by Desiree Holt
She sat stiff as a board in the passenger seat, hands clenched in her lap. In the lights from oncoming cars, her face looked chalk white.
“Where’s your car? Hot date leave you high and dry, princess?”
“My car?” Her teeth chattering, she repeated the words as if he spoke a foreign language. “You want to know where my car is?”
“Yes, your car. Damn it, Zoe.”
No. Calm down, Zak. Anger solves nothing. And there’s definitely something very, very wrong here.
He hauled in a deep breath and let it out. “Okay. We’ll worry about your car later. How about telling me what this is all about? I have to say, you surprised the hell out of me with your call.”
“I—I have a problem.” She sounded as if she was dragging the words out of her throat one syllable at a time. “Is…Is anyone following us?”
Zak checked again in both the front and rearview mirrors. He had enough experience in spotting a tail, and he was pretty sure they didn’t have one.
“No unwanted company,” he assured her, hanging onto his patience. “A problem. Okay. What kind of problem? It’s got to be pretty bad for you to call me, of all people. After two years, by the way.”
“I… That is… I mean…” She unclenched her hands and rubbed them over her face as if wiping cobwebs away. “I keep hoping this whole thing is just a bad dream. That I’m really home, I’ll wake up, and it will all be gone.”
“What will be gone? Damn it, Zoe. Spit it out.”
“All right, all right, all right.” She rubbed her hands over her face again, then twisted her fingers together. “I’ve had…some problems lately.”
Zak cocked an eyebrow. “Problems? What kind of problems?”
She fisted her hands so tightly her knuckles looked white. “My—My house was broken into and my den torn apart. Then two nights later, someone tried to run me off the road.”
“I would think you’d call the police,” he pointed out in a flat voice.
She snorted. “Yeah, right. They couldn’t find where anyone had broken in, so they told me I probably just forgot what a mess I’d left in the den.”
“And the other thing?” he prompted.
“There was a heavy rain that night. They chalked it up to highway hazard and careless driving.” She reached over and gripped his arm so tightly he could feel her fingernails digging into him. Whatever was happening, she was about to lose it. “But I know what happened, Zak. I swear it.”
“Okay, okay.” He waited a moment to see if she’d say more, wishing he could get inside her head. “But that’s not what prompted the call tonight, is it?”
“No.” She shook her head, took a deep breath, and said, “Nate Dunning is dead. Murdered. In his den.”
Zak’s neck always itched when real trouble was about to visit him. Right now, he felt as if a million insects were dancing on it.
“Dead.” He glanced sideways at her again. Her body was so rigid he thought it would shatter. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” she snapped. “He was covered in blood and not breathing.” She drew in a shuddering breath.
“That’s usually a pretty good indication someone’s dead, I’ll grant you that.” His hands tightened on the wheel. Dead. Serious shit indeed. “Exactly how did you happen to be with his dead body?”
“I—I don’t know.”
Shit. Double shit.
“Okay. Let’s try something else. Do you know how he was murdered?”
He heard a click as she opened her small purse.
“With this.”
When he saw the gun in her hand, he almost drove up onto the sidewalk, straightening the car at the last minute.
“Put that back in your purse,” he ordered. “Do the police know?”
“Yes. I heard sirens coming down the street. After the last two episodes, I didn’t figure I had much chance to explain my way out of this, especially since I had the gun and can’t remember a thing.”
“All right.” He sighed. “Obviously, this isn’t something we’re going to solve over a cup of coffee.”
“W—Where are we going?”
“My house. Where you’re going to tell me the entire story, and don’t leave out one single detail. Am I clear?”
“Will you help me?” She sounded fuzzy now, and he wondered if she’d been drinking.
“Did you kill him, Zoe?”
“I…I don’t know. I don’t think so, but I can’t be sure.”
