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

by LeeAnn Masters

  Hearing a car turn onto the long gravel drive, Amanda turned and took a deep preparatory breath, lifting her hand to shade her eyes from the bright glare of the morning sun. Tabott had arrived. She tried to push down her nervousness. She was just an architect following up on a project. She reminded herself of that over and over again, to no avail. She still had butterflies. There’s no way he’ll find out, Amanda, she told herself. Breathe!

  Jonathan Tabott, a middle-aged financier, looked his part. Wearing a well-cut charcoal Armani suit, crisp white dress shirt, minus the tie, and black dress shoes polished to a high shine, he was every inch the epitome of a well-to-do gentleman. His sandy brown hair was just beginning to gray at the temples and his sharp brown eyes looked her over methodically, without any sexual heat, as if he was simply taking note of her professional attire. Still in trim shape, and sporting a deep summer tan he’d probably gained on a recent vacation, Jonathan was an attractive man, and he damn well knew it. Amanda had to admit he had a charisma to him that was very appealing. Too bad the guy was fraud and a thief.

  “My dear! You’re looking so much better. I hate to say it, but you did look rather ill the last time we got together. I’ve been worried about you since Jerry took over the project.”

  Tabott approached her to give her an open one-armed hug of sorts, trying to convey his sympathy while also trying to maintain his distance. “I’m so glad you wanted to come out and double check on the work. It shows me how dedicated you are. Grayson is a damned lucky man to have you on his staff,” he complimented her.

  As he spoke, he removed his suit coat and draped it over the headrest of the driver’s seat. Rolling up his sleeves due to the heat of the day, which had already reached eighty-five degrees. It was gonna be a hot one in Pittsburgh. He turned back to her.

  Amanda dredged up a smile for him and asked him to show her around the place. Even though he’d given her a quick, awkward hug, she hadn’t had the chance to read much of anything from him. Playing the part of the dainty woman she took his arm. Crooking her arm through his and laying her hand against the bare skin of his lower arm, she let him lead her around. She asked as many questions as she could to keep his company.

  Jonathan kept up a running banter as they toured through and never seemed to realize that Amanda was concentrating on something else altogether. She asked after his wife and he spoke about her committee work and about their vacation in South Carolina. They were thinking of purchasing a vacation home down there. She wanted to caustically ask, “With whose money?” and barely restrained herself.

  About forty-five minutes later she’d had all she could stand of him and pled other business matters to attend to, graciously thanking him for his time. At least her thanks were sincere! She’d gotten a load of information from him and couldn’t wait to call Becca with it. She wished him the best with his project and asked him to pass along her greetings to his wife, whom she felt bad for. Donna Tabott didn’t have clue as to her husband’s illegal activities, and her world was going to come crashing down around her.

  As soon as Jonathan pulled out of the drive she jotted some notes down in her leather portfolio, pulled her cell phone from her purse, and dialed Becca’s number. When she picked up on the second ring Amanda asked her if she was busy and if Becca would mind if she’d drop by her office. Telling her she’d be there in an hour or so, Amanda started her car and headed toward town.

  * * * *

  When Zack’s phone began to ring the moment he set it down in the cradle he let loose with another string of epithets that would have rivaled Amanda’s on her worst day. Come on! How was he supposed to get anything accomplished today? To his consternation it was Jonathan Tabott calling to let him know how much he appreciated his staff’s work on his project. Okay, great! he thought sarcastically. I know my staff is good at their work.

  When Tabott went on and on about one particular staffer’s dedication to his renovation Zack’s thoughts went from busily caustic to thunderously angry. Goddamn her anyway! She knew he didn’t want her involved, he’d told her that! How much clearer could he possibly be?! He politely thanked Tabott for his compliments and told him how thrilled he was that he was happy with the service they were providing him. all the while thinking that when he got his hands on Amanda he was going to spank her pretty little ass bright red! So…she and his sister were still in cahoots, were they?

