by Cat Schield
“Tom, it’s Zoe Alston,” she began, her voice vibrating with anxiety. “I just received my monthly invoice and it looks like there’s been a mistake.”
“Oh?” Tom was in his midfifties and had a calm, methodical way about him. “How so?”
“It shows that I don’t owe you any money when I’m sure that I’m three months behind.”
“Well,” he said, chuckling. “I’m pretty sure I’ve never had a tenant call to complain that they didn’t owe us any money.”
Zoe bit her lip, not finding the situation at all funny. “I don’t understand what’s going on. I know I haven’t sent you any money.”
“Well, someone did.” The sound of computer keys clicking came over the phone. “I show a payment coming into our office two days ago.”
“Are you sure it was for my store?”
“I have a copy of the cashier’s check in your file. It says Second Chance Treasures on it. That’s your store, right?”
“Yes.” Zoe felt light-headed. Who could possibly have done something like that? “I can’t believe this happened.”
“Believe it. Is there anything else?”
“No. Thank you.”
Zoe hung up the phone and clasped her shaking hands together. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. On the one hand, the incredible gesture relieved a huge burden and left her feeling as if someone in this world cared about her well-being. It also meant she could move forward with a nearly clean slate. The store could stay open. She could continue her crusade to help victims of domestic violence. On the other hand, the fact that she’d needed to be bailed out filled her with shame and anger.
And the fact that the payment’s origin was a mystery bothered her. Who knew exactly how much she owed? The answer struck her a second later. She’d mentioned to Ryan that she was behind on the rent, not so that he’d help, but because she’d grown comfortable enough with him that she’d begun to share some of her fears as well as her hopes.
Had Ryan made the anonymous payment? He’d already demonstrated his helpfulness when he’d given her a place to live rent-free. But offering an empty apartment was different from shelling money out of his pocket. And why hadn’t he been upfront and offered her a loan? Because he knew she wouldn’t have taken the money?
Instead he’d snuck around behind her back?
And done something incredibly nice.
Meanwhile she was plotting to destroy his sister. How could she blithely accept his help while actively working to cause him harm?
Ryan had texted to say he was running a bit late, giving Zoe even more time to stew and fret about confronting him. As the afternoon had worn on, she’d changed her mind a dozen times about how to approach the subject. Outrage and appreciation went hand in hand as she’d reimagined her budget, finding ways to economize so she could repay him.
But all her judicious statements vanished as she opened her front door and spied him standing on the side porch, looking confident and authoritative in a blue-plaid blazer, gray slacks and white dress shirt. He looked relaxed, elegant and so happy to see her.
Zoe’s heart clenched, driving tears of frustration to her eyes.
“Damn it, Ryan,” she protested, wanting badly to feel either one way or another about him.
Angry. Happy. Hate. Love. Desire. Disgust.
Emotions swirled through her in a complicated tornado, moving too fast for her to latch onto just one.
“What’s the matter?” He frowned in confusion. “I texted and told you I was going to be late.”
“That’s not the problem,” she muttered, flashing the invoice she’d received from Dillworth Properties. “This is the problem. Did you do this?”
He took the paper from her and scanned it. “Looks like your rent is current. Congratulations.”
“It’s current because someone paid my rent for me. Was it you?”
For several heartbeats he looked as if he wasn’t going to answer truthfully, but he must have recognized she’d already decided he was responsible and wouldn’t let the matter drop.
“I know how worried you were about losing your lease and having to close the store.”
Although she’d expected his confession, she was stunned. What was he thinking? Days earlier he’d regarded her with suspicion. Now he was bailing out her store?
She didn’t ask him why he’d done it. His sympathetic expression illuminated his motives. He’d been trying to help her out. But the way he’d gone about it made her failure so much more acute. And how could she accept money from him when her purpose in getting close to him was to cause him and his sister harm? Contradictory forces tore at Zoe, making it hard for her to breathe.
“I’m going to pay you back every penny,” she said, fighting to lift her voice above a whisper. “It’s going to take me a while, but the store’s doing better every single month.”
“You don’t have to pay me back,” he replied, returning the invoice. “Consider it a donation to your cause.”
Zoe’s hands balled into fists. Admitting she couldn’t afford to turn enough of a profit to support her dream roused her shame. Through their entire marriage, every time Tristan had given her money, she’d surrendered her independence and damaged her self-worth.
“Second Chance Treasures isn’t a charity,” she shot back, her pride rallying. “And neither am I.”
“That’s not at all what I thought.” He caught her hand and gave a reassuring squeeze. “I just wanted to help out a friend.”
Zoe fought the calm that filled her whenever he was around. She couldn’t just let him soothe her concerns. “But you did it anonymously.”
“So you didn’t have to worry about paying me back.”
“I can’t just take your money,” she countered, recognizing as much as she wanted to make it on her own, the awful truth was that she would’ve eventually been out on the street without his help.
“Are you really going to be this stubborn? If one of your friends had given you the money with no expectations of getting it back, would you be digging your heels in?”
