The Millionaire’s Ultimate Catch (9 page)

“Something like that.” Naomi’s new attitude gave her some spunk.

“I want to be there,” Denise whined.

“I’ll be back soon. Reality is knocking. Got to get back to work.” Asia complained.

Athena piped up. “Okay, soror. Answer your e-mails too. And send a picture or two.”

Naomi wished every one of them well. Funny how life turned out. They’d graduated together from university and were now scattered all over living grown-up lives with husbands, significant others and children.
According to her sorors, she was the last holdout. Although Zack was in her life, and she faced the reality of being in love, she wasn’t one to rely on pure emotion to keep any man.

However, she had something to do. She placed another call to the house before starting her borrowed car and heading for the next destination.

By the time she pulled into the parking lot housing KBD Corporation, she wasn’t too sure about her gutsy move.

“Naomi?”

Naomi jumped. A sharp knock on the driver’s-side window startled her. She opened the window. “Hi, Zack.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you, too,” she answered wryly.

“Sorry.” He opened the door for her to exit. “You caught me by surprise.”

“Are you heading out?”

“I was going to lunch. I’m supposed to come over for dinner.”

“That’s probably for my benefit. I guess you haven’t had to eat at home as much as since I arrived.” She grinned.

“How precise you are.”

“Are you flying solo for lunch?” She tossed out the question as if the answer didn’t matter. Yet her breath held in case it was the buxom Miss Pacific Northwest from the tabloids. “I’m here to take you to lunch.”

Surprise registered on Zack’s face, but he was polite enough to erase it. “I’d love to go.”

“Hop in, you can point me in the right direction.”

Zack walked around the front of the car and got in. He slipped on his seat belt and then sat back with his
hands firmly planted on his legs. “Looks like you’re in the driver’s seat.”

“As much as possible when it comes to my life.”

“What cuisine are you interested in eating?”

“Doesn’t matter. Something I can pronounce, though.”

“Okay. There’s a great seafood place about five miles up the coast.” Zack directed her to the location.

Naomi followed the directions, noting that Zack kept busy texting. She didn’t complain; after all, she had busted into his day. He probably had lots of appointments that he had to reschedule, even though he said he was free. Although she felt bad, she didn’t feel guilty enough to change her mission.

The drive along the coastline served to calm her nerves a bit. Expensive real estate lined the shore with the occasional restaurant. The view of the parking lot with the expensive cars was a sign that the establishments catered to the higher income.

Dressed in jeanslike leggings and a minidress, she figured that she could enter any restaurant without problems. Luckily, Zack wore a suit.

“At the next intersection, turn left.”

“Left?” Naomi looked in the direction but clearly didn’t see any restaurants.

“Yes.”

Naomi noted the small smile that lifted the corner of Zack’s mouth. What was he up to? But she was game. She turned left and headed down the street.

Doubts didn’t cease. As a matter of fact, she slowed at the sight of the marina that housed a large array of yachts and boats.

“Park over there.” Zack pointed off to the right.

Naomi didn’t bother to question it, since she was curious. She parked and turned off the engine.

“I’d say that now you must switch drivers. It’s my turn to do the driving.”

“Really?” She got out the car and followed him down the pier to a midsize yacht. “I thought that we were going to a seafood restaurant.”

“Actually, I only promised that you’d have seafood for lunch. As for the place, step on board.” Zack moved aside for her to walk up the plank.

A uniformed attendant met her at the opening. “Welcome, Miss Venable.”

“Hi.” Naomi looked at Zack for an explanation.

“Thanks, Gus. Miss Venable and I will start with a light appetizer.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Okay, who was that? Is this yours? How did you know that I would come here? How did you do all this?” Naomi walked ahead of Zack. The spread of white tablecloth with fresh flowers and wineglasses pulled her attention. She turned to shoot more questions, but the sound of the yacht’s engines firing up distracted her.

She hurried to the rail and looked down at the water churning furiously. The land retreated at a fast rate as they headed out toward deeper waters.

She shook her head, wondering if she could ever stay one step ahead of him. Zack continually amazed her.

“
Y
ou look petrified.” Zack slipped his hand around her shoulders. “Here’s a glass of wine.”