  He asked Tabott to let him know the next time Amanda wanted to meet with him and offered to buy them both lunch, insisting he would love to see how the project was coming along and have the opportunity to sit down and catch up with him about his family and work. He rang off after Tabott assured him he would call prior to their next meeting so Zack could join them. It didn’t seem to occur to him that Zack could have asked Amanda instead.

  Hitting a button to gain an outside line, he dialed Becca’s office. His harsh greeting consisted of, “Just what the hell do you think you’re doing? Are you trying to get Amanda killed?!”

  His sister’s response was to grunt as though heavily frustrated, call him an overbearing asshole, and then hang up on him.

  “Great!” he told the dead receiver. “Just fucking fantastic!”

  If she thought he was just going to let this go, she had another thing coming. He grabbed his suit jacket to head to her office then looked at his computer when he heard a soft chime sound as a reminder popped up. Shit! He had a staff meeting in ten minutes. He was willing to bet Amanda wouldn’t be at it because, of course, she was supposed to be two hours away. Growling in frustration he tossed his jacket over the back of his chair and gathered his materials for the meeting. He’d deal with Becca and Amanda later, he grimly promised himself.

  * * * *

  Amanda didn’t think about the problem she’d have trying to find parking midday in downtown Pittsburgh. She hadn’t been to the office in over a month and it simply hadn’t occurred to her. It should have. Thoroughly frustrated, she wound up parking in the garage of her office building since she had a lease there, hoping that Zack wouldn’t notice her car in its usual spot. He probably wouldn’t be leaving the office today anyway. She knew he had a staff meeting and thought, since that would eat up a good chunk of his time he’d most likely stay through lunch. If he followed his previously typical pattern he’d have a sandwich at his desk and end up none the wiser for her trip into town today.

  It was eleven o’clock before she finally got to Becca’s office. Rebecca welcomed her with open arms and a heartfelt hug, as if she were a member of the family, and Amanda briefly felt awash with nostalgia for something she’d most likely never have, a large loving family.

  Becca looked very professional today and Amanda stepped back to take her in, jokingly telling her, “You clean up nice, Miss Prosecutor!”

  Becca gave her a self-deprecating smile and gestured to a pair of guest chairs that sat opposite her large oak desk, sitting down next to her instead of in her desk chair.

  The hip, clubbing, supermodel from Saturday was gone and in her stead sat a highly confident and polished young woman in a closely-fitted suit and sensible shoes. With impeccable make-up and slick blonde up-do, she looked the part of an attorney on the rise. Becca abruptly ruined her image by leaning forward, giggling, and begging Amanda to “Spill Tabott’s dirty little secrets.”

  For the next hour Amanda regaled Becca with the insights she’d gleaned from Tabott’s’ mind. She had written down the names of people she’d caught as well as any account information that had drifted through his thoughts. There was much more she’d have to pick from his brain but Becca seemed happy with the start Amanda had given her.

  “I wish I could have gotten account numbers, instead of names,” Amanda complained. Becca assured her that they’d get there and that what Amanda had gotten so far was already invaluable. She was going to look into the persons Amanda had named and see where that led them. She told Amanda that she’d keep her in the loop.

  Becca startled her when she told her, �
�I think big brother is onto you, or rather, onto us.”

  “Why do you say that?” Amanda inquired nervously, her stomach doing its best impression of a whirling dervish. She didn’t need another reason for Zack to be mad at her. He had quite enough reasons already, in his own mind, that was.

  “He called me just after you did, earlier, asking me what the hell I was doing and if I was trying to get you killed,” Becca admitted.

  “Marvelous! Oh Becca, that’s all I need,” Amanda moaned. “I didn’t think he’d find out about it. Who the hell told him I wonder?” Her stomach churned. “It had to have been Tabott. He was going on and on about how dedicated I was and how my boss was lucky to have me, yadda yadda yadda.”