What friends? The sardonic question was on the tip of her tongue, but she held it back.
“Please understand that being able to make it on my own is very important to me,” she said quietly. “I appreciate your help, but I wish you’d offered me a loan or told me what you were going to do.”
“My actions might have been a little heavy-handed. Susannah is often telling me that I run roughshod over people when I try to help.” He pulled her forward and wrapped his arms around her. “What can I do to fix it? If you want, I can call Dillworth Properties and get my money back.”
At his mocking tone, Zoe jabbed her knuckles into his ribs hard enough that he winced. “I spent some time looking at my books today and I think I can pay you back over the next six months.”
Ryan stepped back and cupped her face in his hands. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her with great energy, snatching her breath away and making her head spin. Lust surged and she gave herself over to it, even as he backed off before things heated up too much. Once again his control awakened her anxiety. Didn’t he want to have sex with her?
Even as the question popped into her head, Zoe cringed. Not only had they only known each other a week, but there was this little matter of her role in the revenge bargain she’d made with Everly and London. But every moment in his company drove her libido into the red zone. She craved his hands on her and took every opportunity to bring her body into contact with his. Although she could see he recognized her not-so-subtle signals, he had yet to act.
She told herself to be grateful for his restraint even as she swooned against him, surrendering her mouth to the masterful pressure of his lips and sweep of his tongue. Moving forward into deeper intimacy with Ryan would only intensify her already complicated battle between what she wanted and what she�
�d promised to do.
Oblivious to her inner struggles, Ryan kissed his way toward her cheek to whisper in her ear. “Take a year if you need it.” His statement ended in a grunt as her knuckles connected with his ribs a second time. “Okay. Okay. Six months is perfect,” he amended, his tone teasing. “And I think ten percent interest should be just about right.” He caught her hand before she could strike again and dusted a kiss across her knuckles. “You know I’m kidding about the interest, right?”
She nodded, her throat tight with overwhelming gratitude at the easing of her immediate financial concerns.
“Good.” He smiled down at her. “Now, we’re going to be late for our reservation if we don’t get going.”
* * *
“Enough stories about my ill-spent youth,” Ryan groused fondly, interrupting his sister and Zoe, who were laughing at his expense. “Talk to Susannah about your store and all the women you’re helping.”
With a glance his way, Susannah sobered. “Ryan mentioned you had a boutique in downtown Charleston that is doing great work with victims of domestic violence. He said they make things that you sell.”
Zoe’s eyes glowed as she launched into her story. Watching her friendship with his sister develop over cocktails and crab cakes was exactly what Ryan had hoped for this evening. Susannah was such a huge part of his life and her approval was more than important. It was imperative.
His perspective had shifted over the last week while he’d gotten to know Zoe better. Moving her into his guest apartment meant that he was no longer thinking of her in terms of someone he intended to hook up with and move on. He enjoyed having her around. The more time they spent together, the more she opened up, and he was discovering she suited him quite well.
Standing in the way of that were his seesawing concerns whether or not she was a spy for Lyle Abernathy. Which demonstrated that he didn’t fully trust her. Nor was he sure what it would take until she was completely above suspicion. It frustrated him that he couldn’t move their relationship forward while his first thought was to question her motives.
When they’d arrived at the table, they’d settled in with the women on one side and the men on the other. The seating arrangement and the way the women took to each other had made it challenging for the men to stay engaged in their conversation. Now, with Zoe and Susannah engrossed in a discussion about Second Chance Treasures, Ryan glanced toward his brother-in-law and found him texting.
“So, Jefferson, how’re things going with you?”
The innocuous question startled his brother-in-law into slamming his phone facedown on the table and snatching up his drink. A flush crept up his neck as he answered.
“You know. Business is good. Family is fine.”
Ryan eyed Jefferson and wondered why the guy was so jumpy. “How is it with Susannah on the campaign trail? I suppose you’re busier than ever with the kids’ activities.”
“That’s for sure.” From beside his plate came a buzzing sound and Jefferson’s gaze shot to his phone. “Between Violet’s dance lessons and Casey’s soccer games, it feels like all we do is run.”
The buzz came again. And a muscle in Jefferson’s jaw worked.
“Sounds like someone is eager to get hold of you,” Ryan commented, wondering why his brother-in-law seemed so on edge. “Go ahead and answer if you need to.”
“It’s fine.”
A third buzz sounded and a thin layer of sweat formed on Jefferson’s brow. “Ah, maybe I’ll just step outside and see what’s going on. My mom’s trying to coordinate Thanksgiving dinner with my sister and her family...” Trailing off, he snagged his phone and got to his feet. “I’ll be back in a couple minutes.”
Ryan watched him go with a sense of uneasiness before his attention was caught by the women’s conversation across the table.
“I’ll talk to Gil to make sure we can fit it in the schedule, but I think it would be a great idea,” Susannah said.
“What would?” Ryan interjected.
“Susannah is going to come talk at one of our Wednesday night events at the store.”
