“Well, that was unnecessary.” Naomi glared at him as she ended the call.
“Have you changed your mind?”
“I didn’t have a choice, did I?”
“Then I would declare my actions as necessary.” Zack motioned to Chantelle to help readjust the pillows. “I know you’ve made my sister happy. She looks forward to bonding with you.”
Naomi frowned. “You just don’t know how much I admire you,” Chantelle said.
“It’s okay.” Naomi looked flustered, but pleased with his sister’s attention.
After setting up an informal schedule, Chantelle said her goodbyes and left.
Zack walked to the door and paused. “I want you to relax and recover. You don’t have to worry that you’ll have to deal with me. I don’t live there.” What the heck was wrong with him? She didn’t need to know about his life. He irritated her and that was very clear.
“Nice to know.” She made a face at him.
He smiled as he exited the hospital. He won that round, not that he was keeping score. And what did it matter? She might not stick around long enough to engage him in a battle of wills. He was surprised at his disappointment.
Chapter Three
Naomi didn’t care for the car drive or ferry ride to Mercer Island. Her body ached, and exhaustion continued to plague her. The bright spot was having her grandmother at her side. She doubted if Mrs. Keathley could have swayed her decision if her grandmother hadn’t already given approval.
Grandma Lucy had practically raised her from seven years old when her mother chose a singing career over motherhood. The wide number of years between her grandmother and her worked to Naomi’s advantage because she received the benefits of the older woman’s wisdom and life experiences.
“Don’t be nervous,” her grandmother patted her hand.
“I’m fine,” Naomi replied, although she had to consciously unclench her right hand. “Just don’t know what we’re walking into.”
“We’re walking into a nice family’s home.” Her grandmother stared at her before looking out the car window.
Naomi hoped so. From the outside, all the houses looked nice. No doubt the Keathleys were well off to be in this neighborhood with its large, custom-built homes. Right now she had her no-frills condo, since she had no time to dedicate to housekeeping or decoration. She could see herself relaxing in any of these houses when she retired, if she stayed in the league. Hopefully her house wouldn’t be for a solitary life.
“You know it killed me not to be with you when I received the news about your injuries.”
“The news was slow to get out, too, because coach knew that I didn’t want any reporters taking away from the games. I heard that the incident was barely covered in the local news, with warnings issued through door-to-door canvassing. I’m so glad the coach’s assistant handled the press. I could never stand there answering to this hero label they’ve thrown at me. That’s a bit much.” Naomi snorted.
Her sorority sisters would be out of their minds if they knew that she’d been hurt. She’d eventually call them, but when she didn’t sound as if she was talking into a paper bag.
“Oh, my,” her grandmother exclaimed as the car turned into a gated driveway. “This home is nothing short of stunning. Wouldn’t you agree, dear?”
Naomi nodded for her grandmother’s benefit. She didn’t want to fall for anything until she was sure that this family didn’t have a dark side. Examining her temporary home was cut short when the front door opened and an older woman came out with a cheerful wave. She had no doubt who this was.
“Mrs. Keathley,” Naomi offered her hand before introducing herself and her grandmother.
“Please, both of you, call me Frannie.”
Chantelle, sporting sunglasses, ran out in shorts and a sweater despite the cool temperature. With bangs and two thick pony tails, she completed the look of a carefree young adult. In giddy fashion, she threw herself at Naomi, who cringed to protect her wounds. “Sorry, I keep doing that, don’t I?” She picked up their luggage and headed into the house before Naomi had a chance to make the introductions with her grandmother.
“That child loses her manners as she gets older,” Frannie declared.
“You’re right. Even my granddaughter here needs reminding sometimes. At thirty years old, mind you.”
Enough with having her personal quirks on display. “Um…I’m feeling faint,” Naomi lied.
“Sorry, dear. Let’s get you inside with your feet up. Reba, our housekeeper, can’t wait to fuss over you. Normally Chantelle is off at college and Zack is barely here.”
