Loving the CEO (bundle of five romance novels)

by Noelle Adams

  “Sadie, take her out to the car.”

  “Zach—”

  “Go. I’ll be right out.”

  Sadie led the way down the rest of the stairs. Everyone moved out of their way as if they had some contagious disease, and they were out the door in no time. Halfway down the sidewalk, she glanced over her shoulder. The sight of Zach a dozen yards behind them brought relief, until she saw Jason lunge from the house.

  Thirteen

  Zach heard Sadie yell a split second before the force of a solid weight striking his back sent him stumbling forward. When he recovered his balance and turned, Jason’s left hook snapped his head back. Pain radiated through his jaw and experience told him the tickle along his mouth was probably blood.

  A scream registered from behind and instinct made him glance back to check on Sadie and her sister. He realized his mistake when he saw they were fine, and the sonofabitch took the opportunity to deck him again.

  Fury rose up, fueled by adrenaline. Zach rounded on the guy and laid him flat with one punch. Resisting the urge to shake the sting from his knuckles, he leaned over and grabbed hold of Jason’s shirt once more. The sound of tearing material registered through the thumping music, but the shirt held as Zach lifted him off the ground.

  “Should’ve stayed inside, you stupid bastard. Now you’ve got a half hour to clear this place out before the cops arrive.”

  Brown eyes widened in panic.

  “Yeah, you bet your ass I’m calling.” He glanced around at their audience and then lowered his voice for Jason’s ears alone. “And if I ever hear you’ve bothered Gemma again, I promise, you won’t be so lucky. Understand?”

  The guy’s Adams apple bobbed along with his head.

  Zach dropped him to the ground and stalked toward the girls. With a jerk of his chin, he motioned them toward the car and they hurried ahead of him. Not until he was sure they were all out of sight of the house did he raise his aching hand to his sore jaw.

  Sadie helped her sister into the back and turned just as he tested his jaw’s range of motion. Concern and apology flooded those blue eyes as he snapped his mouth shut with a click of his teeth and dropped his arm. He wiped the blood smeared across the back of his hand on his jeans.

  She reached forward. “Are you alright?”

  He shrugged away from her touch on his arm. “Let’s go.”

  Anger still coursed through him, in tune with the throbbing pulse in his lip. He couldn’t believe he’d let that asshole get the drop on him. Should’ve known better than to turn my back. Damn it.

  Sadie was silent as they both got in and he started the car. Already regretting his clipped response to her, Zach turned to glance in the back. “Do you think we need to take her to the ER?”

  Eyes closed, Gemma covered her face with her hands and groaned, rolling her head back and forth along the seat. “No, no, no. I’m okay.”

  “How many times did you throw up?” Sadie asked, shifting sideways in her seat.

  But from the corner of his eye, Zach noticed her gaze didn’t move past his jaw. He cast a quick glance into the mirror and wiped away a little more blood.

  “Twice,” was the answer from the back seat. “And I feel much better. I just want to go to bed.”

  He slid his gaze to Sadie’s. “What do you think?”

  “Sadieee, I’m fine.”

  Zach agreed she probably was, but it wasn’t his call. She surveyed her sister for a moment, her teeth worrying her bottom lip.

  Finally she said, “I think we’re okay to just head home.”

  “Thank you.”

  She didn’t respond to her sister’s exaggerated appreciation and he started the convertible as she swiveled forward again, arms hugged tight across her middle.

  “Are you cold,” he asked. “Want me to put the top up?”

  “No, I’m good.” She relaxed back into the seat as he shifted into drive. “It’s warmer here on the coast than I would’ve thought.”

  “It’s the heat wave; it’s not usually.” On their way out, he took note of the house number on the mailbox and fished out his cell to call the cops. Acutely aware of Sadie listening to his every word, he finished with the call about the time he reached his own street a few miles away.

  “I’m glad you didn’t wait the half hour,” Sadie said quietly.

  Tension drained, Zach smiled at her comment. It turned into a grimace as the movement sent a pulse of pain through his jaw and nipped at his lip. “Yeah, well, it won’t matter anyway. His dad will probably have him out in a few hours.”

