Crandall’s black hair whirled around her shoulders like an adornment, and all he wanted to do was get her under him and kiss those milky white shoulders. Just the thought set him back on red alert. If she could bottle whatever she did to him, she could sell it for more than the price of gold. Most of the people here were older than they were. Except for Washington and Gretta, whom he only surmised was here as a chaperone to make sure he didn’t get into Crandall’s bedroom or any adorable part of her anatomy.
Zack smiled to himself. He knew if he weren’t careful with his thoughts, he’d be off to the men’s room for a cool down. No matter, he’d survive. As for Gretta, it didn’t matter if she were here. He’d already discovered she didn’t share Crandall’s bedroom. Amateur-play. That didn’t matter, anyway, because, if he could manage to convince her, Crandall would be in his bed in a five-star hotel. Telling her about the tobacco company could wait until tomorrow morning, couldn’t it?
He wondered why the woman was so addictive, besides the hourglass figure and the irresistible way she kissed. He didn’t care to analyze it anymore. He was ready to advance.
“Hello there, Graham.” A hand clamped on his shoulder.
Zack turned to see the dumpy Washington, his eyes trained on him with an obvious message, whatever it was. “Don’t even think of encroaching on my territory in my hometown.”
“Territory?” Zack smiled, swallowing down a feeling of apprehension. The man was out for blood. “What do you mean, Washington? All I see is a room full of people, all capable of making their own free decisions.”
“One of them is taken. For years. Don’t tread.” The little grease ball’s eyes narrowed.
“Did you get confirmation from your territory?” Zack asked, curling his lip and suddenly feeling like he’d turned into a mistreated Rottweiler. “Because it seemed like she was free-range to me.”
“Why you…”
Crandall walked up and latched her arm through Zack’s. “Hello, Xavier,” she said, her voice cool and aloof. “I see you’ve now officially met Zack, my new boyfriend.”
Zack smiled as the man literally turned sallow, green if he wanted to be poetic. “I told you,” he said smugly.
Xavier turned and marched away like a true Napoleon. Good riddance.
“Hello my little girlfriend.” Zack gave her a smack on the lips.
“What did you mean you told him?”
She stared up into his eyes, and he wanted to grab her and carry her away. “I told him I thought you weren’t taken.”
“It sounds like you’re laying stakes on a piece of property.”
He smiled at her. “You’re not like any land I’ve ever seen, too many curves and way too many delightful crevices.”
“Don’t get carried away,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just wanted to get rid of the asshole and make sure he didn’t bother me for the rest of the night.”
“Do you want to get rid of me for the rest of the night?” He loosely grabbed both of her forearms and stared down into her beautiful eyes.
“I…I…”
He smiled again. “Never mind. Just come outside with me and let me convince you that you don’t.” He gestured with his head towards the double French doors to the patio.
“Zack, this isn’t a good idea. Xavier was a threat in Tinytown, so you can imagine what he’ll be like here.”
“Is there anyone in this town you’re trying to impress?” he asked.
Crandall chuckled. “Not hardly. All everyone does here is gossip anyway. When you come right down to it, they’re all just informal paparazzi.”
“Have you had enough of this expensive bore of an evening?”
She slanted him a curious stare. “I’m not ready to head for a room. Anyone’s room.”
“Even if that were on my mind, which it wasn’t, I’m not in that much of a rush.” He tried to look shocked, when in truth, if she’d said let’s go, he’d already be shedding his tie. “The moon’s not full, but the night’s clear, I was thinking it might be nice to go somewhere, have a glass of wine, maybe take a walk outside and talk. Interested?”
“Okay,” she said. “There’s a little French place on Grass Valley Highway. We could go there.”
He winked. “We’re as good as there.”
Minutes later, they’d settled at a small table at the restaurant with two glasses of red wine and a small dessert sampler platter. Crandall took a sip from her glass. “This was a good idea. I didn’t think I could handle any more Xavier in one night.”
