by Cat Schield
His lips slid into a half smile. “Haven’t you heard about rebound relationships?”
“What makes you think I haven’t already had one of those? I’ve been separated for nearly a year.”
Ryan considered her for a long moment. “I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” She was frowning as she asked but curiosity flickered in her eyes.
“Because you’re too uptight and at the same time a powder keg of unsatisfied desire.” He reached out and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. To his delight, she tipped her head and pushed into the caress. Spying a softening of her resistance, he drove his point home. “I can help you with both.”
Her eyes glowed with a dreamy light but her voice had a crisp edge as she asked, “So this is a simple offer of sex?”
“Not just sex. Great sex. Let me be the bridge between your past and future.”
“My Mr. Right Now?” she murmured dryly.
He smirked. “Your Mr. Anytime You Want—Any Way You Want.”
Hell, if she gave him the green light, he’d carry her to the cot in the back room and screw her brains out, probably breaking things in the process.
She spent a long time scrutinizing his expression. “Can I still work for your sister’s campaign?”
Her shift in topic caught him off guard. “Ah—”
“You don’t trust me.” When he didn’t immediately deny it, she shook her head. “I can’t tell if you’re trying to distract me with sex or if you’re just horny and looking to hook up.” She surveyed him for several long seconds. “Or maybe it’s both. Did you seriously think I’d be so overwhelmed with lust for you that I’d toss aside things that are important to me?”
Ryan made sure not a trace of irony showed in his smirk. “It’s happened before.”
“No doubt.” To her credit, she didn’t seem all that outraged. With noticeable force she expelled the breath from her lungs. This seemed to bolster her already robust resolve. “I think it’s great, the lengths you’re willing to go for your sister, but I’m not sure she’d appreciate what you’re trying to do here.”
She made it sound like he was making a huge sacrifice.
“Do you think I only came here because I was worried for Susannah?” In truth, as excuses went, using concern for his sister’s campaign to confront Zoe was as transparent as it got. “I’m interested in you. I have been since the moment we bumped into each other. Way before anyone was suspicious enough to wonder why you’d volunteered. Does it bother me that you withheld the truth? Yes. Do I trust you? No. But that isn’t enough to keep me away.”
Her eyes widened, but whether at his forthright admission or his intensity, Ryan couldn’t tell. He saw doubt flash across her features and wanted badly to demonstrate once again the powerful attraction between them.
“Tell me you don’t feel the sexual energy between us,” he continued. “That we’d be tearing each other’s clothes off and rolling around on the floor if we’d met under different circumstances.”
She glanced down at the pine boards and frowned. “Look—”
“Be honest,” he interrupted.
“Okay,” she grumbled. “There’s an attraction.”
With her admission, something unraveled in his chest. Ryan recognized that, given his trust issues, he’d picked the absolute wrong woman to chase after, but at the moment it didn’t matter as much as it should.
“But if I ran around sleeping with all the handsome single men in Charleston,” Zoe continued, “my reputation would be worse than it is right now.”
“Why do you care about your reputation?”
Her brown eyes took on a haunted look. “It’s all I have left.”
“You can say that even after what Tristan did to you during the divorce?” He’d just tipped his hand about how much he knew about her private life, but she didn’t seem at all surprised.
“Now I see why it’s your sister and not you who went into politics.” She turned aside and walked to the parking lot door. “Thank you for visiting. I hope you have a lovely rest of the evening.”
Keeping her expression not just polite but sugar-sweet, she opened the door and the cool Charleston night air flooded the space, bringing with it the echo of distant church bells.
He moved toward her. She obviously expected him to do the gentlemanly thing and allow himself to be shown out without further protest, but what moved through Ryan whenever he was near her had no roots in Southern manners. Instead, as he drew even with her, he caught her wrist in a gentle but firm grip. Before she knew what he intended, he lifted her hand and deposited a sizzling kiss in her palm.
“Ryan,” she murmured, but whether in protest or surrender he couldn’t tell. She curved her fingers against his skin and sent a soft sigh winging into the night.
Her gaze lifted to his and the air around them contracted, encasing them in a bubble where no one else existed. Ryan wasn’t sure how long they remained lost in each other before the sound of a car alarm several streets over brought them back to reality.
Reluctantly, Ryan let go of her hand. The instant he set her free, she set her fingers to her lips and tore her eyes from his.
“Sweet dreams, beautiful.”
And with that, he stepped into the still night.
Five
With the insistent drumbeat of anger and frustration underlying every minute of every day, Everly Briggs had a hard time spending her free time having dinner with friends or reading the latest bestseller. How could she have fun when her sister sat in jail for something that wasn’t her fault?
When Kelly had first been arrested, Everly had worked tirelessly to get her sister out of trouble. In the end, however, no amount of money or willpower could keep Kelly from going to jail. And as she’d been led off after being sentenced to serving two years, shocked devastation on her face, Everly understood that while she’d failed to save her baby sister, the real blame for what had happened belonged squarely on Ryan Dailey’s shoulders.
Right then and there, as her sister’s sobs filled the courtroom, Everly had determined she would do whatever it took to make him pay.