  He felt her gaze settle on him once more. “Sounds like you know them.”

  “I know of them,” he corrected to remove any guilt by association. After rounding a curve in the road, he slowed for his driveway. “Thorpe Zuckerman is big in the movie industry, and I didn’t get where I am without knowing the players. Some are worth knowing more than others.”

  “Is Thorpe like his son?”

  “From what I’ve heard, Jason is in a class all by himself.”

  She glanced into the back again, a frown wrinkling her forehead. Zach’s check in the rearview confirmed her sister had fallen asleep on the short ride. It was a miracle nothing more had happened other than her getting scared.

  “I can’t believe Gemma got mixed up with…um…” Sadie’s sentence trailed off as she straightened in her seat. “Where are we?”

  “My place.” He shifted the convertible into park outside his four stall garage and faced her.

  She looked at his house, then back to him. When she opened her mouth, expression full of resistance, he quickly raised his hand.

  “Hear me out, okay? Just in case Zuckerman split right away, I don’t like the thought of you two back at your place alone. I’d offer to spend the night, but your couch looked a little too short to be comfortable and I’ve got plenty of room here. Plus, if we need it, there’s a hospital about five—”

  “Okay.”

  Zach paused. “Okay?”

  Sadie nodded, trust clear in her eyes.

  He fought a surprised, pleased little grin. “Okay, then.”

  Gemma was out, soft snores emanating from her lips, leaving him no choice but to carry her inside. He ignored the thought that he’d rather be carrying Sadie to his bedroom and focused on getting her sister settled into one of the upstairs guest rooms facing the water. Sadie could sleep in the other one, right next to his master bedroom.

  On the way inside and up the stairs, he snuck glances as Sadie’s gaze surveyed her surroundings. He wondered how she saw the house; hoped his five thousand square foot, glass-front, oceanside abode impressed her. He found he wanted her to like his home almost as much as he wanted her to like him.

  In the guest room, she drew back the pale yellow bedspread and Zach laid Gemma on the bed. He stepped back as Sadie removed her shoes before drawing the covers over her sister’s hips and shoulders. She rolled onto her side and snuggled into the pillow with a small sigh. Marveling once again at their similar blond curls and delicate features, he watched Sadie smooth Gemma’s hair from her cheek before lifting her hand to smother a yawn.

  Sadie in the vicinity of a bed started graphic images flashing in his mind and he felt like a jerk with her sister sleeping right there. Zach backed toward the hallway when she yawned again.

  When her gaze swung to his, he indicated the door on his left. “Take the room right through there and get some rest. The bathrooms are stocked with towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo…pretty much everything, but I’m one more door down if you want anything else.”

  The moment the words were out, he quelled the urge to clarify the offer. Just because his mind went straight to the scene in the first bedroom at Zuckerman’s house didn’t mean Sadie’s had. She straightened and faced him, fingers twisted together in a nervous fashion he recalled from the day of the commercial.

  Hoping her anxiety didn’t stem from his comment, he was relieved when she simply said, “Thank you.”
<
br />   “No problem. Good night.”

  He closed the door on the girl who intrigued him way beyond normal and headed straight to his room. In the master bath, a couple handfuls of cold water splashed on his face cleared his head and washed the dried blood from his mouth and what remained on the back of his hand. Despite the fact both would be sore tomorrow, he wasn’t sorry for everything that had happened, starting from his arrival at her apartment all the way to now.

  Zach smiled even after he caught sight of his swollen lip in the mirror. Maybe dinner hadn’t panned out, but breakfast was guaranteed.

  After stripping down to his briefs, he pulled on a pair of cotton shorts and laid on the bed. The heat of the day hadn’t abated much even along the coast, warming the ocean breeze through his open sliding glass door so it felt refreshing instead of chilling. Perfect sleeping weather—especially since his x-rated thoughts had heated his body a few extra degrees.

