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Lance popped a tape into the player while Samantha sat behind her desk. He started a sexy bump and grind.
She admired his sexy style. “You’re doing just fine, but slow down a little. There’s no rush. That’s right, make eye contact. Okay, now start to unbutton your shirt. That’s terrific, slow and teasing. Now turn and let it slip down your body. That’s great. Back around and unsnap your pants.”
“That’s good enough, kid.” Jake walked through the doorway, stopping to turn off the music.
“Was I any good?” Lance asked Jake while he slipped on his shirt.
“You’re a natural, kid.”
She smiled at Lance, knowing he needed reassurance. “You were just fine. You’re going to do a fabulous job tonight.”
“You’d better get going, so you can practice at home.” Jake popped the disc out of the player and handed it to Lance, ushering him toward the door.
“I thought you would let me run my business my way.” Samantha leaned back in her desk chair, shaking her head. The man was so jealous it was amusing. “That was a pretty pitiful way of letting me be in control.”
“So, sue me.”
Monica tapped on the door. “We just had two employees call in sick. Mike’s got the flu, and Sharon can’t come in for her afternoon shift. What do you want me to do?”
“Well,” Samantha said, grinning at Jake. “I’ve got a perfect replacement for Happy the Clown, and I can take your place as his assistant while you stay in the shop for the afternoon.”
Samantha smiled at Jake as he drove the company van toward Henderson’s suburban home. He looked funny, wearing clown makeup, a big red nose, and a fluffy wig. Dressed up as Little Bo Peep, she had to admit, she looked just as ridiculous. What amazed her was Jake hadn’t pitched a fit over clown duty.
Mrs. Henderson, a frazzled mom, met them at the door. “Thank heaven you’re here. I was about ready to pull my hair out.”
There was a dull roar of a dozen six-year-olds wreaking havoc in the backyard, and she smiled. “Never fear, Mrs. Henderson, Samantha’s Special Affairs to the rescue.”
Three hours later, she dragged her way to the van and limply hopped inside. She eyed Jake’s fresh-as-a-daisy clown costume sourly. “How can you be so peppy after what we went through?”
He smiled, pulling out of the driveway. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“Maybe for you,” she grumbled.
He chuckled. “Well, you’re the one who set up the ground rules. Whoever makes a mess has to clean it up.”
“That was when I figured you’d be the one making the messes.” She wrinkled her nose at the disgusting memory. Shoveling pony poop was not in her usual job description.
He shook his head and chuckled. “You should have brought a diaper for the pony. Everyone knows a pony that eats a gallon of ice cream will make a mess.”
“I was too busy organizing the games to notice until it was too late. Besides, I still maintain the pony wrangler was negligent. He’s the one who should have been on clean-up duty. He had no business wandering away. If he wants me to renew my contract with him, he’d better buck up his ideas of service.”
They’d turned in the opposite direction from the shop.
“Where are we headed?”
“Logan Industries. I told your father we’d check in.”
She glanced at her rumpled costume in horror. “Like this?”
He shrugged. “Sure, why not? It’s after hours, so we won’t have to worry about unfriendly scrutiny.”
She bit her lip. “He already thinks I’m a kook. Now, he’ll be sure of it.”
He frowned and shook his head. “He doesn’t think anything of the kind.”
She knew better. Her father disapproved of just about everything she did. He had approved of her engagement to Grayson, and look how that turned out. Lacking the energy to argue her case, she sagged in her seat.
Maybe it would be good to see the scene of the crime. Despite her misgivings, she was curious to learn what her father had discovered. For Tad’s sake, she hoped Jennifer had been duped, but she didn’t believe it. Once in custody, Jennifer was sure to be a fountain of information. And, hopefully, she could lead them to the source of the thefts.
