Amanda's Touch [D.A.R.E.ing Women] (Siren Publishing Allure)

by LeeAnn Masters

  It wouldn’t be awful enough to cause him to close the business, cut staff, or sell his property. However, it was going to impact his retirement and would probably take him years to recoup it. Ruefully, he wondered how quickly he might be able to get Amanda to buy in and shoulder some of the burden of the firm. He quickly shook off the thought. He wouldn’t even encourage her to get involved until he had his own problems straightened out. It wasn’t fair to her to ask her to even consider it right now.

  He felt like his world was starting to unravel, fray around the edges. He hated not being able to hold everything together. He’d made a poor investment decision and gotten his family in hot water as well. How the hell was he going to tell them this? He scrubbed his hands over his face and then rubbed his forehead, trying to ease his stress headache. Was there anything they could do to get out without incurring massive losses?

  He’d always been the go-to person for his family, even though that typically fell to the oldest child. Josh had never wanted that responsibility and had been more than happy to shunt it off on Zachary and take off. He’d chosen a career in the military that seldom brought him home, and now never would again. Zack felt like he let his whole family down, even though there was no way he could have known about Tabotts’ way of conducting “risky business.” This tentative relationship with Amanda was going to be anything but easy. Between his control freak tendencies, as she called them, and Amanda’s need for independence, they were destined to butt heads again and again. He just wanted to make it all better for her and could find no way to do that, either. And, now he was kicking himself for not being safe the previous evening. He’d be causing Amanda a nervous breakdown if she did become pregnant. He knew she was not anywhere near ready for that emotional rollercoaster, especially when she still hadn’t disembarked from the previous one.

  He hung his head, feeling like a failure, and allowed himself a few moments of self-pity before he pulled himself together and firmly told himself to get his ass in gear, that self-pity wouldn’t fix this, only action would. Now, if only he knew what that the hell that was.

  He glanced at his watch and was shocked to discover it was already past two o’clock. He still needed to go pick up Amanda at Diane’s and get out to his parents’ by three. Why hadn’t Amanda called him, he wondered? Why should she call him? He knew she was angry when they parted. Was she that angry that she wouldn’t have called him to get her, or did she just assume he’d be there in time?

  For the first time ever he had to call her cell and was dismayed to realize he didn’t even know her number, because he’d always had his admin assistant, Allison, place the call. Why the hell would you know her number, Zack? She’s only your employee, who you love, who you’re trying to heal, who you’ve introduced to your family, who you’ve made passionate love to, who you know very little about. What the hell was wrong with him?! Rachel was right. How do you help someone you don’t know? Enough of the inner-diatribe, Zack. Get to work.

  His priorities were all screwed up, he acknowledged. Taking a swift kick to his ego, he pulled out his personnel forms to find her contact information and programmed it into his phone, where it should have been all along. He wondered what Amanda would have to say to his actions, then he laughed, though it wasn’t in amusement. She probably already knew. Dialing her number, he got her voice mail and left her a message that he was on his way. Then he called his sisters and told them to bring their latest investment statements with them to dinner, telling them he’d explain after.

  * * * *

  Throughout both the ride to Zack’s parents’ home, and through dinner, Amanda had remained quiet, staying in the background as much as possible. Zack’s concern for his investments and that of his family had him all gnarled up and anxious inside. Amanda knew she could help with that, but wasn’t sure if her interference would be appreciated by him or his family. And, doing all of that would require her to explain her background and her abilities to his family as well. Would they believe her? She’d picked up on the funds he was most concerned about and focused on the future of those options, trying to gain a clearer picture of which ones he should keep and transfer, and which ones he should liquidate.

  She didn’t really need to use her psychic gifts for this, though she sometimes lucked out and caught the images she sought. Her real skill lay in the fact that she knew money, was an excellent investor, and kept up with the current financial markets, almost as though she was a Wall Street tycoon. Her mother had taught her well. When she’d told Zack to keep his investment advice to himself, she’d meant it. She knew more than he did, and had the certifications and degrees to prove it.

  She, also, was more than she seemed. Like Zack, she’d had multiple career roads laid out before her, and just because she’d chosen to work full-time in one, didn’t mean she didn’t keep a hand in the other. Well, okay. More than a hand, but he didn’t need to know that. She didn’t want men attracted to her for her money, though in Zack’s case she was sure that wasn’t going to be a problem. He was very well off already. She just chose to live a more frugal and understated existence than he did. It wasn’t her fault if others assumed what they shouldn’t.

  Due to her continued silence throughout the meal, Zack assumed she was still upset with him but was more focused on the discussion he and Amanda needed to have with his family. He sighed heavily. He’d deal with her issues later. Following the dinner of leftovers served at Amanda’s request, he asked everyone to join him in the family room and they waited impatiently while Cara laid the girls down for a late nap.

  “Zack, what’s all the mystery? You’ve got me worried!” Cara spoke up as soon as she rejoined them. Pulling it from the small luggage bag she called her purse, she waved her last investment statement in the air.

  Becca grimaced at him then demanded, “Talk to us, big brother!”

