Chapter 15
Zach
My phone vibrates and, absently, I answer with my eyes glued to the spreadsheet on the computer screen.
I’ve been in my office for several hours now, and even when Walker and Donovan arrived earlier, I left them with Morgan so I could get some work done.
I hope they take the hint that I’ve no time to socialize and leave soon.
“Rothwell.”
“Zach, it’s Drew Hayes. Paige’s brother.” He sounds formal and uptight.
I bite back my smirk at the mention of Paige. We knew each other before his sister, but now that I’m supposedly with her, he’s calling about her. I expected this call, just not so soon.
“Drew, nice to hear from you.” Resting back into the chair, I push away from the desk. “Paige is fine.”
“Yes, I spoke with her a few hours ago. Why are you seeing my sister? And now she’s staying in your home. She isn’t alone. She has family.” He’s unapologetically blunt and I tamp down my irritation at his tone, forcing myself to see things from his point of view.
“I’ve got the best lawyers dealing with her landlord.
He won’t get anywhere near her again. As for why I’m seeing your sister, something tells me Paige wouldn’t be impressed if she knew you were asking.
What goes on with your sister is between us.
All I’ll say is, I like her. As I’m sure you’ll agree, she’s a smart, funny, and beautiful woman. I enjoy her company.”
He emits something akin to a growl but offers no words, so I continue, “And she’s staying with me because she experienced a traumatic event and I didn’t want her alone in a hotel, or in your parents’ home for that matter.
I find it hard to believe you would have wanted that.
As for why she agreed to stay with me, you’ll have to ask Paige. ”
It’s a gamble to respond in this way because I’m not clear as to what response Paige may give him. She wants to be independent and while she talks about staying with her parents, it’s clear to see that is the last thing she wants.
“No, you’re right. I’m grateful she wasn’t alone last night or now.
Thank you,” he relents, and his tone loosens a bit.
“Look, Zach, don’t be a dick. If this is a game for you, make sure she knows your intentions.
She plays a good game at needing no one—and don’t get me wrong, my sister is strong—but she doesn’t deserve to have her heart broken just for fun. ”
“Drew, understood, and just so you’re aware, I have no intentions of hurting your sister.”
“Well, we’ll just have to see about that, now won’t we?” He ends the call. No longer able to concentrate on work, I stare out the window thinking over our conversation.
His concern doesn’t change anything with Paige or our deal, and everything I told him was true.
She may be my business partner, but I was concerned for her last night and will do everything in my means to protect her.
As for our arrangement, we’re both adults and Paige entered into this with her eyes wide open.
No longer focused, I abandon my home office, knowing any further work will be fruitless. I near the living room, where Morgan is entertaining Donovan and Walker—they are still here—and Paige enters from the other side. She’s returned from her lunch with Nan.
“Hey.” Morgan waves to her.
I stride through the room to greet my faux girlfriend, despite the visitors, or if I’m being honest with myself, because of my visitors.
Cheeks flushed, Paige’s plump red lips pop and wild waves of chocolate hair fan around her petite frame. Gone is the timid, anxious woman of the night before.
“Hi.” I wrap an arm around her slender frame and my other hand cradles her face.
An electric thrill ripples through me and what should be a mere peck on her lips gives way to something more.
When my mouth crushes hers, the tip of my tongue coasts along the seam of her lips, demanding she open for me.
She doesn’t protest or retreat and I take, my tongue delving into the depths of her warm mouth.
Raspberries. That’s what she tastes like. Raspberries.
The soft, inviting feel of her in my arms, our mouths entwined, is all that matters. Everything else fades into nothingness. Sugary goodness. My fingers grip the flesh of her hip and the other hand holds the graceful slope of her neck and we kiss and kiss.
With the loud clearing of throats, I groan and slip back, resting my forehead on hers for a beat or two. She exhales softly, eyelids shuddering, and I force myself to step away. Fresh sweetness lingers on my lips and my tongue darts out to taste the remnants of her.
“Well, I can’t say that wasn’t worth the price of admission,” Donovan drawls, leaning his shoulder against the wall.
Morgan’s tittering and Walker’s chuckles come from behind me and I glare at them over my shoulder, tempted to kick them out before turning back to her. Her cheeks burn and she bows her head, eyes downcast, before sweeping past me.
“Hi, Morgan, Donovan, and—” she falters, searching for his name.
