Zane's Redemption

A bark from the backseat bought her time to answer. She leaned sideways and found a Labrador puppy staring at her.

“You have a dog?”

She already reached for the little pup and pulled him onto her lap.

“You’re going to spoil him. He’s not trained, and by the looks of it, he never will be.”

Portia petted the animal’s soft fur. “What’s his name?”

“Z.”

“Z? Just one letter?”

“That’s all he gets. He’s a pest.” Despite the words, Zane’s voice was warm, attesting to his affection for the dog.

Zane hadn’t just left him behind. He’d brought the puppy with him. Didn’t that mean that he cared, that he was responsible, and definitely not as indifferent as he tried to make himself out to be? A man who had a dog, especially such a cute one, was a man who had a heart and feelings.

It sealed it for her. She could trust him. He would take care of her just like he took care of the dog. “Let’s get wherever you want us to go.”

There was something in his face that could almost be called a smile, or at least the beginning of one: his lips twitched and curved upwards by a tiny fraction of an inch.

“How far is it?”

“We’ll be there in four hours.”

“I can’t wait.” She lifted her hand from the pup and slid it onto Zane’s thigh, suddenly feeling courageous. His muscles bunched just as they had the last time she’d done that. No reprimand followed her bold action.

“Maybe I can make that three and a half hours,” he conceded and placed his hand over hers, not to remove it, but to capture it where it was.

“I’d like that.” Portia had never heard her own voice sound that husky before.

When their gazes collided for a fleeting moment, awareness made her body burn with unquenchable lust, a lust she saw reflected in Zane’s eyes.

Yes, this was the right decision. The only decision. Zane would be hers. Soon.

Chapter Twenty

Quinn slammed the door to the empty garage shut and pressed his cell back to his ear.

“Shit, he’s taken the Hummer. And the dog is gone too.”

On the other line, Oliver let out a low curse. “Damn it! I was hoping she’d run to him. Have you checked his bedroom?”

“He’s gone, Oliver. And by the looks of it, he’s taken Portia with him.” Why hadn’t he seen that coming? That was exactly the kind of thing Samson had asked him to come and watch Zane for—and to prevent.

“Shit, what am I gonna do now? Samson will have my hide for this.” There was fear in Oliver’s voice.

Quinn felt for him. This was his first big assignment, and he was screwing it up royally. No, actually, Zane was screwing him over big time.

“Pick me up at Zane’s house. Let’s go to Samson’s together.”

“Thanks, Quinn.”

Ten minutes later, a glum-looking Oliver picked him up with one of the limousines. In another twenty minutes they were in Nob Hill and parked in front of Samson’s house.

Oliver switched off the engine and took a deep breath. “This is so fucked up. I should have said something before.”

“About what?”

“That Portia used mind control on me and left me in the dust the other day. When I called Zane for help, he told me she was with him. Fuck, why would she do that? Why would she trick one bodyguard just to run to the other?”

Quinn slapped him on the shoulder. “I guess you haven’t noticed how those two look at each other.”

Oliver gave him a stunned look. “You’ve seen them together?”

“Last night. Long story. But I’m telling you something: when two people look at each other like that, there’s nothing you can do. Best to stay out of it.”

“Zane has the hots for Portia? No way!”

“Not only that, I think she has the hots for him. And I’m not even sure it’s just that. I know Zane too well. He doesn’t turn all territorial over just any woman. So here’s my advice: keep your mouth shut about what happened the other day. Nobody needs to know about that. It’ll only get you in hot water with Samson.”

Oliver ran his hands through his impossibly messy hairdo. “Are you sure? What if somebody knows about it?”

“I’m the only other person who knows, and I won’t blab. So, take my advice. As for what happened tonight, they both tricked you. It’s not your fault. He’s duped me too, and I know him better; I should have seen the warning signs.”