Rumors: Allison & Zane

by Rachael Brownell

  "Yes, Mr. Dixon."

  "Can you send Sara in here, please?"

  My hands are shaking. When the door opens moments later and the perky brunette walks in, a huge smile on her face, I suck in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

  "It's so nice to finally meet you," Sara says, rushing toward me with her hand extended.

  Looking between Hunter and Sara, her hand still outstretched, waiting for me to take it, all I see are smiles.

  "I'm so confused," I admit, after a long silence, finally taking Sara's hand in mine.

  Hunter laughs, excuses Sara who now appears just as confused as I am suddenly, and relaxes back in his chair. As soon as his door is closed, he begins explaining everything.

  "You were our choice, Allison. You worked under me for years. You know how to run market research better than anyone else in the office, except maybe me. When Zane called and asked if you could have last week off, I was more than willing. We had already made the decision to promote you, but I wanted time to find you an assistant before you came back to work. Time to get your office ready for you. Promoting you is exciting for me. I feel people should be rewarded for their growth, for time in position, for proving their worth and merit. I didn't want to hire someone I didn't know. With you, Allison, I know exactly what I'm going to get. I know what I can expect from you. The type of work you'll produce. Not to mention the clients already know and love you."

  "Are you sure? Even after all that's happened, everything I did, you still want me here?"

  I can't help but feel skeptical. It's too good to be true. Yes, I know how the position works. I was Hunter's right hand, and sometimes his left, for many years. I can probably jump back in without any guidance. Still, after everything that's happened the last month, the last year, and all the rumors I've spread, I don't understand why they would want to keep me around.

  Walking in here, especially after seeing another person at my desk, I was mentally preparing to be fired. Making plans to run again.

  "The position is yours if you want it." Direct and to the point. His voice is firm, steady. There's a hint of concern in his eyes, and it makes me wonder. Is he concerned I won't take the position or that I will?

  "Of course I want the position, I'm just surprised you're offering it to me."

  Letting out a sigh, Hunter leans forward, resting his arms on his desk, and looks me square in the eyes. "We all make mistakes in life, Allison. Every single one of us has done something we're not proud of. Myself included. The important part is to learn from our mistakes. To make sure you don't repeat them. To grow and mature. You've done all those things.

  "It's not my place to say this, but I'm going to anyway. I remember when you first started here. You were quiet and kept your head down. It was like you wanted to be invisible. It makes a little more sense now that I know about your husband. What you didn't realize is that you were shining so brightly, you never could have gone unnoticed. You smile more, you laugh harder, and you genuinely seem happier than I've ever seen you. I think Zane has a lot to do with that, but so do you. You're still healing, I'm sure, but the more you heal, the happier you become.

  "Just to be perfectly clear, yes, we want you to take the position. Even after everything that's happened. It was a unanimous vote."

  That's when it hits me. My friends are my family. They support me even when I act like an asshole. They pick me back up when I fall flat on my face. They want to be there the next day even when I try and push them away.

  They're in this for the long haul. Because that's what family is all about. It doesn't matter we're not blood related. What matters is that we care about and support each other. We celebrate accomplishments and lean on each other in times of need.

  Most people don't get to choose their family. Hell, I certainly wouldn't have chosen my parents if I had been given the choice. Right now, though, I do get to choose, and I choose my friends.

  "When do I start?" I ask, smiling at Hunter.

  "Last week, actually," he retorts, standing and moving toward the door, motioning for me to follow. "Vinnie and I took care of the meetings last week. I had Sara clear your schedule for today, but it's full the rest of the week."

  Holy shit! This is real. I can't wait to tell Zane.

  Hunter continues to fill me in as we make the short walk to my new office. When I walk through the open door, I'm surprised at what I find. Every trace of Ryder has been removed. This was his office since he started here, and you'd never know it.

  The walls have been painted a soft gray. There's a white couch over by the windows, flanked on either side by a wrought-iron, glass-top table and a dark-gray chair. My desk is on the far side of the room; two chairs sit in front of it, and a new chair, wrapped with a big red bow, is behind it.

  "What do you think? I asked Justine to design it for you, and she enlisted the help of every female in the office. You should have seen it. Megan was in here wearing overalls and painting your walls."

  That's a sight I'm sad I missed. I didn't realize she even owned overalls. Or knew how to paint for that matter. I'm pretty sure she hired someone to paint her bedroom at the new house because she didn't want to do it herself. Not that I blame her. I hate painting.

  "I know you took pictures," I say, laughing at the thought. Hunter points to the corner of my desk and when I walk over and snag the picture frame, I'm surprised to see Justine, Emerson, Megan, and Brianna, side by side, paint rollers in their hands.

  "They knew you wouldn't believe it if you didn't see it. Angela took the picture for them. She went shopping for decorations while they painted. She was afraid the baby would be deformed if she smelled the paint for too long."

  Smart girl. I think I read somewhere pregnant women aren't supposed to be around paint after a certain point in their pregnancy. I think Angela is still far from that point in time, but I appreciate her contribution to my office.

  "I love it," I say. "Thank you so much. I really don't think I deserve this, but I promise not to let you down."

