“What the hell, Sam? Sneak up on people much?” Maya grabbed for the bag that had the eggs.
“I wasn’t trying to scare you.” His touch was all at once foreign and familiar, and when he removed his hands from her, she felt a sense of loss.
She inspected the bag. “The eggs look broken. Shit.”
“At least you didn’t break. You’re welcome.” He pressed his lips together and gave a small shake of his head.
“I would’ve been fine if you hadn’t startled me.”
Sam just stared at her. It was really not fair that he be so handsome when he was clearly so angry with her. She found the key and opened the door. “Why are you here? Samantha is in school.”
Sam picked up the package and the bags with ease and followed her up the stairs. “I need a copy of Samantha’s birth certificate for soccer registration. She told me to stop by today. Didn’t she tell you?”
“No. She probably forgot.” Her phone dinged as they entered the apartment. Maya glanced at it as she put down the bag she carried. “No, here’s the text now.”
“Where do you want these?” Sam stood in the entrance, holding everything that Maya had been carrying.
Maya grabbed the bag that had the eggs and motioned Sam toward the dining table. “You can put that stuff there.”
She took out the cartons and opened each one. One carton was totaled, but the others seemed usable. She sighed. “Well, at least I can get some baking done.”
“Don’t you get a shipment of baking supplies? So you don’t have to go out and buy eggs?”
“I do, but the eggs didn’t come in the last shipment. Or in the shipment before that. I’ve called and stopped payment, so as of now, I have a new supplier, but that shipment isn’t due for a few days.”
“Well, let me know if you need help with that. Like legal help.”
“I’ll be fine.” Her words were harsher than she intended.
“Fine.”
Silence, during which they looked everywhere but at each other.
Sam shoved his hands into his coat pockets. “Can I have that birth certificate?”
“Oh, yes. It’s back here.” Maya walked toward the bedroom, keenly aware that Sam was behind her. At least she’d made her bed today. The papers were in a small safe in her closet. She pushed aside clothing and kneeled down to punch in the combination for the safe, Sam still behind her.
“Did you just put in 0525?”
“Why are you looking at my code?” Maya snapped at him. She opened the safe and pulled out a bulging folder and started rummaging through papers.
“That’s my birthday,” Sam murmured, the hostility gone from his voice.
Maya ignored him. “How was your Christmas?”
Sam joined her on the floor. “It was great having Samantha with us. You should have seen my mom. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her happier.”
The accusation in his voice was loud and clear. Maya cringed but did not look up from her paper search.
“My dad, too.” Sam softened his voice. “He was just so...content.”
Maya’s heart ached at this. Uncle had never been anything but kind to her, and she had thanked him by keeping his grandchild from him.
“Even talked to my dad about taking on some more pro bono type cases. So if you know anyone who needs legal counsel...”
Maya snapped her head up. “What? You mean like helping out the little guy?” She couldn’t help the huge grin that spread across her face. “That’s awesome.”
“Thanks.” Sam’s nod was curt, but if she was not mistaken, there was true gratitude and excitement in his eyes. Not that she was looking.
