Revenge With Benefits. Cat Schield

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СКАЧАТЬ won’t stop him. He’ll make stuff up.”

      “We’ll be ready.”

      Ryan opened his mouth to argue but decided he’d be wasting his breath. Susannah Dailey-Kirby was not a woman in need of his assistance.

      The walls separating Susannah’s office from the rest of the campaign headquarters were made of glass. Blinds had been added in case she needed privacy, but at the moment they were open. Ryan caught himself glancing a third time toward the front door where he’d last glimpsed Zoe.

      Susannah followed the direction of his gaze. “Looking for something?”

      “Someone. Your newest volunteer.”

      “I don’t see anyone.”

      “With everything going on, she left before anyone met her. I was hoping she’d changed her mind and come back.”

      “My,” his sister drawled, “she must’ve been something for you to be this interested. Was she pretty?”

      “Yes.”

      Was he crazy to be so preoccupied with a woman he’d talked to for less than a minute? But then he remembered how bumping into her had short-circuited his system and knocked all thoughts of politics and Lyle Abernathy from his mind.

      “Very pretty?”

      “Very pretty. But she was different from the women I’m usually attracted to.”

      “How so?”

      For a second Ryan wondered if he could put into words his unexpected reaction. He met hundreds of women a year. Why this particular one? While beautiful, she wasn’t the most stunning woman he’d ever met and he hadn’t spoken with her long enough to determine if she was bright or funny. Yet her impact on him lingered.

      “She dressed like a badass. Black jeans and a graphic tee. Spiky blond hair and dark makeup. Sort of a ‘flower child meets rock-and-roll’ vibe.” Yet beneath the tough-girl exterior he’d sensed her vulnerability.

      “Seriously?” His sister made no attempt to hide her amusement. “You’re right. That doesn’t sound like your type at all.”

      He was tired of dating successful, sophisticated women like his sister—women who made it their mission to kick the world’s ass. He wanted someone who could use his help. A woman who wasn’t afraid to need him. “Maybe what I need is someone totally different.”

      Despite his mistakes with Kelly Briggs, Ryan liked the idea of being someone’s hero and he refused to shy away from the arrogance of being convinced he was right when he acted in another person’s best interest. Sure, maybe in this day and age women didn’t want to be rescued or helped. Maybe they demanded the power in their relationships be balanced and equal. Ryan wasn’t opposed to that, but what was wrong with letting their guard down and letting a guy flex his muscles once in a while?

      Zoe intrigued him. He’d glimpsed something in her eyes that triggered his protective instincts. Which might prove problematic, given what had happened when he’d tried to help Kelly Briggs. She’d misinterpreted his assistance as some deep emotional connection between them. When he’d explained his concern was strictly platonic, she’d struck out against his company in a vicious act of revenge.

      “But this isn’t about me,” Ryan objected. “It’s about your campaign. You need all the help you can get. Especially now that Lyle has joined the race.”

      “Sure.” His sister gave him a wry smile. “You keep telling yourself that. I hope she comes back.” Susannah’s eyes twinkled. “For the campaign’s sake, of course.” She paused to let her ribbing sink in and then added, “What did you say her name was?”

      “Zoe. Hopefully she’ll come back.”

      “If she does, we’ll make sure we get all her details. I don’t want her to disappear on you a second time.”

      Ryan opened his mouth to deny his interest and sighed instead. “That would be great. I have to get going. Call me if anything new comes up.”

      Before he could go, Susannah caught his arm. “I love you, big brother. Thanks for worrying about me even if I don’t really need it.”

      He covered her hand with his. “It’s what I do.”

      “I know. And I worry about you in turn.” She spoke in a low tone. “I hope your mystery woman comes back and that she’s great because you deserve someone fabulous in your life.”

      “I’m fine,” he said automatically.

      “Of course you’re fine,” she countered. “But I want you to be fantastic and the right woman could do that for you.”

      Susannah had married the first man she’d ever dated and they lived the blissful life of the perfect couple. She and Jefferson had been married for ten years and had two beautiful children, Violet and Casey, ages six and eight. In addition to being a supportive wife and supermom, she was a corporate attorney with the top law firm in the city. Every day she strove to take successful to new levels and did it with grace and ease.

      “Jeff is a lucky man to have you,” Ryan said. “I’m afraid you might have set the bar too high for my future wife.”

      With a quick wave of her hand, Susannah dismissed his compliment. “We’re a great team. I couldn’t do any of this without him.”

      While Ryan wondered if that was true, he gave her a hard hug and took his leave.

      Despite his sister’s confidence that she could handle whatever trash Lyle threw at her in the senate race, Ryan didn’t like this new development. It was time for him to pay his buddy downtown a visit. He might have a fresh take on what sort of dirty tricks they could expect in the months between now and election day.

       Two

      The day after Zoe’s first attempt to join Susannah Dailey-Kirby’s state senate campaign, she returned to the storefront, hoping for less chaos and no Ryan. Although the atmosphere continued to buzz with activity and anticipation, the staffers were no longer in crisis mode. She was greeted as soon as the door closed behind her.

      “Hi, I’m Tonya.” A pretty redhead in her midtwenties wearing jeans and a T-shirt emblazoned with Dailey for Senate approached Zoe. “Is there something I can do to help you?”

      “Yes, I was here yesterday and—”

      Tanya interrupted her. “Are you Zoe?”

      That the staffer knew her name sent a shock through Zoe. Had she been found out already? Impossible.

      “Yes.”

      “Wonderful. We’re so glad you came back. Ryan mentioned that you’d stopped by but left before we could get any of your information.”

      “You all looked really busy,” Zoe said, hoping her relief didn’t show. “I just thought I’d try a different time.”

      “Well, СКАЧАТЬ