There was no point. I read every single word of the moratorium. Ive looked up precedents and past cases. I followed their template to the letter. I dotted every i, I crossed every single t.
Were talking hundreds of jobs. Hundreds of people without anything but the livelihood and the family they get from working at DFB. A couple of hours, Abby. Can you give me that?
Her mind screamed no. But there was something in the raw honesty of his plea that got to her.
If it was your family? he asked more softly this time, what would you do?
She tipped her chin and tossed her head, telling herself she was capitulating for a good cause. Fine. Well try one more time.
He was silent for a moment, almost as if he couldnt believe shed finally said yes. Thank you, he breathed, in obvious relief and gratitude.
She was hit with an unexpected rush of pleasure. Which was silly. She might feel good about helping him, but that didnt change the cold hard facts. I wish I could be magic, Zach. I truly do.
He gently took her hands. You are.
Despite everything, she wanted to throw herself into his arms, squeeze him tight and forget the rest of the world existed. Go away, she murmured. Leave me alone for the next few hours.
He nodded, and with a final, reflexive squeeze of his fingers, he let go and walked away.
She stared into the dark reaches of the garden, struggling to bring her emotions under control.
Lisas voice came from behind her, skirt rustling, heels clicking rhythmically on the concrete as she approached. Now, who the heck was that?
Abigail shook her head and gave a helpless laugh. Nobody.
Come on. Anybody who looks at you that way is not a nobody.
Abigail was tired of keeping all this locked tight inside her chest. She gave in to temptation. Cone of silence?
Cone of silence.
That was my one-night stand.
Lisa whistled low, turning to look at the doorway where Zach had disappeared. Oh, mama.
You got that right. Abigail gave a wry grimace. He was also my midnight research project. And tonight Im meeting him after the reception.
Really?
Yes.
You okay?
No.
You want to tell me whats going on?
Yes, Abigail admitted. But I cant.
Lisa moved closer. Oh, but you can.
I really cant. Abigail hadnt gone to all this trouble to blurt the truth out to Lisa.
Im family now, said Lisa. Plus, Im discreet. And Im not above feeding you champagne until you reveal every single secret locked away in your little heart. She nodded to a waiter standing just inside the doors. You might as well do it without the hangover.
It was tempting.
Lisa rapidly rubbed Abigails arm. Tell me.
Abigail gave in. I lied to and betrayed my entire family.
You did not.
Yes. Abigail nodded, looking square into Lisas eyes. I did.
Then wait right here.
Lisa swiftly crossed the patio, helped herself to two glasses of champagne and returned, handing one of them to Abigail.
Abigail took a swallow. I slept with Zach. Hes that guy you just saw. Only, I didnt know he was Zach then.
Youre an adult.
I know.
Was it good?
Abigail shot her an incredulous look. Thats irrelevant.
Yeah, but was it good?
Yes.
So far Im not hearing anything particularly problematic.
Yeah, well, it gets better. He blackmailed me. Threatened to tell Travis and Seth-
Tell them what you like in bed? It was Lisas turn to be incredulous.
No. No. It was something that I told him in bed.
Oh, good. Though I have to admit, you had me curious. Lisa waggled her brow. Little Bo Peep outfit, handcuffs, whipped cream.
Oh, good. Though I have to admit, you had me curious. Lisa waggled her brow. Little Bo Peep outfit, handcuffs, whipped cream.
Give me a break.
Its not as if you can tell by looking at a person.
Im not into handcuffs.
Lisa shrugged. So whatd you tell him?
Abigail was having second thoughts about the conversation. She glossed over the facts. The important point is that he blackmailed me into helping him get a variance to his water license.
He got a variance? Working in the mayors office, Lisa was well aware of the contentious water issues.
Abigail shook her head. The committee turned him down. And now he wants me to try again.
Wow, Abby. Unless were talking black leather and whips, and even then, just tell him no.
This isnt about kinky sex.
Then just tell him no.
