Zoe could see the light. No, she wasn’t dead yet. Besides, she figured if she were, she wouldn’t be on her way to a light place.
She watched the light go up and down, then side to side. As it drew back, she blinked away the white spots in her vision.
“Your reaction looks good,” the ambulance attendant said. “Pupils equal and reactive.”
As he jotted it down on his clipboard, the tiny flashlight shone down on her lap. Freddy scrambled out of her arms and dove for it, barking like it was attacking her. He dug at the light dot on her lap and she laughed as he tickled her legs.
The EMT shut it off. The moment the light disappeared, Freddy spun on Zoe’s lap to face her, his tail patting her leg. I just saved your life.
“Look, I already told you I didn’t lose consciousness,” she told the attendant. Not that she could remember, anyway. But then again, she wasn’t sure she could remember a thing like that. “I’m not going to the hospital, so you might as well give me that waiver to sign now.”
Wouldn’t that have been an adorable mother-daughter bonding experience? Lying side by side in a hospital room. How would she be able to convince her mother she could take care of herself then?
“Are you sure you don’t have a headache?” the EMT asked her. “No nausea?”
“No. Just the high-pitched ringing in my ears.”
He made a couple more notes on his sheet, but he’d fully assessed her already, so she wasn’t sure what more she could tell him. “Okay, if that persists, make sure you see your doctor. And as for the rest of the symptoms—”
“I’ll keep an eye out for them, I promise. I’ll head to the emergency room if I have any concerns.”
Finally, he smile-frowned and handed her a waiver and pen. He pointed to the bottom. “Sign here … and here.”
She did as he asked and passed it back to him before sliding off the stretcher with Freddy. “Thanks for the help.”
“You didn’t let me do anything,” he said teasingly, but maybe a bit fed up with her stubbornness too. She supposed she had that in common with her mother. And doxies, for that matter.
She waved over her shoulder. “Thanks anyway.”
Zoe hopped out of the back of the ambulance and glanced up to the fourth floor of the old hotel. The window on the end had been blown out. Black char marks surrounded the brick facade around it. Even now that the firefighters had doused the fire, smoke drifted out from the broken glass.
Thankfully, no one in the surrounding offices had been hurt. The blast had been confined to her office alone. While that was a good thing, the thought made her hands holding Freddy start to shake and her knees tremble.
A few seconds later and she and Freddy would have been walking into that office. Hell, if she’d been on time that morning, she would have been smack dab in the middle of the explosion when it went off.
For some annoying reason, she could hear Levi’s voice in her head. Life’s too short. And both Zoe’s and Freddy’s were almost cut short that morning.
She held Freddy close as she watched the police officers discuss the wreckage, taking photos of blown-up bits of taffeta, silk flowers, crystal headpieces, and chunks of silicone dildos. Lots and lots of colorful dildos. While she’d answered most of their questions already, she assumed that would raise a few more.
“Zoe!”
Over the ringing in her ears, she heard her name being called. For a second, she wondered if she was imagining Levi’s voice again, but then she turned to see him waving at her from behind the police line. With a glance back at what was left of her business, she headed down the sidewalk to meet him.
When she got closer, he said, “There you are. Are you all right? I was so worried when I saw all the emergency vehicles.”
“About what?” Zoe blinked at him.
She was surprised to even see him there, far less looking all frowny at her. He eyed her up like he wanted to dive over the police tape and hug her. After what happened between the two of them the night before—or rather, what didn’t happen—she didn’t understand why.
Seeing that look in his eyes kept her on the opposite side of the tape, like the thin piece of plastic would protect her, would prevent him from coming any closer.
“What do you think I was worried about?” He scowled at her. “You. That’s your office building, isn’t it?” He pulled out her business card and checked the address on it.
“Yes, it is,” she said matter-of-factly.
Zoe kept any emotion out of her voice and expression. She tried to shove it into that overfilled bottle inside. But that hadn’t been working so well as of late, so she reached into her purse and groped for Merry Monkey instead.
“More specifically,” she said, “that giant charred hole at the top is my office. Or it was my office.”
Levi’s mouth popped open and he glanced back up at the fourth floor, then at the card to double check, like she had to be kidding. “Your office blew up? How?” Now he did step over the police line.
Her heart thudded in her chest, wondering if he’d try to touch her, to comfort her. Like she needed his pity. Like she needed him at all.
She took an automatic step back, and she squeezed Freddy tighter, hiding behind him like backup protection. “I’m thinking combustion.”
Levi scowled. “Obviously,” he said a bit sharply. “Snap out of it. It’s not funny. You could have been in there when it happened.”
