The Mistresses Collection. Оливия Гейтс

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СКАЧАТЬ a foot in the air. That blasted dog had followed him, was standing right in front of him, panting, looking like he’d found a new best friend. Then he barked, once—loud. Zack pulled in his chin.

      “You have some kind of attachment disorder?”

      The tail started to thump.

      With the dog close behind, Zack moved back to the living room, set a bath sheet before the fire and unraveled the other, ready to dry off that voluminous coat. He looked hard at Trinity, who was swaying back and forth, Bonnie in her arms, like nothing was out of the ordinary. At first glance, she looked happy enough but her jaw was tight, her usually plump lips pulled into a line, and he got the distinct impression she was avoiding eye contact. Guess the call with her boss hadn’t gone so well.

      Maybe she’d gotten the sack.

      He hunkered down to dry the dog’s coat. One small blessing…He didn’t smell. Zack dropped the towel over the dog’s head and rubbed.

      “Did you get through to New York?” he asked.

      “Uh-huh.”

      “Your boss not pleased?”

      “She was remarkably understanding.”

      He rubbed along the dog’s back. “Then what’s the problem?”

      “No problem.”

      “You sure?”

      “Don’t I look like I’m sure?”

      Zack studied her frosty stare then shook out his towel and hair went flying. Damn it.

      It was his experience that women liked to talk, which didn’t always translate into them meaning what was said. He got the distinct impression Trinity wanted to tell him something that, through no fault of his own, he couldn’t grasp and might not want to particularly hear anyway.

      Without being asked, the dog rolled over onto his back, legs in the air. Zack quickly smothered a grin. “Just don’t get too comfortable.”

      This was only temporary. This was all only temporary.

      Trinity sat on the arm of the nearest recliner. “Looks like a great family dog.”

      “Did you have a dog growing up?”

      “No. But I always wanted one.”

      “We had one.” He rubbed the dog’s belly and one hind leg began to kick.

      “Did you take him to puppy school and for lots of walks?”

      “I was too busy, shooting hoops, kicking balls or studying.”

      “You’ve always been competitive.”

      “I was motivated.”

      “Ever thought about sitting back on your laurels rather than pushing all the time?”

      He looked over. There was that tone again and those gorgeous eyes were sparkling like she was angry. Upset. At him? Wondering, he kept drying.

      “You mean take a backseat with my father’s company?” He nudged the dog’s ribs and he rolled back over. “Too much to learn. At some stage someone has to take over the reins.”

      “The reins of Harrison Hotels. And that’s you. Mr. Ruthless.”

      Zack set his teeth. Now he was upset. “I’m not interested in labels.”

      “Yeah. I got that. What do your brothers and sister say about you taking possession of the crown?”

      “Sienna has her own life. Off backpacking around Europe.”

      “Backpacking? With the Harrison money and connections, why not five stars all the way?”

      “She’s the rebel. Wants to do things her way, in her own time?”

      Her head slanted and she smiled. “I think I’d like her.”

      Everyone did. “The guys have their families.”

      “And dogs, I suppose.”

      His stomach muscles tightened. Enough. He set down the towel and pushed to his feet. “Have I missed something? You’re edgy and not because I thought twice about letting King Kong here into my house.”

      She shrugged. “He’s obviously harmless.”

      “Don’t avoid the question.”

      “There’s nothing wrong.”

      Her exasperated get off my back expression didn’t impress. He dropped the towel and sauntered over. “What happened during that phone call to New York?”

      “I told you—”

      “Not everything.”

      “I told Kate the story. She was surprised but understood. We talked about the weather, about you—”

      “What about me?”

      “That you have…a reputation.”

      “We established that. What else?”

      Her slim nostrils flared then she released a breath. “That she needed to hear from me later in the day.”

      “Or no job?”

      “Something like that.”

      He studied her wide, glistening eyes. What are you hiding?

      He took another step closer. An instant later, the dog knocked the back of Zack’s leg on his way to plunking himself down between them both. When the dog looked up at him, Zack arched a brow and squared his shoulders. Those big brown eyes weren’t merry anymore. They were telling him to be smart and button up. Mrs. D had said he was protective.

      As he took the dog back over to the fire to towel dry his rump, Zack reminded himself that normally when a member of the fairer sex started to push his buttons, he said goodbye. Easy. Cut off in a remote location by a freak snowstorm, not so easy this time.

      But even if they weren’t snowed in, he wouldn’t walk away. Not yet. Because like it or not, Trinity had gotten under his skin in a way no one else had ever managed, and clearly he’d gotten under hers.

       Six

      A text on Zack’s cell flashed five minutes after the power flickered back on around noon. Trinity studied his thoughtful expression as Zack read the message while she rocked the baby, who was drifting off for a postlunch nap.

      “Cressida Cassidy from Child Services,” he said. “Roads are still blocked. Tomorrow’s the soonest they can get out. Still no word on leads about the baby’s situation. СКАЧАТЬ