CHAPTER THREE
Sean followed Zoe into the foyer of her apartment at the Panorama Towers, a luxury high-rise known for its exclusive amenities and outstanding views of the Las Vegas skyline. She led the way into a spacious living room with a wide, wraparound couch, a glass-topped coffee table, and a mahogany entertainment center with a flat-screen TV. The contemporary décor was uncluttered and precise, yet warm and inviting.
Just like the woman who lived there.
“Nice place,” he said, catching sight of the adjoining kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and beige granite countertops.
“Thanks. It’s small, but functional. Only a thousand square feet and two bedrooms, but it’s really all I need.”
After setting her purse on a side table, she strolled through the living room in front of him, drawing his gaze to the provocative sway of her hips and a pair of long, slender legs that had his fingers itching to touch all that silky, bare skin.
“But it was the outside balcony and amazing view of the Strip at night that ultimately sold me on this place.” She pushed open the sheer curtains covering a glass sliding door and floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing a spectacular sight of bright neon lights that stretched for miles.
She unlocked the sliding door and stepped outside, and he did the same, standing beside her at the concrete and wrought-iron railing securing the area. Even at twenty-one stories up, a balmy evening breeze reached them, lifting and playing with the few loose strands of her hair that had escaped the wide gold clip she’d used at the nape of her neck. Her smooth shoulders, completely exposed by the low, sexy neckline of her dress, gleamed like alabaster in the moonlight.
Pulling his gaze from her profile, he looked out over the city, so deceptively beautiful at night. “I bet this sight never gets old, does it?”
“Nope.” She curled her fingers around the wrought iron and slanted him a sidelong glance filled with a beguiling amount of heat. “Especially on a night like this. Clear. Warm. Sultry.”
The soft, throaty way she spoke the last word evoked images of steamy, erotic kisses and hot, lazy caresses in intimate places. Ever since she’d asked him back to her place, the attraction between them had become a slow tease of sexual awareness. The onslaught of arousal thrummed through his system, and she wasn’t helping matters by looking at him like he was dessert.
God, she was messing with his head and making him want her more than was wise, considering how he felt about her cheating, lying father and Grant Russo’s part in making sure that Sean’s father spent years in prison for a crime both men had committed. And judging by the information Caleb had collected for their client on this case, it was clear that Russo was still in the business of scamming people.
Sean had agreed to accompany Zoe to her place to discover anything else he could about her father. Based on their exchange at dinner, it seemed like she had a somewhat close relationship with her dad, but after listening in on her conversation with her mother and watching Zoe’s reactions, Sean was pretty much convinced that she wasn’t aware of her father’s shady dealings and genuinely believed he was on a business trip—in Chicago, she’d told her mother.
Sean planned to pass that bit of information on to Caleb as soon as he left Zoe’s tonight so they could get a jump on that lead and see if that led to Russo or if it was nothing more than a diversion.
Ultimately, Sean’s main objective was to remain as close to her as possible in the hopes that she heard from her father. Zoe was his daughter, and contact with him had to happen sometime. And when it did, Sean wanted to be around to learn where the cowardly bastard was hiding out, so The Reliance Group could take him down.
Obviously, Sean couldn’t be with Zoe 24/7 to monitor her actions and calls, but one of The Reliance Group’s team members, an ex–computer hacker, had already put a tap on her cell phone, enabling them to track her incoming and outgoing calls, as well as text messages. They couldn’t actually listen in on her conversations, but they were able to monitor her contacts and approximately where they originated. So far, there had been plenty of business calls but no interaction with her father.
“Let’s head back inside,” she said after a few quiet minutes, and Sean followed her into the living room. “Make yourself at home.” She waved a hand in the general direction of the entertainment center. “There’s a CD player in the wall unit. Why don’t you put some music on and I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
As she started to walk away, he couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you going?”
She stopped, tipped her head, and gave him one of those slow, sweet smiles that made him feel sucker-punched. “To get out of this restrictive dress and change into something more comfortable,” she said, as if that should have been obvious.