  "There's no doubt in my mind that you're going to do great, Allison."

  Before I realize what I'm doing, I wrap my arms around Hunter's waist and squeeze. In all the years I've worked for and with him, I've never hugged him. It's never felt appropriate until now.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Six Months Later

  When I first met Zane, our relationship felt like a challenge. A dare. It was new and exciting and forbidden. We kept it a secret for a lot of reasons, but deep down, a big part of that was because I didn't want to face my past and all that came with it.

  The other part, for me at least, was the secrecy and sneaking around kept the excitement alive. I thought that if people knew about us, the flame that ignited in the Bahamas would slowly burn out.

  I was wrong. Far from it.

  In fact, if anything, our relationship being public has fanned the flame, and it's grown in size. The heat between us has intensified. Our need to be with each other has grown and compounded to the point it's almost unbearable when we're not together.

  Thinking about him gets me hot, which only makes the sex that much better when Friday finally rolls around.

  Yep, still doing the weekend thing but not for long.

  Two more weeks and the house he bought in Vinnie and Megan's neighborhood will be his. He hasn't asked yet, but I plan to move in with him. Knowing he's only a few miles away and not being with him all the time would kill me.

  Not to mention I'd get to be neighbors with my best friend.

  He's going to have to kick me out if he doesn't want me to live there, and I don't see that happening.

  Still, I'm going to talk to him this weekend when he gets here. I mean, I can't come out and ask to move in with him, but I can drop hints that I want to. Let's just hope he agrees or I might have to withhold sex until he changes his mind.

  That would suck for both of us.

  Smiling to myself, my focus turns to decorating our place. Between
the two of us, we have more than the house will hold. We're going to have to get rid of some stuff. Plus, I'd like to buy a few new things to make the place ours, not his or mine.

  Well, not his, since technically it's not mine at all.

  My phone chimes, and when I swivel in my chair to see a waiting text from Zane, my smile grows.

  "I still can't believe the changes I've seen in you in the last year," Ryder says as he walks through my office door.

  Yeah, me either.

  So much has changed since I met Zane in the hallway of the hotel. Since he caught me checking him out.

  "You say that every day. You'd think you'd be used to it by now."

  "Yeah, well, I'm still getting used to you in my office. One thing at a time."

  "Regretting your decision?" I ask.

  He doesn't need to answer. I know he doesn't. Who would? He was able to continue doing the work he loves, only now in a bigger office.

  "Every day," he jokes. "I miss my view."

  I do have the better view. He's stuck in the corner with only a view of the side street. My office boasts a view of the entire city.

  "Listen, I need a few things from you if you have time."

  As Ryder begins rattling off a list of things that need to be done before the close of the day, I stare at my new clock on the wall and mentally figure out if I'm going to have enough time before I need to leave for the airport.

  "Got it?" he asks.

  "No, but I'll get as much done as I can and finish everything else on Monday," I offer.

  "Zane in town this weekend?"

  "Hunter would kill him if he missed the party this weekend. He's Bethany's favorite uncle."

  Pressing my lips together to keep from laughing, a habit I apparently picked up from Zane, I watch as Ryder's eyes go from angry to sad moving quickly to acceptance.

  Bethany's turning out to be a picky baby, and not just when it comes to food. She loves her Uncle Ty, probably because he's always acting like a child when he's around her. He claims he's just practicing for when baby Jonah arrives. He only has about another month.

  I'd say Tyler's her second favorite. Vinnie is probably third. He's always allowed to hold her but not for long. When it comes to Devon or Ryder, though, they tie for last place. The moment they try to pick her up, even if she's sound asleep, she starts bawling and won't stop until they put her down.

  It's hilarious, but nothing is as hilarious as when she sees Zane.

  The moment he walks in the house, you hear her start to make noises. When she finally lays eyes on him, she starts giggling and cooing and waving her arms around until he picks her up. She snuggles right into him, laying her head on his chest, and is perfectly content.

  I know the feeling, kid. It's my favorite place as well. The sweet spot just below his chin.

  It pisses her 'real' uncles off, though. Seeing as how Zane is only a designated uncle and not blood related. They all thought it was funny at first until it kept happening.

  I'm worried there will come a time when she prefers Zane over Hunter. We'll really have a problem then.

  "Whatever. I appreciate the help. Tell Zane I'll see him tomorrow night," Ryder calls over his shoulder as he walks out of my office. He reappears seconds later to ask what kind of cologne Zane wears. I have a feeling he's going to try and trick baby Bethany.

  She's smarter than that, but I tell him anyway.

  Turning my attention back to my phone, I read the text Zane sent me before Ryder walked in.

  ZANE: Miss you.

  ME: I'll see you in a few hours.

  ZANE: Actually...

  He can't cancel. I need to see him. Hunter will kill him. The entire weekend will be ruined.

  ME: What? Don't tell me you're not coming.

  As I patiently wait for him to reply, I think back on the last twenty-something weekends we've spent together. This will be the first weekend we haven't spent together if he doesn't come.

  ZANE: I didn't say that.

  ME: Is your plane going to be late? What's going on?

  ZANE: Didn't take a plane this time.