Her mask started to slip a little, startled by his dramatic reaction. Well, okay, maybe it wasn’t too dramatic. She supposed when she got home and didn’t have to pretend for anyone, she might actually fall to pieces smaller than the silicone bits squishing beneath her shoes.
She could feel herself begin to shake again as the reality seeped through her calm exterior. But she couldn’t fall apart. She couldn’t lose control. Not here. Most especially not in front of Levi.
“Yeah, but I wasn’t, okay?” she said. “I was just about to go in when it blew up. I only got thrown around a little.”
Levi reached out to her. Taking another step back, she brushed his hand aside. But as his fingers grazed her arm, she felt his touch like a call, feeling the need to lean against him like she’d wanted to after her van lost control.
A police officer approached them from a cruiser. “Excuse me, sir?” he addressed Levi. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave the crime scene.” It was a nice-enough request, but the firmness behind it had even Zoe backing up.
“Sorry about that,” Levi told the officer. “I just wanted to make sure she was okay. But obviously she’s just fine without me.” He gave her a cold look before stepping over the police tape and heading back down the sidewalk.
Zoe scowled at his retreating back. Where did he get off being mad at her? Wasn’t he the one that had been pushing her away in his apartment?
She stepped over the police tape and marched after him. When she caught up, she grabbed him by the sleeve and spun him around to face her.
“What happened to laid-back Levi?” she asked. “The go-with-the-flow rock and roller? You’re getting awfully worked up over a little explosion.”
He rolled his eyes. “Maybe because of who was in it.”
“I didn’t realize you cared,” she threw at him. “You didn’t seem to care when you were kicking me out of your apartment.”
Levi tossed his head back and laughed, but he obviously wasn’t amused. “I believe you left of your own free will after I asked you for more than what you were offering.”
“If you didn’t like what I was offering, then why are you here?”
Had he reconsidered? She wasn’t sure she would sleep with him now, after being rejected. But she couldn’t deny the way his touch had felt the night before.
Even now, she could still feel those talented fingers on her body, could remember the way his deep, melodic voice tickled her ear. Her body wanted him, all right. She couldn’t deny that—at least not to herself. To Levi, she would deny it to her grave.
“You told me to come by to finish going over the playlist,” he said. “Remember?”
“Oh” was all she could say. She’d completely forgotten about that. “I just hadn’t expected you so soon.”
“Well, I guess I was a little eager.”
Zoe wasn’t sure if he meant he was eager about playing at Piper’s wedding or eager to see her. Since she was afraid she already knew the answer, she didn’t bother to clarify. It was obvious they wanted two different things.
She’d been up-front the night before when she told him she didn’t want to get romantically involved, that she couldn’t offer him more. That path wasn’t an option for her. And it was clear to her now that he wasn’t interested in just sex. So what else was there to say?
She must have been silent for a while because he asked, “So what happened?”
“Nothing happened,” she snapped, frustrated with the whole situation. “This is just the way I am. I don’t want a relationship with anyone. It’s not you. It’s me.”
“Really? You’re giving me the whole ‘It’s not you. It’s me’ line?” He laughed. “I meant what happened in your office?”
The way he smiled at her then made her blush. She’d been doing that a lot lately. They were surrounded by her sex toys scattered all over Folsom Street, and yet she was getting embarrassed because a guy had a crush on her.
“Oh,” she said again. After a moment, she redirected her thoughts, hoping the blaze in her cheeks would subside. “The police won’t reveal the cause, but I can probably guess what happened.”
“You think someone bombed your office,” he said more than asked. “I take it you have some suspects in mind.”
“Chelsea for starters. Either that or Juliet.”
He stared up at the fourth story again. “Can you really see either of them doing something so extreme? I mean Chelsea struck me as a mean girl from high school all grown up, but this seems a little out of her league.”
It was true. Chelsea was more about the mental head games, but then she recalled her threat at the expo after Zoe had caked her, and she wasn’t so sure.
Screw you, Zoe Plum! I’ll get you for this!
Was this how Chelsea was getting her back? Holly had told Chelsea that if she wanted to be noticed by the media then she should do something worthy of attention. Maybe this was Chelsea doing something to get attention, or at least to bring bad attention to Zoe.
Juliet, aka bridezilla, on the other hand, had that twitchy, unhinged look in her eyes. There was lots of potential there for a psychotic break.
All bark no bite, my ass, Zoe thought.
“When I arrived today,” she said, “minutes before the explosion, I had a visitor waiting outside my office.”
“Who?” Levi asked.
“Owen Wells.”
“You’re kidding. Owen? You think he could be a suspect?” His face kind of twisted, probably trying to imagine the man he went to university with as an attempted murderer. “If so, maybe they’re more perfect for each other than anyone thought.”
