So she was happy when Special Agent Rothman called on her that day and asked her to join Michael in Amber to help out with this case. What was interesting, though, was that as she studied Bear’s background, Samantha felt as though she could relate to him. Just as she was working so hard to try and get in good with her colleagues in San Francisco, he was working hard in an attempt to be accepted by The Dark Angels. And as a former victim of rape herself, she even sympathized with him for the pain that he must have gone through after his sister had been attacked, and secretly admired the fact that he was bold enough to kill her attacking, if in fact he had done so. However, in spite of her compassionate feelings toward Bear, Samantha knew that she had been sent to Amber to do a job, and that’s exactly what she intended to do, whether she felt a connection with Bear or not.

 

When their food arrived, Samantha and Michael shifted gears and began discussing their jobs as Special Agents within the San Francisco office. Samantha was very appreciative of the opportunity to work with Michael on this case and told him so, especially because he was one of the more seasoned agents in the office and could show her the ropes and make her appear more approachable in front of the other agents. Michael seemed to be a good ice breaker, so she planned to use their developing professional relationship to her advantage. She shared with him what it was like working out in Philadelphia as well, and how much of a challenging adjustment it had been for her to move out west.

 

By the time they had finished eating and talking, Michael was completely exhausted and had a splitting headache. He’d been going nonstop all day and was ready to go back to the motel and get some rest. Samantha felt as though she was just getting started and wanted to head back into town and see what else she could find out. Michael was completely against it, telling her that he did not feel comfortable with the idea of her roaming around Amber alone. But Samantha laughed at him and told him that she was a toughie, not to mention she had her gun on her. So she would be able to take care of herself. Once Michael paid the bill, the pair got up and headed out to the parking lot. Michael climbed in his car and drove back to the motel to call it a night, and against his wishes, Samantha drove over to The Home Team bar to further investigate their case.

 

***

“I think this is it, man. I can just feel it,” Drifter told Bear.

 

“I think this is it, too,” Bear agreed, clapping his hands excitedly as he and Drifter headed inside of The Home Team bar for celebratory drinks. They had just gone to the storage unit and took inventory for the upcoming gun run and confirmed that every single firearm that was set to be sold was accounted for. They were both beyond thrilled, and when they called Chase to tell him the good news, Chase confirmed that the deal would go down that weekend.

 

When Bear and Drifter walked into the bar, they laid eyes on a tall, thin, beautiful blond with huge boobs, sitting at the bar and talking to Sam. Sam was just laughing away and fawning all over her, and the woman seemed just as amused and was being equally friendly toward him.

 

“Who is that?” Drifter muttered, staring at the woman with his mouth hanging open. 

 

“I don’t know, but I’m about to find out,” Bear said, strutting over to the bar and standing next to the stool right next to the woman. He looked up at Sam, who looked back at him and smiled and winked. Bear then looked down at the woman, who had just turned around and blown him away with her huge, sparkling blue eyes.

 

“Hello,” she said, her tone filled with flirtation as her eyes roamed up and down Bear’s body.

 

“Hi,” Bear replied, smiling sexily before extending his hand. “I don’t believe we’ve met, and I thought I knew everyone in this town. I’m Bear.”

 

“It’s so nice to meet you, Bear. I’m Lori,” she replied as she shook his hand. What the two men didn’t know was that they were actually standing before Special Agent Samantha Conan, who had set a trap that they were both so easily walking into.

 

“And…and I’m Drifter,” he stammered, coming up behind Bear and extending his shaky hand. 

 

Samantha shook Drifter’s hand as well, then turned back to Bear. “Why don’t you have a seat and let me buy you a drink?” she suggested. As Samantha continued to study Bear, she realized that his photos did him absolutely no justice whatsoever. In pictures, he appeared bland, pale and thin. But in person, his towering, muscular body, bronze skin and dirty blond hair resembled that of a pro surfer.