Set Me Free

by Melissa Pearl

  The phone in Zach's hand buzzed. He checked the screen.

  "Still no movement from the house."

  I glanced at my watch. "Tenner hasn't left yet?"

  Zach shrugged. "Maybe he's not there."

  My gut curdled. If he wasn't there, then where was he?

  "Alex says it's pointless. They're heading to the FBI. He wants us to get something out of Billy."

  I grimaced and looked to the ground, an idea brewing. I didn't like the idea, but it could work. One of Billy's friends had spotted Zach and I standing out here. I saw him glance our way as he entered and they were now cramming into a booth seat by the window.

  "Don't put your phone away. Stay busy with it," I muttered before grabbing a lock of my hair and twirling it around my finger.

  "What are you doing?" Zach kept his eyes on his phone. "You're not a hair twirler."

  I kept my eyes away from him, pretending like I was pissed off that he was taking so long with his hardware. "You're really just gonna have to trust me. I have an idea of how to get Billy."

  "You're going for dumb flirt, aren't you?"

  I spun back, my eyebrow arching, but then broke into a smile, pinching my nail between my teeth. "Please don't hate me for it, okay. I just think Billy and his friends look the type to go for it. You want to get into his house, right?"

  "Yeah," Zach practically whined.

  I threw back my head with a laugh, before wrapping my arms around his neck and lavishing him with a passionate kiss that I kind of hoped the guys were watching. Zach's hot tongue seared the inside of my mouth, sparking fantasies from the night before. It was an effort to stay focused on the job.

  "Grab my ass," I mumbled against his lips.

  "You're kidding me." He squeezed my waist.

  "Just do it."

  Zach sighed into my mouth, his hands gliding over my body before cupping my butt and giving it a firm squeeze. I was once again grateful for my tight jean shorts. I hadn't even meant to wear them. When we'd got back to Zach's place I'd just grabbed the first non-FBI looking thing I could find. I normally didn’t wear such skimpy clothing, but I'd found them in the lost and found at Monte Vista High and couldn't resist.

  Zach's fingers skimmed the flesh beneath the edge of my fraying shorts. Sparks flew down my skin, making me ache for those crispy white sheets.

  I pulled back and licked my lip suggestively, not too much of a challenge in my current state of mind, before yanking his hand and pulling him towards the diner.

  I threw a glance at the window facing the street and spotted a finger pointing in my direction. Two of the guys were eyeing me like vultures as I entered the restaurant with a smirk.

  We took our seats, choosing a table that was close enough to be watched, but far enough away not to be heard. As Zach buried his head in the menu, I stole a furtive glance at Billy's table. I waited until I'd caught his eye before trailing my gaze down his body. I gave him a simpering smile and didn't pick up my menu until his cheeks were a hot red.

  Yeah, he'd be an easy target.

  Picking up the menu, I scanned the contents, not reading a word. I hated that I could do this. Trick people into believing something that wasn't real. I knew I was good at it. I knew I could pull this off without breaking a sweat...but it didn't take away the fact that I still felt like scum when it was over.

  "So, what are you having?" The waitress approached and took our order. I noticed how quietly Zach spoke and once he didn't have the menu to hide behind anymore, I could see the tense set of his shoulders.

  "You have to relax and go with this or you're gonna blow it."

  "Well, forgive me for not enjoying myself. You have no idea how beautiful you are and watching you flirt with other guys is just a little...you know...harsh on the old self-esteem."

  I couldn't help the smile that stretched across my lips. If only he knew the effect he had on me.

  I knew I'd be breaking character if I reached for his hand and gently caressed it, so instead I ran my foot up his leg. "You know I only have eyes for you, right?"

  He snorted and looked away from me.

  "I know I'm acting all flirty right now and I need to keep that up, but in all seriousness Zach, you are the only guy that has ever made me feel..." I let out a breathy laugh, suddenly embarrassed. I couldn't look at him, because my cheeks felt like they were about to catch fire. Tucking a lock of hair behind my ear, I finally shook my head and whispered, "I don't know... you're just different. I can't help being myself around you and I love it. No one else has ever made me feel the way you do."