Zoe shook her head. “No. I don’t think he’s capable of something like that. He was only here trying to defend Juliet over the whole vandalism thing. It’s just weird timing is all.”
“Like maybe he might have been stalling you?”
“Maybe.” She grew quiet as she considered him as a threat, or at least an accessory to the crime.
He seemed like such a nice guy. She didn’t like to think of him in that light—or rather, darkness. However, if he was crazy about a nut job like Juliet, maybe it took one to love one.
“I don’t know what to think,” she said. “But I can’t come up with anyone else that wants to kill me this week.”
“Got a lot of friends, do you?”
She snorted but didn’t answer. Freddy answered for her by trying to lick her chin. I’m your friend. Who are you again?
“So what are you going to do now without an office?” he asked.
Zoe laughed, but it was more like an exhausted sigh. “I don’t know. I suppose I’ll start searching tomorrow. I can’t work out of my apartment right now. It’s a disaster. I’m in the middle of packing for the move that’s not happening now. You know, to the house I can’t afford anymore due to lack of steady business.”
He kicked the toe of his shoe against the brick wall next to them. “Well, I know someone with a pretty big flat that might have some extra space to offer you.”
Zoe stared at him, like she wasn’t sure if she’d understood correctly, but when he continued to act shy, she realized he was offering his apartment to her.
“Why would you do that?” she demanded. “Why would you offer me your space after last night? After you were about to walk away just now? I don’t understand.”
He shrugged. “No big deal. I aim to please.”
“It is a big deal. And are you aiming to please anyone? Or please me?”
“Lots of people. I’m not the worst guy, you know,” he said a little defensively. “But especially you.”
She’d been clear the night before. She knew she had. And yet here he was, standing before her with that hopeful boy-next-door look on his face.
Part of her recoiled at the romance, while part of her was intrigued. On the outside, he looked like a bona fide rock star. But beneath all the piercings, the dark look, the ripped jeans, he struck her as the sweet, innocent guy. The boy next door all grown up. The guy who, when he told you he liked you, he meant you, not your tits and ass—no matter how amazing hers were. Levi could be one of the good ones. Which was very, very bad news.
“I’m not sure I can be any clearer,” she said. “I’m not trying to lead you on here.”
“Who says you’re doing the leading?” he said with that boyish grin.
But she wasn’t smiling. She wanted him to know she was serious. “You can’t change my mind. Many men have tried before you.”
“I know I can’t. The only person that can change your mind is you.” His expression suddenly matched her own, like maybe she was getting through to him. Or maybe it was because he thought he could get through to her.
“I can’t offer you more, Levi.” She shook her head, afraid to accept the offer. Afraid to go down a path with more temptation than she’d already allowed in. Temptation for more than just sex.
“This isn’t extortion, Zoe. You need help. I can offer it. No strings attached.” He gave her a slight smirk, and she realized he was using her words on purpose.
She couldn’t help but smile back. She took a deep breath, unsure if she was doing the right thing. But with Piper’s wedding coming up and so much to do with replacing, well, everything, she was backed into a corner.
“Okay. I appreciate the offer. It won’t be for long, I promise. I’ll be out as soon as I can.”
Freddy suddenly squirmed in her arms—more than usual, anyway. She realized he probably had to pee, since his last walk was before they arrived at the office.
She placed him on the ground. With all the people coming and going around them, she kept his leash short as she let him lead her down the sidewalk.
Levi strolled beside her. She found she didn’t really mind, but she continued to worry about their new business arrangement. And that’s all it was: business.
They were quiet as Freddy searched for the perfect spot to relieve himself. Then he became distracted by a butterfly, and then a piece of grass, and then his own tail.
Zoe stared at the path of wreckage strewn about the street. It littered the sidewalk and decorated parked cars. Her eyes followed the ruined remains of her office all the way to the intersection.
On every street corner, there seemed to be plenty of people with nothing better to do than stand around and gawk. While some of them had their phones out, snapping photos, one person in particular caught her eye. He had a professional video camera honed in on the chaos.
The man’s posture was tense, his attention focused as he panned across the view of the ruins. Finally, he lowered the camera to survey the scene again and Zoe got a clear look at his face.
It was, well … Zoe didn’t actually know his name. It was Holly Hart’s minion, Hey, You, as she not-so-fondly referred to him.
Zoe automatically scanned her surroundings for a sign of the annoying blonde. Hadn’t she gotten enough stories out of her for one day? Zoe could just imagine the headlines she’d invent for this one.
We’ll see about that, she thought.
“I’ll be right back,” she told Levi.
Plucking Freddy off the ground, Zoe headed for the intersection. The light turned, giving her the crosswalk symbol and she marched across the street.
