Blurring the Lines (Men of the Zodiac)

by Marisa Cleveland

  Her heart hung heavy in her chest, and she saw the futility in arguing with him. “My dad?”

  “The consulting conglomerate.” He spat the words at her.

  They’d already addressed her working for Layton Enterprises. “I don’t understand—”

  “At any time, you could’ve clued me in to what I was up against.” He cut her off and rubbed his forehead.

  He meant that she hadn’t made idle threats about stopping his company’s winning bid to city council. But her dad had signed. There was no reason for him to be upset. She was the one who’d been betrayed.

  “I…” She couldn’t make sense of everything whirling in her brain. She stepped forward.

  He stepped back. “Do you deny you misrepresented who you were?”

  She was flabbergasted. He’d not only betrayed her, he’d turned his betrayal into her fabricated crime. She’d trusted him, yet he thought she was, what? Some sort of corporate spy? She held up a hand. “No. You know what? I don’t care. I never should’ve cared. I shouldn’t have trusted you. I don’t know what I was thinking. I quit.”

  His eyes narrowed to a slit. “You can’t quit because I’m firing you. Pack your things up and go. Now. Before I have you brought up on charges.”

  When Tish entered the bedroom, Kira tried to act like she had everything under control, but the ache in her heart wouldn’t stop. They’d planned to have Friday night pizza with some other girls from the building, but she didn’t want to move from her bed. With quiet steps, her friend approached and sank onto the bed.

  “What can I do to help?” she asked, lifting Teddy the Tea Cup Yorkie from the pillow. The puppy licked Tish’s face and then settled into her arms.

  Kira shook her head without lifting it from her arm. “Nothing.”

  “Did you really quit?”

  “He…he fired me. He thought I was s-stealing information.” Why had he turned out to be such an asshat?

  Tish’s eyes bugged out as Kira told her about Blake’s accusations. “That’s ridiculous. I’ll march into the office and—”

  She clenched her teeth. “No. I don’t care what he thinks. I trusted him and he betrayed me.” It hurt to find out too late what Blake really thought of her. That he could so easily accuse her of stealing information from him because she wanted to thwart his business dealings.

  “Keith was super pissed. He wanted Blake to reason with you. He’ll be furious to find out how his brother reacted. Everyone knows how honest you are.”

  “He’s the liar.” Kira rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. “The only reason I took the job was to save the building on my own.” She grabbed Teddy and kissed the top of her head. “I grew up there. Ran around The Fresh Bean after school. I can’t let it go. It’s where—” She sniffled. “It’s where my mom died.”

  “I know.” Tish rubbed the dog’s belly.

  The familiar feeling of emptiness washed over her. Her entire life she’d tried to find where she fit in, how she mattered. She’d thought she’d finally found someone who understood her dichotomy. But she’d been wrong. “Part of me isn’t surprised. Why am I not surprised?”

  “I don’t know. I’m surprised.”

  Why had she expected him to hold up his end of the deal? Why hadn’t she taken preventative measures against the group sale of the street? It hurt that he’d responded to her accusations with his own baseless slurs. She’d wasted so much time. She could have used these past months to rally support for the building. Gathered interested parties to help her preserve the building as a local landmark. At the very least, told her father about her plans.

  She shouldn’t have taken the easy way out with that job. She shouldn’t have been taken in by his gorgeous eyes and easy smile. She hated how much it cheapened what they’d shared to have Blake betray her. She’d really thought they might…what? She rolled off the bed and forced herself to follow Tish into the living room. Just sex. She and Blake had just sex. A quick fling and an angry goodbye. No need for her to make this more than it was.

  Except she was pretty sure she hated him.

  Blake sat at a table outside The Fresh Bean and stared at his phone. It hadn’t taken long before Keith laid into him for what he’d said to Kira, especially after Tish called in tears and confessed to being the one who’d mentioned the confidential board negotiations. He shouldn’t have let his temper get the better of him, but after all Kira had done in the past to stymie his acquisitions, it was only natural to think the worst of her.

