by Noelle Adams
He regarded her for a tense moment, clearly surprised and maybe even confused by her change of direction. She was a little confused herself, but waited for his response.
He dragged the twin guest chair to a more accessible angle before settling in with his coffee. “Kris didn’t tell you that story yesterday?”
“She said it’s better told by you.”
Zach rolled his eyes and took a drink. “It’s boring no matter who tells it.”
“It’ll be my job to make it less boring, but first you have to tell me.”
Slouching to a more comfortable position in the chair, he swept his gaze around the understated yet luxurious office. “We didn’t have much growing up, even though Dad worked two jobs and mom worked nights. Matt and I loved movies, but going to the theater was too expensive, even back then, so we rented instead. Just before I turned seventeen, I remember my dad complaining because my mom forgot to return a couple movies we’d gotten over the weekend and he had to pay late fees. What irked him the most was paying almost double for one that she’d been too busy to even watch.”
Sadie knew all about late fees from when she struck out on her own and first tried to manage her income. They could really kill an already strained budget.
In a completely unrelated thought, the mention of Matt had her jotting herself a reminder to figure out if Zach knew his brother was seeing her sister. And at some point she was going to have to find a moment to call Gemma about what that jerk had inferred in the lobby.
“I figured there were probably plenty of people just like my parents,” Zach continued, bringing her attention back to the interview. “People who worked hard and sometimes just needed a little break—especially over something as small as a movie, and that’s where the idea came from. I built on the concept that customers could keep a title as long as they wanted, until they had time in their busy lives to actually watch it, they just couldn’t get another one until they returned what they had.”
“What made you decide to use the mail?”
“Stores were out of the question because of the startup costs, not to mention distribution would be too limited—especially back when video stores were on practically every block already. Membership through the mail opened up the entire country.”
Kris had been right; not necessarily a genius idea, but more like a simple concept with genius execution.
Sadie jotted a few notes in shorthand. “Kris said your parents didn’t help you with startup money, that you did everything by yourself?”
“I did.”
She lifted her gaze to watch his response to her next question. “Did that bother you, not having their support?”
“Not a bit.”
Support withheld from the one person—or persons, she amended—you wanted to believe in you was not something so easily shaken off. Her raised eyebrows of disbelief did nothing to alter his relaxed expression.
“You have to understand, even if they’d wanted to, they didn’t have the money to give to me back then,” he explained. “But they did support me in every other way they could. If I was in a pinch filling orders, shipping envelopes, processing payments…they jumped in whenever I needed them. Not to mention, they listened, advised and counseled whenever I asked.”
“Now that I can buy.” Especially since that’s all she’d ever wanted herself.
“Some people don’t understand it, but they did me a favor by making me work for the success on my own. I had no safety net, it was all on me. I fought harder for everything because failure would’ve meant proving everyone right who said I couldn’t do it, or that it was a stupid idea. Knowing that I earned everything I have makes life that much sweeter.”
She nodded, understanding one hundred percent. “Were there a lot of naysayers?”
“Enough. Friends. Classmates. A couple aunts and uncles, and some of my cousins.” He chuckled. “The same ones who enjoy my beach house when they come to visit.”
“Bet they’re glad they were wrong.”
“They tell me that every time.” His head tilted the slightest bit. “You know, we’re having a birthday party for my dad this Friday at their place. You should come.”
Sadie met his gaze, heart lifting in anticipation while at the same time her stomach plummeted at the thought of meeting his family.
“Mom and dad could give you the beginning of the story from their point of view.”
Ah. He didn’t want to introduce her to his parents, he was simply offering her more access to his life for the damn article. Sufficiently disillusioned, Sadie gave a non-committal shrug. “I wouldn’t want to intrude on the party.”
“It’s not intruding if I invite you. Would it matter if I tell you they love telling embarrassing stories even more than Kris?”
She laughed. “You realize they’re not embarrassing if you don’t mind them being told?”
“I mind. I’m just willing to endure the torture if it means you’ll agree to come.”
Now her heart warmed again. “I’ll think about it.”
The phone on Zach’s desk interrupted their conversation and he got up with a sigh. After a glance at the caller ID, he lifted the handset. “Hey, Brian, can you hold on for a moment?”
Was he going to kick her out again? She lifted her chin with determination and met Zach’s gaze across the desk.
But all he did was ask, “Were you serious about hanging out for the day, or was that just to mess with Matt?”
“Both. I have a few more questions, but I’ll fit them in when you have time. Otherwise I was going to get my notes in order and start writing the article, so you just do what you need to do. Pretend like I’m not even here.”
He grinned. “Sadie, that would be impossible.”
Twenty-One
Zach found out exactly how true his statement was over the next couple of hours. He did his best to concentrate on work, but more often than not found himself sneaking glances at Sadie. She’d done some texting on her phone earlier, and didn’t seem too happy with whatever the response was, but now her blond head was bent as she stared at her laptop screen.
