His Long Shot Page 2

  Scott hopped from his seat, and paced the length of the office. “So what do we do?”

  The specifics had varied over the past few months, but the meaning of the conversation never changed. Neither of them wanted to accept they were out of options.

  He hated the entire situation—he put as much time into building Cord as Scott had—but as of now, denial was no longer an option. “Call our favorite headhunters and see if anyone else is hiring executives.”

  “This isn’t a joke.” Scott’s flat tone matched his expression.

  There was a list to pick from of what came next in the conversation. Zach and Scott each had their own favorite ways to pretend things weren’t so bad, and he’d narrowed down the most likely option for Scott this evening.

  This would be the negotiation. Couldn’t they just stay on long enough to launch their current game? DM would have to keep them around after that if they did a great job. They just had to prove they could play nice with their new owner.

  Like trained dogs on a leash.

  Scott stopped and faced him, dark eyes narrowed.

  Or maybe it would be the Can we pretend we never saw this? argument.

  “Is this what you wanted?” Scott asked.

  Zach choked on a canned response. He didn’t like being caught off-guard. “Excuse me?”

  “This isn’t just our lifeblood; it’s our dream. It’s being ripped away, and you’re making jokes about talking to recruiters.”

  Irritation snaked through Zach’s veins. Usually he’d temper his answer. Business meetings: he’d filter his thoughts. Dinner with colleagues: he’d tone down his response. There was no need for any of that with Scott “It was a fucking hostile takeover. It sucks. What do you want me to do?”

  Scott clenched his jaw and his nostrils flared. “Maybe that’s what you were hoping for. Maybe that’s why you opened us up to it in the first place.”

  Every word dug deeper, and the heat in Zach’s veins turned to fury. It’d been months since they had this argument, and he was never in the fucking mood.

  “Wait, I’ve got this one. Let me guess. You’re the one who begged me to let Kelly invest. I think part of you wanted this.” He let the snideness slide into his voice as he mimicked Scott. It was easier than focusing on the betrayal that thudded behind his ribs every time he thought about her.

  Scott squared his shoulders. “If you know what I’m going to say next, tell me I’m wrong.”

  “Because that worked so well for me the five billion other times I did so.” Zach hated what happened with Kelly. Nothing about the situation was good. Five years ago, he and Scott had been struggling to bring this company to life.

  Kelly and Zach had been together since just after high school. They loved each other. Love, Zach almost gagged on the word. He was an idiot for thinking something like that was real. But at the time, he bought into the delusion.

  She offered to invest her family’s money, to keep them afloat. They just had to make her an equal partner. The decision made them the company they were today—an organization worth buying out.

  A year ago, Zach proposed to her at E3. It was going to be big. Huge. A media stunt that would keep their company name in the headlines for weeks.

  And it had. Kelly found out about the proposal beforehand and made arrangements to sell her company shares minutes before the market closed. As she was ditching a controlling share, she was also turning Zach down in front of hundreds of cameras.

  The video of her rejection went viral, along with the news she’d dumped her part of the company. Their stock was worthless within twenty-four hours.

  Zach’s fingers twitched over the pack of smokes in his shirt pocket. He swallowed a few breaths of air to try to sate the craving. It didn’t squelch the rage and hurt.

  “We would have found a way without her,” Scott said.

  Zach refused to play the what if game. “The only reason you didn't want Kelly’s money then was—” He snapped his jaw shut before he could add because she didn’t love you. He was pissed off, but he wouldn’t cross that line.

  Fuck if he wanted to, though. Months of impotence and frustration, banging their heads against the wall with new management, were all culminating in this. Zach clung to the last threads of civility that he had, but one by one, they were snapping.

  “I would rather have failed than owe her anything.” Scott spat the retort.

  Zach exhaled through clenched teeth. “Funny, that's not what you said back then. Besides, can you fathom not being here right now? I'm not talking about today. You would have walked away from your dream to spite a potential investor?”