She disappeared into a nearby bedroom and shut the door behind her, leaving Sean alone to contemplate what, exactly, she’d meant by comfortable. All his fertile male imagination could conjure was something flimsy, with silk and lace and lots of bare flesh. He groaned and tried like hell to shove those images from his mind before they got him into trouble.
He was a man who was used to fast women and mindless sex when the opportunity arose—no names necessary. Admittedly, he was a player, and he never made excuses or apologized for his preference for casual one-night stands. Because of his less-than-favorable past as a con man, cultivating any kind of lasting relationship had never been on his agenda and most likely never would be.
Because, at the end of the day, what woman wanted a long-term commitment with a man who’d spent years scamming people, only to spend time in prison for his stupidity? With such a huge black mark on his résumé as potential husband and father material, he’d found it much easier to keep things with women simple and uncomplicated.
Fulfilling his physical needs had never been a problem for him…until now. Because the woman he wanted was someone he shouldn’t touch. Not only did they reside in completely different worlds socially, but even more damning was the fact that he was dating her under false pretenses. He was using her for information, and if she ever discovered his deception she’d undoubtedly, and rightfully, hate his guts.
Knowing all that, however, didn’t stop him from wanting her. Far more than was wise.
Feeling warm and knowing it had more to do with his internal temperature than the outdoor weather, he removed his jacket and tossed it over the back of a chair, then discarded his tie as well. He unbuttoned the too-tight collar of his shirt as he made his way to the compact disc player, where he selected one of John Mayer’s earlier CDs, then adjusted the volume so the music wasn’t too loud.
Waiting for Zoe to return, Sean stood by the sliding glass door, hands in his trouser pockets, and gazed out at the brightly lit horizon until he finally heard her bedroom door open again.
Not certain what to expect, he turned around, initially relieved to find that there wasn’t a bit of silk or lace on her anywhere that he could see. She wore a pair of pink drawstring sweatpants and a white camisole-type top with thin straps, and while there was nothing overtly revealing about what she’d changed into, the casual outfit showcased everything her dress had concealed—the tantalizing curve of her waist and hips and the full, rounded shape of her breasts. She had a stunning figure, the kind that had the ability to bring a man to his knees—for all the right reasons.
“Dessert is in the kitchen.” Giving him a coy look, she crooked her finger at him to follow as she walked by.
The playful overture in her voice was unmistakable. Dessert took on a very suggestive meaning, and as he turned to follow her he nearly groaned when he caught sight of the word JUICY stamped across her perfect ass, which accurately described the way she smelled. Like a ripe, succulent peach he wanted to suck and savor before taking a big bite out of.
He shook his head. Hard. God, she was going to kill him with all her innuendo before the night was over. He was sure of it.
“I hope you like chocolate cake,” she said, indicating the confection displayed beneath a glass dome on the counter.
He was both pleasantly surprised and a bit disappointed to find she actually did have an edible dessert when he was anticipating something more tempting. Like her. “You weren’t kidding.”
She tipped her head to the side, her eyes dancing with humor. During her quick change, she’d taken the clip out of her hair, and now the soft strands fell over her shoulders, giving her a more youthful, girl-next-door appearance. “Did you think I invited you back here for a different kind of dessert?”
He grinned, knowing better than to fall for that guileless look in her gaze. “I’ll admit the thought crossed my mind.”
“I’m sorry to dash your hopes.” Laughing, she lifted the lid on the cake, filling the air with the delectable fragrance of rich cocoa. “My homemade chocolate cake is Jessica’s favorite. I made it for her, but there’s so much here I thought it would be a perfect dessert for us to have here at my place.”
She cut two generous slices and transferred them to plates, added forks, then poured two tall glasses of milk. They each carried their dessert to the living room and sat down on the couch next to each other while John Mayer crooned in the background. Sean took his first bite, and for someone who wasn’t a huge fan of sweets, he had to admit that Zoe’s cake was delicious. The moist cake and chocolate buttercream frosting literally melted in his mouth.