“Do you ever have the feeling the man’s racing somewhere to a gotcha moment?” Zack relaxed back in his chair. His intuition had been on full alert ever since he talked to the creep. He knew the man was up to something and it was only fair to share it with Crandall, seeing as his attack was most likely directed at her. “Trust me, sweetheart, he hasn’t played all the cards here in Sierra Landing. I don’t know what his plans are, but I highly anticipate his striking when you least expect it.”
“And to what do you owe this great feeling of impending doom?” Crandall giggled as she nabbed a petit four.
“This really isn’t funny,” he warned. “Most of the time I feel this way when I’m getting ready to get socked in the gut. But this time I have the distinct feeling you will be the original victim. Who knows? I may be a secondary target as well.” He grabbed her hand, rubbing it. “Because I have a certain attachment to what happens to you.”
She didn’t withdraw her hand. Instead, he noted her staring at his and her tongue swiped enticingly across her lips, before stretching in her chair and letting out an almost inaudible mewing sound. Like a kitten now, but one that could shape shift into a wild cat later. Zack grinned inwardly. He decided he was breaking down her defenses, even if his words of warning were the truth.
“Crandall, I know you’re fragile right now,” he told her in a low voice. “But I love making love to you. Can we just decide to ‘get along’ tonight and then get on with the business of this challenge tomorrow? I know Xavier won’t bother us. That’s why I’m staying where I am. I gave explicit instructions when I registered. Only you were supposed to get my real name should you call and inquire. To everyone else, I’m Reggie Jefferson.”
She smiled, her eyelids lowering. “That really is brilliant. Wish I’d done the same thing. I could have been Holly Golightly or Cat Ballou or some other character. I’ll remember that.”
He kissed her hand. “Remember that, remember me, and I’ll do my best to make sure you remember tonight.”
****
His body slammed her up against the wall as she wrapped her legs more tightly around him. To hell with a headboard. As his penis entered, she was wet, ready and oh so willing for the ride. “Oh my God, Zack. How…can…it…be…so great.” She rode him like a broncobuster, sliding up against the wall and not caring if she chafed her back, because delicious spasms of ecstasy built inside her core. If this were a rodeo, she’d get the highest score, because she wasn’t going anywhere until it was completely over.
“Shh,” he said as he plunged again and Crandall felt her body quiver with excitement, at the pinnacle of the big O. They hung there in suspended animation, both of them caught up in the moment of climax. “Oh my word,” she breathed, “that was unbelievable, perfect, delicious. I have never in my life even thought about doing anything like what we just did. Especially up against silk wallpaper.”
Suddenly, Zack began to laugh. Then he laughed harder as he leaned over, kissed her and withdrew, while looking down at her, his eyes greener than she’d ever seen. An impish grin crept onto his face. “You’re the only woman I can think of on this planet that would be talking about silk wallpaper just after orgasm.”
Slowly, she unwrapped her legs and slid down his body. Then, at the absurdity, she began to laugh herself. She grabbed him in a bear hug and they both laughed in each other’s arms until both of them were almost in convulsions.
“I’ve never laughed after
having sex before,” he said. “I think I like it.”
“Maybe that’s because you’ve never made love,” she answered, and felt his grip tighten on her.
“Crandall, I…I…don’t know what you want. I know what I feel. I just don’t know what I can do. I mean. I can’t …”
“What do you mean you can’t? You just did.”
He stared down. “I don’t deny I felt more than sex. But we haven’t known each other that long. I mean, it wasn’t that long ago we were Don and Jez. Can’t we just enjoy it for whatever it is right now?”
She sighed. “Never mind you fool, just kiss me and make it better.” Somehow, no matter how great his kiss, she doubted it would.
Chapter Fifteen
Crandall quietly tiptoed down the hallway of her hotel floor at daybreak, holding her shoes in her hand. As luck wouldn’t have it, Gretta’s door opened just as she passed by.
“And where have you been?”
She stopped in mid-tiptoe and turned with a fake grin. “Hi, just went downstairs to see the sun come up?”
“Want to try something a little more credible, like, I don’t know, I went to get a copy of the Wall Street Journal since they deliver the Sierra Landing Journal, or maybe an early breakfast, not room service? Of course, the fact you’re still wearing last night’s clothes doesn’t bode well for an excuse.”
