needs. I think deep down he knows it, too."

Sami blinked, letting her mind stray on being needed by Lucas for a moment as Jennifer took her newly-purchased hat and they began to head to Cosmetics. She could picture his smile not mocking her, but rather welcoming, proud, as she sat at her typewriter whipping off best-sellers, his coffee-colored eyes admiring her, his broad chest and shoulders bared as he chopped wood for their remote cabin in the Minnesota woods. She was midway through a relaxing backrub at Lucas's hands, so warm and strong-well, writers had tense shoulders sometimes, right?- when they stopped short of the perfume counter. There was the man himself, practically seducing the twitty young salesgirl, that goofy little right hand of his staring in awe at his technique. She turned to her companion with a caustic yet sadly triumphant gleam to her eye. "Jennifer, what your brother needs I'm too much a lady to say." She swiveled round and stalked away, Jennifer trailing helplessly, silently cursing her brother's bad timing.

*********

Lucas straightened, watching the blond pair stroll away, particularly the one on the left. He knew that walk, irresistible angry twitch and all. And the lavender suit that kept catching his eye this morning, along with the length of leg extending out from it. And the glossy gold in the upswept hair that was damnably distracting when trying to dictate a letter.

Bart chuckled to himself as he looked from the suddenly dumbfounded salesclerk to his suddenly very dumbstruck boss and friend. "Forget what I said about little miss wordsmith earlier. Looks to me like you still have a taste for other fishies."

"Don't say it, Bart. " Lucas exhaled noisily, extracting his charge card and turning back to the mildly miffed salesgirl. "*I'll take this one." He indicated the bottle of Midnight Lace.

"And why not?' Bart went on as if Lucas had said nothing. "This Lady Love dame-who knows who she is? But this-this Sami Brady-one hot tamale and right here, just waiting to be snapped up."

Lucas rolled his eyes as he took his purchase from the now stony-faced salesclerk and headed for the exit. "She has a boyfriend, you know."

"Aww, the sounds of a weakening fella." Bart clapped a hand on Lucas's shoulders.

"Bart-"

" No need to be ashamed, boss. I've been around. The old Barto knows these things."

"Bart-"

"Yep. Yesiree. It's part of being a right hand. I can look at a guy and a cute tomato and I can guess right off-"

"Bart, if you want to keep being a right hand, you'll change the subject."

"All right, all right. Spoilsport." Bart sighed. "Well, tell me more about this shindig. Is it all just old chrome-domes and muckity-mucks? Or, can anyone join?" He tried not to look too eager.

Lucas quirked a brow. "If you're asking if you and your little Bon-Bon's invited, go ahead. Might need the livening up..."

***************

"No way in hell, you fire-breathing old bi-" Sami blew out a noisy breath, surveying herself in the mirror. "That's what I should've said." She tugged at the fluffy black skirt, willing it to magically hide the rest of her legs, at the same time tugging at the frilly little blouse to keep it from revealing much more than it already was. Her "role" in the cocktail party, indeed.

"Sami!" a voice called sharply outside the powder room door. "The guests are beginning to arrive. Don't humiliate me this way! I pay your salary, you know!"

"Don't humiliate you this way?" Sami muttered, giving up any further adjustments to her costume. " I'm the one who looks like they belong in a nineteenth century brothel, and it's all about not humiliating you." She bit her lip. "I could blow you out of the water, you old hag." She shook he head, imagining her words, her precious words shredded and thrown into the air, raining down like confetti while Kate and Lucas danced circles around her, gleefully taunting smiles on their faces. "But, I won't."

Another impatient rap sounded on the door. "Sami! Sami Brady! As your boss, I order you to come out-"

The door flew open." -this minute- Oh-" Kate's eyes swept Sami's attire appraisingly. " Well, you'll do in Tina's stead." She shoved a platter of cheese puffs in Sami's hand. "Now, get out there and serve the guests."

Sami bit down on the inside of her cheek to keep the retort in her head from escaping. "Oh, yes ma'am." She sucked in a deep breath and made her way into the Kiriakis living room. Less than ten seconds into her arrival, a distinct whistle was heard. Sami whipped around in annoyance only to see Jack lounging by the doorway.

"Nice outfit, kid. You'll have to let me know where you got it, so I can buy one for Jenn."

"Shut up, Jack-you could wind up playing a waiter yourself. Or, worse yet, pool boy. Can't you just hear her now? " Sami effected a snobbish tone, "Oh pool boy-"

Jack began to chuckle, but quickly turned it to a cough as Kate's eyes narrowed in their direction. Sami's eyes followed her friend's. She rolled her eyes, holding out the tray. "Cheese puff, sir?'

Jack smiled ruefully as he took a couple. "One for when Jenn gets back," he explained. He lowered his voice to a whisper, leaning forward. " Now, are sure you don't want anyone to know who Lady Love really is?"

"Quite sure, Jack," she replied. "I can't say I don't crave a little success...."

Sami's eyes scanned the crowd of gray heads. "But not at the hands-" Her eyes stumbled as they caught a very amused pair of brown ones near the opening to the veranda. Lucas Roberts let his eyes trip downward, then back up, an impish grin playing at his lips, meanwhile, never missing a beat of the conversation he was in...with Sami's stepfather, John Black!

"Oh my God."

Jack gave her a bemused look as he popped Jenn's cheese puff in his mouth. "What?"

He followed her gaze. "Ohhh..." He bit back a laugh. "You know, there's a simple solution to all this-"

Sami jammed the cheese puff tray in Jack's hands and started to head for the exit. "Yeah, well, why don't you wait for a more appropriate time to tell me I'm being an idio-"

"Peanut!"

Sami turned, pasting on her biggest smile. "John."

John's gaze caught hers. He lifted the infamous brow. Making his way through the crowd, he came to her side.

"Why, Peanut..." His eyes flicked up and down in bewilderment. "Since when is this in your job description? I thought you said you were moving up?"

Sami's face warmed. It was a well-intentioned fib, meant to serve as a way to get through a family brunch without another "poor peanut". "Since uh-since.."

"Since one of the cocktail waitresses fell ill, Miss Brady did the benevolent thing. Quite indispensable, she is."

Sami blinked in surprise at Lucas Roberts' smooth words. Lucas caught her eye, shrugged. John nodded, smiled, reaching out to pinch her cheek.

"Well, that's our girl. Always pitching in. Mom's sorry she couldn't be here, but Belle was having a surprise party for the anniversary of the first time Shawn asked to carry her books home, so..."

Sami fought the urge to roll her eyes heavenward, instead saying simply, "I thought I heard mention of it." Only fifty times in the last two days.

"And where is your young man, Sami? Hospital emergency?"

"Oh, the good doctor is a very busy man, to hear Miss Brady tell it."

Sami fought the urge to smack Lucas and his sudden Eddie Haskell, nicey-nicey attitude out the nearest window. "Well, Mr. Roberts, actually, he should be here anytime."

"Oh, I see." She had to have imagined that flicker of disappointment in his voice.

John glanced from one face to the other, cleared his throat, curved his brow. "Well, uhh, Lucas here was just telling me about this new author in our midst...very exciting."

"Hmm.. yes.."

"Oh, does that mean you're taking us up on the offer?" Kate sidled in, balancing her highball in one hand, taking a sip, while the other hand rested on John's arm. Sami bit back noises of disgust, avoiding Lucas's gaze by studying the door. It was with a rare sense of relief that she noted Brandon's entrance a moment later.

'"Well, if you'll excuse me-"

John held up a hand. "Hold up there, Peanut. I had something else to say to you. Just let me answer Mrs. Kiriakis here..."

"But.."

Lucas's hand suddenly snaked unnoticed around her waist. "Yea....Peanut....stay."

Sami shot him a startled look, jerking away, turning to her stepfather.. "Of course, John."

Kate looked expectantly at John. "Well? What is your answer to our proposal, John, dear?"

Sami tried not to gag.

"Kate¡­uhh¡­well, merging is a big decision, best left to time and careful thought." He glanced uncomfortably at the long red nails resting against the black fabric of his suit jacket. "I was just uh, commenting on this new author...reminds me how you used to make up stories as a child, Sami. Remember?"

Sami flushed, catching a glimpse of Brandon as he started to move towards her. "Yes, well, I-"

"I was even thinking it might be the perfect opportunity for you.."

"Me?" Sami eyes strayed to Brandon again. Another cocktail waitress-a bouncy brunette- sashayed up to him, stopping him in his tracks. Sami's eyes followed the other woman's hands as they tugged playfully at Brandon's tie. He smiled back at her. "What opportunity , John?" she managed.

Lucas frowned at the little bobble in her tone, eyes tracking in the same direction. Ohh. Well, that confirmed the good doctor's slimy status. He turned back to Sami, more fetching by far in the little cocktail waitress uniform. Geez. Listen to him. Fetching yet. Gotta distract your mind, Lucas, old boy. Now, what's John Black saying?

.".....think you have something to contribute creatively...." John was going on.

"Yes, yes, I agree," Lucas blurted.

"Honey, "Kate interjected with a tense smile. "Miss Brady is far too ..useful in other areas to take on this ad campaign with you, don't you think?"

"What? Ad campaign?" Lucas blurted a second time.

"Sami? What do you say? Sami?"

Sami eyes were on Brandon and the cocktail waitress, who was waving some of her prouder assets in his all too happy face. "What?"

"Well, " John chuckled. "If anyone was listening, I was just saying that Sami is a very creative person. She could contribute a lot to to this ad campaign for the new author. I bet if you and Lucas here put your heads together-"

"Me?" Sami began to back away, eyes darting from Brandon and the brunette, back to John, Kate, and, finally, Lucas who was watching her with a veiled agitation of his own. "Him? Heads together?" A laugh bubbled up from her throat.

"Now, Sami, don't be modest-" John began.

"Modest? Me?" The laughter broke into a surprising and embarrassing sob. "No, it's not modesty, it's just-" She backed away further still. "You just don't know what you're asking-umm.." She backed a few more feet, nearly into Jack, who still stood waiting on Jenn, the cheese puff platter in hand, munching on his third helping and watching his friend with increased concern. "Sami..?"

"Oh, give me those...." She snatched the cheese puff tray from Jack's hands.

"Hey! I was saving at least one for Je-"

"All right, cats and kittens," a female voice sang out just then. "Let's get this party hopping!"

Every eye turned to the doorway to see Bonnie Lockhart dressed to the nines in her best red sparkler of a gown, being squired by a bashful but proud Bart. Sami was still backing away.

"Excuse me...."Sami burst out by way of the veranda, cheese puffs in hand.

"Peanut?"

Lucas flipped a look around the room, avoiding his mother's gaze as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I'll take care of this." Without a backwards glance, he rushed out to the veranda.

Bonnie turned to Bart with a puzzled look. "Always with the running. What'd I say?"

Chapter Eleven

"I wonder how far I could launch a cheese puff?" Sami muttered into the still summer night, tray in one hand, contemplating an appetizer with the other, twirling the toothpick between finger and thumb, dangling it precariously over the railing, aiming near the pool's vicinity.

"Remind me to get out of the way if you try to find out."

Sami whirled around, in the process dropping the cheese puff to its ultimate demise with a small splash of greenish water, nearly losing the tray with it. There stood Lucas Roberts, casual as you please, leaning against the railing next to her, smirking in that way he had that was so...so....

"Oh-oh...it's you." She hastened to gather her composure around her like a protective shawl, edging a note of displeasure into her tone. "What do you want?"

Lucas plucked a cheese puff off the tray and popped it in his mouth. He shrugged, braced himself on the railing, flicking his eyes up and down Sami for the second time that evening.

"Well, when the cocktail waitress runs out with a guy's favorite hors deurve, what else is he supposed to do but chase her down?"

Sami tugged at her costume with embarrassment, avoiding his gaze. "I just bet you're loving this."

Her cheeks warmed. " You know, if I didn't know your mother was Medusa herself, I'd say this was your idea."

"My idea?" Lucas rose his brows incredulously. "Where would you get that from?"

Sami rolled her eyes.

"Oh, gee. Where would I get that from? After all, you've been devising new ways to humiliate me from the first day."

"Oh, that's fine, coming from the Food Flinger herself. In fact..." Lucas's hands shot out for the tray still balanced in one of Sami's hands, taking it and setting it on the table behind them. "Let's just get the ammo out of reach for now, shall we?" He turned back to Sami, cleared his throat. " Besides, I didn't come out here to exchange the usual...pleasantries."

Sami snorted, folding her arms over her chest.

"And, oh how pleasant they are." Sami eyed him suspiciously. "So, why are you out here? Surely it's not out of the concern overflowing from that big, generous heart of yours?"

Lucas straightened defensively. "Hey. I'm known to be a swell guy sometimes. Just ask anyone, and they'll tell you-"

"Oh, ask any bimbette of a model, you mean? Well, sorry, Mr. Roberts, they don't count." Sami glanced him over coolly. " All they know about is your big, generous..." She faltered as her gaze went lower and lower still.

Lucas jammed his hands in his pockets. " Yes?"

" Wallet," she finally decided on. "Yes." She nodded. "That's right. Wallet. They-they're all a bunch of gold diggers, if you couldn't tell. All they're impressed by is the size of your fortune."

Lucas shook his head. "But not you, of course." He leaned nearer, his voice taking on a slightly husky quality. " Nothing impresses you, does it Miss S.?"

Sami shivered a bit.

"About-about you? " Sami irritably shrugged off the agitation of his nearness. "Only that you're not drunk or hanging all over some chippy of a waitress right now." She frowned a bit. "Now, why is that exactly? You never said."

"You never let me answer," Lucas replied with a smirk. " I just...wanted to make sure you were all right. You seemed upset." He fiddled with his shirt sleeve, suddenly quite engrossed in the ebony cuff links his mother had given him on his last birthday.

Sami's mouth popped open, then shut. "Since when does that matter to you?"

Lucas continued to study the dull gleam the moonlight created on his left cuff link. "Yeah, well, don't read too much into it," he mumbled. " I just....would prefer.. not to have any of my mother's guests upset themselves by the help making that kind of racket. We do have a business to think about, you know."

"Oh?" Sami's voice was withering. She turned her gaze to the pool, watching the cheese puff bobbing helplessly in the water." Well, how noble yet practical of you."

Lucas lifted a brow, licking his lips suddenly.

"Though, I must say, it doesn't hurt that you make a pretty....cute....picture..."

He angled his gaze up and down Sami yet again from the dainty heels to the fluffy, rather briefer than normal skirt to the lacy blouse with the drooping sleeves, her rounded shoulders peeking out. He leaned closer. "You have freckles on your shoulders," he announced, taking one finger and sliding it up and down her bared skin in a connect-the-dots game.

Sami hastily yanked the sleeves up as far as they'd go, twisting away from his touch with a gasp, heart thudding maddeningly.

"What? Now I can't notice you have shoulders? " Lucas dropped back against the wall of the mansion, hands in pockets. He gave a short laugh. ¡°Lady, if you haven't noticed we all have them." Lucas shrugged as if to prove his point.

Sami stole a glance at him, cheeks warming again as she pushed away the admiration for his own fine set. " Yeah, so I've heard."

Lucas leaned forward, grabbing another cheese puff and taking a bite, pointing with his toothpick. "You know, you should read more of your friend Lady Love's work. Might give you some ideas."

"My friend?" Sami spouted, gripping the railing a little tighter. "You speak as if-as if I know her."

Lucas smirked again. "Well? Don't you?" Lucas shrugged nonchalantly. "At least, with the way you were acting, I'd assume you did, or do you usually presume to know better than the editor-in-chief about an author's intentions?"

Sami lifted her chin, stalking to the glass doors of the veranda, peeking in. She spotted Brandon at the other end of the room now, apparently oblivious to the fact that the woman he was supposed to be attending the party for wasn't present, the tall brunette practically in his lap. Her mouth dropped in dismay as he got up and headed for the exit with the trollop. She whipped back around with more venom. "Well, all I know is no one intends to be taken so...cheaply. It seems to me all the focus has been on-certain aspects, shall we say? and-"

Lucas peered in the glass himself, turning his gaze back to Sami, the remainder of his cheese puff still in hand. "So, are we still discussing the stories, or is this about your "busy" doctor friend? What's the matter, the "understanding" go south? Or was he just tired of cookies and milk and getting you home by ten?"

" That is none of your business,¡± Sami snapped. "None. And it's better than vodka and feathers, waking up in a strangers bed-or office, rather."

"What a shame." Lucas leaned in, overstepping her usual taunts, tongue darting out to wet his lips. He lowered his voice to that husky tone again. "He doesn't know what he's missing out on. " Lucas gave her a significant look. "For that matter, you don't know what you've been missing out on. " He waggled his brows at her, popping in the rest of his cheese puff. "You know, with the good doc obviously... preoccupied, I could show you a thing or two about passion-"

The air quite suddenly cracked like a whip as her hand swung out to connect with his jaw in a sound slap. Sami drew her hand back, chest heaving, cheeks flushed.

"How's that for passion, you jerk?!"

Lucas rubbed his cheek ruefully, looking into her blazing eyes. " I think I like it better when you throw food. Although..." There was that tongue again, snaking out across his mouth, his sensuous, inviting...

He propped himself against the wall of the mansion again with one hand, his mouth curving into a grin she might term devilish. He was like an encroaching shadow, dark and heart-stopping, but not exactly in a scary way. More in a way that made her wonder in spite of herself what it'd be like to be swallowed in it. Sami shook her head in impatience. What on earth was happening here? She felt like a leaf in the wind, or that stupid damn cheese puff in the water, bobbing from place to place, never quite settling. She watched him with a mixture of agitation and annoyance. She paced up and down, tap-tapping her heels, finally wheeling around on him and spouting,

"What is it with you men-are you all over sexed??!"

His eyes she was almost -well, definitely- admiring moments earlier began to narrow in anger of their own. 'No. Not all of us. But... did you ever think maybe you're just undersexed."

"Undersexed?!!" she sputtered. " I'll have you know-" She halted very suddenly, unable to go on, cheeks blazing.

He cocked his head, a mocking smile playing at his features. "Yes? Do tell."

" Well, you see-That is-" Sami sputtered. She stomped her foot in frustrated rage. " It is none of your business. None."

Lucas cleared his throat. "Just as I thought. That's okay. Enjoy your nights tucked in your blankie and granny gowns and I'll enjoy-"

I am NOT undersexed!" Sami exploded again.

"So you said." The corners of Lucas's mouth tugged with amused disbelief. "Prove it."

"What??!"

Lucas caught her gaze, his brown eyes darkening with a dare. "I said, Prove it."

Sami nodded. "You want me to prove it, huh? Well, I can prove it. Oh, boy, buddy, can I prove it! There's something you ought to know-" The words suddenly ceased to fly at that moment. Sami hesitated, tucking her bottom lip under her teeth.

"Yes, Miss Brady? Or, is it still Miss S.?"

That last egged her on. It had to have. That was the only explanation for why she suddenly pounced on him like a tigress after a kill. Hands splayed across his chest, lips inches from his, she hissed, "It's Miss Brady-Sami if you're a friend, which you, sir, are not." With that, she dragged him to her with all the roughness she could muster, fusing her lips to his in the most searing kiss of her life.

********

"So, how goes the advice column?" Bart grinned up admiringly at two of his favorite people, well, excepting the boss, lovable slob. Well, and that cute tomato Sami Brady....she could become a favorite real quick, especially dressed up like FiFi the French maid from back in New York, even though said maid was rather on the icy side. Though, none of them held a candle to the lusciously stacked woman at his side.

" Ohh, yeah..." Bonnie piped up, polishing off a pig-in-the-blanket with a satisfied grin. "Any juicy letters?"

Jack and Jenn looked from the odd pair to each other and back again.

Jack shrugged, turned to Jenn. "Well, I -uh-Jenn, knows more-"

"He's been a little distracted,¡± Jenn explained with a laugh. " Playing agent to unknown writers." She poked him playfully in the ribs.

"Ohh, you're the one who found those steamy romances, then?" Bonnie snatched several pig-in-the -blankets, wrapping them in a napkin before tucking them down her ample cleavage, much to the horror of Jenn, odd fascination of Jack and open admiration of Bart. "My dog Max loves these things," she explained with an unembarrassed shrug. "Anyway, Jackie-can I call you, Jackie?-"

Jack nodded slowly, his eyes on the way she kept tucking the appetizers away in her dress. Jenn narrowed her eyes at him.

"It's Jack. Just Jack." she replied for her husband.

"Oh, uhh-yes, ahem-just ...Jack."

Bonnie's smile faded a trifle. "Oh. Well, Jack, just Jack....good work. Now that that's out of the way....give me the skinny on who she is, huh?" She looked around the room, glee returning. "It's gotta be somebody we know."

"Yeah,¡± Bart piped in. "You know, doll, the boss man was just saying that this afternoon. He even thought Miss Brady there might know something. But, if you ask me, he just-"

"Soooo,¡± Jack interjected suddenly. "What do you suppose is going on out there, anyway?"

Bonnie darted a significant glance to the doors the pair in question had disappeared from "Well, if you ask me...." She slapped her hands together. "Wham. Likes a couple of cars on the freeway in rush hour. "

She plucked up the last pig-in-a-blanket, chewing thoughtfully while Bart watched with a bashful beam of pride.

****************

She could feel the sharp surprised intake of his breath, the warm, hard planes of his body tensed from head to toe. His spicy cologne tickled her nostrils, his hands gripped her waist firmly. She knew not when or how, but , suddenly she found her back to the wall, her upper hand slipping as his mouth did the same, a low growl issuing from his throat as he sought the freckly flesh he'd previously noted. She whimpered, threading her hands in his lush brown locks, wondering where the fire in her belly had been all this time and why it'd been so long dormant.

"Sami...Sami.." he whispered thickly against the silky skin of her neck, breathing in the magic of her, snaking a hand up to her upswept hair and releasing it into a glory of golden curls. "'Why oh why can't I get you out of my-?"

He suddenly found himself propelled away. Lucas caught himself on the railing, looking into the shocking blue of Sami's eyes across from the veranda. She was leaned against the wall, panting heavily, cheeks flushed, lips swollen. She was an angel. She reached up and rubbed her lips slowly, exploring, her eyes stunned. She was silent for a beat before a blaze crept in to her expression.

"You...you low -down.. You...filthy...Ohhh.." Sami took the tray of remaining cheese puffs and lobbed it his way.

Lucas looked down as cheese oozed down the front of his best tux. Correction. She was pure devil.

Lucas narrowed his eyes, taking a handkerchief from his pocket to sop up the worst of it.

"You know what? You are one screwy lady. A real piece of work." He paused with the handkerchief poised. "Here I thought I was about to find the key and unlock whatever the hell it is that-"

"Key?" Sami began to rearrange her errant curls. " There'll be no more "looking" for any key or 'unlocking', Mr. Roberts. I am not one of your cheap dates you can bend to your...." She flipped her eyes down in embarrassment." 'will'. "

Lucas ran a hand through his hair, stalked up and down, turned back again to the unfathomable creature before him. "You started it!" he finally offered. "In fact, that wasn't even my "A" material, if you must know...if you want seducing...well...I¡¯ll give ya seducing, you crazy broad!" With that, he strode purposefully back to the damned square-pants and snatched her to him, laying his lips like liquid fire on hers. Sami groped for steadiness, collapsing against him for the briefest of moments searching for reason before she recognized the stickiness seeping through her dress and hands. She yanked herself away with disgust. "Ohhh!" She looked in dismay at the cheesy remains of her dress, wiping her hands furiously. " This is a rental! Your mother is going to kill me!" She looked up and saw the glint of humor bouncing from his warm brown eyes.¡± And-and you knew it, too!"

Lucas shrugged, but his eyes danced merrily. "
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Chapter Twelve

"Why, oh, why did I get myself into this?" Sami jerked off her glasses and pressed her forehead to the cool of the wall near where she lingered at the elevator doors, stomach churning like when she first stood outside of Salem High as a shy teen, practicing smiles that didn't show her braces. " It's bad enough to have to take memos and fetch coffee for him, but this? I'll have to deal with him on a whole other level and, especially after last night, that is just-"

" Have to deal with him on a whole other level, huh?" Sami turned to see Jack strolling up behind her, briefcase and knowing smile in tow. He tapped Sami on the nose. “I could've told you that, though it might not be quite as bad as you'd like to think it is." He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Not as bad?!" Sami rolled her eyes, replacing her glasses on the bridge of her nose. " Of course, it's bad!" She bit her lip, looking up at her friend with wide, fearful blue eyes. "This was by far the stupidest, most idiotic-"

Jack leveled her with a gaze. “Well, why did you do it then, kiddo?"

It was Sami's turn to shrug. She leaned against the wall, shut her eyes, sighing heavily. "I don't know. I don't know. I guess-I guess I just had to prove him wrong. So smug. 'Oh, you're just a secretary, Miss Brady.'. 'What exactly do you know about the literary world, Miss Brady?' " Sami sniffed. "What exactly does he know? His resume` is chockfull of cocktail parties, late nights and...cheap women who dress like barnyard creatures."

Jack chuckled softly, stuffing his hands in his trouser pockets. " You know, I've lost count of how many times the chicken lady has come up now. Something bothering you about her-other than the obvious?"

"Well-well , of course, I'm bothered by her. I'm bothered by all the women he dates!"

Jack's face lit up momentarily. Sami shook a warning finger at him.

"Oh, no, you don't, Jack Devereaux! Before you can "ah-ha" to that, let me just tell you why they bother me-they're all sordid, bubble-brained twits who- Well, that is-"

Jack smothered a second laugh unsuccessfully. “Yes?"

Sami shook her head. "Never mind. We got off-track somewhere. The point is, he egged me on last night. I had to-I don't know...show him." She flushed a bit at the memory of all she'd "shown" him.

Jack nodded slowly, considering this. "Unh, huh. That is one way of showing him, I suppose..." He went silent for a moment, deep in thought. Finally, he continued, a slow smile spreading across his features.

"You know, personally, while I still wish you'd just tell everybody who you are and grab your share of literary success, I think this could be a great thing-for both of you. In fact, I'd venture to say once you get your heads together-"

Sami held out a halting hand. " No, please, Jack, don't start. Not a word. I'll be ill."

"Well, Sami, all I'm saying is-" Footsteps resounded on the cool gray marble. Sami hastily shushed him.

"But....I think if you were honest with yourself, you'd see you already-"

"Jack!" Sami hissed as the footsteps drew nearer.

Both darted quick glances down the corridor. Sami felt her throat go a bit drier than before as glossy brown hair caught the sunlight filtering through the windows and a well-defined body she'd as recently as last night felt the full import of made its way towards the elevators, clothed in the blue pinstripe that was definitely among her favorites. Wait a minute. Since when did she pick out favorite suits of his?

"Sam-"

Sami's hand flew to Jack's mouth. "Not. A. Word. Jack." She rapidly shot out and jabbed the up button on the elevator, the red button suddenly quite engrossing as Lucas Roberts approached. Jack lifted his brow in amusement as his friend's cheeks pinked and her eyes carefully averted themselves. He stole a peek at Lucas as he approached. A nervous expression flitted across his features. He dragged a hand through his hair, eyes downcast. Sami fiddled with her purse strap shyly, looked up, catching his eye. Each narrowed their expression, resorting to a freezing stare off. Lucas broke it off first.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the screwiest girl to come along the pike. Thrown any good food this morning?"

Sami whipped around, cheeks burning past pink and edging towards crimson as she caught Lucas's eye. "No. You weren't here to be my target." She rummaged in her purse, producing a packet of mints, shaking them in his direction. "But, I can pelt some of these at you if you really want me to."

Luca smirked, propping himself up against the wall. "No, thank you. I think we passed our quota on throwing things last night." He ticked off the list on his fingers. "Lets see there was you throwing cheese, and then throwing yourself at me....or was the order switched?"

Jack harrumphed politely, covering his surprised laugh. “Well, so now we know how and why you two ended up looking like you just walked out of an explosion at a cheese factory."

"Shut up, Jack,” Sami ground out.

She snorted, glanced Lucas's way, still shaking the bag of mints. " You might want to take one anyway...cover up that smell of morning vodka?"

Lucas sneered. "Yeah? Well, if I had a drink, it was only because I'm having to face working so closely with you. Thanks a lot, by the way."

The elevator doors dinged open.

"Oh, well, you think it's going to be some sort of picnic for me? I only agreed to it for one reason-so something good would actually come out of this campaign."

The elevator doors dinged closed.

"Something good, huh? Now, I know your nuts."

"I'm nuts? I'm nuts? You date women named Doll and Twinkles, and I'm nuts?"

Open.

Lucas curved his lips into a grin. "Bother you that much, baby?"

Sami folded her arms over her chest.

" How can someone be jealous of girls with a vacancy sign on their foreheads?" Sami made a little headline across his own forehead. Lucas reached out and snatched her hand, eliciting a gasp from her.

Closed.

"Oh, well, maybe I'll just look up the local librarian or grammar school teacher. They ought to give you a cerebral run for your money. Though, neither would be like you in one important way." He squeezed the hand he was still holding loosely in his own. Sami stared at him dumbly for a moment." No one is quite so-oh, what's the word? -oh, yeah-looney tunes as you, Miss S." Sami narrowed her eyes, jerking away.

Jack cleared his throat as the doors opened a third time. "Elevator." He pointed to the open doors.

Neither looked his way, but both stepped on, still bickering, Jack following in amused silence.

"Oh, really?" Sami jabbed at the sixth floor button, folding her arms across her chest.

"Yes, really!" Lucas stabbed at the fifth floor button. "Got to stop at the art department first."

"Oh, more girly pictures to pick up?"

"Lady, you wouldn't know a girly picture from a still life. Whether you want to believe it or not, those pictures will lure-"

"Who? Low-lives and secret degenerates? Whether you want to believe it or not, Bella magazine enjoys a classy reputation that your even your mother wouldn't want to see-"

"Secret degenerates?" Lucas raised his brows incredulously. "It's not as if it's a centerfold! I'm not putting bunny ears and fuzzy tails on anyone. Although...." He rubbed his chin, appearing deep in thought.

" Ohhhh, no, you don't! You know, I think the only person more certifiable around here than you is Jack, for ever thinking you were the one who ought to publish those stories." She shot a glance to her friend.

"Oh, so, now you notice I'm here,” Jack half-muttered, half-chuckled. He glanced up at the numbers moving above them, back at Sami's icy stare and Lucas's burgeoning scowl, then zipped out and pushed the third floor button.

"Jack-"

"Oh, leave him alone, Miss S. It's not his fault he knows a good thing when he sees it and you don't."

Sami whipped off her cat-eyes once more, shaking them in Lucas's direction.

" You don't know half of what I see. And, you know, I still know what you mean by 'Miss S.' even when you shorten it." Sami replaced her glasses, put her hands on her hips, leaning forward.

"You know, I mean for you to know what I mean....Miss S...." Lucas leaned forward as well, slowly licking his lips.

'You know, this is where I get off." Before Sami could grab at the usual sleeve, Jack grabbed his briefcase and made a hasty retreat. As the doors slid shut once more on the continued slings and arrows, Jack paused. "Hmmm... I may need to make a stop in maintenance first..."

********************************************

"Miss S. Miss S. Miss S. ...." Lucas was whispering over and over, eyes dancing merrily as he propped himself up against the wall of the elevator, hovering over the woman who could produce such childish and conflicting reactions all at once.

" Insufferable!" Sami was hissing back.

"Why, thank you. I try," was the reply, dripping with sarcasm.

"Simply insuff-." She was suddenly lurched forward into "insufferable's" arms as the elevator unexpectedly stopped mid-progress. Sami's throat issued a tiny squeak as the lights kicked off.

"What the hell?" Lucas muttered, bracing the woman very suddenly in his arms for the second time in as many days, arms automatically surrounding her delicate frame in protective mode.

Sami's heart thudded noisily in her ears as she became vaguely aware of the spicy scent tickling her nose , the warm, solid chest beneath her hands, the embrace that held her so effortlessly...far too effortlessly...

"What? What the hell did you do?" She managed to pull away, thrusting a bit of irritation in her wobbly tone.

"What did I do? Oh, I know. I have this secret sixth sense. I can telepathically send messages to the controls and get them to stop? Sure, do it all the time." Lucas smirked into the inky shadows now cast over the car. He reached over and dialed a number on the emergency phone. 'Hello? Help me! I'm trapped her with a looney bird."

Sami snorted.

"I just bet you do this all the time." Sami leaned against the opposite wall, sliding down to the floor. "It's just your style. I bet you have it in with George already."

Lucas frowned into the semi-dark, only half-listening to the man on the other end of the phone. "Who's George?"

" Wally." Sami gestured to the phone. “The maintenance guy. Lecherous old man you're on the phone with. I just bet he'd love to help you trap innocent-or-not so innocent- women in elevators to -ugggh-have your way with them."

Lucas snorted. "Yeah. Well, hurry up! This is Kate Kiriakias' son speaking," he said into the phone, hanging up with force before turning to his companion. " You know, that's hilarious, Miss Brady...... I reallly have to trap women in elevators to "have my way" with them." Lucas slid down to the floor beside her, propping his arms up on his knees. " So... looks like we're stuck. Might as well settle this burning question...."

"I shudder to think." Sami played with her purse strap for a moment, the looked back up, peering into the dimness cast by the small-powered emergency lighting. "Well? What is it?"

Lucas chuckled softly, leaning nearer until his shoulder touched hers. "Well, it's just something I'd like to settle in my own mind once and for all... Which are you-the innocent or...the not-so?"

Sami gave a mirthless laugh.

"Ohh, I am NOT having this conversation. I am NOT trapped here with the most disgustingly piggish, crude, ego-inflated-" She broke off suddenly.

"What? Are you scared?" Lucas hovered even closer, planting his arms on either side of Sami, his voice a husky whisper that both scraped at he sensibilities and called to them. "Because...I can chase away any ...." He tumbled backwards as Sami shoved at him with the heels of her hands. " You're the only thing that needs chased away here!" Sami spouted. “See? I was right about you."

Lucas sat back up, pushing back wayward strands of hair. "Only because I let you be." He thumped the his chest. " You might try taking a look under the covers sometime. You might be surprised at what you find."

Sami sniffed. "No thanks. I have no desire to see...under any...covers of-well, you know, you could do with a little of that yourself. Especially where Lady Love's stories are concerned."

Lucas gave a short, mystified laugh. "You sure do care a lot about that. You know, if I didn't know better, I'd almost-" He shook his head. "Naw. Impossible. Look, Miss Brady, since you have saddled us together single-handedly-"

"Single-handedly?! You think I want this? I’ll have you know-"

"Please! You volunteered us! John mentions it casually and you bite right at it like it's a seven course dinner-"

"Seven -course dinner? Hardly. That's why I was running away like a pack of wolves were on my heels?"

"Maybe. But in the end...you said "yes". " Lucas quirked a brow significantly.

Maybe. But-but only because you were being so incredibly, indescribably-"

"Charming? Witty?" Lucas leaned forward yet again, lowering his tone. "Seductive?"

Sami shoved him back again. "Try pig-headed." Sami drew an imaginary line down the middle of the floor. "This is the line. Do NOT cross it again."

Lucas shrugged. "Fine by me. Just trying to keep up my end of the conversation. Just biding my time until we can get out of here and you and I can.." Lucas groaned. There was no escape. Did he even want it? Who knew? " He blew out a weary breath. "Look, Miss Brady. We've gotten off on the wrong foot at least a dozen times over."

"That's an understatement and a half."

Lucas sighed impatiently.

"Look, I’m about to say something nice here, so shut up a minute. " Lucas raked a hand through his hair. "I think...I...uhh...owe to you-we, uhh, owe to each other to hear each other out...on the campaign that is." Lucas quickly reached for his briefcase, producing the artwork from the other day." Now, this isn't a boardroom, but we aren't going anywhere anytime soon, it look like. So, lay it on me."

Sami blinked. "Lay what on you?'

"Well, you've been harping on my ideas for days now, so you must have something better in mind. So, what is it?"

Sami bit her lip, suddenly feeling shy and stupid.

"Well?" Lucas snorted. " Is this the creative girl John was raving about last night?"

"I'm thinking," Sami snapped, snatching for the drawing. " Which is more than I can say for you on those tawdry pictures you had made up! "

"Who says I wasn't?" Lucas sat up defensively. "That took a lot of thinking."

"Oh? Well, I wonder which part of you did the thinking?"

"Fine. Show me what you've got then, Miss S. What's so much better?"

"Well.." Sami hedged, fiddling with her purse yet again." I was thinking of not using illustrations of people...."

"No people? Pfft. Then, what? Lacy doilies and butterflies buzzing in fields of rose farms?"

Sami narrowed her eyes. "No, smarty. I said no illustrations of people. But, what about a model?"

Lucas opened his mouth to speak. Sami held up one finger as she searched her purse. "Not so fast. Not one of your little twits.. I was thinking....I can't believe I'm actually doing this....but I was thinking more along these lines." She placed a photograph in his hands. Lucas stared down at the perky blonde in her peppy little cheerleader outfit.

"Isn’t this...?"

"My sister? Yes, yes it is. I may regret this, but I was thinking a face like Belle's would capture some of the....more tender qualities of romance."

