Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“More than you know. During those years, Remy and I made contacts, and in our spare time, we developed anti-hacking software that we sold for enough money that I haven’t needed to dip into my Dirty Dare Spirits money, or the family trust.”
She blinked, completely floored by the information and at a loss for words.
“Cat got your tongue?” he asked wryly.
She nodded. “You’re amazing.”
He winked. “Glad you think so.” He sobered then, his mouth pulling into a firm line.
“What is it?”
“Part of the deal I made with the feds was that I stop hacking, which meant I stopped searching for you. I believed to my soul I would never see you again.”
“But here I am,” she said, needing to lighten the mood.
He smiled at that. “Yeah. And I’m so fucking thankful you are. Despite the circumstances.”
She didn’t want to get into the reminder of her father and the threat hanging over her. “What happened next?” she asked.
He lifted one tanned shoulder and her mouth watered. She wanted to press her lips to his skin but this conversation was so much more important and she needed to hear it all.
“Nothing. I worked, I graduated, and the deal Remy and I made let me buy The Back Door in Manhattan and open the P.I. agency.”
“Why the P.I. agency?” she asked, knowing that without his skills for finding people and his help apprehending the senator’s wife making him national news, she’d never have come to him for help. They’d never have this time together.
“Because it satisfies the adrenaline rush I used to get from hacking into places and thinking the next click would lead me to you. And the first time I located someone, it was as a favor. I discovered finding missing people was damned fulfilling, so I got my P.I. license.”
She reached for his hand. “It’s fulfilling because of your mom. Because once her depression became too much for her to bear, she walked out and no one found her. No one helped her.”
“To this day, you always knew me best.” He reached for her, pulling her on top of him and she went willingly.
After all, she deserved one good thing in her life and Zach Dare had always been it.
* * *
Sex with Hadley had exceeded Zach’s expectations and he wanted nothing more than to stay in bed with her all day. Unfortunately, it was mid-morning and his day job beckoned. Which didn’t mean he couldn’t plan for tonight. While Hadley showered, he picked up the phone and put his idea in motion.
For his surprise to work, he needed Hadley out of the house so she wouldn’t notice anything unusual. He’d decided to enjoy whatever time they had and if after, she still decided to leave, he’d have no choice but to let her go.
He needed to meet Remy and do paperwork. Knowing she had to tutor Maddox’s brother later, she agreed to go with him in the early afternoon, but she asked him to give her something productive to do.
Once at the bar, he set her up with Sheila, who he knew would keep Hadley busy. After giving her a kiss on the cheek, he walked to his office and settled behind his desk. A couple of hours passed while he sorted through the bills, both paper and online emails, but he was unable to focus. Not when he couldn’t stop reliving the night that should have happened years ago.
Yet, even he had to wonder, had they stayed together as teenagers, would they have lasted? He and Hadley were two very different people today, both shaped by a shared, painful past. One that had burned him so deeply, he hadn’t let any woman in since.
So why was he holding on to hope now that he could convince Hadley to stay?
“Knock knock,” Remy said from the doorway to the office.
“Come in. Want something to drink? I have my stash of Dirty Dare Tequila.” He opened the bottom desk drawer and pulled out… an almost empty bottle. “What the fuck?”
Remy blinked. “Have you been indulging when no one’s around? Or did you forget how much was left the last time?”
“Neither,” Zach said through clenched teeth. “I haven’t taken this out in a while. Between the missing bottles in our stock room and this, someone’s brazen as hell.”
Remy ran a hand over his bearded scruff. “Any ideas who’s stealing?”
“Not a one. At this point, I don’t trust anyone but you. I’m even wary of Maddox.” Though he doubted his manager would betray them.
Lowering himself into the seat across from the desk, Remy leaned back and groaned. “You don’t really think Maddox is drinking on the job or stealing, do you? The guy worked on Wall Street and his work ethic is admirable.”
“I agree. But we need to know for certain and catch the SOB in the act. Whoever it is,” Zach said, placing the bottle back in the drawer.