Chapter 8

Yvette wouldn't let on, but she was nervous. After the bellhop let her into the penthouse, she stood in the foyer, unsure of what to do next. Should I wait for Sam to come up? And when he does, should I greet him with a big kiss and a...

"Hello, can I help you?"

She gasped and turned to face a young man she didn't know. "Wh-who are you?"

"My name is Joseph, ma'am." He stood with hands folded in front of him, smiling at her, taking her in inch by inch. "I'm Mr. Finley's valet."

"Oh, Joseph." She'd been informed of Sam's assistant. She smiled, stepped down to his level, and held out a gloved hand. "Joseph, my name is Kathleen Waverley. Very nice to meet you." When he took her hand and shook it, she added softly, "I'm really Sam's wife, Yvette."

"Ah, the...beautiful...Mrs. Axe." Joseph's smile amped up, more out of embarrassment than anything else, because until she introduced herself, he was thinking she was another one of Vargas's women. "It's a great pleasure to meet the woman whom Mr. Axe has been agonizing over for the past week."

"I don't follow you."

"Ma'am, he's had to deal with a lot of...pressure...from another woman. It came down to him having to pull off a major ruse to avoid going to bed with her." He grinned. "It was a beautiful plan, and it worked!" A small chuckle escaped him. "You don't have a thing to worry about, Mrs. Axe. Other than Bella kissing him, nothing happened."

"She kissed him?" Her eyebrow rose.

"Yeah, but I could tell he wasn't enjoying it, not one bit." He sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. Just know this, Mrs. Axe: his loyalty caused him a lot of pain to stay true to you. I suspect that's why you're here, so he doesn't have to endure that any more."

"You're quite right, Joseph." She gave him a small smile. "Now, you better start calling me Miss Waverley, or there will be trouble if you spout off my real name at the wrong time!"

"Yes, Miss Waverley," he replied, trying it on for size. "I guess that's why I'm still the newbie agent. I've got a lot to learn."

The door opened, and Sam entered the suite. Yvette turned slowly. From under the brim of her hat, she saw that he was stunned, and she could see the conflict in his eyes. He was glad to see her, but not sure he wanted her in the middle of this situation. She knew him well enough to know what was going through his mind.

Joseph cleared his throat. "Sir, if you don't mind, I think I will, um, take the afternoon off."

"Go right ahead, Joseph. I think Mr. Finley and I have some business to discuss." She smiled at Sam, her ruby red lips beckoning him without saying a word.

"Yeah...you go on. I'll need you back here at 1700 hours." He couldn't take his eyes off her, and for the first time in several days, he didn't have to feel guilty about it.

"Oh, make it 1730," Yvette said with a giggle.

"Yes, Miss Waverley," Joseph said and winked at her before hurrying past Sam and out the door.

Silence fell like a thick fog between them. Finally, Sam checked the door to make sure it was locked and slowly stepped into the room. His eyes roved from the hat down to her dark blue patent leather heels.

"Wow. You...look...fabulous."

"I had a little help from Mia, and the CIA pocketbook."

He shook his head. "Even naked, I'd still mean it." He reached out and touched her arm, and she threw herself into his embrace. Their lips met, crushed together as if they were two thirsty souls who could only find sustenance in each other, which was true enough when it came to their love. They were left breathless and wanting more when they parted. Sam wouldn't let her out of his grip, and she didn't mind.

"I missed you so much."

"You don't know how hard this week has been. Eve..."

"Kathleen." She whispered more from the pent-up passion than any need for security. "I'm Kathleen, remember?"

"Can I call you Kate? Or Kat?"

"I like Kat." She smiled. "Because this Kat really wants nothing more than to pounce on you right now!"

Sam laughed and released her from his embrace, grabbed her hand, and pulled her toward the bedroom. "I think we can arrange that. Come on kitty kat!"

Yvette's laughter floated in the air as she trotted after him into the room.

When they'd had their fill of each other, they lay so close together, it was as if they were one body. Sam closed his eyes and rested his chin on her head. He sighed deeply, a sigh that told Yvette so much.

"What's wrong, sweetheart," she asked as she raised her head and looked at him.

"Eve...I told you this could get dicey." She nodded and urged him silently to go on. "I...there was this woman...I had to..."

"Shhh, Joseph told me all about it. You kissed."

"But it was worse than that! When she kissed me, it was...I mean, I resisted sleeping with her, but the pictures in my mind..."

"Oh honey, I know you couldn't help it." She placed her hands along the sides of his face and looked deeply into his eyes. "I told you I would forgive you, and I do. I know where your heart was, even if your head was somewhere else." She kissed him, and the heat she generated made him forget everything but her.

"You're too good for me," he whispered when they came up for air. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, Eve, but I thank God for you."

"I could say the same thing about you," she smiled as she ran her hands over him. "I love you, Sam."

"Ohhhh, I love you too, Eve." Lost in their passion, they forgot their cover, but no one was around to hear.

When Michael saw Sam and Yvette coming toward him, it was all he could do to keep from smiling. He held his breath and let it out slowly as they practically glided across the lobby. Sam was dressed in a charcoal gray double breasted suit with a white shirt and deep purple tie. It perfectly matched the color of Yvette's form-fitting dress. Her skirt billowed as she walked on high heels that brought the top of her head nearly even with Sam's nose. She usually tucked neatly beneath his chin. Her hair was up in a fancy updo with the curls cascading down. She was stunning, and apparently he wasn't the only one who thought so. Others in the lobby stopped to watch the handsome couple pass.

"Good evening, Mr. Finley. Your car is waiting. Miss Waverley, so good to see you again." He opened the door and they got into the limo. Before closing the door, Michael added, "You look like a million bucks. Both of you."

"Thanks, Michael." Yvette grinned.

"Hey, no ogling my mistress, pal. Just get us to the restaurant on time!" He winked at Michael before he closed the door, and laughed.

Michael grinned from ear to ear. It was good to see Sam back to his old self.