Sam replaced the pen and gathered all Layla’s branding designs together. “Put your feet down. While she’s in the office, we need to show her the same courtesy and respect we would give any other business colleague.”

“Seriously? Are you fucking her? She’s a freeloader. We’re the ones paying the rent.”

“Your comments were a little harsh.”

“They were a small mercy. I should leave her a bill.”

Sam bundled the papers together and dropped them in the recycling bin. Better for her to think they had been mistakenly tidied away by the cleaning staff than to read Royce’s cutting remarks.

“I like it here.” Royce walked over to the window. “It’s bright and spacious. I can walk from my condo, and my favorite deli is right around the corner. The restaurant on the ground floor is the only downside. It doesn’t fit in.”

“They have a Michelin star.” Sam studied the road, looking for any sign of Layla’s Jeep. “They’ve been written up in food blogs and magazines all over the world.”

“That’s great if they’re located somewhere quaint and quirky where foodies hang out. But this is an office building on a street of office buildings. Coffee shops and delis will do well here, but not the kind of cuisine that takes hours to eat. You said they were struggling financially. Location is probably a big part of the reason. I’ll let them know on my way out.”

Royce had no clue. Sometimes Sam wondered how he had become as successful as he was.

“They’ll have made a significant investment renovating the bottom floor. They aren’t going to move because a stranger walks in and tells them they’ve got a bad location.”

“We may have to convince them if we get the contract and need more space.”

Sam frowned. “Between the two of us and the remote staff, we can handle one hospital just fine.”

Royce took another donut from the kitchen and turned, studying the office. “What about five hospitals?”

“What are you saying?”

“I heard a rumor that Alpha Health Care has decided to do a mass restructure of their health care holdings starting with the Bay Area. If we get the contract, it won’t just be for St. Vincent’s—it will be for all five hospitals, with the possibility of handling all Alpha Health Care’s work statewide, maybe even nationally. We would need to hire more staff. One floor won’t be enough, and a half-empty ethnic restaurant doesn’t project the kind of corporate image that will convince Alpha Health Care that we can compete on a national level.”

“You’re getting way ahead of yourself,” Sam said. “If we need that much space, we can move.”

“Or we stay in the building that has the unique advantage of being only one block from Alpha’s HQ and equidistant from three Alpha Health Care hospitals.” Royce finished the donut in two bites. “I’m golfing with their CEO at Royal St. George’s after I hit London tomorrow. I’ll feel him out about the rumors. If they are true, our location will become a critical factor in securing the contract.”

“All I care about is St. Vincent’s. Do what it takes to make it happen.”

“I always do.” Royce sniffed. Turned. Sniffed again.

“Something wrong?”

“Do you have an animal in here?”

“Of course not.”

“Smells like dog piss. Or maybe it’s the fish. I’ll dump them on my way out.”

“Maybe it’s your jacket.” Sam quickly moved to intercept when Royce headed for Layla’s desk. “I think you might have spilled your cologne. You should probably get it cleaned before your flight.”

“Christ.” Royce pulled off his jacket. “I’ll have to buy a new jacket. That cute Canadian flight attendant is working the direct to London and we’re planning to notch up the ‘mile high’ scorecard on the way.”

Sam walked him out the door. “When will you be coming through again?”

“Not for another month, unless we get the Alpha Health Care contract. If that happens, I’ll be back to work out the details.” He looked back over his shoulder as he walked down the hallway. “And you’ll need to get rid of the girl. I’m not sharing my desk.”

• 15 •

“YOU’RE late. Bachelor #6 will be arriving in ten minutes.” Daisy handed Layla a marriage résumé as she rushed in the door.

Still flustered from waking up alone with nothing more than a text from Sam about an early-morning meeting and a bowl of cold oatmeal in the kitchen, Layla stared at the résumé in confusion. “What is—?”

“His name is Baboo Kapoor,” Daisy said quickly. “Age thirty-two. His parents responded to the ad. That should ring the warning bells.”

“I texted you this morning and asked you to cancel the interview.”

“Max stole my phone last night and I can’t find it.” Daisy gave her a rueful smile. “I think he buried it. I knew I shouldn’t have bought that new phone case covered in tiny bones.”

“Does Sam know the interview is still on?”

“I haven’t seen him.”

Warning bells tinkled at the back of Layla’s mind. “He left me a note this morning saying he was coming in to the office for a meeting.”

Daisy sucked in a sharp breath. “What do you mean He left you a note this morning?”

Layla’s face heated. She brushed past Daisy and made her way to her desk. “Nothing.”

“I know that look. That’s not nothing. That’s I slept with him and I regret it and I’m ashamed to tell my cousin.” Daisy followed her to her desk. “Were you drunk? Stoned? High? Did he force you? I’m going to call Bobby Prakash and the Singh twins. By the time they’re done with him—”

“He didn’t force me,” she said. “It was totally consensual. Actually, I started it.”

Daisy gasped. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “We met Harman. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. He wanted a companion, but he was happy for us to lead our separate lives. It was perfect. He was perfect—except that I knew I’d never feel good about myself when I was with him. That’s not his fault, but I realized I never feel that way when I’m with Sam. He’s handsome and successful, and he can be funny and kind, and I never feel like anything other than an equal when I’m with him. Anyway, I agreed to go out on a date with Harman because, aside from my issues, he’s a good candidate. Sam wasn’t happy about it. We had a fight that wasn’t really a fight. I slapped him. Then I kissed him. Then we wound up at his place having the best—”