It was her worst nightmare realised.
Well, no, that wasn’t strictly true any more; her worst nightmare was knowing she had fallen in love with Xander, while understanding that that love wasn’t, and never could be, returned.
So, did she want to talk to Malcolm?
Absolutely not.
Did she want this situation between the two of them settled once and for all?
Absolutely yes.
‘Is Daisy fully occupied with the TV, do you think?’ She chewed worriedly on her bottom lip at thoughts of her young daughter so much as realising that the man who was her father was actually here, in Xander’s apartment.
Xander’s mouth twisted. ‘She’s watching one of her favourite animated movies. Very loudly,’ he added dryly, as the volume was audible all the way down the hallway.
Sam nodded. ‘Then I would rather the two of us talked to Malcolm now, if that’s okay with you?’ She looked up at Xander expectantly.
‘Are you sure?’ He frowned darkly, obviously not happy with her decision.
‘Just say if you aren’t comfortable with this.’ Sam frowned, noting Xander’s pallor, the tightness of his jaw, the nerve pulsing at the base of his throat, and the grimness of his expression. ‘You’ve done so much for us already.’
‘The fact that Howard is here at all would seem to imply I didn’t do it quickly enough!’ He scowled darkly.
‘I’m really grateful for all the help you’ve given me.’ Sam frowned as he gave a pained wince. ‘I am grateful, Xander, but I can deal with the rest of this on my own if you would rather not be involved any further.’
‘That’s the last thing I want! Sorry,’ he muttered as Samantha flinched at the fierceness of his tone. ‘I apologise for raising my voice.’
She grimaced as she placed her hand lightly on Xander’s arm. ‘Your reaction is perfectly normal, Xander,’ she reassured him. ‘Believe me, Malcolm has this effect on most people.’ She gave his arm a reassuring squeeze before stepping away from him. ‘Let’s just get this over with, shall we—before I lose my nerve?’ she added shakily.
Once this conversation with Malcolm was over, and the matter was hopefully settled, Sam knew then would be the time for her and Xander to talk. If last night had made it awkward for them to continue living together for the next week, this added fiasco with Malcolm could make it impossible!
‘I should have been able to protect you from this confrontation,’ Xander said.
‘Because your instinct is naturally to protect rather than to destroy.’
Xander drew in a sharp breath at the total trust in Samantha’s voice. ‘We’ll talk to Howard in my study,’ he stated decisively before picking up the receiver and calling down to Reception, instructing them to send Howard up before ending the call and turning back to Samantha. ‘Would you like to go and wait for us in my study, and I’ll go and meet Howard at the lift?’
‘You really don’t have to do this, Xander.’
‘Yes, I most certainly do,’ he bit out tensely. ‘I’m responsible for him being here, and I have absolutely no intention of leaving you to speak with him alone.’
‘But—’
‘Please go to my study,’ he repeated gently before turning to make his way out into the hallway, deliberately leaving his stick propped against the breakfast bar. The last thing he wanted was to appear physically weak in front of Malcolm Howard.
To that end Xander was leaning casually against the wall outside the lift when the doors opened to reveal his unexpected, and equally unwanted, guest.
His eyes glittered with challenge as Howard stepped out into the corridor. Xander disliked him on sight.
For so many reasons.
For having once mattered to Samantha.
For having been married to her and not appreciating her as the jewel that she was.
For being Daisy’s father.
Most of all, for having made both of their lives a misery.
The feeling of dislike was obviously mutual as the older man’s face flushed with anger as he looked at Xander. ‘Are you aware of the humiliation you caused me last night when I arrived at the club with my date, only to be told that the almighty Xander Sterne had personally cancelled my membership?’
Xander’s top lip curled back with distaste. Howard believed his ex-wife and daughter were currently living with Xander in his apartment, and yet all that was bothering the guy at this moment was his cancelled membership to one of his clubs?
Xander’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. Only Samantha’s continued faith in him, her complete belief that he wasn’t a violent man like his father, held him in check.
‘You no longer met the criteria of membership to the Midas nightclub,’ he dismissed harshly, at the same time cursing himself for having acted so impulsively by cancelling the other man’s membership when he did, prematurely alerting Howard to his plans.
It had been a stupid reaction on Xander’s part, even petty, and was the reason for Howard’s unwanted presence this morning.
But just the thought of going to Midas one evening, of seeing this man enjoying himself in his club, a man capable of blackmailing his ex-wife into going to bed with him, had just been too much for Xander to contemplate. He wasn’t sure even Samantha’s faith in him would have been enough to prevent him from reacting under those circumstances.
‘And what criteria would that be?’ the other man challenged. ‘No man is allowed to be a member of the Midas nightclub if you are currently sleeping with his ex-wife? If so, then I’m surprised there are any men left in London to fill your club!’
Xander counted to ten in his head. And then counted another ten. And another. And another.
He was determined, he would not let Samantha down, and let his temper get the better of him.
‘Nothing to say?’ Howard challenged.
‘I resent even having to breathe the same air as you,’ Xander said icily.
Howard’s face twisted into an ugly sneer. ‘I’m guessing you conveniently forget that aversion when it comes to you sleeping with my ex-wife?’
‘Don’t say another word,’ Xander warned harshly. ‘Not. Another. Word.’ A nerve pulsed rapidly in his tightly clenched jaw.
How he would like to knock this man unconscious and put an end to this conversation. Just one little punch to that sneering face, that was all it would take for him to silence Howard and his vile mouth.
But Xander knew he couldn’t let himself do it, no matter what the temptation. That he couldn’t betray the trust, the belief, that Samantha had in him.
He drew in a deep and controlling breath. ‘I have no intention of saying anything else to you without Samantha being present. She’s waiting for us in my study.’ He didn’t wait to see if the other man followed him as he turned and walked down the hallway, ignoring the jarring pain in his leg as he did so.
Welcoming that pain if it stopped him from giving in to the anger now consuming him.
Malcolm Howard was supposed to have loved Samantha and Daisy, protected them both, and instead he’d deliberately hurt them.
How could Samantha have ever thought she was in love with