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“Not until you’re fully healed,” Sam whispered in her ear.
She laughed softly, despite her dismay and melancholy. “Wrong context. But it’s nice to see you still have your sense of humor.”
“Hanging on by a thread,” he admitted. He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his Levi’s and heaved a sigh.
Scarlet studied him, thinking he was so damn hunky and sweet … and probably all messed up on the inside over the current state of affairs.
“You have a visitor, sweetheart.” This from Michael as he came up behind her.
Scarlet turned. And gasped.
“Mr. Vandenberg.” She gazed up at the imposing man, her stomach knotting at the sight of him.
“May I speak with you alone, Miss Drake?”
She swallowed hard. Said, “Certainly.” She’d contended all along that in order to do her job she had to take her lumps.
But neither Michael nor Sam made a move to leave her side.
Mitcham’s dark brow rose.
Scarlet ventured, “I suppose they’re thinking that whatever you have to say to me you can say to them.”
“I’m thinking we don’t need to rack up more secrets,” Sam said.
Mitcham gave a slow nod. “Fair enough.” To Scarlet, he said, “I came because it’s nearly one o’clock and you have yet to alert the insurance company of my fraudulent claim. Why is that?”
Scarlet’s head started to pound again. She told him, “Seems I’m suffering my own moral dilemma. Making that call will hurt Michael and Sam. I know it’s inevitable, but I’m not looking forward to it.”
“They don’t appear to be trying to coerce you differently,” Mitcham pointed out.
“No. They’re much more stand-up than that.”
Mitcham’s jaw briefly clenched. He said, “I’m not here to coerce you, either. Both Karina and I deduced you’d have a difficult time following through when there could be an impact on Michael’s and Sam’s lives or reputations.”
She nodded.
“You care that much about them?”
“I wouldn’t still be here if I didn’t. I achieved what I set out to do,” she reminded him. “I gathered the information I needed and I discerned who the culprits were. Case closed, right?”
“Hmm.” He crossed his arms over his massive chest and said, “You don’t concur with your own statement. Your own rationale.”
“Hard to do when you’re … in love.” She gave Mitcham a pointed look, because Scarlet was pretty sure that he was a man who’d do whatever he had to for Karina no matter the trouble she’d gotten herself into.
Michael snickered. “Don’t anyone say anything about me not being loveable.”
Sam gave a half snort.
Scarlet said, “Don’t get all cocky on me, Michael.”
“No promises, sweetheart.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. Murmured, “For the record, the feeling’s mutual.”
He stepped away.
Scarlet’s heart flipped. Her gaze slid to Sam. He wore a deathly serious look that made tears prickle the backs of her eyes.
“I couldn’t get to you fast enough when you were in that accident,” he said. “Makes me want to keep you by my side twenty-four-seven so nothing will ever happen to you again.”