  “It wouldn't have been spite.”

  “You would have taken money from anyone else.” They’d been desperate. Hungry. Driven.

  “I didn't take it from Dad. I said yes because you wanted it.”

  “Nope. That’s bullshit of the highest grade, and you know it.” Zach clipped off the disagreement. He owned his mistakes, but this wasn’t one of them. The company was Scott's idea. His dream.

  “Fine.” Scott threw his hands up before he started pacing again. “No one did anything wrong. This is all just an unhappy coincidence.”

  It was definitely Kelly’s fault. There was no doubt there. Blame could be cast all over the place, but she’d lied. She’d manipulated. She’d violated their trust.

  And broke my heart.

  Right. That.

  “At least you learned your lesson before it was too late.” Sarcasm hung heavy in Scott’s sneer. “Oh wait, no you didn’t. Maybe it’s a good thing we lost everything. Otherwise you might have signed over controlling interest to the next piece of ass who came along.”

  Zach’s fury erupted. “Fuck you.” His raised voice bounced back at him. “Kelly wasn’t just some random one-night fling. Mistake or not, I thought I loved her. I thought she loved me.”

  He’d been wrong on both counts.

  Just like with Rae.

  No. Kelly was different, and this wasn’t the time for that tangent.

  The tension faded from Scott’s frame, and his shoulders slumped. That was one thing about Scott—he had a short fuse, but it burned out as quickly as it ignited. “I know. This isn’t on you, or me. It bites pretty hardcore, though.”

  “And rehashing this doesn’t give us any answers.” Zach scrubbed his face. His anger didn’t dissipate so easily, but he’d stash it in tight muscles and tense joints until he was along.

  “We’ll have to look harder.”

  They’d need a quantum microscope to peer any deeper for solutions than they already had. If he dove back into the heated words, he wouldn’t be able to rein his temper in again. “Right.”

  “I invited her to breakfast with us.”

  Kelly? No. Rae. The tension in Zach’s neck cranked past painful. “Why?”

  “Because the two of you can’t do this forever. Because...I’d rather see you talking than not, and at least this, I have control over. Anyway.” Scott raked his fingers through his hair, the brown spikes bouncing back into place the moment he dropped his hand. “Let’s call it a night for everyone. Go get dinner.”

  “Good call.” Zach could smoke on the drive there. Crank the music. Scream out some of this frustration.

  By the time they got to the restaurant, he’d be in the mood to bullshit with Scott like normal. And maybe the waitress would be cute. Short. Curvy. Financial genius who’d made a name for herself saving dying corporations—

  Nope. That probably wouldn’t be their waitress. Why the fuck was Rae back in his thoughts? He’d seen her across the room and exchanged a terse greeting with her.

  But she looked good. She sounded incredible. And kisses from a decade ago lingered on his lips with her name.

  “I’m going to send everyone home.” Scott hovered near the door, resignation and disappointment peppering his words. “Meet you downstairs?”

  “Yeah.” Zach headed for the stairs. His footsteps echoed against the concret
e of the stairwell, hammering with the chaos of this thoughts. He made it about halfway down before the carefully constructed dam around his emotions burst. The weight hit him full force, stealing his breath and forcing his frustration out in a drawn-out scream. “Fuuuuuuuck!”

  Chapter Three

  Rae followed the winding mountain road toward Deer Valley, about twenty-five miles east of Salt Lake. When she was younger, she couldn’t wait to get out this state. Utah was too small. Too...nowhere.

  Now the green lining the hills, the trees, and the light traffic helped soothe her racing thoughts. It was more pleasant to focus on the wood-faced businesses that were a city requirement to make the place look rustic, than the broken record of a question What do I say to Zach?

  Letting him into her head dragged back memories of the last time she’d been up here. A sharp pain grew in her chest.