  But he was wrong. She was guileless. She had a good heart. She fostered dogs. Tish confided she’d given up a high-powered career to do volunteer and pro bono work.

  Yet, even as Blake acknowledged his accusations were hurtful, he hadn’t called her to explain that he was still working with the board to get them behind the new architectural plans. He’d wanted to, but she’d called him a liar. A liar. If she thought he was guilty of “lying by omission,” well, so was she.

  After all they’d shared—hell, he’d adopted a dog with a heart condition, opened his pockets wider for all the charities close to her heart, even told her he wanted a closer relationship—she hadn’t trusted him enough to ask about his plans for the board meeting. She’d just railed at him, like he hadn’t cared enough to help her. Hadn’t cared enough to ask.

  He’d always been truthful with her, hadn’t said anything about the building because he was convinced he’d win the day for her. Kira was the one who’d been less than open about her past.

  So many times since she stormed out of his office, he’d wanted to go back in time and change how he’d reacted. But when he went to pick up the phone, he reminded himself that all that mattered to her were the dogs and the building. If he mattered, if she really cared, she wouldn’t have been so quick to quit.

  So here he was, at her favorite coffee shop, in front of her mother’s building, still trying to make up his mind what to do…or say. Because whenever he thought about facing every day without Kira to greet in the morning and hold in his arms at night, he knew he was lost. Maybe she’d walk up, they’d find some way to brush it off through rational negotiation, and she could come back to his office. And his bed.

  When she appeared from somewhere—inside?—he tossed his phone face down on the table and stood.

  “Kira!” Damn. He’d hoped to deal with her on a pragmatic business level, like they’d managed for months, even after they’d tumbled into his bed. Without emotion. Cool. Calm. But just seeing her thrilled him, and he had a hard time keeping his voice even.

  “I just came from the animal shelter. You took Cyclops.” Instead of smiling at him, demonstrating her willingness to put their professional grievances aside, she glared at him. She should be beaming that he’d continued to foster dogs despite their argument. That showed he cared about the same things she did, right?

  Worse, she hurled more accusations. An excited bark echoed from under the table. Blake smiled, pulled a dog treat from his pocket, and held it in his hand. The Great Dane gave a happy bark and devoured the snack before settling back down.

  He shrugged. “Krystal showed up with him this morning, and I couldn’t say no. I mean, look at the poor guy. Nowhere to go and Thanksgiving’s tomorrow.”

  A cone prevented Cyclops from scratching at the eye patch, and Blake reached under the table and ran his hand along the dog’s back then rubbed the Dane’s head. “Good guy, hey. Yeah. No more skunks, right?”

  “Why would you take another foster? You still have Honeybear! Have you forgotten she can’t be excited? How will it be for her to have another dog around?”

  He couldn’t believe she cared more about the dogs than about him, after what they’d shared, but if that was the way she wanted to play, then he’d follow suit. He wasn’t about to beg her. This just proved he’d been right all along to not mix business with pleasure. If she thought quitting was the solution, then he’d let her go.

  “Yes. I adopted Honeybear, and I’m fostering Cyclo
ps.”

  “Why?”

  No. He would not have this conversation like this. With her half ready to throw a tantrum. This just proved she didn’t understand him at all. Had no clue how he felt about these animals. How much he cared about her. She was so ready to condemn him. Maybe he didn’t know her after all.

  Seeing her—feeling all those tumultuous terrible/wonderful emotions that just her nearness evoked—made him wish he’d never bumped into her that first day. His life had been just fine before her. And now…now, he found himself wanting to call her, to pop out of his office just to see her face. He, damn it, dare he say needed her? No. He didn’t need anything. While he may have cared for her—more so than he’d thought possible—that didn’t mean she reciprocated.

  “I don’t need to explain myself to you.” She wanted all business. He was damn good at that.