Lucas shrugged, tapped the picture. "Well, if we're going to go that route...." He glanced up. "Why not go with...well.. umm...that is, she embodies the sweetness, all right, but, Lady Love is a woman with fire."

"Oh?" Sami's voice faltered. "How can you tell?"

Lucas smirked, producing a story from the top of the pile in his briefcase. "Just listen:

Sally dragged him to her with animal-like ferocity. "It's my turn, John. It's my turn to give to you what you gave to me."

"Sally, I only gave you-" Sally silenced him with her index finger, dancing it lightly across his lips.

"Shhh.. ....You only gave me the world. Now, I haven't got the world, but I do have-" She moved to unbutton John's shirt. Lucas waggled his brows. "Shall I stop before your maiden sensibilities are offended?"

"What-what?" Sami pulled out of the surreal haze of hearing her words dropping like honey from his lips. Sami shook her head irritably." See? All you see there is one filthy three letter word: S-E-X."

"Filthy, eh? Well, that just goes to prove you don't know-"

"Filthy only from your mind. You pollute everything, Mr. Roberts. These pictures-the very proof of it. Now, if we could just have someone represent class-"

"Oh, do I? Well, you want your uptight little pictures, then, do you? You think that’s going to appeal sooo well,? Well, I say we just see who is right. But, scrap the drawings-scrap the idea of your cute kid sister."

Lucas flipped the picture of the bouncy cheerleader back in Sami's face. Sami frowned in puzzlement.

"Well, then, who-?"

"You, Miss Brady."

Sami pointed at herself. "Me?" A shocked laugh bubbled up in her throat. "You want me?"

Lucas nodded. "That's right. You. Two pictures. One your way...all button-up grandma style....one my way..." Lucas licked his lips slowly. "Well, you get the idea." He smirked. "Just to prove my point, of course..."

Sami narrowed her eyes. "No way...no way in he-"

Suddenly, the elevator car lurched, sending Sami sprawling forward again. The doors dinged open just in time to show a very interesting picture of Sami laying atop Lucas, legs entwined, her skirt bunching dangerously.

"Ahem," came an all-too-familiar female tone, followed by the smothered laughter of one Jack Devereaux. "Sami, Lucas...."

"Mom. Jack."

"Mrs. Kiriakis," Sami looked up, maneuvering her skirt at the same time as she tried to stand. She threw a suspicious glance to her pal. "Jack."

"Here, you've got a piece of it caught-"

Lucas's hands reached out to help tug at her hem. Sami embarrassedly slapped them away, wobbling her way to her feet. Lucas rose to his feet, tugging at his tie.

"We were just-just-"

"Unh, huh,” Kate observed. "Why is it there is always something in disarray with-

"Thank God, the elevator's fixed," Sami interjected nervously.

Jack clapped a hand to his mouth to keep his laugh from escaping. "Yeah. Fixed. I had to call Wally and everything. Mrs. Kiriakis here insisted, she was pretty upset."

Sami threw him a second, more suspicious look. " Well, thank God we're out of there now." She glanced back at Lucas, who was watching her curiously "Now, now we can get to work."

"Yes," Kate began. " About that-I'm not sure-"

"I'm planning on working hard, Kate. Don't worry."

Lucas smirked a bit.

"Oh? You up for that little project we discussed then, or shall I tell Mom this whole working together thing-"

"It's fine-it's fine." Sami grit her teeth "Let's just get on with it."

"Great,” Lucas grinned benignly, hands behind back. "Well, then, let's get to the photo lab."

"Photo Lab?" Kate asked bewilderedly. "I thought you were using art wor-"

"Oh, it'll be art all right....won't it, Miss Brady?" Lucas winked to Sami. Jack raised a curious brow.

"Yes,” Sami agreed tightly. "I'm sure it will."

'Why oh, why?' Sami's thoughts began again....



Chapter Thirteen

Lucas tapped softly on the dressing room door. “Come on, Miss S....." he sing-songed. "The photographers haven't got all day..." Lucas rubbed his hands together, paced up and down the narrow length of hallway, frowning at the silence issuing from the other side of the door Sami had disappeared into nearly a half hour before. " Come on. what I gave you to wear doesn't take that long to put on...." More silence. "Aww, come on, it can't be that bad." Still silence. He exhaled in frustration, then rapped more solidly on the wood separating the two. Nothing. He cleared his throat, switching tacks, forcing out his usual teasing note, beginning his pace again, hands in trouser pockets. " Other layouts are waiting...other models..." The silence dragged on. “Fine. Be that way," he grumbled, stomping off and flopping on to the bed that'd been set-up in one corner of the room, looking to the photographer apologetically. Pulling a plump velvet pillow to his stomach, he began to idly drum it, attempting once more to get a response, returning to taunt mode . "You know, Miss S., if I didn't know better, I'd say you're chi-"

He heard the swish of an opening door, followed by an uncertain yet angry click-click of heels on the tile floor. He hardly realized he was holding his breath until she came into view. His hands ceased in their rhythm, air whooshed out in an embarrassingly audible gasp, and the pillow rolled away just when he could've used the coverage most. She walked a hesitating few steps until she stood before him, cheeks flushed, eyes managing the tricky balance between bashful and murderous. A murmur or two went up from the photographer and lighting man who knew her only as the straight-laced secretary on the sixth floor. Sami shot them a pair of frosty glares before turning back to the main object of her wrath.

"I want you to know if I catch cold it's your fault."

"Unh, huh," Lucas managed a bit raspily, letting his eyes take a gradual pleasure trip up and down the woman before him, from the flow of her loosed golden hair to her generous length of leg exposed by the short gown she wore. The frothy pink negligee was simple, brief and perhaps the most beautiful garment he'd ever laid eyes on. His throat felt abandoned of any drop of moisture. His hands flew up to the vicinity of his Adam’s apple. “Water," he croaked foolishly.

Sami snorted disbelievingly.

"What? What is it with you people? Between your mother dressing me like a French maid and having me hand out cheese puffs and you dressing me like-this and asking for-"

But, Lucas wasn't listening. Instead, he was taking a dive for the water cooler, gulping down several paper cups full.

Sami's frown grew bewildered. "Ohh...."

Lucas swallowed like a madman, but still his throat was dry. He cleared it irritably." Damn tickle." He glanced up at Sami again. "Miss...uhh...Brady...you look...uhh...you look...."

"Like one of your tasteless tartlets?" Sami fingered the satiny fabric floating around her thighs. "I know. " She stalked over to the bed. "Let's just get this over with, shall we?"

Lucas shook the glaze from his eyes. "Fine. Whatever-whatever you want."

"All right." Sami took in a deep breath. "Now, I'm not a model, so I know very little about this stuff. Where do you want me?"

Lucas blinked several times. "What-what?"

Sami rolled her eyes, hands on hips, tapping her little fuzzy slipper impatiently. "Well?"

Lucas furrowed his brows. "Well, what?"

"Well, this was your bright idea, so, where do you want me?!!!"

Lucas recovered enough to smirk at that one, coughing back a laugh at the way her irate tone belied her words. "Well, generally, when a girl asks that question, I generally say the bed, but, in this case..." He glanced around, the grin on his face tugging ever harder at his lips all of a sudden. " Well, what do you know? There is a bed."

Sami fixed a warning gaze on him, then snatched a doughnut off a nearby table. "And, there are a couple witnesses, or I'd shove this down your windpipe." She shook the doughnut his way before biting down hard. A tiny drop of jelly oozed down the corner of her mouth, causing a whole new host of thoughts to tango through his brain. He darted out his tongue to wet his lips.

" I didn't agree to this to be propositioned, you know," she continued coolly. " Only to-"

" I know-to prove a point. So you keep saying." Lucas sighed, fishing a napkin off the table and dabbing carefully at the little glob of jelly.

Sami felt a little flutter as his fingers made contact with her skin. Their eyes stumbled on each other for a second, each full of something indescribable. She felt her cheeks begin a slow burn. Finally, she snatched the napkin from his hand. “Oh, give me that! Stop trying all these tired little ways to seduce me! Of all the pathetic excuses to touch me, this is-"

"Relax, Miss S. If I was trying to seduce you, you'd know." He darted a glance around the room, back to her with a shrug, a spark of annoyance beginning in his deep brown eyes. "For one thing, the lighting's all wrong." He gave a short laugh." For another, contrary to popular belief, I'm not all about coming up with 'pathetic excuses to touch women'. " He gestured to the pillow-adorned, velvet-covered object under discussion previously. " So, why don't we, using your eager words, "get this over with", because, frankly, I'm tired of being accused of things." He plucked the doughnut from her hands.

"Hey!" Sami reached for the doughnut, but Lucas held just out of range." My alarm didn't go off! That was breakfast!"

"You, lady, are lethal with food, as we've previously established. This is my favorite suit, and I'm taking no chances."

Sami had to tamp down her urge to say, "My favorite, too.", plopping down on the bed and watching with dismay as Lucas quickly polished off the rest of the doughnut.

"Now, " Lucas mumbled with a mouthful of jelly doughnut. "Get up on the bed and try to pretend you know how to be...well...a woman, basically."

Sami's mouth dropped. She snapped it back shut, quickly recovering. "Says the oh-so-charming man with a mouthful of doughnut-my doughnut."

"Hey, you're the one with a food-wasting obsession. I'm just trying to curb it."

Sami kneeled on the bed so she was eye-level with Lucas. "If you wouldn't give so many reasons, I probably wouldn't waste-"

"Ahem. We're taking up studio space for this, Mr. Roberts?" the photographer broke in. "No offense, this is all very amusing, but, if we're going to take a picture, we better get started."

Lucas nodded curtly, eyes still locked on Sami's. "Fine. But, let me take care of one more thing-just in case-" He nodded to Sami. "Pardon me." He then walked over to the table and grabbed the remaining few doughnuts in the box, flinging them towards the trashcan without looking, eyes on Sami, a smug smile lighting up his features. He puzzled for a second as Sami's smile was equally smug.

"You missed," she informed him at the same time as a shrieking voice uttered,

"Lucas!" Lucas turned to see his mom dodging flying pastry. "What on earth-?"

"Mom! I- uh I-" Lucas leaned casually on the bedpost. "You wanted something?"

She huffily brushed off bits of doughnut from her sleeves. "Well, if you two can end this perpetual food fight, I'll tell you." Her eyes raked Sami's scanty attire. "Please tell me this isn't the 'brilliant' alternative to the artwork." Her mouth drooped into sour lines.

Before either could frame a reply, a second voice piped up,

"She got you doing it, too, boss?" Bart stepped into the room, pointing at the sugar dusting on Kate's shoulders. He chuckled at his own witty observation. Then, he spotted Sami's attire. He dropped his jaw. "Ohh, sayyyy, am I interrupting?" His eyes were bulging a mile wide, as if afraid he would miss something.

Sami gasped in outrage, pulling the bedspread up around her.

Kate rolled her eyes. "Lucas, your...friend here needed to speak with you, darling. I’m....going to change my suit. Let me know when you've gained some maturity and gotten some actual work done....I'd be interested in reviewing it, if you don't mind?" She shot Sami a look. "If this is what you've got to bring to the table on this, Sami, well, then, I just don't know...." Without waiting for a reply, Kate wheeled around and made a swift exit, still angrily brushing off her jacket.

"Yeah," Sami whispered. "We all know what you brought to the table, don't we, Kate?" She snorted, sitting up in bed, the cover falling away. "As if this is all my idea, anyway."

Lucas smirked. "Oh, stop the whining. You'll get your granny time soon enough."

"So, this is what the advertisement's gonna look like?" Bart nodded happily, looking Sami over again. "Well, let me just say, me likey...me likey verrry much. But, again, if I'm interrupting..."

Lucas scowled.

" Tuck your tongue back in, why don't you, Bart?-come on, look around, you goof. This is just a photo shoot, nothing more. Just like back in New York."

"Ohh, well, then , if it's like that...." Bart winked. "I'll just vamoose right away...." He acted as if he were heading for the door.

"Bart." Lucas ground out. "Cut the clowning around. Now, do you mind just telling me what brings you by? I don't remember calling you."

"Well, uhh....fact is, you, well, you didn't boss, but I wondered-that is-" Bart dug in his inner pocket in his jacket, producing a large bottle of Midnight Lace perfume. "Are you still, I mean if you're not going to-that is, if you still have plans for it, I understand, but, if not, well, Bonnie's birthday is just around the corner and-"

"Bart, just leave it on my desk and get her some flowers, ok? I'm going to slip it to Jack to pass on to Lady Love since it seems like no one is going to divulge her secret." Lucas shot Sami a look while Sami eyed the perfume bottle curiously.

"For Lady Love, eh?" She caught sight of Lucas's eyes trained on her and automatically flushed.

"What?" Sami gulped, tugging the bedspread that much higher. "Why-why do you keep acting like I've got something to hide?"

"Only because you do. You know, that'd be just like you-just because you think this stuff is too hot to handle, you'd keep your mouth shut, just so I can't know she is." Lucas nodded. "Boy, don't even try to squirm out of it, woman. I've got your number. She's probably some really exotic, passionate lady, and you, squarepants that you are, couldn't bear for me to know her." Lucas shrugged. "You know, why am I even bothering with this? You wouldn't know sexy from a codfish, Doris Day."

"Mr. Roberts?" the photographer broke in again, more impatiently. "Today?"

"Ohh, so, now, you think I can't be sexy?" Sami leapt from the bed, completely ignoring the photographer's words. "You think I can't prance around and sway my hips like your imitation Marilyn Monroe's. Well, I've got three words for you: just watch me!" With that, Sami sidled up to Lucas, swishing her short nightie from side to side, lowering her lashes and pursing her lips. When she was nearly nose to nose with him, she slowly dragged her tongue across her lips.

"Miss Brady-"

"Call me Sami," she whispered huskily, arms stealing around his neck.

Lucas gulped, heart doing a mighty good impression of war drums. "What the hell are you doing to me?"

"I'm not passionate? I'm not exotic?" she went on breathily. "I'm just....Doris?" She bat her eyes, maneuvering herself nearer still, causing Lucas to back up until his legs hit the edge of the bed.

"Miss Bra-Sami-"

She slid her hand up and down his jacket lapel. He wobbled and collapsed. She hovered over him

"No where to go, is there, Mr. Roberts?" Her voice tripped down his spine much as her fingers tripped up his arm and shoulder, further to frame his jaw line, one little finger tracing the well-defined lines of his face. Lucas fought for breath.

"Uhh...no.. Guess-guess not-" Her lips lingered near his....within inches...

Bart cleared his throat, trying not feel like the old days of tagging along with his big brother on dates to the drive-in.

"Well, like I said, boss, I can drop the perfume and go. You want me to drop the perfume and go? Because I can drop the perfume and-"

"Hold that pose!" the photographer's voice called out suddenly.

Sami dropped Lucas's head to the bed like a hot potato. "Wha-what?" She quickly sprang up, backing away with a shake of her head. "Oh, no, no, no, no, no.. I was just....proving a point you see....something like that-oh, no, no, no.." She continued to back away.

"Oh, I don't know, Miss S..." Lucas's hand shot out and snatched at a handful of frothy pink nightie. "It could be pretty good...."

Sami gasped and tried pull away. She bat his hands. "Let go of me, you-you-"

"Oh, but you should stay! You've got so much more to prove!" He tugged lightly on the material.

"Let go!" Sami shrieked a second time, flailing her arms and yanking back.

"Beautiful, beautiful!" the photographer exclaimed, grabbing his camera and clicking away. "This-this is passion! This-" He made a kissing noise, glanced at Bart, who shrugged at the odd kissing noises but nodded in agreement.

"They're cookin', all right. "

"Acck!" Sami cried, whipping around, arms widely gesturing. "No! No pictures! No pictures! Are you insane? I said- no-" She was abruptly halted by the sound of ripping satin. She turned to find a fair amount of flouncy pink fabric dangling from Lucas Roberts' hand. “Oh, my God!" she wailed, hastening to keep the tattered remains of the nightie together with both hands at the same time as pouncing on the destroyer of said nightgown, along with her dignity.

"Whooaa!" Bart felt his ears go lobster-red, his hand flying up to cover his eyes.

"Ohhh!" She snatched at the cloth. "Give me that! You sick, disgusting ,animal-like-ohm!" Sami reaching out with one arm swinging while the other tried desperately to keep her nightie together.

Lucas sat stunned momentarily, looking at the empty hand that'd torn the nightie. Then, he looked up at Sami, pretty, comical sight that she was and an unconscious laugh bubbled up in his throat, spilling over. He threw back his head and laughed through and through. Bart peeped through his fingers.

"Oh, you think it's funny, huh?" Sami tugged at the bedspread, in the process sending Lucas toppling to the floor, still half-chuckling.

"Here," he managed between laughs, shedding himself of his jacket and holding it up to her.

She eyed it distrustfully, then, hastily snatched it and wrapped it around herself, towering over him." Well, laughing just proves my point that you're nothing but a low-life snake!"

"Hey! You think I meant for this to happen?" Lucas stood, calling out as Sami began to retreat. "That was a Basic Black design, by the way...the “Fantasy takes Flight" collection. Pfft. Fantasy took flight all right, right off your body and-"

Sami stopped short in the hallway, swiveling around. "What did you say?"

Lucas held up his hands in defense. " Whoa-hey, hold up, I take it back. I take it back. No need to-"

"You have a pen?"

Lucas tilted his head in a puzzled way. "Huh?"

"Do you have a pen?" Sami repeated, a bit more impatiently.

Lucas continued to stare in puzzlement as he dug in his breast pocket and produced the requested item and passed it over.

"Yeah, sure, but what are you going to do, try to stab me with it?"

Sami snorted. "If only I could." She raced to the table that'd held the doughnuts, grabbing up a paper napkin, and beginning to jot something down on it.

Lucas strolled over, perusing it over her shoulder.

"Where fantasy takes flight.... and desire finds..." He looked to her bewilderedly. "Finds what? What is that? Love letter to the amazing disappearing boyfriend?"

Sami snorted a second time. "No, smarty. I am penning our slogan."

"You're what?"

"I'm penning our-"

"Oh, let me see that!" Lucas yanked the napkin rudely from her grasp. "Let me just see this thing. After all, I'm in charge here."

" 'After all, I'm in charge here'. " Sami mimicked.

"Well, I am-and I say...." He quickly scanned the lines. His face fell a bit. “This is pretty good."

"I told you I know what I'm doing." Sami took the napkin back, and began to write again.

"You always write things on napkins? "

Sami shrugged. "When paper is unavailable, yes."

Lucas peered over her shoulder. "'Where fantasy takes flight and desire finds a light in the dark....where longing reach their height....and passions-" He paused, waggling his brows. "Passions, eh?"

"Shut up. If all you're going to do is make fun-"

Lucas shrugged. "Not making fun. I said it was pretty good. How are you going to end it?"

Sami sighed, tapping her pen against the table. "I'm-I'm not sure..."

"Well, here, maybe I can help.."

Sami smirked. "You?"

Lucas narrowed his eyes. "Yes, me. You think I got this job for-? Oh, never mind. I know what you'll say." He began to pace up and down. "Let me just think here.."

"Well, don’t hurt yourself.” Sami picked up her pen again.

"Ha ha ha. Verrry funny." Lucas paced up and down, turned to her. "Okay-how's this-"Where fantasy takes flight and desire finds a light in the dark…where longings reach their height and passions ignite a spark...like a moth to a flame.."

"Come hear the tales of," Sami added, perking up.

"The lady...with...." Lucas snapped his fingers. "The lady with..."

"No other name,” Sami offered.

Lucas nodded, drawing nearer the table again, a grin forming. "That's good. That's good. Write it down."

He began to search his mind again. He opened his mouth to speak, but Sami's words tumbled over his.

"The lady with no other name...."

"But Lady Love," Lucas threw out.

Sami felt an exhilarated grin of her own spreading across her face Instinctively, she latched on to Lucas's hand. "Bella Magazine...."

Lucas looked down at his hand beneath hers, back up. A bit more huskily he said, “Feel the..."

"Romance," they finished in unison, eyes colliding, each a little out of breath, each a little pinker in the cheeks, each not daring to wonder at why. Sami looked down at her hand holding his, slowly tucking her lower lip between her teeth. Her heart was racing.

"Well, we've uhh...we’ve got our slogan. Guess that'll show your mom we can accomplish something when we put our heads together." She gave a nervous giggle and patted the napkin. "Guess we ought to get this typed up, huh?"

Lucas's Adam’s apple bobbled. "Uhh....yeah....guess so." But, neither seemed able to make a move.

Bart stood near the photographer, watching the scene unfold. He tilted his head thoughtfully at the equally thoughtful pair. "You know," he observed. " That is your killer photo opportunity. Right there."

The photographer made a silent kissing noise, agreed and, putting a finger to his lip, he grabbed his 35 mm and took the shot.



Chapter Fourteen

It was delightful. It was alarming. A pink-clad, larger than life Sami Brady right out his office window... both disturbing and disarming. Pfft. Lucas shook his head, stuffing his hands in his pockets, scoping out the skyline-a chunk of bright, cloudless summer blue, interrupted by a building or two and.... Lucas leaned against the sill, eyes straying back to the original attraction to the out-of-doors.

"Sami Brady and you..... " he whispered aloud. He sighed, shook his head a second time.

" Listen to yourself," he muttered. "She has you making rhymes all over the place." He rapped a knuckle against the glass, gesturing to the large brand-new billboard bearing the "she" in question, splashed with photographs and curly-cue script-their script- one side a photo of the nightie tug-of-war, the next her wrapped in his suit jacket, her hand on his, their eyes locked. He sucked in a breath.

"It was like no one else was in the room," Lucas mused, planting one hand on the glass near the vicinity of billboard Sami's face. The memory from a couple weeks before made him feel a fair amount of odd giddiness that he was unaccustomed to when thinking of the opposite sex. Something far beyond the realm of cocktail parties and conquests that paled the morning after. His mind continued to drift on that thought. For that matter, when was the last time he....?

"Mr. Roberts?"

Lucas startled, turning to see Angie, one of the other secretaries who'd grudgingly been assigned to him by his mother during Sami's very unofficial move up. He cleared his throat, offered a half-hearted smile as the willowy redhead sashayed into the room. He gestured to the papers in her hand.

"Those, uh, those for me?"

Angie smiled and nodded. " Yes. " She handed them over, standing next to him , pointing to certain details. "All annotated... and ready for your perusal." She flicked her eyes up to his, her smile broadening.

Lucas smirked a bit at the obviously coy look. "Uhh....thank you."

She sidled closer. "Your welcome," she replied in a breathy voice, batting her long fake lashes.

Lucas skimmed the pages quickly. "Well. Looks like everything is here." He edged away from her, back to the window and cleared his throat a second time, his eye stumbling on billboard Sami again. "Okay then." He dragged his eyes away reluctantly from Sami to Angie.

A blink was the secretary's sole move. Lucas furrowed his brow.

"Uhh...that’ll be all." Lucas glanced back out the window, out to the street. A familiar dark head appeared to be looking up at the billboard now. Lucas squinted, recognizing the flashy striped vest as the figure turned just so. " Well, what do you know? The good doctor himself," he said with a measure of amusement as he watched the shocked look cross the other man's face.

Angie blinked again. "Sir?"

Lucas's head shot up. " Wha-What?"

"I said, will there be anything else, sir?"

He flushed a bit, hastily looking down at the papers, shuffling through, missing the hopefulness in her gaze . "Oh," he added as he continued to study. "We're missing the sales' figures from last month. Do you think you could get them to me as soon as possible, please?"

Angie looked to him, then to the billboard behind him, her smile fading. "Yes, of course. What was I thinking?" she replied with a frosty hint to her tone. "I'll have them to you shortly, sir."

Lucas nodded absently as her footsteps resounded. "Very good, Angie...." He ceased in his perfunctory perusal, laying the paperwork aside as his eyes tripped back down to the street below. Dr. Idiot was still looking up at the billboard, shaking his slicked up head.

" You 're the one that keeps throwing her back in the pond, pal." Lucas couldn't hold back his grin. "Well, how do you like me now?" He waggled his head in a taunting manner at the pompous jackass of a doctor. Then, his eyes wandered for the millionth time in a few minutes back to the woman in question, the sparkle in her blue gaze unmistakable. He lifted his brows in consideration, stroking his lower lip with his thumb. "I wonder how she likes me now?"

******

Absurd, Sami thought, poised at the coffee room window, untouched cup in hand. Yep. That was the word for it, she decided as her eyes found ripping pink froth and a mischievous grin. Absolutely absurd. Sami Brady didn't wear nighties like that, much less let lascivious bosses tear them. Even less likely was she to then allow the photographs to be thrown all over Salem and beyond to promote the stories no one could know she wrote.

"All this to rub it in the dragon lady's face," she muttered, snatching up a nearby spoon and stirring her coffee.

She squeezed her eyes shut, willing away the huge reminder of a foolish moment. Her eyes peeped back open. They strayed to the large brown ones sharing space with her in the advertisement. The twinkle in them was almost as alive as in life, looking down at her in his suit jacket that'd smelled oh-so-good.

She bit her lip, her fingers tracing the glass as if to trace the curve of his lips in the picture beyond.

"Like the rest of the world fell away." She let out a tiny sigh, looking to the way their hands looked together, her pale against his dark, fitting as easily as...

Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of his warm flesh touching hers, at the heady sensation of sharing and being shared with. She moved away from the window and resumed stirring the coffee, more rapidly than before. Okay. She sighed, shaking her head firmly. This is Lucas Roberts you are waxing poetic on. Lucas Roberts. The spoon clicked-clicked agitatedly against the ceramic mug. Amend the statement above. Very foolish moment. She peeped out once more. The grin got her this time.

Click-click-clickclickclickclick. Finally, she set the spoon aside and looked down at her cup with an exasperated sigh. Swirling black stared back up.

"No creamer," she noted with a short laugh at herself. "Oh, well." she shrugged, setting the cup on the counter, and drifting back to the window again. Something new in the her line of vision caused her to blink, then look twice. She’d know that stance, that hair, that vest anywhere.

"Brandon." The name fell from her lips unenthusiastically. They'd met for one or two terse lunches after the party incident, but nothing was either truly confronted or settled.

She watched as he paused at the billboard and shook his head at it. She caught a glimpse of his face. She knew that look. It was that condescending sneer he got when he thought something you did was supremely silly or stupid, and would rather give you a look than say anything. Normally, it was a look to sink a girl's heart, but, for some reason, this time, her heart remained buoyed right where it was, even as he shook his head once more and stormed off.

"Well, see you around, Dr." She waved to the window, barely smothering this sudden, insane urge to giggle as he huffed his way up the street.

"We look better together than you and muscles, anyway. Don't you think?" a husky whisper brushed her ear.

Sami started, whipping around to see Lucas Roberts standing within a hair's breadth of actually touching her. Her hand unconsciously flew to her hammering heart while the other anchored her by way of the window sill.

"I-I- uh-I wouldn't know." She affected a casual shrug, then wet her lips. "I-I hadn't noticed."

Lucas leaned nearer still, his suit front nearly pressing against hers. She tried desperately not to inhale the enticing scent of his cologne. "Oh, no? Tell me you were just staring out the window because the good doctor was out there." He licked his lips in slow imitation of her. "Tell me you weren't admiring the billboard."

Sami sucked in her breath, watching his mouth move with fascination. "Not-not admiration. well, admiration, sure...for-for a job well-done. We're-we're going to sell lots and lots of magazines"

Lucas nodded, moving his lips a bit closer to hers. "Unh, huh. And that's all?"

Sami felt the air growing thicker, her breath growing shorter. "Wha-what else is there?"

A few inches nearer. "I don't know. You tell me."

"Well, I'm-I'm sure I don't know,” Sami managed. "It's just pictures of-of you-"

Closer still. "And me," he replied softly. "Together. His lips were close. So, so close. If she moved her mouth to speak, it'd brush against his. "You've been avoiding me lately, you know, yet...." He threw a glance to the window, then back to her. The tiniest flutter of lips upon hers. "You're everywhere."

Sami inhaled, exhaled, inhaled, exhaled, and finally....turned her face away, well aware of the blazing cheek she was presenting to him.

"Excuse me," she muttered, slipping away to grip at the counter, looking again at the cooling brown liquid in her cup.

Lucas felt his face fall with disappointment.

"It's true, you know," Lucas went on, raking a hand through his hair. "If we're not busy looking at magazine layouts, you're hiding behind Jack or Jenn, and-"

"What? Do you miss tormenting me day in and day out?"

Lucas frowned. "No. Where did that come from?"

Sami snatched up the discarded spoon and began to stir again. Click- click-clickclick clickclick.

"Why, why don't you just give it up?" she threw over her shoulder. " N- n-nothing you can do will-"

Lucas frowned again, nonplussed by the agitated stirring and tone she was displaying. He reached out to caress her shoulder.

"Miss Bra-Sami, what-?"

"Mr. Roberts?" a voice broke in.

Lucas dropped his hand abruptly and sighed. in a frustrated way.

"Yes, Angie?" He managed to curb his murderous tone. "What is it?"

Angie pursed her lips petulantly. "Well, I just thought you'd like to know I left those figures for you to look at on your desk.."

"Ah, very good, thank you, Angie." He harrumphed significantly. "You can go now."

Angie's eyes raked Sami up and down, ignoring Lucas. "Although, I'm sure you've been doing enough figure-looking for one morning with Miss Brady here," she muttered under her breath.

Sami turned, furrowed her brow. "What was that?"

Angie pasted on a smile. "Nothing, nothing. Just saying you have a visitor waiting. One of the male persuasion." She lifted a brow. "Looked anxious to see you."

"What?" Sami looked puzzled.

"What?" Lucas felt a scowl deepening his brow.

Angie shrugged, pointed down the hall. "He's waiting at the reception area."

Sami grabbed her coffee and hurried down the hall, stopping short at the sight of dozen crimson roses in the hands of..."Brandon," Sami sputtered in surprise." You're here. How did you? What? Why?"

"Well, if it isn't the good doc in the flesh,” Lucas tossed out.

Brandon gave him a withering look. "Samantha, just ignore him." He took her hand in his. "I've missed you. I think it's time we sat down and tried to sort things out." He handed her the roses.

Sami fingered the baby's breath, feeling rather than seeing Lucas's gaze burning into her.

"Oh."

Brandon gave her a quizzical look, squeezed her hand. "Is that all you have to say? Oh?"

"What were you looking for, slobbers of gratitude?"

Sami peeped at Lucas in surprise. He was leaning against the wall, arms folded, his expression inscrutable despite his words.

"Stay out of this, Roberts,” Brandon responded coldly.

Sami threw her gaze back over to Brandon. He reached down and caressed her cheek. Sami felt made of wood.

"Samantha, have dinner with me tonight. I promise I won't disappoint."

Lucas snorted.

"Oh, come on, you really gonna let him snow you with a few flowers?"

Sami narrowed her eyes at him. " I don't think you are in position to judge, Frosty. "

"Frosty?"

Sami moved to her desk, locating a vase she kept around and beginning to arrange the roses in it.

"Yeah. Frosty. You wrote the book on how to snow someone."

Lucas leaned forward, challenging her.

"Well, if you know it's snow, why do you let it fall over you?" He stood over her and wiggled his fingers in an imitation of drifting snowflakes.

"It's a little hard to get away from when it's always hovering over you," she flung back, maneuvering herself away.

"Samantha, I don't know what this is all about, but , if you need me to-"

Sami raised a hand, eyes on Lucas.

"Brandon, it's okay."

Sami's eyes narrowed to slits. She bounced a look to the roses, to Lucas, back to Brandon. She took a deep breath, raised her chin, and said shortly," Where and when?"

Brandon broke into a smug smile, turning it as much to Lucas as to anyone. "Let's say I pick you up at....seven? I'll get reservations for Tuscany."

"Wonderful,” Sami pushed a smile out as Brandon pressed his lips to her hand. "See you then."

As Brandon began to exit, Lucas shouted after him, "Yeah! See you then!"

Brandon stopped short. Sami paused in her flower arranging. "What?"

"Yeah, funny coincidence...Angie here-she and I are dining at Tuscany tonight as well."

Lucas threw an arm casually around the stunned and thrilled secretary. She blinked her false lashes several times. " We- we are?"

Lucas shrugged. "Sure, doll. I've just been waiting for the right time to ask you."

"Swell,” Angie breathed.

Lucas smirked. "So, uh, toddles, Brandon. See ya there." He waved his fingers at the bemused and mildly displeased doctor.

"Umm...ok. Just stay to your own table, if you don't mind, especially if you start hitting the bottle. Samantha here doesn't need to deal with a liquored up boss." With that, Brandon turned on his heel and left.

Lucas then dropped his hold his hold on Angie and slipped up to Sami, pinching her cheek. " Yeah, you’ve going to have enough to deal with with that stiff. But, don't you worry. I'll save a dance for old Squarepants."

He turned back to Angie, offering his arm. "Come on, doll, let's go find you a nice new gown for this evening. Something with...feathers, maybe. They 're so eye-catching, don't you agree, Samantha?"

"Yeah, whatever gives you your cheap thrills." Sami snorted as she watched them depart towards the dressing room areas. She fingered her roses again, her face dropping a trifle. "Because it sure as heck isn't going to be me," she sighed.

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Chapter Fifteen

She was hypnotized. Sami sipped her water, smoothed the seams of her carefully chosen pink evening gown, patted her hair to make sure every one was in place, and all without averting her eye one iota. The doors of Tuscany opened.....the doors of Tuscany shut, but what she watched and waited for never came. Oh, wait-was that-was that feathers? She squinted. Nope-Potted plant being brushed against in the foyer. She plopped her chin in her hands and sighed, hardly stopping to realize what she was sighing for.

"Madam, could I get you a drink while you wait for Dr. Walker? He is your dining companion this evening, of course?"

Sami glanced up at the familiar waiter, blinking. "My-my dining compan-ohhh, umm...yes. Yes....Dr. Walker is...is my dining companion. He's just uhh...running a little late..."

"A little late," broke in the voice that haunted and taunted her all at once. Sami glanced up to see Lucas looking all too handsome in a tux, consulting his watch with a grave expression while Angie stood on his arm looking like the high-rent version of Twinkles. Her feathers were at least peacock's, Sami noted with an inward snort. "It's nearly eight o'clock, Miss Brady," Lucas was going on." Tssk. Tssk." His eyes flicked her quickly up and down. "And you the loveliest lady in the room...."

Sami flustered a bit. "Oh, well, I -"

"Hey!" Angie pouted a bit, fluttering those mile-long lashes of hers. "I thought that was me."

"Ahh...." Lucas licked his lips. “You, you were the prettiest girl in the dressing room earlier...." He waggled his eyebrows. "Remember?"

Angie tittered and nuzzled Lucas's neck in a way that left Sami wondering if she could stomach dinner,. after all.

" Well, anyway, thank you, Big Ben for chiming in," Sami snapped, straightening her napkin nervously. "If it is any of your business, which it is not, he had to stop off at the hospital, so he asked me to meet him here." She tugged at the napkin ring, trying to pull it off. " He should be along any minute, so if I were you I'd... go and find your table." She pulled with one more mighty yank, sending the ring sailing into a nearby table. It landed with a splash in someone's water glass. "Oops." Her face flooded with embarrassment.

Lucas smirked at her before leaning in to the surprised diner. "Don't worry. She does this all the time. Just watch out when she gets her dinner plate." He patted the dumbfounded gentleman's back before strolling to Sami's table, twirling the ring around his finger.

"For you." He slid off his finger into Sami's hand. "Just don't uh...read too much in to it, you know..." He winked.

Angie giggled, clinging desperately to his arm. "You're funny, lover. ' Don't read to much into it.' HeeHee."

Sami rolled her eyes, wondering if the girl was kin to Twinkles after all, rolling the napkin ring between finger and thumb. "Not much to read there. Like a 25 cent paperback."

"And you, Miss S? Are you the stodgy classic we all must read and be edified by? Hmmm?"

Sami made a big show of opening her menu, effectively blocking him from her sight. " I bet you never read a classic in your life,” she muttered.

"Oh? What happened to thinking I knew a thing or two, huh? Did that slogan write its-?"

"Shh, lover. Let's not worry with her anymore. Okey-dokey?" Sami winced at the high-pitch the "dokey" ended on. Where did he dig these twitty females up, anyway?

"Excuse me, Mr. Roberts," the hostess broke in with barely masked impatience. "Your table?"

Sami glanced up in time to see that Angie's feathers were growing closer to Lucas, her hand playfully tugging his ear, tracing his jaw line. Sami grit her teeth." Yes. You weren't parking here, I hope. You might find your own table a more appropriate place to....canoodle." She looked quickly down again, studying the menu with sudden earnest, cheeks beginning to burn.

"Canoodle?" Lucas chuckled deeply, suddenly angling his head so Angie could have better access. "That's cute."

Just then, another waiter appeared to the assemblage. "Excuse me, Miss Brady, but Dr. Walker just called and asked me to pass along a message... he's awfully sorry, but business has detained him. He specifically said not to wait for him. "

Sami edged the menu with one finger, her cheeks blooming with further humiliation. "Thank you."

"Awwwww." Lucas snapped his fingers. "Too bad. Looks like your evening just went bust."