“Only one. I do have to take you back to your office.”

“Yes, you do. And I do have a troubling matter to deal with.”

“Care to share?”

“Just business.”

“See, that’s what brought me to your office in the first place.” Naomi set down her glass. Some wine splashed over the rim.

“What do you mean?”

She sighed. A sound that held sadness and disappointment. Zack knew he was the source. The witty banter died.

“Talk to me, Naomi. What’s bothering you?”

“It’s more like what’s not bothering you.” She looked
him square in the eye. “We met, became friends, got intimate, but then you won’t share details about your business, your company. It’s an important part of your life.”

“I tend not to share details about my company.”

“Yeah, you’ve made that clear.”

“Excuse me, Mr. Keathley, your appetizer.” Gus, the waiter, set down two small bowls of soup.

Zack waited for Naomi to test hers with a dainty sip from the spoon. Despite her irritation with him, he couldn’t resist the smile after she tasted the bisque.

“I’ll eat. You talk.” She pointed at him with the spoon.

Nothing about his life was top secret. But he also never shared too many intimate details with any of his female friends. Deep down he knew they wouldn’t last beyond a date or two. No need to pretend that a lasting relationship existed.

Things had changed, tossed on their ear, when he walked into the hospital room that day. Naomi, injured and medicated, had wrapped him around her little finger.

“I’m almost done.” She looked down at her bowl.

Zack looked longingly at his bowl but knew better than to reach for it. Maybe it was the way she waved the spoon, as if it could suddenly turn into a weapon.

“I always had the dream to step out on my own. Have my own business. Move out of my father’s shadow.” He paused. “As I tell you my history, it sounds so much like my father’s.” Zack shook his head. His reality was a bit ironic. “The Keathleys are in the land-development business. I was so determined not to be shoehorned into the family empire that I did everything in my power to
push aside my father. Starting the business with this partner was one way to untangle any ties.”

“Sounds like you had good intentions.”

“Naive ones.” He sighed. “There is so much politicking behind the scenes, blatant greed mentality and just bad luck that I wonder if I should throw in the towel. Problem is that I love what I do. Now I’ve got the city council out of the blue pushing for all kinds of documentation and wanting to audit. Then one project may not go through because the anchor business wants to flex its muscle. On another project, my partner wants to renege on the conditions. Plus he wanted to increase his partnership share. Not going to happen.” He growled.

In an abbreviated manner, he shared the basic information about his company and partners. Then he moved onto the steady deterioration of the biggest project in his portfolio with the impending audit by the city council.

“Here.” Naomi offered him his bowl.

He waited for her response, but she only nudged her chin at him. Taking the hint, he started drinking his soup.

“Why was that such a big deal?”

“It’s my company. My problems.”

“In other words, you’re a control freak,” she proclaimed. “A blind optimist and a dreamer.” She leaned over and kissed him on his cheek. “I like these qualities in a man.”

He turned to take full advantage of her mouth. Spilling the soup didn’t matter.

But she pulled away, wagging her finger. “No. no. Not so fast. I want to know one more thing.”

“I told you everything.”

“Why shouldn’t I continue to pack my suitcase and head back to Chicago?”

“Were you packing?” Zack sat up. He waved Gus away, not wanting any distractions. “I don’t want you to leave.”

“I’m not ready to leave. But I have to know that you’re willing to step up and not build your wall between us.”

“It’s been on my mind. I like having you here, but I don’t want you to ever think that I’m asking you to make a decision between your career and me.”

“You may not have to.”

A small change in Naomi’s demeanor alerted him that there was more to the statement. Should he hope? He took her hand, looking down at her palm as if it could provide the answers he sought. Her hand closed around his. He glanced at the gold-tone nail polish on her elegant fingers. “Let’s eat.”

Gus magically appeared with covered plates. With a small flourish, he whipped open the covers. Perfectly grilled tilapia surrounded by a colorful array of vegetables and small russet potatoes completed the meal. Zack was hungry, but he preferred to watch Naomi inhale the succulent scent and look at him with an appreciative smile.

“You certainly know how to woo a woman.”

“I love the way you chew.”

