Zoe pulled open her desk drawer and inserted her purse right about the time she heard her name bellowed across the room. “Zoe.” Angry pause. “My office.”
“Morning to you too,” she mumbled under her breath as she grabbed a pen and paper. Thank God Lena wasn’t here yet.
She appeared in Frank’s doorway and found hostility in his round face. He ran his hand over his bald head. “You don’t know how to answer your phone?”
“You called?” she asked, not moving from the archway. “I, um, dropped it and it’s been acting strange.”
“Right,” Frank said. “And I have some swamp land for sale.”
Being talked down to really was not high on her list today. “Enough, Frank. We both know what you’re upset about. Don’t take petty jabs.”
His eyes narrowed on her face and then his expression softened. “Sit down, Zoe. You look like you might fall down if you don’t.” She nodded and pulled his door shut before sitting. “You didn’t know who he was, did you?”
She shook her head, unable to find her voice.
Frank mumbled several obscene words. “Want me to punch his face in for you?” Zoe laughed but even to her own ears it sounded forced. “You’d do anything for a
story, now wouldn’t you, Frank?” she teased. “Even make the front page yourself.” He leaned forward, thick forearms resting on the scuffed-up desk. “I’m serious.”
She smiled. “You are something, Frank. One minute you’re mad because I didn’t get you the story and the next you are ready to beat someone up for me.” She paused. Maybe Declan needed to learn a lesson. “When this is over and I’m sure it won’t hurt my father, I’ll give Lena a damn good story to write.”
His brows dipped. “If there’s a story to be written, you do it.”
“That’s not my kind of story. She can write it.” Zoe pushed to her feet, feeling a little emotional and not wanting it to be noted. “I’ll let you know when I’m ready to talk.”
* * * * *
Declan stood at the window in his office, his mind heavy with thoughts of Zoe. If distance was a test of his true feelings, Zoe had gotten under his skin in a big way. It had been over a week since he’d last seen her. Since he touched her and tasted her and felt her body close to his. After a few days of calling her with no response, he’d decided to back off. Now, it was time to talk.
The buzzer on his phone went off. “There’s a Mike Marks here to see you. Says he doesn’t have an appointment.”
Interesting. “I’ll see him.”
Walking across the room, Declan sat down behind his desk in his high-back leather chair, in the position of control. Something told him he’d need it. When the door opened, Declan stood. “Thank you, Kelly,” he said to his assistant. “Mr. Marks,” he motioned to a chair. “Have a seat, if you’d like.” Declan took his.
As the man moved forward to sit, Declan sized him up. Tall and broad, his only resemblance to Zoe was his blond hair. He wore an expensive suit. Black. Silver tie. He liked style. He liked money. It showed in his attire and his carriage.
Declan laced his fingers together on the mahogany surface of his desk. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m sure you know the charges against my father were dropped this morning.”
“I knew before you did. Ray’s decision to confess his misuse of company funds came with a condition. That all charges against your father be dismissed.” What Declan didn’t say, nor did he plan to, was why. He dreaded having to tell Zoe the entire story. Ray had given him permission but delivering the news was going to be tough. She’d want to know though and there was no way he could keep it from her. Not without losing her. If he hadn’t already.
“I assume we owe you a thank you,” Mike said.
“Actually, you don’t. Ray’s decision came without any effort on my behalf.”
Ray’s wife had convinced him to tell the truth. In exchange for a media silence, Ray had confessed to setting up Marks. Because Marks had been sleeping with his wife. It was the kind of nastiness Declan hated being involved with.
“I’m surprised about how this turned out. After all,” Mike said, his eyes probing as he watched Declan for a reaction, “you were sleeping with my sister.”
Declan felt the muscle in his jaw jump, but he managed to keep his expression clear. “Dating her,” he corrected, irritated at Mike’s choice of words. “I had no idea who she was. For some reason, Zoe feels her last name is a death sentence in a relationship.”
“You really expect me to believe it’s a coincidence?”
“When a top attorney is needed my firm is often called. This case pulling on our resources is more likely than the opposite. That Zoe and I met during all of this was unfortunate. That my firm was chosen to defend Ray, expected.”
“Did you use her?”
The true agenda of this meeting surfaced. Accusation laced Mike’s words. He was here in his sister’s defense. Declan would have been offended if he hadn’t been so damn happy to see her brother show concern.
“No, Mike, I didn’t. I’m crazy about your sister. If I can ever get her to speak to me again, I intend to prove it.”
Mike studied him for several moments and then pushed to his feet. “She’s stubborn, strong-willed, and hard to get along with. She also has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen and would do anything for anyone. Once she’s wounded, she shuts down. You’ll have to fight to get back in her life.” He paused. “Just like I’m going to have to.”
“I’m willing,” Declan said.
“Me too,” Mike said and extended his hand. “Here’s to luck on both our sides.” He paused. “She doesn’t know about the charges being dropped. As far as I know, the press hasn’t gotten hold of it. Maybe you should tell her.” He laughed. “Make a hell of a story for her paper.”
Declan smiled and shook Mike’s hand. Then, without another word, Mike turned and walked toward the door. Without turning around, he said, “Thanks for what you did for my father. No matter what you say, I know you had an influence.”
And then he was gone.
Leaving Declan to contemplate his words. He owed Zoe a good story and a whole lot more.
Chapter Fifteen
Zoe sat at her desk staring at her blank computer screen. She had three reviews to type and an interview, yet nothing filled the page. She’d sworn she wanted Declan to stop calling, but when he had, well, it had hurt. Nuts, of course. She knew he’d used her, but somehow his quietness felt like the confirmation she hadn’t really wanted.
It had been seven days—a week now—since she and Declan had been the headline news. In some ways, like the tension she felt at work as everyone gave her funny looks, it felt like longer. In others, a lifetime. In some way, the romance with Declan had appealed. Lots of ways, actually. Or maybe it had just been Declan who had appealed. She sighed. Who was she fooling? The only thing real about what had happened with her and Declan had been the sex. That he couldn’t fake.