The Millionaire’s Ultimate Catch (8 page)

“We’re here.” Zack looked over at her.

“Thank you for the evening.” She did like being in his company, even though she was unceremoniously pushed aside.

He leaned over and kissed her roughly.

She puckered for his mouth. The touch of his lips was like quenching a thirst. Though she relished his mouth covering hers, she pushed him back when his desire grew.

Naomi undid the seat belt and opened the door. “There are so many questions to ask. I have tons of thoughts rolling through. The situation doesn’t get better since our emotions are running pretty high.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re angry. You’re kissing me with all of that emotion. I don’t like being used.”

Zack banged his hand against the steering wheel. “My apologies.”

“What has made you so upset this evening? Your mood turned south after you introduced me to that guy Jamison.”

“That’s just business.”

Naomi waited for a better explanation. She took in all the signs of him withdrawing—again. “Maybe it would help to talk about it.”

“No. I’m fine.”

Naomi pulled back. Her temper spiked. “I am good for more than one thing,” she said with as much emphasis as possible.

“And I said that I was fine. Nothing to discuss or share.” He stared straight ahead.

Naomi looked down at her dress. She’d wanted Zack to be impressed. Their recent past colored her thoughts about where they could go. But the cold anger that emanated from Zack evaporated such thoughts only to be replaced with doubts. She opened the car door and then twisted her body to get out before she looked over her shoulder. “All these people are around you, yet you act like you’re the only one in the game. Maybe I should have gotten the rules earlier.”

“Naomi—”

“Don’t bother to say anything. Good night.” Naomi didn’t want to hear any apologies, nor did she want to hear him talk around the issue. Besides, she wasn’t here to change anyone.

“
H
ow are you doing?” Reba took a seat in a nearby chair while Naomi remained perched on the steps of the deck. “You look like you’re pondering the world’s problems.”

Naomi looked down at her feet where the newspaper had fallen.

“I see you read the headlines. I don’t know why Mrs. Keathley buys that local newspaper. It’s no better than a gossip magazine.”

The front page of the magazine was in color. The oversize title shouted out the sordid message: The Bachelor of the Year Has His Pick. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the clear photo of Zack was underscored with two photos. One photo showed Zack in a tight embrace with the drunken woman at the event, while the second showed Naomi smiling at whatever he said.

Inside sources claimed that the other woman wanted
to heal their past wounds and begged for another chance. Naomi didn’t necessarily believe any of the tabloid, except that she hated being portrayed as a party girl looking to have a good time. The photo of her was when they’d first arrived, full of smiles and relaxed with each other.

“Zack isn’t the guy they are trying to portray.”

Naomi shrugged.

“That boy is like my son. Don’t you dare think that he’s playing you.”

“What do you want me to say, Reba?”

“That you’re not letting this nonsense destroy what you have.”

“Now that’s the problem. Everyone thinks we have something between us. I’ll be leaving here shortly. There is nothing happening between us.” She said the last sentence with more emphasis. All night she’d lain awake thinking over everything Zack had told her. Maybe he didn’t want this to blow up in his face. Maybe she wasn’t supposed to care. She gritted her teeth against the overwhelming emotion.

Falling in love hurt like hell. Oh, man. Not cool at all.

“Your mouth is saying one thing, but I’m hearing differently. I’m a woman who’s outlived two husbands and closed the chapter on one.”

“That’s not exactly making me feel better.” Naomi had to laugh at Reba’s matter-of-fact confession.

“All I’m saying is, don’t jump to conclusions. If you were really interested in leaving, you’d have been gone when your grandmother left. These people are good people. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“I’m usually the one who doles out advice to my sorority sisters. I push them to fulfill their dreams or even to get their guy. I can see the problems barreling
toward them at high speed. So I run interference and minimize damage. Kind of how I went headlong into the war zone with Chantelle. Why can’t I do the same for myself?”

“You’re looking for something that isn’t there.”

The chair squeaked, causing Naomi to look up. Reba came and stood near her and stroked her hair.

Her cell phone rang, interrupting any further counseling from Reba. She looked at the highlighted number. Her coach was calling. With everything that was going on, all the choices that she needed to consider, having a conversation with her coach had the potential to force a decision.

“I’ll leave you alone. I’m making a big pot of chicken noodle soup.” Reba stepped back into the house while she answered.

“Thanks, Reba.” Naomi pressed the button to talk to her coach. “Hi, Coach Brewster.”

“Naomi! My gosh, I’ve been worried about you.”

“Sorry, Coach. I meant to call you after my doctor’s visit yesterday. I’m healing well.”

