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peeked into the extravagant habitat to see Sam curled up in his nest.
    At least he was in the habitat and not running around the house. If she could only figure out how he got out and then managed to get back in. He’d explore the house at night, wandering around and searching for treasures to pack into his cheeks. When he’d return she’d discover things in his nest like missing earrings, beads, and other things that he’d found.
    Sam peeked one eye open. When he saw her, he got up and put his paws and nose up against the clear plastic that separated them.
    “You want a treat, huh?” Cat tapped the wall and the hamster’s nose wriggled as he followed her finger. “I’ll get you a piece of apple.”
    She headed to the kitchen. Hamsters were so much simpler than men.
    * * * * *
    Cat checked out the numbers on her desktop computer as she worked through a client’s mess of a file. Mrs. Karchner needed a new bookkeeper in her office who knew what she was doing.
    With a shake of her head she got up from her desk, and walked out of her office to the file cabinet beside Janie’s desk. The receptionist was away from the office. Cat opened the third drawer down and searched the K’s for Karchner.
    Early morning spring air swirled into the office as someone opened the entrance into the accounting firm’s office. Cat glanced over her shoulder and her lips parted. Her heart beat a little faster.
    It was Blake, and he’d never looked so good. He wore a black Stetson that he took off as he closed the door behind him and his hair was short and dark. A light blue shirt stretched across his broad chest, his sleeves rolled up and showing his large biceps. His Wranglers molded his muscular thighs and he wore a wide brown leather belt with a silver and gold buckle. The light stubble on his jaws gave him even more of a rugged look.
    Seeing him brought back the dream of the first time they’d made love and her body tingled at the memory.
    He swept his gaze across the room and his green eyes rested on her. A flicker of surprise registered across his expression.
    “Hi, Blake.” Marsha Solara, the other accountant, stood in the doorway to her office. She stirred her coffee. “What brings you here?”
    Blake looked from Cat to Marsha. “Jim Hartford said he had a new accountant taking over my account now that he’s retired.” He raised an envelope. “Got a notice from the IRS that I need to discuss.”
    Marsha gave a nod toward Cat. “Blake, meet Cat Hayden, your new accountant. Cat, meet Blake McBride, your new client.”
    Cat’s eyes widened. Blake was one of her new accounts?
    Blake’s gaze met hers again and neither one of them said anything.
    Marsha cocked her head to the side. “You two already know each other?”
    Cat nodded and Blake glanced back at Marsha. “We’re acquainted,” Blake said.
    “Well, good.” Marsha gave a thoughtful smile. “Cat, if you need anything, let me know.”
    “I will.” Cat managed a smile and gestured to her office. “Come on in, Blake. I’ll pull your file and be right there.”
    He gave a nod and walked into her office as she moved to the drawer with the M’s. Her mind went blank for a moment and she wondered what she was doing there. All she could think about was Blake. Then she realized she was supposed to pull his file. She went through the M’s and grabbed the file with “McBride, Blake” on the tab.
    Clutching the file tightly to her chest, she walked to her office door where Blake was standing, waiting for her. Heart pounding, she moved past him, around her desk, and sat in the leather chair. Blake lowered himself into one of the armed chairs in front of the desk. He loosely held his western hat in one hand.
    “Hi, Blake,” she said and rested his file on the desk in front of her, near her keyboard. Again, she wanted to touch her scar and hide it from him—as if that was possible.
    “You always were good with numbers,” Blake said. “But I never expected you to