Then the person looking for her would have found her.
If he hadn’t looked for Zoe, Carlton would have found her and given her location to whomever sought her out. A person Byron believed was connected to Kendell. He’d gotten Dominic to intercept her emails so she wouldn’t see them anymore while he searched for the source. She’d be dealing with this on her own if he hadn’t looked for her.
“We’re helping each other out. That’s all,” Byron said.
Travis met Byron’s eyes. “I get it. Being with her is complicated and she broke your heart.”
“She didn’t break my heart.”
Travis smirked. “Sure. Your stance on never falling in love just magically happened after she left you.”
“I was like that before.” He’d dated women without thoughts of the future before meeting Zoe. Zoe was just the one woman he’d wanted more than a casual affair with.
“Byron, stop trying to talk yourself out of doing what you want. I get it, the campaign would be harder, but what do you really want? Go for it. Go for her.”
Byron felt a sensation in his chest. The same sensation he’d experienced whenever she looked at him as if she felt something, too. The instinct to take her in his arms and ask her to be with him.
He already knew how that would end. He’d confessed his feelings to her once before and she’d turned him down. He’d be setting himself up for disappointment again.
“I didn’t bring her back into my life for this.”
“Are you sure? Because if you believe one hundred percent that Zoe isn’t into you then cool. But if you have any indication she could feel the same, don’t let another thirteen years go by wondering what could have happened. All I’m saying is let her know you’re interested. Open the door and see if she walks through it. After all these years shouldn’t you at least try to shoot your shot?”
* * *
HE WAS WASTING his time. The thought went through Byron’s head over and over since talking to Travis earlier. Still, he found himself picking up the phone and calling Zoe later that evening. He hadn’t talked directly to Zoe after the need to amicably break up with his convenient fiancée arose. They’d been in damage control ever since. He hadn’t made it to the estate for the remainder of the weekend because of that. Byron wasn’t sure when Zoe would be back.
“Byron? Is everything okay?” Her voice sounded distant as if she was on speakerphone.
“Yeah, everything is good. I just wanted to check and see how you were doing.” He cleared his throat. “Did your presentation go well?”
In the middle of all the damage control he hadn’t gotten to ask Zoe how things had gone for her when she’d returned home. If the presentation she’d been working on so hard before he’d pulled her out for the night had impressed her boss or not.
Her deep sigh echoed through the phone. “Presentation went well.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Let’s just say I have to do some of my own damage control here,” she said. “John has expressed concerns about my current situation and how it’s affecting my job performance.”
Byron closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Damn, Zoe, I’m sorry.”
“You know what, it’s not your fault. Part of this is because I didn’t want to deal with my past.”
“But it wouldn’t be coming up and threatening your career if it wasn’t for me.”
“Well, this is just another reason to search for better opportunities.” Her voice was optimistic if strained. “I may need that good word you mentioned before.”
“Anything. Just let me know.” There he went trying to fix things for her again without question. Yolanda was right. He didn’t think straight when it came to Zoe. “Are you in the car?”
“Yeah, Lilah had archery practice tonight. I just dropped her off and I’m on my way home to work on some things until she’s done.”
“Is Lilah okay? After everything that happened?”
“She is,” Zoe said. “She thinks it’s all exciting and can’t wait to get back up to Jackson Falls again. I told her what Roy said. That we should lay low for a while.”
That was the plan, but Byron didn’t want to lay low or push Zoe away. “Don’t worry about Roy. Visit whenever you want.”
“Thanks, Lilah will appreciate that.” He heard the smile in her voice. Maybe Lilah wasn’t the only one who would appreciate that. “How are you doing?” she asked.
His fiancée dumped him because she felt he was still in love with Zoe. He and Zoe had never finished that conversation they’d had right before his life got scrambled. “Not too good.” He needed to know what she’d meant when she’d said she was in unfamiliar territory. He knew he couldn’t start a new relationship right now. Not with his breakup so fresh. He’d be killed by the media and no one would focus on the issues. Yet, he had to know. “I can’t stop thinking about that night.”