  She huffed and even stomped her little foot. Before he would’ve considered it cute, but now he only grudgingly admired the way she kept her gaze neutral and didn’t back down. This was the Kira who had first entered his office demanding he save The Bromwell Building. Just one more female wanting something from him.

  “Fine. Fine! You’re right.” She stormed back inside The Fresh Bean.

  Well, that was interesting. Why had she come out? To yell at him about Cyclops?

  He couldn’t replace what he felt for Kira with dogs, but it hurt. Her lack of faith and trust in him. Here he’d been thinking they had a chance, that they could deal with their disagreement in a logical manner and she’d brush off their differences and come back to work for him. In the end, really, she’d only ever had her eye on the prize, like all the other women he’d ever gotten involved with.

  If he hadn’t been looking at his phone, holding Cyclops’s leash, and balancing a coffee in the crook of his arm, Blake might have seen Margie before she stepped in front of him. As it was, he barely managed not to spill anything on him or the dog as he adjusted his balance to avoid the potential collision.

  “Hello, Blake.” His former secretary smiled at him. “I’m surprised to see you out of the office in the middle of the day. What bet did you lose?”

  “Bet? What are you talking about?”

  “The dog. Sunlight. Two things I never connected with my former workaholic boss, Blake Whitman. You know? The guy who doesn’t have a family and doesn’t care if anyone else does, either.”

  Ouch. Her words caught him in the gut. He’d bet she’d been waiting to spew those at him all along. Guilt washed over him. Had he really been such a tyrant? Kira had never complained. “You’re right, aren’t you? I’m sorry if I was difficult or too demanding.”

  Surprise lit her features. “Oh, it wasn’t entirely your fault. In the beginning, I welcomed the excuse to stay late. It meant my husband made dinner for me and the kids. But not every night. That got old fast. I tried to tell you that you needed balance. To play. To work less and enjoy more. You don’t want to end up both old and alone.”

  He’d really used her time unfairly. “I really am sorry.”

  Her mouth curved into a smile, but he couldn’t tell if it was real and happy, or fake with a hint of sadness. “I’m sure you had no trouble replacing me. And I’m happy now. I work regular hours, I’m home while it’s still light outside, and I don’t feel like every item on my agenda has to be finished right then and there. My youngest is learning to play the piano, and I’ve signed up for a yoga class.”

  Good for her for finding balance in life. At least she knew what she wanted. Everyone had their own priorities, and until Kira, his had been work.

  Cyclops tugged on the leash, and Blake stepped back. “Well, it was nice seeing you.”

  “You, too. And good luck. You’ll find someone smart who’ll stick around.”

  “Thanks for that.”

  On the way back to the office, he found a park bench and sat to consider Margie’s parting words. The Dane plopped down and laid his coned head on Blake’s lap.

  Absently patting the dog’s back, he said, “You know, Cyclops, I found the perfect combination. Kira, the gorgeous woman you just met? She’s smart and sexy and grabbed my attention the moment she tripped me.” The Dane nuzzled his palm. “Okay. So I broke my own rules by getting involved with her, when I knew business and pleasure don’t mix. Ever. But there it is. I did. And blurred lines or not…?”

  The dog snorted.

  “You’re right. I. Do. Not. Give. A. Damn.”

  Cyclops’s massive front paws propped on his thigh, so Blake switched to a belly rub.

  “Yeah, we were explosive in bed, and even after the great sex, she never pressured me for a commitment. She was perfect at keeping work and play separate. She was perfect.”

  The Dane whined, and he squinted at the dog.

  “You think I was wrong to let her go?”

  Cyclops turned his head and regarded him with big brown eyes, as if agreeing he was an idiot.

  Margie’s words circled in his head. “You don’t want to end up both old and alone.”

  He didn’t want to end up old. Without Kira. And he certainly didn’t want to end up alone.