“That sexy talk will get you somewhere,” she laughed. They ate and talked until it was mid-afternoon. “I think you need to get back to work.”

“I hate not being able to spend the day with you.”

“I’ll be busy,” she hinted.

“Are you going to share?”

“Nope. I’m not certain yet.”

Zack raised his hand in the air and motioned for Gus to slow the yacht and turn. Every second he was with Naomi he hated having the return to reality, especially when it didn’t include her presence.

“You came out here to set me straight.” Zack accompanied Naomi to stand at the rail. “So was the mission accomplished?”

Naomi closed the gap and placed her hands around his waist. She stared into his eyes. He felt as if they were syncing without words but through pure emotions. Her desire washed over him, bathing him in a warm cocoon of sensuality. He tried to wait for her to make the first move. But he couldn’t wait any longer.

“Kiss me,” she ordered.

“Shh.”

“Don’t shush—”

Zack pulled Naomi against his body. Her firm body against his had already caused a physical reaction. Under the salty wind lightly swirling around them, he kissed Naomi like a man reaching out for a water bottle in a desert. Straight up, nothing compared to tasting and savoring her.

His hands slid up her back and he pinned her in his embrace. He couldn’t stop kissing her, playing with her willing tongue in a game of moves that stirred every part of him.

“Save some for later,” she mumbled against his mouth.

“Only because Gus is onboard.” Zack closed his eyes tightly as he pressed his cheek next to Naomi’s. He had to bring his body under control so he could sound like a sane man.

Naomi kissed his neck. “Good. We’re on the same page.”

“Don’t do that.” He flinched. “You need to stand over there and keep your hands on the railing.”

“But I’d much rather have my hands do this.” Her hand trailed up his inner thigh stopping short at his zipper. Restraining her hand didn’t matter. Or he didn’t try hard enough to deter her from her exploratory search.

“You like to play dangerously.”

“That’s why I often earn the MVP award.”

“You’ll hear no arguments from me.”

Zack waited until Naomi pulled out of the parking lot before heading into his office. Spending the lunch hour with Naomi had re-energized his system. Although the audit would be a pain, he refused to just let the project slip through his fingers.

“Rachel, get Jamison on the phone. I need to talk to him, as soon as possible.”

“Yes, sir. You look quite determined. Your lunch must have done you good.”

“In more ways than one.” He went to his office and waited for a sign that the call awaited his attention.

His secretary popped in her head. “Sorry, he’s out of the office. I left a message. Didn’t leave any further details, since I don’t know what you wanted with him.”

He could hear the accusation. “No need to be worried. I took the lunch break to think about my options.”

“Hope you got some good thinking done and didn’t get distracted by a celeb on rehab.”

“That sounded very judgmental. Not wanted.”

“Sorry.” Rachel, his assistant from day one of his business sometimes acted as if she ran his life. He made sure to keep the relationship completely professional.

Zack turned his attention back to his desk. He had two properties to visit, but he’d wait until tomorrow, since they would take him to the other side of town. One glance at the clock showed that he had two hours before the mandatory appearance at his mother’s table.

A knock interrupted him. He looked up slightly irritated by the interruption. “Zack, your father and Brent are here to see you.”

“What?” Zack looked down at the papers, wondering why his father needed to see him. They had already spoken. His buddy was also with his father, which had to be coincidental. The timing sucked, though.

“Where do you want to talk? In your office or the board-room?”

“I’ll see them here. I’ll talk to my father first.”

“Okay, but they came into the office together.”

Zack tossed down the pen he held. His father had left this morning now only to return and with his friend, the very person he was about to turn to for help with finding his birth mother. He fought to look cool under his father’s scrutiny.

His father led the way into his office. He took a seat on the couch. His friend, however, came over and gave him a bear hug. His ex-football physique had barely diminished since college. Zack hated playing flag football against him on campus. Inevitably Brent forgot that he didn’t have to tackle but simply pull off the flag on his opponent.

“I was hoping you were on this coast,” Zack finally said after being released from Brent’s grasp.

“I’m only here for a short bit. I’ve got some business to wrap up and then I’ll be heading back to the East Coast. Nothing like spending winter in Boston.”