He turned to Angie. "Well, shall we, Angie honey? Go canoodle that is..." His eyes bounced with amusement at Sami, who studiously ignored him, eyes on the rows of drinks on the menu.

Angie tittered in reply. "Swell."

As the pair began to follow the hostess out to their table, Sami suddenly blurted to the lingering waiter, "You know. I will have something." She snapped the menu closed decisively, handing it over." Bring me a Tom Collins, please."

Lucas halted in his tracks, turning with a grin. " You do know that's an alcoholic drink, and not some man to sit around having some boring phoney dinner with, don't you?"

Sami laughed dryly.

"Very witty, Mr. Roberts, but , contrary to popular belief, I know something about drinks. Just because I have more self-control than you, doesn't mean-"

Lucas smirked.

"Yes, I know. You are a reaaaall party girl..." He caught her eye, his own darkening with something that made Sami's heart begin an unsteady bump. She swallowed. He licked his lips slowly.

"Well, come on, loveeeer," a whiny voice broke in again as Lucas felt a tug on his arm. "I'm hungry."

Lucas shrugged, leaning in on Sami once more. "You heard her. The girl's ....hungry." He winked at Sami. "Enjoy flying solo...watch out for wolves..." He lowered his voice a notch. "They prey on girls who drink alone, you know..."

"Loverrr...."

"Oh? You would know." Sami snorted and began to twist the napkin ring again, round and round. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye. "Well, I won't be drinking alone, anyway-there-Jack! Jennifer! Over here!"

Jack was first to the table, his smile quickly turning to amused curiosity as he spotted his brother-in-law with another feathery, unhappy female on one arm while leaning over another whose flustered feeling was badly disguised with a huge smile as she waved them her way.

"Sami, Lucas hello..." Jennifer looked from friend to brother-in-law to peacock-laden Angie, who looked a cross between one trying to maintain her flirty personality and one murdering the competition with her eye...lashes...it was hard to see the eyes themselves. "God," she muttered under her breath. "Bambi times ten. Lucas, what are thinking?"

Jack nearly choked on his laughter.

" Uhh...Sami, Lucas fancy seeing you here. Just taking my date here out for a bite." Jack fought the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "And you?"

"Well," Sami shrugged. "Brandon was detained at the hospital, and certain pests keep buzzing...." She slipped her gaze up to Lucas. He quickly straightened, blinking innocently.

"What? Me? I was just making pleasantries with a co-worker while waiting on my table...speaking of which..." He turned to the beleaguered hostess, pasting on his best Eddie Haskell smile. "Ready?"

"Yeah...for the last ten minutes..." She shook her head. "This way..."

Lucas rapped the table with his knuckles.

"Well, have fun, Miss S...you've gone from flying solo to third wheel..."

Angie tittered . "Funny, lover, funny..."

Jack pulled up a chair and observed Sami observing them leave. She slunk down in her chair, her eyes betraying the woebegone feeling she'd bite his head off rather than admit plainly to. He quirked his brows.

"Well, she's the most... cerebral out of the girls he's dug up so far..."

"Jack!" Jen smacked his shoulder as she took a seat as well. "Sami, don't listen to him."

Sami slunk further down.

"Well...just observing...a girl with a sense of humor-"

"Sense of humor?? Giggling like an idiot at whatever your date utters is not- "

A tall, frosty glass floating with citrus fruit appeared to Sami's line of vision.

"Your drink, madam..."

Sami grabbed it, her eyes straying to the far corner where Lucas sat huddling up with Angie. He caught her eye, grinned and wiggled his fingers at her.

"Thank God," she muttered before downing the drink in one long gulp before slamming it back down on the waiter's tray. "Bring me about three more of those."

She blinked half-fuzzily at Jack and Jen's shocked looks. "What?"

***************

"So, I was thinking....we could try a whole new layout...what do you think? Lover? Loveeeer?"

Lucas shook his head, snapping his eyes back from Sami's table to the woman gripping his arm like it was the only thing holding her up. "Wha-what? Oh...yes..." He hurriedly grabbed the menu in front of him. "The trout does look good..."

Angie fluttered her lashes poutliy. "Nooooo. I said we could try a whole new layout, but-" She broke off impatiently, jerking her hand away suddenly as she saw his head back to the same direction as before-that blonde who liked to think she had all the brains in the secretarial pool. "You aren't even listening now." She lifted her chin and edged frostiness into her tone. "Maybe you should be over there."

Lucas was watching Sami Brady down her third Tom Collins. "What the hell does she think she's-?" He shook his head again, looking back to his date, whose face reminded him suddenly of a Kewpie doll if they made one that had potential to kill. "Sorry. You were saying...?"

"Never you mind," she offered petulantly, folding her arms over the feathery concoction she wore.

The band began to pipe in a soft rhythm.

Lucas glanced again to Sami with a shake of his head. He turned back to Angie with a noncommittal shrug. "So, what'll make that face go away, huh? Wanna dance?"

He held out his hand, not sure if he would be happier if she took it or if she told him to take a flying leap.

Angie's face instantly melted back to the happy Kewpie as she took it. "Swell," she breathed.

**************************************

"You know, Jennifer, I think we've been had,” Jack whispered.

Jennifer gave her husband a bemused look. “How so?"

Jack nodded to Sami. She was turned halfway around in her chair, moodily eyeing the dance floor.

"I think we 're her cover..."

Jennifer raised her brows, smiling a bit.

"So she can spy?"

Jack tapped Jennifer's nose.

"Exactly, Mrs. Devereaux."

Jennifer peeked at the wobbly stature of their friend with a mixture humor and dismay.

"But, she's getting ..."

"Sloshed? More proof that when certain pests stop buzzing.... well, watch this." Jack cleared his throat.

"So, uh, tell me something, Sami. To what do we owe the honor of this sudden dinner? Seems to me you're more interested in-" Jack coughed politely trying to get Sami's attention. "Sami?"

"Sami?" Jennifer tried, gently laying a hand on her arm. "Sam-"

Sami turned sloppily in her chair from the direction of the dance floor where her boss/colleague/object of wrath/object of desire twirled that redheaded bimbette round the floor. "Told ya. Good Dr. Walker- good boy he is, was detained. Detained." She lifted her glass to drink, a bit of fruit splashing out on Jen's hand.

"Ooppsie-doopsie." Sami reached for her napkin, upsetting her silverware in the process. "There I go flinging things again." She tried to dab at Jennifer's hand, managing to squeeze juice until it ran down both sets of fingers.

Jennifer laid her hand on Sami's, impeding her messy progress. "That's- that's ok, Sami. I’ll take care of it."

" Food flinger that I am," Sami went on unabated." Food flinger. Smood slinger." She giggled at her own joke till she hiccupped. Her hand flew to her mouth. "Where's- hic- the food -hic-flingee when ya need him....? Oh...thass right...he's doing the twitchy-twitchy with Twinkles the Second..." She suddenly paused and frowned. "Not that I care. Because I don't!" She shook her finger at Jack and Jennifer, then , just as suddenly crumpled in her seat, looking down at the remains of her drink, swirling them round and round. "Oh, who's kiddin' who? He said he'd save me a dance!" She lifted large sad blue eyes to her friends." He said there would be a dance for Squarepants. He promised." She craned her neck to see Lucas cozying his cheek up to Angie's. She was whispering in his ear while he chuckled and smiled. She suddenly slammed the glass down on the table making, silverware jump, plates rattle.

" Who's he think he is, anyways? Excuse me, I'm goin' get my dance!"

She rose unsteadily to her feet.

"Sami!" Jack held out a halting hand. Sami teetered out of reach.

"Lemme go, Jack. I wanna dance and the oh-so-reliablely unreliable doctor isn't here-and he can't rumba worth a damn if he was. Wanna dance with my Lucas. He said."

"Sami, wait! Don't!" Jennifer called out in vain. " Come back and have some dinner.

"I don't wan' no dinner. I wanna dance. I can twitch better than that twitty broad!" Sami's volume was a few decibels below a screech now. Jack reached out again.

"Sami, Sami, Sam-ohh boy."

Jack slumped down in his chair as he watched his friend wobble with purpose over to the cozy twosome. He propped his chin in his hand, then slid his gaze over to his worried wife, a random thought popping out.

"Did you hear that, Jen? She called him her Lucas."

***********************************************

Lucas was maneuvering his way as best he could away from the monster lashes when he felt a sudden mighty tap on his shoulder. He peered over his shoulder to see Sami Brady swaying precariously on her heels.

" Ahem...uhh.." He looked her up and down with surprise, a slow grin forming. "Something I can do for you?"

Sami blinked several times, then pointed to Angie. "Ditch the redhead and gimme my dance!"



Chapter Sixteen

"Shouldn't we...I don't know...rescue her...or something, Jack?" Jennifer bit her lip, gesturing helplessly to their tottering friend on the dance floor as she tapped rather forcefully on Lucas's back.

Jack rose his brows half-admiringly at Sami and shook his head. "I don't know, Jen. You tell me. He's your brother."

Jennifer rolled her eyes.

"And Sami was your friend first, if you recall." She shot another worried look as Lucas turned from his feathery, displeased dance partner and grinned in that devilish way he had at the obviously inebriated Sami. "Where is your chivalry , Jack?"

Jack shrugged. "Someone swiped it off of me in college. Haven't seen it since."

"Jacck."

"What?" Jack feigned innocence. "This might just be what they both need."

Jennifer frowned. "Be serious. She’s plastered. She might give herself away about the stories... Shouldn't we..?"

"Heyyyy! It's J&J!" a familiar voice broke in excitedly, followed by a "Come on, Bon-Bons!" and the hurried sound of wingtips and heels approaching.

Jennifer squeezed her eyes shut and mouthed the word "no.". She shook her head ever so slightly at her husband, who was looking over her head with politest of grins.

"Uhhh...Bart, isn't it?" Jack stuck out a hand.

The man called Bart grinned back and enthusiastically shook it. "Fancy see you two here. Why, I was just reading last month's column to Bon-Bons here and she said-" He glanced to the sparkly-clad woman beside him. "You remember, Bonnie, of course-from the Kiriakis wing ding?"

Jennifer's tight smile grew tighter. "I believe so..."

"Oh, yes-" Jack piped in, standing to his feet, hand out. "The-the one whose dog likes pig-in-the-blankets..."

Bonnie grinned with her big scarlet lips and smacked her gum, offering her fingers in a small wave, lingering on Jack a moment longer than Jennifer cared for. "Hiya, kids. How's tricks?"

Jack leaned on the table, watching with fascination as Bonnie produced a hanky from her ample bosom

and deposited her gum in it before making herself at home at their table, helping herself to a dinner roll from the basket on the table, generously spreading on butter.

"Tricks...tricks are-ow...fine..." Jack darted a glance around to his wife, whose pasted smiled never betrayed the discreet pinch he'd just received on the leg.

Bart nodded happily and took a spot next to Bonnie. He snapped his fingers along to the jazzy music." Looks like this is the place to be tonight. It's really hopping..." He took a quick sweep of the room, eyes pausing on the dance floor at a flurry of activity. "Sayyy-it's the boss man-and-whoaaa! That can't be... whoaaa!" Every eye at the table followed Bart's to see Lucas Roberts being tugged between two ladies-one drunk and shrill-the other just...shrill.

"Welcome back, Mr. Friday Night. Long time, no see," Bart half-chuckled.

"The best thing for them, you said,” Jennifer gave Jack a withering look.

"Now, that’s what I call entertainment." Bonnie popped in half a dinner roll and chewed thoughtfully.

********************************************

Lucas was being pulled in two. He was being pulled in two, and he could only think one thing, one inconsequential thought: Sami Brady wanted to dance with him. Sami Brady had tipped back a few too many, but she wanted to dance with him.

"You promised!" She pouted a bit. "A Dance for Squarepants...You promised me."

Lucas couldn't tuck away his grin even as he felt a distinct jerk to the left.

"Get lost, Blondie!" She of the monstrous lashes was looking pretty menacing, for a would-be Kewpie doll.

If only he could disattach this clawing bird from his shoulders... He cast a desperate look to the left where feathers flew.

"Angie! Doll, maybe-to-to preserve the peace-"

Her lashes fluttered dangerously . "Never, loveeer! If you think I'm losing out to this drunken bottle blonde-"

"Whatttt??!!!" a voice shrieked to his right as Sami leaned way over to shake her maligned locks at the whining redhead. The music around them abruptly halted. She went on oblivious to the sudden lack of sound save the murmurs of fellow diners and dancers, not to mention her own voice, which was just a hair below a scream. Jennifer's hands clapped over her eyes.

"Jack, do something!"

"Oh, boyy..."

" Looks to me like that one bird just needs to step aside," Bonnie commented with another mouthful of dinner roll. "If ever there was a dye job..." She shook her head, turning to Bart. "You should get up there and save this night before it tanks."

"Aww, gee...." Bart's ear's began to redden. He fiddled with a leftover umbrella from one of Sami's drinks. "I ain't sang since...."

"I'll have you know this blonde ain't from no bobble!" Sami was railing onward quite loudly. She tugged at her hairpins with her free hand, shaking her locks free, waving them wildly around. "See? Lucas, tell 'er she's full of beans. Tell her! See?!"

Bart turned to Bonnie. " Ooh. Okay. I’ll see what I can do." And he got up and discreetly moved his way over to the stage area. Jack and Jennifer exchanged looks and shrugs.

Lucas shivered a bit as her hair tickled his nose. He fought off the foolish inclination to inhale the sweet scent of her shampoo. " Look...looks pretty real to me," he replied, a touch too huskily for his taste.

"Ha!" Angie chimed in, her voice deteriorating from the high-class whine she affected to a cruder form of speech. "Men don't know nothin'! Nothin', I tells you! If that's how it's goin' ta be, the I'm outta here!" She leaned in. "Have at 'im, Peroxide." With that, she gathered her feathers around her and stalked off the dance floor. There was silence for a beat while Sami swayed on her feet, fuzzily trying to take in the peacock girl's exiting statement. "Proxide...sproxide..."

"HaHa...how about that folks?" a familiar voice called from the stage.

Lucas rose incredulous brows as he turned. "Bart?"

"Heyyyy!" Sami stumbled forward a bit. "The guy who called me a cold fish!"

"No," Lucas chuckled softly. "That would've been me, but I was wrong."

"Well, anyway,” Bart was going on. "The Bobster here was kind enough to let me sit in for a sing or two, seeing as we're old pals....." Bonnie whistled. Jack and Jennifer looked on in bemusement.

The "Bobster", who stood off to the side of the stage area now held up his brand two brand new five dollar bills with a smile..

Bart shrugged good-naturedly. "Okay, so I had to slip him a coupla fins , folks, but, however I got up here, here I am and I just wanna say this goes out to a special buddy of mine and his dame-well, she should be his dame-" He looked out into the crowd and winked to his boss and friend. "Get her sobered up there, boss."

"Bart." Lucas felt his cheeks begin to burn a bit. "Remember who pays you to sit around reading Dick Tracy. You got it pretty good, pal."

Bart threw the Bobster a look. "If I do good, could ya keep me in mind? I may need a job in the morning."

He chuckled a bit. "Well, here we go... "I'm so Glad Your Mine"...nice and peppy, fellas, huh?"

“ My baby's long and tall

She's like a cannonball.

Say, everytime she loves me,

Lordy, you can hear me squall.

She cried, Ooo-wee.

I believe I'll change my mind…”

Sami blinked and swayed some more. "Thass an Elvis Presley song. Mom said he swings his hips too much. I like him."

"Oh?" Lucas fought back a laugh as he slipped her easily into his arms and began to move her gently across the dance floor. "Who else do you like?

She said, "I'm so glad you're living".

I cried, "I'm so glad you're mine".

Sami shook her head quickly from side to side. "Nu-unh. I know how that trick works. Boys used to do it all the time. They'd get ya ta say that you like 'em, and then they'd laugh and maybe take away your sand pail-well, one boy did that, anyway."

Lucas laughed ruefully at Sami's sincerely sad, little girl tone, huddling closer to her, whispering in her ear.

"My dear Sami, I promise not to take away your sand pail."

"Good," she replied earnestly. "'Cause then I might have to whomp you good."

“ I believe I'll change my mind.

She said, "I'm so glad you're living".

I cried, "I'm so glad you're mine"…”

They were silent for several beats. Sami sighed and nuzzled his shoulder. Lucas took a shaky breath and tried to remind himself she was drunk and would hate herself in the morning.

"When my baby does what she does to me,

I climb the highest mountain,

Dive in the deepest sea.

She cried, Ooo-wee.

I believe I'll change my mind.

She said, "I'm so glad you're living".

I cried, "I'm so glad you're mine"."

Sami sighed softly, blowing her breath on his neck. He felt the second Sami-induced shiver of the night. Her lips were inching closer to his flesh...closer and closer...until...

Her head popped up suddenly.

"Hey, waitaminute...Proxide? Thass the stuff my mama used to clean out scrapes...why would she..? Hey!" Sami made like she was going to charge forward. "Lemme at 'er!"

She found herself stayed quite firmly around the middle by a pair of strong arms.

"Hold up there, Missy," a voice softly laughed.. "You said you wanted to dance." He dipped her low to the ground.

She raised bright blue eyes to his. They were suddenly startlingly clear for a drunk girl's. Her tongue darted out to make a slow sweep of her tempting mouth.

"My baby's lips are red

And sweet like wine, "

"So I did," she whispered back, just as soft. His lips edged nearer hers, whether from their own volition or deliberate purpose of his own, he could not say. She smiled a welcoming smile, the most beautiful sight of the evening in his estimation.. Nearer and nearer. Bart's voice seemed effused with encouragement.

"And when she kisses me,

I get high every time. "

She dropped her head back, her golden hair a waterfall of gold. Nearer and nearer.....

"Hey!" she suddenly cried. "Let me up! Lemme up!" She pounded furiously on his shoulder. Lucas complied, bewildered, only to see his beautiful dance partner storm to the entrance. where Brandon Walker stood arm in arm with a sleek, dark-complexioned lady.

"Whoa! Sami!" Lucas trotted to catch up. But, Sami was fast on heels, especially for a drunken woman. Very fast indeed. She managed to grab her pocketbook of the table, shirk off Jack and Jennifer's hands, Bonnie's, "Atta girl", and marched up to her on-again, off-again boyfriend and what looked to suspiciously be his date for the evening before Lucas caught up.

"She cried, Oo-wee. uhhh..."

Bart's eyes followed them off the dance floor.

"Brandonnn Walkerrrrr!!!! What is the meaning of this??!!!!!"

'Why, Samantha," the doctor began smoothly, too smoothly. "I thought you'd be at home, dear. Lexie and I had business to discuss, so-"

"I believe I'll change my mind?" Bart shot a glance to Bonnie, who was giving him the "ok" sign while she kept her eye on the action behind her. The music slowed to a bumpy non-rhythm.

Without further ceremony, Sami reared back and landed a right hook to Brandon's jaw. Lexie shrieked, Brandon gasped, grabbed for his jaw, stumbled back. Lucas was torn between a laugh, a groan, and a cheer. Jack and Jen were quickly to their feet.

"Get some ice somebody!" Lexie demanded. Waiters, nearby diners began to scramble.

"Get her out of here," Jennifer counseled with a hiss to Lucas. Bart winced from the stage, but moved on to his next line with Bonnie's silent urging.

"She said, "I'm so glad you're uhh...ooohh- living"?"

"Business my ass!" Sami screamed as Lucas carried her out, legs flailing. "You lousy cheat!"

Bart faltered momentarily pulled out his biggest grin and his most show-stopping jazzy notes.

“ I cried, "I'm so glad you're mine".”

Bonnie applauded wildly, blowing kisses. Bart's ears turned lobster red.

Brandon sat up and stared after Sami and Lucas broodingly, holding the makeshift icepack to his face.

**************************************************

cement rounding the fountain out there.

Lucas smirked. "I think you're thinking of the wrong person. You just left the gorilla in there." He nodded his head back to the restaurant. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, giving her a grin. "Good shot."

Sami blinked in surprise, then grinned back.

"John used to be I.S.A. He taught me a thing or two by landing a good punch." She shadow boxed a one-two.

Lucas quirked his brow. "Of course, I know all about the good doctor's pain, if not his motives..."

Sami peered at him in the darkness, suddenly serious, dangling her fingers in the water. "You wouldn' be a lousy two-timer, wouldja, Lucas? Hmm? Even if I am old Squarepants and not hot-to-trot Lady Love?"

"Sami..."

She stood up on the fountain's edge twitching her skirt, bringing herself near eye-level with him, leaning precariously forward. "Lookit, I'm almos' tall as you..."

Lucas swallowed as her lips came near to his for the second time that night, for the millionth time since their first meeting, if you counted dreams...

"Yeah...so you are....." he murmured, pulling her further into his lips. Nearer and nearer... Until....

Kersplash! Suddenly, he found himself soaked to the skin, on top of Sami with water cascading all around them, and not minding a bit. He smoothed back her wet locks and threw back his head and laughed. Sami sputtered adorably, shook her dripping head, sending beads of water flying and gave him a smile.

"Well, not no more I'm not taller."

"Nope...so you aren't.." Lucas pulled her nearer again, his beautiful, maddening water nymph, nearer and nearer...until.....he captured her lips with his own, tasting every good thing that was this crazy he lady he so loved. She answered with passion, with vigor, but with an underlying vulnerability. Wait a minute. Back up. Loved? Loved. When the hell did that happen? His heart thudded madly at the mere thought. He pulled away long enough to whisper, " Hey, you know you don't have to be like Lady Love, dontcha? I'm crazy for you, Squarepants, just how you are. And, I would never two-time you. Not you."

Sami smiled, and opened her mouth as if to speak. "You know, what if I were ta tell ya-?' A shrill voice broke in for her.

"Sweelll!" Both turned in the water to see Angie towering over them, eyelashes like a pair of dizzy butterflies. "I just came back to give you another chance, and I have to hear this?!"

Lucas smirked, chuckling dryly, as he rose and assisted Sami out. "You know, Angie, that's nice, offering me another chance and all, but, you see, I never asked for one."

Angie frowned, latching on desperately to Lucas’s arm. "But, you can't mean that, loveeerr!"

Sami snorted. "Allow me, Lucas..." With that, she pried Angie's fingers loose and propelled the girl backwards. "Get lost, feathers. This'n is mine!" Sami reached out and gave her just the right nudge to send her sprawling with a flapping of peacock feathers into the fountain.

She came up sputtering a lot less adorably, feathers sticking, eyelashes floating off and away. "Ohhhhhh!" she cried.

"Ya know, that took a lot outta me, Lucasss..." Sami linked her arm through his. "I could use an escort home...."

"Gladly." Lucas grinned. "Home, or anywhere else you want to go..."

Sami wasn't listening, however. She was rummaging through her damp purse, scowling. She raised her head presently. "Ooopsie -doopsie." She shook the contents of her purse.

Lucas furrowed his brows. "What?"

"No keys...." She pouted briefly, then sang, bouncing along with each soggy step. “No keys...no keys...no keys..."

Lucas smirked as they made their way to his sports car. "Don't worry," he replied as

he opened the door for her. "We'll think of something."



Chapter Seventeen

" Ohhh...is this your apartment building, Luc-Whoooops!" Sami struggled up the stairs in her soggy heels, finally wobbling enough that she collapsed against the railing, causing Lucas to scoop her up and throw her over his shoulder.

"Hold up, there, princess. No sense in having you break your pretty neck."

'Wheeeee!" Sami kicked her heels merrily. She twisted her head around. “Pretty? Did you say...pretty?"

Lucas chuckled, reaching up to still her feet before he got a kick in the gut as they traversed the quiet hall. " Yeah, I said pretty."

"And you kissed me earlier..." Her voice went from little girl bounciness to hushed seriousness. " And you gave me a ring..." She twisted her head around again in all gravity. “Does that mean we're engaged?

Lucas chuckled again, and almost reminded her it was a napkin ring. "Uhh...tell ya what, honey, why don't we sleep on it?" With that, he gently deposited her against the wall beside his door while he fished out his key. She almost immediately slanted to the side. Lucas shot out one hand to steady her as he opened his door.

"Oopsie-doopsie!" She began to giggle and continued to do so as he led her by the hand into the darkened apartment. Then, her voice suddenly took on that little girlish quality again, only in a slightly fearful sense. "Ohhh, dark, Lucas...dark..."And she bumped into him from behind. A giggle erupted from her again.

Lucas smirked into the inky shadows, leaning over to catch a switch on the wall. "Well, I can fix that."

A soft light grew up over the dark lumps of furniture, showing up the shag and fur, the sickly greens and burnt oranges. Sami clapped a hand to her mouth, swaying. Slowly, slowly, her eyes took it in, and slowly, slowly she removed her hands from her mouth.

"This...this is your apartment, Lucas?" Her voice was filled with uncertainty, as if expecting an answer in the negative. She picked up a pillow from the odd curve of couch. "Wow. Like a sheepdog."

Lucas snorted. "Yeah, well, this whole decorating scheme-if you want to call it that-was dear Mom's doing."

Sami tossed the pillow aside and flopped down on the couch, kicking off her heels and tucking her legs beneath her. "Ohhh...I see... this does look like old Dragonbreath's do-" Her hands flew to her mouth again. "Oopsie-doopsie."

Lucas merely laughed, coming up and perching on the arm beside Sami. "Don't you think I know all the nicknames by now?"

Sami snickered. "Yeah. You like nicknames, dontcha, Lucas? Squarepants...Lady Love.."

"Lady Love is more of a pseudonym."

"Pseudonym shmuedonym...it's a stupid name..."

Lucas smirked a bit. "I tend to agree." He leaned nearer. "So, when you going to own up?"

Sami blinked rapidly. "Own up ta what?" Then, something registered and she waved her finger in his face. "Ohhh, no you don't...

Lucas shrugged. "Can't blame a guy for trying. I just keep getting the feeling you know our mystery woman..."

Sami snorted. "Ohhh, I know her type...and...and she- she's a dopey, dopey Squarepants...jus' like me..."

Lucas's smile went softer. He reached out and tucked an errant, damp strand of blond hair behind her delicate ear. "Hey, you know you egged me into that nickname....all this beauty...all this...sexiness...all so self-contained..." His voice dropped to a husky whisper. "It just wasn't fair."

Sami jumped a bit at his breath so near her ear. She sighed, playing with her hands. "Nobody wanted it, so....Squarepants put it all inna container...."

"Yeah? Well, if nobody means Brandon Walker, the good doctor is a meathead."

"Yeah....three-four-five-timing meathead..." Sami blew out a noisy breath, then stood and began to survey her surroundings again. "So...your apartment, Lucas..." Sami turned back to Lucas and blinked fuzzily, wobbling again, even without the precarious wet heels. "Tell me why I'm here again....?"

Lucas came to her side, steadying her with a concerned frown. "Well, you lost your keys and..."

"Ohhhhh...thass right...no keys....no keys!" Sami shook her head. "And Mr. Mertz is a grouchy, grouchy landlord...especially at...." She flipped her wristwatch into view, tapped on its unmoving face. "Hmm....unreliable timepieces..."

Lucas glanced to a wall clock. "It's past midnight, Cinderella..." Sami yawned indelicately. He chuckled ruefully. “Time to turn in your glass slippers and get some sleep." He led her to the bedroom.

Sami lifted the long skirt of her pink evening dress and looked down at her stocking feet in confusion. "No slippers, Lucas...Achooo!" She shuddered from the sound sneeze.

Lucas scanned her up and down. The soaked material still clung to her body-provocatively so. He licked his suddenly dry lips. Practical, Roberts. Think practical.

"We... uhh...we better get you out of those wet things..." He moved to the bureau, removing his best pajamas.

"An' into a dry martini?" Sami giggled, then yawned again. "Thass the joke, right?"

Lucas smirked again, looking at her through the mirror above his bureau. "Yes, that's the joke, but I'd say you've had all you need to drink and then some."

He came back over and handed her the pajamas.

"Pajamas? I never wore men's pajamas before..." She fingered the material thoughtfully. "These are nice...black.... silk...?"

"Only the best." Lucas cleared his throat, suddenly more skittish than he'd ever been with a girl in his bedroom. "Well, I guess I should-" He indicated the doorway and began to move as if to leave.

Sami looked around, shook her head rapidly. "No, no. Look, silly! You have one of those screens..." She leapt behind the awful, garishly painted creation in one corner and peered around, suddenly all energy again. "See? Jus' like the movies..." She popped her head back in and soon he heard the rustling of her dress as she shimmied out of it and it hit the floor. "I can be the girl undressing...and you-you are the man that must stand out there and wonder....."

"Wonder-wonder what?" Lucas winced at the hoarseness of his tone. He flopped back on the bed, thumping nervously on a pillow the swift rhythm of his heart. He tried to avert his eyes from the light shadows penetrating the screen, wondering with an inward curse when he suddenly went all noble.

"Wonder...what.....is unner...the...." Sami suddenly emerged from behind the screen, nearly swallowed, but nonetheless captivating in his black, silk PJ's. She swayed towards him, hands barely peeping out from the long sleeves. "Covers...remember when you said I shoul' look unner the covers, Lucas?"

'Yeah...but, that was about-"

Sami silenced him with a finger to his lips. " Shhh. How 'bout I let you peek....unner my covers...how 'bout that...Lucas?" She crept closer and closer until she was nearly atop him. Her lips a whisper's length from his. "Let Miss Squarepants outta the container..." She walked her fingers up his chest, which was moving in quite a shallow way all of a sudden. "Only one bed, anyway..."

"Yeah...so there is..." Lucas finally managed speak. He gulped as she fiddled with his wet bowtie. He'd seen her far more undressed, but this was something else again.

Seeing how soused Sami was, he was beginning to wonder how much of this night she'd remember....and how much he wanted her to remember. Was he better off with all of it....or none of it? he mused as his arms snaked out to surround her waist and her lips crashed down to his.

******************************************

The first thought that entered Sami's groggy head was that she must be dying. She slit an eye open. A horribly disfigured face stared back. Good Lord. She clapped her hand to her mouth in fear and revulsion. She was dying. And the devil's face was a melted Picasso. And how was she sure it was the devil? Well, the fact her head felt as if it had been lit with a torch was a good start, she noted as she attempted to turn in the bed. Also, she knew she must've done wicked things last night.......wicked, wicked things that would send her straight off Heaven's list right into the lake of...Auggggh!

Fire....her head was on fire... One hand flew to her forehead and a moaned ripped from low in her throat as the other hand sought to pull away the tangle of hot blankets. And ran into something much firmer and warmer than any blanket. She made a tiny squeak, daring to feel explore further. Was that...Was that..? She gulped, her throat prickling in response. That was a bellybutton all right. The warm, solid something gave a small laugh. "Stop it, Sami," a familiar voice muttered in his sleep. Oh, my God. Sami froze, heart hammering in her ears, her vise-gripped head swimming with unbidden images of teetering in fountains, a wet trek to a place not her home, wanton kisses and.... She squeezed her eyes shut. Oh, no. Not her. Not with Lucas Roberts.

Then, the man in question chose to stir, carrying her hand lower still. Sami gasped as she felt something else very warm, firm and solid beneath her fingers. "Ahem." Sami heard the shaky tone, but it did not register as her fingers could not seem to move. all she kept thinking was, And that is....that is...

" Uh...Morning."

"Would you mind...?" Sami felt the prickles from her throat reach her tongue in a very frustrating and painful way. "Would you mind-" she tried again, raspily. She felt rather than saw his smirk as his eyes wandered to where one hand had remained. Sami quickly colored and darted her hand away, shooting up in the bed, ignoring the blinding flash of pain that followed." That is...Would you mind telling me how -how-why-you -me-?"

Lucas made a move to kick off the covers. "Hold up there. Before questions, let's-" Sami practically leapt off the bed in response, grabbing her head with another howl of pain and gripping the pedestal where what she now saw was not the devil's face but rather a warpy, unfortunately ugly bust.

"Whoa, there, sunshine." Lucas rose from the bed, revealing striped pajama bottoms. Sami peered through her fingers and sputtered a bit. They were so much more...normal....and body-covering than expected. "You might want to slow down there. You had...well, a lot to drink last night." He padded to the bathroom, fetched water and aspirin, headed back to where Sami stood. "Here. Take these."

Sami peered again through her fingers, quickly snatching and downing the aspirin. She flopped the too-long, silky sleeves of his PJ's at him. "And just how much....did I have to drink last night? Enough to let you..." Her cheeks flamed. "Kidnap my clothes?" she finally arrived at.

Lucas shrugged. "Kidnapping is such a serious offense...." He strolled over to the bureau and plucked up a piece of paper, walking back waving it in front of her. "Let's just say you had enough to think you could swim with the fishies, for one thing ."

Sami backed up a step or two.

"What's-what's that?" She pointed warily to the paper he held out.

"A dry-cleaning ticket. See, your clothes....my clothes...they weren't made for swimming, but...last night..." He wiggled his brows. "We gave it a fair try."

Sami shut her eyes against flooding memories of water rushing along with lips to meet each other under the flow.... Dry-cleaning? Her eyes flew open.

"And so, we're back to-to the dry-cleaning offer, are we? And-and I suppose all this-" She made a broad gesture, encompassing the room, the pajamas, and him. "Means you-me-you-we-you-you took your opportunity to-to take advantage-?"

Lucas frowned. "Now, wait a minute, nobody said anything about taking any advantage here-" He stepped forward, causing Sami to back farther, nearly knocking the bust to the floor in her haste.

"Oh, no? Don't think I forgot that cheap line-oh, we can figure out something to do with our-our clothes off for an hour-only-only an hour wasn't good enough! You had to- you had to take the whole night and-and-"

Lucas's brows shot down with an insulted air.

"Hey now, I took you in last night out of the goodness of my heart. Because I'm a gentleman."

"You?" Sami's jaw dropped incredulously. A small laugh bubbled up in her still half-raw throat. "A gentleman?"

Lucas narrowed his eyes. He jerked a thumb in his direction. “Yeah. Me. Lucas Roberts. A gentleman. You lost your keys, I took you in. You had wet clothes, I gave you-"

"What?" Sami's brows furrowed. "Wait a minute. I lost my keys?"

Lucas snorted. "Yeah. You only sang it to me about five times."

Sami shook her head. "No. No. I never lose my keys. We'll just see-" She charged out of the bedroom, head whipping wildly around. "Where's my purse?"

Lucas quickly located it near one of her abandoned shoes, handing it over.

'Here you go. But you're not going to find-"

He was broken into by an oddly familiar and surprising jingle.

"There!" Sami shook her key ring in Lucas's dumbfounded face.

"But, but you said... I swear you said-"

"So you were a gentleman, huh? Took in the poor, wet, drunk girl with no keys, did you?" Sami slowly advanced on him as he backed up towards the front door.

"Sami-"

"Lies. All lies."

"Wait a minute, Sami. Just listen-"

Sami railed on, continuing to back him into the door.

"You just saw your chance to get me into to this bachelor pad from hell your mommy cooked up for you and-"

Just then, the door swung open."'Whoaa, heyy," came the familiar tones of one right-hand man with one helluva way with timing. He took in the scene before him, eyes bugging, then, slapped a hand to his forehead. "Am I-Am I interrupting something? Oh, boy, if I am just-"

"No," Sami interjected heatedly. "I was just leaving!" Without another word or backwards glance, she barreled through the open doorway and down the hall.

"Hey!" Lucas called through the doorway. "Come back here with my pajamas!" But, she was already rounding the corner, running like the very hounds of hell were on her.

Bart whistled long and low. "Saaayyy, you two must've really gotten things cookin'!" He shook his head, looking after her retreating figure. "What did I tell ya? Piranha." He made some growly, biting noises.

Lucas scowled, slamming the door home. "When's the last time you did a real piece of work for me Bart?!"

"OOh." Bart's winced a bit. "If this is about the song last night, I was just havin' some fun. Bonnie said I oughta, and I said, 'Naw, it's been too long.' Then, she said, 'But, Bart, you oughta, the night is tanking.' And well, you gotta admit , it was, and-"

Lucas rolled his eyes, storming over to where he'd left the dry-cleaning bill, retrieving it and shoving it into his chatty employee's hand.

"Do me a favor, Bart." he ground out. " Go get my dry-cleaning, and shut up for a change."

"Aww, boss, I'm hurt." Bart's clapped a hand to his chest. "So, I take it things weren't so smooth sailin' ?"

"Oh, gee, where did you get that idea?"

Bart gave him a puzzled look. "Well, ya see, I think I got it when you were getting all grouchy, and saying, "Bart, why don't you shut up-"

"Bart!" Lucas's eyes narrowed with impatience.

"What?"

"Shut up."

"Oh, right..." Bart gave a hesitant grin. "Sorry. Ma said I don't never quit flapping these gums of mine. She-"

"Bart, I don't have the time or energy. Please."

"Ooh. That bad, huh?"

Lucas leaned against the couch. "Wasn't exactly a lovefest you walked in on, you know."

"Sooo...what then?' Bart perched on the nearby sofa table and gave him a significant look. "She had your jammies. She was here at...oh, seven o-clock of the morning...?" His eyes widened. "Sayy, she wasn't like-you know, not what she's cracked up to be, or anything?"