In the months following her sister’s sentencing, Ryan Dailey had become her obsession. Everly had spent every free second plotting and planning. She’d researched every aspect of his life, including family and friends, spending long hours stalking him wherever he’d gone, learning his routines, contemplating all the ways she could ruin his life.
Almost immediately one thing became clear. As much as she hated to admit it, Ryan Dailey hadn’t given her much to work with. Not only did his life appear impervious to meddling, his best friend was a cybersecurity specialist with friends in the Charleston PD and she didn’t dare risk attacking him directly.
During the months between Kelly’s arrest and her sentencing, Ryan had glimpsed Everly in the courtroom supporting her sister. Anything Everly might attempt that caused him or his sister harm would blow back in her face. That was when she’d come up with the idea of finding like-minded women with similar grievances to help her out.
Giving over control of Ryan Dailey’s downfall to Zoe had been difficult, but necessary. Everly would not have chosen to partner with the former socialite. Zoe was too passive. Still, her pliancy made Zoe easy to manipulate and that was just as useful to Everly’s drive for vengeance.
At the moment Everly was sitting in her car down the street from Second Chance Treasures, parked where she could see the door through which Ryan had entered the store. What was he doing visiting Zoe at this time of night? She’d been suspicious when they’d had dinner earlier, but from Zoe’s tense body language as they’d said their goodbyes, the former socialite had looked uncomfortable with his interest.
Tonight when he’d showed up here, he’d been a man on a different sort of mission. His earlier flirtation had given way to anger. Everly wondered what
had caused the change. Had Zoe somehow given their scheme away? If that was the case, Everly needed to formulate an alternate plan.
For days now she’d been following the political ramifications of Lyle Abernathy’s entrance into the state senate race. It was well known that Abernathy was a snake. He’d stop at nothing to take down an opponent. Digging up dirt to throw Susannah Dailey-Kirby’s campaign into chaos was something Everly had sent Zoe in to do. And if the pretty little former socialite couldn’t handle her part? Maybe Everly could make do without her after all.
Everly was smiling over the variety of options available to her when the back door to Second Chance Treasures opened, silhouetting the couple and highlighting a disturbing tableau. Even from thirty feet away Everly recognized the chemistry that bubbled between the pair.
Rage clouded her vision for several thumping heartbeats. No. No. No! Ryan Dailey couldn’t be allowed to seduce Zoe.
Zoe owed her allegiance to both Everly and London. Everly had ruined Linc’s love life for London, who was close to securing Tristan’s financial information for Zoe. Now it was up to Zoe to complete her part of the bargain.
It was imperative that Ryan Dailey be punished. Under no circumstances could he be allowed anything that might bring him joy. Especially not while Kelly was locked away because of him.
* * *
When a knock sounded on the back door less than five minutes after Ryan had left, Zoe almost didn’t answer. In the wake of Ryan’s kiss and the powerful emotions he’d roused in her, she was feeling shaky and raw. The idea that he might have returned for a second round of devastating kisses left Zoe filled with hope and dread.
From the moment she’d bumped into Ryan at Susannah’s campaign headquarters, Zoe recognized that something about him called to her. Whether it was his knockout smile, powerful physique or the hint of wariness when he looked at her, the urge to take her clothes off and rub herself against his hard body couldn’t be denied.
The knock turned to vigorous pounding and, with a grudging sigh, she went to answer. With a what now expression firmly in place, she swung the door open. But to her surprise, her visitor wasn’t Ryan. It was so much worse.
“Have you lost your mind?” Zoe demanded of Everly Briggs, dragging the woman into the store. Shutting the door, she rounded on her. “You aren’t supposed to be here. We weren’t ever supposed to communicate directly with each other again. Wasn’t the whole point that we’re strangers who can’t be connected to each other?”
“Why was Ryan Dailey here? Are you sleeping with him?” From her narrowed eyes and accusatory tone, it was pretty obvious that Everly already believed it was the case. That she thought she had the right to demand answers fanned Zoe’s temper.
“Am I sleeping with him?” After everything she’d been through tonight, this was the last straw. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You two looked pretty cozy just now.”
“What the hell, Everly?” Annoyance and apprehension battled for dominance as Zoe stared at the other woman. Not for the first time, Zoe wondered what sort of trouble she’d gotten herself into.
From their conversation at the Beautiful Women Taking Charge event Zoe had gathered that Everly had been distraught over what had happened to her sister. But they’d all been upset over their various problems. London’s fiancé had given her no warning before breaking their engagement. Zoe was living through a nightmare divorce. And Everly’s sister had recently gone to jail after destroying millions of dollars’ worth of engineering plans.
But discovering that Everly was stalking her pushed all Zoe’s buttons.
“Are you spying on me?” Zoe set her hands on her hips and gave Everly a disgusted look. “Because I really don’t need to be dealing with that right now.”
“No,” Everly admitted. “I followed Ryan here.”
With those four words Zoe recognized that Everly had issues that went far beyond her hurt and anger over what had happened to her sister.
“Why would you do that? He’s not your problem, he’s mine. Honestly, what is wrong with you?” Zoe exhaled harshly and started in again before Everly could answer any of Zoe’s rapid-fire questions. “I’ve barely started to work on the campaign. Your presence here jeopardizes everything.”