So Zack wasn’t lying, he didn’t live there. She’d hoped that now that she was a bit more coherent and mobile, she’d get a chance to talk to him. That’s all she really wanted, was to chat. Maybe see his smile. Or look at those probing eyes.
“I think we should have a family dinner, so everyone can come together and count their blessings.” Frannie led the way into the foyer.
Naomi tried to crane her neck to see the height of the enormous ceiling. Natural light had an open invitation with large windows and a cathedral ceiling. The wood floor gleamed throughout the house. Mrs. Keathley kept a neat and lovely house.
“We have a guest bedroom on the first floor for you, Lucy.” Frannie gestured down the hall, waiting for them to follow.
The suite featured a phenomenal view of Lake Washington. Soft lilac tones added a nice warm touch. French doors opened onto a private deck.
“Frannie, this is too much for me,” Lucy exclaimed. “I’m a simple woman.”
“It’s the least I could do.” Frannie turned to Naomi. “While your grandmother gets settled, let me show you to your room.”
Naomi looked forward to walking with Frannie. She had so many questions and didn’t need to hear her grandmother’s admonishments about her curiosity.
“Are you able to handle the stairs?”
“Oh, yes, I may have to take it slow, but I welcome the chance to work my legs.” As they approached the long staircase, Naomi wondered if she could really handle the ascent. She bit down on the pain and followed Frannie.
“Naomi, I hope you enjoy your stay with us this week.”
“I’ll only be here for a day or two. Grandma needs to get back home and I’ll leave with her.”
“Oh, I’m disappointed. Zack said you’d be here for the week. Well, it means that I have to plan the little party sooner than later.”
Naomi raised her eyebrows. “Party?”
“I wanted my friends to meet you. I’m so honored to have you, and again, to thank you for helping my daughter.” Gratitude shone in Frannie’s eyes.
Naomi would have argued more if she could catch her breath faster. Neither Zack nor Chantelle had mentioned any social gathering. She wanted to relax and rest in her room, not be put on display, even with the best of intentions.
“Here we are.” They had reached the end of the hallway. Frannie opened the bedroom door. The room wasn’t as expansive as her grandmother’s but was as tastefully decorated in periwinkle blue.
A feeling of peacefulness overcame her as she walked farther into the room. Maybe it was the color or the view of the garden below, but she felt as if she’d stepped into an oasis. A place of refuge to take her away temporarily from her regular life. She sighed deeply. She had been a bit afraid to allow herself time to slow down. Coming to rest inevitably brought her to think about her future and what she wanted from life.
“Would you like something to eat?”
Naomi shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“Okay. Dinner will be around six. Come down whenever you’re ready.” Frannie left the room.
Her suitcases were already placed in the room. She ignored them and instead eased back onto the bed. The firm mattress felt so good against her tired body.
A knock interrupted her attempt to relax. She bade entry, as she struggled to sit up.
“It’s me,” Chantelle announced as she bounced
into the room. “Making sure you’re comfortable.” She pulled off her sunglasses.
Naomi cringed. She was used to seeing the bruises on her own face, but to look at Chantelle’s brought that night to life.
“You think I look gruesome, right?” The girl touched the area under her eye. “I tried makeup, but I couldn’t quite get it right. Then I went to the mall to see if one of those makeup artists could do the job. The woman acted as if I was an abused wife, trying to hide my injuries—no matter how much I explained what happened. I got a lecture.”
“I wonder how many women do come through there with those wishes, though.” Despite Naomi having many dating failures, none of the men had ever laid a hand on her.
“So then I bought the sunglasses. This type I call the bug eyes because they are so big and kind of wrap around the sides.”
“They’re cute on you.”
“You think so?” She primped a bit. “Cool. When I go back to school, my friends are going to die for a pair.”
Naomi relaxed and got more comfortable on the bed.