  His eyes hit mine as I looked up. His expression softening with a look so pure and sweet, tears began to sting my eyes.

  "Now stop being nice to me or I'm going to lose it."

  Slouching back in his seat, he scowled at me. "What do you want me to do then?"

  "That's better." I shifted in my seat, making sure my body was facing away from him a little. I wanted to appear like a sizzling couple that bickered a lot and the only thing holding them together was a lusty passion...one that could easily be thrown away for a better catch. "Start telling me something long-winded. Something that you think is interesting, but will bore me to death." I examined my nails before gazing around the restaurant.

  Zach started talking, the edges of his mouth lifting as he began. "Okay, the day my parents left, I spent most of it in my pajamas watching Discovery Channel. I know that sounds majorly lame, but I was in a foul mood that day and Discovery Channel always make me feel better."

  He tipped his head to the side. He was so cute at the moment, I wanted to kiss him senseless.

  "I think it's because it's just show after show of really fascinating facts. There was one about Australia that was so interesting."

  My character would be snoring right now, but I was Lucy and fully intrigued. I never really watched TV, but the idea of snuggling up on the couch with Zach and watching a show about some foreign country made my heart yearn. I forced an eye roll, running my finger over my bottom lip and trying not to look at Zach.

  "Do you know that Australia has some of the largest crocodiles in the world? Some of them grow up to be 17-feet and weigh a thousand pounds." His eyebrows rose as he nodded his head. He was so impressed right now. I forced my lips to stay in a pouty frown. It was a really big effort. "But the coolest thing is the way they attack. They just lie in water, stock still as if they were dead, just below surface. They wait for their prey to get really close and when they least expect it, they just explode out of the water. It's amazing. There was all this footage, I couldn't believe it. I'll have to show you sometime."

  I curbed my matching enthusiasm and flicked him a cursory glance. I kept my voice flat and my eyes downcast. "I have to say that you are so incredibly cute right now and I find your enthusiasm over facts like this a total turn on."

  His eyes narrowed. "Haha."

  "I know I can't show you, because of this role I'm trying to play, but believe me, if we were at your place right now and you had just said what you'd said in the same voice and tone, I'd be all over you."

  I risked catching his eye to let him know I was serious and his gaze lit with a fiery spark. "Who said geeks don't rule?" He sounded smug and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to stop from smiling.

  "Not me, that's for sure." I flung my arm over the back of my chair, shifting my body even further away from him and trying to look annoyed.

  Our food arrived and we ate in silence. I wasn't actually that hungry, but forced it down. I made sure to keep throwing flirty looks at the table of guys, hating myself every time I did it.

  Why the hell was I doing this again?

  I had to remind myself constantly as I picked at my food. Zach kept the unhinged couple thing going pretty well, but it wasn't until he started rubbing his foot over my ankle that I knew I had to make a move. His sweet touch was going to undo me.

  I caught Billy's gaze on me, his eyes were doing their own traveling this time. I met his blu
e-eyed stare, grateful that he hadn't taken after his father in that particular area. It gave me the confidence to think I could do this. As our eyes danced an intense tango, he rose from his seat and flicked his head towards the cashier.

  Without a word to Zach, I rose from my spot with a disgruntled huff and followed my blond target.

  Chapter 19

  ZACH

  Zach knew her huff was for show, but it still stung. He swallowed down his eggs and was just about to gulp down the rest of his coffee when she spun back to him with a pointed finger. Her whisper was harsh and guttral, enough to fool people into thinking she was livid with him.

  "Don't hate me for this. Remember what I said earlier and act as though you couldn't care less that I was trying to make you jealous by flirting with another guy. Got it?"

  "Whatever." Zach hated the scornful look he threw her, but the pleasure that sparked in her eyes before she spun away bolstered Zach's confidence.

