“I am. I know the history. It’s pretty crazy all of the stuff that happened with the Lowell family, and of course I hate that Vernon Lowell ruined so many families. But maybe that’s why they need somebody like me at the helm.”
“That’s a great attitude to have. They’ve really put that past behind them and are focused on the future. This job is the chance of a lifetime. No one ever imagined the CEO position could go to someone outside the family.” Allison sucked in a deep breath, amazed she’d managed to keep herself from uttering the name Joshua Lowell.
“I agree. It’s an excellent opportunity. I’m excited to interview and I’m excited to finally meet you in person, too.”
“Sounds great. I’m in the Bahamas right now visiting family, but I’ll see you in Falling Brook next week. Good night, Ryan.”
“Have a wonderful vacation. Good night.”
Allison ended the call and for a moment, stared at the back of her bedroom door. She felt as though she were teetering on the edge of a cliff. The Black Crescent account was crucial to the success of her company, and she’d promised Kianna she would nail this first assignment BC had given them. But she also knew firsthand the damage inflicted by BC, and exactly how Zane would feel if and when he found out that she was working for them. This absolutely put a wrench in her romantic hopes, but she reminded herself that Zane would never be a long-term thing. He wanted the physical parts and none of the emotional entanglements. Yes, she was risking their friendship, but, in her experience, those things could be mended. If needed, she could get Scott to talk Zane off the ledge, tell him that the Black Crescent thing was just business. Surely a friend could understand that.
She opened her door and walked back into the main room. Zane was drying one of the hand-painted platters she’d used. “Hey. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. I shouldn’t have given you a hard time. You have things you have to do. I get it.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.”
Zane set down the clean dish and leaned against the kitchen counter. “Nice guy?”
“What?”
“The guy you were talking to. You seemed pretty chummy. I thought it was just you and your partner in that office.”
For a moment, Allison struggled to figure out what he was asking, but then she realized there was the slightest chance that Zane was jealous. That was so incongruous with his personality that it didn’t really compute. He could have any woman he wanted. And he’d pushed her away the one time they’d kissed. “Great guy, actually. Supersmart. Handsome, too.”
“Yeah? Could there be something brewing between you two?”
He might not be jealous, but he was curious, which made her both nervous and a bit exhilarated. “I hate to disappoint you, but no. He’s a recruit. Nothing else.”
Zane nodded. “Oh. Okay.”
She scanned his face, and he returned the look. Good God, she had the most urgent desire to show him the reason why a guy like Ryan Hathaway was not what she wanted. If only she could press Zane against that kitchen counter and kiss him into oblivion, thread her hands into his hair and show him just how badly she longed for him. She wanted to tell him everything—that she’d fantasized about him hundreds of times, how she needed to finally get him out of her system. Being this close to him and knowing she couldn’t do any of that was testing what little resolve she had left. But she had to hold strong. She would not make the first move.
“I should probably get going,” Zane said, finally breaking their eye contact. “Get out of your hair.”
“You aren’t in my hair, Zane. This is fun. I could talk to you all night.” She did her best to hide the soft rumble in her voice, the way she secretly wanted to beckon him to her bedroom with her tone.
“I need to get a good night’s sleep if we’re going to go snorkeling tomorrow.”
Tomorrow. Allison could wait until then. Tomorrow was another chance to show Zane that she was a woman. He’d been with so many over the years, why not her? Why couldn’t she have at least one taste of him? “Right. Snorkeling.”
He pushed off from the kitchen counter and walked to the door leading out to her patio. Allison followed, tormented and enticed by everything about him. “Thanks for dinner. It was amazing.” He ran his hands through his thick hair, seeming at least a little conflicted. She took solace in that. She was at war with herself, too.
“You’re more than welcome.”
He leaned in and pecked her on the cheek. It happened so fast, she had no time to grip his arms or pull him closer or even simply wish for a real kiss. It only left her once again hungry for everything she couldn’t have.
“See you tomorrow morning.”
“Yep. Got it.” She watched as he disappeared down the beach, into the darkness. It hurt to see him go without leaving her more, but she’d felt this way about Zane forever. The yearning might never go away. It might always be an unanswered question. Still, she really wished he would finally get up enough nerve to be the one to break their never-ending standoff. Her heart couldn’t take much more.
Four
Zane woke with the sun and too many thoughts rolling around in his head. He was excited by the prospect of spending the day with Allison. Snorkeling with a friend sounded fun, and “fun” was something he so rarely had. But last night had been a close call from his
