In Good Hands by Kathy Lyons Page B

me.”
    â€œYou could have texted me that there was an access panel up there. Geez, we would have climbed out on our own.”
    Sam just laughed. “I did, buddy. Apparently, you were too busy doing something else to look at your phone.”
    Amber flushed at that. Had they really been so involved that they hadn’t even noticed their rescue? She didn’t need to answer the question. Obviously, they had been.
    Sam leaped down into the elevator. Clearly, the man had done this before. He went immediately to the panel and popped it open, using some sort of handheld device to diagnose the problem. “I’m Sam, by the way,” he said over his shoulder.“I’m Roger’s boss, best friend and designated rescuer this week.”
    â€œAnd I’m yours every damn day of the week,” Roger shot back.
    Amber laughed. She could tell from the byplay that they were friends of long standing. They might poke at each other, but clearly the bond between them ran deep.
    â€œI’m Amber,” she said warmly. “And I’m Roger’s friend. Therefore, as his friend, I am breeching no confidentiality at all when I tell you that he needs to take a vacation. Now. For his health. Like starting yesterday and for a couple of weeks at least.”
    Roger reacted exactly as she expected: with anger and a flash of betrayal in his eyes. She was sorry for that. Truly sorry. But for his own good, Roger needed his friends to force him to take that long break.
    Meanwhile, Sam twisted to look at his friend. “Is that true?”
    Roger huffed. “Look, we’re going to have to fly out next month to the Mandolin Clinic—”
    Sam straightened with a look of alarm.
    â€œFor business!” Roger scrambled to say. “There’s a doctor there who’s open to working with us on some products. There are some exciting possibilities.”
    Sam ignored him, his expression narrowing. “This about your blood pressure?”
    Roger grimaced. “I’ll take a vacation right after the meeting.”
    Sam nodded slowly. “What about the convention next month?”
    Roger frowned. “Oh, yeah. It’ll have to be after that. There’s a lot to prepare—”
    â€œAnd then there’s the audit. Not a big deal, but you usually—”
    â€œYeah,” Roger groaned. “I want to be here for that.”
    Sam rubbed his chin. Then he looked directly at Amber. “How serious is his condition?”
    Amber shrugged. “As you can see, he looks and feels fine. But I believe he needs to get control of it now.”
    Sam glanced at his friend. “By way of a vacation? Health spa or something, right?”
    Roger shifted so he was standing between the two of them. “I’ll take a vacation. Soon. I swear.”
    Sam shook his head. “No, you’ll take one now or you’re fired. We can handle things without you for a while.”
    â€œYou can’t even keep the elevator running!”
    Sam shot his friend a look as he pressed a button. Right on cue, the elevator hummed to life. A moment later, the doors opened on the ground floor. Roger and Amber stepped out while Sam continued to tap keys on his pad. Roger turned back to look at his friend, a flush of desperation in his face.
    â€œSam, look, I know you care, but this vacation thing isn’t the real—”
    â€œHey, Roger,” interrupted Sam. “Thanks for the bachelor party. It was really great, and the guys are still out there having the kind of time an engaged man shouldn’t enjoy.”
    â€œSam—”
    â€œYou’re a great best man. Now, if I see you again in the next two weeks, you’re fired. No joke, man, you know I’m serious. Do what you need to do to get healthy.”
    â€œI can’t just disappear, Sam. I need to—”
    Sam wasn’t listening. He waved pleasantly to Amber. “Nice meeting you.” Then he pushed a