“Is Jessica staying here with you while she’s in Vegas?” Sean asked, curious about Zoe’s best friend.
“No.” Zoe curled her legs beneath her on the couch and turned so she was facing him. “She actually has a penthouse here in the towers, which is her home base in between touring and out-of-town obligations. She’s like the sister I never had, and I love having her living so close by.”
Hearing the affection in Zoe’s voice, he smiled. “How did the two of you become friends?”
She took a drink of milk before answering. “We met our freshman year in high school. Our personalities were so opposite in so many ways that we never really should have become friends. I was energetic and outgoing, and she was guarded and a loner. Whenever I saw her at school, her head was down, she never made eye contact with anyone, and she avoided any kind of conversation.”
It was difficult for Sean to associate that insecure young girl Zoe spoke of with the confident pop star Jessica Morgan was today.
“It wasn’t until we were paired up to work together on a month-long project in our history class that I really got to know her.” After taking a bite of her cake, Zoe licked the extra frosting off her fork, her expression thoughtful, as if she was thinking back and remembering. “She was very quiet and wary at first, but the more time we spent outside of school working on our project together, the more she opened up, and we just clicked. By the end of our freshman year, we were best friends and were inseparable. Unfortunately, her home life wasn’t the greatest, which accounted for why she was so guarded and didn’t let too many people get close to her.”
“Yet here she is, a famous celebrity who sells out concert tours within hours of their release.” He shook his head in amazement. “How did that happen?”
“I know. Crazy, isn’t it?” Zoe tucked a silky strand of hair behind her ear before taking another bite of her cake. “She’s definitely a different person these days. But back in high school, she dealt with the ugliness at home by writing songs and making music. Her choir teacher noticed what an amazing voice she had, then learned that she also played the guitar, and cultivated her talent. By the time Jessica graduated, she wanted to be a singer or songwriter.”
“That’s quite a long shot,” he said, and drank the last of his milk.
“Yeah, she was a realist and knew how difficult getting into the music business would be. She’d originally planned on attending UNLV for a degree in business, so she’d always have that to fall back on, but things changed for her at home that summer.”
Zoe grew quiet and reflective, the look in her gaze pained as she continued. “Something really bad happened, and she just couldn’t stay at home any longer, so I insisted that she move into my small apartment with me in Los Angeles. When she arrived on my doorstep, all she had was the clothes on her back and her guitar and the fire of determination to make something of her life. When auditions opened up for a new vocal talent show called Make Me a Star, she tried out and made the top twelve, then went all the way to the final three. She didn’t win the title, but being on the show was enough to get the attention of a few record labels.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up in a grin. “And the rest, as they say, is history?”
“Yeah, pretty much.” Nodding, Zoe set her half-eaten piece of cake on the coffee table in front of the couch. “At the age of twenty, she was recording her first album and touring, and it’s only gotten crazier for her since.”
“That’s a great story.”
“She’s deserved every bit of her success.” Zoe took his empty plate from him and placed it next to hers on the table. “So, what did you think of dessert?”
“It was pretty darn good,” he replied honestly. Stretching his arm across the back of the sofa, he twined a strand of her hair around his finger, feeling just as ensnared by the woman herself. “Who would have thought you were so multitalented.”
Husky, playful laughter escaped her lips. “Jessica insists my chocolate cake is better than sex. What do you think?”
The woman was such an adorable vixen. So delightfully daring and so damn irresistible. She was cavorting with the underlying fire that had been simmering between them all evening, and boldly traveling down a path rife with sensual possibilities. And damn if he didn’t want to follow along and indulge in whatever she had in mind.
“It’s hard to say what I think, since I haven’t so much as kissed the cook.”
The tip of her pink tongue skimmed along her bottom lip, dampening the pillowed flesh and filling Sean’s head with too many erotic thoughts and images. “You want to see if my kiss is better than my chocolate cake?”
Her voice was breathless with anticipation, her eyes darkening with the same desire igniting a low, burning need inside of him. “It’s the only way I can make an informed comparison,” he murmured, using the gentle pull on the strands of her hair still wrapped around his finger to reel her in as he dipped his mouth closer to hers. “Your cake is probably the best I’ve had, but I have a feeling kissing you might be a whole lot more addictive.”
