Although she didn’t like to be told how to run her company—she had a business degree, after all—everything he said made sense. She vaguely remembered learning about branding in one of her courses, but she hadn’t paid much attention because she was more focused on the human resource side of business operations. But why was he helping her? Where was the sarcasm? The cutting remarks? What was his angle on this?

Sam bent to pick his papers off the floor. Layla crouched down to help him. Maybe they didn’t always get along, but Daisy had crossed a line messing with his personal space, and she felt bad that he had to clean up after her.

“What if I don’t know who I am or what I really want?”

“Then I won’t have to chaperone ten blind dates because you won’t need an office.”

Layla blinked and realized he was being serious. “That kind of sucks as a motivational speech.”

“I have a better one, but I only use it when someone loses their job.” He moved to stand at the same time as Layla and their heads collided, knocking her off-balance and onto her ass.

“Jesus Christ. I’ll be lucky to make it out of the office alive today.” Sam rubbed his head. “You’re the most dangerous woman I’ve ever met.”

“It wasn’t entirely my fault.” Dazed, she shook her head, trying to clear away the stars dancing in front of her eyes and stop the ringing in her ears.

He sighed. “I’ll help you up.”

“I am up.”

“No, you’re on the floor. Again.” He kneeled in front of her, framing her face with gentle hands. “I’m checking for a concussion. Look into my eyes.”

She stared into his warm brown eyes, floated on a chocolate sea. “Are you trying to hypnotize me? I have to tell you I’m very susceptible to suggestion. Daisy and I went to see the Amazing Sinbad at the Beacon Theatre in New York. He convinced me I was naked on the stage, and I screamed and tried to cover myself with a program before running out onto the street. Daisy had to bring me back so he could unhypnotize me, but I still wear two sets of clothes when I go to live theater.”

“You really are something.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” His long lashes swept down when he blinked. She’d never seen a man with such long eyelashes, but then she’d never stared into a man’s eyes for so long.

“You have nice eyelashes,” she said. “Sexy.”

His corded throat tightened when he swallowed. “I can honestly say no one has ever complimented my eyelashes before.” His hands were warm on her cheeks as he carefully tilted her head from side to side. “I think you’ll be okay. Any blurred vision? Nausea? Dizziness?”

Maybe she did have a head injury. She couldn’t be seeing clearly if the man who was fussing over her was the same Sam who had been so worried about his tie. “No.”

He released her face to run gentle fingers over her forehead. “I can already feel a bump here. We need to get some ice on it.”

“You have a hard head.”

“My dad used to say I had a thick skull, but that was when I was being stubborn.”

She couldn’t imagine Sam as a kid. There was nothing innocent or carefree about him. But she liked the little peek into his past.

“I think I’m okay to get up.” She accepted his help and he pulled over his chair.

“Actually, I’ll sit on mine. Daisy wasn’t lying about Max’s accident.” She made her way across the office and sat behind her desk. “He was marking his territory. You’re the only two males in the office, and he wanted to let you know who’s boss.”

“That’s it. He’s definitely gone. There can only be one alpha here.”

Layla smiled with amusement. Sam was delightful when he was annoyed. “Lakshmi Auntie says the number three is unlucky. If Max leaves, we’ll have bad luck, and neither of our businesses will succeed.”

Sam sighed. “Don’t tell me you’re superstitious.”

“I’m keeping the good-luck fish my aunt just gave me, and I won’t be making any more calls on Tuesdays and Thursdays, if that’s what you mean.”

“Make sure you mention that to my friend Evan when you call him.” He rounded his desk and handed her a card. “He’s a PR and marketing consultant. He’ll be able to give you tips about branding.” He hesitated. “I’m meeting him for a drink tomorrow night. You can join us if you want and pick his brain for free.”

Nausea rose in her throat, and it wasn’t from her head injury. She had been unkind and now he was just trying to help. “Now I feel terrible. I would love to meet him. I really am sorry about the knock on the head and not telling you about Max.”

“I’m not.” Sam grinned and settled into his seat. “I switched our chairs.”

• 9 •

SAM threw a few dollars in the tip jar for the bartender of Red Rock, an upscale sports bar in San Francisco’s Design District. What the hell had he been thinking inviting Layla out tonight? Evan was currently between girlfriends and desperate to get laid.

“Describe yourself in three words.” Evan brushed back his perpetually mussed surfer dude hair and flashed Layla a sensual smile.

“Passionate. Caring. Impulsive.”

Sam would have added sexy and smart to the list, but he wasn’t about to share his opinions with Evan, who had been laying it on thick ever since they arrived. His gaze flicked to the clock above the polished wood bar, barely visible among the jumble of sports pictures and paraphernalia that covered the walls. How long should he wait before making an excuse to take her away? Evan was giving her some helpful tips, but he was also ready to make his move.

“Anything else?” Evan sipped his beer, watching her like a predator on the hunt. Sam had to bite back his irritation. He knew his friend was a player. Why had he expected Evan to act any other way after Sam had introduced him to the most beautiful woman in the bar?

“Competitive.” Her gaze slid to Sam. “I grew up with a perfect big brother—straight A’s, star athlete, scholarships, engineer—oh, and he was a son. I banged my head against that wall all my life.” She shrugged. “Sam understands. It’s a desi thing.”

Sam looked away, his gut twisting at the reminder of his failure as both a brother and a son. There was no game on tonight to distract him, but the bartender was taking requests for YouTube videos and playing them on the five screens positioned around the bar. Too bad about all the cat videos. Sam wasn’t a cat person. If he were to get a pet, it would be a dog—big, strong, protective, and willing to chase away intruders like Evan, who was all over Layla.