  Sprawled on his king-sized bed a few minutes later, hands behind his head, he stared wide-eyed at the ceiling. The three-quarter moon kept complete darkness at bay. A glance at the clock acknowledged it was early—quarter after ten—but coming off that earlier adrenaline rush from the confrontation at the party, he ought to have been at least a little tired.

  Really? Sleep? With Sadie in the bed one door away?

  Neither his mind nor his libido was buying what he was trying to sell.

  Zach rolled off the bed and crossed the room to the mini kitchenette he’d installed shortly after moving in. Experience had taught him planning for privacy when a houseful of family guests descended was key to his mental survival. His parents only lived twenty minutes away, but being on the beach made Zach’s the go-to place for out-of-state aunts and uncles, and cousins who always brought friends. Next weekend would be one of those times.

  Holding open the door to his stocked minibar, he debated, beer or whiskey? Beer provided instant gratification so he grabbed a long neck and twisted off the cap. With a wry grin, he bypassed the garbage under the sink and turned to flip the cap in a high arch over his bed. It hit the edge of the metal wastepaper basket next to his desk, bounced off, and rolled a couple feet away on the carpet.

  That fit the rest of his night. Close but no cigar.

  The moonlit ocean beckoned and he sauntered over to stand in the doorway leading out to his oceanfront deck, soaking in the sounds of the gilded surf.

  Bottle to his lips a few seconds later, he froze when he caught sight of familiar blond curls and a cotton-candy-pink T-shirt. One more swallow was all he could manage without choking from the sudden leap of his heart into his throat as Sadie walked toward him along the upper deck that ran the length of his house.

  He lowered the beer, then had to lift his hand again to wipe the liquid trickling down his chin.

  “Hey, everything okay? How’s Gemma?”

  “She’s still sleeping.”

  Zach was about to ask if she needed anything when he noticed her fingers were knotted together at her waist. He briefly noted her jeans and bare feet before returning his gaze to her face. Her smile wavered as her attention slid down to his bare chest before darting in another direction.

  Face freshly washed, she looked nervous as hell and younger than ever.

  He took pity and held up his bottle. “I was just having a drink. You want one?”

  She shook her head no. Switched to a nod. Then laughed. The pretty sound shot an arrow of desire straight to his groin.

  “Do you have a soda, maybe? Or a drink is fine, too.”

  Zach flicked on the recessed lighting under the cupboards before opening the fridge to reach for another bottle.

  “But not beer. I don’t like beer. Or anything hard.” After a one second pause, she added, “Liquor wise, I mean.”

  Thank God he was facing away and had swallowed his last mouthful of beer, or he’d have spewed it all over at that last clarification. He managed to keep his laugh silent, but a wide grin split his lip open again as he relished the possibility of her thoughts running parallel to his.

  The smile remained in his voice when he shut the door and straightened to ask, “How about a Sprite?”

  “Sprite’s good.”

  He handed her the can. She popped the tab, and then stared at his mouth without taking a drink. He hoped the stretchy material of his boxer briefs held up.

  Finally, she sipped the soda, and then asked, “You got some ice in that fridge?”

  “Sure.” He reached to put down his bottle to get her a glass and some ice, but she waved him away.

  “I got it.”

  Zach leaned against the edge of the sliding door and watched her wet a hand towel from next to the sink. She dropped a half dozen cubes in, gathered up the edges and turned toward him.

  Ice pack. Made sense. Why hadn’t he thought of it?

  Moonlight bathed her curves and glinted in her hair, silver blending with gold.

  Dumb question.

  He held out his hand, but she pointed outside to a deck chair and ordered, “Sit.”

  Somewhat bemused by her switch from nervous Nelly to militant nurse, he took a pull off his beer and did as he was told. Sadie sat on the wide arm of the chair with her back to him before twisting around to reach for his face.

  “You should’ve iced this right away.”

  The first touch of the cold cloth on his sore lip triggered a reflexive jerk away. He hissed air through his teeth before relaxing to let it out slow.

