“I’m sorry we got off to such a poor start this morning, Mr. Landon.”
Zach’s brows lifted. “Was that what it was, Miss Palmer?” His tone was smooth as silk. “I wasn’t quite sure how to describe it.”
To his immense satisfaction, color stained her high cheekbones.
“Mr. Landon——”
“Please.” Zach smiled. “I hardly think there’s any reason for us to stand on formality, do you? Considering the intimacy of our relationship, I mean.”
Eve’s eyes narrowed. “Look, I’m willing to forget what happened, but if you insist on bringing it up——”
“I was referring to our business status, Eve,” he said pleasantly “After all, you’re Triad’s CEO and I’m its new owner.”
Her eyes flew to his. “Of course. I thought…” She cleared her throat. “You’re right, Zach. I, ah, I hoped you’d see it that way.”
His smile was open and easy “What way?”
“Well, there’s no sense in us being enemies, is there? I mean, we both have Triad’s best interests at heart. So if we put aside what happened earlier——”
“Sorry, Eve, I’m not sure I’m following you.”
His expression was innocent, but that didn’t fool her for a minute. He was up to something, she knew it. But what?
She tried to smile. “I’m talking about the—the incident on the set.”
His shoulder brushed hers as he strolled past her. He moved slowly around the office, pausing now and then to look at the old black and white still photos hanging on the walls.
“Your collection?” he asked, gazing at a shot of an intense Humphrey Bogart and a languid Ingrid Bergman.
Eve nodded. “Yes. I’ve always been a fan of old movies.” She waited for him to say something but he didn’t. She cleared her throat. “What about you?”
He looked at her and smiled, but she could see that the smile was false, touching his lips but not his eyes.
A knot of anger formed in her belly. Did he think this was easy for her? What she’d told him was the truth, they had gotten off to a bad start, and even though ninety-nine percent of the fault was his, she was willing to shoulder half the blame—but she’d be damned if she was going to crawl.
“Old movies seem so unrealistic.”
She blinked and looked at him. He was walking slowly toward her, that phony half-smile curling across his handsome face. Her breath caught. Surely, he wasn’t going to try to kiss her again. If he did…If he did, she’d slap him so hard both his ears would be on the same side of his head.
“Unrealistic?” she repeated with an uneasy smile. Why didn’t he stand still? And what did he care what kind of movies she liked?
He smiled, reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair from her cheek so quickly that the only proof he’d done it was the jolt of electricity his fingers left behind.
“Yes. I always find myself watching the actors and thinking that they’re overdoing it. You follow?”
“No,” Eve said. Her voice sounded thready and she frowned and spoke again. “No,” she said, more strongly, “I’m afraid I…” She went silent as he strolled behind her desk and ran his hand over the back of her chair. “I’m afraid I don’t.”
“Sure you do. There’s even a phrase for it. Chewing up the scenery, isn’t that it?” Zach smiled as he sat down behind the desk. “You know what I mean, Eve.”
Eve stared at him. He tilted back the chair, looped his hands behind his head and put his feet up on the desk. Her desk, she thought, gritting her teeth. Her desk, her chair, her office…
“I’m much more impressed by the current crop of actors.”
Her eyes flew to his face. “Mr. Landon,” she said with a stiff smile, “Zach, if you don’t mind——”
“They’ve got these nice, natural techniques. You watch somebody like, I don’t know, Jack Nicholson, you think there’s a guy you could deal with. When he’s playing a part, you never think that he is. He makes it seem real.”
“This is fascinating, Zach, but——”
“But?”
“But we both know that you came here to see Triad’s books.” She reached for the phone. “I’ll tell Emma to——”
Zach’s hand closed on her wrist. “I suppose I did get carried away with all this talk about acting.” He let go of her and smiled tightly as he rose to his feet.
“Yes. Well, as I said, I’m sure your views on the subject are fascinating, but——”
“Come on, Eve. You don’t think that at all.”