“See,” Ryan said to Zoe, “I knew my sister would be interested in helping you out.”
“We’re helping out each other,” his sister corrected, her gaze lingering on Jefferson’s empty seat. “Does anyone want this last shrimp? Otherwise I’m going to eat it.”
After dinner the two couples parted ways with Susannah insisting they needed to head home to relieve the babysitter. Ryan was happy to cut the evening short. He was interested in some alone time with Zoe.
“That was more fun than I expected,” she said on the way to his house. “Your sister is very different away from the campaign.”
“Susannah has two personalities. Private and public. It’s grown even more pronounced since she decided to run for office. Tonight you saw little of the mischief-maker I grew up with. She can be pretty unrestrained at home.”
“I enjoyed hearing stories about you growing up.”
“I assure you only ten percent of what she told you was true.”
“Only ten percent?” Doubt salted Zoe’s voice. “I’d guess more like fifty or sixty percent.”
“Notice I didn’t return the favor,” Ryan muttered as he pulled into his garage. “I have stories about my sister that would change your opinion of her.”
“You showed great restraint,” Zoe replied.
“Do you want to come in for a while?” Ryan reached out and ran his fingers lightly over her knee. “It’s too early to call it a night.”
Her voice was a little breathless as she answered. “Sure.”
As they walked hand-in-hand along the side porch, Ryan’s anticipation reached a feverish point. He barely managed to close the back door before he backed her up against his kitchen wall.
“I can’t wait any longer,” he murmured, bracing his arm beside her head so he could lean in. “I have to kiss you.”
“Just kiss?” she murmured, peering at him from beneath her long lashes.
When surprise made him slow to respond, hot color flooded her cheeks.
“Do you want to do more?” he asked, his voice thick and dark with hunger.
Her hands coasted around his waist and up his back. “That’s been my hope for days now.”
“How much more?”
She lifted on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his ear. “I want to get naked with you,” she whispered, her breath sliding over his skin.
He groaned. “Baby, you have no idea how good it is to hear you say that.”
She gasped in surprise when he scooped her off her feet and carried her into the living room. He lowered her to the couch before settling his weight onto her. She stretched beneath him and gave a sexy little murmur that lit up his body like a fireworks finale.
Cupping her cheek, he brushed his thumb over her full lower lip. He wanted to make what came next good for her. That meant taking things slow and making sure their lovemaking offered mutual combustion.
“Zoe,” he whispered, his heart racing as she clutched his shoulders.
“Yes, Ryan?”
“I’m gonna make this really good for you.”
Her smile was like dawn breaking over Charleston Harbor. “You know you don’t need to worry about me.”
He blinked. Had she actually just said that? “Baby, you can’t stop me from putting your needs first.”
At his declaration, she glanced away, but not before he spied a glint of moisture in her eyes.
“Thank you.”
His chest tightened. Such simple words, but her tone was poignant with surprise and relief. The urge to find her ex-husband and punch the living crap out of him burned in his gut.
Ryan drew in a long, slow, steady breath and pushed all thoughts of anger or violence to the back of his mind.
Her fingers slid into his
hair as he dropped his head and lowered his lips to hers. He wanted to start slow and let the passion build at a measured pace, but her hands skimmed over his shoulder and ribs, fingers digging into his skin as her lips parted and a hungry moan erupted from her throat.
Suddenly, holding back was beyond his control. His desire for her had been building since the moment she’d bumped into him at Susannah’s campaign office.
Ryan swept his tongue around hers, deepening the kiss, reveling in the raw hunger with which she kissed him back. In that moment he knew he could never get enough of her. Of the give-and-take between them. Of her passion. Her taste. The way her nails dug into his back and her teeth nipped at his lower lip.
For several seconds her ferocity surprised him. There was always something so reserved and guarded about the way she spoke and moved. Who would’ve guessed all this unruliness bubbled beneath her watchful eyes and careful expressions?
“Tell me what you like,” she whispered.
“How about I show you instead.”
Seven
Ryan’s words sent a cascade of happiness through Zoe. For days she’d been imagining this moment, but nothing she’d dreamed up had come close to the thrill of Ryan’s hard body pressing her into the cushions. She bent her knee and the fabric of his slacks scraped against her sensitive inner thigh. Every nerve ending cried out for the touch of his skin on hers.
She’d worn her sexiest underwear tonight and a wrap dress that came undone with a simple tug. She hadn’t wanted buttons or zippers to get in the way of his hands finding her naked flesh. Unfortunately, with his weight bearing down on her, she couldn’t get free of her clothes. The frustration made her groan.
“You smell delicious,” he murmured, trailing soft kisses down her neck. “It was the second thing I noticed about you.”
“What was the first?” she asked.
“Your eyes,” he told her. “They were the most amazing color I’d ever seen.”
“I noticed that your hands were strong and also gentle. It made me wonder what it would be like to have them all over my body.”
Setting her foot on the couch, she shifted her position until he slid into the V between her thighs. He was now in a much better position for her to get some relief from the ache pulsing between her legs.