A Little Wild (13 page)

Zach’s jaw stiffened. He should have kept his damn mouth shut.

“It’s Teresa,” he said tightly, maintaining a low tone, like his brother’s. “She didn’t pick me up, per se. But you saw how she was dressed that night, all prim and proper, like at the meeting. That she even spoke to me seemed off. And you did leave quickly. After the gags you’ve pulled on me over the years, is it any wonder I thought it was a setup?”

“Jesus, Zach. I left because I was wiped.”

“I know that
now
.”

“I haven’t played a joke on you in months.”

“More reason to believe you did it this time.”

“Look, I see your point. However, I still question…” Eth shrugged as if Zach should fill in the blanks. But damn it if he was going to.

“What?” he asked.

Ethan mumbled, “If we should have her working on the acquisition.”

Zach thumped his gym bag onto the wooden bench near their lockers. “You’re calling her character into question? Because of my stupid story?”

“Zach—”

“She’s a great lawyer, Eth. Why else would L.G. hire her? Besides, Rob Tanaka uses her. His parents do, too. They all think the world of her, like Virginia and L.G.” He spun the numbers on his combination lock and yanked open the metal locker door. “Don’t take Crockett’s away from her. You know it would affect how L.G. perceives her.”

Ethan sighed. “She can do a good job?”

“Of course. Like you, she’s very focused.” Yesterday afternoon at Northview had proven that. Once Tess’s nerves had settled, her game had improved markedly. Later, over Chateaubriand in the Palmer Room, she’d handled Sydney van Hoyt like a pro, displaying interest in the art galleries without falling all over Sydney, and asking the right questions.

A thoughtful frown creased his brother’s forehead. “All right. If you believe Teresa’s capable, then I do, too. You’re the people person, not me.”

Zach grinned. “Don’t you forget it.”

Ethan pulled off his sweat-stained T-shirt and stuffed the garment into his gym bag. “What happened in her office, then? Did you ask her out?”

“Yep.” Zach stripped off his equally sweaty clothes. Technically, he’d asked her out during their lusty phone call. However, Ethan didn’t know about the phone sex or office foreplay—and he never would. “It went over like a lead balloon.”

“She said no? That must have been a blow to your ego.”

“I’ll survive.” For a little while, anyway. The sparks between he and Tess were too intense to ignore indefinitely.

For now, he just needed to drum up a reason to see her again.

Ethan reached for the shower stuff in his locker. “One more thing. If the supermarket chain doesn’t interest you, you should tell Dad.”

“Not yet.” Zach wrapped a towel around his naked hips.

“Why not?”

“I have my reasons.” Namely, working his ass off to open Climbing The Walls.

“Don’t wait too long.” Ethan stepped toward the showers.

Zach popped out a humorless laugh. Ethan wasn’t happy unless he obsessed about something. “As if one meeting could make up for years of unfeigned boredom. Dad would have to have a screw loose to seriously believe I’m into Hef’s headache.”

Ethan shrugged. “I’m just saying. Don’t wait too long.”

Tess sipped her afternoon cup of coffee.
Ugh.
She shuddered. Stone cold. How long ago had Sammi brought in the mug? Tess had thought only minutes had passed, but the coffee tasted like it had sat on her desk for hours.

She’d love to believe she’d lost track of time because of work, but she’d be kidding herself. Between golf and dinner yesterday, she’d been too wired to sleep well. Not even an explosive romp with Mr. G. Spot had calmed her, either last night or this morning. Weariness had tugged at her throughout the day, causing her to space out far too often. Every time the phone rang, she jumped, thinking it was Sydney van Hoyt calling to retain legal counsel.

Or Zach, asking for a report on the zoning variances for the space he wanted to lease.

If she wasn’t careful, juggling Zach’s business needs and promises of client referrals with her other work commitments would hamper her progress on the Crockett’s acquisition. She’d barely dug into the due diligence paperwork that had accumulated while she’d wooed Sydney. She needed to put in several more hours today before she left the office. She wanted those hours to be productive. She couldn’t allow Phil Renfrew to outshine her.

Setting aside the mug of cold coffee, she returned to examining share certificates. Several minutes later her direct line rang, but she reacted calmly.
Poised, professional, prepared.
The three P’s would be her new mantra.

