Worth the Risk by Robin Bielman

Samantha said. “Our personal manpower only goes so far, given we have commitments to other sites across the world.”
    Bill chortled. “I’ve known Ben Thompson a long time. I think he’s the only man busier than I am.”
    Samantha had met the head of Global Site only once. He ran the company from all over the world, preferring a mobile office to anything stationary. “Despite his assiduousness, I can assure you he’s one hundred percent behind working with you on Route 66.”
    “I’ve no doubt. We’ve talked about partnering up in the past when the right project came along.”
    “I hope I don’t sound too forward when I say this is the right project.” Samantha closed her eyes. Spending time with Dean hadn’t quelled her desire to get the partnership for her employer. In fact, reconnecting with him had made her more confident than ever. While she might not know where she stood with him personally, his compliments to her professionally sent her self-esteem soaring.
    “Global Site’s reputation and commitment to stem the loss of historic structures is hard to beat, but in your proposal you hold fast to the ideals the company has maintained for the past two decades. Do you see yourselves breaking tradition and exploring new and different preservation strategies in the near future?”
    Dean popped into Samantha’s line of vision. He looked around the store, and when he caught sight of her, the corners of his mouth lifted before he stepped out of sight.
    Samantha hesitated, trying to decipher if Mr. Malloy was hoping she’d answer “yes.” “Not likely,” she finally said, deciding to hold true to her—and Global Site’s—ideals. “To date we’ve helped save over a hundred endangered architectural and cultural sites with tried-and-true methods. Mr. Thompson likes to say if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. When left to our own way of doing things, there’s no one better, Mr.—Bill.”
    “That’s what I wanted to hear,” he said, his tone unreadable.
    She couldn’t decide if that meant she’d won the contract or if something else was going on that she didn’t understand. Her newness to the industry suddenly had her shaking with uneasy tension.
    “Thanks, Sam. And I’m sorry to bother you on a Sunday. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    “My pleasure,” she managed to squeak out before hearing the call disconnect.
    A moment later an arm snaked around her waist. Lips grazed her neck. She quivered—whether from Dean’s touch or from nervous energy, she wasn’t sure.
    “Hey, everything okay?” Dean asked, the sound of his voice signaling every synapse in her body to fire.
    “Fine.” Her body relaxed against him as if her mind had no control over her movements. “Just my sister checking up on me again.” She had no intention of telling Dean who had been on the phone. It was her business, and she didn’t think Dean would be happy about it. Plus, she didn’t know if Mr. Malloy had given his son the same courtesy call, but she didn’t think so. At least he hadn’t in the last thirty hours she’d been with Dean.
    Dean grabbed her hand and tugged her with him without another word.
    Several stores and bags later, Dean had an outfit for dinner and plenty of other clothes for the Golden State, a place where he said he loved living. Samantha had a couple of bags, too, since Dean had insisted on buying her a few dresses he’d wanted to see her try on. Not wanting to hurt his feelings—and secretly thrilled that his eyes brightened with every dress she modeled—she’d agreed. But once she got home, she knew she’d hide them in the back of her closet so as not to be reminded of him.
    Silence filled the first few minutes in the car on the drive back to her hotel, but the air crackled with enough electricity to muddle her thoughts. She’d grown so ultra aware of Dean that her body fed off his energy, sending pinpricks of desire scorching across every inch of her skin. She thought about going