* * * * *
They made it to the sidewalk outside the bakery and Zoe couldn’t hold back her question any longer. Just a little before nine on a Saturday, the crowds had yet to form. Zoe waited until Declan turned to look at her, and studied the worry that had formed deep in his eyes.
“What made you buy those cookies?” Zoe asked.
Declan narrowed his gaze on her. “That’s an odd question.” He laughed but it wasn’t quite real. “What made you buy that cinnamon roll?”
Avoidance. Zoe knew it when she saw it. As a reporter, she was used to asking the same thing several different ways so she simply rephrased. “Did you buy those cookies for your mother?”
Silence. “How could you know that?”
Her heart squeezed tightly. As much as she knew Declan to be a bastard who got killers off for cash, she was having a hard time making it compute. It didn’t fit what she
was learning about him. “You were worried about her last night and I saw the look on your face right before you ordered them.”
After several long moments, Declan let out a breath. “They’re for my mother. You’re right. I’m worried. What can I say?” He lifted the bag by his side. “She loves these things.”
That he cared so much for his mother defied what she thought she knew of this man. It also brought back memories of how alone her mother must have felt. Lord only knew Zoe’s dad acted married to his job, not his wife. And both her older brothers were no better.
“It’s really nice of you to think of her. I’m sure you’re worried.” She touched his hand. “Go check on her.”
A tormented look flashed across his face. “No. It’s okay. I plan to go by later.” One corner of his mouth lifted in an attempted smile. “We have coffee waiting on us.”
She didn’t want him to worry about her when he needed to take care of his mom. “I can put on a fresh pot of coffee later if you like.”
He seemed to hesitate. “I’ll go on one condition.”
“Which would be what?” she asked; one brow lifting.
“Come with me.”
“What?” she asked, stunned.
He laughed. “You look like I just asked you to commit a crime. I didn’t ask you to marry me. I just asked you to come with me to take my mother a few cookies.” A pause. “I know we don’t know each other all that well, but…I’d really like it if you came.”
Zoe had to work to swallow. A ball of panic had lodged in her throat. “Your mother would probably find my presence uncomfortable.”
“No,” he said, “my mother would be thrilled I brought a woman with me. She thinks I work too much and play too little.”
“Do you?” Zoe asked, unable to stop the words from falling out of her mouth.
“Yes,” Declan said, without hesitation. “I think I probably do.”
She’d expected denial. Zoe wasn’t quite sure how to respond. “Declan—”
“Come with me, Zoe,” he said, reaching for her and pulling her close. “I really need to check on her but for some reason I can’t explain, I hate the idea of leaving you.” He let the words linger a moment. Then, “Please.”
The depth of emotion in his voice and eyes gave Zoe true pause. This man was everything she thought she didn’t like in men, yet he aroused her beyond belief. No. It went deeper than that. He touched her in ways she didn’t understand.
“Zoe?” he prodded gently.
Unable to immediately find her voice, she nodded. “Yes. Okay.”
And with those words, Zoe knew she was in trouble. Feeling needy and alone because of this thing with her father had her acting stupid and forgetting that Declan and sex made for a good escape. Declan and the real world meant trouble. The two didn’t mix. So, she’d go with him to his mother’s and then bring him back to her place and fuck him. Yes. Good. That plan made her feel better. She’d keep things in proper perspective. She wasn’t falling for Declan. Then everything would be just fine.
She hoped.
Chapter Seven
The fancy high-rise building Declan’s mother had taken as her new home didn’t surprise Zoe. Both Declan and his father handled high-dollar legal cases, so she knew they had money. But aside from that, standing beside Declan in front of his mother’s new apartment, Zoe wasn’t sure what to expect.
She watched as he punched the doorbell. When the doorknob jiggled, Zoe felt the sound in every nerve ending of her body. Her stomach dropped as if she were on a roller coaster slope. She swallowed hard and balled her fists so tight the nails of one hand dug into her palm. Meeting Declan’s mom seemed big though she knew it meant nothing. He’d been worried about her and she happened to be around at the time. In truth, Zoe knew she’d felt compelled to offer moral support. But why? There lay the question. Declan, for all practical purposes, remained a stranger. What made her feel she should be here?
Before she could analyze what her inner motivations might be, the door swung open. A slight woman with dark hair and delicate features appeared in the entryway. Declan held up the bag. “I brought cookies,” he said. “Your favorites.”
She smiled but it didn’t quite make it to her eyes. Zoe thought she saw a flash of disappointment cross the other woman’s features. Perhaps she’d hoped it was her husband visiting, not her son.
“Looks like you brought more than cookies,” she said, eyeing Zoe curiously before returning her attention to Declan. “About time you bring a woman around.”
Declan put his hand on Zoe’s back. “This is Zoe…” He paused as if he suddenly realized he didn’t know her last name.
Considering “Marks” had become headline news these days, she had no intention of filling in the blank spot he’d noted. Besides, she wasn’t here as his
girlfriend. They were having a sex thing, not a love connection. She wasn’t stupid enough to fall in love with a man like Declan. And she didn’t need more complications than necessary. It was bad enough she had on no makeup and basically looked like a bum. She didn’t need to be linked to a scandal too. Especially one her family continued to avoid being straight with her about. Both of her brothers and her father had dodged her at every turn and she’d had about all she could take. Mike had even stood her up for lunch the day before. Zoe had been so ticked she could have chewed nails.
That thought made her all the more determined to turn the conversation away from the name Marks. Zoe held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Accepting Zoe’s hand, her smile seemed to brighten and she stepped back and waved them in. “You two come in.”
Inwardly, Zoe let out a silent sigh of relief. Last name avoided, thank God. Zoe noted Declan’s mother’s attire. She looked almost too neat and together. As if she’d worked really hard at it. Simple black slacks and a white silk shell looked casual but somehow elegant at the same time. A closer inspection of Sharon’s eyes exposed puffiness. No doubt from crying. Her perfectly applied makeup had been meant to hide the emotional side effects of leaving her husband.