“Oh, you don’t go to school nearby?”
“No. I only came home for the weekend to see my boyfriend. Well, he’s not really my boyfriend because he’s creeping around with some other chick. I came home to confront him, but then my girls here wanted to go to the game and stuff.”
“Has your boyfriend visited you?”
“No. Bastard. Whatever. I threw his crap in the trash. I’m heading back to school by the end of the week…I hope. If it’s up to Zack, I’d never leave home again. He’s such a pain. The older he gets, the more old-fashioned he gets.” She sat next to Naomi with a pout in place.
“I’m sure he’s freaked out about what happened,” Naomi said with sympathy.
“I guess. He’s been acting weird lately.”
“In what way?”
Chantelle stopped her musings and looked at Naomi. Her expression closed. “Never mind. I’ll let you rest. Mom told me you were resting, but I couldn’t wait to see you.”
Naomi took the change of subject without pushing back. Her promise to not get involved might be difficult. After Chantelle left, she returned to trying to sleep. This time, she slid under the sheets.
Her thoughts turned to Zack, but only because her plan to leave in two days didn’t allow for a lot of time to get to know him. Of course she also wanted to help Chantelle with sound advice and tips on how to deal with her bossy brother. With thoughts of outmaneuvering Zack forming, she closed her eyes and welcomed drowsiness.
Zack sat behind his desk and waited for his business partner to arrive. He could have settled his misgivings over a game of golf, but he didn’t want his latest irritation to be underestimated. He wanted Jamison to understand what lay ahead if he continued with his talk about wresting majority control over their project.
“Sir, Mr. Jamison is here to see you.” His secretary stepped aside to allow his visitor.
“Thank you. No interruptions, please.”
His secretary barely nodded.
“Have a seat, Jamison,” Zack said to his partner.
“What can I do for you?”
“I want to know why you’re jerking me around,” Zack said, his anger barely concealed. “I thought we had a deal with the strip mall in Magnolia. Yet I’m talking to your lawyers instead of you. I’m waiting for you to step up with your financing. Let me remind you that there’s still the issue with the anchor store trying to back out of the retail-center project.”
“No need to get stressed over the retail center. That’ll take a few drinks at the country club. I’m still interested in Magnolia.”
Zack waited. His gut issued a warning to go cautiously with this man.
“I want equal partnership,” Jamison finally said. “50-50.”
“Not happening.” Zack didn’t need to consider the idea.
“Have you forgotten your promise to the city council? You would invest back into the city by providing ownership to qualified residents.”
“Percentage of ownership doesn’t equate to 50-50.” Zack spoke slowly so Jamison could get the message.
Naomi sipped tea as she stood and watched the sun set along the waterline. Gold swept the sky like a giant paintbrush with flecks of vibrant orange and flaming red. From the house, she heard everyone preparing to sit for dinner. She had to admit to being a bit disappointed that Zack had delivered her to his family and then vanished. In the short time, his take-charge attitude had made a memorable impact. She also couldn’t deny the giddy feeling when she was in his company. The man had a way of stirring her thoughts from innocent to scandalous within seconds of his company.
Without him bustling through her defenses, she’d resorted to taking her quiet moments to admire the scenery. She opened her journal to jot down her thoughts of the spectacular sight. Maybe tomorrow she could get a chance to see the full splendor with a walk through the neighborhood.
“You look comfortable.” A familiar deep voice inserted in her musings.
Naomi jumped. Or maybe it was her pulse. She didn’t want to giggle like a schoolgirl.
Zack stood next to her. “I used to sit out here and dream big.”
“The scenery has a similar effect on me,” Naomi confessed.
“And what are your dreams?” His voice softened as if to make its owner more charming.
She smiled. “I think I’ll keep them to myself.”
“I’ll share one of mine, if you share one of yours.”
“Somehow I think that I’ll come out on the short end when I’m not up to my game,” she teased. At least he got her humor with a small, responding smile.