“I know. I got a full report. All good news. Couldn’t be more pleased.” Her coach paused, her silence full of expectancy. “I know you are offline for a while. Didn’t expect you still to be in Washington.”

“Me either. I decided to make it a vacation.”

“Smart move. Everything else fine?”

Naomi closed her eyes. She cleared her throat and pasted a bright smile on her face. “Everything is fantastic. Just laying low, you know what I mean.”

“Right. Right. Well, I got a strange call from a photographer.”

“I don’t understand.”

“A photographer from Washington wants to speak to
you. Don’t really know why they came to me. You’re right there, aren’t you? Or did you leave and not tell me?”

“I just said that I went to the doctor. Did the photographer say who they worked for?” Naomi glanced down at the newspaper and flipped it over. She’d rather look at the local supermarket specials for the week than at Zack and that other woman glued to each other.

“Mentioned a modeling agency. I barely understood him. The guy had a strong European accent. Do you want me to send him to your agent?”

“Um…no, I’ll take the information.” Naomi wasn’t fooled by the modeling ruse. This had to be a nosy reporter pushing into her life to get more information. She grabbed the newspaper and crushed it in her grasp. Well, she was ready for this worm.

“Okay. Here’s the number.” Her coach read off the number and other identifying information. “Keep in touch.”

Naomi hung up and then stared at the number. She would call the number but would wait. She wasn’t in the frame of mind to have a civil conversation. Plus, there really wasn’t any reason to give her side of anything. Modeling, indeed; she was a tomboy who could occasionally get dressed up. The reporter needed to come up with something a little more original.

Zack stared at the phone on his desk. He’d wanted to call Naomi so many times but had resisted the urge. Calling her required something from him. He’d have to explain and give details about his thoughts, even his fears. Right now, he barely had a handle on what was going on in his mind.

“Zack.” His secretary popped in her head through the open door. “Your father is here to see you.”

Zack straightened his tie and smoothed the front of his shirt. He’d just adjusted himself in the chair when his father entered his office.

A visit from his father wasn’t frequent, and more specifically it wasn’t unannounced. From his father’s serious expression, this visit wasn’t a fun drop-in.

“I’ve been trying to reach you all night, especially after you dropped off Naomi.”

“I had a lot on my mind. I wasn’t answering the phone.”

“That’s why I came to you.” His father took a seat. “Look, I’m not liking what I’m hearing out there. I’m trying to get to the bottom of it. But at the moment, I’m more concerned that your company is coming under scrutiny.”

“This is what you were talking about last night?”

His father nodded.

“I haven’t heard anything.”

“Instead of waiting for the hammer to fall, why don’t we set up a meeting with the council members? Let’s find out what the issues are and then we can fix them before the entire council gets together to vote or take action.”

“Dad, I think you’re thinking the worst of the situation. Like I said, no one has informed me of any scrutiny. And besides, I want to be able to handle this.”

“On your own?” His father shook his head. “This isn’t the time to be stubborn. Look, I’m proud of where you’ve gotten with your company. But we can combine forces and be pretty formidable. This is your legacy.”

“I appreciate what you’re saying. This company wasn’t created to get under your skin. You focus on residential and I focus on commercial. I want a chance
to make mistakes, take risks, follow my strategy. You taught me all those things. Now I want to put them to good use,” Zack argued.

“I get it, but this is important. Why be stubborn? You don’t have to prove yourself to me. Your mother. Any one.”

Zack groaned and pushed back from the desk. On the surface, his father would think that he was being rebellious. There was that side to him. A side that showed itself more so when he was a teenager.

After college, returning home as an adult, he didn’t have it in him to be a pain. Instead he wanted his father’s approval.

His phone rang, but he allowed his assistant to receive the call. Less than a minute later, he bade her enter.

“Zack, it’s Councilman Wayans.”

“I’ll take it.”

“Don’t commit to anything.” His father leaned forward.

Zack nodded. His pulse shot up. A certain queasiness flooded his stomach. His father’s forecast had turned into reality.

“Hello, Councilman. What can I do for you?”

“Zack, good to see you last night. I wished that we’d had time to talk, though. Looks like you had lots of people vying for your attention.”

“I always have time for you, Councilman.” Zack forced himself to stay quiet. He didn’t want to play this social game any longer.

“I want to give you a heads-up that an investigation is being conducted on the proposal process and on who won. That would be your company.”

“Should I be concerned?” The question could have been rhetorical. His nerves were on high alert.

“No, not at all. I’m sure all will be in order. Just means that we’ll be delayed with a final decision.”

“When will this audit begin?”

“Immediately.”