Crandall glanced at Gretta’s amused grin, her laugh coming out as a titter. “Don’t guess you’d believe we were at an all-night coffee house?” At Gretta’s folded arms, her shoulders sagged. “Okay, I failed miserably and wrapped all my monkey body parts around the guy. No chandelier, just walls and floors.”
Gretta walked over, grabbed her by the shoulders and propelled her into the room, closing the door behind them. “Don’t announce that to the world.”
Laughing again nervously, Crandall sagged into a chair. “Like the world is up at this ungodly hour.”
Gretta smiled and grabbed her hand. “How was he?”
Looking at her in shock, Crandall’s face burned in spite of herself. Exhaling, she nodded. “He was great. In fact, I learned things last night I never even knew existed. Did you know the Regency had silk wallpaper?”
Gretta cackled. “I’m not going there. Good, you needed to release some anxiety.”
“One thing bothered me, though.” She leaned her elbow on the arm of the chair. “Zack started to give me the don’t get serious speech when I mentioned we’d made love not just had sex.”
“Ouch!” Gretta sank to a sitting position on the side of the bed. “Been there, heard that, bought the box of tissues.”
Crandall nodded. “I know. It made a perfect night not quite as perfect as it could have been. Besides he mentioned someone who had to be a woman in his life earlier when we were in Oklahoma. I’m not sure what I’m doing.”
“Another woman?” Gretta shook her head. “Believe me, I know he doesn’t have a love interest, except for you. Mike’s told me time and time again that he’d wished Zack had one because he’s such a workaholic.”
“What do you mean Mike’s told you that?” Crandall narrowed her eyes as she looked at her friend. “What does Mike know about Zack?”
At Gretta’s red face, her suspicions rose like the small hairs did on her arm. “Mike knows Zack?”
“Sort of.”
“How sort of?”
Gretta sighed. “Look, I was going to tell you soon. Believe me when I tell you Mike knows nothing proprietary, nothing from me about Washington, Pretzlelicious, or your current lawsuit issues. I’d swear on a Bible. I was just worried you’d discover the connection after you met Zack and wasn’t sure how to tell you.”
“And the connection is?”
Gretta looked down at the floor. “Mike’s Zack’s cousin and Vice-President of Scrumbles.”
Crandall jumped up. “I can’t believe it. I feel like I’m being played for a fool by my best friend, my only friend, really. How could you?”
Gretta stepped toward her. “Crandall, I’d never do anything to hurt you. Look, you’re exhausted, let’s talk about this when you’re refreshed. Do me a favor, stay here in case Washington figures out which room you’re in and try to get some sleep. We can talk when you wake up, and we’ll go to the challenge at one.”
“No way.” Crandall stomped across the room to the door. “This whole trip is a frickin’ disaster. Don’t talk to me at all right now and don’t come for me at noon. I’ll get to the challenge on my own. In fact, don’t speak to me until I approach you. I still don’t know if I can trust you anymore.”
****
“What do you mean you haven’t told her about the tobacco company?” Mike asked Zack on the phone. “She needs to know before Xavier tells her in some devious and appalling manner. Don’t put anything past the guy.”
“I don’t put anything past him but last night just wasn’t a good time to tell her.” Zack winced at the pitiful sound of his voice. His statement was lame by his standards and, although Mike was more forgiving than he was, his cousin probably wouldn’t buy it either.
“You didn’t tell her because you were screwing her brains out, right?”
“She’s not a piece of ass.”
Mike chuckled. “I know, and I didn’t mean to imply that. But you were having sex, you won’t deny that will you?”
“Has Gretta already reported that to you?” Zack sat down on the side of his bed, still feeling weak in his thigh muscles from last night. He’d lost muscle tone in just a few days.
“She called, yeah. Look, I confessed the connection with Crandall to you a while back. But Gretta didn’t and she is now in deep shit. She talked to Crandall when she got back from your hotel and let it slip I knew you. Crandall didn’t take it as well as you did.”