  His dad chimed in with a brusque, “What the hell is going on?”

  From his mother came a concerned, “Yes, dear, tell us!”

  Zack took a deep breath and then looked at Amanda as he realized he hadn’t told her that they knew about her gifts. Oh God, she was going to kill him for telling them, he just knew it. How was he going to admit the crapload of financial problems he was about to saddle his family with? He’d practiced it on the way over, but the words stuck in his tight throat.

  His eyes widened in disbelief, and he listened in amazement as Amanda rescued him. She coolly and calmly stepped to his side, took his hand, and filled them all in from start to finish. He observed the initial skepticism on the faces of his family, with the exception of Cara, as she spoke of her psychic abilities and watched as they slowly came to believe her as she described how she did what she did, and gave them examples of things she’d experienced. Their strongest reaction was not to her abilities, it was in the betrayal of their investment advisor. When she was through Zack could have heard a pin drop as his family processed the news.

  He gazed around, waiting for someone to attack Amanda’s credibility. However, his family was well-versed in weird and strange talents, especially with John and Zack’s empathic abilities. They knew there was more out there. No one seemed to doubt the truth of her statements.

  His father was the first one to gather himself. “Now what?” he muttered so low that Zack thought he was talking to himself. “Zack! Now what?” his dad asked more loudly. “Son, our entire retirement is tied up in that company, all of our savings, 401K, stocks, bonds, CDs, everything!” His father collapsed into his favorite brown leather reading chair. Zack thought he looked like he’d aged ten years in just a few minutes and worried about his heart.

  John then glared at Amanda, transferring his anger to the bearer of bad news. “Are you sure? How can you be sure?”

  Zack stepped forward, ready to do battle, his face drawn in an angry frown.

  Amanda gently pushed him aside, murmuring, “Let me handle it.”

  He looked at her in concern but backed down when he saw her determined
expression and felt the steel strength of her resolve. She was certain she didn’t need his help, and didn’t want his interference. He sighed and let her go, though it felt like he was feeding her to the sharks.

  “John, I’m very sorry, but I am positive. And, I’ve been worried about this since I discovered it. I wanted to talk to Zack much sooner, but I didn’t know how to tell him. I didn’t know if he’d believe me if I did tell him. And, of course I had no idea that your entire family invested with them, or I’d have come out with it much sooner than I did. Up until yesterday, my biggest concern was that the Tabotts be able to pay Zack for the work, if Mr. Tabott was found out. I didn’t realize the wider-reaching implications until Zack told me, yesterday, about your family’s investments.”

  Releasing Zack’s hand she kneeled down in front of his father, wincing at the pain in her leg that she’d almost forgotten about in the drama of informing his family. Placing her hand on John’s knee she said, “I can help you get proof. I just need to get close to the Tabotts to do it.” She looked up at Zachary, her deep forest green eyes shadowed with worry and pleading. “I need you to put me back on their project.”

  He shook his head, scowling at her fiercely. “Amanda, I don’t want you anywhere near this!”

  She cut him off. “I need to do something to fix this. Who else would be able to gather the kind of information I can?” She turned to Becca who nodded in agreement, already sensing the other woman’s involvement looming.

  Becca thought for a minute and then told Zack, “Once I figure out how to approach him, and if I can get something more solid, I’m bringing this to the D.A. I want this company investigated and the proper people punished for this. Amanda can help us develop a solid case. While her testimony wouldn’t hold up in court, she can pass us inside information that we can investigate. That will help us put this guy away.”

  Zack’s mother sat stunned and said nothing, while Cara jumped in, remarking, “Anything that would bring this asshole into the open,” worked for her. “Zack, think about it! How many other individuals and families are in danger of losing everything they have? We have to do something to help them too. This isn’t just about us.”

  Zack clenched his fists as though he was going to beat them all into submission. “I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all. Amanda is not an undercover cop! What if Tabott finds out she’s helping investigate him? That family is very powerful and very loaded, there’s no telling what they could do to her!” Zack’s voice climbed as he vented on his family. He didn’t want Amanda’s life placed in jeopardy to play sleuth.

  He pulled Amanda to her feet almost absently, as he noticed the pain in her leg increase from her position on the floor, and wrapped his arms protectively around her. Not even thinking about it he automatically deadened the nerves in her leg for her, overriding her small attempt to block him. She was too focused on the conversation to stop him, and continued his diatribe.

  “I did not bring this to your attention to get Amanda even more involved. I brought it up to save us from any possible monetary losses we could incur. This has gotten way off topic, and I will not allow what you are all suggesting, I won’t!” His furious voice bounced off of the oak paneling and echoed around them. Every member of his family recoiled from his fury, everyone but Amanda who was looking at him with great irritation.

  Becca quickly brushed off his attack, not backing down. “Zack, I can get the D.A. to approve protective services for her while we investigate, once I get him something firm to work with, that is. Really, she should be able to walk through this with relatively little trouble. There is no reason for Tabott to know, no reason for him to suspect her. After all, he came to your company for his renovation project and Amanda did start out handling it. Would it be so strange to bring her back on again? I’m sure you can come up with some excuse. Didn’t you tell him she was on sick leave? Well, now she’s better, simple as that.” She brushed her palms together as though saying easy as that!