Lucas shook his head with a sigh. "Highly doubtful, but I can't answer that, because I dunno. "

"You...dunno?"

Lucas lowered his eyes to the ground. "Nothing happened, Bart."

Bart's mouth popped open. He nearly toppled off the table. "Nothing...happened?"

"That's what I said, isn't it?" Lucas snapped, turning, pacing, raking a hand through his hair. He laughed derisively. “I wish she'd let me say as much."

"Aww, boss..."

"There I was-perfect opportunity. One ready and willing girl, my bed, and me. And-and-"

"And?"

Lucas sighed, dropped his hand, flopping to the couch, covering his hands with his eyes.. "And I couldn't do it, Bart. Not to her. Why?"

"You really want me to answer that?"

"No." Lucas mumbled behind his hands.

"Ok. Well, let me just say, then-"

"Bart-" came the usual warning.

"You've got it-"

"Bart!"

"...Bad."

Lucas sighed, looking up with a hangdog expression.

"Please don't say that."

Bart's expression changed from teasing to concern.

"Wowee, boss. You're really, really gone on this one, ain't ya? Like in love kind of gone?" Bart looked to his boss and friend with sympathy.

"Yeah." Lucas shrugged, not bothering with the denials." And she's gone -again." Lucas gestured to the closed apartment door with a weary sigh, wondering just how the hell he came to be so crazy over a crazy woman like Sami Brady.
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 *
Chapter Eighteen

" Did he really think I wouldn't check?" Sami snorted, striding purposefully to her desk and slamming her purse down, along with a parcel of black silk she'd very recently found herself, to her chagrin, hailing a taxi home in.

"Well, it was worth it," she muttered. She shook her now mildly aching head, affecting a deep, mocking tone. " 'Oh, you lost your keys, Sami.' 'Just taking you in out of the goodness of my heart, Sami.' " She put a hand to her hip, tapping her heel impatiently. Slowly, she tilted her head to the side, tapping her nails along her desk at the same pace as her patent leather pump, mouth twisting up at a new thought. "And he was calling me Sami." Her heart threatened to flutter. "Oh, stop that, Sami. So he called you Sami. He tried to before. In fact..." She flopped down in her chair and pulled up to her desk, her eyebrows pinched in increasing annoyance. " How dare he?"

She began to attack the papers on her desk, banging them against the wooden surface as if she firmly believed it was Lucas Roberts' head.

"Oh, yes, how dare he?" Jack Devereaux made his staggering way to Sami's desk, slapping a hand to his chest as face and tone mimicked her feminine outrage." The impertinence...the-the unmitigated gall...."

Sami glanced up, the papers momentarily going slack in her hands, and rolled her eyes. " All right, Jack..."

"I mean...it's only your name!" Jack went on unabated, taking his usual perch at the edge of Sami's desk. "How dare Lucas Roberts stoop so low as to-?'

"How do you know I'm talking about your dear brother-in-law?" Sami cut in irritably, resorting again to attacking the helpless paperwork, this time with the stapler. "I could be referring to the paperboy, for all you know."

"Ohh, but the paperboy never makes you wriggle your mouth that way...." Jack reached out and traced the furrowed curve of her eyebrows. "And he never makes so many wrinkles and creases there..."

Sami jerked away impatiently, stapling several more times with much force. Slam. Cashunk. Slam Cashunk. "Good to know I'm all wriggled, wrinkled, and creased." She shoved lightly at her friend." Now, if you don't mind-"

Jack smirked, getting up, but staying beside the desk, shoving his hands in his pockets and appearing deep in thought for a second before coming out with,

"And, oh, yeah, let's not forget who you were fighting with one of our fine feathered friends over last night..."

"She,” Sami bit out. "Is no friend of mine." Slam Cashunk.

"Aha!" Jack waggled a finger at his scowling friend. "So, I'm right and this is about-"

"And, you, you are just riding for Friend of the Year, aren't you, Jack?" Two more slams. Two more cashunks. "Nice to see that you even care I survived the night."

Jack's face fell at her injured tone. He patted her back comfortingly. "Aww, kid. Of course, I care. But, you know...." His eyes wandered as he lifted one sleeve from the black silk pile adorning one corner of her desk. 'I'm increasingly curious just how you survived this night..." He held out the sleeve in front of her like a hand to shake, a grin lighting his features once more.

"Jack!" Sami flipped the sleeve away in a miffed manner. Both pairs of eyes lighted on what lay beneath. Sami groaned as a sea of familiar looping handwriting came in to view just as Jack's brows swept upward and his gaze took on an eager look, seizing particularly upon the words "boss" , "secretary", and "passionate embrace".

"Well, I want to know about your night, but, perhaps, I'll get enough of a picture if I just read...wow...hey!" Jack pulled away his reaching hand, holding his wrist with a wounded look at Sami, who held her yellow legal pad of juicy stories like a whip in one hand.

"For your information, Jack, this is just a new story I started a few days ago. As in fiction. Nothing more." Sami scanned it and chucked on the desk with a shake of her head with a derisive snort. "I'm not even sure I should keep it."

"Well, let me see....Come on, I am your secret editor..."

Jack leaned over, taking the pad in hand, perusing the lines. Sami burrowed beneath her hands, a fierce blush breaking out.

" Go ahead. Say it. It’s stupid. It's implausible..."

"Oh, but Sami.." Jack straightened with a knowing smile, thumping the pad for emphasis. "This has it all...a spunky young secretary working her way up...a fun-loving, exasperating, but...ultimately irresistible boss...they do say to write what you know, after all..."

Sami wrinkled up her brow even more, snatching the pad back. "Oh, give me that! I wish I'd never even left it out in the first place!"

Jack quirked a brow.

"Yeah...about that...living dangerously, aren't we?" He leaned in nearer." Or is it one of those little slip-ups your subconscious is hoping will be discovered by certain parties?"

"Hmmpph. Not likely, Jack," Sami wheeled her chair around, legal pad in hand. " Because this one is going to the -" Sami paused over the wastebasket with a sigh, her own words begging to be given a second chance. "Okay..." she amended as she swiveled back toward her bottom drawer, fishing out the key and unlocking it. "So, maybe I'll salvage some of this for something more plausible." With that, she unceremoniously dropped the legal pad among her collection of rough drafts.

" Plausible? As in plausible explanations?"

Sami startled and hastily shoved the drawer closed with her leg before turning on the owner of the obviously angry voice. She flew from her seat, folded her arms over her chest, leaning in to Lucas Roberts with narrowed eyes.

"As if you're even capable of one about last night?"

Lucas leaned right back.

"As if you'd let me even give one about last night?"

Jack harrumphed politely, slowly backing away. "You know...I think I'm gonna... advice columns don't write them-well, you know the usual excuse..." He scratched his forehead. "Uhhh.. if you're even listening, that is..."

'Oh, is that what we're calling the "no keys" line?" Sami railed on, sniffing disbelievingly.

Lucas shook his head. He poked his head around to a retreating Jack.

"Hey, wait, Jack! I've got a question for you."

Jack hesitated. 'Well, Lucas, I'd like to stay for round 113, but I-" He made a general gesture down the hall, sighed at his brother-in-law's look , dropped his hand and headed back towards the two. "Ok. Shoot."

" Ok. If a drunk woman tackles you into a fountain, lays a big kiss on you, loses her keys-

"I did NOT lose my-"

Lucas rolled his eyes.

" Fine. Says she's lost her keys, then wakes up in your bed the next morning screaming at you for your gentlemanly-"

"Gentlemanly," Sami muttered. " Gentlemanly like Rock Hudson's gentlemanly in Pillow Talk."

Lucas smirked. "Oh, his type melts the butter on your popcorn. Why dontcha just admit it?"

Jack choked back laughter. He'd been on hand to watch his friend watch that particular flick a couple of years back. Even with Brandon Walker at her side, her sighs were obvious.

Sami, for her part, huffed, whipping her head away, averted cheek turning a delightfully distracting shade of pink, causing Lucas's smirk to go full-blown.

"Uhh...question? Was there one?" Jack waved a hand in front of Lucas's face.

Lucas shook his head and cleared his throat. "Uhh, yeah...back to the point. Say she throws your gentlemanly deeds right in your face like they were pig slop, turning it allll into some cheap seduction-which you know I don't do, by the way- then storms out at seven o-clock in the morning in your best pajamas...what do you say?"

Jack's jaw dropped. He looked from one scowling friend to the other. "Uhhh...I'd say....I'd say...ahem...I’d say this requires more thought. Excuse me..." He made moves as if to flee once more.

'Jack! Wait don't bother running on my account."

Sami rolled her eyes, patting her slightly more hastily styled than usual updo self-consciously. "I don't have time for this, anyway. I have to get down to the art dept." She turned on her heel, retrieving several items from her desk and depositing the ones topmost into Lucas's hands. "There. There are your precious pajamas! Now, if you'll excuse me-"

A hand shot out to halt her progress. "Oh, no ,no, no, you can't just say here's your pj's and try to get away. We're not finished yet. I've got something for you, too."

"Whatever you are selling, Mr. Roberts, I'm not buying," Sami ground out, tugging unsuccessfully on her trapped arm.

"Fine," Lucas abruptly dropped her hand, producing two somethings from his briefcase and dangling them in front of Sami before suddenly backing away towards his office and the big picture window therein, snickering as Sami's expression rapidly changed, her pursuit sudden and swift. " If you don't want your silly, pointy, Cinderella slippers back, why, I'll just-" He cranked open the window just enough to hold them over the ledge.

"Those cost me a whole paycheck, you jerk!" Sami fisted one jacket lapel in hand. "Give them back!" She attempted to reach around for them.

" Unh-unh. Not till you promise to hear me out."

"Like hell. We have nothing left to say."

"Tssk. Tssk. Such language, Miss S. Of course, I have plenty left to say even if you don't. You hardly let me get a word in edgewise, but hey, what else is new?"

Sami fumed, looking from Lucas to her beloved heels back to Lucas, wrinkling her nose. She sat down in one of the little armchairs with a resigned sigh. "Fine. Talk away, Chatty Cathy."

Outside the slightly ajar door, Jack chuckled softly. "Chatty Cathy...good one, Sami."

Lucas smirked a bit as he pulled the shoes into safety, tossing them in Sami's lap. "I'd preferred Charlie as opposed to Cathy, but...hey, beggars can't be choosers, right? You're actually giving me an opening to talk, so..." He rubbed his hands together , leaning back on the ledge. "I want to make something clear to you. What you're thinking happened last night..."

"Oh, you mean the lecherous, slimy way you got me into the-"

Lucas groaned with impatience. "It didn't happen like that." He blew out a long, noisy breath. "Look, believe it or not, all that really happened is you lost your keys-"

Sami sprang from her seat.

"Oh, not that again! If I lost them, why were they right in my purse this morning? Hmmmm? Answer me that!"

Lucas shrugged, smiled, brows raising. "I don't know. You tell me. All I know is there was some drunk singing in my ear." He affected a high-pitched singsong." 'No keys....No keys...' Sound familiar?"

Sami frowned in concentration, something of the annoying refrain striking her memory. Foggy pieces of the night before presented themselves to her once again. She could see the fountain, the kiss, eyelashes floating like spiders in the water, a soggy pair happily trekking to the parking lot...and one of them-the female of the duo- skipping along, singing in a slurring manner about her lack of... Sami squeezed her eyes shut, willing the memory away, cheeks tinging pink at her own drunken fib. Welll...maybe, she just looked in her purse and didn't see them. The next instant, a tiny bit of metal flashed up in her memory bank. Her cheeks went a shade darker. Okay, so it was a drunken fib.

"Uh, oh," Jack whispered outside, snagging Sami's coffee cup from her desk and stealing a sip. "Too quiet."

Lucas was observing her thoughtfully, watching the myriad of changes in her expression from doubt to horror to defensiveness and back to horror. "See, you do remember."

Sami sighed, peeping her eyes open cautiously. "Fine. Let's just say, for some odd reason, I believe you...That still doesn't explain you and me-the-the p-pajamas-the bed-"

"Let's just say you were persuasive...."

Jack coughed a bit on his next sip of coffee.

Sami's mouth popped open with a gasp. Her hand swung out, ready to connect with his jaw when Lucas grabbed her wrist firmly. "Not like that." He shook his head. "Man, what a difference a day and some sobering up makes."

Sami narrowed her eyes, pursing her lips, pulling her hand away. "Well, if you'd explain things in such a way-"

"Well, if you'd let me explain, I'd tell you that it was very innocent. Now, the pajamas should be fairly obvious. You were soaked, I offered you something dry-"

Outside, Jack was leaning in closer, listening for all he was worth.

"Ahem...what goes on here?" came the dreaded snobby tone behind him.

Jack startled , whipping around. 'Uhh...nothing...nothing, Mrs. Kiriakis...Just uh...waiting my turn to talk the boss..."

Kate folded her arms. "Unh, huh," she replied dryly. "It's always nothing, but always looks like something.... Excuse me." Kate made her way to the door, peering in.

"Umm...yeah, speaking of which..." Sami was saying, holding up her shoes. "I know I had more than these last night..."

Kate's face began to purple. "What?!"

"Oh, boyyy," Jack muttered.

Lucas nodded tightly. "Bart is going to bring your dress by from the dry cleaners...the rest uhh.." Lucas went over to his briefcase, pulling out something complicated and lacy. "Whatever you want to call this..."

Kate's face neared eggplant range.

"Mrs. Kiriakis?" Jack whispered. " You all right? Do you need some water?"

Sami's face warmed as she snatched it from his hand. "Lingerie. They call it lingerie. I figured a seasoned pro like you ought to know-"

"Wait, Mrs. Kiriakis, don't-"

"Ohhh, my Gawddddd!" an apoplectic Kate shrieked her entrance.

Jack followed. " ...Go in..." He hung his head, shoulders sagging in defeat. "Sorry, you two. I tried. So...uhh...see ya.." And this time, for a change, not one person grabbed at his sleeve, he noted to extreme relief as he made like a flash down the hall. They were all three too busy staring at each other.

Lucas blanched. "Mom! It's not what it-"

"Uhh, Mrs. Kiriakis-"

"Tell me I'm hearing things! Tell me you and this two-bit secretary didn't-ohhhhh.." Kate nearly collapsed to the nearest chair. She dropped her forehead to her hand. "You know, every time I turn around, it seems-" She broke off, glancing at the desk. "Your pajamas, Lucas. Why are the pajamas I gave you sitting on your desk?"

Sami's mouth twisted up in horror once again. "She gave you those?"

Lucas pressed a hand to his own weary forehead, his face coloring a bit.

" Mom....We were just discussing ....discussing...uhh"

" The newest set of pictures," Sami offered, flipping her lacy undergarment around nervously. "We uhh...we think the man should be in pajamas, too, this time. And, what is...more...alluring than black silk?"

Lucas watched her with surprise, amusement and something more.

"Unh, huh...and that?" Kate pointed to the lingerie.

Sami looked down at the object in question, coloring profusely as she realized all eyes were on the way her hands flipped the scrap of fabric around, particularly Lucas, with that devil's glint she was coming to know so well. "This...this is for the female model...part of it, anyway...there's more coming..."

Kate considered this for a breathless moment, then cautiously said, “Well, all right. But, just so you know, my eye is still on you...Angie told me some strange things concerning you last night when she brought in her resignation this morning."

Sami swallowed even as she inwardly cheered that another twitty bird had flown. "Oh?"

Kate stood, crossing her arms, her bouffant hairdo barely shaking from its stiffness.

"Public drunkenness is unbefitting a Titan woman, Sami. Now, this is your final warning. Any more infractions of this nature, and you are out on your ear. Whatever your stepfather may think, you are expendable. Secretaries like you are a dime a dozen. Now, that being said, get to work, both of you...' She headed for the exit, then turned with a stern glance. "Just not too closely." With that, she left the room, taking care to leave the door more than halfway open.

Lucas turned as soon as his mother was safely down the hall. "Uhhh...thank you. Once again, I don’t know why you did it, but thank you.."

Sami stood, fiddling uncomfortably with the lace garment again. "I did it so save my own hide as much as yours. The way she feels about me, she'd have a fit if she knew...that is...if she thought what-what I thought...."

Lucas reached out and stilled her restless hand, looking deeply into her eyes.

"Sami. Nothing happened. Really. I'd never do that to you."

Sami caught her breath as the warmth spilled from his chocolaty brown eyes onto her. His words were simple, but something in the soft reassurance pulled at her heart in a way she'd been refusing to let him until now.

She nodded slowly, loathe to pull her hand away. " I-I believe you," she whispered back. "I...uhhh.. I guess an apology is in order."

Lucas shook his head, his smile self-deprecating. "No. No need. In your place, I might've thought the same. I mean, here I am, this filthy playboy, and here you are..." He sighed, looking into the depths of those big blue eyes of hers. He shrugged uncomfortably. " I mean, I am just the man with all the cheap lines, aren't I?"

Sami bit her lip, eyes searching, slowly, slowly reaching out to touch his cheek in the gentlest gesture he'd ever seen from her by far. "No. I don't think so."

There they stood for a beat or two, saying nothing, eyes impossibly drawn together, hands unmoving before Sami finally broke away, cheeks that delightful pink, toying with that lacy garment of hers before finally noticing the effect it was having and tucking it away in her pocket with an embarrassed smile. "Well, uhh, speaking of lines. Gotta-gotta figure out which lines stand out for teasers on the next story...." She winced at the highly unnatural lift to her voice, her heart refusing not to take this opportunity to flutter. She made a beeline for the exit. Their hands collided as each reached for the partially open door. Sami's felt as if her face would be perpetually warm. "I'll-I'll go get the initial prints for us to look at, and be right back-"

Lucas swallowed. "Unh, huh." His own shaky tone gave him cause to groan inwardly. This was even different than last night. The temptations were strong, the sensations of mere touch singing through his blood like some endlessly pretty tune.

"Well..."

"Well..."

Sami finally drew away again. "I'll-I'll be back with those prints..."

Lucas nodded." Ok..."

As soon as she exited, Sami shook her head. "Good Lord, Samantha Brady, breathe!" She hurried on down the hall.

As soon as Sami was out of earshot, Lucas leaned heavily against the doorjamb. "Good Lord, Roberts," he sighed. "Get a grip." He stepped back in the room, hands in pockets. "Something to do...something to do...keep your mind occupied...Pencils!" He pointed to cupful on his desk in triumph, grabbing them. "I- We need pencils to make notes...I can sharpen pencils...I will sharpen pencils.." He glanced around again. "Pencil sharpener...ohh! Sami's desk!"

Lucas headed out to the foyer, searching the neat stacks in consternation. "Look at all this. How does she find anything?" Lucas sifted through papers, checked the top drawer. Nothing. Second drawer. Still nothing. Ahh. Maybe the bottom one...

It was already half open. "Good way to bang a shin, Sami." he muttered as he began to pull out a legal pad. He was about to toss it aside when several words in familiar looping handwriting caught his eye. Boss. Secretary. Passionate Embrace. He read further, unconsciously licking his lips at the steamy contents. Going back to the drawer, he found several more notebooks. He began flipping through.

"Stories...they’re all stories...they..." Then he spotted it. THE story. The one that started it all "Sally?! John?! Sea of Love-?"

Lucas rocked back on his heels, looked from legal pads to where Sami had disappeared from back to legal pads, the pieces flying around to come together in his head. All those nervous looks, pointed comments...all those odd moments between her and Jack.... And last night, when she was so drunk, she said...

"Ohhh, I know her type...and...and she- she's a dopey, dopey Squarepants...jus' like me..."

Not only did she know her type. Not only was she her type. Squarepants and the mysterious author were one and the same astounding lady.

"Oh, my God," Lucas whispered in shock. "Sami Brady is Lady Love."



Chapter Nineteen

Heels resounded in the hallway to announce the secret romance writer's return, shaking Lucas from his stunned state enough to quickly replace the legal pads in the drawer. Just as Sami came into view, he was shoving the drawer closed. As she approached the desk, he was hurriedly springing up. He grabbed up the first paper he found on her desk and affected deep perusal, leaning on the desk with one hand while the other stroked his chin in a serious manner.

" Uhh...Lucas?"

Lucas pretended to startle, glancing Sami's way, trying not look as if he knew something. "Oh. That was-that was fast. I was just-I was absorbed by-" He tapped the paper in his hand. Sami peered over his shoulder.

"By my Grandma Caroline's recipe for clam chowder?" Sami asked with a hint of amusement.

Lucas screwed up his mouth in thought, slowly nodding as he handed her the recipe. "Well, yeah....would you be surprised to know I'm a consummate chef?"

"Yes,” Sami answered unhesitatingly. She held up the prints in hand, bit her lip, tamping down her still disturbingly fluttery feelings at his nearness. "Well, shall we?"

Lucas nodded, ushering her through his office door.

"Well...I may have to surprise you then..." He paused, watching her take a seat beside his desk, licking his lips. " It's amazing the way people can...surprise you...."

Sami tilted her head curiously. " Yeah..." She tucked a stray strand of blond hair behind her ear, wondering at the significance of his look as he took a seat at his desk. " Well, I- I don't know... I could still see that fuzzy nightmare of a bachelor pad of yours going up in flames." She tittered like a junior high girl, more nerves than humor.

"So could I." The words dropped unconsciously from his lips, eyes drifting up and down Sami in even a newer way, as if waiting for all that was bridled within her to come pouring forth in all its sexy glory.

Sami felt herself flush under his gaze. It was the same sort of male hunger that might've once been off-putting enough to throw a cold bucket of water on, but with this odd sensation he was seeing right through her layers of composure as well. She fidgeted in her seat.

"Ahem...well, then, it's settled...no culinary displays from you..." She tittered again, wincing at the highly unnatural sounds she was managing that day, and spread the prints out. "So uhh...let's-let's take a look at these. Now, I was thinking..."

Lucas tilted his head thoughtfully.

"You know, it's too bad we can't get the author's input."

Sami blinked, straightened. "Why-why do you say that?"

Lucas leaned back in the seat, propping his arms behind his head. "Oh, it's just that I'd love to hear her point-of-view...must be mighty interesting...."

Sami shrugged. "Yeah...you'd think so.." She bit her lip again at the searching look in his eyes., nervously tucking back falling strands again, pulling a print in front of her, pointing to one particular part of the text. "Now, back to this... I think if we put this line here-"

"You know she never even sent so much as a thank you note for the perfume?" He leaned forward in his chair, threading his fingers together, studying her.

"Hmm...maybe...maybe she didn't know what to say?" Sami offered, growing a little apprehensive at his expression. His eyes were bouncing with too many secrets.

Lucas shrugged, swiveling his chair around and rising to stand. "No...I don't think that was it..." He came around the side of the desk, hands behind his back. "I think she has plenty of words for most occasions..."

Sami was beginning to think her lip would never recover from all the biting. Adopting casualness she was far from feeling, she threw out, "Well, then, perhaps, she just feels a need to remain...hidden..."

"Hmmmm...interesting theory....." He paced up and down a bit, turned back to Sami. "but, you know..."

He ducked down just beside Sami's ear, dropping his voice an octave. "I think she just thinks she has to hide. Know what I mean?"

Sami took a couple of shallow breaths. Did he know? Did he know?” Should-should I?" she managed.

Lucas inhaled deeply, moving away a few of her falling locks. " You know, speaking of perfume...what’s that one called you're wearing? It seems...familiar."

Sami instinctively whipped her head around to look at him. His eyes were quick to mask his thoughts, but his lips twitched suspiciously.

Sami's heart thudded. Why, oh, why had she not resisted wearing his gift? Because it was from him, that's why, she reminded herself with an inward eye roll. "It's it's just some old bottle from last Christmas.....I-I forget the name...."

Lucas pulled back a bit, nodding. "Unh, huh." He lightly traced her jaw line. "Well, it's nice. I wish I could figure out why it's so...familiar, though..."

Sami swallowed uncomfortably. " Well, all-all these perfumes do smell alike after a while, d-don't they?"

"Sami, if you have anything to tell me...anything at all..."

A small laugh bubbled out her lips. "Tell? Like what?"

Lucas smirked a bit, lifting one brow. "I dunno....whatever you know about this Lady Love person..."

Sami's wide blue eyes gazed into his almost in plea. "Work!" she suddenly blurted out.

"Work?"

Her hand shot out to the prints. " Work," she repeated firmly. "Now, as lovely a conversation as this is, why don't we get back to work? You heard your mom. I can't afford to have any more...infractions..." Another nervous titter. Oh, geez, Sami. Draw a map for him, why don't you?

Lucas pursed his lips. "Okay... you're probably right." He blew out a small breath of irritation. Though, if you'd just claim what's rightfully yours, you wouldn't have to worry about affording infractions, Sami, dear. He sat back down, watching Sami, pondering what could make one woman so damn determined to hide all that light under a bushel, and contemplating just how to get that light out into the open.

*****************************************

"You did what??" Jennifer shrieked and nearly lost her hold on the Tupperware container of potato salad. She turned from the icebox to her sheepishly shrugging younger brother. "Tell me you didn't."

Lucas snagged an oatmeal cookie from a plateful on the table and straddled a chair.

"Wellll...I was kind of having a little fun at first, seeing if she'd squirm, then, I thought, hey, maybe this will ferret the truth out of her..."

Jenn looked over her brother's head to her husband's. Jack was toying with his the spoon in his coffee, shaking his head. “Ohh, boy..."

Lucas frowned with a mouthful of cookie. "What? What "oh, boy"? What did I do wrong? You three were the one playing mystery author all this time with me. " He took another bite of cookie. "I should be mad, but.. I'm not. Just...confused."

Jack chuckled. "Well, women have been known to do that to a man."

"Jack!" Jennifer pouted in protest, chucking the Tupperware in the icebox with a bit more force than necessary.

"Sorry, Jenn, but you've gotta admit, you keep my brain going in circles..."

Jennifer rolled her eyes. "Not my fault if you can't keep up, Mr. Devereaux." She pulled up a chair at the kitchen table and leaned in to Lucas. "Now, look, Lucas, here's the deal. Sami's an...interesting person."

"You don't know the half of it," Lucas smirked.

"Yeah, well, underneath all that prickly surface...that...."

"Total insanity?" Jack supplied with a grin.

Jennifer threw him a censorious look.

"Hey, this is your good friend we're speaking of, Jack."

He shrugged, snaring a couple of cookies of his own. "Doesn't stop me from saying she's a crazy..." He pointed one cookie towards Lucas. "But, a lovable one. You'd do well to have a girl like Sami." He bit into the first cookie. "But, I think what Jennifer's trying to say is...you're going to have to finesse this out of her."

Jennifer gave her husband a somewhat quizzical look. "Sort of." She turned back to her brother. "What I mean is, she's a woman. She has a very sensitive side. You need to approach the situation very carefully...you know, make her feel secure with you."

Lucas nodded slowly. "I see...so, she needs to know it's okay, in other words?" He leaned forward, the wheels of his mind turning. "I can do that." He nodded again. "Yeah. I think I can do that."

Jennifer smiled benignly. "Just remember, this can't be one of your turn the lights low and throw on a little Dean Martin things. "

Jack nearly choked on his cookie. "Hey! That always worked on you!"

"Ahh, " Jennifer replied with an affectionate pat on the cheek. "But I'm not Sami, dear, and you, thankfully, are not Lucas."

"Hey! I'm still here, ya know." Lucas's curled his mouth in thought, his eyes taking on a glint of inspiration. "But, not for long." He sprang up, grabbing for his suit jacket. " Jenn, Jack. Thank you for the cookies and advice. But, I think I know what I'm going to do."

Jennifer looked a bit wary, rising to see Lucas to the door, plate of cookies in hand. "What?"

Lucas waved a finger at her. 'Unh, unh, unh. My turn for secret-keeping. But, you can feel free to wish me luck."

Jennifer smiled uneasily, leaned forward and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Always."

Lucas grabbed one more cookie. He held it up. "For the road," he explained.

Jack came up behind his wife in time to return Lucas's hand raised in salute.

Jennifer leaned against her husband's shoulder as they watched Lucas climb into his car depart.

"Ohhh, Jack, why do I have a weird feeling about this?"

"Because he's your brother who also happens to have the reputation for chasing and catching half the skirts in this part of the country. He didn't get them by being Mr. Gentility."

Jennifer gave a short laugh. "Comforting thought. Sami's your friend. Aren't you the least bit worried for her?"

Jack considered this before slowly shaking his head. "Hmmm...no. Sami is resourceful. Sami can hold her own. Besides which, I've been dying for someone else to know about her talent for a long time. Now, if I worried about anything, it might be Lucas's head and just how much of it could be left if she bites it off." He took the plate from her, grabbing up another cookie and biting down.

"Another comforting thought," Jennifer sighed.

"I know." Jack held out the plate. "Have a cookie."

"Thanks.” Jennifer sighed again and bit into a mouthful of oatmeal, still watching out the open door. "Oh, Lucas. Please, please do this the right way."

**********************************************

Two pencils. Two pencils stood between him and a tumbling waterfall of gold. Lucas smirked, approaching the situation quietly, cautiously, so as not to disturb the fair woman so keenly bent to her task at this late hour of the evening. First one pencil... he thought with a gentle tug at the back of her head. Then, the-

A hand shot up to join his along with a squeal of protest that rang out in the nearly deserted office. "Hey! Don't! My hair will fall!" Sami twisted halfway around to see Lucas's eyes dancing merrily, one pencil secured in his sneaky hand.

He leaned nearer with a waggle of brows.

"What if I want it to?” he whispered, tugging lightly on the remaining pencil she still tried to protect.

Sami drew a quivery breath, searching his playful eyes for any hint of what had nearly made her run like a skittish mouse the day before. So far, nothing even suggesting a hint had so much as passed his lips today. Maybe her fears were all for nothing, she thought with a small smile. She slowly removed the pencil herself, tossing it to Lucas. Her hair tumbled round her shoulders, into his hands.

"Okay," she whispered back, tilting her head back and surrendering briefly to the sensation of his hands stroking her hair, his lips drawing closer and closer to hers. Closer and closer....

Hovering just above her tempting mouth, he asked, "Sami Brady, how about a date?"

She blinked, lifting her head a bit. "What?"

"A date...you know, dinner and let's get to know each other time...?" His eyes roamed her face, settling again on the mouth, inching his lips that much nearer to hers.

As she spoke, her breath tickled his own. "A date?" she giggled nervously. " Get to know each other? Haven't we done that, more or less?"

"More or less," he conceded in husky whisper. "But, I'd like to make it more..." His lips barely brushed hers.

Sami felt her heart knocking against her chest as if to say, "Say yes! Say yes! say yes!"

"Ok," in a murmur that bumped up against his seeking mouth.

"Ok?" He pressed his lips little deeper.

"MMM-hmmm-" blending with his breath.

"Good," he mumbled against her lips, finally, slowly dragging his away. "Tomorrow. Seven o'clock. I'll pick you up. You won't be sorry." With that, he stood. "Until tomorrow.." he leaned forward and captured her lips once more before turning to go, his smile and pumping fist of triumph hidden by the shadowy hallway.

"Until tomorrow," she repeated at her desk, watching him go with a sigh. "And I better not be sorry."



Chapter Twenty

The hallway carpet was going to get a hole. He was sure of it. Lucas looked down at the faded green diamonds and imagined there was more wear and tear than ten minutes before. Ten minutes, and too chicken to announce his presence.

"Might as well grow some feathers, Roberts, just like your usual dates."

He snorted, giving his head a self-deprecating shake.

"What's happened to you, Lucas, my boy? Ever since you were knee-high to a tree stump you've been at this game. Like Parcheesi." He blew out a breath, began his pace again. But, Sami Brady was no simple round of Parcheesi, his racing mind and restive stomach argued. Sami Brady was no simple anything. He felt his heart pick up the pace from his feet.

"Soo...that’s okay," he ground out. "Just...do something about it already!" Fine, fine. His mind responded to the berating, his body grudgingly stepping in line.

He halted in his pacing, smoothed his hair, gave another look to the closed door of her apartment, trying to still the uproar going on in his belly. He took a long breath and finally pushed the buzzer. Almost immediately the click of heels on wood followed. He glanced down, taking a quick survey of his appearance. Suit pressed, tie straight, shoes on the right feet.

He rolled his eyes at himself.

"Get a grip, Roberts. Get a grip," he muttered. "You've done this a thousand times. She’s just a date. Nothing but a run-of-the-mill, ordinary-"

The door swung open in an eager way. Flowing gold curls, a sweetly nervous smile and a swirl of blue silk draped over a deliciously feminine form floated in his line of vision, showing up his obvious lie.

"Date," he finished in a faltering way. His eyes roamed her from head to toe. Corrections were in order. She was no run-of-the-mill date. She was an angel stepping out of those proverbial pearly gates just to grace this mere mortal with her presence. And, then, the angel opened her beautiful rose-tinted lips and spoke.

"What?” Sami blinked quizzically, almost sure she was just imagining she heard him speak over the thudding rush of her heartbeat. She shook her head slightly at herself. She was back in junior high, back to the moment of endless waiting for Ernie Dillman to pin her corsage on her. Heart all thumpity-thump, mind frozen in time, chest moving in shallow, funny jumps. She tucked her hair behind her ears, fiddled with her skirt. “I mean-did you-did you say something?"

Lucas swallowed. " Umm...I said uh...umm...ready for our date?" He held out his arm.

Sami took it, closed her apartment door, and looked over the simple but handsome gray suit he wore, then glanced to her dress with a shy blush coloring her cheeks.

"I-I was hoping I dressed all right."

Lucas felt a bit of the old smirk come through his features as he again let his eyes feast on her beauty. "Oh, more than all right."

Sami's cheeks flushed a little deeper. "It's just that you never said where we were going."

Lucas's smirk broadened as he ushered her into the elevator. "Oh, so I didn't." He lifted one brow as he pushed the down arrow. "But, then, we all have secrets sometimes..."

*******************************************

"You really expect me to wear that thing?" Sami's jitters dispelled in the face of what was now in front of her, irritation coming home to roost as her eyes swept the darkening harbor area Lucas had parked them in front of.

Lucas looked down at the hanky dangling in one hand, then back to the dubious Sami. He chuckled softly. "Come on, Sami, you don't trust me or something? " He glanced to the harbor. "I'm not going to let you swim with the fishies, if that's what you think."

Sami smirked a bit at that. " I don't know..."

Lucas mock-pouted. He turned on his best puppy dog eyes.

"Aww, come on. How can I surprise you if you don't trust me? "

Sami wrinkled her nose a bit. "Well, I think we've sort of run the gamut there on trust. But, that's not it." She shrugged." I just ...really don't like surprises."

"Well, I think you might like this one."

Sami's expression remained wary.

"Come on...." Lucas let the hanky swing back and forth in front of Sami's face. "Don't be such a squarepants..."

Sami's eyes narrowed in challenge. "Squarepants, eh? Give me that thing." With that, she snatched up the taunting hanky and lifted it to her eyes. "Tie me, please."

Lucas laughed outright.

"With pleasure." Lucas reached up behind her, knotting the hanky just tight enough to keep it in place, allowing his fingers wander to brush her hair as he inhaled that scent he knew to be Midnight Lace, even if her memory was conveniently faulty on that point.

"Okay..." He took her hand. "Here we go...."

Sami giggled a bit as she took a few hesitant steps forward.

She groped blindly with her free hand. " Do you- Do you do this for all your dates? Should I have worn my feather boa to fit in better?"

"No, and hell no. " Lucas caressed Sami's bare arms as they continued on. "I like you just like this." He leaned in closer to her ear. "You don't need any of those trappings. All you need to be is you."

Sami felt her cheeks warm. "Well, uh, thank you." She felt herself wobble a bit as the terrain beneath her feet changed.

"Whoa, there." Lucas quickly caught her. "You don't want me to have to carry you again-hmmmm...wait, not a bad idea..."

Sami shook her head with a laugh. "Oh, I think I'll make it. " She felt the earth shift with every step. "How far up the beach are we going?"

Lucas chuckled again.

"Just a few more steps, smarty...ok...ok...to your left...and...stop...here.."

Lucas signaled with a touch to her shoulders. Sami waited with bated breath in spite of herself, feeling a slight breeze waft through, but her slight shiver came from the hands that played at the back of her hair

"One...two...three..." Lucas pulled the handkerchief away with a flourish.

Sami's mouth dropped in shock at the sight before her eyes.

A small canopy had been set up on a stretch of sand, a table just big enough for two beneath it. Sami gasped, wordlessly wandering in, hand running over the pure white linen tablecloth. Hothouse violets adorned the center. Candles lit up the interior, flames wavering and winking, picking up china's shine, wine glasses' twinkle, and silverware's gleam.

She paused with a smile on the elegant settings. "Only one set?" she commented, glancing up. "Don't you plan to eat?"

Lucas joined her , leaning against her from behind. "I plan to feed you," he whispered. "There will be no thrown food here tonight."

Sami couldn't stop her smile, turning with an innocent look to her baby blues. "What? Me?" Her mouth twisted suddenly.

" Hey. Is that why you brought me out here all by my lonesome? Afraid of the food flinger?"

Lucas smirked, reaching over to fetch a wine bottle that sat chilling nearby and poured a couple of glasses. " Never. But, I will tell you, there are no jelly doughnuts, no cheese puffs and definitely no raisins on the menu."