She smiled, her lashes fluttering closed as his mouth brushed across hers, his teeth gently nibbling, tasting, teasing. Her cool palm touched his cheek, and her lips parted on a sigh, inviting him in, and he didn’t hesitate to give her more. His tongue touched hers in a slow swirling caress that drew a purr of sound from her throat and made him harder than hell.
With effort, he pulled back, ending the kiss while he still had the ability to do so. She opened her eyes and looked up at him, the wanting in her gaze turning him inside out with a deeper, more insatiable hunger that threatened to consume him.
“Well?” She dragged her thumb along his moist bottom lip, and it took monumental effort on his part not to suck her finger into his mouth. “What do you think?”
Honestly, there was no comparison when it came to the flavor of her chocolate cake versus how rich and decadent she tasted. “I’m still not sure,” he lied, hoping like hell she’d offer up another sampling.
She didn’t disappoint him. Her fingers slid into his hair and around to the back of his neck, her expression filled with a seductive yearning. “Then by all means, let’s try again until you’re absolutely certain.” She guided his head back down to hers.
At first touch, both their lips automatically opened and he rolled his tongue into her mouth. She took it and gave him her own, coaxing him deeper into the wild and willing kiss. What began as a fun, sexy dare quickly flared into heated lust, the kind that tightened his groin and threatened his control. In the back of his mind, he could hear John Mayer singing about her body being a wonderland, and Sean couldn’t agree more.
Lush curves and silky skin awaited his touch, urging him to stroke his hands over all those alluring dips and swells that made her intrinsically a woman. Pushing her back onto the couch, he moved partially on top of her and slid a hard thigh between her legs, entwining their bodies intimately. Tunneling all ten fingers into her hair, he tipped her head slightly, fitted her mouth precisely to his, and took their kiss to a deeper, hotter level of pleasure.
Her soft moan of consent vibrated against his lips, and she shifted restlessly beneath him, seeking something more. He slid a hand along her thigh and over her hip, the clingy material of her sweatpants too much of a barrier when he ached to feel her naked flesh against his palm. Then his fondest wish was granted when his fingers grazed the soft, supple skin of her stomach, where her sweatpants ended and her camisole top began. He feathered his fingertips along that bared strip of skin, his pulse spiking dangerously high when she arched into him and wrapped a leg around his, so that his rock-hard erection had no choice but to nestle right up against her sex.
Sweet Jesus. She was so damn responsive. So incredibly sensual and passionate.
She rolled her hips against his, a slow, erotic undulation that made him growl deep in his throat and made him crazy with the need to shed their clothes and sink his cock to the hilt inside of her. Instead, he slipped his hand beneath the hem of her top and headed for the next best thing…the sweet, plump rise of her breast.
She wasn’t wearing a bra, and when he closed his palm over her warm, pliant flesh and his fingers plucked at her stiff nipple, she shuddered beneath him and squeezed his thigh between her legs. He lifted his head to look down at her, taking in her flushed face, her pink, wet lips, and her heavy-lidded gaze staring up at him with undeniable wanting.
Unable to help himself, he went back in for another kiss, this one a long, slow, lazy exploration of lips and tongues, adding to the exquisite feel of her breast nestled so perfectly in his hand.
She unbuttoned his shirt, splayed her palms on his chest, and grazed her thumbs across his rigid nipples, coaxing a rough groan of pleasure from him. As one decadent kiss melted into another and each luxurious caress grew bolder than the last, he lost track of time, not that seconds or minutes mattered when he had such a gorgeous, vibrant woman pressed beneath him.
A while later her fingers slid into his hair and she tugged his head back, ending their kiss. They were both panting hard, their bodies taut with arousal, and he knew they were right on the verge of taking this make-out session one step further, to the point of no return unless one of them came to their senses.
“Oh, God,” she said breathlessly, her expression soft and dreamy. “Why can’t you kiss like a Saint Bernard and look like a troll?”