Zack exhaled sharply. “Which means she doesn’t trust me, either. Great. Now I have two strikes against me and I haven’t even batted yet. Okay, I’ll try to see her before she leaves the hotel. Any other great news you’d care to impart?”
At the long silence, he wondered just what was going through Mike’s head. “For your information, I never told Gretta anything about what we were doing, and when we went to Paris, I only knew she went to see that Frenchman at the factory. She made it plain she couldn’t divulge any other information. Just don’t make me break her trust too.”
“I wouldn’t do that.” Zack hit the bed with his fist.
“Anything you want to tell me, Zack?”
“Yeah, buddy.” Zack wanted to have a punching bag. This bed wouldn’t do the trick by any stretch of the imagination. His anxiety level was on ten. With an amazing moment of clarity, he told his cousin the truth. “I think I fell in love last night.”
“It’s about time.”
****
“Damn car!” Tom stared at the side of the road and wished for the umpteenth time he’d charged his cell phone last night. It was dead-dead, now charging in the car, but didn’t want to work yet. No way to signal help and here he was, in the middle of a freeway with a rental that bit the dust. You’d think the rental companies could do better. Although he was sure whatever was wrong was something they couldn’t spot without a mechanic, the realization did nothing for his sense of urgency. He was supposed to deliver this note to Crandall Drake in her hotel room at noon sharp. If he didn’t make it, he’d goofed, just like Magic had alluded. How do you always know, old man? I still don’t believe you’re Santa Claus.
Getting out of the convertible, he put his thumb out. With his luck, he’d end up in a dumpster somewhere in parts. Here’s hoping he made it in time.
****
At noon, still shaky, Crandall rose from the bed and quickly put on the clothes she planned to wear to the challenge. No longer certain of any victory or even certain she’d get out of this town unscathed by self-doubt and life-altering bitterness, she tried to repair her face, still tear-stained and sallow from anguish, heartbreak and depression. She had to find a better concealer, but doubted even
a thousand dollar tube was capable of repairing the damage. A knock on the door made her freeze.
I swear, if this is Zack or Gretta, they’re leaving. Quickly making her way to the door she halted. “Who’s there?”
“Crandall, Xavier here. Won’t even cross the threshold. Just delivering a message.”
With trepidation, she cracked the door and cringed as she saw him, designed suit and slime. “What could you say to me I want to hear?”
He laughed. “This you’ll want to know. I have kept it a secret, but after your last night buddy session with Mr. Slick, it’s only right you be forewarned. I told you you’d be better off with me.”
She closed her eyes momentarily and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “What’s your message, Xavier? I’m busy right now.”
He crossed his arms and cocked his head sideways. “Just thought you’d like to know Zack and I have done business together. In fact, I own a company of his. He even came to see me a couple of weeks ago.”
His words hit her gut like a gallon of hot sauce. “You’re lying, but you always were good at fabricating the truth. Zack didn’t even know who you were when he first saw you.”
At his hearty laugh, every fiber in Crandall’s body was on fire. No way would this man give her helpful information, yet he was getting pleasure in this. Probably because he simply liked to inflict pain. “What’s your real purpose for telling me this and why do I want to think he’s the one at fault here? He’s the one who’s always been kind, treated me with respect. You on the other hand, have never been Mr. Nice Guy. In fact, you’ve always made sure you did whatever you could to douse me with gasoline and strike a match.”
Xavier’s eyes grew black with rage. “I’ve loved you all my life, you stupid bitch. Wake up and smell the roses. It’s the chump you’ve been screwing who’s taking you for a ride. I dare you to check out all the corporation papers on Gentleman’s Tobacco. You can find the transfer recorded right here in Sierra Landing. Have a great challenge.”
****
Zack raced down the hall of the hotel. Twelve-fifteen and late. He’d fallen asleep in a chair. Bad mistake considering he’d had hideous nightmares and thought he’d seen Xavier Washington leave in a car. Why would he have been here, anyway? Zack was absolutely positive the wimp made Crandall’s skin crawl. He made his way to the door of her room, and was poised to knock when it opened. At her startled look, he decided they were on even ground.
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