  It was their senior year of high school. She and Zach put in a brief appearance at the Valentine’s Day dance. He didn’t seem disappointed when she begged off early. Her shoes dug into her feet, and blisters formed faster than she thought possible.

  He’d led her out to the car, and slipped her heels off. Told her she hadn’t needed the miniature torture devices, she looked gorgeous either way.

  The sweetness in his gestures then tugged at emotions she’d locked away long ago. A lump grew in her throat at the vivid surge of feelings, and images that blended then with now.

  He hadn’t been ready to go home—he rarely was, and Rae never complained. Any excuse to spend more time together was fine with her.

  The drive brought them up here, then to a small clearing surrounded by trees. In February, snow covered most of the ground, and no one plowed the back roads, so they were safe from prying eyes.

  That night, they spent hours talking, the way they always did. Moving into the back seat of his car so they could cuddle. Turning the car on long enough to get warm every time the chill seeped in. Making out. Losing her virginity. Saying they loved each other.

  His voice from the past gripped her lungs like a vice, and she gasped. It had been amazing back then, but never better than that night. The same night it started to fall apart. The night he started assuming their future would be one way, and ignoring her opinion about wanting something else.

  She pushed the bittersweet surge aside, and focused her attention on the scenery and the rest of her drive. A few minutes later, she pulled into the Silver Lake Lodge parking lot. She smiled at the black SUV in a spot near the entrance. She hadn’t seen Scott’s newest ride, but he’d had the G4M3G0D vanity plates longer than the Escalade.

  Since he wasn’t waiting outside, she headed into the restaurant. Scott and Zach already sat at a table on the back deck, overlooking the lake. A glance at her phone told her she was five minutes early.

  She watched them through the glass as she approached. Scott wore jeans, battered high tops, and a faded black concert T-shirt. Looking at him, there was no indication the man was worth millions.

  Zach was his opposite. Polished cotton button-down, trousers, and an etched on smile as he leaned in and said something to their waitress, drawing a laugh from her. And he still looked amazing.

  Heat raced across her skin, drawing her senses to life, and she was pretty sure the sun didn’t cause it. Rae forced her gaze away, and pushed the door open to step outside and join them. Both heads swiveled in her direction. The waitress tucked her notebook in her apron pocket and brushed by Rae.

  Zach and Scott both stood as she approached, and Scott greeted her with a hug. Zach’s smile still didn’t reach his eyes as he shook her hand. The entire situation cranked her nerves in opposing directions. It was the wrong kind of appropriate. Casual, but forced.

  “I’m sorry if I kept you waiting.” She added a sweet smile to her apology. It was easier than acknowledging the reality of the situation. The men arrived to any business meeting fifteen minutes early. It gave them time to collect themselves before things started. At least one of them didn’t see this as a casual breakfast with an old friend.

  Did she expect anything less? She had no idea how to react to Zach. There was a tug of ambivalence that he was doing the same with her.

  “You’re right on time.” Scott held out her chair, and scooted it in as she sat.

  Scott and Zach both took their seats. The two played off each other’s actions in a seamless ballet. To do what they’d done though—making themselves a gaming industry megaforce—they needed an unparalleled synchronicity.

  “You look good.” Zach raked his gaze over her, lingering on her chest, before dragging his attention back to her face, and leaving goosebumps everywhere his eyes traveled.

  Pretty, sincere words or obligatory ones? The teenager in her begged for it to be the former. Whispered in her head maybe there’s still something there. The adult refused to listen. He was sexy as fuck to look at, and Zach now made for some good fantasies, but there could be no ties to what came before if she wanted to keep her sanity intact.

  “Thanks.” Wow, this is awkward. Or she was projecting. She was a professional with a solid career who bailed Fortune 500 companies out of bankruptcy. She could handle breakfast with her ex-boyfriend. Reassurances locked in place, she painted a mask into place. “So do you. You wear CEO well.”

  His chuckle was plastic. “Let’s hope Digital Media’s royalty agrees with you when they’re in the office this week.”

