“If you want, I can tell you my life story. It might explain a few things. Maybe it will explain me. By the way, I’m not in the business anymore. If you really want to join your team, I can arrange it. It’s your decision. It was wrong of me to make that decision for you. You were the best, you really were. I was jealous, too, of your capabilities and dedication. I know you gave me a hundred ten percent because I pushed you. In the beginning I thought you could hang the moon, then I realized my feelings for you were getting in the way of your training.”

“I wasn’t the one who broke the rules. You kissed me first. I did everything you asked of me plus more.”

“I know. Why did you ask me if I loved you?”

“Because your father told me you would never tell me, and I wanted to hear the words myself. Women like to hear all the sweet words. I wasn’t lying to you before when I said I could take you out in minutes.”

Trying to save face, Pappy blustered, “Not even on your best day. That one I am not giving you.”

Outside, peeping in the window, Kyros rolled his eyes. Was this some kind of new mating dance? Where were the soft lighting, the candles, the wine and music? His son was hopeless. He blinked when Sam wiggled forward, her rear end exposed in the overhead lighting. What was she doing? Alpha, who was standing at his side, must have wondered the same thing because he started to whine. “Shhh. Something’s happening. It might be good. Then again, it might be bad. Shhh.”

Sam let her eyes droop and her body relax. “Well,” she purred, “are you going to kiss me or not?”

Pappy moved closer, so close she could smell the wine on his breath. She wiggled forward, a half inch, then another half inch, her arm moving slowly until she had him in a hammerlock. With one wild motion, and a flash of bare derriere, she jerked Pappy backward until she was straddling him. She relaxed her hold and pushed his face down into the thick carpet. Her hard-muscled legs held his sides in a vise. “Gotcha!” she said triumphantly. “You know this position, this hold, you taught it to me, Pappy. One little push, and I smash your nose and break your neck.”

Pappy sneezed. Startled, Sam’s hold instinctively relaxed. Before she could blink, Pappy let out a roar and she was on her back and he was straddling her.

Outside, Kyros covered his mouth so he wouldn’t laugh. “I think this is where you and I should leave, Alpha. I think my son has things under control. Maybe there’s hope for him after all.”