Their eyes met, and what she saw in the sea-green depths of his made it difficult to swallow.
“I know you won’t believe this,” she said carefully, “but I’m trying my best to be polite.”
“Believe it or not, I’m trying my best to be polite, too.” A muscle knotted high in his jaw. “Hell, if I wasn’t, I’d already have told you that you’re wasting your talents on the production end of things.” Zach came slowly toward her. “That’s what made me think about acting, and how some people make it seem so real.”
Eve swallowed hard. She didn’t want to step back; she knew instinctively that giving ground would be a mistake, but he was too close, so close that she could see the little laugh lines around his eyes.
Not that he was laughing now. On the contrary She had never seen a man’s face look so hard.
“Perhaps you’d like to tell me what it is you’re talking about, Zach.”
He laughed softly. “I’m talking about acting, Evie. I told you that. I’m talking about you, in particular.”
“Me?” She took that step she hadn’t wanted to take, but it was an error. She knew that as soon as her shoulders hit the wall.
“You, Evie. Why, you’re the best actress I’ve ever seen.”
“I don’t find any of this amusing, Zach. I thought you wanted to talk about Triad.”
“I do.” He smiled. “I am. I’m assessing your award-winning performance. The ease with which you switch from role to role amazes me. Spitfire one minute, seductress the next, coolheaded executive when the need arises…”
“Goodbye, Mr. Landon,” Eve said coldly. “If and when you decide to discuss business, telephone my secretary and we’ll set up an appointment.”
Zach’s hands shot out as she started to step forward. His palms hit the wall on either side of her, caging her between his outstretched arms.
“I’m talking it right now.” His words were clipped, and all the smiling pretence was gone. “What’s the problem? Did you expect me to buy into the efficient lady-exec act the same way I bought into the others?”
“So much for civility,” Eve said, her voice shaking a little. “And so much for your father’s assessment of you.”
“My father talked to you about me?”
“He said you were a human calculator, but he was wrong. What you are is a fat, swollen ego.”
Zach’s lips drew back from his teeth. “Is that right?”
“You’re angry about what happened this morning and you’re taking it out on me.”
“Dear, sweet Evie. You’re a woman of many talents, but as a shrink you’re an absolute failure.”
Eve glared at him. “My name isn’t Evie. And who do you think you are, talking to me like this? King of the universe?”
Zach grinned. “That’s not a bad analogy, Evie. I am king—king of your world, anyway. I’m the boss and you’re the peon. Or hadn’t you noticed?”
“I am head of this company.”
“You were, until two minutes ago.”
He could see that his words had taken her by surprise. It showed in her sudden pallor, in the way her breath hitched, but he had to give her credit. She kept looking straight at him, and there wasn’t even a hint of the weeping routine she’d pulled earlier.
“I see,” she said. “Just like that.”
Zach’s hands fell to his sides. He shrugged. “What did you expect? A formal letter of dismissal? You’re out, Eve. Just like that.”
“If you’d just give me a chance to try and make you understand why we’ve been losing money…”
“No.”
“Because there are reasons, you see. Your father——”
“My father was a fool,” Zach said sharply. “Unfortunately for you, it’s not a trait that runs in the family.”
“Look, I know you had a—a bad morning, but it isn’t fair to blame it on me. And that’s what you’re doing, I know you are——”
“Trust me, Eve. I planned on dumping you from the second I landed in L.A. What happened after that didn’t change a thing.”
“I embarrassed you in front of those people, and——”
“By slapping me, you mean?” Zach gave a little laugh. “Maybe you’ve forgotten that by the time you got around to hitting me, that bunch of weirdos had already seen you melt like butter in my arms.”
“That’s absurd. I didn’t melt. And they’re not weirdos, they’re technicians and actors.” Eve stabbed her hands onto her hips. “But you wouldn’t know about that. You don’t know much about anything except numbers.”