“I can’t help but feel that this is directed at my company.”

“No, not at all. We have a very active citizen watchdog group and they asked for the audit. With reelections pending, well, they were heard.”

Zack had also met with the watchdog group. He had assuaged many of their concerns. Now he had to wonder what had stirred them up enough to request an audit.

“Zack, believe me, this is not unusual. You’ll get the formal letter either today or tomorrow. If you have any questions, feel free to call me.”

“Thanks, Councilman.” Zack hung up the phone slowly. He was already thinking ahead, wondering how to proceed. Despite the disagreement with Jamison, he still had to inform him of this latest development. And then there was his father.

“Son, don’t underestimate what is happening.” He rose, his age showing in the slow movement and the way he winced. “My help is always here if you want it.”

Zack nodded.

“Oh, by the way, your mother expects you home for dinner. The local paper has you and Naomi as the frontcover stars.”

Zack groaned, this time holding his head. He’d no idea that Naomi was now the target of the paper.

“See you later.” His father waved.

Zack looked at his watch. He had a few more calls to make before a meeting. Dinner at his mother’s was definitely a mandatory appearance.

Naomi drove into town. She appreciated Francis lending her the car. She wanted to get out of the house and the thoughts that raised too many questions.

After wandering through the mall, Naomi drove through the various neighborhoods. Seattle was a picturesque city with so much lush greenery, hilly streets, and the businesses and restaurants along Puget Sound and Lake Washington.

Her solitary meandering made her miss her friends terribly. She missed the sorority life that had brought them close in college. After graduation, her sorors were able to attend the chapter meetings and go to events, but her schedule prevented her from participating.

Instead of getting closer as they got older, they were creating their separate paths. Naomi missed those days and evenings where she could throw herself across their beds and listen to their problems and share advice. Although she’d made friends with her teammates, they didn’t replace the special bond she shared with her sorors.

Naomi hit the ATM for some cash. Maybe she’d pop into a movie and while away the afternoon. Sitting in the darkened theater with a spattering of other viewers would add to the loneliness. She pulled out her phone. Why act as if she was on another planet? She began to text when her phone vibrated with an incoming text from Denise. When R U cmng bck

Then from Sara. Have u fallen off the face of earth

Then Asia. Whoz the man that has u tied up

Naomi giggled. They obviously had planned an intervention.

The constant incoming texts interrupted a few of the
patrons sitting nearby. Their muttering complaints grew louder. Naomi didn’t care about the movie and hastily left.

Then Athena’s message vibrated. Ur grndmom sez u have boyfriend. Last 2 no.

Naomi waited. One of them would hook them all up on a conference call. A minute later, her phone rang. She hurried to her car where she could laugh and talk or more like scream over the equally exuberant chatter of her sorority sisters.

“Hello, sorors.” Already, Naomi felt better.

The chorus of greetings made her giggle and ushered in a warmth where the cold ache of missing her friends had settled. She breezed through their opening questions about her health and the Keathleys.

“Okay, enough,” Athena interrupted her detailed description of Frannie’s garden. “Who is Zack? I want details as if you were describing the flowers and herbs and all that crap.” Athena complained that she’d have to get back to work.

Naomi sighed. “Guess it’s my turn for the third degree.”

“And about time, I might add.” Athena’s twin, Asia, interrupted.

“You know the actor Idris Elba?” Naomi cut to the chase.

“No.” Sara was usually clueless about movie stars unless she saw their photo.

“He looks like that?” Denise’s voice grew excited.

“Yes, and then some.” Naomi chuckled. “Check out his Web site, you’ll see a very handsome photo.”

“Is that why you’re still there?” Sara asked.

“No, I’m actually recuperating.” Naomi hadn’t told
them the details of the assault. She knew her sorors, and their attention would be overwhelming.

“I think you can recuperate here in Chicago where we can spoil you even more rotten than you already are,” Sara offered.

“Wait a minute!” Athena interrupted. “Are you relocating? You cannot copy me.”

“I’m not relocating. I do have a career.”

“Well, that’s low. I was laid off.” Asia argued.

“And before I get pulled into this, I took a legitimate job. Overseas,” Athena piped up.

“So when are you coming back home, Naomi?” Sara pushed.

“Well…” Naomi paused. When was she coming back? After reading the newspaper, she’d been prepared to pack her suitcase. Now, talking to her sorors, she realized that she was not the type to run away. Only one thing could send her on her way, and that was Zack. Even if he said those words, she’d stubbornly do the opposite.

“She’s not done playing with her new toy,” Denise explained, a sense of realization creeping into her voice.