The Billionaire Bad Boys Club(87)

Rebecca rolled her lips together to hide a smile. Given Zane’s stubbornness, she doubted that discussion would occur.

“I have good news,” she said, deciding the subject was ready to be changed. “The Lounge got a great review from Gordon Hewitt.”

She handed Trey the printout of his blog.

“‘Highly Recommended,’” he quoted, eyebrows up and reaction predictably pleased for her.

As he continued to read the review, exclaiming the best bits aloud, Zane mouthed thank you silently to her.

~

Zane knew Trey was more rattled than he’d let on. He took off in his—yes—pretty red Bugatti and still hadn’t returned by evening. Zane could tell his absence troubled Rebecca. She joined him in the library while he power-watched the news on the multi-screen wall display. Aside from sending a few emails, she mostly wandered up and down.

He wondered if this meant she felt more comfortable being alone with Trey than him. She wasn’t relaxed like she’d been this morning after their game. She felt back on her old standby, offering to whip up a quick dinner. Reminding her she was a guest didn’t dissuade her.

“I’d love to play in your kitchen,” she said earnestly. “You have great equipment.”

“Maybe some other time.” Wanting to give her his full attention, he clicked off the television and lounged back in his big leather chair. “Mrs. Penworth rules that roost. If you were cooking, I’d want to give her advance notice.”

“Oh,” she said, her face falling comically.

“You wouldn’t want Trey to miss out on your food,” he added. “We can’t be sure when he’ll come back.”

“But you like eating,” she pointed out hopefully.

God, she amused him: their delectable, neurotic little elf with her short blonde hair and her big gray eyes. She resembled a sprite even more in the workout clothes she’d pulled on again. He didn’t know how to admit he had an entire wardrobe of clothes for her stashed in their walk-in closet—ordered through Sybil Spaulding and then hidden in the back. The discovery had raised Trey’s eyebrows that morning.

Perhaps Rebecca hadn’t cornered the market on eccentric behavior. Perhaps, in his way, Zane had been dreaming about her as hard as Trey.

“C’mere,” he said, patting his thigh for her to sit on.

She lowered herself with her back as stiff as a board. Zane snorted, squeezed her, and she relaxed a few inches.

“Sorry,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “Not a lot of lap sitting in my past.”

“No trips to Santa?”

“I took the twins.”

Of course she did. He smoothed a spiky lock from her brow. Hadn’t her parents treated her like a kid when they were around?

“My mom must have taken me,” she said as if she’d read his mind. “Or sat me on her lap. She was affectionate. I guess I don’t remember that part of my life as well as . . . what came after. Just as well, I expect. I’d have missed it, and there was no getting it back.” She frowned, squaring her shoulders even as he tugged her closer. “Will Trey be all right?”

Zane supposed she thought she wasn’t allowed to feel sorry for herself.

“He’ll be all right,” he said, hoping this was true.

“He doesn’t usually get upset like that, does he?”

“No.”

She squirmed around to face him more directly. “He feels guilty for not wanting to see his aunt. He forgives other people’s flaws, but he thinks he’s supposed to be perfect.”

Zane laughed softly.

“What?” she asked, surprised by the response.

“I don’t know if I believe in soul mates, but I suspect there’s a reason he recognized you as a kindred spirit all those years ago.”

Rebecca worried her lower lip between her teeth. She didn’t deny she was a perfectionist. “Do you?”

“Do I what?”

“Do you recognize me as a kindred spirit?”

“Maybe.” He couldn’t look away from her sweet vulnerable eyes. “I definitely feel something for you I haven’t for other women. You might be like me in some ways. I don’t know you well enough to be sure. Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure,” she said, bracing for it.

Her reaction made him want to laugh again. “Is it easier for you to be alone with Trey than me?”

“No,” she said without hesitation. “I know it might not seem the case, because I’m kind of uptight, but it’s easier for me to be alone with either of you than any men in the world. Well, except for my brothers and maybe my head chef, but that’s different.”