“You know he’s calling to check up on her,” Mac whispered.
Braden nodded in agreement. “I don’t see what the hell she puts up with him for.”
“She’s defiant.” Ryker’s eyes remained on Laney. “She may see something in him, but she’s staying with him out of spite because you two make a big deal about it.”
Braden eased a hip on his desk and crossed his arms. “And you don’t? I’m sure you didn’t get out of her house without a verbal sparring match with Carter.”
Ryker sneered. “I can handle that prick.”
“I don’t know when I’ll be home.” Laney’s slightly raised voice carried across the room. “Of course I’m at my brother’s house. Where else would I be?”
Braden’s blood boiled, and a little of what Ryker said started to ring true. Maybe in Mac and Braden’s attempt to protect her, they’d driven her deeper into the arms of a controlling asshole. Damn it. He needed to talk to her one-on-one.
Mac headed for the door. “I’m getting something to eat. I’ll be around if you need me.”
Braden pulled his gaze from his sister and stepped closer to Ryker. “Do I need to know anything about London?”
Ryker’s dark eyes met his. “I handled it.”
“With no trace back to us?”
Nodding, Ryker’s jaw clenched. “I even managed to gain the trust and cooperation of two of the boys in blue. Next time I go back, we’ll have no worries.”
Relief slid through Braden. He knew whatever Ryker had done, he’d done his job well. “And the item is secured?”
“It’s in the Paris office, ready to go back to its rightful owner.”
Braden slapped Ryker on the back. “Go eat. I’ll clean things up with Laney and take her back home.”
Ryker’s brows lifted. “You’re taking her back willingly?”
“She makes her own decisions. I’m just hoping she sees Carter for who he is before it’s too late, because if he crosses the line more than he has, he’ll have bigger problems on his hands than just checking up on her.”
Ryker’s thin lips pulled into an eerie grin. “I’ll take her back after I eat. I’d like to have a talk with him.”
Braden shook his head. “I’ll take care of it. You go relax.”
Ryker looked as if he wanted to argue, but finally he nodded. After throwing Laney one more glance, he left the room.
While waiting for her to finish her call, Braden put the tube in the lock cabinet by the door. He didn’t want that container going anywhere for now.
Finally Laney turned, slid the phone in her pocket and started toward the door. Braden stepped in her path and hated that look of sadness that stared back at him. While he wanted to unleash his anger and tell her to drop that jerk, he knew she wouldn’t listen to words.
In a move that surprised both of them, Braden glided his arms around her shoulders and pulled her against him. He kissed her on the head and whispered, “I’m sorry I was a jerk to you.”
Laney squeezed him back, resting her head on his shoulder. “You’re always a jerk, but you never apologize.”
Laughing, Braden eased back and smoothed her dark hair away from her face. “I just want you happy and to be with someone who deserves you. I just don’t like how Carter treats you.”
“He treats me great when we’re together,” she said with a slight smile. “His ex cheated on him, and he’s leery. I can’t blame him after hearing the stories.”
Braden would save his opinion on that topic. From the rumors he’d heard, it wasn’t Carter’s ex doing the cheating at all. But Braden still had a tail on Carter, so time would tell.
“You can stay and eat, or I’ll take you home. Whatever you want.”
Laney tipped her head and narrowed one eye at him. “Who are you and what have you done with my big brother?”
He shrugged. “I told you, I just want you happy.”
Her features softened as she ran a finger between his brows. “Your worry lines aren’t as prominent as they normally are. If I had to guess, I’d say Zara is to thank for the new Braden.”
“Zara is...” Hell, he didn’t even know what to say.
Laney patted his cheek. “It’s okay. I can tell your feelings for her are strong, and I won’t say a word. Just promise me you won’t hurt her. I don’t know her personally, but if you’re having these emotions, then I’d say she is, too. Be careful where your hearts are concerned.”
Braden swallowed and feared that when all was said and done, someone’s heart would be hurt.
