A Little Wild (30 page)

“And if it isn’t a rumor, do you believe your Aunt Virginia would approve of you snooping through her files?”

Marcy’s face twisted. “Please, Miss Sheridan, I can’t lose this temp job. The baby was a surprise, and I need the money.”

A surprise pregnancy? Like Tess had been to her parents.

For the sake of Marcy’s baby, she hoped the young woman learned responsibility fast.

She softened her tone. “Listen, Marcy, I know the secretaries talk, but not about confidential client issues, all right? I’m sorry, but if this happens again, I can’t protect you. As it is, I have to tell your aunt.”

“Oh crap, no! Really?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“I u-understand. I wasn’t thinking. I haven’t told anyone but Sammi. W-will you tell Aunt Virginia that, too?”

Tess nodded. “Sammi, please keep this quiet.”

“Definitely, Miss Sheridan.”

“Thank you. Now, back to work, both of you.” She shooed them off, feeling older than Queen Elizabeth the First when the secretaries practically genuflected before fleeing.

Alone, she lifted her coffee mug. No way could Zach already know about his father’s plans. If Marcy’s tale held true, Zach would be livid, and Tess couldn’t blame him. What was his father thinking?

She set down her mug and searched out her boss. As she approached the desk of his executive assistant, the woman’s iron-gray eyebrows raised.

“Is Lawrence available, Glynnis?” Tess asked. “I need to see him. It’s important.”

“To do with?”

“The Crockett’s Fine Foods acquisition.”

Glynnis nodded. “Have a seat.”

“Thanks, but I’ll stand.” Tess adjusted her chignon while Glynnis buzzed Lawrence. So much for needing caffeine. Marcy’s story had shocked her wide awake.

Glynnis glanced up from her phone. “Mr. Greenburg is finishing a call. You may go in, but please wait until he finishes to address him.”

No duh.
“Thank you, Glynnis.”

Tess knocked on the office door before entering. Taking the chair across from Lawrence’s desk, she placed a finger to her lips to indicate she’d remain quiet. Finally, he hung up. He rose and buttoned his suit jacket over his huge frame.

“Teresa, always a pleasure. What brings you here?” He strolled around the desk.

Standing, she shook his hand. “Good morning, sir.”

“Please, we’ve been through this. Call me Lawrence.”

“I’m sorry. Lawrence.” Plastering on a smile, she sat again. Lawrence relaxed against the front of the desk, his hands clasped over his stomach. Tess began, “I’m not sure how to say this, so I’ll just plunge in. I heard a disturbing rumor a few minutes ago.” She felt like a kid squealing on a classmate. However, Lawrence deserved to hear the gossip about his oldest friend and client, so he could rectify the damage.

A frown formed on his forehead. “Glynnis said you wished to speak to me about the Crockett’s deal.”

“I do.” Tess relayed what she’d overheard. Her boss’s expression grew thoughtful, and hope shot through her that Marcy had been wrong.

Then Lawrence sighed, and Tess’s hope wilted.

“Marcy Cook is Virginia’s niece. She’s not very experienced. Virginia tried to do her a good turn by having her replace Sharon while Sharon recovers from surgery. I’ll have Virginia speak to the girl about the conduct expected of our legal secretaries.”

“Then what Marcy said is true?”

He nodded. “For several months, Graham has been searching for a project Zachary can sink his teeth into. You remember Zachary’s ideas during the consultation and how he expressed interest in the projections? That’s the most interest he’s ever displayed in any Halliday venture.”

Tess’s stomach churned. She’d fabricated Zach’s interest in the projections!

“The supermarkets require Zachary’s forthright style. Graham grasped that immediately.”

Tess shifted in her chair. “But Zach, uh, Zachary isn’t aware of his father’s plans?”

Lawrence shook his head.

“What if Zach doesn’t want the supermarkets?”

“A possibility. I counseled Graham to discuss the matter with his son. However, Graham feels that choosing for Zachary is the correct approach. The boy is nearly thirty-one years old. If he didn’t want his decisions made for him, he would have commandeered his own future by now. Yet he hasn’t.”

Yes, he has, but nobody knows!

“In some ways, I agree with Graham,” Lawrence said. “I’m fond of the boy, but he needs to grow up.” Leaning forward, he patted her shoulder. “Like you, Teresa. Zachary could learn from your example. Always a stellar performance. Always both eyes set firmly on your goal.”

