Hiding Out (18 page)

Haley sat in the library where she and Sam had so often worked on the weekends.  It felt empty without his massive form behind the desk.  She sat in his chair, hoping she’d feel closer to him, but it didn’t work.  The phone on the desk began to ring, and knowing that was what she was here to do, she reached for it instantly.

“Mr. Davenport’s office,” she said out of habit.

“Mr. Davenport,” he said with a soft laugh.

“Sam,” she responded, feeling the tears spring to her eyes even though she couldn’t fathom why.  She sniffled.

Suddenly he grew alarmed.  “Are you crying, Haley?  What’s happened?”

She forced a laugh.  “I’m fine.  Neville has me all moved in.  I’m ready to work.  But really, I would have been just as happy in the guest room.”

“I’ll sleep better here if I can imagine you in my bed.”  His body immediately reacted to the idea of it all.  “Maybe some night I’ll be able to join you in it.”

Her hopes shot up.  “Soon?”

He sighed.  “Not that soon, I’m afraid.  There’s no change here.  His body was relatively unharmed, yet with his head injury…” His voice trailed off.  “They say it could take a while.”

“I’ll be here,” she whispered, without even thinking of the ramifications. 

“You can’t imagine how much that helps,” he said.  He was silent for a moment.  “I’m going back to the room now, Haley.”

“I’ll talk to you soon?”  Her voice was hopeful.  She missed him more than she cared to admit.

“As soon as possible.”  And with that, the phone call ended.

Haley had crawled into bed shortly after their conversation.  Being in this house without Sam saddened her.  She lay down on his side of the bed, arranged the pillows so that the one that carried his scent was the one she snuggled around, and fell into a deep sleep.  Sometimes the deep sleep is the most dangerous.  For Haley, it meant that she would most certainly dream.  And worse, when she awoke panting and sweaty shortly after one in the morning, she was further dismayed to find herself in unfamiliar surroundings.  She tried crying herself back to sleep on his pillow, but sleep never came.

Exhausted, she dragged her weary body to the bathroom and showered in Sam’s enormous steam shower.  Dressed and ready for the day by three, even after taking an excruciatingly long time to do so, Haley wondered what she could find to occupy her time.  She had entered the library and discovered no important faxes, in fact no faxes of any kind.  She had sorted through the mail on the side table, but discovered none that were business related.  At last, she had somehow wound up in the kitchen.  She searched the pantry, fridge, and freezer; found the ingredients she needed, and smiled as she began to cook.  By the time Neville arrived to start the coffee at five, he found her humming happily to herself as she puttered around the kitchen.

“Miss?”  He asked utterly confused.

Haley jumped.  “Ooh, Neville, you scared me.  I hope I didn’t wake you.”  She didn’t even pause as she spoke with him.  “Have a seat.”  She gestured to the little used stools near the island she was working on.

He stopped and studied her a moment.  “Did you get any sleep at all, Miss Haley?”

She shrugged.  “Enough.  Although, I doubt I’ll have the energy to run this afternoon.”  He was still standing.  “Please sit.  I would love the company.  And I have some ideas to share with you.”

Reluctantly, Neville pulled out the nearest stool and sat on it.  “What are you making, miss?”  He recognized many of the ingredients, but couldn’t understand how they were being used. 

Haley giggled.  “Well, I’m kind of working on a few things here.”  She shrugged.  “I love cooking, but my kitchen at the apartment has left me less than inspired.  I didn’t think Sam would mind me putting this one to use.  And,” she added conspiratorially, “the more cooking I do, the more money we save on take out.”

He raised his eyebrows.  “Didn’t Mr. Davenport tell you to use the cards, miss?”

She sighed.  “Yes, Neville.  But honestly, just because he has money doesn’t mean it needs to be spent.  I’m frugal.  I live a simple life.  I don’t need all this.”  She gestured about.

He smiled admiringly.  “You are very different.”

“I’m not sure what that means, but I hope it was a compliment.”  Before he could respond, the oven timer beeped and Haley walked over to inspect the contents.  “Mmmm,” she said, inhaling deeply.  “Perfect.” 

She removed several trays of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from the ovens and laid them out on newspaper while Neville watched.  Turning, she moved to the back counter and stirred the contents of the crock pot.  She seasoned the food with fresh ground pepper and sea salt.  “A roast for tonight,” she explained.  “Oh, could you put some potatoes in at three, please?” 

“Certainly, miss.”  He stared at her in amazement.  “So, you have dinner simmering, and baked cookies this morning?”

“Well, I had time,” she explained.  She moved to the last oven and opened the door.  “I hope you like these,” she said.  And in an instant, breakfast was placed on the plate she had already set before him.  “I’m getting together a care package for Sam to tide him through the day until we bring dinner to him tonight.  Will this do?”

Neville merely nodded, dumbfounded.

“Thank you, Neville,” Sam said as he stretched and rose from his seat.  “This wasn’t necessary.  I can eat in the cafeteria if I get hungry.”

Neville straightened.  “I know, sir, but Miss Haley had everything prepared before I woke up this morning.”

Sam studied the contents of the box before him.  She had labeled everything and included microwave-reheating instructions in case the food cooled too much before he was able to consume it.  “Popovers, cookies, sandwiches, egg casserole, and fruit salad,” he read off the labels.  “She did all this?”

Neville nodded.

“Is it any good?”  He asked, studying the older man for an honest appraisal.

“The best I’ve ever eaten, sir.”  He looked his employer in the eye.