Ignoring that lump in his throat, he looped his arm through Laney’s. “Why don’t you stay and eat? Then I’ll take you back.”
Laney looked up at him with bright eyes. “I love you, Braden. Dad would be proud of you.”
Another point that worried him. He hoped like hell he did the O’Shea name proud, because his father, grandfather and great-grandfather had done an impeccable job of building up a reputation. Some may be skeptical, but the name was respected and sometimes feared. No one messed with the O’Sheas. And once Braden guided the family into an even more reputable area, he could hold his head high, knowing he’d done the right thing.
Braden led Laney toward the kitchen. Once he got her back home, he could focus on Zara. Their time alone couldn’t come soon enough.
Sixteen
Braden was surprised when he stepped into the master suite and Zara was nowhere in sight. A hint of her signature jasmine perfume lingered in the room.
He turned toward the attached bath and smiled. Looked as if she was a step ahead of him. He undressed as he moved toward the wide doorway. His shirt fell off his shoulders to the floor, he stepped out of his shoes, hopped out of his socks and shed his pants and boxers. By the time he stepped into the bathroom, he was more than ready to join Zara.
But he stopped as soon as his feet hit the tile. There in the sunken garden tub was Zara. She’d apparently packed bubbles because she was neck deep into them, her head tipped back, hair piled on her head and eyes closed. Was she sleeping? She wasn’t moving.
Braden took a few moments to take in the sight of Zara relaxing in his tub. He’d never used it, never had a need. He grabbed a shower and that was it. This sunken bubble bath never looked so good.
Damp tendrils clung to the side of her neck, her pink lips parted on a soft sigh. Braden could barely restrain himself. He’d never wanted a woman with such a fierce ache before, and the knot in his gut told him this need wasn’t only physical anymore. If everything between them were merely physical, Braden would’ve let Ryker go into her place and look around. But he couldn’t do it.
Zara shifted, her eyes opened, instantly locking on him. A slow, seductive smile spread across her face.
“I meant to be done by the time you came up. But this is too relaxing.” She lifted one bubble-covered arm, reaching out to him. “Join me?”
Braden wasn’t about to turn down an invitation like that, even if he’d smell like flowers when he got out. Being with Zara, no matter the circumstances, was totally worth it.
Zara scooted forward, giving him room to step in behind her. When his legs stretched out on either side of her, Braden pulled her back against his chest. She rested her head on his shoulder and peered up at him.
“Did you get your meeting taken care of?”
He scooped up bubbles and swiped them over her bent knees. “I did and now I’m all yours. Did you manage to work?”
“I added another event,” she stated, her voice lifting with excitement. “Parker Abrams was at your party the other night. His assistant sent me an email about working on his corporate event he hosts once a year for his employees. Apparently their last coordinator was caught making out with Parker’s intoxicated son. Great news headline, bad for business. But how am I any different? I’m sleeping with my boss.”
Braden smiled. “That’s great news for you. I promise to keep our fling a secret.”
Her lids closed, and Braden wanted to take back the words. This was starting to feel like more than a fling. He knew it, even if he didn’t admit it out loud. There was something deeper than intimacy going on here. Short-term was the only way he’d worked before, but now...he didn’t necessarily want to keep Zara a secret. She deserved more...they deserved more.
Zara rubbed her hand along the arm he had wrapped around her stomach. “I feel weird discussing business with you when we’re naked. It’s wrong...isn’t it?”
Nothing about this moment was wrong. Nothing about having Zara smiling, happy and naked was wrong.
Braden nuzzled against her neck. “Then maybe we shouldn’t talk.”
Zara’s slight groan had him reaching up to cup the side of her face, turning her so he could capture her lips. But the woman in his arms went a step further and turned until she faced him. Braden straightened his legs when she straddled his lap.
“I was lying here dreaming of you,” she told him as she poised herself above him. “I have no idea how we got to this point, but I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
Encircling her waist with his hands, Braden stroked her damp skin with his thumbs. “I don’t want anything between us, Zara.”