He could see the fury raging in her now. Her cheeks were crimson with color, and her eyes snapped like the darkest, bluest sapphires. Zach felt a swift rush of pleasure at the sight. She hadn’t embarrassed him out on that hillside, but she sure as hell had made him feel like a damned fool, and it was a delight to turn the tables now and watch her squirm.
It was just that it would have been better if she’d look like she was squirming. If she’d ground her teeth, or snarled. If she’d turned blotchy under her makeup…
But she wasn’t doing any of that. In fact, she still looked like the most gorgeous creature he’d ever seen.
No wonder the old man had been so easy.
“You’re right,” Zach said coldly. “I don’t know a rat’s whisker about movies. As for numbers—anybody with an adding machine would have a heart attack once he ran the figures in your files.”
“But you haven’t seen my files.” Eve gestured to the cabinets that lined the walls. “If you’d just take a look and let me explain——”
“You’re wasting your time, Eve. I have a full report on Triad.” He smiled tightly. “The one the auditors made for my father when he bought this place. I read it from cover to cover on the flight out here.”
“So what? It’s obvious you don’t understand it. Charles did. He saw the potential in Triad.”
Zach leaned against the desk, his eyes on hers. “Tell me something,” he said softly. “Do you miss him?”
“Do I…? Charles, you mean?”
His teeth showed very whitely in a quick, mirthless smile.
“Yeah. That’s who I mean, Evie. Do you miss the old man at all?”
“I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”
“Humor me.” His teeth flashed again in that same smile, one that sent a whisper of warning along her spine. “Do you at least think of him once in a while?”
“Of course. Your father was very kind to me. He didn’t know much about the film business, but——”
“But he didn’t have to.”
“That’s right, he didn’t. He was willing to learn.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet.” Zach leaned away from the desk and moved toward her. “And I’ll bet you were one hell of a teacher.”
“I taught him what I could.”
“What did you teach him?” Zach put his hand on her arm. Her skin was fever hot; he could feel its heat straight through her silk dress. “I’m curious.”
“I taught him about Triad, about this business… Don’t do that,” she said sharply, as his hand stroked down her arm. His touch was light, but it sent a tongue of flame licking through her.
“I told you before, Eve, my old man was the fool, not me.” His voice thickened. “That’s not all you taught him, is it?”
Eve stiffened. “I don’t like what you’re implying.”
Zach’s hands closed lightly around her face. She held herself rigid, but the pressure of his fingers was powerful. Slowly, he lifted her chin.
“What did you teach him, Eve?”
She stared at him, despising him for what he thought, despising herself for the whisper of heat his touch was sending through her blood.
“Nothing I’d be willing to teach you,” she said coldly.
His gaze fell to her mouth, then lifted to her eyes.
“You already taught me something, on that hillside.” He moved closer, so that only a breath separated them. “You taught me that you’re good at what you do—but I keep wondering, was that your best shot?”
“So help me, I’ll scream if you——”
“Scream? Because a man kisses you?” Zach laughed as his head lowered slowly to hers. “From what I’ve heard of Hollywood, Eve, a kiss between friends isn’t anything more than an updated handshake.”
“We’renotfriends,” shesaid, “we’renotevenacquaintan”
Zach’s mouth closed over hers.
Eve froze, telling herself that to fight him would only be to humiliate herself and give him the satisfaction he wanted.
I won’t move, she told herself, I won’t give him the pleasure of reacting, I won’t…
She swayed as Zach shifted the angle of the kiss. His mouth moved against hers, not in hard demand but softly, coaxingly. She felt the swift, silken brush of his tongue across the seam of her lips.
I won’t react, she thought desperately, I won’t…
His teeth sank gently into her bottom lip at the same moment that his hand rose and cupped her breast. A soft sound rose in her throat, one she didn’t even want to think about. To her horror, she felt her nipple rise and seek the heat of his palm.