Zoe could see that Everly wasn’t used to being on the receiving end of a scolding and that she didn’t like it one bit. Well, that was too bad. What they were doing was delicate and risky. They’d come up with a plan and, if it was to work, each of them needed to follow protocol. That meant no direct contact.
“I’m here because I need to know what’s going on,” Everly explained.
“That may be what you want,” Zoe fired back, “but it’s not what you need.” She had no patience for Everly’s excuses. “What you need is for me to fulfill my part of the bargain. Whatever that takes. If it means joining Susannah’s campaign or getting friendly with Ryan, then that’s what I’ll do.” She was breathing hard as her anger rose. “Now here’s what I need. I need for you to go and not come back. Ever.”
While Everly’s eyes never left Zoe, her expression made it clear she wasn’t focused on Zoe’s lecture. “Why did he kiss your hand?”
“Did you listen to what I just said to you?” Even if she thought Everly deserved an answer, Zoe refused to explain what had happened between her and Ryan when she hadn’t yet made sense of it. “You need to leave my store. Now.”
“Why are you in such a hurry to get rid of me?” Everly demanded. “Is he coming back?”
“Haven’t you understood anything I’ve said?” Her righteous anger felt satisfying and powerful.
“I understand that you want me to go,” Everly said, the fervent light in her eyes convincing Zoe that the woman was unbalanced. “But I’m not leaving until I’m satisfied with your answers.”
“I don’t owe you any explanations,” Zoe responded even though she could see her words fell on deaf ears.
“That’s where you’re wrong. You do owe me. And you owe London. We’re all in this together.”
“Look, I didn’t interfere with what you did to Linc or with London going after Tristan.” That the latter scheme might still blow up terrified Zoe too much for her to risk showing any involvement. “You need to back off and let me handle this.”
“Are you sleeping with him?”
“No.”
“No not ever or no not yet?” Everly was a dog with a bone.
“Listen,” Zoe said, nearing the end of her patience. “I’m playing him any way I can. Now I really need you to leave.” She walked to the door and opened it.
When Everly didn’t move, Zoe wondered if she’d have to get physical. As much as the idea of wrestling Everly out the door appealed to Zoe, neither one of them could afford the attention a catfight might attract.
“Fine,” Everly snarled. “But I’m going to keep an eye on both of you. If for one second I think that you’re betraying me, you’re going to be sorry.”
Zoe shivered at Everly’s threat, recognizing the wisdom in treading carefully. Tristan had a temper like that. It burned slow and white-hot and, as she’d learned, with devastating results.
“I’m not going to betray you,” Zoe said, “but you have to stay far away from me. Ryan knows who you are and if he sees us together, everything will be ruined.”
“He won’t see us together.”
“You don’t know that. He doesn’t trust me,” Zoe said in her most mild and reasonable tone. “That’s why he came by tonight. To accuse me of lying to him and to find out if I’m a spy for Lyle Abernathy. It’s possible that he’s having me watched.” Zoe doubted it was the case, but her words fed Everly’s paranoia. Noting that Everly continued to hesitate, Zoe drove the point home. “After all, you’re keeping tabs on him.”
The wild light in Everly’s eyes dimmed somewhat. “Okay, I see your point.�
�
“Good. Now go home and get some sleep.” Zoe gestured Everly out and, to her relief, the woman stepped into the parking lot. “I’ve got this handled.”
Without answering, Everly marched toward the far side of the lot where a dark Audi sedan was parked.
Zoe sighed as she closed and locked the door.
* * *
For three days Ryan kept his distance from Zoe while he processed all he’d learned about her background. He avoided the campaign headquarters when he knew she was volunteering and resisted the temptation to stop into Second Chance Treasures to say hello.
But he couldn’t stop his thoughts from lingering on the memory of their kiss or dwelling on the foolish longing to learn about her childhood and the sort of music she enjoyed.
Yesterday he’d sent her a text, reminding her about their Saturday night date. She’d tried to convince him to let her meet him at the restaurant where they were eating, but now that he knew where she lived, he intended to pick her up. If he told her they were eating at his place, he doubted she’d come. And she’d be right to resist. He intended to lull her with expensive wine and delicious food before encouraging her to spill all her secrets.
Ryan parked near the back door of Zoe’s store and glanced at the time. He was five minutes early. An uncomfortable anxiety gripped him as he exited the car and went to collect her. When was the last time going on a date with a woman had made him nervous? The answer disturbed him as much as the turmoil in his gut. Never. His reaction to Zoe was unique in his life.
Ryan knew part of his disquiet was based on a decision he’d made earlier that day. The wisdom of it utterly escaped him, but he was starting to realize that his behavior when it came to Zoe deviated from logic.
She answered the door casually dressed in a gray sweater and slim jeans. Her gaze roved over him; his jeans and white button-down shirt were similarly casual. She frowned.
“You look beautiful,” he remarked, glad he’d shoved his hands into his pockets before she’d appeared. After being apart from her these last few days, the need to kiss her had grown stronger.