“You don’t know.” The invisible insects scratching at his neck had now invited an army of their friends to join them. Trouble in capital letters. “Well, that’s interesting. You’ve lost your car, and you aren’t sure if you did or did not kill your business partner. And you don’t remember a thing about the evening.”
“Zak, please.”
He could hear the panic rising in her voice again. “All right. First, I want to hear everything you have to tell me. And I mean everything, Zoe. Then we’ll go from there.”
Chapter Two
“Come on. I think we need some coffee.”
Zak took her arm, the touch sending instant tingles through Zoe. He led her through the living room into the kitchen with its familiar granite counters and gleaming appliances that were a testament to his talents as a gourmet cook. Zoe tried not to remember all the meals they’d cooked together in there.
She hadn’t been in his house for more than two years, and the last visit certainly had been far from pleasant. Their argument had taken on a life of its own, escalating until there was no turning it around. It ended finally when she’d yanked Zak’s house key off her key ring, tossed it at him, along with her engagement ring, and stormed out of the house. And his life.
If only he hadn’t been so arrogant about the whole thing. So…so…dictatorial.
If only I hadn’t been so stubborn. I’m afraid to tell him how right he was.
Tonight, when he’d pulled up in his car, all the angry memories from the past had disappeared like smoke. It had taken every bit of restraint she’d had left not to throw herself into the comforting circle of his arms and let out the hysterics building inside her.
Settling herself in a chair at the kitchen table while he fiddled with the coffee maker, she took her first good look at Zak after all this time. Soft jeans and a black T-shirt molded to his tall and lean body. He still moved with the grace of a jungle animal. Maybe a lion, with his thick shock of sun-streaked brown hair that just tickled the edge of his collar. Longer than before.
When he turned to look at her, the familiar square-jawed face with its high cheekbones, the light scruff he always wore, and whiskey-colored eyes framed by thick lashes was like a punch to the stomach. She could try to deny it all she wanted to, but she was far from getting him out of her system.
He looked at her critically. “Coffee will be ready in a few minutes. I think we can both use some.”
“Thank you.” She rubbed her arms nervously. “Coffee would be nice.”
“So other than this, how are you?” he asked as he worked. “Lombardo Simulations has really made a name for itself.”
“I wanted to be able to convert the sims to games we could sell and expand the market. Remember?” She stared at him, hoping he’d remember how important her dream had been to her. “Nate provided the funding I needed and the marketing know-how. And we’ve been lucky.”
“Nate Dunning makes his own luck. I tried to tell you that if you recall.” Then he remembered why she’d called him. “Or at least, he did.”
“Zak—”
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I’ll back off.”
The silence filling the room was palpable, and all their unresolved issues sat between them like a bloated elephant. Would they have to get all that garbage out of the way before she told him what happened tonight? Zoe hoped not. Her head still throbbed like the inside of a bass drum, and while most of the fuzziness had disappeared, the nausea hadn’t. She concentrated on taking deep breaths while the coffee dripped and Zak
pulled cups out of the cupboard.
If she’d had anyone else to call, she would have. In her bones, though, she knew Zak was the only person who would respond the way he had. Anyone else would either tell her she was crazy or insist she wait for the police. And Zak might still do that. Somehow, she had to get past the wall between them and convince him to help her.
She felt his eyes on her and looked up to find his gaze raking over her.
“Nice threads,” he commented, looking at her dress. “Doesn’t look like something that came off the rack. Lombardo Sim must definitely be doing well.” He raked his gaze over her, his eyes cold and unforgiving. “So. Were you at another one of Nate’s fancy shindigs tonight?”
“Zak…” If he would just stop poking at old wounds… Although she probably should have expected it. But she needed his help desperately, and she needed him to not be angry with her. Resentful.
He held up a hand. “Sorry. I’ll be good. Why don’t I wait until the coffee’s done? Then we’ll talk.”
Lost in thought as she tried to create a story with some semblance of coherency, she was startled when Zak put a mug filled with hot liquid in front of her.
