Finding Zoe (Atlantic Divide) (8 page)

Distracted by the sight of two kids and a couple of dogs running across the same field headed for the compound, Mac glanced at his watch. It was barely six thirty now, and somebody’s kids had sneaked out in the chill of the dawn without them noticing. He smiled wryly as he watched them get closer to the ground the nearer they came.

Amused, he watched as the dogs automatically followed suit and all four of them lay low, crawling along on their bellies. It was like the kids had been watching too many commando movies. Or too many of his movies. He straightened to take a closer look as the boys took to their feet again, weaving their way toward the fence line. One tall, gangly, dark-haired boy; the other short, blond.

Mac shot out of his chair, slapping his bare feet to the ground as he recognized the kid. He squinted as his breath caught in the back of his throat. Well, shit. The boy was going to be in trouble when Zoe found he’d sneaked out of the house before she was even out of bed. As he watched them shimmy under the strands of barbed wire, he rolled his eyes and wondered if anyone would spot them.

A movement to his left caught his attention. He smiled and relaxed as Flynn casually stepped from behind one of the trailers, straight into the path of the four culprits. Who the hell needed security? They hadn’t even noticed the two boys before Flynn was already on them. The guy had built-in radar.

Mac strained to hear what was being said, but they were too far away. Even in the quiet of the morning, he could only hear the murmur of Flynn’s deep voice, but he saw him glance up at his trailer as Ryan’s arms gesticulated. Reluctant to encourage the boys, Mac hesitated for a moment.

What the hell. The kid had brought a friend to visit. Unexpectedly pleased, he grinned stupidly and waved them over. It wasn’t his fault after all if they’d disappeared. He was going to make Zoe suffer. She’d have to come out and fetch them both, face him and admit to being a bad mother. It was going to burn her ass—again.

Thinking of her ass, his heart stuttered a little as he wondered if he’d get the chance to put his hands on it anytime soon. After all, she had an ass well worth putting his hands on. In fact, her entire body deserved the best attention he could give it.

Both times he’d managed to get hold of her, he’d realized there was nothing false about Zoe, unlike most of the women he spent his time with. They had breast implants, butt implants, ribs removed, false eyelashes, and Botox injections. The list went on and he was getting tired of it.

But…Zoe. Everything about Zoe was natural. From her wild red hair to her short, neat fingernails and her full, firm breasts.

Disgusted, he blew out a breath and tried to think of something else, but his mind kept circling around to the comparisons. The main reason most of the starlets wanted to be with him was because of his reputation. They wanted a foothold on the ladder to fame. Most of them didn’t even care about his great body. He worked real hard to get it, and harder to keep it, but most of the little cuties didn’t even want him to squeeze their breasts in case he damaged them with his oversize hands.

He shifted uncomfortably. He wanted to have sex. Real sex. With a real woman. Down and dirty, with someone who could take it, someone who would want it as much as he did. And once again his thoughts circled around to her. A good, robust workout with Zoe the vet would do him a world of good.

“Wipe that look off your face; I have two minors here who do not need to be corrupted any further. I just caught them breaking in.” Flynn tugged the two wide-eyed boys closer and then stepped back to give an evil, lopsided grin.

“I hope you’re going to give them what they deserve, Mr. Blunt.”

Mac sat in silence for a moment, contemplating the boys as they stared back at him. The little blond looked terrified; round, blue eyes wide. Ryan stood, hip shot forward, fists clenched down by his sides, chin up. Yeah, he recognized the look; it was definitely hereditary.

Narrowing his eyes, angling his head, Mac gave them his renowned long, hard, Cormack Blunt stare, held it long enough for the blond to look as though he was going to pee himself and for Ryan to fidget uncertainly. Yeah, that should do it.

“I guess you’re hungry. It must have taken you some time to get here. Take a load off and pull up a chair.” His mouth twitched as the two boys glanced at each other furtively and then grabbed a deck chair each and sat, backs straight, hands on knees.

Flynn pulled out his phone and ordered food. He waggled the phone at Mac. “You might want to call Ryan’s mother and let her know where they are.”

Mac pulled out his own phone with a heavy sigh and dialed Zoe’s number. They were all going to be in the shit, whichever way you looked at it.