She offered a weak smile, gut knotting. Should she tell Lawrence about Zach’s plans? If she did, would her boss feel compelled to report the news to Graham?

How would Zach feel if Tess betrayed
his
confidence? And what would Lawrence think of her secrecy? Would he reconsider her future with the firm?

Too many questions battered her brain. She knew better than to make impulsive decisions. Whenever she did, she wound up in a pile of trouble.

Swallowing, she rose from her chair. “Thank you for your honesty, Lawrence.”

He pushed off the desk. “I trust it doesn’t upset you that I haven’t mentioned these circumstances before? The matter was to remain between myself, Virginia and Graham.”

Tess nodded. She only handled the grunt work.

“You understand this is a matter of utmost confidentiality,” her boss stated. “I cannot have this conversation revealed outside this office. I will advise Graham of these events, Virginia shall speak to Marcy, and I expect you to speak to Samantha. Is the girl reliable?”

“In my experience, very.”

“Good.” He walked her to the door. “We’ll deal with this, Teresa. I’ve known Graham Halliday for over forty years. It’s our job to protect his interests above all others. Understood?”

“Yes.” The ramifications rang clear. If she told Zach—if she told anyone—she was sunk.

First her parents, now this.

Her week couldn’t get any worse.

Zach paced his living room, eyeing the bathrobes draping the leather armchair. He hadn’t seen Tess since she’d received the news about her parents. When he’d spied the his-and-hers robes this afternoon in a store window near the Climbing the Walls site, he’d envisioned how sexy she’d look cuddled in the plush, off-white fabric.

On a whim, he’d bought both bathrobes. Hers featured pink trim while his boasted navy. Would she think them corny? Considerate? Sweet? A hint that he wanted to get naked as soon as she arrived?

Her knock sounded at his door. As she entered, worry carved her features. She dumped her purse and laptop case on the foyer bench.

Zach wrapped her in a bear hug. “Babe, what is it?”

“I’ve had a harrowing day. It’s so good to see you, Zach.”

“Ditto.” Her heart pounded against his chest. “More bad news about your parents?”

Her spine stiffened. “I don’t want to think or talk. Not yet.” She leaned back within his embrace. “Make love with me.”

The anxiety in her blue eyes socked him in the solar plexus. “I bought something for us,” he murmured, rubbing her arms.

Her worry dimmed. “You did?”

“Check out the armchair.” Looping an arm around her shoulders, he walked her into the living room. “If you don’t like them, I can return—”

She squealed. “I love it!” She plucked the pink-trimmed robe off the chair. “Look! One for you!” She lifted the navy-trimmed robe.

Zach chuckled as she passed him his robe. She put hers on over her skirt and blouse. “A perfect fit.” She twirled.

“Like me and you.”

A naughty glint brightened her eyes. “I don’t know. You’re a tight squeeze, big boy.”

His big boy stirred in his jeans. “Want to test them out?”

“Goodie, we’ve reached the great sex part.”

She had that right. They were explosive together. “Here?” His couch remained one of their favorite lovemaking spots.

She shook her head. “You bought us bathrobes—let’s take a bath. Lord knows I could use a long, wet fuck.”

Laughing, he followed her into his bedroom. They passed Lump napping on the king-sized bed. Without removing her robe, Tess shucked off her shoes, skirt and panties. Not wanting to fall behind, Zach chucked his robe through the open bathroom door onto the tiles and scrambled out of his jeans and T-shirt. By the time Tess joined him—the remainder of her clothes littering the tiles, her hair free of her tidy bun, and her mound whisked clean of the dainty curls he’d noticed re-growing last Thursday—he’d begun running hot water in his big soaker tub and had crouched at the vanity to search the lower cabinet.

“Do you have bath beads?” she asked, faucet gurgling as she sank into the steaming water.

“Do I look like a guy who’d hoard bath beads?”

“What are you doing, then?”

“I bought a new box of condoms, but can’t remember where I put them.” One glimpse of her freshly shaven folds had plummeted his blood to his cock. He was lucky he could speak.

She relaxed against the sloped tub. The low water sloshed. “We don’t have to worry about birth control, Zach. My period’s due tomorrow.”

His balls tightened. The first time he’d feel her slick vagina squeezing his naked cock? He was all over that action.

“Are you sure?” He stood.