Sami snapped her fingers in pretended disappointment, then took the proffered wineglass. A bit of nervousness crept back in.

"Well, uhh, shall we toast to something?"

Lucas tilted his head in thought, then a smile spread out over his features and he offered his glass in salute. "To...seeing under the covers...."

"Now, where have I heard that before?" Sami clinked her glass against his.

Lucas took a sip of the wine. "Solid advice, I'm telling you."

Sami sipped her wine, glancing around the lovely surroundings. She touched the tips of the violets thoughtfully. " Nobody's ever done anything like this for me before." She slid a somewhat bashful look back at him.

Lucas set down his glass and came to her side, placing an arm around her waist, his lips near her neck. "Well, nobody was damn fool, and he deserved more than that sock to his jaw. And you deserve better than you've gotten."

Sami looked up and swallowed at his nearness, her tummy doing that jittery dance once again. "Never thought I'd hear that coming from you."

"Well, trust me, Sami Brady, before the night is through, you are going to realize all you deserve." He lifted her hair slightly, his lips so very near , her senses already tingling.

Sami shivered as his breath climbed down her bared neck.

"So, uh, if-if not cheese puff or doughnut or raisin muffin, what will you be feeding me?" Her words ended on much too much a sigh for her comfort.

"Patience, dear lady," he replied. "Patience." He pulled away, tapping her on the nose. "All...in...good...time" He turned on his heels like a dancer, going to another corner of the canopy and placing a record on the phonograph there.

A familiar burst of trumpets sounded, followed by the rich sounds of Elvis Presley.

My baby's long and tall

She's like a cannonball....

Lucas turned again, with a swivel of hips. Sami both giggled and felt feminine flutterings as he made his way towards her, plucking a violet from the vase on the table and presenting it to her along with his hand, pulling her close to his body.

"Why does this seem so familiar?"

Lucas waggled his brows as he maneuvered her around the beach. "Well, honey, I think you'd gotten awfully friendly with old Tom Collins, but surely you remember-"

Sami flushed a bit. "Ohh, yes. A dance for Squarepants."

He leaned in to her ear, something that was fast becoming one her favorite gestures of his.

"Don't be embarrassed. You were really awfully cute that night. In fact..." His eyes sought hers. He licked his lips. His voice took on that husky quality that brushed at her senses like something wonderfully tickly, his eyes glowing in sincerity. "When we fell into the fountain, I think that's when I realized I was falling-that is-I'd fallen-" Her eyes were wide and so blue, so full of wondering, and longing. He sighed, leaning in nearer, his lips hovering inches above hers. " Let me tell you a different way."

Sami felt her heart give way to that same restless thumpity-thump as before. "Ok," she managed, her voice a soft whisper that barely carried above the soar of the music, the whistle of the wind and the lap of the water nearby.

Closer and closer his lips came...closer...closer... Her eyes drifted closed. Closer and closer...

"Sami...do you remember that one part of Sea of Love?"

His voice startled and disappointed in the summer still. Her eyes flew open to find his face still near to hers, his eyes searching. "Which is that?" She managed not to sigh.

He took her hands in his. "Well, the part about the boat. How it didn't have a name. You know?"

Sami nodded, feeling a hint of gratification he'd seen beyond the steamier portion to one of her favorite points in her first and fondest story. "What-what about it?"

"Well...I was going to wait till after dinner," he whispered, an undercurrent of excitement in his tone. "But I-I just, well, I can't-come on."

With that, he took her by the hand, taking up the handkerchief as well.

"Again?" Sami giggled nervously as he tied it round her eyes once more and started leading her through the sand back to the harbor.

"Got another surprise. Now, I already know you don't mind water, so...."

Sami felt his arms slide around her waist as he lifted her down into a wobblier surface.

"A boat?" she guessed as he assisted her to a sitting position, inhaling the scent of the water around them.

"Right again, smarty." his voice floated from the other side of the boat. She could hear a couple of movements, the beginnings of a motor sputtering, then cutting out.

"Damn," she heard his mutter, and unsuccessfully smothered a laugh.

"No fair giggling at the surpriser," Lucas jokingly groused as he tried the motor a second time.

"Surprisee's prerogative," she quipped back. Just then, the motor caught.

"Aha!" Lucas's triumphant cry rose above the noisy motor.

Sami felt the shifts and turns as they navigated the water.

'Betcha didn't know this mama's boy could steer a boat!"

"Don't tell me that's the surprise!" she called laughingly, enjoying the zip of the breeze around her face, beneath her hair.

"No. I'd say you're in for bigger surprises tonight, Sami. Much bigger indeed. "

"What did I do to earn all this?"

"Just being you, dear lady. Just being you." Suddenly, the motor cut out again.

"Uh, oh..." Sami began. She reached up to remove the handkerchief. A hand reached out to halt her progress.

"Not just yet. I want to say something first."

Sami obediently placed her hands in her lap, getting into the spirit of playing along.

Hand still atop of hers, Lucas went on, "Now, about that part of Sea of Love... You know what I like about it?"

Sami smiled curiously. "No. What?"

Lucas took a deep breath. "I like how John realizes the perfect name for his boat is the woman who made his life better, made things come alive for him in a way they never had. So...I decided to let life imitate art." He leaned in again, gently caressing Sami's neck and shoulders before beginning to untie the knot at the back of her head. " He called his Miss Sally, and me? I name mine after you..." He placed his lips beside her ear. "Lady Love." With that, he dropped his hold on the handkerchief to reveal the second and much more shocking surprise of the evening.

Sami's mouth again dropped in shock. Before her eyes, bobbing in the water, was a long sleek yacht, harbor lights showing up all too clearly that the name was, indeed, Lady Love.

Sami's eyes darted back and forth several times over. Yacht. Lucas. Yacht. Lucas. Yacht. Lucas. On one side, swirling scarlet letters screamed her closely-guarded secret, on the other, a pair of deep brown eyes and a knowing smile mirrored it.

Oh, my god. He knows. He does know.

"Well?" came his voice soft and a trifle nervous in the stillness of the late summer air.

Sami sucked in breath after breath, but it did no good. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't think, she couldn't speak.

So, she did the one thing she knew to do. With one tiny look of agitation, she leapt off the motorboat into the chilly waters below, swimming away with as much might as a girl in impractical evening wear had.

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 *
Chapter Twenty-One

"Hey!" Lucas instinctively sprang up as he watched the woman full of surprises surprise him once more, making her way through the water like it was the Olympics and she going for the gold. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"Getting...away...from...you!" Sami returned somewhat breathlessly, forcing herself stroke after stroke farther from the boat and -and him.

Lucas furrowed his brow. "What the hell?! Why?!" He shook his head. "Never mind!" he called to the retreating swimmer. "You aren't getting away from me that easy!" Lucas gave the motor a good yank.

RRRR RRR RRRrrrrrr.

" Damnit!!" He jerked at it again. The boat shuddered, the motor whined. RRRR RRR Rrrrrrr. "Come on, you lousy excuse for a boat!" He slapped a hand on the sputtery motor, and tried once more. The motor caught, gave a valiant effort, and begged to be put out of its misery. RRRR RRR RRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Lucas looked to Sami, heart thudding with an odd sense of fear that if she got away, that was that. And, she was well on her way to the shore, even with that evening dress dragging a bit.

"Oh, no, you don't," he muttered, removing his jacket and doing the only thing he knew to do. He took a tiny breath of aggravation and leapt into the chilly waters after her, swimming with all the might of a put -upon would-be lover.

Sami startled to the sudden splash behind her. She stole a glance over her shoulder only to see Lucas quickly gaining on her, a determined expression on his face. She made a little squeaking noise at the back of her throat and redoubled her own efforts.

"Hey!" he called. "You...might...as....well...give...up...I swam.... for my team .....in high school!"

"Oh...so...that's ..why...you...sound...so...out...of...breath...?" she shot back, smiling somewhat smugly as she realized she was just a few yards shy of the shore, and he-she took one more check- he was still well behind her.

"Oh? You...think...I can’t...catch you? Is...that...it?" Lucas paused in the water and smirked. "Watch this." With that, he suddenly ducked under and out of sight. Sami sat frozen for a moment in puzzlement before she came to and began to scramble again for the shore, more panicked than before. She was a scant foot away from freedom when something grabbed a hold of her waist and locked on. She yelped and twisted in her sudden confines as the something surfaced with a mighty spray of water and revealed itself to be Lucas, hair dripping, dress shirt stuck to his chest, his eyes both dancing with triumph and sparked angry questions.

"Let me go!" Sami squealed, wriggling like a fish on a hook, water shooting up in all directions.

"Not a chance," Lucas growled in response, holding her fast. "Not till I get some answers. Now, tell me why you're doing cannonballs off the sides of motorboats."

Sami continued to flail against him, her face taking on a stony set as she threw back, "Oh, I think I'm entitled to some answers of my own! Just what-what is the deal with that yacht there?!" She nodded her wet head back to the long sleek craft anchored in the distance. "Is that your idea of a joke? Because , I'm not laughing!"

Lucas narrowed his eyes.

"I didn't intend for it for laughs, if that's what you mean," he threw out, voice edging with wounded pride, his hold slipping a little on her waist.

"So, so why then?!" Sami railed on. " You-you bring me out here, make like it's some big, important date, like I'm special.... just-just to spring this on me?! To rub it in that you know one of my most closely-guarded, precious secrets?!" Sami gulped in a couple of shuddery breaths, willing the tears stay away. " You know, I almost believed you really were different, that I'd had you pegged wrong. But, I had you pigeon-holed from the get-go. Filthy playboy, up to no good." She let out another little sob, a tear or two springing free in spite of her best efforts. Her voice dropped to a sad whisper." Just how far will you go to humiliate me?"

Lucas sighed impatiently, dropping his hands from her altogether, pushing back streaming locks. 'You know something, you really are a crazy broad! You know that?!" He gestured wide, sending water spiraling through the air. "Did you hear word one of what I said back there? " He shook his head at her. "No. Of course not. You hear whatever you want to hear, and believe whatever you want to believe. God forbid someone should have good intentions. God forbid someone should happen to-"

"Good intentions?" Sami sniffed. "You wouldn't know good intentions from -from one of your chickadee's feathered boas! Sorry, but I won't be joining your flock!" With that, she continued her previous ascent from the water, now in a shallow enough part to stand and walk. A moment later, Lucas shot up, fast on her trail, sloshing along behind her.

"Is that what you think?! That I went to such great lengths to add you to some kind of harem?! Lady, I have never spent as much money as I did back there on you and, now, I'm beginning to wonder why!"

"Oh, ho, so privileged I am! All that money, and nothing for your troubles!" Sami lifted the her soggy heels to dry land at last, whirling to look at Lucas, who was no more than a step or two behind." Well, Mr. Roberts, I'm so sorry, but, contrary to popular belief, I am not your mythical Lady Love."

Lucas paused with both feet still in the water, blinking in befuddlement. "I don't understand. Jack said-"

"Sure, those are my stories," Sami went on, lifting her soaked hem with each step as she struggled up the sand and along the boardwalk. " But, that doesn't mean-" She halted dead in her tracks. "Wait a minute! Jack?!" She wheeled around again, advancing on Lucas. "Jack?! You two discussed this?!"

"Now, hold on there, spitfire, it wasn't like that-" Lucas backed away at the sight of flashing blue eyes and flaring nostrils, water squishing through his Italian loafers.

"He told?" Sami continued to back Lucas step by step .

"Now, Sami, he had nothing-"

"He told! " Sami stopped suddenly, the water lapping at her calves, turning, pacing as much as the sodden evening dress and water would allow. "He told. He told. Of course, he told..." A mirthless laugh bubbled to the surface. "Well, that's just rich. My friend the fink, twice over."

"Sami, now wait a minute, it wasn't like that. It's not -" Lucas reached out for her arm.

Sami quickly whipped around. "Oh, so the fink defends the other fink. How surprising! Why don't you just go jump in a lake, or whatever body of water is handy!" With that, she gave him a big enough shove to send him toppling back into the shallow end. He sat up seconds later and shook his even more soaked head with a deep, explosive growl.

"Fine! If that's what you want to think. Fine. By. Me." His lips curled in a sneer, his teeth grinding each word." If that's all you want to think of me, then maybe you better just go. Go on, save me from a life wasted on a screwy dame."

He gestured towards the boardwalk dejectedly. Sami lips parted a bit, quivering, her eyes taking on a wounded, surprised look.

"Go on," he repeated, waving her away like an alley cat that'd come and gone one too many times. "I give up. Squarepants, Lady Love, whoever the hell you are, it's just too much for a man to handle. I'm through banging down your door to get into that looney mind of yours." He leveled her with his eyes, still propped up on his hands in the water. "It's just not worth it."

She stood rooted to her spot, beads of water slowly dripping down, for some unfathomable reason unable to move now that permission had been granted, so to speak.

"What? No words for that?" Lucas shot up out of the water, movements sloshy, having now entered drowned rat status. "The great, anonymous author has nothing to say? No poetic phrase to spout, no speeches, not even a potshot?" He leaned in nearer, water dribbling between them like an inconsistent rain. “Nothing?" He couldn't keep his fingers from reaching out to tuck back an errant strand of her hair. Her pulling away was immediate and jerky.

"You want potshots? Is that what you want?" Sami leaned into him this time, lips still trembling as she said in a low, strained voice, "Go to hell, Lucas." With that she turned on her saturated heels, gathered up her skirts and made her sopping wet exit by way of the boardwalk.

Lucas watched her go with a tangle of emotions, each one pulling as hard as the last. "That's-that's not a potshot, Miss S.! That's just a direction, and, guess what, baby?! I've already been, and you know what, the devil is a woman!!!"

Lucas threw himself against a piling, stuffing his hands in his damp pockets, staring after the woman who'd tied his heartstrings in veritable knots. He blew out a long, frustrated sigh.

"If you're the devil, how is it you come in the angel package?"

******************************************

Sami slogged through the streets of Salem, without much of a destination in mind, and not much caring despite her miserable wetness. She did her best to keep anymore tears from slipping past to join the moisture glistening on her ruined make-up job.

"Just who does he think he is?" She sniffled. "What did he want me to do, shout for joy?" She paused in front of a shop window. She whipped her skirts with a flourish. "Hooraay! Congratulations, you outted my secret! I, Sami Brady, am the red-hot romance writer alll of Salem has been wanting to know about! Good for you, Lucas! Nice job sniffing me out!"

An elderly gentlemen paused, licking his lips, a Lothario lift to his bushy brows. "Red-hot you say? " his eyes wandering down her soaked dress, and noticed the way it stuck in all the right places.

"I could go for red-hot...." He lifted his hat to join the brows. "The name's Wally. I run the local filling station and-"

"Ohhhhh!" Sami drew back her hand and connected with withered cheek, the sound cracking into the quiet of the summer night. Without waiting for his reaction, she stomped her soggy way on down the sidewalk.

The old man called Wally rubbed his cheek and chuckled a bit, clicking his tongue against his false teeth. "Woo hoo, that one has got fire. Heaven hep the man who falls for her." Though, his mind went on as he watched her hips swing away, She reminds me a bit of that French girl in the moving pictures...Bridgette Bardot...

"They're all rats," Sami spat, speeding down the sidewalk as much as sloshiness would allow. As she passed the vicinity of the infamous jelly doughnut collision, she let out a small sigh.

Rat or no, Lucas Roberts was an awfully cute one, a traitorous voice reminded. She paused in her tracks again, looking through the glass of the shoe store directly beside her. Her reflection , bedraggled as it was, took on a soft and sentimental look as she let her mind drift back to that split second her eyes first looked up to his. They were like warm coffee, or a delicious sea of chocolate any single girl would gladly drown in.

"And, how many have, Samantha Brady?" she challenged her dreamy reflection. "Do you really think you're anything more than just another girl to him?"

But, the boat...

Sami squeezed her eyes shut, back open. "But, nothing! Do you know how much money he probably throws away on gadgets every day? Buying that boat is like you spending your pocket change on a soda at the drug store!" She inhaled deeply. "Besides which, you know how he likes to rub things in your face, the bigger the rub the better! and-"

"Ooh, that can't be good," a familiar male voice commented from behind.

"Yep. Talking to herself and soakin' wet. I smell a story," a female voice heavy on twang and gossipy tendencies joined in.

Sami whirled her wet head around to see that aggravating right hand of Lucas's, Bonnie on his arm, both dressed to the nines and watching her with an uncomfortable amount of curiosity. She gave them a tight smile.

"Bonnie...Bart...if it's a story you want, I think you might want to ask that wonderful employer we share. "

Bart cocked his head in thought.

"Hmm...Why doesn't the Bartster think you mean wonderful?"

"Maybe because I'm standing here dripping wet in the middle of Main Street." Sami leaned in to him. "Maybe because I'm standing here talking to my reflection in a shoe store window!" Her voice rose with each sentence " Or, maybe, just maybe it's because I was being sarcastic!"

"Whoaa...geez. Ok." Bart scurried round halfway behind Bonnie, who stood with her hands on her hips, mildly glowering at Sami. " I take it the-the boat thingy it uhh...didn’t uhh...didn’t sail?"

"Ohh, it most certainly did not sail! And doesn't it just figure. I bet he went blabbing to everybody he knows allll about his sneaky little plans!" She gestured broadly. " Next thing I know, it'll be right up there on all the billboards! The unmasking of Lady Love! And, who do I have to blame?"

"Who-who?" Bart offered timidly.

"Jack Devereaux, that's who!"

Bart's mouth dropped in shock. The boss man had been sketchy on details lately. He'd attributed it to the first cute pangs of puppy love. Did Jack really blab? He shook his head.

"What? No, not Jack.. Jack is a great guy. all-all ya have to do is read one-."

"Jackie boy?" Bonnie shook her head with a tssk, tssk. "He don't seem the type."

"Well, he's a fink, I tell you! A big, fat fink! It's his fault my stories are out there for everyone to see. I never even got so much as asked, mind you!"

"But, uhh, think of all the dough..." Bart offered weakly.

"The dough?!" Sami screamed, stamping her wet heels. " I don't want the dough! I just want the respect of one man in my life! Is that too much too ask?!"

Bart shrugged. "Uhh, no geez...I uhh...I never took a gander at it from that angle, Miss Brady. I uhh-"

Bonnie patted Sami's arm. "I understand, honey. Men can be pigs sometimes."

"Hey!" Bart protested. "I thought I was your teddy bear..."

Bonnie pinched his cheek. "Oh, not you honey. You couldn't oink if you tried."

"Aww, shucks, Bon-Bons..." Bart's eats began to pink as he ducked his head.

"Well,” Sami broke in with a roll of her eyes. "This is all very lovely, but, if you'll excuse me -"

Bonnie held her up with one hand. "Hold up there, sweetie. You're all upset. Why don't we head back to my diner and I'll give you something dry to put on?"

Sami squirmed away. "Thanks but no thanks. I think I've got to go settle things with a certain oinker."

"Ohh, well...good luck!" Bonnie called after her swiftly retreating figure. "Hope you know...what you're doin'.." She turned to Bart with a uncertain shake of her bouffant hairdo.

Bart shook his head back, putting his arm around Bonnie, watching the cute, soaking wet little piranha make her squishy but determined way down the street. "Now, that really can't be good."

*************************************

Sami marched up to the door, taking deep breath after deep breath., trying to calm herself to no avail. She pushed the buzzer, tapped her heels in wait. Moments later, he appeared. His mouth popped open.

"Uhhh...Sami... do you realize...?": He gestured to her general appearance.

" He knows!!!" she blurted, grabbing hold of his shirtsleeve. "He knows, Jack Devereaux! And you know what else?"

Jack looked to a pair of snapping blue eyes, and then to the hand twisting his shirtsleeve.

"Uhh...should I- should I be-"

"Afraid?" Sami finished. "Yes, that's a fair assumption. " She marched him back into the house, eyes blazing. She plopped him into an easy chair by the fireplace. "Get comfy. I have a thing or three to say to you!"

"Do you now.?" Jack laughed nervously, dropped his head to his hands, desperately willing Jennifer to come downstairs and to his rescue. "Ohhh. boyyy..."



Chapter Twenty-Two

" Oh, boy is right!" Sami snapped. Then, her face suddenly crumpled, her lower lip trembling. She stamped her feet in tearful anger. " You told!'"

Jack blinked at the display. "Told...what?"

Sami shook her head, chest heaving with pent-up rage. "Boy, oh, boy, oh boy...if you're going to act like you don't know..."

"Well, "Jack began hesitantly. " If it's what I think it is, you need to-"

"Ohhhh, I’m sure it's what you think it is. It's not every day you participate in humiliation this big."

She began to pace back and forth with a squishy slosh-slosh of her heels while Jack followed her progress with a mixture of trepidation, sympathy, and slight amusement.

"Sami, I don't know exactly what's going on, but, can I -get you a towel or-?"

Sami whipped her dampened locks around and paused in her tracks. "Jack, do you consider yourself my friend?"

"Well, Sami, I wouldn't take in just anybody whose walking around town like a wet seal." He leaned forward, clasping his hands, trying for a tension-diffusing smile. "That-that takes someone special and dear to my heart to-"

"Special?!" Sami spouted. "Dear to your heart?! Funny, Jack. Fun-nyyy- for a story-swiping, secret-telling fink!"

Jack's smile instantly dropped. He held out a halting hand.

"Secret-telling. .. There. Right there. That's where you're mistaken, Sami." He rose from the armchair, stuffing his hands in his pockets. " Now, Now, story-swiping I grant you-that, that move I regret even as it got you noticed finally, but, but, hold the phone, kiddo. You thinking I'm the one who told,-well, you've got it all wrong-"

She folded her arms across her chest, railing onward, pacing again "Oh, do I? Enlighten me, then, why don't you? Who besides you and Jenn-?" Sami's expression changed as she paused again. "Wait. Did Jennifer-?".

Jack quickly stuck out a hand, thinking of his wife who last he knew was peacefully reading a murder mystery in bed and how unwelcome having a real-life murder could be at this point of the evening. "Ohh, no. Down, girl. Not Jennifer. Noo. In fact, she was the one concerned for your feelings in all this. Sensitivity towards women and all that."

"Ohhh..." Sami nodded, voice growing cooler. "Which, you, Jack, probably find very amusing, no doubt." She leaned in, eyes narrowing. "Seeing as your idea of sensitive is sneaking behind your best friend's back and blabbing her secrets to the one person you know she-"

" I DIDN"T BLAB YOUR SECRET!!!!" Jack's voice squeaked with frustration.

Sami was taken aback, quite literally, eyes widening with surprise.

Jack cleared his throat, raking his hands through his hair. "S-sorry. I-I uh didn't- didn't blab your secret."

Sami bit her lip, knowing the truth when it came from her friend's lips that way. "Ok. Fine. So, then, tell me. What happened?"

"Well, Lucas happened. He stumbled on your stories a few days ago in your desk. Your drawer was unlocked, you were away , and low and behold..."

Sami slumped in in the armchair opposite of the one Jack had vacated, holding her stomach. "Ohh, no..." Her head snapped up. "Why didn't you warn me?"

He quirked a brow. "I told you before you were living dangerously. Makes a person think..."

Sami snorted. "Yeah? Well, do us both a favor and don't."

Jack shrugged. "I dunno, kid. I figured, what could be so bad about him knowing, anyway? You two seemed mighty cozy recently, and-"

"What could be so bad?!" Sami sprang up. "You're joking, right? The man named an ocean liner after me!"

Jack choked back a laugh. "Really?! An ocean liner? He came to me and Jenn for advice, but, but an ocean liner, that's-"

Sami rolled her eyes. “Ok. It was more like a yacht, but it was huge."

" So he has this yacht. He puts your name on it. And...the problem is...?"

"Jack, he humiliated me. He makes this beautiful, romantic evening, just the two of us- there was wine, dancing..."

"Wow. Embarrassment city. I'd so be blushing if I were you."

Sami twisted up her mouth. " Haha. Everything was all right up to when he blindfolded me and took me out in his motorboat."

"Hmm...blindfolds, eh? No pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey?"

Sami narrowed her eyes. "I'll pin you if you don't shut up."

Jack smiled a bit. "Ok. Sorry. Just trying to relieve the tension. Please, go on, kid."

Sami nodded. "Ok, so he gets us out a ways, shuts off the motor, and starts whispering to me all about this one part he likes in Sea of Love-"

"Ohh, boy. Should I ask?"

"The boat, Jack," Sami spat impatiently. " The part about the boat."

"Ahh, yes the boat without a name. I really liked that part."

Sami snorted again. "Apparently, so did Lucas. At least, enough to use the idea on me."

Jack nodded. "So, he named the boat after you like John did for Sally? Aww. That's kind of-"

"But, it wasn't named after me, Jack."

Jack frowned in puzzlement. "But, wait a minute, you just said-"

"It wasn't my name on the boat. He called it Lady Love. He just pulls off the blindfold and says, "Hey, I named it after you, Lady Love!" Sami's voice began to bubble with tears again. "If you think a big fat boat named after my alter ego is sweet, then you are a crazy as he is."

"Ohhhh, boyy..." Jack dropped his head to his hands. "Lucas, Lucas, Lucas," he muttered. He lifted his head again, reached out for his friend's hand once more. "Now, Sami, I know it must've been a shock to find out that way, but you've gotta know he meant well. That he wanted to show you he cares, that he wants something more."

Sami compressed her lips into a thin line. "I know nothing of the kind."

Jack smirked a bit, tugging at a still-damp strand of her hair. “So, uhh, please tell me you just kind of toppled overboard in your surprise."

Sami shook her head. " I had to get out of there, Jack. He took me by surprise, yes. But, but all he managed to show me tonight was that, if he wants anything, it's that he wants Lady Love."

"But...that's you." Jack reminded with a bewildered look.

Sami shook her head again. "No, that's just it. She's not me. She’s just something he's built up in his head from those damn stories."

Jack smiled sympathetically.

"Nevertheless, they are your stories. Your words. Whether you call yourself Lady Love, Sami Brady or Vada the Venusian Princess, they are your thoughts..." He took her hand in his and tapped on his chest. "From your heart. If he wants them, he wants you."

Sami sighed, looking from his hand holding hers and thumping his chest back to his sincere face and mumbled, "This is all your fault."

"What?" Jack dropped her hand. " We're back to that again?"

"Well, you- you shouldn't have given him the stories. And-and you shouldn't have encouraged him to take me out . And- and you shouldn't have come up with such a stupid name as-as Lady Love."

Jack shrugged. "Hey, I was put on the spot. If I could've said Samantha Gene Brady, you know I would've-"

"Yeah. That's just it. You would’ve.” Sami pulled away , her dander ruffling again as she resumed her pace from earlier. "So, so if I'm walking around town like a wet seal, well, it's-it's your fault!" She stopped and pointed an accusing finger at her friend.

Jack's brows swooped up. "My fault? Oh, that's good. Did I send a secret signal out to tell you to go swimming in your best silk ?"

Sami shrugged. 'Well, no, but, but I'd never have leapt overboard if you hadn't started this whole mess with your 'But, Sami, you should be published. ' And, 'But, Sami, he really does like you.' "

Jack shrugged. "Well, Sami, " he replied reasonably. " You should, and he does. In fact, more than that, he-"

"Ohhhhh! Don't do that to me!"

Sami lunged his way, grabbing a hold of his shirtsleeve, ready to pounce when a distinct female voice shouted, "Stop!"

Jack mentally wiped his brow with relief as Jennifer swept into the room, all wire curlers and terrycloth bathrobe, chucking her obviously interrupted mystery novel on the coffee table as she took Sami firmly in hand.

The younger woman quivered with misspent anger, chest heaving again, hot tears beginning to spill down her cheeks.

" I'm-I'm sorry, Jennifer. But, but he said-he said-"

Jennifer looked to her husband, who shrugged helplessly as he smoothed his rumpled shirtsleeve.

She shook her head a bit bewilderedly and wrapped her arms around the girl's shoulders, adopting a more soothing tone.

"Sami, honey. I know you're upset, sweetie. Look at you. You're shivering...you're..." Jenn pulled away with a bemused look. "You're extremely wet. Why don't we take you upstairs and find you something dry to put on." She began to herd a nodding Sami towards the staircase. "Then, I can make you some hot tea and we can all sit down and talk like-"

Just then, the doorbell broke in to her thoughts. Jennifer sighed.

"Jack? Could you see who that is while I take care of our friend here?" She looked over Sami's head to her husband, her eyes taking on a significant look for a moment, as if to say ,'I told you there'd be trouble.'

Jack blew out a noisy breath, nodded as he watched the pair disappear up the curve of the stairs .

"Only a woman could attack a guy for saying something nice," he muttered as he made his way to the door. As he reached for the knob, he added, "Well, only a woman like Sami."

With that, he swung the door open. His mouth popped open in shock for the second time that evening as another sopping wet figure stood on his front porch.

"Uhh....Lucas...are you aware that-?" Jack gestured to his general appearance.

"She bailed on me!" Lucas growled. "This is all your fault!"

Jack leaned against the doorframe with a nod. "So I've heard," he replied tiredly.

Lucas peered around his shoulder, brown eyes dark and smoldering with fury. “Can I come in or what?!"

Jack moved away from the doorframe, gesturing widely. "Sure. Why not?"

Lucas stomped in with a squish of Italian loafers. "Good. I've got a few things I need to say to you."

Jack watched as Lucas stormed on in to the living room. "Ohh, boyy..." His face nearly cracked with the tightness of his expression. "Again."





Chapter Twenty-Three

Screwy, that's what she is...." Lucas raked a hand through his damp locks, wearing out the same patch of carpet Sami had previously. "Just plain screwy. Only the screwiest of the screwy could be presented with one helluva nice gesture and jump ship-literally." He let out a mirthless laugh and paused, whipping his head around to Jack.

"She's your friend! Why didn't you warn me how looney she is?!"

"Uh, huh," Jack passed a weary hand over his face as he watched Lucas resume his pace. This was all so surreal he nearly laughed aloud. "I believe I told you distinctly-right there in the kitchen over oatmeal cookies-that she was a crazy."

Lucas stopped short at that, making an angry, wet stride up to Jack's side, brows knotted in fury.

"But-but in the next breath, you said I'd be lucky to have her!" He leaned on the small table behind him, wrinkling the doily that sat on it." What, you have it in for me Jack?! Is that it?!" Lucas snorted. The doily was in wads now. He went to lift his hand, finding his fingers had become entangled in the weave of the fabric. He began to furiously shake his hand, trying to free himself." You-you enjoy siccing the-the certifiably insane on your relatives?!" The doily suddenly let him loose, sailing across the room as if in haste to get away from the screaming man.

Jack pursed his lips, retrieving the fallen doily before Jennifer could come down and scold them, and clapped a hand to Lucas's shoulders. "No, no. Nothing like that." He lifted one brow, plucking at Lucas's wet shirtsleeve as he added, "Besides which, I still say you're an awfully good match." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Stomping up to your brother-in-law's drenched isn't exactly a sign of normalcy, especially when you have a perfectly good sports car and an apartment full of dry clothes."

Lucas jerked clean away, his expression stormy and defensive. "That was my next stop, but, but -see ?" He flopped down on the edge of an armchair, running a hand through his hair once more, lifted flashing brown eyes to his brother-in-law’s. “See what she does to me?!"

Jack cleared his throat with a little smile. "Yeah. I do."

"She-she makes me enjoy drunken dances and raisin peltings, for God's sake!" He stood, shoving his hands in his pockets, his tone the fine line between outrage and tenderness. “She-she makes me go crazy for her buttoned-up charms one minute, then she lets down her hair the next, and I go crazy then, too." He sighed softly. "She makes it seem perfectly within the realm of my thinking to help her write poetry on napkins, hop in fountains and-"

"Buy her a yacht?" Jack broke in.

Lucas nodded slowly. "And when she does a swan dive into the water, rejecting everything I was trying to say and do, what do I do?!" The heated edge to his tone leaked out like air from a deflating balloon. He stumbled back to his former position on the chair arm, looking down at his hands. " I-I swim after her like-like-"

"A man in love?" Jack offered. Lucas's head quickly snapped up, but he said nothing, his eyes speaking volumes on their own. "Then, why-why didn't you just tell her that?"

Lucas shrugged miserably, fingering the tapestry of the chair. "I kind of, sort of thought I did," he mumbled.

Jack folded his arms across his chest, nodding. "Uh, huh. Well, Lucas, you've got to understand, she kind of, sort of took it a different way."

Lucas snorted again. "Ya think?"

Jack smiled ruefully. " Let me tell you something I've learned the hard way in my married life. "

"Oh, boy, this oughta be good." Lucas crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. "Give me your bits of wisdom, oh wise and married one."

Jack frowned a bit. "Hey, all I know is a romantic gesture is all well and good, but, in this case..." Jack scratched his head. "Welll...I wouldn't have chosen that method to let her know what I knew."

"Ninety-nine out of a hundred women would've jumped into my arms instead of jumping off a boat," Lucas grumbled.

Jack chuckled a bit. "Sure you're not gauging it by your fine feathered friends?"

"Hey! You know, only two of them wore feathers." Lucas flicked imaginary dust off the back of the chair. "The way you guys talk, it sounds like a whole flock or something."

" Ok...and the rest-they were lofty intellectuals?"

Lucas narrowed his eyes, but did not speak.

Jack patted his shoulders. "Look, that wasn't my point, anyway. The thing is Sami...is different than those girls. She's special-"

"I know that!" Lucas sprang up. " Don't you think I know that? Why else do you think I did what I did?"

Jack shrugged. "Well, I know why you did what you did, but she seems to think-"

"That I'm an idiot and a filthy playboy?" Lucas's voice sliced in with bitterness. " Yeah, yeah. I know-"

"Lucas, that's not what I was going to say." Jack broke back in a trifle impatiently. "What I was going to say is she thinks-"

"You know what, Jack? I told her, and now, I'm telling you, I'm through caring what she thinks. I'm through trying to figure out what's in her dizzy mind. It's not worth it. I'm-I'm just-I'm through." He gave a dismissive gesture.

Jack clapped a hand to his forehead. "Oh, boyy, oh boyy... tell me you didn't say that."

"He most certainly did!" a well-known female voice interjected from the living room doorway.

Both men's heads shot around to Sami Brady outfitted in a fluffy yellow bathrobe and floppy slippers, her hair neatly combed out, her face emerging from the still-damp cascade of gold sans make-up.

And never so frustratingly beautiful and provoking all at one time to Lucas. And, there were many, many times she'd proven to be both to him in their short acquaintance.

He dropped from the arm of the chair to the floor, swaggering up as much as soppy shoes would allow.

"Well, well, look who's drying up." He paused near the doorway, slouching against the wall. "Funny, it sounds like Miss S actually stopped to listen to something I had to say."

Sami flicked her eyes up and down his frame. The wet dress shirt clung to him like a second skin. She moistened her irritatingly dry lips and glanced back up at the sneering look on his face.

"Well, it-it was the best thing you said all night! Excuse me while I wait for the nice side of your family to bring me some tea." She attempted to edge past him, but found herself halted by his outthrust arm.

"Oh, really?" Lucas laughed derisively. "My insults are the best thing you've heard all night?"

" Yes, really!" Sami flung back, folding her arms and waggling her head. " Because, however, insulting you might be, I can overlook that to see that at least one thing is good. You're going to leave me alone!"

"Didn't give me much choice, did ya?" Lucas leaned forward, his tone biting. "Well, that's just fine, baby, because it's the best move I could've made!"

"Oh, yeah?!"

"Yeah!"

"Ohh, boyy," Jack sank wearily to his armchair, holding his aching head.

"Ok. tea for three..." Jennifer's attempt at a bright tone trailed off at the sight of her brother, as soaked as Sami had been, squaring off with the woman in question while her husband looked ready to have a brain explosion. She set the tray down slowly. "All right, make that four...I'll uhh...be right back with another cup..."

"Oh, no need!" Sami spouted, eyeing Lucas coolly. " He's not staying."

"What?!" Lucas's brows swept up incredulously. "I'm not staying? And you became lady of the manor when...?"

Sami sniffed. "Well, you were the one so all fired up about being through with me. People who are through with other people don't sit down to a polite tea together."

Lucas smirked, pushed away from the wall and took a seat on the sofa, stretching out as if completely at ease. "Well, I'm not going."

Jennifer bit her lip. "Lucas, you're awfully wet. Can I get you something-?"

"You can just scurry off in your robe and slippers. You've been in your jammies in public before,” Lucas went on, ignoring his sister and waving Sami off. "Oh, excuse me, those were mine."

Sami folded her arms and snorted. " Yeah. That your mommy bought you. And, for your information, you cannot chase me off." With that, she flounced onto the opposite side of the couch, removing Lucas's hand from the back of it.

"Great." Jennifer smiled without enthusiasm. "Lovely. I'll get a fourth cup." She rolled her eyes and left the room.

"Hurry back, honey!" Jack called, trying for natural and settling on desperate.



"Could've fooled me, Little Runaway," Lucas muttered. "Or was that not you that made such a big splash tonight?"

Sami reached over and snatched a snack cake off the tray. "Nowhere else to go when you're on a boat with an insincere creepo," Sami muttered back.