  If they couldn’t discuss getting back together in a business-like manner, or through him fostering Cyclops, he’d have to find some other way to get through to Kira that he needed her in his life. Because he loved her.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Blake checked his watch for the tenth time in ten seconds. Where the hell was Keith? It was almost four, and City Hall closed at five. If Blake wasn’t in a great mood from a recent discussion with one of the undecided board members, he’d be annoyed, but he was one phone call closer to getting the vote to land in his favor. No way would he say anything to Kira until he was absolutely sure.

  But he needed his brother to sign a document for the historic downtown redevelopment so he could fix things with her, and the sooner Keith showed up, the better.

  The enormity of what he planned to do hit him full force. If this worked, he might be ending his lucrative deal with the city. He might be voted out of the CEO position by the board. He could lose everything on something that might not even get her back.

  But he wouldn’t think about that now.

  Kira strolled along the waterfront and watched the people pass her by. She took a deep breath and released it. This strip of land would be remarkable, no matter how it was designed; it was time to figure out her next course of action. She wasn’t angry anymore. She even understood why Blake hadn’t told her about the board’s indecision and responded with anger instead of apologizing when she accused him of lying. That was a business strategy—put someone on the defensive. Sure, he should have dealt with her from his heart, but the lines between them had blurred so much it was hard to tell what role they were supposed to play: boss and secretary or lover and lover.

  So while she forgave Blake for his lack of total honesty, she was depressed that he hadn’t done anything to try to get her back. No apology, other than showing up at The Fresh Bean with another dog. Obviously he’d decided his life would be less complicated without her in it. And yes, she’d known all along that the reason he didn’t mix sex and employees was to keep things complication-free, but he’d already blurred the lines with her, and until they’d messed things up, they’d been doing fine.

  Could she get any part of that back?

  With the sun setting over the Gulf of Mexico, Kira changed direction toward The Bromwell Building. Just thinking about the place brought back images of Blake and the scene of the crime. The first place she’d plowed into him. The last place she’d seen him with Cyclops, and many times in between.

  If she applied for landmark status, the building would be protected, and Blake couldn’t do one damn thing to tear it down. But her dad had already agreed to the group sale, and she doubted he’d be willing to take this to court. Plus, even if she won, she’d be stabbing Blake in the back with his board. Forcing his hand to construct around the building rather than based on his company’s r
ecommendations.

  She couldn’t do that to him. Not when she’d rather tear off her own arm than see him fail.

  How had she let him become so important to her? Her throat tightened. Caring about him so much left her with few options.

  As she approached the building, tears blurred her vision. The cute cafe tables. The brick storefront. Even from the sidewalk, she could smell the coffee.

  A figure stepped into her path, and she looked up to meet Blake’s guarded eyes, a stony expression on his face. Her feet stopped moving, and she choked back her surprise.

  He stared at her for a long moment and then said, “I couldn’t let you walk by without saying hi.”

  Her heart tore open at the way he regarded her, so hesitant. She searched his face for something that might reveal his mood. She glanced down at the Great Dane and then squinted up at him. “Um…hi?”

  He pressed a hand to his heart. “I’m Blake and this is my rescue dog, Cyclops. I adopted a Chinese Shar Pei, but she’s at home because she has a heart condition.”

  Cyclops sniffed her shoes and then walked around them, the leash effectively locking her in place. She stepped out of the loop, mentally begging Blake to take her in his arms. When he didn’t, she said, “Hi, Blake. I’m Kira. Why would you adopt a dog with a heart condition? What if she dies?”

  He gazed at her like they’d never argued in the first place, and little bits of hope flowed through her. She couldn’t quite believe it when he stepped into her space and touched the side of her face. “She will. But when you love someone, you have to be willing to take the pain that comes with it.”

  Her heart leaped into her throat. Love? Could she hope he was trying to tell her something?

  He stepped back and handed her a packet. “I think we should look through this together.”

  A million thoughts flooding her brain, she sank into one of the cafe chairs and pulled out the top sheet, reading the title, Authenticating Local Landmarks. The application had already been filled out and notarized. The filing fee had been stamped as paid.