  Even so, seeing Lucy in this light unnerved Zach big time. He had no idea how good she was. Well, he did kind of know, but he headn't really seen it in action. The way she talked him through this scenario, putting on a show, had been pretty impressive. But now, watching her swan across the diner and stand next to Billy, her body language telling the whole place that she was into him big time, was really hard work.

  He wished she didn't look so damn hot in those jeans shorts, although he had to admit they were the perfect attire for this gig. He found it fascinating that when she'd flounced down the stairs in them yesterday afternoon, she'd looked like a sweet, summer girl. A damn hot sweet, summer girl, but still, there had been an air of innocence to what she was wearing, so much so that Elliot and Alex hadn't even looked twice at her. But now that she was putting on this show, the shorts held an entirely different meaning and Zach wanted to burn them.

  He tried to look bored and non-plussed by it all, but couldn't help throwing a few dark glares at the blond kid. The friends at his table were falling over themselves as they watched their buddy chat to the leggy brunette.

  My leggy brunette, Zach seethed as he took them in.

  They looked to be about freshmen, maybe sophomore at a push. If Billy got in with this older girl, he'd be a legend among them.

  Lucy tipped her head with a blush as Billy's hand grazed her arm. He looked over her shoulder and I turned away before he could catch my eye. He looked a little nervous at flirting with a girl who was obviously taken, but if he'd been a peacock his tail would've been in full bloom.

  Zach ground his teeth together. He spent the painful minutes shaking the sugar packets and rearranging them into color order. He flicked one more glance over his shoulder, just in time to see her grab his bicep and look all impressed as she gave it a squeeze. Zach inwardly groaned, but couldn't take his eyes off the scene. She patted him once on the chest then turned with a flirty grin.

  Her hips swayed as she made it back to the table. She acted like a superior bitch with her nose in the air until the guys had left the diner. Each of them waved at her and she tinkled her fingers back at them one by one.

  As soon as they were out of sight, she let out a breath and reached for a piece of paper in her back pocket.

  "He gave me his number."

  "No shit." Zach couldn't help his dry tone. The last ten minutes had been torture.

  She tipped her head, her blue eyes softening. "I'm sorry, I know that was hard, but..." She winced. "It's gonna get worse."

  Zach's lips parted, letting out a disgusted sigh.

  "I know, but it's a really great chance to get in."

  "To the Tenner's place."

  She nodded, pushing a piece of paper over the table. An address was scribbled below the phone number. "His Dad's out of town and he's having a party at his place tonight. We just got invited."

  "We? Or you?"

  "We, of course." She reached across the table and squeezed his arm.

  "How did you swing that?"

  Her shrug was nonchalant. "I basically indicated that I was seriously thinking of ditching my boring-ass boyfriend, if I could just find the right guy."

  "And that would happen to be a blond kid with pimples?"

  She snickered. "His skin was pretty good actually."

  Zach's scowl made her wink. "He's an arrogant little prick who thinks much more highly of himself than he should. Pretending to be into him totally bolstered his confidence...not that it needed much." She made a face. "He told me to come to his place and he'd fix all my problems." Her fake deep voice had Zach chuckling.

  "I told him I couldn't come without you and then he got super flirty and said, 'Bring him along; I'm sure we can find a quiet little corner when he's not looking.' Bluch! Can you believe that? It will almost be a pleasure bringing this guy down."

  The gagging noise she made restored all of Zach's faith in her...but it didn't quiet the clatter stirring within him. They were going into William Tenner's home. It didn't matter that he was out of town. Things could still go seriously wrong.

  Zach tried not to let his anxiety show as he fidgeted with his fork. "So, what's the plan? We go to the party and then what?"

  Lucy drew in a breath and slowly released it. "Well, I'll ditch you for Billy and then get him to take me upstairs."

  Zach's head jerked back, the fork clattering onto the plate. "Excuse me?"

  She reached for his hand. "I won't do anything with him, I just need to make him think I will."