Her fingers tapped the keys off and on, and during the pauses he enjoyed watching her face. Sometimes her mouth curved with a hint of a smile, and sometimes those expressive eyebrows of hers drew together, adding a cute little wrinkle to the smooth skin of her forehead But whatever her expression read, her concentration remained focused.
Now if only he could. Unfortunately, the financial spreadsheets his CFO had forwarded did not hold the same appeal as Sadie. She was much more pleasing to look at, especially as he recalled the taste of her lips and the feel of her breasts pressed against his chest.
He’d surprised even himself with that impromptu kiss at the door, but boy was he glad he’d made the move. Later he planned to get another one—longer and much more private. After dinner, because he was going to hold her to that invite, whether she’d been messing with Matt or not.
That reminder brought on his own frown as he shifted his gaze away from her. He still wasn’t entirely sure there wasn’t more going on in that situation than what she’d explained. Matt had gone out of his way to give Sadie the impression he’d slept with someone last night. What other reason could there be than to make her jealous?
A rush of possessiveness caught him off guard, same as it had earlier in the hall. He and Matt had liked the same girl twice in the past, but they’d each taken a turn stepping aside and neither relationship had lasted past a couple dates. The thought of Matt going after Sadie, however, was enough to make his blood boil.
“Do you often glare off into space during the day?”
Zach jerked his gaze around to find Sadie watching him. A soft smile curved her kissable lips. He returned it as he said, “No.”
“So what’s bothering you?” she asked.
Not going there.
“I’m hungry,” he stated. “You about ready for lunch?”
“Hold on, let me make a note.” She spoke
her next words out loud as she typed, “Gets angry when he’s hungry.”
“I’m not angry.”
“Your jaw was all clenched and you looked like you’re ready to punch someone.”
He realized his hands were balled into fists and forced his fingers to relax. When his gaze met Sadie’s, he read questions in her blue eyes. She probably wouldn’t be too surprised if he told her the real reason for his tension, but she might get spooked over his territorial reaction.
So he went down the other road with her, the one he figured those silent questions in her eyes put her on. She’d been upset about him asking her to leave while he spoke with George Truner, but instead of pushing the confrontation, for some reason she’d backed off. Now, he felt a little guilty about the whole thing and hoped an abbreviated explanation would score some brownie points.
“That call I took earlier? Well, we’re in the middle of a touchy negotiation to acquire a company that will optimize our video streaming line of business and keep us competitive in that market,” he said. “It’s got me a little preoccupied, and right about now, lunch would help. You want to go grab a sandwich—my treat?”
She stared at him for a few seconds before his question seemed to register. Then she looked down at her computer, color flooding her suddenly flustered expression. “Um, I appreciate the offer, but I have some errands to take care of, so I’ll probably just meet you back here.”
Brushing aside his disappointment, he decided it was probably better this way. It would give him time to find Matt and get his side of the morning scene in the lobby.
He waited while Sadie dug her keys from her bag, and then he closed the office door as they made their way out.
After she left the building, he backtracked and rapped his knuckles on Matt’s door. No answer prompted a quick glance inside to confirm the empty office. No one seemed to know where he’d gone, either, so Zach left to get something to eat. Frustration nipped at him from two fronts. One, that he couldn’t question his brother, and two, at a time when he should be focusing one hundred percent on MovieMail, he was acting like a love-struck, jealous teenager.
Somehow, he had to get his head back in the game.
By mid-afternoon, he figured out that wouldn’t happen until after he’d left for North Carolina in the morning and didn’t have the distraction of Sadie snuggled in the chair directly across from him. Instead of concentrating on the executive reports in front of him, he debated where to take her to dinner, and thought about what dessert he’d taste on her lips afterward.
Finally, he plopped his pen down on the desk calendar and sat back in his chair. Sadie glanced up from her computer as if she expected him to say something.
“So, you’re learning all this stuff about me…do I get to ask some questions of my own?”
Her eyebrows rose. “Like what?”
“Tell me about your parents, growing up in Wisconsin, stuff like that.”
She shifted in her seat, gaze back on her computer screen. “That’s not a question.”
“Fine. Then let’s start with…are your parents still married?”
“My biological parents never married, but my mom and stepdad have been together since I was seven.”
“And your dad?”
“Don’t know.” She glanced up as if realizing how abrupt the two words sounded. “He left after Gemma was born and we haven’t heard from him since.”
“That sucks.”
She lifted a shoulder as if she didn’t care. “I don’t remember him, so there was never anything to miss.”
“Do you get along with your stepdad?”
A spark of suspicion lit her eyes. “Why the sudden interest in my parents?”
“Just curious about you.”
“And yet all your questions are about them.”
“Where a person comes from can reveal a lot.” He stood and made his way around the desk, giving her time to think while at the same time letting her know he expected an answer. For a moment, it appeared he’d be waiting in vain, but then she shrugged as if she didn’t care.