“I was staying with Jason. He’s my best friend.” Ryan nodded at the little blond. “We were camping out in the garden. His mum won’t know yet, we could just sneak back in. It’s not far, not as far as my place.” His voice wheedled. “Mum doesn’t need to know.”

“Mac? What don’t I need to know?”

“Too late, bud. Mama’s on the line. You want to talk to her?” Mac offered the phone to the kid and watched his eyes almost bug out of his head; his mouth went slack and his head shook from side to side. Laughter rumbled up inside Mac’s chest. Not so brave once he was faced with the wrath of his mother.

“Zoe, the kid’s here with his best friend.”

“What? Why are they there? You have no right—”

“Zoe.” No way was he taking the blame. “They walked here, by themselves. Well, they’ve got Coke and Ice with them too.”

“You’re kidding. They’re ten years old! It’s probably a good mile. Oh my God, anything could have happened—I’m on my way. Just wait till I get there!”

The phone went dead.

“You’re in a shitload of trouble, kid.”

The boys stared at him, and he couldn’t stop his lips from twitching.

“Bollocks,” Ryan said, and made him laugh.

*

She held the steering wheel a little tighter to disguise the tremor in her hands. Anything could have happened to the boys. Six thirty on a Saturday morning, she could picture them both running across the fields. At least they’d had the dogs with them, but she shuddered to think.

Jason’s mother had been mortified. Not so mortified she hadn’t offered to go and get them. Zoe had to smile to herself. No, Jason’s mother had offered to race to the boys’ rescue. She was the only one, so far, to believe Ryan about his father, and she was more than willing to give him the benefit of the doubt if it meant meeting Cormack Blunt. Zoe had declined, said she was already dressed and on her way. Then she’d thrown on some clothes, smoothed her rampant hair, and slipped out the door without waking her father.

Security waved her through the compound gates, and as she approached Mac’s trailer toward the far end of the compound, she spotted them all and had the overwhelming urge to run at least two of them over. The fully grown two—she hesitated to class them as adults—who stood next to a table laden with sugar-filled doughnuts, pastries and cans of cola.

“Mum, Mum, Flynn said he’ll teach me how to rappel down the side of a building.” Ryan’s mouth was filled to overflowing so he could hardly get the words out past the food.

Lifting one eyebrow, she turned her head slowly in Flynn’s direction and pinned him with a mother’s eye.

“Oh, did he?”

She almost spoiled it by laughing as the fully grown stuntman rubbed his hands nervously on the backside of his jeans and stepped away from her at the same time as he sucked air in through his teeth.

“Only if your mother says so, kid.”

“So.” Casting her eyes around to include all four males, she crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot. The dogs hit the floor instantly and lay with their heads on their paws. “We think it’s a good idea to reward our children for breaking rules and running away from home, do we?”

Flynn took another couple of steps back until she turned her gaze upon him once more.

“Oh, you stay right where you are, young man.” He jerked upright and stared back at her as she pointed in his direction. She wasn’t quite sure of his age, but he did look young, with his bright blue eyes and damaged face.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Mac.”

“Ma’am.” His mouth twitched and his black eyes glittered dangerously. She realized she might have a little more trouble with this one. Flynn seemed unwilling to take her on, but she thought Mac would have no such hesitation. Perhaps a change of tactics was called for.

“As Ryan’s father.” She watched Mac gulp as he narrowed his eyes at her. Burgeoning warmth spread through her chest. “What kind of punishment do you think befits the crime?” His eyes went wide and darted wildly between the two boys, Flynn, and then back to her. His huge shoulders shrugged. Not so brave when tasked with taking on the role of an adult.

“I dunno.”

She closed her eyes, breathed deeply, and prayed for strength as irritation chased away the warmth, and she reminded herself never to leave her son alone with his father because she wasn’t sure which one was the bigger kid.

She opened her eyes. All four males still waited for her to speak.

“Ryan.” He looked down at the ground and scuffed his sneakers in the dirt.

“Yes, Mum.”