“It’s not like you couldn’t afford to have a place in Miami, now that you’re the man.”

“I must have missed the big news. Aren’t you a lawyer?” Zack’s father asked.

“I left that life to create a sports and entertainment agency.”

“You know the college kid who was just drafted to the L.A. basketball team?” Zack pointed toward Brent. “And you know the pop star that dresses in those crazy outfits?”

“You mean the one that barely has on any clothes?” Paul responded. “Her mother needs to slap her upside her head.”

“Well, that’s Brent, too.”

“Son, I’m proud of you. Good to see that you’ve made a success out of all the hard work and money that you’ve put in.”

“Thanks, sir. Couldn’t have done it without my parents, though. Pops, may he rest in peace, sacrificed a lot to make sure I got into college and stayed there. I was glad that he got to see the agency start before he passed.”

“Your father was a good man.” Zack’s father shook his head. “How’s your mother? And your sisters?”

“Mom is doing fine. She’s living with Evelyn in Georgia. My other two sisters are sharing an apartment in New York while they’re both finishing up college. I’ll let them know that I got a chance to see you.”

“Please do. I am glad that I thought of calling you to see what you could do for Zack.”

“What’s going on, Zack? How can I help? Your father filled me in on the issues you’re having with your business partners.”

Zack glared at his father, who seemed oblivious to his emotion.

“Hey, bro, let me see if I can help you.”

“I’m not worried about the city council, but I’m getting bad vibes from this man and a partner who suddenly stepped into the picture.”

“What’s the guy’s name?”

“Seth Lassiter. My associate is Tom Jamison.”

Brent’s eyebrows shot up. He whistled.

“What?” Zack and his father asked.

“I’ve heard of the guy. Not all good. He’s not from this area, which means that he wants to move in. But he probably can’t do so under his own name. He’s a shark in the land-development business. Nothing illegal, just on the edge, and pretty cutthroat with his methods.”

“So in other words, Zack needs to stay away from him?”

“Stay away from him and his partner. I’m sure the problem now is how to get rid of the partner. I would’ve loved the chance to take them down in the legal arena.”

“Exactly.” Zack couldn’t believe the hole that he’d gotten himself into. This was a fairly simple deal that would revitalize the neighborhood. Now he was about to step in the mud with a couple of crabs.

“Let me look at your contract. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. I do have to leave in a couple of days, but I don’t have to be here to assist you. I’ve got your back.”

“Thanks, Brent. I’ll wait to hear from you before I head to a lawyer.” Zack promptly sent an e-mail to Rachel letting her know to gather the information that Brent would need.

“What are you doing this evening, Brent?” Zack’s father asked.

“Um…I may have a mixer to attend. But Zack, I’d love to have you come. You never know, you might get lucky.”

“Sounds like fun, but I can’t.” Zack preferred to keep Naomi out of the spotlight.

“Brent, before you head out for a night of fun, you’ve got to come to the house. Frannie would be happy to see you. And you could also meet Naomi Venable. She’s recuperating after an assault over two weeks ago. I think Zack—fancies her.”

“Zack fancies her,” Brent teased. “Hmm…now that might be something I’d like to see. Count me in. What time is dinner?” Brent grinned at Zack.

Zack’s father happily filled in the details as they walked out of his office. Zack remained seated, since neither one had really paid him any attention. Naomi was the topic of conversation.

He didn’t mind introducing her to Brent. He’d already let her in about his company, his life, and now one of his dear friendships. The door kept getting wider and wider, even as he kept a firm grip on the handle in case he needed to shut it.

He took a deep breath and exhaled. He had to admit that he felt better that Brent was checking into the problems. Now he could head home and face a different kind of drama, created by his mother.

Dinner turned into a festive occasion. Zack watched the delight on his mother’s face as she fawned over Brent and laughed over his compliments. His father’s face beamed with pride over Brent’s recounts of their friendship in college and afterward. Brent had become
one of the family during that time when he stayed with him over the summer holidays. Even Reba seemed to fall under his best friend’s spell. He observed that Naomi also jumped into the conversation but didn’t appear as gushing as his parents. He felt strangely glad about that.