"Insincere?" Lucas shot up. "You wanna talk about insincere? 'Gee, I don't know who Lady Love is, Lucas.'"

"See?" Sami turned to Jack. "I told you what this was all about that."

"Sami-" Jack began.

"Talking about me, huh?" Lucas nodded angrily.

"Like you weren't just talking about me?" Sami turned to Jack again. "So, what did he say? Did he pull out that squarepants jazz? That it was such a huge disappointment to know I'm not the hot-to-trot romance writer I seemed to be? Hmm?" Sami took another bite of cake.

Jack rubbed his temples. "Well, Sami, I don't think-"

Lucas smirked. "Yeah, it is a little disappointing. I admit it." He leaned forward. " It's disappointing old Lady Love turned out to be the single most repressed and looney tunes woman I ever met!"

Sami narrowed her eyes, prepared to lob the cake in his arrogant, smirky face. His hand whipped out to halt her progress.

"Ohh, no you don't, Miss S. I said there would no food thrown tonight."

Sami pursed her lips in challenge wriggling her wrist in an attempt to escape, but he held fast.

Jack groaned and chuckled all at once. "You know something? I think Jennifer might could use a little help in the kitchen...excuse me..." He watched the unmoving pair and settled for the chuckle. "If you're even listening..."

With that he exited from the room, running smack-dab into Jennifer.

"Jack-"

"Shhhh!" Jack closed the living room doors and rigged a chair up under the door handles.

"Jack!" Jennifer raised surprised brows. " What on earth-?"

"They are going to settle things, one way or another...hopefully without throwing anything, though, I can't guarantee..."

Jennifer shut her eyes, collapsing to the closed door. "Oh, my poor living room..."

On the other side of the door, Lucas and Sami remained locked on each other a moment longer before Sami finally jerked away, cake still in hand.

"You're a real piece of work, you know that?" Lucas shook his head.

"Oh, and you aren't? You-you find my stories and what do you do? Confront me rationally? Nooo. You go and plaster my pseudonym on the side of a big boat!"

Lucas sighed impatiently, leaning back against the cushions. "A lot of women would've been thrilled. Thrilled."

Sami sniffed. "I'm not a lot of women." She squeezed the cake in her palm.

"So I've gathered." Lucas flipped her a look both apprising and cool.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Roberts, if you wanted me to fall to your feet and start slobbering with gratitude-" Bits of cake began to crumble between her fingers.

"Nobody could ever expect an ounce of gratitude out of you. " Lucas sprang up, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Nooo, not you. Miss Squarepants don't do grateful."

"I don't have to sit here and take this." Sami leapt up, the cake mere crumbs in her hand. Nevertheless, she held the remains up like a warning as she backed towards the door. "Try and stop me and you will get a handful of crumbs in your crummy face."

Lucas shrugged irritably. "So, who's stopping ya?"

Sami huffed, discarded of the crumbs and wheeled around to the doorknob, only to find it wouldn't give. "What the-?" She rattled the knob impatiently.

"What?" Lucas asked in bemusement across the room.

"It's-it's locked." Sami pounded on the door. "Jack, Jennifer! Open up!"

Lucas smirked,. "Allow me." He stepped over to the door. "If there's one thing you self-sufficient types need a man for it's-" Lucas twisted the knob mightily. "To..." He twisted harder. "Open...doors.." His grip fell from the knob, unsuccessful. "Damnit!"

Sami nearly snorted with laughter. "Good job, my handsome, strong hero," she shot out sarcastically. She listened at the door for a moment, almost certain she heard smothered laughter on the other side. "Not funny, Jack! Jennifer!" she called through the door. "Not funny at all!"

"Oh, come on, they want us to patch things up," Lucas's voice equaled her sarcasm. "Don't you think we owe it to them-?" Lucas's hand snuck around her waist.

Sami's chest heaved with annoyance: annoyance at him, annoyance at her friends, annoyance at the unwelcome, butterfliey sensation in her belly. She quickly wrenched herself away, giving him and the door a glare as she banged on it once more. "Jack! Jennifer! How dare you leave me to this-this-lecherous, insensitive-?" She turned, spying another avenue of exit. "You know what? Never mind! Because I'll..." She stepped over to the large picture window, yanking it up. " Let myself out!"

Lucas watched dumbfounded as she swung her legs out and landed with a soft whumph in the hedges.

'Hey!" Lucas shouted, a beat too late as he made his way to the window, and scooped up a fallen slipper. " Good luck hoofing it with one shoe!" he called out the window, watching yet again that same picture he kept seeing in different forms: Sami Brady high-tailing it out of his vicinity, and, it always seemed, his life.

He sighed, letting the slipper dangle in his hand.

Just then, Jack and Jennifer burst in, joining him. "Ohh, boyy..." Jack commented for the thousandth time that night.

Lucas slowly wheeled around, setting his face as he went. He shook the slipper in his hand. "I told you she was certifiable."

"Uhh...a bit neurotic, a bit distrusting, a little too anxious to run, perhaps, but-"

"Jack!" Jennifer protested.

"You know what, though? None of this would've happened but for one person," Lucas interjected, the anger rising in his tone.

"Uhh...." Jack scratched his temple. "Should I ask?"

Lucas folded his arms. "You know, if only you'd just left well enough alone, and never let me know there was such a person as Lady Love inside that straight-laced, uptight woman, I could've gone on with my usual dates, and she could've gone on dreaming and doodling away, but nooo, you had to go and-"

"Hey!" Jennifer watched as her husband suddenly took up his hat and began to slink out the door while Lucas railed on.

Jennifer trotted up to his side.

" Jack, honey, we have a guest. Where are you going?"

"Someplace where I can get some appreciation, maybe-or at least, a grilled cheese." With that he shrugged and left his wife to listen to her brother's ponderings and accusations.

*******************************

Jack entered the diner with a feeling of buoyed spirits. He'd not really frequented the place before, but ahh, it looked to be the place to unwind and escape the tension, he thought as he took a stool near the end of the counter. The waitress handed him a menu without looking.

"What'll ya have, do-?" She suddenly looked up at the same moment Jack did. He knew that voice, that...eer, bosom, if you will...

"Oh, it's you...You know, Jackie boy, I've got a bone or two to pick with you about Sami Brady and-"

"IT WASN"T MY FAULT!!!" Jack's voice squeaked as it had earlier.

Bonnie blinked in surprise, chewed her gum, patted his shoulder. "Well, all right, Jackie boy, all right. So, what can I get you?"

"Grilled cheese , please,” Jack mumbled, color spreading like wildfire in his cheeks at his outburst. "And a coffee."

Bonnie nodded, patted his cheek in a mothering way and headed back to the kitchen.

Jack sighed and leaned his chin in hands, rubbing his poor, tired, bursting head. "Doesn't anyone start a conversation with hello anymore?"
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 *
Chapter Twenty-Four

"Your files, sir. Will that be all?" A pile of manila folders announced themselves on Lucas Roberts' desk with a mighty whumph, scattering nearly to his lap. But, Sami Brady didn't seem to notice. She didn't even wait for the answer to her perfunctory question. Instead, she whirled around and prepared to stride right out that office door, perfectly-coifed head held high, back straight, pretty little heels clicking with finality.

Her hand was on the knob, ready to turn when a second, much larger hand covered hers. She let a tiny, delicate gasp, turning measuredly until blue eyes collided with brown.

"Sami," he whispered so tenderly. "I'm sor-"

Her finger darted up to still his smooth, sensual lips. "Shhhh...I'm sorry, too."

He smiled around her finger, then pulled her in tight to his strong form, claiming her lips as his own, branding her senses like no other ever could. His hands roamed upward, seizing the pins that held her hair and dropping them to the floor. Plinkity-plink-plink. She grabbed a hold of his tie and deftly undid the knot, then began on his dress shirt, tugging at buttons in impatient fashion. Several of them popped under her will, skipping to the floor to join the pins. Plinkity-Plink-Plink-Plink....Plink.....

"Ahem," a pointed throat clearing dragged Sami into the present. "Miss Brady," Lucas's terse tone broke in. "I said, that'll be all. You're dismissed. If you're listening."

Sami blinked in half a daze, then shook her head free of her foolish reverie, mentally scolding herself for drifting off into such territory with such a-such a man. She let her gaze wander to said man's face. His was furrowing sternly, his eyes blank of emotion save irritation.

"O-Oh..." Her voice faltered a bit.

'Sami Brady you do not care,' she reminded herself sharply. 'He's a rat, remember?' An exasperating, indescribably annoying, audacious...awfully cute..."Ohh, no , you don't," she muttered under her breath.

"What?" His frown edged into confusion.

Sami thrust away every instinct to blush. " Oh-oh... that is.. Yes, sir." She ordered a particularly frosty note into her voice. " I heard every word, and never was I gladder to be "dismissed", as you say. I'll be on break."

With that, she attempted to make her proud stride towards the door, nearly stumbling as he called after her.

" Sami, wait a minute-"

"Yes?" She whipped around, tugging nonchalance over her eagerness one beat too late.

"Uhhh..."

Lucas swallowed, paused for a moment, eyes wandering over her before he pressed his lips together and let his gaze land on his coffee cup. He grabbed for it like a lifeline.

"Before you go on break, could you bring me a refill?"

Sami bit her lip discreetly as she took the cup from his outstretched hand. She sniffed. "Black?"

Lucas looked from their very nearly touching fingers, then let go of the cup and nodded slowly. "Yeah. Black. No-no sugar for me."

"Very well," Sami replied curtly. "No sugar."

With that, she turned again.

"S-sami-?"

She glanced around again. "Yes?" She managed to look less eager this time.

Lucas smoothed his tie out, cleared his throat again, adopted that sound and expression of cool authority. "You-uh-you might be thinking about the Feel the Romance campaign."

"Wha-what about it?" Sami looked into his coffee cup, nervously swishing around the tiny puddle of liquid left at the bottom.

"Well, in light of certain things, well, I just didn't know-that is-umm," He betrayed himself with a sigh and snatched at the first thought floating in his brain." I wondered if you'd like to begin receiving your royalties off the first couple of stories..."

Sami bit her lip in disappointment. " Oh...Well...th-that's really not on my mind right now, but-"

"Well, you think on it..." Lucas picked up a pen and began to roll it in his hands, not looking at her as he went on in a low voice that kept wavering from the cool calm he strived for. "I-I mean you-you earned it, after all, and I'd hate for you to refuse and regret it later-"

"Really?"

"...Umm-from a company standpoint, of course..."

" Oh. Of course." Sami's voice was brisk, but inside, her heart stung. This was all about the company.

Lucas went on, flipping the pen up and down. "As to names, well-oops-" He missed the pen, sending it to the floor with a clatter. Cheeks warming, he bent over to retrieve it at the same time Sami did, their hands brushing. For a moment, each was suspended in time, all other feelings evaporating as their eyes briefly locked on the way back up. Lucas licked his lips, withdrew his hand slowly and spoke softer than before. " No one else knows, and I'll leave it to you to decide if that's how you want things to be."

"Oh, so no more boats plastered with my name, or stupid pseudonyms?" Sami laughed, anxiously swishing the contents of the coffee cup again. " I thought you might have a whole fleet ready to trot out for the whole town to see."

Lucas's brows knotted. "Hey. I'm trying to be nice here." He tossed the pen aside in annoyance.

"Nice?” Sami snorted, quickly turning her dial to high heat." What it comes down to is you're just worried your mommy will send you to your room without dinner if you suddenly lose out on your precious, money-making Lady Love."

Lucas shot up. "Since when was losing out part of the equation?"

Sami widened her eyes incredulously, plunking down his coffee cup. "You really don't think I can continue now, do you? I'd write for Archie Comics before I'd write again for you!" With that she stormed out to her own desk. Lucas was hot on her heels.

"What?!" He watched as she fumbled through drawers, gathering notebooks, legal pads and personal effects left and right. "So, what- is this your revenge for the boat? If it is, lady, I tried to tell you why I did what I did with that, but, nooooooo, you wouldn't listen!"

Sami snorted a second time, donning her glasses and flinging her purse over her shoulder as she scooped up her work in both hands and began to stomp away. "Ha! not much to listen to, other than your snaky hiss in my ear!" she threw over her shoulder.

Lucas continued to trail her. "Are you really that thick-headed, or is it that your idea of a nice gesture is when your beloved boyfriend gives up a night with the nurses to let you sit at his feet like a lap dog?"

Sami gasped in outrage, whipping around, nearly losing her large burden. "And what did you expect out of me?" she threw back, repositioning her large stack of papers. " What makes you so damn special, Lucas Roberts? You and your parade of bimbos, flapping their wings and cackling like barnyard idiots..."

Lucas sighed in exasperation, raking his hands through his hair. " You're unbelievable. Were we even having the same conversation the other night, or even looking at the same boat?"

Sami rolled her eyes. "Fine. Fine. You spent gobs of money. The boat was nice. Is that what you want to hear?" She drew a quivery breath. "But, now, hear me. Seeing my secret outted like that did not fill me with happiness." She leaned in, lowering her tone. "It might as well have shouted: Extra! Extra! Sami Brady Secretly Writes But would Rather Call Herself Something as Stupid as Lady Love! Details in the Evening News! "

Lucas snorted, folding his arms. "What a lousy name for a boat."

Sami smirked. "Yeah, well, joke's on you, because I'm not writing anymore, secretly or otherwise. Goodbye." With that she turned and began to flounce away.

"Hey, hey!" A familiar voice and pair of hands caught her halfway down the hall.

Sami looked up at her friend, huffing irritably. "Excuse me, Jack-"

Jack looked to her stormy expression and the half a desk's worth of contents in her arms, then to his brother-in-law's equally stormy set. "So...what goes on here? Or...do I want to know? I mean, I'd like to keep my head intact if at all possible. Jennifer might like to kiss this old mug one more time."

Sami shrugged. "That's ok, Jack. You can keep your head." She shot a look to Lucas. "I was just telling your delightful relative here that my writing career is effectively....finito."

Jack's brows shot up. "What? Oh, no, no kiddo, You-you can't do that. You've got a gift."

Sami rolled her eyes. Yeah? Well, maybe I never wanted the gift! Maybe I want to return it like the ugly sweater my Aunt Hope got me for Christmas last year."

Jack chuckled. "See, there? Most people wouldn't have put it like that. That's-that's creative..."

He looked to Lucas as if to say "help me out here", but the younger man merely scowled and asserted,

" I think Miss Squarepants here is just embarrassed to be caught writing about...the steamier aspects of life... kind of like a librarian that secretly works as a go-go dancer at night...isn't that right, Miss S.?"

Sami felt her cheeks begin to burn. " Your analogies are wasted on me. If that's all you think this is about, well, then...oh, never mind! Let me by, Jack."

Jack halted her with one hand. "Not so fast, Sami. Where are you going, and why are you taking all that with you?" He plucked at the top sheet on her pile. "You may be mad at Lucas, but don't take it out on John and Sally here."

Sami sniffed. "Why not? It's as much their fault as anybody's. Besides, I don't like the name John. It's my stepfather's name and he was just another one saying, "Oh, you're creative, Peanut. Why not give it a try, Peanut? Well, you wanna know something? I tried. So, any obligation I had is done." She glanced down at the large stack in her hands. "Gentleman, say goodbye to John and Sally, et al."

With that, Sami jerked away. Jack quickly followed, shooting a "what did you do?" look to Lucas, who shrugged and glowered.

"Sami, wait, at least, let me see the-wait-"

Sami turned from the window she was tugging open. "I said, Say goodbye, Jack!" With that she glanced down to her life's work, everything she'd stolen time for and strived to create for all these years, then back to the window. It was a long drop from the fourth floor.

"Sami!" Jack leapt towards her one second too late. Sami had already let go.

Hundreds of sheets of paper fluttered through the air like snowflakes, carrying away words like "kiss". Caress. Boss. Secretary. Passion. Love.

"The end,” Sami whispered as the papers drifted down to the streets.

Jack gripped the window sill tightly. "Ohh, boy...oh, boy, oh boy, oh boy..." He shot a look back to his brother-in-law, who stood in a state of half-bemusement down the hall. "I'm beginning to think you're right. It is very possible she is certifiable."

"Jack!" Sami's mouth drew up in hurt.

Jack shook his head at her, then tugged at her shirtsleeve for a change. "Jennifer's swamped with "My Guy's too Shy to Ask me to the Prom" letters. I , on the other hand, need some lunch. And you, missy, you need to have some sense knocked into you. So, long story short-"

"Too late," Sami interjected spitefully.

"You're coming with me!" Jack finished unabated. "Excuse us, Lucas." With that, he pulled his dear friend down the hall in an ask-no-questions, give-me-no-protests manner.

Lucas nodded in surprise as he watched Jack lead Sami down the hall and around the corner to the elevators. But, as soon as they disappeared from sight, he was leaning his head back with a tremendous sigh. He pressed his hands to his closed lids and muttered, "Oh, Sami, Sami, what did I do to you? You can't give up. Not because of me."

*********************************************

So...how's that fruit salad?"

Sami looked up from picking at cantaloupe and shrugged. “Fruity."

"Uh, huh."

"Just like the last five times you asked." Sami toyed irritably with her strawberry. "When do we get to the lecture?"

Jack took a bite of grilled cheese and a slurp of tomato soup. "Give me a minute. I'm working myself up to it. Just getting you to come with me after you pitched your stories-literally-was quite the feat for me...so, well, there's a good start as any...why did you do that? " He took a sip of coffee. "Start the great story snowstorm of '61, that is? I mean, you're done with it all, simple as that, are you?"

Sami scowled, pushing more fruit around her plate. She propped one side of her head against her free hand. "Why not?"

"Because it's in your soul, that's why not." Jack leaned forward, tapping his chest. "Like I said before. It's in here. Right in here. You can lob it from the Empire State Building for all I care, but it's going to come back home to roost." He shook his head. "You can't get rid of writing any more than you can get rid of love."

"Love." Sami blew out a dismissive breath. "That's cute, Jack. You see, I wouldn't know....never experienced that before."

Jack folded his arms. "I beg to differ."

Sami waved her fork dangerously. "Oh, don't you start in on that. Lucas Roberts is the single most irritating, maddening, egotistical, slimy-"

"Guy you ever loved?"

"No," Sami threw out petulantly.

Jack half-grinned. "Sure about that?"

"Yes." Sami speared a bite of cantaloupe now.

"Really sure?"
"Yes." Sami waved the fork menacingly, a piece of cantaloupe precariously dangling from the tines.

Jack cleared his throat. "Fine. We'll revisit that subject later. The point is, Sami, you were born to create. It's just something deep inside you'll crave for the rest of your life. You can try to douse it, you can try to bury it, you can fling it out the fourth floor window, but it's the most resilient little thing you ever did see."

Sami shrugged. "Well, I can just ignore it."

Jack shook his head. "Can you?" He reached across the table and took Sami's hand. "Look, Sami, I don't want to see you stuck in the same place the rest of your life, old dragonlady breathing down your neck, when you could be doing something you love."

Sami blew out her breath. "Well, what do you suggest?"

"Well..." Jack took his hand back and fished a scrap of newspaper out of his pocket. "I hesitated to show you back when I thought you and my brother-in-law were getting lovey-dovey....but, you know, maybe this is just the kick start you need..."

With that, he tossed the paper in front of her. Sami looked to the paper, then to her friend in puzzlement.

"Creative Editor Wanted for Wordsmith magazine?"

Jack nodded. "It's a small publication, I know. But, it caters to the serious writer, and it could get your foot in the door with many of the best publishers."

"Jack, you really think.-?"

"I-I uh, happen to know a couple of the guys working there. I have every faith they'd be excited to have you onboard."

"Jack,” Sami read further, growing uncertain. "It's in New York."

Jack nodded. "Not far from Greenwich Village, to be exact. You could mix with a colorful crowd, be appreciated, make twice the salary..."

Sami bit her lip. "Jack, " she repeated. "It's- it's in New York."

Jack shrugged. "You were the one cleaning out your desk, ready to bolt." He clinked his soup spoon against the bowl. "Now, if you're worried about Lucas, I think I could easily convince-"

"It's not about Lucas,” Sami snapped.

Jack held up his hands. "All right, all right." He grabbed the check and dug out his wallet. "I'm off to go pay. " He tapped her shoulder. "Just...give it all some thought, huh, kiddo?"

Sami nodded slowly, paper in hand. She fingered the words Creative Editor over and over, then the words New York, New York. She blew out a long breath, sat back and closed her eyes.

"Can I do it? Can I really try it and leave all of -of this-?" A pair of brown eyes surfaced in her mind, and she recalled the times of heat and the times of tenderness that she normally shoved away, and pushed forward in an honest reflection. "Can I really leave him behind?"



Chapter Twenty-Five

"You did what?!" Jennifer's gaze shot up from the teen angst she was wading through to her husband's semi-sheepish face, her pretty mouth dropping in surprise.

Jack shrugged, scratched his temple, sat back at his adjoining desk. "I didn't know what else to do. My big motivation speeches were going bust, she was ready to give it all up. She made flurries out of her entire story collection, for God's sake! When-when something like that happens, well-" He took out his lucky gold pencil and tapped it on the desk. "The job offer in New York was my most viable option."

Jennifer chewed her lip agitatedly. "But, Jack, Lucas-"

"Stood there and let her fling her future right out the window!" Jack interjected irritably, tapping his pencil harder. "I'm sorry, Jenn. I know he's your brother, but, sometimes..." He made a choking gesture.

Jennifer tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. " You know, I could say the same thing for Sami."

Jack chuckled ruefully, running a hand through his hair. "Don't I know it. I swear that girl has pulled more nutty stunts than -than Lucy Ricardo." He wheeled his chair around and pulled up to his desk, sifting through letters. "I-I just don't want her to end up like me, Jenn." He waved the topmost letter in the air. "Look at this. A serious journalist like me reduced to-to telling girls the most effective break-up and make-up lines." He chucked the letter down with enough force to flutter the untidy pile on his desk that much more, leaning his head in his hands.

Jennifer sighed, laying aside her own letters and stood, coming around the side of her desk to stand beside her husband. She gently massaged his shoulders as she spoke.

"Well, you have the qualifications for that New York job. You could've tried for it yourself. Why didn't you?"

Jack shrugged. "I don't know. Too lazy, too cowardly, too..."

Jennifer paused in her massage, sliding her arms around his neck and laying her cheek next to his. "Too noble." She pecked his temple.

Jack raised his head and lifted a brow. "Yeah. Actually, I like your word best." He straightened his tie and adopted a far away look continuing with a dramatic flair. "Yeah. That's me. Noble Jack, ready to give up his own ambitions in the face of near disaster for his dear friends."

Jenn gave a short laugh, then sighed, straightening. " About that, Jack...."

The proud lift to Jack's head dropped a trifle. He stole a glance over his shoulder. "Uh, oh.... Ol' Jack back in the doghouse already?"

Jennifer shook her head with an indulgent smile and gave him a brief kiss. " Don't start woofing or anything, Jack. You meant well, of course, and I think it could be fantastic for Sami. But, I just wonder what this will do to her and Lucas."

"Nothing that they haven't already done to themselves. " Jack resumed the tiny drumbeat of his pencil. " Never were there two more insanely stubborn-emphasis on INSANE-"

"He really loves her, Jack," Jennifer broke in softly.

"I know. I know. And she really loves him. That's why it's all so ridiculous." The pencil began to make a fairly large racket for one slim writing utensil. Jennifer reached out and stilled his hand with her own. Jack blew out an impatient breath, looking to his wife. "Please tell me we were never this insane."

Jennifer smiled and laughed gently, moving her hand up his arm. " Well, how long did it take us to stop fighting it and get together once and for all?"

Jack twisted his mouth in thought, silent for a moment's rumination, finally asserting, "Ok. So we were pretty damn insane. But, but-these two..."

Jennifer plopped down on the edge of her desk. "I know. If-if she goes, Jack...I don't know that they will ever..." Her face suddenly lit up. "Unless...."

Jack furrowed his brow. "Unless what?"

Jennifer hopped down. 'Unless we give them one more chance to tell each other how they really feel."

"And...just how do you propose we do that?"

Jennifer leaned forward. "I think it's time we pulled out the old apron and chef's hat, Mr. Devereaux. We haven't had a good old-fashioned barbecue all summer."

Jack nodded slowly, face screwing up skeptically. "Uh, huh...I see, Miss Matchmaker." He took his wife's hand, squeezing gently. " Look, Honey, as much as I love grilling up a few steaks, I don't see that that-"

"Jack!” Jennifer slid to his lap with a small pout, snaking her arms around his neck. "We'll pull out all the stops..." She laid another kiss on him, pulling away with a smile. "Have a little faith."

Jack shrugged. "I just don't know..."

"Please?"

Jennifer leaned forward and kissed him a little more thoroughly. Jack pulled away with mussed -up hair and traces of crimson lipstick.

"Hmmm...I think I could have a little faith..."

Jennifer giggled a bit as he pulled her forward again. "Good. Because you look so adorable in your apron..."

Jack grinned, a breath away from his lovely wife's lips. "Do I now?"

"Well, I wouldn't know," a snobbish voice chimed in from the doorway. "But one thing I find adorable is a pair of hardworking advice columnists."

Jack sputtered, nearly dropping his wife on her tailbone as he spied the sudden visitor. " Honey, look who's back from her business trip! How was it, Mrs. K?" Jack hurriedly scraped down his hair.

Jennifer scurried to her own desk chair, patting at her hair and attempting to discreetly fix her lipstick, using her reflection in the window as a guide. "We-we were just.. uhh..."

Kate sneered. "I've been married. I don't think I need an explanation, nor do I have time for it. I merely came down to ask if anyone has seen Sami. I have a few questions for her."

"Sami?" Jack gulped, thinking to where he'd left her to think over an hour ago. "Questions?"

"Yes. About the Feel the Romance campaign." Kate eyed him sharply, tapping her nails on his desk.

"Questions? About the Feel the Romance campaign?" He double-gulped, casting a fleeting glance to his wife, who urgently dabbed at her lips and pointed to his with a tiny jerk of her blond head.

Jack's eyes widened in comprehension, and he hurriedly swiped at his own mouth, flushing as much of his wife's Maybelline Berry Crush came off on his hand.

"Yes. Questions. She is my employee, after all, and sometimes questions do arise, Mr. Devereaux. Like this one: Sami's not at her desk so, do you know where I might find her?" She tapped her long nails along his desk again.

Jack smiled weakly, watching those talon-like nails with trepidation, remembering a book he once read about raptors and their gut-slashing techniques.

"Well?" Tap-tap-tap.

"Well...uhh..." Jack swallowed, following the movement of her nails, finally answering as honestly as he could. "Well, after lunch, we kind of parted ways, so, if she's not back at her desk, well, then..."He trailed off with a nervous shrug, breathing a sigh of relief inside as her hands moved from his desk .

She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Unh, huh." Kate's eyes narrowed." Well, all I know is her performance for this company is sloppy, very sloppy. If she wants to stay on, she'd better straighten up and contribute something worthwhile, or, stepfather or no, I'll-" Kate paused with a shake of her stiffly-sprayed hairdo, smirking as if at an amazing absurdity. "Never mind. Why am I going on about this to you two? This is a conversation better suited to go on with my son. Excuse me." With that, she sashayed out of the room, turning with a stern look to each Deveraux. "And I expect to hear work going on here." She snapped back around and continued down the hall.

Jack cocked an ear towards the door, waiting till the click-clack of her pointy heels receded to nothing before letting loose with a half-laughing, half-nervous, “Ohh, boy...."

Jennifer rose from her desk again, looking to the doorway. "I wonder what that's all about it. Surely, she hasn't heard-?"

Jack fiddled with his pencil again, shaking his head "No. She'd be ready to kiss Sami's feet if that were so. You heard her. Same old dragonbreath." He snorted. 'I'm more worried about Lucas."

"Lucas?" Jennifer frowned bewilderedly.

"Yeah. Lucas." He nodded to the door. "That's his mommy , after all. What do you think he's going to say to her?"

Jennifer bit her lip. "He hasn't blabbed yet, and look at all the opportunities he's had."

Jack nodded. "Yeah. True. But, that’s the key word: yet." He tapped the pencil harder. "But how long can you sit on that kind of information?"

*********************************************

'What do I do? " Lucas thudded his head against the glass, looking out into the street below. "New York never trained me for something like this."

"Hey," a voice called from the office door. "New York ain't never had a Sami Brady, either."

Lucas looked around with a smirk. "Tell me about it." He shoved his hands in his pockets and sighed, nodding to a stack of paper in his companion's hands. " So, is that the last of it, Bart?"

Bart nodded back and handed over the stack of paper with a bemused look. "So, I take it this ain't no new angle on the advertising campaign?"

Lucas gave a short laugh as he leafed through the pages, letting them fall in his hands with a regretful look before stowing them in his desk.

"Nope. Just another crazy stunt in the long series of crazy stunts performed by our own Sami Brady...apparently, assisted quite often by me."

Lucas dropped down to his desk chair, swiveling around with a second sigh, his expression serious.

"Aww, boss, it ain't all on you, you know." Bart patted his boss's shoulder. " Some dames are just looney."

Lucas's expression faded into woebegone. "That's just it, Bart. She is looney, but, hell, I must be, too."

Bart leaned on the edge of the desk, , fiddling with the stapler, making like it was a gangster's gun. "Why do you say? Just because ya happen to be in love with her?" He shot out a couple of staples.

Lucas scowled a bit. "Well, what exactly does that say about me? That the more screwy she gets, the more I want to be with her?"

"Well...I ain't one to hand you no bologna, Boss....."

Bart continued to play Machine Gun Kelly with the stapler. "It says you're screwy, too." Several more staples punctuated his words.

Lucas's hand gripped the stapler as his scowl deepened. "Thanks a lot, Bart. Really, you're a pal."

Bart shrugged good-naturedly as he surrendered his weapon/play-toy. "Hey, it ain't a bad thing. Somebody’s gotta be screwy in this old world. Besides which, love just naturally does that to ya." Bart winked.

"And, I suppose you would know?" Lucas smirked a bit. "You and this Bonnie character...you're pretty hot and heavy?"

Bart's ears began tinging pink. "Well, I don't hang around for the java , let me tell ya." He chuckled a bit embarrassedly. "And you, Boss, what are you around your dame for?"

Lucas blew out yet another breath as he mumbled, "I 'm not going to rehash the rehash, Bart. Not just so you can rib me again." He turned his gaze morosely to the half-open doorway. "Besides, Sami isn't going to be around much longer, by the looks of things, and, maybe, that's the way it should be-"

"Well, so my son sees it, too?" Kate sidled in with a triumphant smile, placing a hand to her son's shoulder. "Well, honey, there's no huge loss. We can always find someone better to work on Feel the Romance and-"

"Mom, there is no more Feel the Romance."

Kate dropped her hand in shock. "What?!"

"Umm...he said, "There's no more Feel the Romance-"

Kate rolled her eyes, turning to Bart. "I know, you dolt! I don't really believe this concerns the help. Would you mind stepping out of the room?"

Bart gulped at the frigidly threatening tone. "Yeah. Geez....umm....sure...no-no problem...." He backed out hurriedly. "Now, that's a reaaal piranha....no, make that barracuda," he muttered on his way out.

"Honey, this campaign is by far the most lucrative-what happened? Did she finally step forward? Is the deal not good enough?"

Lucas shook his head. " She just doesn't want to do it anymore." He tried to keep the sadness out of his voice.

"Well, why not, for heavens sake?! I knew she was eccentric, but-" She compressed her lips tightly in thought, then reached for the telephone. "Well, tell you what, give me her number and we'll offer her more money, simple as that."

"Mom, she doesn't care about the money." Lucas dropped his chin to his hands.

Kate snorted. "Sweetie, everybody cares about money." She lifted a finger to dial. "Now, what's her-"

Lucas grabbed the receiver and slammed it home.

"Why, Lucas..."

"Mom, this isn't about money!"

Kate narrowed her yes, folding her arms over her chest. "Alll right...then, what?".

Lucas looked up, then down at his hands as he quieted his tone. "Mom...it-it was me....I ruined it."

Kate's brows furrowed. "You ruined it ? How, pray tell?” Lucas twisted up his mouth as he considered what to say. Finally, he leaned forward in his chair and settled on, "How is not important. But, that's it. That's all. The campaign is gone.. Finished. History."

Outside, Bart still hung near the door, listening to every word. His attention snapped to, however, at the sight of one very troubled blonde heading down the hall. He instantly straightened.

"Hiya, Blondie. All dried out for a change, eh?"

"Hiya, Blondie. All dried out for a change, eh?"

Sami barely nodded in return, his little dig going right over her head, her mind still a tangle even after a solitary stroll in the park and numerous rereadings of the newspaper ad. Every other thought , the word "Lucas" would pop up to the surface like champagne bubbles. Almost instinctively, her hand reached for his office door. Bart's hand stayed her.

"They're having a pretty big powwow in there. I wouldn't go in unless you want your pretty noggin chomped off."

Sami snorted. "Wouldn't be the first time." She began to turn the knob when a few words caught her ear.

It was Lucas speaking.

"You know what, Mom? I say good riddance! So long, Feel the Romance! Your silly stories are all ..unrealistic and.... all played out, anyway!"

Sami made a tiny squeak at the back of her throat.

" All right, all right." Kate's voice signaled resignation. " A good businessperson knows when to move on. Now, back to Sami Brady..."

A small sigh issued forth. "Sami?" There was a long pause broken only by the sounds of chair shifting . Well... maybe it's better for all of us if she does go."

Sami blinked once, then twice, taking a breath, finally turning the knob, her decision made.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Kiriakis....Mr. Roberts...." She winced at the slight wobble as she spoke his name.

"Well, well, look who decided to show back up. Sami, you are just in time-"

"I'm-I'm sorry, but I just came in here to say I'll need a few days off. I have-I have somewhere I need to be. Out-of-town."

Lucas drew in a sharp breath. "Oh, really?" He attempted indifference, picking at his cuffs. " Where might that be?"

"I really don't think that matters, does it?” Sami shot back, trying her darndest to hold her tears at bay as she looked to Lucas, hoping against hope he'd spring up and voice an opinion, a feeling.. ..anything to cancel out his earlier words.

Kate sniffed. "Well, Sami, I really don't care where you go, because-"

Sami's eyes remained on Lucas. He finally met her gaze, but any hint of regret was quickly masked.

Sami sucked in one more breath, her tears on the brink. “Ok. good," she cut off the older woman's snooty speech before turning and fleeing from the room, nearly bowling Bart over in the process.

"Whoaa, there, little lady!" But, Sami barely heeded his words before wrenching away and sprinting onward.

"Excuse me," she threw over her shoulder as she made tracks down the hall.

"Ohh, that can't be good," Bart commented as he watched her mad dash around the corner.

Sami jabbed the elevator button with force, tapping her heels impatiently. Jennifer popped around the corner just as the doors opened.

"Oh, hey, Sami! Hold on a moment! I have a barbecue invitation to issue! Friday night."

Sami whipped her head around. "I'm sorry, Jenn, but I may or may not be here!"

Jennifer bit her lip, already knowing the answer to her question before asking it. " Where, where are you going?"

Sami stepped onto the elevator. Just as the doors were shutting she threw her hat up in salute and replied with as much bitterness as enthusiasm, "I'm off to New York, and who knows? I might never come back!"



Chapter Twenty-Six

"So when do we start chowin' down on the fatted calf there, chief?"

An apron-clad Jack looked up from the grill with as good-natured a grin as he could muster before drifting into grimace territory, flipped one steak and gestured with one mittened hand towards the empty place at the picnic table.

"Soon as our last guest arrives, Bart," he replied as casually as he could before returning his attention to the meat.

"MM-mmmm, Jackie-boy, what a chef you must be." Bonnie threw back her fluffy blond head and sniffed the air appreciatively, causing her glitter-clad chest to thrust upward just in time for Jennifer to come strolling out to the yard, salad in hand. She made an imperceptible noise of disgust, plunked down the salad bowl and strode over to Jack, arms akimbo.

"You were the one that gave Lucas his invite, Jack Devereaux, " she whispered fiercely. "What on earth possessed you to allow him to bring that-that goofball and his overblown pin-up queen? What about our plans? We have so little time-"

Jack waved his spatula in the air. "Why, why , Jennifer you've always been a most hospitable, most reasonable--"

"Jack-"

Jack dropped his spatula to his side with a sigh. "Ok," he asserted sheepishly. "So, I didn't know. But, just because Bart and Bonnie are here, it doesn't mean your plans are ruined. In fact, I'd say your plans-"

"What plans?"

The married pair looked up to see Lucas slouched against the table, eyeing them suspiciously. “So help me, if you guys-"

"No, no plans," Jennifer broke in with too large a smile. "Right, Jack?"

No response.

"Right, Jack?" She nudged her husband hard in the ribs

"Ow-I mean, right." Jack rubbed his side ruefully. " All we were discussing...that is to say-well, uhh-" Jack clapped a hand on Lucas's shoulder. "Lucas, here's the deal- I know Bart's kind of your personal tagalong and Bonnie's..." He cast a quick glance to the woman in question. She was busily stuffing rolls down either side of her blouse while Bart grinned like she was the cleverest thing he ever did see. " Well...well , his girl, but, I thought it was made perfectly clear this was a small get-together among family. And, well, Jennifer's worried about-oops-there go the steaks..." Jack scurried over to the grill suddenly quite busy with tending to the dinner.