Stop him, she thought desperately, stop him!
Instead, she opened her mouth to his.
His tongue thrust between her lips, filling her with his taste and with the promise of an ever greater fulfillment. His arms swept around her, crushing her to him, and the world spun out from beneath her feet.
She heard his soft groan, heard the echo of her own breathless whisper as the kiss deepened. Nothing mattered, nothing but this. She felt the heavy race of his heart beneath her palms, the swelling power of his erection against her groin. The heat, and the hardness, made her begin to tremble, and she stumbled against the desk.
Zach came with her, his hungry mouth drinking from hers, his hands hot as he grasped her skirt and hiked it around her hips. His fingers brushed over her thighs and she made a soft, incoherent cry and flung her arms around his neck…
Suddenly, his hands closed over hers. With a muffled curse, he tore her fingers away.
Eve’s eyes flew open. Zach was looking at her with such smoldering hatred in his face that it took her breath away.
Bile rose in her throat. She clapped her hand to her mouth and stumbled into the bathroom.
He was gone when she came out, but she knew that didn’t mean a thing. She opened her closet, took out her briefcase and her jacket and left the office without looking back.
Emma was waiting, her eyes wide and tearstained.
“He said—he said you were leaving,” she whispered, “that he’d fired you.”
Somehow, Eve managed to smile. “I’ll send for the rest of my things,” she said, and then she hurried out the door, wondering who she despised more, Zachary Landon or herself.
CHAPTER FOUR
RAIN sheeted down across the parking area in front of the building that held the Triad offices, turning the worn asphalt into a sea of glistening ebony. Beyond, cars navigated the roadway with caution, their lights bright against the gloom of late afternoon.
Rain, Zach thought as he stood staring out the window of his office, that was all he’d seen for the past who knew how many days, nothing but endless, miserable rain. Where was all that California sunshine people were always boasting about?
The telephone buzzed. Zach reached back without looking and hit the on button.
“Yeah? What is it, Emma?”
“Mr. Kaplan of State Affiliated Bank is on line one, Mr. Landon. Will you take the call?”
Zach turned, kicked out his chair and sat down. “Tell me something, will you?”
“If I can, sir.”
“Is it always this cheerful in L.A.?”
“Sir?”
“The rain, Emma. Doesn’t it ever stop?”
Emma’s tone was cool. “Fall is our rainy season, Mr. Landon.”
“Winter’s our snowy season back East, but that doesn’t mean it snows every day. This isn’t good for the L.A. image, Emma. Somebody should pass the word to the Chamber of Commerce.”
“Did you want to dictate a letter to them, sir?” Emma said politely.
Zach sighed. He’d fired Eve Palmer and moved into her office a week ago, but her secretary still treated him as if he was a leper.
“Never mind. Just put Mr. Kaplan through, please.”
Minutes later, Zach hung up the phone, tilted back his chair, linked his hands behind his head and put his feet up on his desk.
Bob Kaplan had been pleasant. He’d even invited Zach to a party—"Nothing fancy, just a barbecue somebody’s giving for this guy who’s being transferred—” before getting down to business.
State Affiliated could not extend the due date on Triad’s loan.
“I’m sure you understand, Landon,” Kaplan had said, “with your background. I got to tell you, I’d never have agreed to the loan in the first place. It was Ed Brubeck approved it, not me.” Kaplan had chuckled. “Then again, maybe that’s why I’m staying here, in LaLa Land, and Brubeck’s been transferred to Arden.”
Zach had laughed politely, but he wasn’t laughing now. Kaplan was right. Zach did, indeed, understand why the loan couldn’t be extended. It was bad business. And he was certain he also understood why old Ed Brubeck, whoever he was, had agreed to lend Eve the money in the first place.
He’d been dazzled by her, the same way the old man had. What man wouldn’t be? Zach thought grimly, as he remembered what had happened in this very room just a week ago.
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