  She raised her other arm and laid her palm along his stubble covered jaw to hold him still. It seemed strange, her fussing over him like this when he could take care of himself. Warmth spread from her touch and started his heart thudding in his chest. As if someone smacked him upside the head, he realized this was the closest she’d gotten to him since they’d kissed on the set of the commercial. Voluntarily, anyway.

  With her concentration fixed on his mouth, Zach let his gaze wander over her long, down-swept lashes, smooth skin, and enticing lips. Discomfort shifted to center below the waistband of his shorts. Didn’t help that she had the corner of that lush, lower lip caught between her teeth again. He wanted to nibble.

  When he raised his gaze to find her watching him, his pulse stuttered. Color stained her cheeks, but she didn’t break the connection.

  “I didn’t thank you yet,” she said softly.

  “Sure you did.”

  His grip tightened on the cold bottle in his hand. Shut up, idiot! Let her thank you however she wants.

  “Not for taking me to get Gemma, I didn’t. Or helping us get out of there and taking the hit for us.”

  “Two,” he reminded, throwing in a grimace for good measure. “I took two hits.”

  A smile tugged the corners of her mouth upward. “Don’t worry, I was counting.”

  “Good.”

  She lowered the hand with the ice pack to rest on his shoulder, bracing herself as she leaned closer. The minty freshness of her breath filled his nostrils and he swallowed hard at the thought of tasting it on his tongue.

  “So…anyway…thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Zach held still, afraid to even breathe in case she changed her mind. Anticipation sizzled through his body and what had been a refreshing ocean breeze now became a teasing caress on his heated skin.

  Sadie’s lashes lowered as she closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his. Stomach muscles tightened in his effort to lean into the kiss, but she pulled away.

  Well, damn. He had two chances here and one was already over? To hide his disappointment over the all too brief contact, he joked, “That’s one.”

  The thumb of her right hand whispered across his lips. “How does your mouth feel?”

  “Cold.”

  He barely had a chance to draw a breath before she leaned in for take two. Her lips clung to his, soft and pliant, warm and moist. This time he skimmed his free hand up along her back, intending to pull her closer, but before he could apply enough pressur
e, she drew back.

  Hell, even a ghost of what they’d shared for the filming would’ve been more satisfying than what she’d laid on him now. Not that he didn’t appreciate the sentiment, but damn, this was killing him.

  Still, he was afraid if he pushed too hard she’d run again, so he resisted dragging her onto his lap for a repeat performance of one of those commercial takes.

  “Well, there you go then.” He fought to keep the frustration from his voice. “As I said before, you’re welcome.”

  “I’m not done,” Sadie advised.

  “No?” Good Lord, he sounded like a dog with a bone dangled over his head. So hopeful.

  “I told you I was counting.”

  Zach did another mental calculation, but no matter how he tallied, the total ended rather abruptly at two.

  “What’d I miss?” he asked, slipping his arm down to deposit his beer bottle on the floor.

  “Two for the hits you took. One for the hit you delivered.”

  “Ah…I like the way you count.”

  Sadie’s grin convinced him he was finally going to get what he deserved. He reached up and removed the towel full of ice from her fingers. Not only was it beginning to leak frigid drops of water down his bare back, but this next kiss was his, and he wanted all hands on deck. In his mind, the tentative feel-her-out kisses he’d have started with were over. He was more than primed and she wouldn’t have suggested a third if she wasn’t.

  One arm fit under the bend of her knees, the other wrapped around her back. A quick lift and shift and she sat in his lap. A little gasp of surprise parted her lips and Zach took full advantage of the opportunity.

  Fourteen

  Zach took possession of her mouth with a force that stole Sadie’s breath away. She found herself crushed against him as the heat from his bare skin practically burned through her clothes. Nothing gave—not the firm wall of his chest beneath her splayed fingers or the muscles beneath her butt. In fact, one in particular was growing harder by the second.

  His hand anchored in her curls positioned her head to give him a better angle on the kiss. She opened to his aggressive advance, enjoying the hot, erotic slide of his tongue as he swept inside, withdrew, only to plunge deep again. The eagerness he conveyed while maintaining complete control fanned the passion that’d sparked the day of the commercial into an all-out blaze.