She was half way to the other side when a car squealed around the corner for a right-hand turn. Zoe saw it flying toward her as though in slow motion, yet she wasn’t fast enough to dive out of the way.
Her muscles clenched, freezing in indecision. Should she run or brace for impact?
The driver slammed on the brakes, tires skidding. Zoe stumbled to the side in an awkward backpedal, clutching Freddy. When the car lurched to a stop, it rocked from the momentum, barely three inches from her leg.
Zoe glared at the driver who threw his hands in the air sheepishly and mouthed the words “sorry.”
Is the whole damned city out to kill me today? But there was no time to give him a piece of her mind or she’d lose the nosey cameraman.
Looking back across the street, she caught Hey, You’s eye. He’d seen the near miss and knew she was coming for him. The advantage of surprise was lost. Clutching his camera, he made a break for it.
Zoe took off after him. She weaved through the throng of people collected on the sidewalk, bobbing her head, hoping for a glimpse of muted, brown hair and undefined features. But he was a difficult man to pick out of a crowd even when he stood still.
It made her realize how perfect he was for the job of media hound. He was so very extraordinarily ordinary that no one would be able to describe him if they were looking right at him. Heck, she’d never even heard him speak.
Just when she thought she’d lost his trail, she saw him headed for an alley halfway down the block. Pausing at the entrance, he glanced around him. His eyes met Zoe’s and his one free hand reached down and covered his crotch, as though subconsciously.
She grinned wickedly. Obviously he hadn’t forgotten the time she threatened him when he was harassing Piper.
Pushing past a couple of guys she recognized from her office building, she picked up her pace and ran, shoes clicking like angry drumbeats. Now that she’d started to really move, she noticed new aches and pains from when the explosion sent her flying.
Biting the inside of her cheek, she pushed aside the twinges of shooting pain. The jolts coursed through parts of her body she hadn’t even realized she’d injured. Her head throbbed as she forged on.
Footsteps getting faster and faster, she turned the corner, ready to grab Hey, You by the sweaty shirt collar. But as she plunged into the alley, she only caught a glimpse of him at the other end, running for his life. A second later, he rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.
Zoe swore under her breath. He’d been too fast for her. She supposed you couldn’t get involved with Holly Hart for a living and not know how to run for your life—or balls, in his case.
It wasn’t like she was going to catch up to him with her injuries, in heels, and carrying a dog, so she slowed down. However, Freddy’s legs pawed the air, like they were still running. Let me at him. Let me at him!
Zoe gave his head a soothing pat. “Don’t worry. We’ll get him next time. Right?”
Freddy stared at her, his big ears rising a little. Get who?
Sighing, Zoe turned back for the main road. The sun had yet to hit the narrow back alley. The morning chill still lingered, crawling over the dampness that had settled on her skin from the chase. Goosebumps prickled up the back of her neck.
She held Freddy just a little bit closer, for both warmth and comfort. She’d just survived a near-miss explosion. Someone was clearly out to kill her, and here she was chasing a creep down a quiet alley.
She glanced behind her again, but Hey, You was long gone. When she turned back, a tall figure was blocking her path.
Zoe jumped. Startled, Freddy began barking. Once he recognized Levi, his tail began to whip back and forth, hitting Zoe on one of the many bruises she’d acquired that morning.
“Are you okay?” Levi asked Zoe.
“Yeah, I just saw Holly’s cameraman hanging around.”
“Really? Is Holly around here somewhere?” He began to scan the crowd, as though hoping to corner her for an interview.
Zoe rolled her eyes, but before she could come up with a sharp response, her phone vibrated in her purse. She pulled it out and answered.
“Hello?”
“Hello, is this Zoe Plum?”
“It is.” Zoe automatically held her breath, hoping for good news.
“This is San Francisco General Hospital. Your mother is ready to be picked up.”
“Thank you. I’ll be there to pick her up as soon as I can.”
Zoe hung up and automatically turned to head for her van, but when she looked across the street, she saw that her rental van was one of the vehicles covered in little numbers to mark the evidence scattered all over it. There was no way the police were going to release it to her any time soon.
“You have to pick your mom up?” Levi asked like he was just making conversation. “It’s a shame you don’t have a ride.”
His stupid grin held a little self-satisfied glow. He wasn’t going to make it easy on her, but she supposed she deserved that. He’d done a lot for her in the last few days and what had she done? Assumed he was some easy lay, propositioned him for sex and then got angry when he turned her down.
With great difficulty, she swallowed her pride. “Levi, would you mind giving my mother and me a ride home?”
“Why, I’d love to.” He batted his eyelashes at her. “You just can’t seem to get enough of me, can you?”