“Drink this. You look like you could use a good jolt of caffeine.”
“Thanks.” She picked the mug up with two hands, but they were shaking so badly, the hot coffee sloshed over onto her skin and the table. She put the mug down quickly, more liquid spilling over the rim. “Oh! Oh, Zak, I’m so sorry.”
He looked at her shaking hands and the puddle of liquid. “Don’t worry. Hold on a sec.”
He snagged a paper towel from the holder on the counter, mopped the table, then gently blotted her hands. When she curled her fingers into her palms, trying to still the trembling, his hands closed over hers. They were firm and warm, and the heat from them seeped into her system more than the hot coffee could ever have done.
“Zoe?” The deep sound of his voice cut through her panic. “Zoe, look at me.”
She forced her eyes to meet his. “What?”
“Take a deep breath. Good. Another one.” Air whooshed out of his lungs as he released her hands and sat down opposite her. “So before you tell me what this is all about, I want to know something. Actually I have to know it. Was tonight’s call too personal because we were…whatever we were? Apparently, it was more to me than to you.” He held up his hand when she opened her mouth to speak. “Or is it strictly business because you’re in trouble. Do you want to hire our security services? If that’s the case, we have a number of good people we can assign to you.”
The jackhammer in her head had finally eased, but she still had trouble focusing, putting the pieces together. And the cold, impersonal tone in his voice wasn’t helping. God, if only she could think straight. But this was a fair enough question. Which one had she called?
She was aware that a year ago Zak had merged with the much larger Guardian Security Corporation, becoming a partner with Reno Sullivan and Nick Vanetta. Guardian was considered one of the largest operations in the country. It provided a wide range of services for both its corporate and individual clients, occasionally doing under the radar work for the government.
When she’d made the call, she hadn’t given a thought to how Zak’s partners might feel about this. Would they object to him helping her? Or he might not want to involve his partners at all. Maybe he wouldn’t even want to help her. He might still resent her for the way she’d ended things between them. How should she answer him?
“Both, I guess,” she admitted at last. “But…mostly, um, you. Personally.” God, she hoped it wasn’t a mistake telling him that.
A mixture of surprise and…something else—caring?—flashed across his face, then disappeared so quickly she wasn’t even sure she’d seen it.
“That’s a shocker, I gotta tell you.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “We didn’t exactly part on what you’d call the best of terms.”
Well, she guessed he had to say it.
The nausea rolled up out of her stomach. She was terrified, and he was her only hope, but what if he couldn’t get past everything that had happened before? If all he wanted to do was throw ancient history at her and then call the police, what would she do? She couldn’t think of anyplace else to turn.
“Zak, listen…”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry. Knee jerk reaction.” He turned and looked at her, studying her face as if he expected to read the answers to his unasked questions written in indelible ink. “I really am sorry, Zoe. I’m being a jerk. I realize you’d have to be pretty desperate to call me, so let’s cut to the chase. You’ve got to tell me what happened if you want my help.”
Was that a trace of leftover affection in his tone? Oh, god, she hoped so.
Zak added fresh coffee to her mug, then folded his fingers around hers while she took a sip. The shock of the contact sent a jolt of electricity zapping through her body. The chemistry between them was certainly still there, and when he moved his hand away, she wanted to reach for him but forcibly stopped herself.
“All right, now?” he asked. “Can you hang onto it?”
She swallowed hard and nodded. She felt him watching her while she took a few more sips of the strong brew. Finally, she put the mug down, her hands steadier.
“Better now,” she told him. “Thank you. I can’t believe that someone who is supposed to be so smart could be dumb enough to get caught up in a situation like this. Where’s the brain I’m so proud of?”
“Still there, just clouded over at the moment. Fear and panic can make even a genius do dumb things and behave not so smartly.” He studied her with eyes darkened almost to chocolate. “My first question should probably be, where did you get the gun and did you shoot Nate Dunning. But I’d rather ask you to tell me exactly what’s going on that made you call me. Especially—as I said earlier—considering the way things ended between us.”