“I’m like a clock. Sometime after supper tomorrow, Auntie Flo will visit.” She lifted her tits. “You can tell if you feel my breasts. They’re full and tender. I’m swollen down below, too.” Her fingers skipped to her mound.

Zach hurried to the tub and killed the faucet. He’d dated women who’d bitched about water retention, but Tess made her feminine cycle sound erotic.

“Scoot forward,” he said. “I’ll sit behind you.”

“Not so fast.” Sitting up in the water, she planted one hand on his hip and grasped his erection with the other. “Kneel halfway down.”

Zach groaned. Hunkering on the bath mat, he gripped the tub edge. His erection bobbed an inch below her mouth. She kissed the tip, then licked off the drop of pre-come and looked up.

“Can you stay in that position?” she asked.

“Oh yeah.”

“Good.” Her fingertips grazing his balls, she slurped his cock into her mouth. Her hot tongue swirled, and her lips moved up and down. Sucking him gently at first then growing firmer and sliding faster.

His knees grinding against the cold side of the tub, he pumped his hips. Her fingernails scraped his sac, and the skin contracted.

His orgasm threatened. “Tess, baby, it’s been four days.”

“Come,” she murmured against his length. “It’s okay.”

“What about you?”

She licked the head. “I’ll get you going again.”

Jesus.

“Hurry, Halliday. I want to swallow you.”

His fingertips as rigid as iron pegs on the tub edge, he thrust into her mouth. Never releasing the fantastic suction on his cock, she groped his balls. Within seconds, he exploded, and come surged down her throat. She swallowed every drop.

Licking her lips, she leaned back in the tub.

Zach’s thighs ached. “I think you broke me.”

Her tinkling laugh echoed in the big bathroom.

Slowly, he straightened. “
Now
scoot forward.”

The water splashing around her, she moved forward in the tub. Zach sat behind her with his knees raised on either side of her hips. Cupping her upper arms, he positioned her spine against his chest. Her head rested on his shoulder. Her sunshiny curls tickled his skin and his flaccid penis nestled against her warm back as he skimmed wet hands over her breasts. She moaned.

He teased both nipples until they stood erect. He slipped one hand between her legs, massaging her clit and playing with her folds. Her hips undulated in the low water. As she’d predicted, his hard-on returned.

“Want to climb on board?” he whispered.

Nodding, she rose and turned. Zach closed his legs, and his cock jutted. She sank onto her knees in the sloshing water and inched his erection inside her. At the first contact of skin on skin, he raked in a breath. “Babe, I doubt I’ll last any longer than I did the first time.”

“That’s okay. I’m ready.”

Knees cradling his hips, she rode him. Zach lifted them out of the water as much as possible, increasing the slickness and tension of their bodies. He drew one of her nipples into his mouth. Her back arched.

“Tug it with your lips, Zach. Suck it hard.”

“You said they’re tender,” he murmured against her breast. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Do it, Zach. Do it now. Please.”

He tightened his lips around her nipple and tugged. Licked the areola. Then sucked the tip into his mouth again and flicked his tongue against it. She squirmed, crying out.

Her channel pulsed around him. He released her nipple, and she lowered her head to capture his mouth.

They kissed deeper and deeper, heartbeats going berserk while their bodies soared.

Thirty minutes later, Zach cuddled Tess on his large leather couch. Her damp hair moistened his skin through his new bathrobe. “You haven’t said how your talk went with your sisters.” He squeezed her arm.

“We’ve been too busy,” she replied in a well-loved voice.

Contentment curled within him. Before he’d given her the bathrobe, the worry in her gaze and the stiff set of her shoulders had relayed her anxiety about her parents. Like always, making love with her had felt incredible, but if she didn’t share her thoughts about her family, her parents’ issues would eat away at her.

“We’re not too busy now. Did you tell your sisters that your mom wants you to speak to your dad?”

Nodding, she lifted her cup of herbal tea and sipped. Steam curled from the mug, and the cinnamon scent plumped the air. “We all agree that
Mom
should talk to Dad, not me or Randi or Jenna. But Dad won’t see her yet. Randi met him at his hotel, and he said he’s had enough.”

“Of what?”

“Mom’s accusations.” She sipped her tea again.

“
Is
your dad cheating?”

“I don’t know. Mom doesn’t, either, despite what she said at my place. That’s what she wants me to find out when Dad and I have dinner.”