  Zack looked down at his woman and tightened his arms around her. Lowering his voice so that he was practically whispering in her ear he told her furiously, “I will fire you before I’ll allow you to do this. I won’t even contemplate losing you. Amanda, you don’t know the circles this guy runs in, none of us do. You could get yourself killed.”

  The pain in his voice was unmistakable, and Amanda knew it was only his concern for her welfare that had created his threat, but she was determined to go forward with this and do whatever she could to stop it.

  Looking up into his face she calmly bluffed, “Fine then, fire me.” Knowing full well he wouldn’t follow through. “I can always go meet with him on my own, pretending to seek investment advice and see what I can get from him that way, but I’d rather not jeopardize my savings. What do you think, Rebecca?” There, she’d thrown down the gauntlet. She waited to see if he’d pick it up, winking surreptitiously at his sister.

  Becca played along. “Sure, I can see that working too, but I’m not sure it would bring you in contact frequently enough with him to get what we’ll need. If not, I’m sure we can figure out something and, if my big brother fires you, you’ll have all the time in the world to work the case for us. Why don’t you and I go talk about it some more. Let’s take a walk?” She grabbed Amanda’s hand and attempted to pull her from her brother’s embrace but Zack wasn’t budging.

  Zack growled fiercely at both of them, too angry and frustrated to articulate any words. Keeping Mandy firmly ensconced in his arms, he came to the realization that the decision had already been reached and was out of his hands, and he wanted to shake both Becca and Amanda. They were like children, role-playing, and didn’t understand the seriousness of what they were about to do.

  He turned her away from his family, dragging her into the hall by her right hand. Looking into her determined eyes he told her, “You are playing with your life, Mandy. How is this any different than your suicide attempt of a year ago, or the negligence you put yourself through since?” His throat clogged painfully. “Are you looking for another way to remove yourself from this world, another way to take yourself away from me? Are you so dead set on joining David that you’ll risk yourself like this? What about me, Mandy? What do you think will happen to me, if I lose you?” His eyes darkened in pain at the thought.

  Amanda reached up to stroke his cheek, attempting to comfort him. “Zack, it’ll be fine. It will work. Did you honestly think I was just going to stand by while this guy brought everyone’s world crashing down around them? He could go for years yet before he’s caught and bring Mrs. Tabott’s father’s company to ruin in the meantime.”

  He stared at her intently and gripped her face firmly between his hands. “Did you see it Amanda? How do you know it will work?”

  Amanda had to admit that she didn’t and she told him so. “Zack, I never see my own future. I can only see my future as it pertains to other people. Like when I saw the two of us together, when you touched my hand that day at the office. I could only see it because it was your future. I cannot see my own. And, I’m not suicidal. I’m not looking for a way to leave you and join David, not anymore.”

  Zack rested his forehead on Amanda’s and dropped his hands to hers, holding them tightly in his. “I don’t want to lose you,” he told her again. “And, I’m not trying to control you either, if that’s what you’re thinking. I just believe that this is too dangerous for you to get involved with. I don’t know how to keep you safe.”

  “I have a permit to carry, Zack, and you’re well aware I know how to use a gun, if I need to that is. I can keep myself safe. Your problem is that you can’t control any of this, that’s what’s making you crazy. You’re overreacting to that, and blowing this all wildly out of proportion. All I’m doing is conducting a fishing expedition for information. I’m not looking to get involved with the mob for Pete’s sake.”

  Zack sighed wearily, realizing he was not going to win this. He felt another wave of failure wash through him at
not being able to keep her safe from others, and not being able to keep her safe from herself. He thought for another minute then told her, “Fine, you win. But there’s a caveat to this. Wherever you go, I go. Any time you see Tabott, I’m there too.”

  Amanda looked at him incredulously. “Zack, please! That’s sure to set off red flags. The owner of the company does not accompany his architects to standard client meetings.” She could see he was going to continue to battle with her so she redirected him. “Let’s hammer this out later on. I want to talk to your family about their investments right now. I think I can help all of you.”

  Over the next half hour Amanda spoke to his family about her background and experience in the world of investments, which was thorough since her mother had once run a very lucrative financial consulting business. Zack was astonished at the depth and breadth of her knowledge.

  John, of course, spoke up first. “I thought you didn’t take over your mother’s business? That you sold it to another junior partner?”

  “I didn’t take over her business due to my lack of knowledge. I didn’t do it because I wasn’t interested in working the job as a career.” Zack listened in amazement as she restated her degrees in finance and then further told them, “I am also certified in securities, hedge funds, and portfolio management, so I am extremely knowledgeable in exactly what you need. I’ll even show you my own portfolio if it will make you more comfortable.” She shot a mocking glance at Zack. “You can ask Zack, too, he’s already seen it anyway.” Though, obviously, he hadn’t really taken a good look at it. She smiled to herself.