“Okay, then, here you go. We grew up the exact opposite of you once my mom married. My stepdad has lots of money, and gave us everything a kid could want. Except he used that to make sure we towed his line—attended private school instead of public, joined the groups he deemed appropriate, made honor roll, things like that. He had his trophy wife and wanted to make sure his stepdaughters rounded out his perfect image. How’s that for revealing?”
If she’d been able to keep the bitterness from her voice, he might have bought her attempt at indifference. He now understood why she was so touchy about money. And also wondered, was her back and forth with this attraction between them really because she worried about people judging her for dating someone who was wealthy, or did she fear a relationship with him would take away her freedom and independence?
“Not bad,” he responded in answer to her question. “Your stepfather doesn’t sound like a nice guy.”
Sadie sighed. “He’s fine if you do what he wants. Gemma and I never wanted what he wanted, so we left. I do believe my mother loves him, and they seem happy together, so that’s what really matters now that I’m on my own.”
“That’s a good way to look at it.”
“I realized a couple years ago that’s the only way to look at it.”
Except what affect did her stepfather’s controlling ways have on her relationship with her mother? If she and her sister were in a bind financially, they should be able to call their mother for help. Or a loan at the least. Didn’t sound like the woman stood up for her daughters much.
He sat on the edge of his desk and chose his next words carefully. “I’m going to ask you another question that you probably won’t like…”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t ask it,” she advised with a tight smile.
“Probably not, but the problem is, I feel somewhat responsible with you having lost your job and all.”
“I don’t blame you for that anymore, Zach. Never really did in the first place.”
“Still…are you and Gemma okay on rent money?”
“We’re fine.” Except she suddenly found something very interesting on the laptop again.
“Because if you need help, I can give you the—”
Sadie stiffened in her chair, but before he could finish the sentence, a couple sharp knocks preceded Matt’s entrance into the office.
“Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I had to change my schedule a bit. Instead of flying back with you, I have to stop in San Fran, and then I’ll catch an early flight back here Friday morning.”
Zach cast another glance at Sadie’s rigid expression as he asked his brother, “Everything okay?”
“Just a few contractor issues to sort out. No biggie. And listen, I’ve got plans tonight, so are you okay if we go over everything on the plane? We’ll have more than enough time.”
Seeing as he had his own plans, Zach nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine with that. Just make sure you get some sleep tonight.”
Matt chuckled, his gaze sweeping past Sadie as he turned for the door. “There’s no fun in sleeping,” he tossed over his shoulder on the way out.
Zach’s rueful headshake came to a halt when Sadie slammed her computer shut and shot to her feet.
“I can’t believe you’re encouraging this.”
Hoping to diffuse her tension, he gave her a teasing grin. “He’s right—sleeping is no fun compared to the alternative.”
“So you’re really okay with him…with them…with what’s going on?”
He shrugged. “As long as it’s mutual…”
Sadie’s dark gaze shot daggers at him. “He had a fiancé less than two weeks ago.”
Zach straightened from his desk, irritated at the return of his jealousy. “So what? Maybe it’s rebound sex, maybe it’s the real deal. Either way, it’s none of our business, so what do you care what my brother does?”
“What do I care?” she re
peated incredulously. “It’s my sister.”
“What?” He frowned in confusion. “What does Gemma have to do with this?”
“So you really don’t know?” she asked.
The question gave him the benefit of the doubt, but her skepticism did not. “Know what?”
“Your brother is…dating my sister.”
“Right,” Zach scoffed. “Where the hell did you get a crazy idea like that?”
“Let’s see, I think it occurred to me somewhere between him showing up at our apartment yesterday with a new car battery and movie screening tickets, and this morning when he pretty much gloated that they’d slept together.”
Her sarcasm delivered a virtual gut-punch that dropped him back onto the corner of his desk, his protective resentment deflated. Couldn’t argue Matt’s implication that morning, he just hadn’t had a clue Gemma Barton was the woman he’d apparently scored with. What the hell was his brother thinking?
But Sadie was still on a roll. “You said it yourself, he’s using her for rebound sex.”
Just like that she jolted his irritation back to life.
“Whoa—don’t be twisting my words,” he warned. “You said they went to a screening, she’s an actress, so who’s using who?”
“Well, it’s certainly not Gemma.”
“And I don’t think it’s Matt.”
Zach stood his ground against the fire snapping in Sadie’s eyes and wondered how the hell he could be so thoroughly irritated with her yet still want nothing more than to pull her into his arms and kiss her?
In the stalemate, he offered up a different scenario. “Think about it for a second. You said you were messing with him this morning, so maybe he was doing the same thing just to push your buttons.”
“Gemma won’t answer my calls or texts,” she argued.
“You know your sister, would she really sleep with Matt on their first date?”
“Apparently, it was their second.”
“Still…?”
“Not usually, no.” Yet his calm reasoning did nothing to soften her glare as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Neither would I, and yet”—she held up her thumb and forefinger about a quarter inch apart—“I came this close to sleeping with you the other night.”