She picked up the receiver. “Teresa Sheridan.”

“Good afternoon…Teresa.”

“Zach.” As usual, the seductive way he spoke her formal name curled awareness through her. She couldn’t help smiling in response. She’d always thought of “Teresa” as respectable and dignified—the perfect lawyer persona—but Zach’s rendition sounded warm and inviting, even a little naughty. Like the man.

She flexed her fingers.
Think three P’s.

“What can I do for you?” she asked politely.

His deep chuckle carried over the line. “That’s a loaded question.”

She straightened in her chair, her legs occupying the space where he’d caressed her to near orgasm four days ago.

Her clit thumped, and she uncrossed her legs. She wouldn’t let him get to her, like she had at the golf course.
She
was in control here, not him.

“Work-wise,” she replied. “What can I do for you as your lawyer, Zach?”

“Trash your ethics and sleep with me.”

Friendly teasing laced his tone, but her heart raced anyway. “If you’re calling about the zoning, I’m sorry, I haven’t looked into it yet. I will Monday. I needed today to catch up on Crockett’s paperwork.”

This time he took the hint. No joking. “That’s one of the reasons I’m calling.”

“To talk about the supermarkets?”

“In a way. I realize L.G. has you running ragged, and I don’t want your work for Climbing The Walls to interfere with what you need to accomplish for my father’s company. If Ethan asks something of you, do that first. Backburner my stuff.”

“Oh?” A serious note edged his tone. Had his father or brother expressed concerns about her involvement with the due diligence?

Why would they? Her reputation at the law firm was impeccable.

“Especially now that Sydney might hire you,” Zach said. “Teddy, too. If they do, you’ll be busier than ever. They’re clients you can bring to L.G.’s attention, unlike me.”

“Your business is still important to me, Zach.” Not because he was the hottest thing to enter her life since jalapeno jelly, either. Signing people like Teddy Wallis, with big plans and the money to achieve them, was her key to a junior partnership. However, helping small businesses held a special place in her heart.

Small-business owners committed to their projects in a way most owners of large, diversified companies couldn’t. Graham Halliday was an exception.

“I know my business is important to you,” Zach’s reassuring voice soothed. “Because that’s the type of lawyer you are, Tess. Someone who’ll go the extra mile for her clients. Which is why I hired you, and why I think Sydney will. Have you heard from her?”

Tess smiled. “No, but I’m optimistic. She seemed comfortable with me, and she likes that I’m with Greenburg.”

“Excellent. I had the same feeling.”

“Thanks for introducing me to her, Zach.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Save it for when Sydney calls.”

“Well, connecting with Sydney van Hoyt would have much been much harder on my own, so I do want to thank you. If there’s any way I can repay you…”

“You already have. You agreed to represent me.”

“That seems to benefit me more than you.” Especially considering she hadn’t done diddly for him yet. “If there’s anything else—”

“Anything?”
he asked in the low, sultry manner that always sounded like he wanted to have sex.

With her.

She imagined a wicked grin creasing his handsome face.

“As your lawyer, Zach. No funny business.”

“Then I guess asking for help with my Jim Carrey impression is out?”

She laughed into the phone. Oh, how she wished he’d never walked into that damn conference room. If he hadn’t, they’d still be having dinner tomorrow night—although as Jack Halloran and Tess S.

Her heart ached. There was so much more to Zach Halliday than she’d ever anticipated of her studmuffin, but the promise of dating “Jack” had opened a world of erotic possibilities that had slammed shut the moment she’d discovered he was Graham Halliday’s son.

Well, forty minutes after learning it, anyway.

“Yes, I’m afraid your Jim Carrey impression is out,” she said.

“Shoot. Now that you mention it, there’s a favor I wanted to ask.”

“Name it.”

“I’m revising my business plan. A fresh pair of eyes couldn’t hurt, and there’s no one else I can ask.”

“What about Rob Tanaka? He knows about Climbing The Walls, and he wrote a plan for his restaurant a few months ago.”

“He’s catering his cousin’s wedding tomorrow, and I need the revisions done ASAP.”

“Ask him to help you Sunday.”

“Tess.” Zach’s mellow voice tickled her ear. “Are you reneging on your offer?”

