His Dutchess

chapter 11

“You haven’t used the credit cards.” These were the first words out of Blake’s mouth three days later.Samantha was jogging on the beach with a Bluetooth snug in her ear. The media had lightened up at the front door, but the calls kept coming. She decided

to give Eliza some much-deserved time off and escaped her townhouse as often as possible.

“Hello to you, too.” She slowed her pace so she could manage a conversation.

“You sound out of breath, what are you doing?”

“Jogging.”

“Oh.” He sounded surprised. “What’s that noise?”

“The wind. I’m at the beach.” She dodged a few rocks and continued her run.

“Is that safe? Is someone with you?”

She laughed. “Yes, it’s safe, Detective Dan, and no, no one is with me.”

Although she teased him, she enjoyed his concern. Sam couldn’t remember a time when someone cared if she walked alone. “I’m sure you didn’t call for details about my exercise routine. What’s up?”

“I wanted to make sure you’d filled out the forms for your passport.”

“Spent six hours at the social security office on Tuesday. Name change, passport, the whole deal. I asked them to rush, but they said it would take a minimum of ten business days.”

The cool morning air and fog wet the edges of her hair and plastered it to her face as she ran. She loved this time of day. The beach had a splattering of joggers and a dozen surfers at the point. She made it to the beach at least once a week to run. At other times, she took a neighborhood route. Admittedly, the blocks she jogged on were becoming more and more questionable and Samantha opted to drive to a safer trail or park. She couldn’t help but wonder how the

beach by Blake’s home would compare.

“Ten days isn’t going to work. I’ll put a call in and get it faster.”

“The rush I paid for took it from a month to ten days. They said I couldn’t get it any faster.” Her breath came in heated pants but she kept moving.

“I’ll take care of it.” His take-charge attitude struck her as funny.

“Does anyone ever deny the great and powerful Blake Harrison?” she teased.

“Only you. Why aren’t you out shopping? I told you to indulge.” He wasn’t happy about something; she could hear it in his voice.

“Let me guess, you saw a tabloid picture of me in an old shirt and jeans.” He hesitated.

“That’s it, isn’t it?” She laughed now and had to stop running to catch her breath. “Oh, Blake, let it go.”

“Go shopping, Samantha. Our reception is going to bring out dignitaries and several influential families. We’ll be attending the theater, polo matches… yo name it.”

“My cut offs aren’t going to work?” Tears stung her eyes.

“Even I saw Pretty Woman. Go shopping!”

The thought of him enduring a chick-flick brought on more laugher. “I hope the woman was worth it.”

“What woman?”

“The one who dragged you to the cinema.”

He laughed now; the sound filled her head with pictures of his handsome face and grey eyes. “It was my sister.”

“That explains it.”

“She won a bet. I had to take her or lose her respect.” His voice eased as the conversation continued. Seemed it always did after a few minutes on the phone.

Sam found herself looking forward to his calls. “Did you stop running?” he asked.

Samantha glanced down the deserted beach and placed a hand on her hip.

“Yeah,” she said, her breath hissed.

Blake groaned.

“What is it?”

“You want an honest answer?”

“Always.” She turned to the breeze and forced her breath to slow.

“Between the heavy breathing and that voice of yours, I’m having a hard time sitting still.”

Her heart gave a hard kick in her chest. She sucked in her lower lip. “Well then, I won’t describe what I’m wearing or how I look and ruin your fantasy.”

He chuckled. “I’m sure the paparazzi are there somewhere and a picture will be on my desk in the morning.”

Sam glanced around but didn’t see anyone with a camera. “Maybe.”

“Before I go, I tried calling your house but the phone line was out of order.”

“The line developed static. The repair guys are coming in the morning to fix it. I’ve added caller ID so I can screen the media.”

Sam pivoted and started a slow jog back to her car.

“Solid plan. I’ll call tomorrow.”

She smiled and just for fun added. “Oh, and Blake?”

“Yeah.”

She dipped her voice even lower and breathed into the phone. “I’m all hot and sweaty, too.”

“Errrr.” His groan vibrated her earpiece.

After he hung up, Samantha questioned the wisdom of flirting. As the smile threatened to leave permanent dimples on her cheeks, she shoved her concerns away and simply enjoyed the thought of a man showing interest in her as a woman.

Even if that man was her husband.