  “My brother is lucky to have you,” Becca agreed quickly. “I know it’s not my business, Amanda, but he is head over heels in love with you. I’m hoping that whatever problems you guys are having can be ironed out. I know he can be a controlling shit sometimes, but he means well.”

  Becca’s straight from the hip demeanor was a little unsettling. “What did you tell him? When he called this morning, I mean,” she asked anxiously.

  “I told him he was an overbearing asshole, and hung up on him.” Becca beamed at her mischievously.

  “Great!” Amanda replied, drawling out the word sardonically. “He’s going to kill me himself, thanks Becca!”

  “Oh pooh! Stop worrying about Zack. He’ll get over himself, eventually.” Becca waved Amanda’s concerns away as if they were unimportant then she focused the blue eyes that were so much like her brother’s and drilled them straight into Amanda.

  “Back to you. How do you feel about my brother?”

  “Becca, you’re right. It really is none of your business.” Amanda tried to sound firm but came off as rattled instead.

  “You care about him, too, I can tell,” said Becca answering her own question. “What the hell is the problem, with David, that has Zack so shook up? I’ve never seen the guy so tied up in knots before. I mean, excuse me, but David is dead correct? And you’re alive, and Zack is alive, right? You two have great chemistry. Each of you loves the other, whether you want to admit it not.”

  “Becca!” Amanda’s voice rose in a stronger warning. “I mean it. My relationship, or lack thereof, with your brother, is none of your business. And, I am not discussing my husband with you either. You’re making me feel as if I’m on trial here.”

  “Do you swear to tell the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” Becca mocked in a singsong voice. “Amanda, come on, it’s plain to see that you’re in love with him, too. I’ve seen how your eyes follow him. I’ve seen how you look at him when you think he’s not watching. Again, what the hell is the problem? “

  Amanda sighed and looked out the window, watching a barge trudging its way up the river, fighting against the current. She could commiserate. She felt the same way, like she was fighting an uphill battle, a battle against four odds though instead of just Mother Nature. She was fighting her gifts, her dead husband, Zack, and herself.

  “The problem?” Becca asked again, impatiently this time. “Cause it seems to me that you’re both creating one just because you can.”

  “What?” Amanda was so lost she needed a map to get her through the conversation.

  “You’re putting up walls because you’re afraid of caring so deeply for someone again, and that there is always a possibility you might lose them, like you did David. So, instead you’re pushing Zack away and using your past feelings for David as an excuse. And, by the way, I do mean past feelings. He’s gone, Amanda, and while I know you loved him, you also now love my brother. But, you figure if you kick Zack to the curb now, you won’t be hurt worse later, right?” Amanda gasped as if she had been kicked.

  “And, as far as Zack goes, he’s creating problems because he can’t stand not being in control of everyone and everything around him. So, he’s using David as an excuse to cause a rift too. He has no way to control what, or who, you see. Spirit wise, I mean. You won’t let him help you physically or emotionally with your pain, not without your permission. He can’t control what you read from him, and that scares him shitless because you know more than he does, and that really screws with his head. Which, by the way, cracks me up!” she said, laughing delightedly. “Until now, he’s been the literal know-it-all in our family. Seriously, the man is always right. He’s always been the savior.”

  Tapping her own temple with a polished red fingernail Becca told her, “Think about what happened this past weekend and tell me if you can’t figure out why he overreacted as he did. Who did the saving, Amanda? You did, and you rocked his self-contained little world.”

  Then Becca tapped Amanda’s hand. “And, who did the walking away when the man she loved wanted to protect her in the only way he could? You did, because he rocked yours. It’s awfully hard to be independent when someone is helping you. And, it’s awfully hard to hold on to the person who has always been dearest to you, when they are dead, and someone else you love is there to take their place. But, Amanda, you need to understand that you aren’t a traitor to what you had with David. You’re alive, that’s all.”

  Amanda was stunned by Becca’s insights. First, because she dared to voice them, and second, because she was probably right.

