The other ladies all straightened, welcoming Tanner. Sam straightened, too, when what she really wanted to do was sit there criss-cross applesauce and grin stupidly at this guy who made her heart pitter-patter like she was a teenager and he was a boy band star.
Which was why she did not do any of that. While he handed out candy boxes, she stood taller and pressed her palms down the front of her shirt, into the pockets of her wrinkle-free, khaki Dockers. She should go say hello. Introduce herself.
But the ladies all circled around the man—whoever this Tanner was. Sam ignored the carnal tug in her low belly and focused on cleaning up the room instead. He had enough company to keep him busy, and the felt dots needed to be put away, along with a few chairs stacked back in the closet. And that backgammon game would not set itself up.
Cautious not to chance any glances in his direction—though, of note, the boxes were filled with truffles—she made quick work of her job. There. Done. But just as she turned to evacuate, and move along to her next task, Nadzieja tossed herself on the floor.
Seriously, she threw herself down like a rag doll. A rag doll being entirely too careful with her box of chocolates. Somehow she managed to set those aside on the way down. That was a pretty neat trick.
Sam had never caught her in the act so blatantly before, but she couldn’t exactly do nothing. So she rushed to Nadzieja’s aid, even as Tanner did the same. Since he was closer, he arrived first.
“Hey,” he said, gentle and kind and—“You okay, Babushka?”
Oh great, he got to call her Babushka. Everyone called Nadzieja that. Everyone except Sam, who had not been invited to use the nickname. Blatantly un-invited was more like it.
Tanner slipped a glance to Sam and something between them opened right up. Right there. He didn’t buy Nadzieja’s act either.
“It is fine.” Nadzieja hefted herself up to sitting. “I am fine.”
Of course, she was fine. Even if she wasn’t fine things would still be fine, since Sam was a professional who had loads of emergency medical training. One didn’t work with senior citizens and not come prepared for all scenarios. Which was why, though Sam knew the ruse, she still started a quick eval for the paperwork that would come with even Nadzieja’s Fakey McFakerton episodes. Sam began with a pupil reaction test. Nadzieja, however, wasn’t having it.
“Tanner, this is Sam,” Nadzieja said, brushing aside Sam’s attempts at triage.
Sam glanced around, but no one else was in the room. Where the heck had they all gone?
“This is Sam?” Tanner asked, disbelieving.
“Yes, I’ve told you all about her.” Nadzieja grinned a quick flash of dentures.
Well, that was sweet. Even though Sam didn’t know a thing about this guy.
“I thought Sam was a dude?” Tanner sort of said, sort of asked, blinking hard.
Well, no. She was definitely a girl.
“My job is done. You are officially introduced.” Nadzieja stood, snagged her chocolates, and waved between them. “I’m off. Enjoy your talk.”
Though she said this, she did not leave. Instead, she stood there stuffing a truffle in her mouth while she observed.
“You’ve got to stop doing that,” Sam whispered, still crouched down. She stood, rubbing her forehead.
“Agreed,” Tanner said, also standing. Then he sort of breathed what sounded like it was supposed to be a greeting, turned the color of a ripe cherry tomato, and seemed to choke on his tongue.
She pointed to herself. “I’m Sam.”
Dammit, they’d already covered this part.
“I guess you know that,” she continued with a quick side-glance to Nadzieja.
“Uh-huh.” He looked at the floor. Closed his eyes like he was woozy.
“You okay?” she asked. Maybeheneeded a quick triage.
Wouldn’t that be a fun pickup line? Let me check your pupils! How are your reflexes!?
He seemed to have some quick internal gut check, and then he pierced her with his gaze.
“I’m fine,” he semi-stuttered. “Now. Now, I’m great.”