"Family, huh?” Lucas assessed his sister and brother-in-law's nervous demeanor. " And our surprise guest is who...Gram?"

Jennifer shook her head. "No..... Not Gram."

"Then, who? Julie? "

Jennifer shook her head more vehemently. "Julie ...and Bonnie? No, thankfully. Something tells me they wouldn't mix, don't you think?"

Lucas folded his arms over his chest. " Sure, but you're changing the subject. Now, what family member did you invite, big sis?"

"Welll..." Jennifer toyed with her fingers. "She isn't exactly family...."

"Aha!" Lucas pointed a finger. "I knew it!" He pulled away from the table, jabbing a accusatory finger at both her and Jack. "You're playing matchmaker, aren't you?"

Jennifer continued to toy with her hands, but remained silent, shifting from foot to foot. Jack began whistling a piece of "It's a Small World".

Lucas gave a mirthless laugh, plopping back on the edge of the picnic table. "Well, that's just great! Faaantastic!" He glanced from one to the other. "She's barely out of the picture, and already, you two are-" He sighed and shook his head slowly, looking down at his clasped hands. "You know what? Forget it." With that he swung himself down to the ground and began stomping across the yard.

"Lucas!" Jennifer fairly shrieked his name, bounding across the yard. "You-you can't leave!"

"Watch me!" Lucas continued to thunder away, swinging open the back gate.

Bart, mouthful of salad, cranked his neck around and called after his boss, “So you ain't gonna hang around for the free eats, then?!"

*******************************************

"Ok. So I had to come back. Where would I be without you?"

Sami looked down at her fluffy pink bunny slippers with a small smile, patting them on their adorably fuzzy heads before tucking them away in her suitcase.

She rose to her feet and wandered through the now very echoey efficiency, making a quick scan for any object she might've missed.

The walls were bare save the faded squares leftover from where family photos and inspiring landscapes had spent the last several years. The closets held not a scrap of clothing, the kitchen not a single pot or pan. Every jar of cold cream, every wire curler had found its place in her toiletries bag.

No one but Jack and Jenn knew yet but, at midnight, she was on her way to New York for the second time in a matter of days. Soon, she would be knee-deep in creativity, meeting with real live authors. Real live authors. Sami chewed her lip a bit agitatedly. She took a breath, cleared her throat, squared her shoulders, and stuck out a hand to the air, pumping it up and down.

"Hello, I'm Samantha Brady, the new creative editor for Wordsmith magazine." No. Too stuffy. She cleared her throat again. "Hi, there. I'm Sami Brady, new girl in town, and I look forward to..." No. Too goofy.

She sighed in momentary defeat and shook her head a second time.

"Oh, well. Plenty of time to figure out how to introduce yourself," Sami muttered, moving away from the bathroom. "At any rate, anything's got to be better than how you introduced yourself to the old boss." Sami flopped on the four poster bed that would remain with the apartment, willing her mind not to go back to that first day she smashed gooey bits of jelly doughnut and splashed coffee on Lucas Roberts. She groaned as she again recalled that first fleeting warmth in his eyes despite herself. She'd dashed it quickly then. Had she dashed it again now?

Sami hugged up her overnight case, resting her head on top of it.

"Stop thinking about it. Stop thinking about it." Instead of obeying, her mind merely conjured up fresh images of him. Drunk Lucas, silly yet appealing, tugging at her curls. Teasing Lucas, tugging at her nightie. Romantic Lucas, dancing on the beach with her, lips warm and tender on her own. Angry, Wounded Lucas, catching her in the water, clothes dripping, eyes intense.

"And, then, there's the Lucas who wants you to leave, so, maybe you never even really knew him at all," Sami mumbled into her overnight bag, plunking it down with a weary sigh. "At any rate, it's done now. If you saw him again, all it'd be is a goodbye, anyway. "

With that, Sami donned her glasses and rose again from the bed, straightening her simple sweater set and plaid Capris.

"If I don't get a move on, I'll be late to my own farewell barbecue. Thank God, Jennifer promised it would just be a quiet night among friends... otherwise, I couldn't take-" As she fished her handbag off the bedpost, her eye fell on a certain brass object still poised in its same old position on the nightstand.

She checked the time on it. 6:35.

Then, she consulted her watch. 7:01.She snorted.

"Getting worse in our old age, are we?" She snatched up the cantankerous timepiece, preparing to hurl it towards the wall. "Men and alarm clocks are by far the most unreliable-" As if on cue, the alarm bells blared in a panicky fashion.

Sami stopped short, looking down at the pleading object and blew out a resigned breath. If a bunch of metal and plastic, bells and numbers could beg for life, what right had she not to give it one last chance?

"All right, all right," she muttered, opening one of her bags and finding the clock a space.

"You've been with me too long to throw out now."

She rolled her eyes as she latched the bag once more and set it on top of the pile waiting at the door. "You're absolutely pathetic, Sami Brady," she berated herself as she made her way out to the car, flinging in her bags with force. " Waxing poetic about a stupid clock."

She slammed the trunk home and climbed into her car. "Raving sentimentalist," she accused her reflection. "Sami Brady, that's all you-" She blew out a long breath, shook her head, ponytail swishing from side to side.

She glanced at her watch again, and took one more once-over in the mirror, smoothing her casual hairstyle and clothing. Comfy, her appearance said. Nonchalant.

"Perfect for a nice, quiet, normal, Lucas Roberts-free evening," she mused as she turned the key and drove away, her slightly wistful tone a tiny betrayal of her heart just then.

************************************

"Lucas!" Jennifer puffed up to his side, grabbing his arm to heed his stormy march out to his waiting sports car.

Lucas jerked away, leaning his hands on the gate, back to the small assemblage in the yard." Look, Jennifer, you might mean well but after the saga of Sami Brady, I think I'm just through."

Jennifer frowned in concern. She placed her hand more gently on her brother's arm, squeezing comfortingly. "She really got to you, didn't she?"

"No kidding," Lucas muttered darkly, eyes wandering the gathering twilight without hope.

"But, but, Lucas, if you could just see the flipside..."

Lucas snorted. "That's the whole trouble. I do. Sami Brady has been trying to run away from me since the day she met me. Now, she's finally succeeded. There's your flipside."

Jennifer sighed softly. "But, Lucas, there's so much more to it than that. Don't you-don't you see...?"

Lucas shrugged. "What's to see? " His shoulders sagged glumly as his tone. "I'm-I'm through. Call up whoever you were going to try to pair me off with and just tell her the great playboy has retired. Just tell her...I'm....through...."

Lucas's arms dropped heavily from the fence, his mouth continuing to work though sound no longer emitted from it. Had Jack spiked the lemonade, or was she really there? At any rate, his heart raced as the familiar blonde woman came uncertainly towards them, as adorable as he'd ever seen her, almost like a schoolgirl in her little flat shoes, ponytail and glasses. Only....his eyes roamed freely over the well-fitted sweater and pants....only a schoolgirl never had curves like that.

As she approached the fence, her eyes grew rounder and her mouth began to tighten like someone was pulling on it with a drawstring.

Mere feet away from Lucas, she seemed to gather her breath, her chest heaving with unspilled rage as she both eyed Lucas and questioned Jennifer tersely,

"You call this a farewell party?"

**********************************************

"Well, uhh..." Jack scratched at his temple, certain he'd been in this position before. "How's the steaks?"

Sami gave him a withering smile and made a big show of taking a large bite, nearly upsetting Lucas off his side of the small bench. Lucas, in turn scowled and scooted his way back until they were shoulder to shoulder. Sami's cheeks warmed as she continued to attempt cutting her steak while their arms brushed endlessly.

Jennifer smiled broadly, bringing up a forkful of salad to her lips. " I hope you two don't mind sharing the piano bench there. Only so much room, you know." She let out a short laugh, giving her husband a nudge to join in.

Sami made it a trio, infusing it with sarcasm, breaking off a roll at the same time she broke off the laughter. She leaned forward with snapping eyes and a jump of frightened silverware. “You know something? Don’t think I don't know what you two are doing. I saw that episode of I Love Lucy, too."

Jennifer edged a look to jack, who just shrugged and began to shovel in steak double-time. Jennifer masked her annoyance, turning to Sami as innocently as possible. "Why, whatever do you mean, Sami dear?"

"She means, sister dear, that you are trying to pull a Lucy on us." Lucas threw a look to Sami. "I know which one you mean-the one where Fred and Ethel are fighting and Lucy invites them for dinner without telling them that the other one would be there. She’s got it worked out-right down to the piano bench!" Lucas tapped the side for emphasis, then, slid his arm around Sami and his leg along hers. Sami gasped and nearly choked on a bit of roll. “Cozy, ain't it?' his voice was low, with that shiver-inducing quality that so unnerved her.

"D-depends on your definition." Sami winced at that irritating wobble her voice took on at his nearness. Scoot away! Scoot away! her brain urged, while her heart and body screamed, "STAY PUT,SISTER!"

"Yeah." Lucas's eyes bore down into hers briefly. Sami gulped a bit, cheeks flaming.

"Uhh...ice...we need more ice..."

Jack cleared his throat, springing from the table.

Lucas smirked, his gaze never leaving Sami. "Cute, Jack."

Sami felt her cheeks burn that much deeper. Lucas's eyes were like a caress all their own. he licked his lips purposefully. “It is, after all, a very, very warm nigh-"

Sami finally sprang up, nearly toppling Lucas in the process. She threw her napkin down, upsetting more silverware. "What is this? A seduction among friends?"

"I don't mind,” Bart piped in, a wad of steak in one cheek. "It's just like the movies."

Bonnie tittered, wrapping her hand around one of Bart's arms. "All except the back row part," she whispered huskily, turning Bart's ears pink and the table to varying shades of embarrassment of their own.

"Oh, this is all so very amusing, but, I don't think I can stay and sit out this convoluted plot!"

"Figures," Lucas snorted. Then, he rose to join her. "You know...speaking of plots...when were you going to bother to mention you were leaving for good?"

Sami narrowed her eyes at his challenging tone. "What? Upset I didn't give a two-week notice? I’m sorry, but when your boss turns out to be such a slimy-"

Lucas shoved his hands in his pockets and tilted his head.

"Hmmmm...yes. We were so worried about how we'd ever replace you. In fact, Mom's got the board over at her house at one of those mind numbing cocktail parties, discussing just that. It's a monumental task, after all....Who could ever fill those square-shaped pants?"

Sami's lips compressed, her cheeks grew to a boiling point and all sound for a moment ceased other than the sound of her breath whooshing out her nostrils almost bull-like.

"Uhh...Jennifer...the ice..." Jack made his hasty way towards the back porch.

"Right behind you..." Jennifer tugged in a most unhostess-like manner on Bart and Bonnie's sleeves. "I could use some help in the kitchen."

"Hey!" Bart's fork clattered to his plate, a bite of steak still attached. "I didn't get to-"

"I'll wrap it up to take home, if need be!"

"No need, darlin'," Bonnie offered as Jennifer herded them across the lawn, patting her chest. "I got alll we need right here."

"What?” Lucas swept his gaze over the irate expression and stance of the woman in front of him. " It's not like you've never heard the insult bef-"

"You know what your problem is, Lucas Roberts?" Sami advanced a step or two, her voice oddly low and scratchy. " You think I'm easy to peg. You think that I'm just another woman-"

"Oh, trust me, you are NOT just another woman, baby!" Lucas's voice curled with bitterness.

Sami continued to advance pace by pace, unabated. "You think you can jerk around with my heart like a toy on a string. You think you can just say, "Oh, she's just such-and-such a way and that's all there is to it. " They were beside the gate again, Lucas smack against the wood. Sami, slowly and deliberately, planted her hands on either side of the fence near the vicinity of his waist.

"You think you can pigeonhole me. Well, I’ve got news for you. You can't." Sami leaned in nearer, her voice growing more hushed as time went on rather than rising to her usual shrieks of outrage.

She leveled him with one clear, ice-cold gaze as she went on, "The truth of the matter is, I was never the prudish "squarepants" you liked to believe. Neither was I the oh-so-sexy Lady Love. I 'm just who I am-just plain Sami Brady. If you could've seen that...if you could've known me...the real me.." She bit her lip, a tiny tremble of emotion escaping. "Well, then, you might've won my heart.” She took a long shuddery breath, searching his eyes in the half-dark, the words absorbing the silence between them. She tightened her wobbly lips and added, "Now, if you will excuse me, I've got things to settle and a train to catch." With that, she dropped her hands, retrieved her handbag and began making a slow, purposeful stride out of the yard. Lucas stood dumbly for a moment, his mouth half-open before he came to. He shook his head to ward off the crowding thoughts in his brain and loped over to her side, catching her arm.

"So that's it? You gonna lay this bombshell on me and walk away again-out of Salem, out of my life?"

"I have things to do," Sami stated flatly, attempting to pull away.

"Oh, how convenient. Never a moment to hear my side of things!" Lucas captured her arms once more, jerking her clear around to face him. His eyes bore down again, hot and angry and eager.

"You think I like having my heart pulled around like it's on some damn leash? You think you ever really tried to know the real me? I was always filthy playboy this, insufferable creep that. At some point, I thought I'd gotten through, but, no, the armor went right back up." His eyes roamed her face, his hands reaching up to loosen her hair; her breath was coming in gasps, her cheeks flushed, her mouth slightly parted. He wound his hands in her glorious tresses, drawing her face that much closer to his. “It seems like this- this is the only way we can speak...The only thing that gets through the muddled translation...."

Body quivering with pent-up need, he dragged her lips to his, burning her to the core.

Sami sighed into his mouth and tangled her hands briefly in the hair at the nape of his neck before tearing herself away.

"It-it can't be enough to just speak like-like that...there- there ought to be more-" She shoved back cascading strands of hair, traced her swollen lip, gazing up at his own flushed face. "I-I don't have time for this. I-I have places to go-"She began to trot for the gate once more.

"Sami!" Lucas was quick on her heels. "Where are you going? Where are you running to this time, huh?!"

"What do you care?!" Sami threw over her shoulder, swinging open the gate.

Lucas was just a step behind, slamming it shut once more. "What do I care?!" he echoed incredulously. "Contrary to popular belief, I don't go around just kissing on every girl I'm having an argument with in my sister's backyard."

"No. You usually take them to your office first, or maybe on a boat."

Lucas fairly winced. He stumbled back and wadded his fists into his pockets. His voice was deadly quiet. "Only you, Sami Brady...only you can twist the very best chances and crumple them up in your own hands."

Sami lifted her chin, willing the quiver to cease. "Well, that's where you're wrong. I'm grabbing that opportunity this time." She reached for the gate, glanced over her shoulder.

"As if it's any of your affair, I'm making an appearance at a certain mind-numbing cocktail party!"

With that, she stepped on through the gate and towards her car.

Lucas stood for a moment, watching after her. "Mind-numbing cocktail party." Pffft.

He slammed back against the fence. Mind-numbing cocktail party...

"Oh, hell!" Lucas spouted, pushing off the fence and charging for the back door. All….well, hell was likely to break loose. He pounded on the back door. "Jack, Jennifer! Thanks for the lovely evening! Really! From the steak to the runaway girl, it was ideal!" he shouted through the door, not waiting for them to answer. "Sorry to cut the festivities short, but I've gotta go see about an explosion!"

With that, he raced for his car, hopping in and speeding away just as Jack threw open the door, Jennifer, Bart and Bonnie crowding in behind him.

Munching on a roll, Bonnie grinned, wiggling her eyebrows and nudging Bart. "Well, it's about time."

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Chapter Twenty-Seven



Sami threaded her way through the crowded garden of the Kiriakis mansion, eyes peeled.

“Where are you, you old bat…where are you?”

Every old crony of Victor’s, every person who was important, or could potentially be important to the future of Titan Publishing was assembled there. Big business types and their nose-in-the-air wives stood in small circles, munching on the pate and the now infamous cheese balls, making conversations no one cared about and no one would remember. A weak-sounding rumba wafted through the foliage, inspiring not a single foot to tap. Some gray heads were even beginning to droop over their cocktails like sleepy children up past bedtime.

“Well,” Sami muttered to herself as she surveyed the less than lively group. “Looks like it’s time...to...liven things...up…”

Ah, there was old dragon breath-right over there beside the hedges that were nearly as stiff as her hairdo, martini balanced in her harpy claws. She was laughing in an obnoxiously throaty way she had when she was-ugh-flirting. Sami hung back, pondering for a moment who the poor sap was this time when her boss suddenly let out a mighty grating peal, throwing her head back to reveal the one who amused her so…

Sami’s mouth popped open in momentary shock at the face she’d last seen on the receiving end of her own right hook. Brandon Walker? Brandon Walker was the man that apparently had Kate Kiriakis in such stitches? Sami felt a slight churning of disgust in her belly.

He was leaning forward with that smug look in his dark eyes, the very picture of the guy on the prowl described by Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch. At the time she saw the movie, Sami had thought it was mere farce, but, no….there he was-bigger than life, sports coat thrown back to reveal his fancy striped vest, his lips curled in the I’m-so-handsome-you-can’t-resist-me look. And he was giving said look to the woman who had resisted so few men in her life.

Sami snorted at the rich irony, especially when she considered what she wanted to do. “Well-well…all the better,” she whispered, squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin, prepared to stride over and lay her news on them.

She’d made it only a couple of steps when someone snagged her elbow. Sami stopped short with an impatient roll of eyes.

“Now, how did I know you’d try to stop me, Lu-” Sami turned, her expression changing from annoyance to her best pasted-on smile. “John.”

“Peanut.” The infamous brow swooped up as he looked his stepdaughter over dubiously. “Missed you at the family brunch the other day.”

Sami nodded, suddenly all too aware of her ponytail and Capris in the midst of all the high fashion. She pushed her black cat-eyes back up the bridge of her nose and nodded, continuing to smile. “Been busy.” She gestured to her attire. “So busy, I forgot this was going to be formal.” She laughed a bit nervously.

John tilted his head, a smile of pride tugging at the corners of his lips.

“That’s my girl. Always the busy bee. So, the campaign is going well, then?”

“The campaign?” Sami frowned bemusedly. “So, you haven’t heard, then?”

John ‘s eyebrow twitched again. “Heard what?” He shrugged, took a sip of his highball and leaned forward. “Kate hasn’t made her top-secret announcement about it, if that’s what you mean, but, you can tell your old step dad. I won’t let on.” He winked.

“The announceme-?” Sami’s frown deepened. She cast a speculative look to her boss.

Brandon was leaning down to whisper in her ear. Kate laughed. Sami cringed at the tinge of desperate aging woman in the sound.

Then, she shook her head slowly. She knew what this was. Kate had rounded up all the bigwigs to soften them for the blow about the lost campaign. And Brandon...?

Her lips fluttered with humor. Well, who knew? Maybe Kate had run through her selection of pool boys and had to sink her shiny red talons elsewhere. Sami shrugged, realizing with a smile she really didn’t care.

“Peanut?” Sami startled to a sudden whistle. “Peanut, you there?”

Sami shook her head free of reverie and rewarded her stepfather with a most glorious beam.

“ The announcement. Of course.” She tucked fallen strands of hair behind her ears, shrugging sheepishly. “ Silly me. I’ve been so consumed with things the past few days…excuse me…”

With that, Sami made her way towards the oddly cozy twosome.

“Sami, a little underdressed, aren‘t we?” Kate sneered as she drew near, then seemed to pause in thought, tapping her finger against her cheek. “Oh wait. That’s right. You never received an invite. We have all the cocktail waitresses we need this time. Your services won’t be needed…” She slid her gaze back up to Brandon along with her arm around his and gave another laugh before sipping on her martini.

Sami sincerely wished she’d choke on an olive, then offered a smirk., plucking her own drink from a passing waiter. Sipping casually, she replied, “Oh, darn. That was such fun. But, you know, I only came to tell you I will no longer be here to kowtow to your ridiculous demands.”

Kate raised her brows. “Oh, really? Well, if this your way of saying you‘re quitting, then-”

Brandon scowled and suddenly interjected, “Why? Where are you going?”

Sami snorted, flipping him a contemptuous gaze. “When’s the last time you cared?”

Brandon ‘s scowl deepened. “Samantha, I know we’ve had our past differences, but seeing you here makes me realize I miss you-”

“Past differences?” Sami laughed dryly, folding her arms over her chest. “ Makes you realize you miss me? Brandon, you were standing me up with a different bimbo every night of the week.”

“And you decked me in the middle of a crowded restaurant, so-”

Sami’s laughter turned incredulous. “So that makes us somehow even, right?” She took a second sip of her drink, shaking her head at the absurdity. “Brandon, that’s quite amusing. I can see where you’re going with this. But, I’m here to tell you I don’t buy it this time.” Sami grazed his hulking form up and down with a dismissive air. “Look at you. You miss me so much you’re hanging on to the Merry Widow here for support or something?”

Kate’s arm zipped out from Brandon’s and her mouth dropped a trifle. “Why, Sami, you do realize I‘m your boss and-”She faltered as logic caught up to her. Her threats hung uselessly in the air around them. She threw back the rest of the martini and amended herself sourly, “Well, I accept your resignation. Now, if you’ll excuse us, this is a private party.”

Brandon smirked a bit and threw back the rest of his own drink, maneuvering himself several yards from said Merry Widow.

Sami nodded. “Oh, I’ll go. I’ll go. First, I heard something about announcements…well, let me just take care of that for you, Katie dear, as I have a little one of my own-”

With that, Sami located a fork on one of the refreshment tables, hopped up on a chair and clinked it loudly against her glass.

“Sami-” Kate hissed, swiping at the air in an attempt to yank her down, face mottling with scarlet.

“Everyone,” Sami began, skirting her former boss‘s grasping hand.. “May I have your attention please.”

Gray heads stirred, murmurings ceased and every eye turned upon her, the sluggish rumba ceasing mid-note. John gave her a surprised grin. “I know you must be wondering as to the purpose of this gathering…” Sami swallowed, bravado slipping as she stood gazing out into the crowd. “Well… it’s about Feel the Romance…” Sami gripped her drink glass tightly. “ You-you see…there’s-there’s good news and there-there-there’s bad...news…”

“Sami…”

Her eyes stumbled near the side of the garden where a breathless Lucas had just entered.

“Lucas..” Her voice was a tangly mixture of emotion just then, her eyes locking impossibly into his. A tiny murmur went up around them.

“Oh, thank Gawd,” Kate took advantage of the break to rush up to her son, jabbing an accusatory finger back at the impromptu speech giver. “Lucas. She-she’s drunk or something. Please see if you can persuade her off of there…”

Lucas sighed, raking his hands through his slightly disheveled hair, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his chinos and looking to Sami, but saying nothing.

“Lucas…” Kate stamped the ground for emphasis, her voice rising to shriek level. “Are you going to stand there and let her make a fool out me at my own party??! There are very important people here, you know!”

Lucas looked to his mother, to Sami, to the curious crowd and back again, and shrugged, looking his mom over as if for the first time. “ You know what, mom? You do a fine job all on your own. Why don‘t you just have a seat?”

Kate’s mottled face began to fill in, venturing towards purple as her own son, guided her to a nearby bench like a scolded child. “Lucas!”

Without a backwards look, Lucas trotted to Sami’s side, leveled her with a reassuring gaze. “It’s ok. Say what you came to say. I’m sure they’d all like to know.”

Sami felt a surge of confidence translate from his gaze to hers, and nodded a tiny, thankful nod before taking a breath and continuing.

“Well, uhh...like I said, there’s good news and there’s bad news…”

She sucked in more air, hands rimming the top of the cocktail glass over and over as she spoke. “The-the bad news first…the-the-Feel the Romance campaign is effectively....over.”

The murmurings began to buzz again. Sami bit her lip, raising her hands appeasingly.

“ Now, now…it’s -it’s not the end of the world, people…”

She swallowed yet again. “You see, Lady Love has-has found other ventures she’d like the opportunity to take on…she’s-she’s grateful for the time and energy spent on promoting her work-”

Here her glance fell on Lucas. Pleased bewilderment snuck into his expression.

“Really…I-I mean-she is…but, the time has come for her to…”

She looked out into the crowd again just in time to see Jack slip in, followed by Jennifer. Resting her gaze on her mentor, cohort, encourager, friend, her voice surged on, “Stop-stop flinging opportunity out the window. Time to stop trying to bury herself.”

Kate rolled her eyes. Jack couldn’t hold back his grin. Jennifer nodded an encouragement. And Lucas…Lucas stood watching as her face transfused and her eyes lit up. He had to catch his breath, it was such a pretty sight, Sami on fire. He had to catch his breath and began to think.

“It’s time-it’s time for her to spread her wings,” Sami went on, passion stirring her voice. “It’s time fly beyond Salem-”

“Harrummpph.” Mr. Peabody, the most elderly and grumpy of the board, raised his hand.

“Umm..” Sami’s impassioned speech wobbled. “Yes?”

‘That’s all well and good, Miss Brady, but, I have a bone to pick.” He shifted in his seat as if settling in for the long haul. “Firstly, we had to put faith into someone we never met, never knew. Secondly, you say she’s leaving. Thirdly, for all your flowery words, I still don’t get one thing-”

Sami gulped, shifting slightly from foot to foot. “And-what’s-what’s that?”

“Forgive me, Miss Brady, but I must know…How the Sam hill do you know so much while the rest of us are in the dark?1”

Sami gulped a second time. “Well…Mr. Peabody, that’s because…that’s-that’s because-”She sighed in frustration, eyes seeking the few faces among the befuddled and questioning sea that knew the full import of what he was asking.

Jennifer’s filled with compassion, Jack’s wink said, Go for it, and Lucas…Lucas’s eyes burned into her, both admiring and daring, both challenging and encouraging, the perfect spark to renew her.

With the deepest breath of her lifetime, Sami plunged on, “That’s because, Mr. Peabody, everyone… I am Lady Love.”

The proverbial collective gasp erupted around her. Appetizers rolled under decorative iron benches and drinks were sputtered up.

She nodded her head slowly. “I’m sorry I never told you, but it’s just something, I preferred to-to keep..” Her eyes darted to Lucas. “Under the covers… I’m very sorry to announce this only as I’m leaving. But, but better late than never, right?” She gave a short laugh. “But, but that’s-that’s about all there is to say, I guess. I am-was Lady Love.” Sami let go of her breath in a whoosh, shut her eyes in relief and climbed down from the chair, not realizing for a moment the pair of helpful hands upon her were Lucas’s.

“Peanut?” John whispered in mystified tones, his eyebrow instantly going up.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Brandon whispered, sinking to the bench beside Kate with a suddenly morose expression. “I could’ve been with Lady Love?”

Kate’s face was nearing eggplant range, but almost no sound emitted at first. Then, a shrill bubble of a laugh erupted, followed by another, then another, and still another.

Collapsing her head to her hands, Kate began to shake her head. “No,” she managed to gasp. ‘No...it-it couldn’t be. Not-not useless little Sami Brady… Just couldn’t be.. I was-I was ready to fire her…”

Suddenly, above murmurings, a whistled resounded, followed by a brash, familiar female tone calling out, “All right! Let’s hear it for Sami Brady-Salem’s own Lady Love!!!”

“Woo hoo! Let‘s wish the gal good luck!”

Sami turned in Lucas’s arms and spied Bart and Bonnie at the fringe of the party, grinning and applauding like mad.

Kate peeped through her fingers. “Oh, hell, the gang’s all here,” she muttered.

Soon, the smattering spread, until nearly every snooty, manicured pair of hands joined in.

“Hey, Miss Lady Love, you brought down the house…take a bow, baby,” Lucas’s murmur came to ear.

Sami smirked, cheeks flushing with embarrassed pride as she gave a little curtsey first to one side, then to the other, her gaze meeting Kate’s apoplectic one momentarily. Sami grinned and added a little more flourish.

“Can I escort you to your car, miss?”

Sami felt a tiny flutter at Lucas’s hand, gentle upon the small of her back. In the heat of the moment,

she could only nod and hook her arm through his.

As they passed through the garden, Sami couldn’t help pausing at the bench where Kate remained in a mild hysteria.

“ Ahemm.. Sorry our business arrangement has come to such an abrupt end, Mrs. Kiriakis, but, you know how it is...” She leaned in and lowered her voice conspiratorially, “ You see, Titan Publishing is no longer the image this author wants to project.”

Kate stared up glassily and gave a tiny squeak.

Sami grinned, plucked a platter from a nearby table. “You look unwell. Have a cheese puff. Have a whole plate.” Sami appeared to rear back.

“Sami!“

Kate burrowed under her arms, only to have Sami lay the platter down in her lap and smile sweetly.

With that, she allowed Lucas to squire her out of the garden while the man shook his head in amazement and amusement both.

Jack approached next with a goofy grin, Jennifer in tow. He snatched up a cheese puff or three. “Love these things,” he offered with a full mouth. “ Well…See ya Monday, Mrs. K.” He saluted and helped Jennifer through the throng..

Kate groaned in response, dropping her head to her hands once more.

‘Umm…Kate…”

“What?!” she shot her head up, wild-eyed.

John took several steps back., adjusted his tie. “ Well, ahem-it’s not the best time, I’m sure, but, well, I think we’d better rethink that merger.” With that, he turned on his heel and made his exit.

Kate let out another little bubble, but this one burst into tears.

“Well, I’m going to go find a nurse,” Brandon grumbled. “Any nurse.” He vacated his spot on the bench.

A moment later, two people sat down on either side.

‘”Ohh, she looks in a bad way, Bon-Bons…”

Bonnie smacked her gum and fished out a tissue from her cleavage. “There, there, hon. It ain’t so bad.”

She patted Kate’s hairsprayed head and offered the tissue.

Another, larger sob erupted as Kate sniffed the tissue. “This smells like dinner rolls!” she blubbered, collapsing suddenly to Bart’s shoulder.

Bart’s eyes bulged and his mouth scrunched in distaste. He looked to Bonnie, who just shrugged.

‘Uhh....There, there, Mrs. K.” he said weakly. ‘It’s uh...it’s all going to be okey-dokey again….you’ll see…”

******************************************************************

“My-my train will be here-any-any time-” Sami offered with a sigh.

Lucas nodded beside her on the bench, swallowing hard.

‘I-I know.”

‘Yep,” Jack chimed in.

“Unh, huh,” Jennifer rounded it out.

“So…”Jack sighed, running his hands through his hair. “Sami, we had some fun back there, but, well, I’m not too fond of goodbyes….”

Sami bit her lip. “I-I know…”

‘So, uh...I’d just-uh-just as soon-not uh..” He scratched his temple nervously. “Well...I’d just as soon not be...here…when -when… the actual train…that is to say...oh, damnit to hell!” He scraped back his hair again. “A writer without words,” he muttered.

He blew out a noisy breath, dug in his pocket and , without looking, he took Sami’s hand and pressed a small object into her palm.

Sami took a shuddery breath and opened her hand. Gold twinkled in the dim lights outside the train station..

“You’re lucky pencil...” Her voice caught.

Jack nodded. ‘I hope it brings you luck, too, kid. More than it ever did for me.”

Just then, a train whistle sounded in the distance.

Sami bit her lip, throwing herself into her friend’s arms. “Oh, Jack!”

Jack squeezed tight in return. “ Get out there and win us a Pulitzer, ok, kiddo?”

Sami nodded, pressed her lips to his cheek, and pilled away, dabbing at her eyes. “I-I- know I wasn’t very grateful, but-but thanks...for everything, Jack.” She squeezed his hand, turned to Jennifer.

“You, too,” she whispered. “Keep him in line, you hear?” Sami threw her arms around the woman, beginning to feel a bit like Dorothy, only, she was leaving her Kansas.

She drew away and found her eyes colliding with Lucas’s.

It’d been a long night. It’d been a long few months, for that matter. Every emotion she could possibly feel for him, she did right then.

She darted querying eyes to her friends.

Jack cleared his throat. “Well, as I said….goodbyes and such..” He scratched the back of his neck, grabbed for his wife’s hand.

‘Sami, take care and just remember-no more flinging.. “

He rose with a chuckle, patted her shoulder once more and let his wife lead him out to their waiting car, looking back once more to the girl who was emerging from her shell at last. Jennifer followed the train of his gaze. She reached up and brushed his cheek with her lips.

‘You did good, Jack,” Jennifer whispered.

******************************************************

The train whistle emitted a second, more impatient sound.

“Well….”Sami fiddled with her purse strap. “That’d be for me...”

Lucas nodded, suddenly feeling very heavy. “Yeah,” he managed, looking down at the hands dangling between his knees. Then., he glanced up.

“Sami-”

“Luc-”

Both laughed nervously. Lucas gestured to her “Ladies first.”

Sami blew out a breath. “Well...uhh...thank-thank you for standing up for me back there. After tonight…that was-rather…unexpected.”

Lucas nodded. “I know. It’s all your fault. You make me take the damn high road.”

Sami chuckled, but the sound was almost sad. “And-thank you-thank you for seeing me off..”

It was Lucas’s turn for a sad chuckle. “Well, thank you-thank you for having me…though…” He ventured a hand atop hers, catching her eyes. “I wish ….” The last was whispered painfully.

Sami sucked in a breath of surprise. Her eyes rimmed with hopefulness with their tears. “Yes, Lucas?”

Lucas sighed. “I wish…”

Lucas dropped his head. “I just wish, that’s all.” The words came out softly and tugged endlessly at everything inside her.

“Oh.. ”She ducked her head into his broad chest, hardly aware of her action until she heard the sharp intake of his breath. Then, suddenly, she became very aware. Aware of him. Aware of his scent. Aware of his thudding heart. Aware of his arms. Aware of the solidity and comfort there and she found herself looking up with flushed cheeks and whispering, “ Lucas, I-”

Lucas looked back down at her, stroked her cheek softly with the pads of his thumbs.

“Sami….”

She swallowed, suddenly more nervous than when she’d stood up there on that chair and spilled her soul. Perhaps, because for all the soul-spilling going on that night, there was still a piece of soul she held back, a piece he was after, and a piece she was still unsure whether to give.

As his lips moved nearer and nearer still, she let her eyes drift shut, let her body drift in, let herself give way for a timeless time as their lips hovered there, a mere breath away.

Then, the whistle blew harshly into the beautiful still and the moment shattered itself as Lucas suddenly jerked clear away, turning his back. He raked a hand through his hair. “I can’t,” he whispered simply. The words meant so much more than an interrupted kiss.

“Oh.’ Sami said again, her disappointment measuring greatly in the one sound.

She gathered up her bags, and rose to stand. “I-I better go-”

With that, she took step after step towards the platform., shoes heavy as lead. As she approached the steps, his voice rang out.

“Sami!”

Her head spun round eagerly. “Yes??” She winced at the oh-so-hopeful note injected there.

Lucas was standing, hands stuffed in his pockets, shifting uncomfortably, like all the razzing, propositions, clashes and moments of passion had just faded away.

“Don’t-don’t forget about us-back here.”

Sami nodded slowly, her heart sliced in twain as if by a jagged piece of ice. “ I-I won’t, Lucas-” with that, she turned and entered the train, and out of his life, once and for all.

Lucas watched the train till it was a mere speck in the horizon, and then, he shut his eyes and whispered too late, “Don’t go.”





In her state room that night, Sami peered at the small mirror on the wall.

“Don’t forget about us, he says. “ She brushed her hair furiously, tears threatening. “He could’ve said stay. He could’ve said, let me go. But, no…”

She banged around her forehead with her brush in her haste.

“Ouch,” she cried, flinging it down and pressing her hands to her eyes.

“Just forget. Go to bed. You have big days ahead.”

She attempted to stabilize her breathing, snapped off the light and climbed in her bed. She’d barely shut her eyes when the annoying ringing sound began.

Sami grunted, frustration snapping as she located the brass bane of her existence.

“Like I’ve said before, Men and alarm clocks are the most unreliable things…”

With that, the clock hurtled through the air, screaming all the way. Seconds later, bells, hands, and faulty works scattered across the floor.

‘There,” Sami tried to infuse her tone with satisfaction. “A new beginning all the way around.”

The tears she’d been fighting came coursing down her cheeks just then.





Chapter Twenty-Eight



The Feel the Romance billboards were in the process of being torn down. Just as if that time never existed , it was being ripped from the covers, ripped from the skyline, ripped from his eyes. Lucas blew out a long breath, leaning against the window sill as bit by bit the words, the pictures, and, and her were being turned to so much confetti.

“Lucas.” The impatient edge was a familiar sound of late.

He flipped a careless look to his mother. “Yes?”

She rattled her papers and leaned forward in her chair. “Have you heard a word I’ve been saying?”

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “ Something about a new feature?”

Kate’s mouth pulled tight, her teeth bared more in a resemblance of a smile than a real one. “ lucas, dear, that’s very good, but I believe we. Settled that topic hours ago” she sighed heavily, rubbing her forehead in a put-upon fashion with one hand, while the other laid aside her stack of paper and drummed its talon-sharp nails on the desk. “Lucas, Lucas. You know, sweetie, you think I don’t notice things, but I do.”