She smiled. The damn man always had her smiling. “No. It just sounds fishy.”

His husky laugh spiraled through her. “It’s not. I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to see you every chance I can. But if it has to be as your client, I respect that.”

He’d better. She needed all the help she could muster respecting that line herself.

“A business plan isn’t a static thing, Tess. Revisions are important.”

He was right, of course. She curved her hair behind one ear. If he were any other client with whom she had a friendly association, she would have offered her assistance by now. And there were matters they needed to discuss before he finished the revisions.

“The thing is, you can’t come to my office. If you run into Lawrence, he’ll assume we’re meeting about the Crockett’s deal. If he asks me about it…” She felt bad enough hiding the truth from her boss without outright lying.

“Come by my office at Halliday, then.”

“You have an office?’

He chuckled. “Yes. For the time being.”

She tapped her pen on her desk. “Same problem. If Graham sees me, he might reach the same conclusions Lawrence would. Then you’d get the third degree.”

“You’re too smart. But problem solved. We’ll meet outside office hours.”

She held her breath.

“Afraid to be alone with me, Tess?”

She rolled her eyes. The man possessed an ego the size of Vancouver Island. He wasn’t as irresistible as he thought.

“Who says we’d have to be alone?” she asked.

“I don’t know about you, but I need quiet to concentrate.”

“Try the library.”

“I was there a few days ago, and the sign says it’s closed Sundays this summer. So if you’re willing to help me, it’s the library tomorrow.”

Saturday.
But when had she agreed to help him?

“I can’t. I promised to visit my mom.” If she backed out now, her mother would freak. Patrice Sheridan was not fond of being ignored.

“I’m on my own, then?”

“I didn’t say that.” This sparring business was fun. She really needed to get back to the share certificates, though. “I’ll help with the revisions, but not tomorrow.” By the time she returned from Abbotsford, night would have fallen, and she didn’t trust herself around Zach after dark. “Sunday afternoon is best.” Plenty of daylight.

“We’ll break into the library,” he whispered.

She chuckled. “I don’t think so. If you’re serious about keeping the climbing center secret, we can’t risk someone catching us working on the business plan.”

“I like the way you think.”

She liked everything about him, but that was beside the point.

“Just a lawyer looking out for her client,” she answered breezily.

“Fantastic. Then you won’t object to meeting somewhere very private.”

Ethan jogged along the seawall ringing the peninsula of downtown Stanley Park. The brine-scented breeze fanned his face as sweat rolled between his shoulder blades and soaked his T-shirt. His arms pumped in rhythm with his heart, thigh muscles bunching and warming from an hour of intense exercise and the hot August sun.

Normally, while running, he pushed away his personal worries and business concerns, and zoned out. However, on this clear Sunday morning, both his brother and the brunette from Whole Latte Lovin’ had crept into his brain.

Would Zach kill him come November, when he learned about Dad’s plans and realized Ethan hadn’t told him? Shit, why should Ethan care? Zach’s slack attitude was responsible for their father’s decision. If Ethan’s brother couldn’t take a hint that something major was up, was it Ethan’s problem?

Zach needed to learn to fight his own battles.

Lungs burning, Ethan approached the totem-pole area beside the Brockton Oval cricket pitch. Several families with small children and cameras marveled over the colorfully painted totem poles carved from Western red cedar. Ethan bought a bottle of water from the visitor center, spent ten minutes stretching and guzzling then sacked out on the grass. Eyes closed, hands folded on his chest, face to the sun.

He concentrated on nothing while the sounds of chirping birds, blurred conversation, and laughing children filled his ears. Within minutes, a tiny insect tickled his chin.

He swept off the bug then sat up. Removed his shirt and turned over. With his arms angled over his head on the bristly grass and the balled shirt cushioning his face, he focused on the park’s scents and sounds anew. Hopefully, he’d catch a nap.

No such luck. Thoughts of his brother drifted away, but fantasies of the brunette quickly replaced them. Were they on his bed, Ethan lying prone like he was now, she might straddle his ass, her bare thighs cradling his hips and her hands plying his tight shoulders. Once his muscles had relaxed, he’d flip her over, catch her breasts in his palms, and draw a nipple into his mouth.