“Me either. Wait...what the hell?” Disbelief filled Zoe’s voice.
Byron stiffened. “What’s wrong?”
“There are police and fire trucks everywhere,” Zoe answered, sounding distracted. “I can’t get down our street because—”
A siren blared and cut off the end of her sentence. When she spoke again her voice trembled. “Oh, my God. My house is on fire!”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
SHE HAD NO HOME. Even though she’d watched in horror as the firefighters tried to save her place and seen the ceiling collapse, Zoe still couldn’t believe it. Her safe place, her refuge, was gone.
Her hand clenched into a fist and pounded against the balcony railing. In the weeks since the fire her life had been chaos. She’d taken a leave of absence from work. John hadn’t batted an eye and struggled to show an ounce of sympathy as she made the request. She had no clue where she’d work, but she doubted she’d go back to Valtec.
To her surprise, Grant insisted Zoe and Lilah move permanently into the pool house on the estate. As much as she wanted to deny, Zoe didn’t have anywhere else to go. Victoria would take her in, but on the heels of her past coming up, the media had taken an interest in the fire at Zoe’s home. She refused to bring drama to her friend’s doorstep. She’d agreed to the move at least until the fire investigation was done and she figured out what to do next. The fire marshal hadn’t suspected foul play, but between the emails and increased scrutiny in her life Zoe didn’t think the fire was an accident. Without the sanctuary of her home she felt exposed and uneasy.
The other thing Grant insisted on was the family taking a sabbatical. Things were too hot in the media. They needed time to plan. She’d been in such a state of shock she hadn’t thought to say no when Grant told her the entire family was spending a week at their vacation home in the Smokey Mountains. The thought of a break away from everything, the campaigning, the realization her house was gone, the way John practically pushed her out the door at work, made her agree instantly.
In hindsight, a week in a mountain home with the Robidoux family was probably not the way to relax and think things through.
The sliding glass door connecting the room next to Zoe’s with the balcony opened and Lilah came out. “Mom, are you okay?”
Zoe took a deep breath. She was so not okay. She was frightened, angry and more than anything she was tired. She buried all that deep and turned to give her daughter a reassuring smile. “I’m admiring the view. It’s beautiful up here.”
Lilah came to stand next to her at the balcony. Their room overlooked nothing but mountains and trees. The view was breathtaking and peaceful with not a sign of another home as far as the eye could see. If only she could hide up here forever.
“It is pretty,” Lilah said. She leaned her head on Zoe’s shoulder. “Can we stay up here?”
Zoe wrapped an arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “We can’t.” She squeezed Lilah closer to her. “But whil
e we’re here we’ll figure out how to pick up the pieces and keep moving forward.”
“T.J. asked me to be his girlfriend,” Lilah said, referring to the boy who’d asked her to his party the day Byron showed up.
Zoe blinked several times. She’d forgotten about T.J. in all the changes in their life. That seemed like a lifetime ago. “He did? When?”
“Right before we left. I told him we could stay friends. I don’t have time for a boyfriend. Not right now. Besides... I wasn’t sure if we’d be going back.”
Zoe heard the question in her daughter’s voice. “I don’t know yet. Do you want to go back?”
Lilah’s shoulders lifted and lowered. “I don’t know. I miss my friends and school, but I like Byron. I like having a family. Now that Yolanda’s gone...”
Zoe dropped her arm from Lilah’s and faced her daughter. “Don’t start that. Not right now.”
Byron had been great ever since the fire. He’d gotten off the phone with her and driven straight to Greenville the same night. He’d been beside her every step of the way. She didn’t want to lean on him, didn’t want to become dependent on anyone after years of fighting to stand on her own, but he didn’t offer help in a way that made her feel she owed him. He treated her as a partner and damn if that didn’t make it harder for her to forget the ache in her heart when he was near.