Sam shook his head, marveling at her ability.  Then a thought occurred to him and his brow furrowed.  “What time did she get up?”

Neville stiffened.  “I can’t say, sir.  But I think she was up a good while before I was.”

Sam frowned.  “Well, tell her that I really won’t need anything sent over for dinner.  This is more than I can eat in two days.”

Neville sighed.  “I’m afraid, sir, that she already has dinner simmering in the crock-pot.”

“What am I going to do with her?”  Sam asked both impressed and dismayed.

“May I suggest you marry her, sir?  I can’t imagine anyone better.”  He straightened, realizing that his comment was a bit out of line.

“Neither can I,” Sam murmured as his eyes began to shimmer.

When Haley arrived bearing dinner at six, Sam wrapped her in a bear hug.  “Thank you for everything.  I’m very popular with the nurses because of you.”

Her eyes narrowed.  “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”

“Your cookies were a hit.  Don’t worry, I gave you full credit.”  He smiled widely.

“Oh, really?”  She smiled warmly.

“Yup, I told them the woman I’m going to marry made them.”

Her eyes widened then she relaxed.  He had to be joking.  Who said things like that except in jest?  “You are really quite funny,” she said with a smile.

His smile faded slightly.  He studied her a moment.  “Haley, why don’t you sit?  I swear you look like a woman about to keel over.  Are you working too hard in my absence?”

“I didn’t sleep well,” she mumbled as she focused on doling out plates of food for them.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her tightly against him.  “Is it because I wasn’t there?”  She didn’t answer, but as he leaned his face against her cheek, he felt warmth rush to her face in response.

A week passed.  A week filled with fresh baked food, innumerable phone calls, and sleepless nights.  Companies had begun to contact them in response to their mailings.  And suddenly, Haley, who had been lonely and bored for so long, was busy every second with the new challenges she faced.  As much as she tried to let him alone to focus on Adam’s recovery, to not bother him with work, the time came when she discovered she had no choice.

“Sam,” she began tentatively while they dined on Coq au Vin she had made.  “There’s a company looking for an agency to help launch their new product.”

“What’s the product?” He asked as he stared at Adam’s comatose form.

“It’s a sports drink.”  She shrugged.

“Did they send samples?”

“An entire case.”  She studied him for a moment.  “Here.” She passed him a bottle filled with purple liquid from the cooler beside her.

He studied the packaging, the label, and at last opened the cap to sniff it and take a long drink.  He swooshed it around in his mouth for a moment before swallowing and she watched curiously.  Was he serious or playing?

Finally, when she couldn’t take it any longer, she asked, “Well, what do you think?”

“Not bad.  What do you think?”

“Well, I liked it well enough to think we should compete for the account.”  She shrugged.

“Do you think you could come up with something?”  He stared at her intently, waiting for her response.  He trusted her implicitly.

She paused.  “I thought we might work together like we have in the past.”

He tilted his head to the side, glanced first at Adam, then Haley.  “I’d like you to give it a shot first.”
             

“By myself?”  She asked bewildered.

He leaned over and took her hand.  “I’ve been watching how you handle all of this, Haley.  You are amazing.”  He smiled.  “And you should know that Neville gives me regular reports as well.”  She sighed and opened her mouth to speak.  “He thinks very highly of you.  But we both have one concern.  And if I let you loose to create this campaign, you must promise me you will remedy it immediately.”

She was silent for a moment.  “What is your concern?”

“You aren’t sleeping, baby.”  He reached over and pulled her out of her chair, over to him.  He cradled her in his arms and rubbed his hand along the side of her face, until at last he cupped her cheek in his hand. 

Her eyes closed as she pressed herself closer to him.  She was too weak and tired to protest.  What had happened to her stamina?  She used to be able to accomplish so much on so little sleep, yet now the toll was clearly visible after one short week.  “I’m fine,” she argued.   

“No, you’re not,” he insisted.  She shook her head against him, her eyes still closed.  “I have half a mind to take you home and put you to bed properly,” he added, hoping for a response.

Haley’s eyes opened wide.  “What does that mean?”  She whispered.

“It means,” he began, pausing to kiss her deeply and passionately, “that I am aching to make love to you.”  He looked away, unable to face her after all he had just revealed.

“Why?”

He swallowed.  That was all she had to say?  He had just admitted his desire for her, his need to be close to her, and she merely wanted to know why?  He faced her once more, met her questioning gaze, and waited for her reaction.

As Haley stared into his eyes, she saw something there she hadn’t recognized previously.  His look was so intense, she was torn between being drawn in and fleeing.  But what would she be running from?  This was Sam…Sam who had never been anything but kind to her.  Sam, who showed her every way he knew exactly how he felt about her.  He gave her hope for a future that might even include him.  She closed her eyes.

“I just need you, Haley,” he murmured into her hair.  “This has been the longest week of my life.  I want to be with you every waking minute of the day.  I want to fall asleep with you close beside me every night.  I have too much time to think here.”  He saw the look in her eye.  “Please don’t run.  I’m not trying to frighten you.  I would never hurt you.”  He was running out of words, seemed unable to convince her of his good intentions.

“Take me home,” Haley whispered in his ear, surprising even herself.  “Make me yours completely.”  He pulled away to study her face, to see if he had heard her correctly.  “I’ll give you what you need,” she added, a sudden surety in her voice.

He stood quickly, with Haley still in his arms.  He set her on the floor rather abruptly and grabbed her hand while heading toward the door.  She tugged back and he could see her looking at the open perishables on the table.  “Leave it,” he urged.