“Walker.” He smiles. “Walker Drummond. We met last night.”
“Yes. Sorry, I couldn’t remember your name.”
“Did you have a good time?” My troublesome cousin smirks.
“Yes.” Paige doesn’t falter, only accepting the question at face value.
“Good. So, I’m guessing this guy,” Morgan hooks her thumb at me, “never told you when I visit, I split my time between my grandmother’s and Zach’s. I hope it’s okay.”
“I told you it wouldn’t be a problem.” My eyes narrow in annoyance. She’s been here barely two hours and if needling us is going to become her favorite pastime, she’ll have to go back to our grandmother. Or I could be on edge because Paige seems distant and there are too many people here.
“Of course, that’s fine. I won’t be here long, anyway.” Paige glances to me and Morgan raises her eyebrows, as does Donovan.
“Where are you going?” I close the distance between us.
“I’m staying at my parents’.”
Masking my irritation, a huge smile lays claim to my mouth and I wrap my arms around her. “No, you aren’t.” I nuzzle her neck, spiking arousal throughout my body and she shivers, releasing a breathy puff that sounds a lot more like pleasure than shock.
“Zach.” Her body stiffens in my embrace and there’s a tension to her tone I’ve never heard before.
I’m not convinced it’s all ire. I can sense a need and I want to explore, get to know this side of her. She scowls at me, then to the men who are quietly albeit smugly watching. Morgan’s curious, and with the spectators around us, I’m reminded this is for show.
“Paige.” I play along, squeezing her tighter and breathing in an alluring combination of vanilla and seductive floral notes.
Still craving the taste of her, my tongue licks and sucks at the warm flesh of her neck and she wobbles as if her knees have given out.
Luckily, I’ve got her, bringing her closer.
Now would be the time to distance myself from her.
Even if only a charade, being this near is an attack on my senses, blurring the line between reality and fantasy.
“Morg, grab us some snacks. I’m hungry watching this sex show,” Donovan quips. “Although something tells me food isn’t going to cut it.”
“Get it yourself,” she fires back.
I growl, lifting my head to glower at him and Paige takes the moment to slip from my arms, dropping the leather-bound folder onto the table.
“What’s that?” Walker scratches his dark-stubbled chin, smiling warmly at Paige in an attempt to put her at ease.
I clear my throat, hoping it’ll also clear my head, and study her while she looks anywhere but at me. “Foundation stuff.”
“She got to you, didn’t she?” Morgan asks and Paige frowns.
None of us need clarification as to whom Morgan means. Nan shared with me her desire to have Paige run the annual gala. I’ve no doubt she can do it, but I also told Nan to let her decide. My grandmother’s ready acceptance of Paige is a very good sign.
“I wouldn’t say that, but I’m going to the foundation meeting on Tuesday.”
“You seemed really cozy with Nan at lunch.” Donovan’s eyes glitter with no good and my stomach clenches with the knowledge he saw Paige at the restaurant.
Morgan cackles, slapping her knees. “Hon, you’re in. Don’t kid yourself, the fact you have a folder means you’ve already committed.”
“No, I never said yes. I’m thinking it over. Besides, I already have a job.”
“See!” Morgan jumps to her feet, wildly pointing at Paige who is now backing away with her palms out in the universal signal for stop.
“You have this all wrong. Besides, if the rest of the foundation board is like Reagan Hussey, they’ll boot me off the island before I even get out of the boat.”
“What?” I stiffen and both Donovan and Walker straighten, too. Donovan pushes from the wall to edge closer to her like a shark smelling blood in the water.
My cousin stops dancing and her eyes widen. “Reagan? Reagan the Hussey was at lunch?”
Paige bites her lip as if stifling a snicker. “Is that really her last name?”
Walker nods, tight-lipped, and Morgan continues, “Sadly, for her, yes. The family made their fortune in textiles. And Reagan is a Hussey.”
She does it again, her play on words, and this time Paige giggles and Donovan barks out a laugh, adding, “Yeah, that’s true.”
“Not funny.” My chastising tone brings silence, all laughter petering out.
We stand in silence and Walker gazes at his feet while Donovan stares keenly at Paige. My cousin blinks a few times and then sticks her tongue out at me. “That’s her name.”
“You know what I mean. The innuendo is childish.”
“Whatever.” She shrugs. “What did Reagan have to say?”
“Morgan.” I rub at my temples, keeping a brewing headache at bay.