He chuckled. Not exactly what he was expecting to hear, but as the voice of reason in this runaway train of seduction, her humorous comment worked to bring them both back to reality. “I’m sorry.”
“Me, too.” She sighed, a languid smile easing up the corners of her well-kissed mouth. “It would make resisting you so much easier.”
He dipped his head and nuzzled the fragrant curve of her neck. “Who says you have to?” he murmured into her ear, and gave her supple breast another gentle squeeze.
She shivered, twisted his hair tighter between her fingers, and tugged his head back again. “I do,” she said, genuine regret in her tone as she pulled his hand from beneath her top. “The thing is, I’m not the type of girl who has sex with a guy unless it means something more than scratching an itch.”
Her confession couldn’t have shocked him more, and made him wonder just how experienced, or inexperienced, she actually was. “Are you…” How did he ask such a question?
“A virgin?” she finished for him, then laughed. “Lord, no. I love sex; I just don’t do casual sex, even when I know it has the potential of being absolutely mind-blowing. Pathetic, but true.”
“Ah-h, you’re a good girl.” Grinning, he propped his head in his hand and drew lazy swirls on her bare stomach with the tip of his finger, enjoying the way the muscles in her belly clenched in reaction. “Nothing pathetic about that. In fact, I find it incredibly sexy and refreshing.”
Her morals said a lot about her character, and oddly enough, her views on sex only made him respect her more. And it kept him from crossing lines he had no business stepping over. Hell, he never should have kissed her in the first place, but it was difficult to regret something that felt and tasted so good.
She looked relieved. “Then you’re the first. In fact, I’ve been accused of being a tease, so I try not to let things get to the point of no return, if you know what I mean.” Before he could reply, she rushed on to explain. “Don’t get me wrong. I love kissing and touching and fondling, and all the other good stuff that goes with making out with a hot guy like you.”
He lifted a brow. “The good stuff?” he asked, curious to hear her definition of that phrase.
Her shoulder lifted in a nonchalant shrug, though the delightful pink coloring rising on her cheeks told him she wasn’t so indifferent to their candid discussion. “You know, the good stuff,” she said, her blush deepening as her hands fluttered in the air between them. “Foreplay, an orgasm, but without actually having sex.”
“Foreplay is the best part of sex.” He winked at her, though he was completely serious. “So is the buildup of sexual tension over the course of a few dates.”
She smiled. “Are you asking me out on another date?”
“I believe I am.” She was still lying beside him on the couch, and he loved that she was so comfortable with him. “When can I see you again?” Being with her should have been all about the case and finding her father, but Sean knew deep in his gut his desire to be with her was too personal. Not a good thing, but his attraction to her was getting more difficult for him to fight.
“Soon, hopefully.”
“Tomorrow?”
She laughed at his persistence. “I can’t. I’ll be tied up all day in marketing conference calls for my fall campaign and placing coordinating orders for the boutique with my manufacturer, and tomorrow night I already have a date.”
The pit of his stomach twisted with an emotion that was foreign to him—jealousy. “You do?”
She nodded, an impish look in her eyes. “With Jessica.”
Not a guy but her best friend. Thank God. The ten-pound weight sitting on his chest eased substantially. “Maybe I could crash your party,” he teased.
“No boys allowed,” she said, shaking her head. “We’re ordering dinner in and watching a chick flick. It’s something we do whenever she’s in town.”
“It was worth a shot.” He grinned and ran the tip of his finger along the smooth slope of Zoe’s nose. “How long are you going to make me wait to see you again?”
She thought for a moment. “Tell you what. How about I promise to be in touch over the next few days? Maybe we can get together this weekend…if you’re lucky.”
He chuckled, knowing she was deliberately playing him. “Yeah, you are a tease.”
She certainly wasn’t a simple mark or someone he could easily manipulate, and pushing the issue any more would only make him look too desperate and annoying. Her calls were already being monitored, but he’d have Caleb put surveillance on her until they were together again. Which Sean hoped wouldn’t be long from now.
