Bailey had been nervous as a tick all day. Last night had been so incredible she wanted to freeze it in time. She had told Zack he was invited to the dinner, halfway hoping he'd decline. Of course, when she told him about the senior partnership, he told her no way in hell would he not be there. Then she wondered if she should have said anything. But she'd been bubbling over about it and needed someone to share it with. Michael was out of town, and here was Zack, back in her life after all these years, even if only for a short time.She'd kept it together during the morning sessions and lunch. She knew Zack would come looking for her, since she'd blurted out that the afternoon was free time, but she wasn't ready for more alone time with him. Not yet. So she treated herself to the spa again, getting her hair done and a mani-pedi. She'd told him she had things to do, making sure everything was set up for cocktails and dinner, and so he should meet her in the small banquet room at seven.
"Mom?" Michael's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "Who is this guy? And why does he look like me?""Yes, Bailey." Zack's voice was hard and edged with barely controlled anger. "Who am I? And who is this?"Bailey wished the floor would open up and she could disappear. This was not at all the way she had planned for this to happen.People were walking in the little hallway, staring at them. And then Warren Blake came back to see where she was and what was holding her up."Everything okay, Bailey? I was looking for you two in the bar." He looked from Michael to Zack and back again. "Michael, I see you got here okay. That's great. Sorry you missed dinner.""Yeah, thanks for telling me about it." But his words were laced with resentment."Can I help you with anything, Bailey?"She shook her head. "No, thanks. We're fine. I'll try to come along in a while.""Good, because you're the star of the show. Now you have two good-looking men to help you celebrate.""Yes, I understand." B
"You didn't come to the restaurant for breakfast, you didn't order room service, and no one has seen you since last night."Bailey looked at Lacey standing in her doorway. The last thing she needed was someone watching her life fall apart."And you look like hell," Lacey continued and nudged Bailey aside so she could enter. "At least let me fix you something from the single server in the kitchen. Or maybe I should just give it to you intravenously."Bailey didn't want to offend her friend, but she wasn't in the mood to see Lacey or anyone else. Except maybe the two people who didn't want to see her. Lacey led her out to the patio and pointed to a chair at the umbrella table."Sit. And don't move."Bailey sat, mostly because she didn't have the whatever to argue. When Lacey handed her a full mug, she took it with shaking hands and gingerly sipped at the hot liquid.Lacey sat in the chair across from her and studied her."Warren Blake was asking for you this morning. Wanted to kno
Zack had taken Michael to his suite where they'd spent hours talking, feeling their way toward each other, equally hungry for details about then other person. It had been an agonizing night for both of them as they tried to figure out this unexpected relationship, both venting their bitterness that Bailey had kept them from each other.By four in the morning, they still had no answers, but exhaustion overtook them. Michael conked out on the couch, and Zack lay down in his bed, sure he'd never be able to sleep. He was shocked when he opened his eyes again and saw it was morning and Michael was standing in the bedroom doorway."I used one of the toothbrushes in your bathroom," he said. "Hope that's okay.""Of course." He sat up and ran his fingers through his hair. "I could use a hot shower and a gallon of coffee. How about you?"Michael nodded. "You bet. I went down to my car before and brought my duffel up here. I hope that's okay. I just came back from a trip for Clay."He'd alre
Bailey turned over in bed, pressing herself against Zack's muscular body. She wondered if she'd ever get used to the joy of being with him. Of waking up with him every day and going to sleep with him every night."I don't think I'm ready to get up yet," Zack murmured, stroking her back with gentle fingers. "But I suppose we can't stay in bed forever.""Who says?" Bailey teased."How about the man who wants your body twenty-four seven?""Oh." She giggled. "Then I'll have to think about it."He continued to caress her body, following the line of her back and the curved shape of her bottom."Don't think too long. I think we have company in bed with us." He jerked his hips slightly, enough so she could feel the hard length of his cock, swollen and pressing into her belly."Well, well." She swallowed a smile. "Eager little thing, isn't he.""Hey!" He adopted an offended tone. "Don't use the word little when you talk about him.""I'll give you that the word doesn't apply where he's
SUNSTROKEPart TwoThe story continuesI still can't believe this is happening. Maybe I'll wake up and find out it's all just a bad dream.Yeah, right.Robin Hanna tucked her long brown hair behind one ear and looked at the computer screen for perhaps the one-hundredth time. She had a headache from staring at numbers for so long and the taste of frustration was bitter on her tongue. She'd worked late three nights in a row and still didn't feel as if she'd accomplished what she needed to. Getting information for Jonas Faulkner had been the easy part. Protecting her clients was a lot more difficult. Damn Raymond Forrester anyway.Damn herself, while she was at it, for being smart enough to spot what was happening. And stupid enough to work for a man who was laundering money for the Russians and stealing from his clients while doing it. If only she could wave a wand and make things go back to the way they were. She had spotted the discrepancies by accident, her business and
Robin wanted to ask her what was going on but she figured she'd better just shut up and do what she was told. Jonas had the uncanny ability to make things happen when he needed to and she'd learned to trust him. So she stripped off her clothing, including her shoes, pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans and slipped her feet into rubber-soled shoes. "Not glamorous," the woman said, "but they'll protect your feet from the snow. The plows cleared the streets this morning and the drifts have done a little melting today."A fleece-lined jacket completed the outfit. Then Robin took the ponytail holder the woman handed her and yanked her long hair into a tail. "Ready." At least she hoped she was. "Good. Here we go."Robin's heart was thumping as the woman opened a door in the back wall and ushered her outside. A brown sedan idled just beyond the door. The driver, a muscular man in a soft collared shirt and jeans, leaned over and pushed open the door. "We need to get going, anyway."
"Yes. Because tomorrow I'm getting you someplace safe, far away from here. I started that in motion as soon as I hung up from your call.""Oh!" She hadn't given much thought to what she'd do next. "Well, sure, although I'm not sure how much help I cam be.""You'd be surprised at what the brain registers and remembers. At least it gives us a starting point."The tea had taken the edge off the cold enough that she could unzip her jacket although she didn't take it off. In fact, she wondered if she'd ever be warm again."Okay, go ahead and see if you can get someone. I'll do my best.""One more thing." He slid over a pad of paper that was sitting on the table and handed it to her along with a pen. "I need you to write down all your sizes, even for your...He paused."...your delicate items."If she hadn't been so uptight, Robin would have laughed. Unflappable Jonas, uncomfortable discussing ladies lingerie."Okay, but what for?""We're sending you out of town and you obviously can't