  “Maybe you should have been a shrink,” she croaked at Becca.

  “You know, you and Zack might not be the only ones with a gift. Maybe I have a little something, too,” Becca replied. “I’m just intuitive and good with relationships. That’s all. Anyone’s but my own that is!” She laughed lightly but underneath Amanda heard some bitterness seep through.

  Amanda reached over to take Becca’s hand. After a moment she told her “You aren’t as bad as you think. It will happen for you, too, Becca.”

  Becca forced a laugh this time, asking, “Do you see someone tall, dark, and handsome in your crystal ball?”

  She swallowed hard when Amanda returned her gaze very evenly and said, “No, he’s tall, blond, and gorgeous. His name is Adam Lombardi and he’s a systems analyst. I’ll introduce you.”

  * * * *

  Totally not to Becca’s surprise her brother barged into her office just minutes after Amanda left. They’d probably passed each other in opposite elevators, since he on his way up and she on her way down.

  She looked up from a case file to see him looming over her, hands on his hips and hair in wild disarray from raking his fingers through it, as he was prone to do when frustrated or upset.

  “You just missed her,” she told him, returning her eyes to the case in front of her.

  “Just missed who? And stop trying to distract me! What are you and Amanda plotting? I’ve asked you both not to get involved in this mess. Why is it so hard to understand that this is dangerous? For both of you!”

  “Amanda. You just missed Amanda. I’m not distracting you, I’m informing you. Amanda and I are doing exactly what we planned to do last weekend. Catch Tabott. We know you don’t want us involved but are free to make our own decisions. We don’t think it’s dangerous. Did I answer them all, bro?” she replied, not missing a beat, and still skimming the brief in front of her.

  “Mandy was here? Christ, I’ve been trying to get hold of her all week. She won’t return my calls,” he answered grumpily, pulling his fingers through his dark hair with such vigor Becca was surprised it didn’t come out in clumps. “Damn it! I can’t believe I just missed her!”

  “Lucky for you, brother mine, I know exactly where she’s headed,” Becca stated. Then she stopped to see if Zack would bite. He did.

  “Okay, I’ll bite. Where’s she headed?” He demanded.

  “She’s meeting someone for lunch. I asked her to go with me but she said she already had plans.” Becca looked up from under her lashes peeking at her brother’s reaction. “Pretty sure it was a guy. She’s all dressed up. Maybe she has a date?” she continued innocently, dying to get a reaction from Zack. Ah…there it was. He was ticked. Big time.
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br />   “A date?” his question was quiet but had a sharp edge to it and his eyes narrowed dangerously.

  “Well, Amanda is a beautiful woman. She should be dating around, trying out her wings, you know…” Becca made a flapping gesture with her hands and looked her brother in the eye. He looked like he was choking on something. “You could probably catch her, if you wanted to.”

  Zack swallowed. He was tempted. But, he’d begged Rachel to meet him for lunch and he’d chosen the restaurant because it was her favorite. He was willing to give Rachel whatever she wanted, as long she helped him get information about Amanda’s biological parents.

  “No, no. I have lunch plans too.” He looked disgruntled and Becca laughed at him.

  “With whom? May I ask?” Becca inquired.

  “None of your business, little sister,” he rebuked.

  “Amanda will be at our folks’ tomorrow morning to begin dealing with Josh and his ghostly guests. You coming?” She watched as Zack turned a dangerous shade of purple.

  “I’ll be there,” he answered grimly, wondering what the hell he would do if Amanda slipped into a comatose state again. “I’m worried about her, Becca. She scared the living daylights out of me last weekend. I really don’t think this is such a great idea. Not that anyone seems to care what I think.”

  “There’s more than one way you could lose her, Zack. Either get off your high horse, or let go of the reins and let yourself enjoy the ride. You keep tugging on her bridle and she’s going to buck and be gone before you know it.” She smiled in self-congratulation at her equine analogies. Not bad!