“You’re grounded for two nights. No television, no computer.” She heard the daring little groan as he glanced up at her, lifted one finger to stop him, and continued. “And I want you to write a letter of apology to Jason’s mum, explaining to her what a dangerous situation you put yourself and her son in by not informing an adult where you were going and what you were doing, and you will say you’re sorry for scaring her shi—stupid. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Mum.”

She turned her attention to Jason.

“Jason.” He shook with fear and she softened, taking into account he was nowhere near as bold as her own son. “You will do the same, but the letter will be to me, and your mother can decide on your punishment herself. Now both of you go and wait in the car.”

As they started to moan, she fixed them both with her toughest stare and watched them back down. Dragging their feet, they made for her Jeep as she turned to Mac, anger simmering.

“May I have a word with you…in private?”

He inclined his head slowly; black eyes sober as he gave an over-exaggerated sweep of his arm to indicate her to precede him into the trailer.

Her mouth already open as she turned, the last thing she expected was a six feet five inch male to descend upon her, driving her to the back of the trailer as he slammed the door behind him. All too late, she realized her mistake, and as she scrambled backward, he simply reached forward and gave her shirt a good hard yank and had her stumbling into him.

Before she could protest, his mouth was on hers, his arms around her, molding her body to his, and as she wriggled to release herself, he simply smiled against her mouth.

“Yeah, Zoe, you keep squirming. I like it when you rub against me.”

She froze, held herself rigid as a statue like she had on the previous occasions, believing he would easily let her go. She felt his wicked chuckle vibrate through her body.

“Oh yeah, I know your name, Zoe. I know who’s with me.”

Anger up, adrenaline pumping, the moment his lips touched hers again, her passion exploded like a hot flash of white heat scorching through her veins. She heard his quick, surprised breath as she leaned into him, closed her eyes, and kissed him for all she was worth.

Vivid colors flashed behind her eyelids as his mouth possessed hers, his tongue sparring, dueling, as she matched him. Her fingers slid into his hair to grasp and haul him in closer so she could ravage his mouth. His warm musk scent surrounded her, made her remember. It had changed, matured, like the man had developed to become more masculine, more arousing, but it was still familiar to her.

She heard her own groan, felt her own surrender as her body softened and yielded to his steel hardness. Her pulse beat fast and thready as her breath came in short, sharp bursts. He’d aroused in her the animal that had remained dormant for too long, and now she was the one to pay the consequences.

Her fingers raced up the inside of his shirt, scraped and smoothed the well-honed muscles and carved sinew that flexed beneath her onslaught. Reveling in the taste of him, smell of him, she moved closer to experience the feel of him. Her trembling, icy fingers slid around the waistband of his jeans, flicked open the button, and slid down the zipper.

Her hand enclosed him and she felt his deep shudder, giving an answering one of her own as he gasped into her mouth and held his breath while she glided her hand down his shaft. Her eyes closed in an agony of delight as his heated flesh seared her palm and she stroked upward.

“Jesus.” Mac wrenched her away from him and grabbed her firmly by her shoulders. Dazed, she stared up at him, still consumed with desperation, not yet understanding. “The kids are in the car.”

Cold reality whisked through her, leaving her shaken as she released her hand from around him. Barely knowing where to look, she clumsily attempted to close the front of his jeans with hands that shook too much to achieve the task.

She met the cold fury of his eyes, watched as his jaw flexed while she withdrew her hands from him and wiped them down the sides of her jeans to stop the sweat forming.

“I…”

His long finger pointed straight into her face and stopped her midthought.

“You…are a fraud.” She imagined she could see his finger shake until he withdrew it, slammed his fists on his hips, and glared down at her. Her mouth went instantly dry as his eyes narrowed on her tender, swollen mouth. “You want me.”

She couldn’t deny it, had no intention of denying it, but the accusation was held between them.

He reached around her, grabbed her long plait, wrapped it around his fist, and dragged her face up close to his so she could feel his hot breath on her cheek. “You and me, Zoe. We’re going to have sex. Uninterrupted, hot, carnal sex. You choose your time, your place. Whatever you want. But you choose quickly, because so help me, if you deny this thing between us one more time, I’m going to prove to you just exactly what it is. With or without an audience.” His voice vibrated; his eyes burned into hers, making her knees turn to water, and she steadied herself by reaching out for him.