Chapter 9: Nine.

Sammy closed her apartment door and let out a sigh. Home at last.

She had moved in completely two days ago, and so far she was loving it here.

Daniel had stayed true to his word and helped again after that first night, and this time he surprised her with pizzas that were delivered hot. A feat that she was informed was now possible, that he knew her address.

It was a sweet gesture and totally unnecessary, as she had ordered them Chinese take out as well. She had managed to live off the leftovers for two days.

Now she was home, and under the impression she could have a hot bath and an early night, because boy did she need one. Work had been chaotic; they had been inundated with more volunteers than they knew what to do with, and the large donation from Shane Andrews had meant Sammy was currently overseeing a much needed revamp and modernisation of her surgery. Or at least the planning processes of one.

When complete, it would allow her to do more complicated surgeries in an emergency, as well as having the money to take on another vet based ranger. That way if one was called out the animals here would always have cover.

Both of these things however, meant Sammy had a lot more administrative duties to take care of at the moment; much to her horror, because she downright hated paperwork.

Shrugging off her jacket before folding it over the dining chair, she flicked on the kettle and headed towards the bathroom. Her intention was to run a very hot bath, then soak in it for at least an hour with a cup of chamomile tea before she even entertained the idea of anything else, cooking included.

But, there was a knock on the door that caused her heart to sink. For a moment she considered ignoring it. Frozen midstep and chewing her lip in contemplation, they might just go away if she didn't answer right?

Wrong.

"Sammy, I know you're in there," came Daniel's deep and somewhat playful voice.

She sighed, begrudgingly moving towards the door.

"And how exactly would you know that?" She asked with a short lived smirk, as she opened the door up.

Daniel was stood with his forearm leaning on the door frame above her head, she wasn't expecting him to be so close. But, he was, so very close and it didn't help her poor brain from not becoming flustered one bit. The position left him towering over her, with a smirk playing on his face that revealed that damn dimple. His t-shirt sleeve had ridden up, revealing his large muscular upper arms, and Sammy found herself desperately trying to understand how it was possible he could both look and smell so good that her throat ran dry, while her mouth watered.

"I saw you arrive," He finally answered her, after enjoying the sight of how speechless she had become. "I was waiting for you."

Sammy nodded, a slight frown creeping onto her face as she registered his words.

"Are you stalking me Mr. Weston?" She asked folding her arms and standing her ground, as she remembered herself.

"Well, you were holed up inside all day, and I didn't get to see you. So... yes, I have resorted to turning up unannounced on your doorstep." He flirted playfully.

Daniel's honesty took Sammy back, and she wasn't quite sure what to say.

Behind her she heard the kettle click, and decided it was the perfect excuse to gain back some of her personal bubble.

Turning she headed inside, "Do you want a tea or coffee?" She asked, as he followed her, the main door closing with a light click of it's own.

Somehow, it felt very natural to have him here, which was crazy since she had only known him around a week.

"Actually, I would like to take you for dinner? If you're free that is?" He asked hopefully, and Sammy just knew that dimple would be there with a boyish smile if she turned around.

But Sammy's deep sigh let him know he wasn't onto a winner. Dread coiled in the pit of his stomach as she began to turn around, maybe his worst fears were true and she was actually avoiding him. He had been itching to see her all day, but she was always so busy.

"I'm sorry Daniel, I would like to, but I'm so tired," came her weary response.

Daniel's eyebrows shot up at this, and he found himself really looking at her. He seen her as perfect, so it was easy at this early stage to miss things, and that was exactly what he had done. She had dark circles under her eyes, her movements were sluggish and her posture was somewhat slumped.

His mate clearly needed rest.

"What happened?" He asked, concerned as to how she got like this from inside the office block.

Sammy sighed out, ignoring how well Daniel could read her, and all the feelings that came with it.

"I have just been burning the candle at both ends for too long, what with moving, work, and moonlighting up on the reserve in the North, so now after a day of paper work my dyslexic brain has had enough. I'm only human afterall," she answered with a smile and a shrug.

"You're dyslexic?" He asked, his curiosity piqued at any new information about her.

"Yeah, I mostly struggle with numbers, as opposed to letters, but even they can be tricky little shits at times. Vet school was hard, I needed to study more than most, and even now give me something practical and I'm grand, ask me to file a report about it and it will take at least five times as long as the job did in the first place," she laughed awkwardly, wondering why on earth she had just word vomited all over the sexy man, instead of just saying a simple "yes".

Daniel smiled and walked up to her, placing his hands on her shoulders, and pulling her into an embrace.

"What kind of tea do you want?" He asked her.

"What?" Came Sammy's confused response, as she cranked her neck back to look up into his green eyes.

"I will make your tea, and I will prepare dinner. You go have a bath or a shower or whatever," he explained, "Then you can eat, and get an early night."

Sammy allowed herself to relax at his words, and even leaned further into him for a moment, enjoying his warmth.

Then, pulling back slightly she looked back up at him, "That's really sweet, but I can't let you do that. It's too much." She stated, and began to move out of his embrace.

However, in response Daniel only tightened his arms.

"Sammy, what makes you think you have a choice in the matter?" He asked, dropping a kiss on her forehead. "Now go," He added for good measure, before forcing himself to let her go and moving away towards the kitchen.

"Don't just stand there, or I will put you in the bath myself," he called out over his shoulder.

Sammy made her way to the bathroom, contemplating silently how Daniel's threat really should sound way more unappealing than it actually did.