Moving off the couch, he stood up, then offered her his hand. “It’s getting late and I should go.”
After accepting his help up, she straightened her camisole, which did nothing to conceal the outlines of her nipples against the fabric. He grabbed his coat and tie, and she followed him to the door. For purely selfish reasons he didn’t dare analyze, he stole another quick, heated kiss, something sweet to tide him over until he saw her again. Something that would leave her aching for more.
Too soon for his liking, he drew back and smiled. “Just for the record, you’re far more delicious than your chocolate cake.”
She licked her bottom lip, as if tasting for herself. “That’s good to know.”
Satisfied that he’d weakened her defenses and ignited the slow burn of anticipation, he opened the door and looked back at her one last time. “Don’t make me wait long.”
*
“So, did you get lucky last night?”
Jessica sauntered into Zoe’s living room the following evening, carrying a bag of Chinese takeout and a six-pack of cheap strawberry daiquiri wine coolers, their favorite girls’-night-in fare. She set their meal on the place mats Zoe had laid out on the coffee table, then turned back around, hands on her slim, jeans-clad hips and her expression direct and expectant.
“Well?” Jessica persisted, wanting details, as always.
Zoe settled on the couch, unable to stop the silly, giddy grin lifting her lips. “I got lucky enough.”
Jessica plopped down beside her and let out an exasperated breath. “First base? Second base? Come on, Zoe, spill already. Let me live vicariously.”
Zoe laughed, then told her best friend what she wanted to know, because they pretty much shared everything. “We kissed. A lot.”
And those seductive kisses had been so, so good. Just remembering Sean’s persuasive mouth on hers, his hard thigh pressed between her legs, and his warm hand on her breast made her heart pound like an infatuated school-girl’s all over again. He was the first man since her painful breakup with Ian to make her feel so desirable, and she couldn’t deny that Sean’s attention, and their mutual attraction, felt really nice.
“I’m jealous.” Jessica exhaled a wistful sigh. “I can’t remember the last time I made out with a guy.”
Zoe didn’t bother to point out that Jessica’s lack of a love life was by her own choice. Jessica Morgan the glamorous rock star had her pick of any guy she wanted. But Jessica the woman was wary when it came to men and what they expected of her because of her celebrity status. Did they really want her or the perks of her fame? She didn’t trust easily, and even though she gave the impression of being a bit of a bad girl when she performed onstage, she had a soft, vulnerable heart she kept well protected.
Zoe’s stomach growled, reminding her how busy she’d been all day long and that she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. She unpacked their dinner and handed Jessica her takeout box of sweet-and-sour pork, along with chopsticks, then picked up her own entrée of chicken lo mein. Leaning back against the sofa cushions, she crossed her legs on the couch and dug into her meal.
“Are you going to see him again?” Jessica asked after they’d eaten a few bites.
Reaching for her wine cooler, Zoe took a drink of the strawberry-flavored beverage. “He asked, and I’d like to go out with him again, but honestly, right now just isn’t the ideal time to jump into a relationship of any sort.”
It was a thought Zoe had been wrestling with all night long and still didn’t have a definite answer to. Physically and sexually, she and Sean meshed incredibly well, but Zoe wasn’t sure she was ready to invest her emotions into any man when she needed all her focus on opening her boutique.
Jessica popped a piece of pork into her mouth and chewed. “There’s never a good time.”
“Yeah, like you would know,” Zoe shot back, pointing her chopsticks in her friend’s direction.
Jessica responded by sticking her tongue out at her.
Zoe shook her head and changed the subject, for both of their sakes. As they finished eating, they talked about Jessica’s upcoming tour and the different elements she wanted to incorporate into the show. They brainstormed ideas on props and backdrops, and an hour later they’d even come up with a few costume ideas for Jessica to discuss with her stylist and wardrobe coordinator.
Finished with her chicken lo mein, Zoe set her box on the table, wanting to share some exciting news with Jessica. Actually, there were two important things she needed to tell her, and Zoe retrieved the flat envelope she’d left within reach. “Before we start the movie, guess what I got in the mail today?”