Lucas smirked. “Oh, do you, Mom?” he replied quietly, flopping down in his desk chair , eyes still cast out the window. A pretty curl of pink nightie surrendered itself, drifting down to earth.

“Yes, I do.” Her voice was drawing tauter as she leaned forward, drummed harder. “Your heart’s not in this like it once was.“

“Ya think?” Lucas laughed mirthlessly. A shaving of golden angel’s hair drifted off and away.

Kate’s chest began to heave., her fingers fairly tap-dancing. “Yes, I do think, and, it’s ever since-since that little chippy you chose over your own mother went away.” She jerked her head to the billboard.

“That little chippy made you a fortune,” Lucas mumbled darkly , eyes still watching the progress of the falling pictures. “That little chippy is no chippy at all. She’s incredible. ” He slowly shook his head, turning his gaze to his mother at last. “And you say you notice things…”

Kate narrowed her eyes. “ Yes, I notice some sort of unhealthy infatuation with someone who deceived you, deceived us all. I tell you, Lucas, if I’d only known righht off the bat she ws our mystery writer, why I’d-”

“ Spit-shined her shoes,” Lucas broke in with a derisve snort.

Kate sprang from her seat, eyes wide, nostrils flaring,

“Lucas, I most certainly would not-”

“Mom, you said it yourself-everybody cares about money” He stood, gestured broadly. “Look around, Mom and tell me you don’t buy into that.”

Kate rolled her eyes. “Yes, I care about money. Fine. I also care about my son, and this disturbing trend of apparently mooning over women who are not worth--’

“Don’t say it!” Lucas interjected with an angry rise to his tone, shaking his finger at her. “Don’t even say it! If anyone’s not worthy of anyone around here it’s me!” He took a deep breath, his voice lowering.” But, at least, I’m trying to be.”

Kate pressed her hands to her temples, shaking her stiffly-sprayed head. ‘I can’t believe I’m hearing this.”

“Well, believe it, Mom,” Lucas’s voice continued in a husky, sincere vein. “Because there’s more than just being rich, or having the right name or kissing the feet that kick you in the teeth.” He swallowed, collapsing to the edge of his desk. “There’s love.” He nodded slowly as it sunk in deep. He glanced out the window, to what was left of one of the most magical experiences of his life, and suddenly he saw again Sami’s face as she whipped around on that platform. Eager, searching, wanting. He watched the last flutter of pink nightie fly away and realized he was being an idiot not to latch on and follow it. He shook his head at himself, wondering why sitting idle had seemed better, nobler than chasing like he meant it. Chasing like she meant something. He sighed deeply as that shred of billboard fluttered to earth. Oh, how much Sami Brady meant. More than he ever knew.

“There’s love,” he repeated in an awed whisper.

Kate shrieked in incoherent outrage, stamping her spiky heels.

“Oh, Gawd, Lucas, please tell me you aren’t actually saying you’re in love with that little nothing Sami Brady?!”

“What if I am?” he challenged quietly. “What? Will you fire me?” He rose from the desk. “Disown me?” He lifted his chin, leveling her with a gaze of steel. “Go right ahead. Go on and stand around here having your inane discussion and parties.” He nodded, right in her face now. “ And go right on saving your face, acting like you aren’t still all eaten up inside that you lost the best thing that ever happened to Bella magazine. Go on. But, I won’t go on with you.”

He stalked away, plucking his jacket up off the chair and shrugging into it. “I, for, one, cannot do that.You see, Mom, I know I did right in letting her go. I know that. Now, she’s free.” He turned around, buttoning up his jacket. “What I didn’t know was I needed to break free myself.”

Witth that, he offered a hand in salute and started to head for the half-open door.

Kate was quick on his heels, snatching for his arm.

“Lucas, sweetie, I want you to rethink this. ’ She cast a desperate eye about. “ If-if it’s girls you need, girls I can get. Any number of them. What-what if I rehire Angie?She seemed like a-”

Lucas jerked away, a sudden uproarious laugh erupting. ‘Tarantula eyes? You think I’d rather have Tarantula eyes?” He reached out and patted her cheek. “ Mom, you‘re a peach. Thanks, but no thanks. Really, there‘s nothing more to be said. I‘m just going to go.”

A sudden lone sound of applause was heard behind the door. Pushing the door open all the way, they found Jack Devereaux with a satisfied grin, clapping away.

“Jack Devereaux, so help me God, if you don’t have a good excuse ftom being away from your desk, I’ll-”

“Oh, I have a good excuse, Mrs. K,” Jack couldn’t contain his gleefulness. “I’m here to take your boy to lunch.”

Kate rolled her eyes. “Unh, huh,” she replied dryly, folding her arms over her chest. “You know, other than Sami Brady, Mr. Devereaux, you are the deadest of dead weight-”

Jack cleared his throat. “Uhh...can this wait till after lunch.” He clapped a hand on Lucas’s shoulder. “Family business, you know.”

Kate’s chest heaved to near explosion, face mottling. “ I’m his mother!”

Jack nodded, seemed to consider this. “Well, I’ll grant you that, but, but I’m his brother-in-law, so guess that means you’ll understand that this is one of those matters that ...well, uhh, doesn’t really concern you.”

With that, he steered said brother-in-law away.

“See ya around, Mom!” Lucas called over his shoulder as they turned the corner towards the elevators, ignoring her sharp calls for him to come right back that instant. He was sure her face was purple, and he was sure he didn't give a rip. Not now.



“So, is this my pep-talk lunch then?” Lucas quipped.

Jack shrugged. “I dunno, Lucas, I’d call it more of a celebration.”

Lucas chuckled. “Yeah. I wrote my mother off and quit my job all in one fell swoop.”

Jack tilted his head in thought. “Hmmm..perhaps, that calls for more than lunch. Champagne?”

“You’re buying.” Lucas patted his wallet in his pocket ruefully. “I may need every cent I got.”

Jack nodded as he jabbed the elevator button. “Noted.” He continued to pat the younger man’s shoulder as they stepped onto the elevator. “So, give any thought to your next venture? Have anything particular in mind?”

Lucas twisted up his mouth as if thinking heavily. “I have a place in mind, yes.”

“Because, if you do...” Jack went on as he pressed the Lobby button. “I know a publisher or two might be in need of someone of your caliber…”

‘Really, Jack?’ Lucas quirked a brow. “Where?”

Jack leaned back as the doors began to close, eyes on the numbers above them.

“ None other than dear old New York, New York.”

Lucas felt a grin tug at his lips as the doors snapped shut. “Keep talking…

*************************************************************

“Whoa, Nelly! What goes on here?” Bart stood in the doorway of the apartment, jaw dropped.

Lucas looked up, but did not pause in either whistling or packing. He grabbed a pair of loafers, flipping them in his hands before settling them in one open suitcase. “What does it look like?” He waggled a brow. “I am getting out of this bachelor pad from hell.”

“Getting out?!” Bart practically yelled.

Lucas wined as he folded over his best silk ties. “Geez, Bart. I don’t think the little old lady down in 1A heard ya. Might want to speak up next time.”

Bart shrugged sheepishly, wandering the room. “This is all just so sudden.” Bart’s hand combed the now nearly emptied bureau top. “So, whereabouts are you-?” Bart trailed off. as his hands landed on a plane ticket. “Saaay. I know what this is all about…”

Lucas glanced up from neatly folding his dress shirts and smirked slightly. “Oh, do you?”

Bart held up the ticket, waving it back and forth. “ What’s that one song say? Something about New York being a wonderful town?”

Lucas shrugged noncommittally, but a grin played at his lips still. “Well, it is.”

“Yep.” Bart strolled up, still waving the ticket. “Even more so when a certain gal who shall remain nameless is there….” Bart chuckled, tucking the ticket in Lucas’s shirt pocket, his eyes twinkled with knowing.

Lucas could no longer hold back his grin. “Bart, Jack got me in good with a terrific publishing job.” He resumed tucking shirts in his suitcase. “I’ve been checking out brownstones-you know, real homey places…”

“You know something, boss?” Bart sat down on the edge of the dresser, watching him. “You got it bad.”

Lucas shrugged, nodded. “ Yeah, yeah, I do.” He snapped his suitcases closed, laid them on the floor next to the bed, then flopped down on the edge of it with a sigh, thumping on a fuzzy pillow. “If all goes well, Sami Brady will soon be my bride.” Then, he paused a moment, hands going still. He sat up, his mouth twisting into more thoughtful lines. He dug in his pockets and produced his key, suddenly ducking his head as he flipped it in his hand. “Bart, things are going to be different soon… there’s something I want to say...”

The right hand angled his head, peering at his boss’s suddenly serious and slightly hesitant expression. “It’s ok, boss. I understand. Who needs to pay a fella to sit around reading Dick Tracy when he’s about to take on a family?” He ducked his own head, rubbing the back of his neck. “Besides, I kinda sorta was thinking I might have a reason to stay.”

Lucas smiled. “Bonnie?” he guessed.

Bart looked down at his hands and nodded, ears tinging pink as a grin blossomed across his features. “She makes a lousy cup of joe, but, oooh, boy the things she isn’t lousy at, well…” He broke off with a low whistle.

Lucas quirked his brows. “Well, how about that.” He rose, grabbing for his suit jacket.

“You know, I think this signals a turning point for us, Bart. No more being on the prowl..”

“Yep,” Bart agreed, sliding off the dresser. “Sure had some crazy old times, though.”

He glanced around the apartment speculatively. “So, what becomes of the pad? Your mom pretty steamed all this here decoratin’ is goin’ to waste?”

Lucas snorted, buttoning his jacket. “Oh, she’s steamed. About ready to lose it, I’d say. But, I think the pad is the last thing on her mind, so….”

He presented the key to Bart. “Why don’t you take it?”

Bart blinked, looking down at the shiny gold object. “Ya mean it, boss?” he asked in mystified tones.

“ Furry pillows, puke-disguising carpet and all.” Lucas made a sweeping gesture.

“And that fella?” Bart ‘s face went dubious as he nodded towards the monstrosity of a bust still on its pedestal in the corner.

Lucas smirked. “Ahem… before I go...allow me….”

With that, Lucas hefted the warped piece of “art”, raised a window and, with a wiggle of brows to his friend, sent it sailing. Bart trotted to the window in time to see it smash to a dozen pieces on the sidewalk

Lucas dusted off his hands in triumph. “Now, that’s what you can do with your modern art, Mother, dear.”

Bart snickered, still peering out the window. He tapped the glass. “Sayonara, Screwy Face.”

Then, his snickers faded out into a sigh.

“So…I guess…I guess this is sayonara to you, too, sir.” Bart’s eyes turned from the window, his tone sputtering unexpectedly with emotion. “Give the Big Apple a hiya from me.” He sniffled a little. “Cotton-pickin’ allergies.” He pulled out a hanky and blew his nose soundly. Lucas felt a smirk pull a his lips in spite of his best efforts.

The sniffly right-hand man gripped his boss and best pal’s shoulder as he walked him to door, picking up his bags out of habit . “What-what are you waiting for? Go and get -get your girl. I expect to get an invite when you two crazy kids decide to get hitched.” Bart sniffled a second time as they ambled out to the elevator.

Lucas pushed the down arrow and turned, feeling his smirk fade at the truly mixed expression on the other man’s face. Without warning, he felt a tiny tug of his own. “Of course, pal,” he replied, a bit more choked than was comfortable. “Same-same goes for you and Bonnie.”

“Sure thing,” Bart managed, hanky close at hand.

‘Well…”

The elevator dinged, the doors parted, as if to beckon Lucas.

He stuck out a hand. “Here’s to going off the prowl.”

A sniffle of his own betrayed him. “Cotton-pickin’ allergies, too.” He shrugged embarrassedly.

Bart looked down at the proffered hand, lips trembly in almost a cartoonish way. “It’s been a helluva ride.” He reached out his hand as if to shake Lucas’s, but at the last second pulled his old boss to him. “Awww, come’re you big palooka! What am I gonna do without your love life to poke around in?” Bart sighed, patted Lucas’s back soundly. So soundly, in fact, Lucas had to push him off.

“All right, all right, already, Bart.” Lucas held him off by the shoulders, half-chuckling. “ You know the way to New York, you know.”

Bart managed a smile. “Yeah. So I do. There‘s the Greyhound, the train, Salem Airport, or just the good, old-fashioned road trip and-”

Lucas held up his hands in a halting gesture. “All right, all right.”

Bart’s ears tinged pink. “Bonnie says there’s only one thing that’ll shut my mouth.”

“Well,” Lucas laughed. “Maybe you better show off your new digs to her and try it.” He winked, patted his shoulder and prepared to step on the elevator. Turning one last time, Lucas couldn’t help but smile nostalgically at the man who‘d been his companion so many years. He’s seen him through every hangover, every pick-up, every slacked-off assignment, and, now, he’d seen him through the biggest turning point of his life. “ Bart?”

“Yeah, boss?” The older man’s tone wavered.

“Thank you.” Lucas’s voice was soft, sincere. “ For everything.”

“Sure thing, boss.” Bart nodded as the doors closed, signaling a new chapter in each man’s life. He stood silent for a moment, looking down at the key that’d been pressed into his palm. Then suddenly, he whooped, clicking his heels together. “Woooo hoo! Wait’ll Bon-Bons gets a load of this!”





Chapter Twenty-Nine



“Ahem, hello there, I’m-I’m Sami Brady, the author…”

Sami paused on the busy New York sidewalk, twisting the gloves she held and agitatedly shaking her head. No good. Too unsure.

She sighed softly and adjusted her wide picture hat in the reflection from a book store window, smoothing the sides of her pale pink suit. She closed her eyes and imagined her book there in the window, bright, clean jacket, her name in bold print across the front, selling like hotcakes, Paramount or MGM opting for the movie rights…

Sami’s eyes flew open. “But, first, you must make an impression,” she reminded herself with a groan. She’d come a long way from Salem and the dead-end secretary field, yet, here she still had the jitters. She turned and leaned against the brick wall, her eyes falling on a most welcome sight just across the street: Charlie’s Coffee.

“Coffee,” she mumbled as she hit the crosswalk button. “I need coffee.” As she crossed, she honed in on the proud lettering underneath: Fresh Pastries. She could not resist a small smile at that . “And a jelly doughnut.”

**********************************************************************

Lucas turned the key over and over in his hand, whistling up the avenue, hardly believing his run of good fortune. First the perfect job, now the perfect place.

He paused at a book store window, adjusting his tie in the reflection.

“Now, all you need to complete the picture is the perfect wife…”

He smiled fondly and stuck a hand in one pocket, fingering the precious address therein.

Everything was in place at last. Tonight would be the night. But, first, there were things to prove on the work front, he reminded himself with a sigh, checking his watch. Hour and a half to appointment time. First-time for him, first-time author.

The job was every bit as good as Jack had indicated, but, still…his stomach churned a bit. This was his first job his mother had nothing to do with securing for him.

“It’s all on you, pal,” he mumbled to his reflection. “You gotta show them. You gotta try for yourself, and for Sami…” He collapsed to the brick wall behind with a small sigh. This waiting, this wondering. It was agony. He clutched his middle as the butterflies made another trip around his gastrointestinal muscles.

“Admit it, Roberts. You’re not all torn up over schmoozing with some author today. You’re worried Sami’ll go all square pants on ya and say no.”

He chuckled ruefully. “I need a drink.”

It’s barely past nine, a voice chided in his head. “Right.” He pressed his fingers to his eyelids. “ This getting up early thing still throws me.” He shook his head at himself, his eyes lighting on a welcome sign. “Coffee.” He leapt on it like a godsend, hurrying to cross the street. “That’s what you need. It’ll settle your nerves, old boy. Coffee.” He cocked his head thoughtfully, a grin playing across his features. “And, maybe a doughnut, for old times sake.”

***********************************************************************

Sami stuck her hand out to her mirrored image, this time found in Charlie‘s obliging window. She cleared her throat, threw back her shoulders. “Hello, Samantha Brady, Wordsmith magazine. I have the privilege of working with several top authors and, from all I hear, you are the best place to submit-”

She cocked her head to the side, chewing her lip in consideration. Better, though she feared she was on the verge of becoming a name-dropper, something that truly made her wince. Kate Kiriakis was a name-dropper.

Sami smirked slightly, sipping her coffee and thinking of how one day the dragon lady herself might find need to drop her name.

“Oh, yes, I knew her.” Sami adopted the bored, snobbish tone of her former employer, laying her gloves to her chest as her face took on that look of superiority the old bat was so well-versed in. “I’m the one who gave her her start, don’t you know.”

Sami snorted, shaking her head. “That’d be so like you, Katie, dear. Taking all the credit when, if it wasn’t for your son-”

Sami broke off with another sigh, this one the regretful variety. She shook her gloves at her reflection, then, biting into a bit of doughnut she scolded herself. “You will not think of Lucas Roberts, do you hear?” Brown eyes seemed to pop up out of nowhere in her mind‘s eye, mocking her determination with a merry twinkle. Arrggh. She whipped around abruptly, a sigh of exasperation on her lips. “ You will not think….”

Sami broke off in a gasp as she fell into something solid. Something that went "oof". Like déjà vu, Styrofoam cracked, coffee ran in a brown river, jelly doughnut squished, and her pretty picture hat tilted half-over her face as if to say, “ Eek This again?. Run. Hide. We’re going down!". But, she didn't go down this time, either. Instead, she was once again caught in a grip so strong, she felt almost as if she were not standing on her own two feet….

"I'm sorry, miss. Are you all right?"

Pushing back her hat, she looked up dazedly. That voice…..she knew that voice…

" No, I'm ...sorry...." she mumbled, trailing off in as her eyes collided with a pair as deep and warm a brown as her lost coffee. A pair she’d only been daydreaming of just moments before. She clung tightly to his jacket sleeve, barely able to catch her breath. “Lucas-?”

“Sami?” Lucas blinked, running his hands up and down her arms as if to make sure she was real, then he glanced down to their respectively gooey and stained attire. He couldn‘t resist a small, mystified chuckle. “Haven’t we been here before?”

Sami felt her face flush as her breath still half-eluded her. She took in the sugary bits clinging to both sets of clothing and ventured a smile. “I think so….just….just not in New York before.” She bit her lip, trying to push out all untoward eagerness from her tone as his hands continued to hold her up. “So what-what are you doing here, anyway?”

Lucas swallowed, his eyes straying to his hands on her arms, suddenly very aware of the contact. The first in a while now between them. He blew out a breath, dropping his hands and shrugged, searching for words he could not find. In fact, no words came at all for several moments as he looked into her eyes. He‘d only been separated from her by a matter of weeks, but he found himself lost in how incredibly blue they were, peeping out through the shadows of the hat inquisitively. Right. She had a question. Questions deserved answers. “Well, I -uh, I- well….” He sighed in frustration, then leapt on the first stray thought in his head. He gestured to their appearance. “We should uh-we should be getting out of these clothes.”

Sami couldn’t stop her smirk. “You didn’t come all the way to offer that one-hour dry-cleaning line, did you?”

Lucas’s jaw dropped a trifle, his brows furrowing. He shook his head vehemently. “What? No, no…”

Sami chuckled uncomfortably. “That was a joke.”

Lucas’s face registered this with embarrassment. “Ohhhh….” He gave a short laugh. ‘Good one. Well, seriously…I have a new place not far from here….I don’t have it all fixed up yet, but, uh….I’m sure-I’m sure we could figure out something-”

Sami processed this, then looked up with those inquisitive eyes again. “You’ve-you’ve moved here?”

Lucas nodded, eyes awkwardly bouncing away.

“Wow.” Sami half-whispered it, leaning against the wall. “That’s-that’s unexpected.”

‘Yeah.” Lucas shoved his hands in his pockets.

“It was time,” he offered simply, if a bit huskily.

Sami toyed with her hands for a moment, nodding her head, but saying nothing.

Lucas shifted from foot to foot, balling his hands in his pockets. Finally, he cleared his throat. “So, uhh...shall we-?” He gestured around the corner.

“Ohh.” Sami almost startled to his voice after the moment of anxious still. She cleared her throat in kind. “Sure.”

“Great.” Lucas offered his arm. “I-I wanted you to see it anyway.”

Sami bit her lip again, eyes darting up to him. “Did you?” Her voice was hushed.

Lucas nodded shyly. “Yeah. You hated my apartment back in Salem so much, I wanted to show you what I can do on my own.” His eyes leveled hers significantly.

Sami offered a tentative smile. “ I’d like to see what you can manage on your own.”

************************************************************************

“Lucas-oh my gosh!” Sami wandered the plush, anything-but-putrid green carpeting of the spacious brownstone, admiring every stick of Early American furniture with her hands, every large window, every elegant drape, smiling appreciatively at the grandfather clock in one corner clicking steadily away-now there was a timepiece. She wandered to a window, parting the drapery to let sunlight stream in. Ahhh. Even more beautiful with the light picking up the deeply burnished tones of the furniture. Then, she left the window bemusedly, walking to the curving staircase Lucas had disappeared around moments before . “What do you mean not fixed up? It’s perfect.”

“Well, it was missing something,” he called back. “ It wasn’t perfect…” He appeared around the corner, buttoning the jacket of a fresh suit, trailing off at the incredibly lovely sight of Sami Brady at the foot of his stairs-their stairs soon, he hoped. She’d removed the hat to reveal the crowning glory of her golden hair, which was only half-swept up for a change. Ribbons of sunlight from behind played at the tumbling curls, lighting them to an amazingly rich shade. Her upturned eyes could not disguise her twinkle.

“But, it is now,” he murmured to himself as he made his way down the stairs.

Sami blinked. “What?”

Lucas shook his head. “Oh, nothing…” He swallowed, reaching for her hand. “So you really like it?”

Sami nodded with a smile, eyes casting about. “It’s a far cry from the old one.”

“Good. That was for the old Lucas Roberts. The new Lucas Roberts, welll…” He gestured about them.

Sami nodded again, gazed up at him searchingly. “I guess-I guess we are both making….fresh starts, then, so to speak…”

“Yeah.” Lucas’s reply was a bit husky. No one spoke for a time, no one moved as the things underneath what was said settled over them. Then, finally, both chose to break the silence at once.

“ Sami-”

“Lucas-”

They both laughed self-consciously. Lucas nodded to Sami, squeezed her hand.

“Ladies first.”

Sami looked down at the tanned fingers overlapping her pale skin. She drew in a shaky breath and whispered, “I-I just wanted to say…it’s- it’s good to see you again…”

“Is it?” Lucas’s voice was soft, not daring towards hopeful.

Sami nodded, then reluctantly pulled away from his grasp, toying with her now coffee-splashed gloves, turning towards the big bay window in front and gazing out. “ I-I know I wasn’t always kind or understanding back in Salem…”

Lucas shook his head. “Sami, you don’t have to say it-”

Her eyes snapped back around.

“No, I want to.” She tilted her head, fingering the velvety drapes and went on. “Lucas, I just wanted to say I’m sorry for all those times …I was less than understanding.” Her voice wobbled despite her best efforts.

“Sami….” Lucas came up behind her, gently tugging at her arm to turn her to face him. A single tear was sliding down her cheek. He reached out to smooth it away, and then another fell. And still another. And another.

“Sami…” Lucas scooped her into his arms, lips feathering her cheeks, her nose, her chin, wherever tears were slipping to, he touched and tasted the mix of her warm softness and the damp salt.

“Lucas.” Finally, his eyes tripped to the lips that had just sighed his name. They were a soft rosy pink and trembling. Closer and closer he moved in. His eyes drifted closed. Closer and closer… closer and closer….until….

He captured them. They were every bit as sweet as he recalled, sweet and tender and a perfect fit to his own. For a moment, Sami’s hand shot up to grasp the hair at the nape of his neck, tugging him tighter to herself, infusing every pent-up passion into her mouth, answering his own before breaking free, reeling away breathlessly.

For a moment, nothing was heard in the apartment save the ragged timbre of their breaths.

Then, Lucas raked his hands through his hair. Seating himself on the edge of an armchair, he clasped his hands between his knees, and ducked his head.

“Sami, I’m sorry.”

“Are you?” Her voice did not accuse, but rather wondered at his words. She took a hesitating step forward. “Why?”

Lucas glanced up in a bit of surprise. “Because…..this was not what I’d had planned…It‘s just that you look-you look so… right here- but, I-I didn’t want it to go like this-”

“It?” Her voice whispered the tiny word as she took a step or two nearer. “What “it”?”

Lucas took a long, shuddery breath, cautiously reaching again for her hand. Looking at their joined grasp, he began falteringly, “Sami…”

Just then, the grandfather clock announced the time in a half-scolding, half-regretful manner.

Sami’s eyes widened. “Is that clock right?”

Lucas sighed heavily, dropping her hand. “On the money.”

She bit her lip. “Lucas, I’m sorry, but, I-I better go if I’m going to change in time…” She indicated her raspberry and coffee abstract on the front of her blouse.

Lucas sprang up as she dashed for the door.

“So, that’s it, then? You’re going to just up and leave-again?” Lucas winced at vulnerability in his voice.

Sami turned with her hand on the knob. “Lucas, we both know there’s no way to fix my suit here in time, and I’m sure you don’t have an extra ladies’ one up in your room….at least, I hope not. We both know I didn‘t come to get my suit fixed.” Her lips curled into a smile, but it quickly faded. She gulped a bit, realizing there was more in his look than she’d dared to believe before. Her tone went soft with reassurances as she added, “It’s not the same reasons as before , Lucas-this is just…. for my career. Please understand. It‘s my big chance.”

Lucas nodded with knowing, stuffing his hands in his pockets resignedly. “Well, go to it then, Miss Brady.” He sighed, glanced at the clock, then back to her. “I confess I have an appointment of my own at 10:30. They wanna break me in with a brand new author. Dunno her name even.” Sami’s hand dropped from the knob, her expression piquing with sudden interest. “ Doubt she compares to you, Lady Love…” He broke off with an apologetic look at her change of expression. “Hey, sorry, I-”

“Lucas, who did you say you were working for?” She tried to instill nonchalance into the query.

Lucas frowned bewilderedly.

“Dunson and Dunson Publishers…why?”

Sami shook her head dismissively, fighting off the tug of her lips. “Just curious, you know- you in publishing, me at the magazine…..you never know when our paths might cross…” She grabbed for the knob again, throwing him a quick smile. “Good luck today.” With that, she turned the knob, stepped through the open door and began to descend the steps.

“Sami!”

She turned on find Lucas on the porch above her.

“Yes?” She toyed with her gloves, trying for more nonchalance.

“So…I will-I will be seeing you again?” He attempted steadiness he was far from feeling.

A smile bloomed across her pretty face just then, like the autumn morning sun had tipped over and spilled right on her. “ Oh, yes. Soon, I think.. Very soon.”

Again, she turned and trotted down the rest of the steps, leaving Lucas to watch after her with both a relieved and perplexed expression.
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Chapter Thirty-Conclusion



Lucas propped his legs up on his new desk, ostensibly admiring the view out the large bank of windows, but thinking how much better the New York skyline could look with a larger than life Sami Brady out there. Preferably pink nightied.

He smirked at his own thought, then, it faded a trifle as he considered this. Sami Brady, larger than life, pink nightied for all of New York to take a gander at.

“Hmm……respectable pink suit for public…..pink nightie for home,” he decided. He blew out a long noisy breath, rubbing his temples. He’d thought of this every which way the past several days. “That is if she’ll be willing to share my home.”

He closed his eyes, trying to hold the doubts at bay. She’d left again, sure. But, she’d smiled before she left. She’d said she’d see him soon. Good signs, right? Right? But, she left…again…just as he was about to summon up the courage to get the words out, she up and leaves. Again.

Lucas lifted his hands from his temples with a small groan as he realized there was no longer anyone to bounce this off of.. No Jack or Jenn to prod him, no Bart to tell him how it was. Just him and his own heart, Sami Brady and hers…

“Mr. Roberts?”

Lucas startled, glancing up to see his new receptionist at the door. This one was plumpish, brunette, and nasally, but her eyelashes echoed Angie’s to such an extent Lucas pondered if this was the wave of the future with the secretarial pool.

He cleared his throat, straightened his tie and tried to appear thoughtful in a more boss-like sense.

“Uhh...yes, Marie?”

She fluttered her spidery lashes and half-smiled. “Your 10:30 just called from a pay phone. She’s running just a little late.”

Lucas nodded. “Ok. Thank you. When she gets here, just show her right in.”

Marie nodded in return, leaving with a little wiggle to her generous hips that made Lucas half-laugh his final, “thank you.” Once upon a time, he might’ve romanced her if he was really bored, but, now…

There was only woman in his mind and in his heart. He conjured up another image of Sami, this one of how she’d looked standing at the bottom of his staircase. Nothing had ever seemed so right. But, did she feel it, did she know it, too?

He blew out a second long noisy breath as he realized his mind was not focusing once again on the task at hand.

“The new author should be here any minute now,” he reminded himself, hoping that’d summon up whatever charm and business know-how he might need with this person.

He began to scan his desk, which was already less than tidy with forms and such. “Where is that information about her Joe brought up earlier?”

He sighed in frustration, shifting papers, looking under the inbox, opening and closing drawers in mad haste, cursing himself for chucking it somewhere in this pile unread. “Come on, come on….it’d be nice to at least know her name when she gets here.” he crouched down and began to rifle through the wastepaper basket. “No, no, no…” Lucas grunted in exasperation, rocking back on his heels.

“Great.” He rubbed his temples. “Just great. What am I gonna say? ‘Hello, Miss So-and-So, lost all your info, but glad you’re here.’?”

He snorted. “Pathetic.” He sighed and began to toss paper wads back in the trash as he continued his one-man berating routine. “Way to go with your first big assignment, Roberts. Maybe if you weren’t so busy always thinking about Sami-’

“Mr. Roberts?” Marie’s slightly nasal tone broke into his mutterings, causing him to spring up fast. Too fast. Banging his head on the half-open top drawer, he howled in pain. “Yes, Marie?” he half-groaned, still half-crouched.

“Your ten-thirty…..” She gestured to the woman in the doorway. “Samantha….”

Lucas slowly, ever so slowly rose to his feet, hand still fastened to his throbbing head, watching her every movement as her head lifted and the large picture hat served as a lifting curtain to her face. His hand remained where it was, but, he felt no pain. In fact, he felt weightless. Every step forward seemed less than real. When he was in front of the woman, his lips curved into the most pleasantly quizzical smile she’d ever seen as he finished for his secretary.

“Brady.” He held out his hand with a lift of his brows. “I believe I’ve had the pleasure before.”

Sami ‘s lips curved into a smile as well, and tucking her little hand into the hand he offered, she replied, “Mr. Roberts, correct?”

Lucas licked his lips. “That’s correct. I’m uhh....I’m familiar with your work…”

Sami’s grin widened as their hands lingered on each other. “Are you now?”

Lucas’s eyes never left her as he replied simply, “Oh, you bet.”

“Mr. Roberts?” the nasal voice reminded they were not alone. “Anything else?”

Nothing. Both the would-be author and editor alike stood still, for a moment, looking each other over, almost as if for the first time at the same time as knowing. It was like a light all their own hovered over them.

“Mr. Roberts?” the voice repeated, somewhat whinily.

Never taking his eyes off Sami, Lucas waved his hand in the direction of the door. “That’ll be all, Marie…shut the door on your way out…”

Marie bat her oversized lashes and shook her head, muttering as she shut the door, “Act like they’re the only two people in the world….”



As soon as the door clicked home, the light bounced between the two of them like lightning. Lucas swooped Sami into his arms, flinging aside the hat, carrying her to his desk chair to rest on his lap, claiming her lips in a heated, dizzying kiss.

Reluctantly pulling away, he searched the unpredictable woman’s face with a mystified smile and a reverent hand. “How do you always do it? How do you always manage to catch me by surprise?”

Her smile was soft and bright and warm, her eyes shining in as content a way as he’d ever seen them. She tilted her head in thought, then replied impishly, “Happy accidents?”

“Happy indeed,” Lucas tugged her mouth to his once more, drinking in taste and the feel of her while her hands made an exploring path up and down his chest. She answered him measure for measure, seeking like one who’d been thirsty far too long. His hands shook on her hair, tugging at the pins that held parts of it away from her face, letting his spill in his hands in all its glory.

Finally, she pulled away this time, looking him over with a tiny giggle. “Do you always behave this way with your prospective authors?”

Lucas smirked, stroking the underside of he chin. “Only the best, baby.”

Sami raised one brow, walking her fingers up his arm. “So….you say you know my work?”

Lucas smirked in kind. “Sure do.” He lightly outlined her lips. “Here…and…” His face faded into seriousness as he opened a drawer, producing a bundle of papers and laying it on her lap. ‘Here.”

“What on earth-?” Sami ‘s brows knotted in bewilderment as she slowly picked up the sheaf of papers, tracing the topmost words. “The Boss and the Secretary…by Sami Brady…” She bit her lip, eyes edging with sudden tears. Her eyes strayed to his. “You-you saved them?” she whispered in baffled in tones.

“I figured that one was a good read.” He winked, then, taking her hand, he leveled her with a sincere gaze. “ Seriously, even if you never believed me, Sami, they were-are- worth something to me.”

Sami swallowed, leafing through page after page of works she thought were lost

to her for good, smoothing her hands over them, dampness on the page betraying her touched tears. “All this time...all this time…I thought -I thought it was all about the mystery of-of Lady Love…”

Lucas tilted her face to meet his. “It wasn’t about her-it was about you. Damn, Sami, even when I didn’t know, I kept thinking- she must be quite a woman. Heck, I bought you perfume because I was dying to know you.” He leaned closer, his hands brushing a stray curl from her cheek. “ Come to find out, I was right. You are quite a woman.” He sighed, drumming his fingers on the pages. “I-I don’t know how to explain it, but it was like these stories were a glimpse into your soul. A glimpse I’d had before finding out, and one that left me longing for more. And here-here I found it. So….when you threw it out, it was like-it was like you were throwing yourself out.”

Sami nodded, pressing her lips together in thoughtfulness. “And, so I was…at least, the Lady Love part.” She laughed suddenly. “I let the Squarepants side win out.”

Lucas chuckled softly. “You know something? Even when you were Miss Squarepants, I loved you.” He shook his head wonderingly.

Sami blinked. “I’m sorry.. I must be hearing things… did-.did you say…?

Lucas leaned down with a tender smile, stroking her cheek with his thumb.

“ Even when I thought I hated you, I loved you.” He skimmed her face searchingly. “Sami, I love you still-Lady Love, Squarepants, food flinger and everything in between.”

Sami’s eyes fluttered shut, the world did not move for a time. Then, a smile made a slow but sure progress up her face as she let the words dig in deep, to the bottom of her soul.

“ The first moment we met, I was so sure I hated you,” she mused. “The more I knew, the more sure I was...” She paused, lifting her eyes to his confused face, and increased her smile, rubbing his jaw line as she went on. “Lucas Roberts, you are perhaps the most maddening man I ever have known.” She leaned in nearer, fixing her eyes on him, a brilliant couple of pieces of summery sky blue, astonishingly clear and open. “ And I hated you. I really hated you…..because I loved you.” She swallowed, brushing her lips with his as she whispered adoringly, “I love you still, my filthy playboy.”

Lucas ’s face lit with joy and he laughed into her lips, drawing them further in.

Between kisses, he could not help but grin. “We’ve had a lot of names, haven’t we?”

Sami nodded , pecked his lips as he went on, “You know, it makes me wonder…. What did you have in mind for your pseudonym this time?”

Sami tilted her head in consideration. “Well, not Lady Love….” She leaned in for another kiss.

Lucas chuckled. “No problems there.”

“I was thinking…”Another kiss. “Of…” Still another. “Hmmmm…just plain old Sami Brady.”

“Hmmm…” Lucas murmured against her lips. “I like it. I do. But….”

Sami drew away momentarily. “But. What?”

He traced a line around the shell of her ear. “ I can go you one better.”

Sami smirked. “Oh, can you?”

“Yes…I can.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Sami…” The tip of her nose. “Brady.” At last, her mouth. Leaning into her lips, he whispered the last hopefully. “Roberts.”

Sami surrendered to his lips but for an instant before pulling back with another blink of her eyes. She assessed him carefully, looking for signs of drunkenness she might heretofore have managed to miss. But, he looked sober if a bit giddy, a reflection of hers, no doubt.

“Sami Brady Roberts, huh?”

“That’s right.”

Her eyes darted to his. “Lucas Roberts, I do believe that was a proposal.”

Lucas quirked a brow, grinning. “I do believe you are right.”

Sami half-laughed, half-sobbed at the enormity of the moment. She leaned her forehead to his. “I do believe I’m saying ‘yes‘”

“Yes?” His voice was awestruck.

“Yes.”

Lucas tugged her to his lips again, sealing the moment with a kiss. Then, he stroked her hair back and whispered, “Like I always say, it just goes to show you, you never know what you’ll find-”

“Under the covers?” Sami offered. She lifted a teasing brow. “Because you might just be surprised, right?”

Lucas ran a finger along the brow and grinned. “ Yeah. Something like that.”

With that, he dragged her lips to his once more, damn glad he took a peek under the covers this time, and never happier for a surprise in his life than one Sami Brady.



The End

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