Page 25 of Knight of the Sword

Chapter Seven

Sophie pushed through the throng of media-types that were waiting for her when she got to clinic the next morning. She had managed to avoid those parked in front of her house only because her car was in an attached garage, and she’d locked her car doors before opening the garage.

“I need coffee,” she said as she managed to get the door closed before a reporter’s foot got inside.

“Right away,” Morgan replied as she hung up the phone and got up to go to the small kitchen in the back.

“Another sighting…this time at your house,” Janie said as she trailed after Sophie, manila case folders in her hands. “It was all over TV this morning. Do you have any idea of what’s going on?”

“Yes, what is going on?” Robert said as he turned away from the office window to look at her. “This is crazy.”

“Tell me something I don’t know, Robert. Why are you here anyway?” He looked hurt, but she knew what a consummate actor he could be.

“Isn’t a husband supposed to be supportive of his wife?” he asked.

“Ex-husband. You seem to keep forgetting that.” Sophie sat down at her desk and rubbed her eyes. They burned and were probably as red as though she’d closed down a bar somewhere, but she hadn’t had any sleep. She shook her head. “I’m still trying to come to grips with the idea that the thing is actually alive.”

Morgan came back and set the coffee down in front of her. “I put some chicory in it,” she said and smiled at Robert as she handed him a cup too. “They swear by it in New Orleans.”

It had a decidedly different flavor, but it wasn’t bad. Sophie was thankful that it was strong and black too. Maybe the caffeine would give her a boost. She took another sip as someone rapped lightly on the doorjamb.

“I just heard on the radio,” Michael said as he came in.

Sophie bit back a groan. Dealing with her ex was bad enough this morning, but now Michael! She wasn’t ready to face him after that way-too-realistic dream she’d had.

Morgan gave him a bright smile as she stepped toward him and put her hand on his arm. “Would you like some coffee?” she asked and pressed closer.

He shifted away slightly. “No, thanks. There’s a frenzied mob out there. Shouldn’t you be taking care of that?”

She gave him a slow pout, her full lower lip thrusting out. “All business this morning? I liked when you held me the other night—”

“You tripped. I caught you.”

Sophie thought Michael looked uncomfortable, as though he’d been caught at something he’d rather not talk about. That was unusual. Not that she knew him well—unless she wanted to count that erotic episode she’d had last night—and she felt herself blush at that and turned away quickly. Was there something going on between Michael and Morgan? He had mentioned that they belonged to some sort of social circle or something. It was also obvious that Morgan was attracted to him. An odd pain shot through her stomach at the thought.

“Janie. Morgan.” Allison poked her head around the door. “I could use a hand out here.”

Sophie waited until they’d left and then cast a sideways look at Michael. This morning he was dressed in a T-shirt that stretched across his chest and tight-fitting jeans but she was remembering him in that kilt and nothing else. She felt her face grow warm again. Damn. She couldn’t let him know about that dream.

“What brings you here?” she managed to ask as she gestured for him to sit.

“The semester’s over,” he said as he pushed his chair closer to hers. “I thought we’d better make plans for the road trip.”

“What road trip?” Robert asked.

Michael eyed him. “Is that any of your business?”

He bristled. “She’s my… She was my wife. I can be protective of her.”

Michael bristled too. “Maybe you should have thought of that earlier?”

The air suddenly seemed close in the small office, but maybe that was because waves of testosterone were washing off both men, threatening to flood the room. Sophie rubbed her temples.

“Enough! Robert, not that it is your business, but Mr. Smith wants Michael and me to find—” She stopped at Michael’s warning look. “—a sword he wants to add to his collection.”

“And it takes both of you to do that? Why can’t he—” Robert gestured to Michael—“go by himself?”

Sophie picked up her cup and took a large sip. She was beginning to think she needed something stronger than caffeine if she were going to contend with this. A Bloody Mary would be good. “I’m not sure—”