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That man did have a way with delivering promises. The impact he could make on her body without even touching her was astounding. But she couldn’t stand in the doorway all day and daydream about how sexy and amazing Braden was.
For one thing, she wasn’t moving in. She was here temporarily, and she needed to remember that. For another, she was behind on work. She had to get her spreadsheets updated for the upcoming events, Braden’s included. In the next two months, she had seven events planned, some big, some small, but Zara prided herself on treating each event as if it was the only one she worked on. She wanted her clients to feel special, to feel as if she cared only for them and no one else.
Zara headed to the antique desk in the corner near the doors that led out on to a balcony. The thick snow blanketed the open space, but Zara’s imagination worked just fine. What she wouldn’t give to work on a terrace during the warmer months. How inspiring and refreshing to be outside on the days she worked from home.
Once she booted up her computer, she tried not to focus on the giant bed directly across from her line of sight. If she stared too long, she’d start fantasizing even more about what would take place there later, and since she already knew how talented the man was in bed, her fantasy just sprang into mind without her even trying.
Zara closed her eyes and sighed. She seriously had to get a grip on this situation and her feelings. Right now he was downstairs working with his brother, and Zara needed to remember she had a job to do, as well. The weekend was over. Even though the snow still covered a good portion of the area in Boston and the surrounding towns, Zara still had to think ahead. When these upcoming events rolled around, the snow would most likely be gone, and her clients were expecting a spectacular party.
Zara pulled up her schedule and made mental notes as well as jotting down some handwritten ones. She did nearly everything online, but still reverted back to pen and paper at times. She might do some things old-school, but that was okay. She attributed those skills to her grandmother.
And thinking of her grandmother brought her mind back around to Braden and what he’d found, if anything, inside that tube.
* * *
“Damn it.” Braden slammed his fist on the desktop. “Where the hell did it disappear to?”
“You don’t even know one of the scrolls is what was in here.” Mac carefully put the cap back on. “There were no other tubes?”
Braden rested his palms on his desk and shook his head. “Nothing. There were still some boxes, though. Zara hadn’t even unpacked her own things, yet. Between all of that and her grandmother’s things, I could’ve spent days searching that house.”
Standing on the other side of the desk, Mac laid the tube down and crossed his arms. “You were there for two days, and from what I can tell you managed one empty tube and sleeping with the woman you’re using. You’re in quite a mess, brother. We’ll get the scrolls eventually, no need to seduce your way to them.”
Fury bubbled within Braden. He leaned forward, holding Mac’s gaze. “Don’t be an ass. What Zara and I do is none of your concern, and I’m more than capable of searching. I know my position here.”
Mac smiled, completely uncaring as to Braden’s building anger. “Sounds like your lady’s gotten to you. Why don’t you just tell her what you want? At this point she trusts you. You guys played house for two days, you brought back a damn cat and now she’s up in your room. If you tell her you need to search her house, I doubt she’d turn you away.”
Braden pushed off the desk. He couldn’t tell her. Not now. It was because she trusted him that he couldn’t come clean with what he needed. Once she discovered he’d lied from the beginning and only initially hired her so he could get close, she’d start to question everything between them, and he couldn’t have that.
“I’ll find another way,” Braden assured Mac. “When will Ryker be back?”
“He made it back to the States, but the airport is closed. He flew into Provincetown and rented a car. He should be here this afternoon.”
Turning to face the floor-to-ceiling window facing the snow-covered property, Braden racked his brain on a solution. He’d been so damn sure there was a scroll inside that tube. He had to focus, keep his head on straight or he’d find himself in an even bigger mess. He was the O’Shea in charge now, and he needed to damn well act like it.
“Ryker needs to get into Zara’s house while she’s here,” Mac stated simply.