  “I’m sure if they’re reasonable, they’ll see exactly what I see.” Well, maybe not exactly. There was a missing gleam in his eyes when his smile was fake. She preferred that this morning. It was less distracting than the warmth she used to adore.

  “If they’re reasonable being the key modifier.” Scott’s laugh filled the patio. “I’m glad you still have a sense of humor.”

  She didn’t mean it as a joke, but it was funny in a twisted kind of way.

  Their waitress returned, set an iced tea in front of Zach, and coffee for Rae and Scott. She also placed a bowl of pink sweetener packets next to Rae. “He said you’d want a lot of this, and to keep the coffee coming.”

  Rae thanked her, then looked at Scott. He shrugged. “She didn’t mean me.”

  “Has it changed?” Zach asked.

  And that heat was back, rushing over her skin and teasing her senses. He still remembered how she took her coffee. “No. You were completely right.”

  “Are you ready to order?” The waitress asked.

  “Give us a minute,” Scott said.

  “Actually—” Zach brushed her wrist without taking hold“—you can get me something.”

  The girl smiled and pulled out her notepad. “What’s that?”

  “Your number.”

  And like that, Rae’s pleasant buzz plummeted into the new pit in her gut. He didn’t order her coffee because he was lost in some sort of nostalgia. It was a polite gesture. The natural salesman in him shining through.

  And she was fine with that.

  The waitress scribbled something, tore out a sheet of paper, and handed it to Zach.

  No surprise there.

  Because Zach and Scott weren’t just an unbeatable business team, they were two of the hottest bachelors out there.

  Rae focused on mixing cream and sweetener into her coffee.

  “Hey.” Scott nudged her shoe with his. “Tell him about the job you did with the cable company back east.”

  She shook her head. “No one wants to hear about my fangirl moments.”

  “I saw the financial write-ups on that.” Zach’s gaze fixed her as he leaned in. “They weren’t even close to solvent before you got there. You were brilliant.”

  He followed her work? She ignored the flush of pleasure that tried to worm its way in. He was making conversation. Keeping things pleasant. “They weren’t as bad as some of my clients. But I saved their asses.” She didn’t downplay her achievements in professional company, and wouldn’t do it here, either.

  “You really did. We were looking at them fo
r streaming distribution at the time, and they were floundering.” His knowledge had nothing to do with her, it was about the business.

  The same way she followed Cord because of Chloe and Scott, not because it had anything to do with Zach.

  Liar.

  Her brain could shut the hell up now, thank you very much.

  “Yeah, awesome. But we know she’s amazing at her job.” Scott tugged her fingers. “And you know that’s not what I meant.”

  She did. Rae let a pleased smirk slide in.

  Zach cocked his head to the side, studying her. “I have to know.”

  She waved her hand to brush off the attention. “I was auditing them, and they got me tickets and backstage access to one of their late night shows.”

  “You’re leaving out the good parts,” Scott said.

  “Don’t hold back on my account. I like your passion when you fangirl.” Zach never looked away.

  She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t ignore the glow spreading through her. “Fine. One of their executives was showing me around, and Mister-I’m-important-because-I’m-on-TV was complaining to one of the directors. Bitching about the fact some cunt was on set looking for an excuse to cut his budget, since advertising was down. One of his guests that day was the guy from that vampire show. The blond one. Vampire guy refused to go on until the host apologized to me.”

  Zach’s eyes grew wide. “No kidding. Nice.”

  “And...?” Scott prompted.

  “And he took a few pictures with me, and was the kindest person imaginable the rest of the time I was in studio. About a week later, he sent signed photos of the entire cast to my office. Said no one deserved to be treated like that, especially for doing their job.”

  “Wow.” Zach looked genuinely impressed. “Do you have a lot of stories like that?”

  A few. “There aren’t a lot of people clamoring to meet the accountant.”

  “So, you’re going to be modest the rest of the day?” Scott asked.