“But Mom—”
“Not now, Lilah. I’m not saying that again. We’ve got enough to worry about right now. Okay?”
Lilah let out a long sigh, but she nodded. “Well, I came out to ask if you wanted to go with me and Aunt Elaina.”
“Go where?” Elaina had been a godsend. She’d entertained Lilah and kept her spirits up as any true aunt would. Zoe couldn’t thank her enough but doubted Elaina would accept thanks. She’d probably roll her eyes and tell Zoe she was being ridiculous.
“Some boutique store,” Lilah said excitedly. “She says if she doesn’t get out of here she’s going to hit something.”
Zoe smiled. She’d been surprised Elaina made it this long without saying that. The only family member Elaina seemed comfortable around was Byron. She understood the need for an escape. “I don’t want to go, but you can.”
Lilah grinned. “Thanks. Grandpa and Ms. Patricia are out, and I think Aunt India and Uncle Travis went sightseeing.”
“Everyone needed a break, huh?” Herself included. She’d spent most of the day in her room and on the balcony. Byron was off for a campaign appearance. The family could take a break, but with the race heating up as it was, he couldn’t afford to do the same. He was supposed to join the family later that night.
Zoe went back into the bedroom. Lilah followed her. “I think so. If you’re going to stay you should get in the hot tub.”
Zoe sat on the bed. “Why?”
Lilah shrugged and pulled on the edge of one of her braids. “You look tense. No one is here. Take a few minutes to relax.”
“I think I’m just going to take a nap.”
Lilah leaned in and kissed Zoe on the forehead. “Mom, it’s three in the afternoon and you’re too old to take a nap. Grab a book and relax in the hot tub. For me, please.”
Zoe poked Lilah in the belly button and grinned. “I’m not too old for anything.”
Lilah laughed and grabbed her purse off the chair. “Fine. See you later.”
Zoe waved at Lilah as she swept out the door. She lay back on the bed and hugged a pillow to her, instantly realizing she wouldn’t be able to sleep. Her mind wouldn’t rest. Not with all the problems going through her head. She’d just sit there going over all the things she needed to do. Find a job. Find a home. Figure out why her house burned down.
Zoe jumped up from the bed and pulled open a drawer. Ten minutes later she’d changed into her bathing suit, grabbed a towel and was downstairs going to the outdoor hot tub. The house was quiet, and Zoe was thankful for that. She found herself relaxing at the thought of the warm water and soothing jets in the hot tub.
She opened the door to the back and froze. “What are you doing here?”
Byron’s head shot up. He lounged in the space she planned to relax. His arms stretched out along the edges. He’d had his head back and eyes closed when she’d come out on the deck.
“I thought you were going out with Elaina and Lilah,” he said.
“Lilah told me she was leaving and said I should come down here. She didn’t tell me you were here.”
“I just got back. Elaina suggested I relax while the house was quiet.”
They stared for several seconds then they both started laughing. “I think we’ve been set up,” Zoe said.
“I think so.” Byron’s eyes softened.
Zoe fought not to squirm. Heat spread through her midsection. The bubbles from the water popped against his bare chest. He was golden brown and glistening in the afternoon sunlight. Her nipples hardened and gooseflesh tightened her skin. “I can come back.”
He shook his head and slid over. “No need. Come on. There’s plenty of room.”
Sense said go back upstairs and relax with her book. Convenience said she’d already changed and was down here. “If you’re sure.” She crossed the deck and stopped at the edge of the whirlpool.
Zoe sat down her towel and slipped out of the flip-flops she’d worn down. Her entire body was cognizant of Byron’s gaze on her. She’d put on a black two-piece halter-style bathing suit. Not very suggestive or sexy, but she was aware of every inch of bare skin. Skin that tingled for his touch.
She eased into the water. The hot tub was big enough to comfortably fit four. Byron moved to the opposite side, giving her plenty of room. Still, with his long legs stretched out, their feet touched. He moved his feet quickly. Zoe couldn’t believe how much she wished he hadn’t.