He looked back to the horizon. “When I was a teen, I wanted to be a land developer like my father.”
“And you worked for him?”
“Through college, and for three years after I graduated. Then I went off on my own. Wanted to make my own name.”
“Wow! That takes some guts.” She was impressed. “I’m sure it had to be rough.”
“Still is, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“I know that feeling.”
He looked down at her. She swore that he’d moved closer, or maybe she’d leaned in. The man was nothing more than a human magnet that pulled emotional responses straight to the surface with a white-hot intensity.
From this vantage point, she had a close view of his profile. His features were model-perfect, but the tiny deviations that she had to squint to see added a handsome charm that underscored his manliness.
He suddenly turned, catching her staring at him. This time she was sure that he’d closed the gap. She was proved right when he raised her chin with his finger.
“What dreams did you have?” he coaxed, his whisper like a velvet touch along the skin.
“I wanted to be a basketball player who people would know.”
“You got your wish.”
“Not really. You didn’t know me.” Why was she flirting with this man? She couldn’t help herself, that’s why.
“That’s why it makes getting to know you something special.” His head tilted down. His lips hovered dangerously over hers.
Now she had another dream, one that didn’t require her to be asleep. Her mind meandered with the possibility of those lips touching hers. Given their similar height, she didn’t have to tiptoe. All she had to do was close the distance of a whispered breath.
Obviously he shared the same mind-set as his arms gently wrapped around her like a protective cocoon. Or maybe she was imprisoned as his willing captive.
“Er…Naomi, Zack, dinner is ready. Everyone’s waiting.”
Naomi froze. A heavy mix of panic and guilt washed over her. She kept her gaze locked on the top button of Zack’s shirt, dreading to see the housekeeper’s disapproval to go with her tone. Nor did she want to witness Zack’s amusement at her expense. Not only had her grandmother raised her better than that, her grandmother was in the house.
“We’ll be right there, Reba.”
Zack released her from his embrace.
Naomi welcomed the confident statement, especially since Reba took the hint and left. Her cheeks were still warm, and she was pleased to have a few seconds to regain her equilibrium.
“Not so fast. We have unfinished business.” Zack faced off with her, nose to nose.
“Not in this lifetime.”
“Want to make a bet?”
“Not a gambler.” Naomi backed away.
She didn’t get far before he joined her as she made her way to the dining room. She hoped that she’d regained her composure. Having him stand next to her didn’t help.
“Oh, good, Reba found both of you. We’re starving.” Zack’s mother waved them into the room.
“Sorry. I was admiring the garden.” Naomi felt compelled to provide a reason. She noted that Zack said nothing.
“I am proud of my herb garden. I’ll show it to you tomorrow.”
“Everything okay? You look flushed. I hope you’re not overdoing it?” her grandmother asked. Her gaze pierced through Naomi’s attempted cover-up.
“I’m fine.”
Zack placed the back of his hand on her forehead quite unexpectedly. A heat flash surged. His touch couldn’t possibly create such a strong reaction, could it?
“I said that I’m fine,” she managed through clenched teeth, heading for a seat that would put her as far away from him as possible. As long as she was several feet away from him, she’d be coherent and calm.
Instead, he sat across from her. The empty seat near his mother just happened to be across from her chair. Sitting next to him, possibly brushing against his arm as they dined wasn’t the problem. Now she had to look into those dark, mysterious eyes that had the ability to be a curtain to his emotions except when he chose to play with her like a cat with a small furry mouse.
“Let’s say Grace.” Zack’s mother led the prayer over the meal. Then the meal began.
“This is delicious,” Naomi couldn’t help exclaiming. She had seen the perfectly baked chicken centered on the table and the numerous side dishes that rivaled any TV chef’s displays.
“I’m going to watch Reba cook before I head home,” her grandmother complimented.
The Millionaire’s Ultimate Catch Page 4