  "And how are you gonna do that?" He flinched away from her touch.

  "Zach, you're just really gonna have to trust me." Her expression was so sincere, he knew he could. He wanted to, but...

  "I do trust you," he clipped.

  "You don't sound like you do."

  He grit his teeth. "I do, of course I do. I just don't trust him."

  "That small fry?" She pointed to the door he'd left by. "If I can handle that creep Miles Filmore, I can handle Billy Tenner. I just need to convince him to get me into his father's office."

  "And then what?"

  "That's the tricky part." She rubbed her earlobe. "We'll have to think of some way of knocking him out so we have time to search the office. I don't want to physically hurt him though." She nibbled her lip. "But we need him to be spaced out long enough for us to do our thing and get out of there. He'll wake up in the morning, hopefully thinking that he's hung over and only have vague memories of the girl who wouldn't even tell him her name."

  "He didn't want to know your name?"

  "I told him he could call me whatever he wanted to." She stuck out her tongue, obviously disgusted by her flirty persona.

  Each time she gave away her self-disgust it settled Zach's nerves that much more. Maybe he could survive this party. Logically he knew he could trust her. What choice did he have?

  "So how do we knock him out then?"

  "A roofie?"

  "Yeah." Zach cringed. "But how would we get one?"

  "I don't know." Lucy shrugged. "We could get him really drunk, but that would take too long. We want him to assume he's had a lot, but he'd have to have a ton to really knock him out, wouldn't he?"

  Zach nodded, not really sure. He'd never been drunk off his face before. He had no idea how much alcohol it took to down somebody.

  "What about chloroform?"

  His eyes bulged. "Where did that idea come from?"

  Lucy chuckled. "I don't know. Isn't that what they do in the movies? Put a rag over the victim's face to knock them out?"

  "Could work, but again, where would we get it?"

  She shrugged.

  "I think we need to chat with Uncle Al. He has a bunch of connections in this town. He can probably get us whatever we need." Zach pulled out his phone and brought up the number.

  "Do you think you can handle this?" Lucy squeezed his wrist. "The party, I mean? I could go alone if you need me to."

  Leaning over the table, Zach made sure he spoke slow and clear. "You are not going to that party without me. Like hell I
'm throwing you into that lion's den alone."

  Her eyes glistened as she smiled.

  Zach's thumb hovered over the call button. "You don't have to do this, you know?"

  Her eyes were skittish, but her voice was steady. "Yes I do, Zach. It's probably our only chance to get into the house. We've got one shot and we don't have the luxury of time. We have to make this work."

  "We will." He nodded, not feeling the confidence he should. Pressing the button, he lifted the phone to his ear and waited two rings. "Hey, it's me...Yep, I think we've got a plan."

  Chapter 20

  LUCY

  "So he's not in town?" We weren't even in the door and Alex was standing on the front steps peppering us with questions about Tenner. "When does he get back? Do you think you can get into his office? What's the kid like?"

  Zach put up his hand to stem the flow of questions. "Let's go upstairs and nut it out. Lucy's pretty sure she can get Billy to take her up to Tenner's office."

  "Oh, yeah? How'd you work your magic?"

  Alex nudged me gently with his elbow, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

  "Basically she acted like a slut." Zach slumped onto the couch. I didn't miss his derogatory tone and wanted to crawl under the floorboards and die.

  He must have noticed my expression, because his eyes suddenly rounded. "I didn't mean...you were a nice slut. I mean, you were really good at it. I mean..." He cringed.

  Speechless, I kept my glare dark and stalked towards the kitchen.

  "I'd stop now, if I were you." Alex slapped Zach on the back of the head and I was almost grateful for it.

  "I'm sorry, Lucy. I didn't mean it that way." His brown gaze was wracked with regret.

  I shook my head, forgiving him with a forced smile. It sure felt like he meant it, though. The words and tone didn't suit my usually sensitive boyfriend. They stung like nettles, making me loathe what I already hated about myself. I flung open the cupboard in search of a glass.