  ME: Well if you're driving, you better get moving. That's almost a full day without stops.

  ZANE: So I should have started a few days ago then, I guess.

  ME: Seriously! Zane, what's going on???

  That's when I hear snickering outside my door. What the hell is going on?

  ZANE: Don't you have work to do?

  ME: I always have work to do. Ryder just gave me a list, actually, so if you're not going to be here in a few hours, I guess I'll have plenty of time to get it done. Thanks.

  ZANE: That sucks. Maybe you should ditch work. Leave sick. You don't look so good. Your face is all red. Are you running a fever?

  More snickering from the hall. This time it's followed by two voices. Both male.

  Hmmm... I have a feeling I've been set up. Well, two can play at that game.

  Tiptoeing toward the door, I start typing my reply.

  ME: You know what, I think I will. In fact, I think I'm just going to quit. Ryder's kind of an ass, and I'm sick of working for him anyway.

  ME: Let me know when you're getting into town. I'll be at home, waiting for you. NAKED.

  "What the hell?" I hear Ryder whisper-yell to Zane.

  "She has to be joking," he mumbles.

  ME: Leaving now.

  "Shit, she's coming out," Zane says.

  "My office," Ryder replies as I hear them scramble away from the door.

  Moments later, when I hear Ryder's door slam shut, I let out the giggle that started to bubble in my throat when I heard Ryder freak out.

  Mission accomplished.

  If he wants to play tricks on me, I'll play tricks back.

  Composing myself, I grab my purse and, with a scowl, make my way to Ryder's office, knocking twice with more force than necessary.

  I see Kimmie, Sara, and Macie watching me from their desks. The new gossip queens. I handed over my reign a long time ago with the condition that my name never be uttered in the office. They agreed but haven't found much gossip to spread since. They just don't know how to spin it, that's all.

  It's actually been nice not hearing all the bullshit. I still can't believe I was behind it for so long. Just goes to show how miserable I was before I met Zane.

  "Ryder, are you in there? I need to talk to you about something."

  "Just a second," he calls. There's shuffling behind the door and frantic whispers. "Come in."

  Clearing my throat, ready to call the two of them out for pranking me, I step through the doorway but don't get far. I'm expecting to see Ryder sitting behind his desk, attempting to look innocent of his wrongdoings. What I see instead causes my mouth to drop open.

  The lights are low. Candles and red roses are scattered everywhere. Ryder's nowhere to be seen, but Zane is. He's in the center of the room, hands behind his back, smiling at me. The same smile he shot me the night he professed his love for me in front of all our friends.

  "Um, what's going on Zane Alexander?" I ask.

  "Ooh. Pulling out the middle name. What for? Don't you like your surprise?"

  Cocky as ever. I swear it's his mechanism to keep me from being mad at him. It works.

  "You know I love surprises, and I love seeing you, but what the hell are you doing here? And what is all this? And where did Ryder go?"

  "He's afraid you're really going to quit on him, so he ran away."

  The bathroom door is closed. I'm sure he's on the other side, probably with his ear pressed to the wood.

  "Figures," I murmur as Zane approaches and gently kisses me on the cheek.

  "Don't be mad, baby. We were only messing around. Ryder kept you busy and in your office while I set this up."

  Things are starting to make a lot more sense now. Ryder asking me to do things for him happens from time to time still, but never long lists like that and never silly things like make phone calls for him or copy client files. It was a lis
t of busy tasks that he easily could have had Kimmie do.

  "Tell him I promise not to quit but he can do his own shit from now on."

  "You can tell him yourself. Later. We're meeting up with everyone tonight."

  "We are?" No one mentioned it to me at lunch today. You would think Justine or Emerson would have said something about it when I asked them what their plans for tonight were.

  "Well, I hope so. That all depends on the next few minutes." When Zane takes my hands in his and drops to one knee, the final pieces fall into place.

  Roses. Candles. The fact that he's wearing a nice shirt and dress pants when he's normally in jeans and a t-shirt.

  "Allison Kay Parker, you make me the happiest man in the world. I've never felt this way about anyone before, and I never want to again. I can't imagine living another day without you by my side."

  Tears are beginning to well up in my eyes. The urge to pull my hand from his is overwhelming, but I know he's about to ask me the question I've been waiting months for, so I stand as still as I possibly can.

  After I said goodbye to Kevin, it took me a few weeks to pull myself out of a funk. Not because I was sad. I felt lost, even when I knew what direction I wanted to go. Then, one weekend while Zane and I were lying in bed, it hit me. I was in a funk because I was ready to take this step with him, but I couldn't come out and tell him that. He needed me to prove it to him.

  And that's exactly what I've been trying to do these last few months. Apparently he got the message.

  "Will you do me the honor of—"

  "Yes!" I scream before he can finish.

  "I have to ask first. Slow down." Zane clears his throat and begins again. "Will you do me the honor of moving in with me?"

  My heart drops in my chest.

  Did he seriously just ask me to move in with him? I thought me was going to ask me to marry him? What the hell?

  "Um, yes."

  "You don't sound as excited as you did a few minutes ago." He raises an eyebrow at me suspiciously, but I don't say anything.