Zoe really didn’t want to get into the argument that still haunted her. She’d only been wearing Zak’s engagement ring for two weeks the night she announced that Nate Dunning was buying into her company, and Zak had exploded. She’d never forgotten the scene that followed.
****
“You’re making a big mistake, Zoe.” Zak’s voice was hard. Angry. A big change from the sensuous tone he’d used only moments before when they made love.
“Then it’s my mistake to make,” Zoe threw back at him, pulling on her blouse and shorts.
How had this turned so bad? She’d thought their relationship was so perfect, everything she wanted. She’d thought Zak had been glad she was getting her wish for her company. But since the first time she met with Nate Dunning, he’d been picking away at it. It seemed that for the past few weeks that was all they’d talked about. Argued about. The harder he pushed, the harder she pushed back. He had to understand he could not control her.
She thought they’d finally gotten past that tonight, making love that exceeded anything in the past. Apparently not.
“Nate Dunning is a slime ball of the first order. A user. A crook.”
She glared at him. “You keep saying that, but do you have proof?”
“I’ll get you all the proof you want, but everyone knows beneath that suave exterior he’s nothing but a crook.”
“A pretty successful one,” she snapped. “He’s got money he hasn’t even counted yet.”
Zak banged his fist on the bedroom dresser. “Is that what appeals to you? Money? That’s all you’re interested in?”
“You know I want to expand the business,” she pointed out. “A rich partner is better than the banks.”
“If you wanted a partner, I could have gotten you one. Make that twenty.” The rage rolled off him in waves. Even stark naked, he looked formidable. “You could have had your pick. And all reliable and properly vetted.”
“By Delaney Security?” she sneered. “No, thanks. I didn’t want you to find me someone. I wanted to do it myself. Why can’t you understand that? I want
my independence.”
“At least my people are trustworthy.” He grabbed her wrists, pulling her closer to him. “They aren’t well-dressed scum.”
“How juvenile. For god’s sake, Uncle Ivan recommended him. He’s one of the law firm’s clients. And my uncle is a major player in San Antonio. Well respected, a feat for a Russian immigrant in a Texas environment. He’s so clean he squeaks. And family is everything to him. He wouldn’t steer me wrong.”
“Oh.” The word was heavy with sarcasm. “So it’s okay for your uncle to find you a partner, but not the man you plan to marry? And let me tell you, Uncle Ivan isn’t so squeaky clean, either. This is my business, Zoe. I know what kind of people these are. Why won’t you listen to me? This is a huge mistake.”
“So now you insult my family, too?” Rage surged through her like a tidal wave. How had she never seen this side of him?
“You’ll regret it. I promise you.”
Something cold dropped into her stomach. “Is that a threat I hear?”
“Just the truth.” His voice was getting louder and louder, unusual for Zak.
“Nate travels in some pretty stiff social circles, and he owns an international corporation. A very successful one,” she emphasized. “I’m flattered he’s even interested in someone as small as I am.”
Zak’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe he has personal reasons for wanting to get involved. Nate Dunning is not only rich, he’s good-looking and charming. A ladies’ man, or so I’m told. Is that what sold you, Zoe? His looks? His charm? Did he sweep you off your feet?”
Now she couldn’t hold back the rage. The anger, or the sick feeling it created.
“That’s insulting. If you don’t trust me” she yelled, “maybe we should rethink this marriage business.”
“Maybe we should,” he shouted.
Zoe took a deep breath and clenched her fists. “Maybe you’re right. Trust goes both ways.”
The anger in his eyes had muted to something else, and he took a step toward her. “Zoe, listen, I—”
“I’m done listening.” Without thinking, she yanked the diamond solitaire from her finger and tossed it on the counter. “Here. You can have your damn ring back. And here’s your key to go with it.”