“I take it campaigning hasn’t been great,” she said, trying not to wonder what type of shorts he wore beneath the bubbling water.
Byron shook his head. “It’s rough as hell. McLeod won’t focus on the issues. Every point I make he counters with a personal attack.”
“From what I’ve researched, you can hit him back with personal attacks.” McLeod had come after Byron for bad family values when he’d been married three times, each time with a woman he’d been having an affair with. His business dealings were shady, but voters didn’t have time to focus on that if he kept deflecting to Byron’s faults.
“I can,” Byron replied slowly.
“But you won’t?” Byron wasn’t deceitful or a dirty player, but she also didn’t know him to not use every advantage available to him to win.
“I didn’t say that. Dad gives money to groups who are more willing to handle personal attacks.”
Zoe’s brows rose. “You let other people do the dirty work.”
“I didn’t think I’d be okay with that, but when he came for you and Lilah all bets were off.” His voice hardened. “No one comes after my family. Not unless they’re ready for the consequences.”
The determination in his voice sent a thrill through her. A man with fight in him had always been a turn-on for her. Usually with disastrous results. Byron’s fight would never be directed at her physically or emotionally, and that made him even more sexy.
“We aren’t really your family.”
She said the words for herself. For someone not used to having reliable people around, Byron’s open acceptance of her was tempting. Too tempting.
“We agreed you were.” Byron’s voice was still as sincere as before. “Don’t be surprised when I treat you like family.” His lips spread in a sexy smile.
Zoe rubbed her hands over her thighs, which were slick beneath the warm water. “It’s a fantasy. One for the outside world, but not us. We have to stay focused.”
She had to stay focused. He was fresh out of an engagement of convenience. Her life was in limbo. She couldn’t get lost
in fantasies of really being Byron’s family.
He dropped his arms from the edges of the hot tub and shifted one seat closer to her. His brows drew together. “Focused on what?”
His foot brushed hers again. Electricity shot up her leg and sizzled across her skin. Her sex clenched. She pulled her foot away. “Focus on reality. That this is politics for you and protection for Lilah and me.”
Silence stretched between them. His unwavering gaze consumed her even though she refused to look his way. If she looked she knew what she’d see. She’d seen that same look in Byron’s eyes before. A look that promised everything she’d always been too afraid to believe in.
Byron slid even closer. One arm stretched along the back of the hot tub until the tips of his fingers barely brushed her shoulder. “What if...this isn’t just politics for me?”
That made her look at him. His nose scrunched up the way it did when he was nervous. The look was in his eye, but it wasn’t like before. He didn’t look cocky, no hint of the swagger that constantly cloaked him. He looked as if he was just as afraid to make this leap as she.
Her heart danced like the bubbles in the hot tub. She struggled to breathe as she watched him. Her skin felt flushed. Not from the water, but from the craving simmering in his eyes. “What else could it be?”
His eyes closed for a second before he spoke in a rush. “Despite my better judgment I keep coming back to you.”
The frustration in his voice gave her pause. “Your better judgment?” That was not the romantic declaration she’d expected.
Her defensive tone must have been infectious. Byron’s shoulders straightened and he turned sideways to face her fully.
“Yes, Zoe, my better judgment. I loved you in college, but I sat back and respected your relationship with a man who didn’t deserve you. I did that because it was your decision who you wanted to be with. When I told you how I felt you laughed it off and went back to him. That shit hurt like hell, but it didn’t stop me from helping you when you needed me. I don’t regret a thing. Then or now, but I know some of what Yolanda said is true. I still care about you. I’ll always care. I don’t expect you to feel the same, and I don’t want you to be with me because you think you owe me something. I just need you to understand—” he pointed at her “—that a part of me—” he slapped his hand to his chest “—feels like an idiot for pining after you for years, knowing you don’t feel the same.”
Scandalous Secrets Page 17