“I have no idea,” Jessica said, though her gaze flickered with interest. “Something good, I hope.”
“Definitely good.” Unable to contain her enthusiasm, Zoe pulled two glossy sheets of paper from the envelope and handed them to her friend. “It’s the page proofs for the layout you did for InStyle magazine.” A two-page spread featuring her Zoe Russo Fall Collection, starring Jessica Morgan as the woman wearing various jewelry, scarves, sunglasses, and other accessories for the upcoming season. “You look amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better spokesperson for my collection.”
“Are you kidding me? I genuinely love your stuff. Besides, you know I’d do anything for you, and if this helps to give ZR Designs the recognition it deserves, then I’m happy to be a part of it. Now you just need to get a boutique, because when this magazine hits the stands women are going to be clamoring for your accessories.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’ll have one,” Zoe said, getting to the second part of her news. “My lawyer called a few hours ago. The Onyx lease agreement is a go. I’ll be turning in the signed contract and my first and last months’ deposits for the place tomorrow afternoon. The boutique is mine.”
“Oh, my God!” Jessica released a squeal of delight and launched herself into Zoe’s arms for a big, congratulatory hug. “I’m so thrilled for you!”
Zoe laughed, appreciating her friend’s support more than ever. No one understood more than Jessica just how important all this was to Zoe. “Thanks.”
Jessica pulled back and grabbed Zoe’s hands. “Wow. Your flagship store. This is huge. How do you feel about all this?”
Zoe bit her bottom lip, trying to put a name to the various emotions she’d been experiencing since the call from her attorney. “Excited. Nervous. Scared,” she admitted honestly.
“Yeah, like me and my first album, then my first concert singing live in front of thousands of people. I get it. You wouldn’t be normal if you weren’t a little scared.” Jessica picked up her bottled wine cooler and raised it in a toast. “Here’s to you, ZR Designs, and a prosperous, exciting future.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Zoe clicked her bottle to Jessica’s, then finished off the last of her strawberry daiquiri.
“There’s only one thing left to do,” Jessica announced enthusiastically.
Zoe tipped her head curiously. “And what’s that?”
“See what Confucius has in store for us.” Grabbing both of the fortune cookies that had come with their dinner, Jessica tossed one of them to Zoe and kept the other for herself. “He’s usually a wise old man.”
Sometimes they had a good laugh over the silly fortunes folded inside the cookies. Other times, the sayings were eerily accurate, applying to some aspect of their lives in a way that gave them goose bumps. They never took their fortunes seriously, but for some reason tonight Zoe was reluctant to read hers. Her life was going so well, personally and professionally, and she didn’t want a stupid phrase to mess with her head or influence her thoughts.
“You go first,” she said, giving herself a few extra minutes to get over her illogical worry. Geez, since when had she turned superstitious?
Without hesitation, Jessica cracked open her cookie and pulled out the white strip of paper tucked inside. “‘Something you lost will soon turn up.’” She glanced at Zoe and grinned. “Maybe I’ll finally find my favorite Cartier pen that I haven’t seen since my trip to New York last month.”
Most likely, Jessica’s coveted pen was long gone, but Zoe wasn’t about to dash her friend’s hopes by saying so.
“Your turn.” Jessica set her fortune on the coffee table, twisted the cap open on another wine cooler, and settled back against the corner of the couch.
Taking a deep breath, Zoe broke her cookie in half, retrieved her words of wisdom, and read them out loud: “‘Sometimes the object of the journey is not the end, but the journey itself.’” She felt a ridiculous amount of relief that she hadn’t been delivered a foreboding message but rather a harmless saying that could apply to anyone’s life.
“Hm-m.” Jessica made the thoughtful sound before taking a drink of her daiquiri. “I’m sure it has something to do with your new journey as a boutique owner, and how your business is on the verge of taking off.”
Happy with Jessica’s take on things, Zoe nodded and embraced her promising fortune and future. “I think you’re absolutely right.”
After all, what else could it mean?