There are hundreds of jobs at stake. Abigail found herself defending Zach. Hundreds of orphans jobs at stake. Because thats what Zach does. He grew up in foster care, and hes built this whole brewery conglomerate to give jobs to other foster kids. You should see the place, Lisa. The headquarters are in Houston, and the people who work there, well, they all but worship Zach and his partner, Alex. Hes given them all a real shot in life, given them a place to belong. And Im the only person who might be able to help him save it.
What does this have to do with water?
They need to up production at their Craig Mountain brewery. To do that, they need water. If they dont, it all falls apart like a row of dominoes.
Its still not your problem, Lisa told her gently.
Theyre his family.
And you want to help them.
I do, Abigail admitted. I know itll set a precedent that will hurt the ranchers. But I want to do it anyway.
Lisa smiled. He must be damn good in bed.
He is. Abigail felt her cheeks grow warm. Thats irrelevant. But he is.
Lisas grin widened. Then youd better help him.
And betray my family. That was the conundrum. She might sympathize with Zach, but the facts remained the same.
Lisa linked arms with her. Its not the worst betrayal in the world. Besides, if they kick you out of the house, Ill take your room.
Abigail tried to smile at the joke, but she couldnt quite pull it off.
Chill, Abby, said Lisa. The water battle will go on for a long, long time to come. And in the end, Zachs variance will be a mere blip on the radar.
If I pull it off, Abigail reminded her as they started for the door. Having met some of Zachs employees, she truly wanted to save their jobs. I honestly dont know what I can do to change the committees mind.
Seth told me about all the research you did on this, Lisa reminded her. The paper you wrote, your presentation in Denver. You didnt let those bureaucrats intimidate you. The Ranchers Association thinks the world of you. He also told me he credits you with getting him elected. You wrote every speech, developed every policy. Youve been a straight A student since first grade. Youre brilliant, Abby. If anyone can do it, its you.
Seven
It was after midnight. Having finished a phone call to Alex, Zach moved from the bedroom of his hotel suite to the living room where Abigail was curled up on the sofa, reading her way through one of the papers from the thick rejection file. She still wore the filmy, plum, strapless bridesmaid dress. It draped enticingly across her thighs, highlighting her toned, tanned, sexy legs. Her feet were bare. Her hair had come loose from the updo and now framed her face with those same auburn wisps hed fallen for the first night hed met her. Her makeup was slightly smudged, and a hint of cleavage peeked out from her bodice. It was all he could do not to stride across the room and pull her into his arms and kiss her until they couldnt see straight.
He knew she didnt want that. But he also knew she was still attracted to him. And, right now, he wanted it enough for the both of them.
She lifted her gaze to look at him, those golden eyes all but glowing in the soft light from the table lamp.
He knew shed caught him staring. And he imagined there was no mistaking his thoughts, since he was all but salivating at the thought of her.
But she didnt seem to notice, or else she didnt care. She smiled serenely. Ive got it.
He had to forcibly pull back from the sensual path hed been on. Got what?
The solution. Smile broadening, she asked, You got any champagne around here?
I can order anything you want.
You might want to order some champagne.
Why? he prompted.
She chuckled softly, coming to her feet. Its so simple. It was there all along.
He knew she couldnt be talking about sex, but, man, did he wish she was. What was there all along?
You move your company headquarters to Lyndon.
Her words didnt compute into anything logical in his brain, so he didnt respond.
Thats the answer, Zach.
Is that a joke? If it was, she was keeping a pretty straight face.
Its not a joke.
Its ridiculous. DFB had only recently agreed to a new five-year lease for the office space in Houston. His two-hundred-strong at headquarters had houses there, families there. They were all Texans.
You do that, she singsonged, obviously ignoring his reaction. Thats over two hundred new jobs in the Lyndon area. Your variance application then has a fundamental impact on employment creation in the region, and youve just earned yourself mandatory exemption.
Against all odds, the woman truly was serious.
Do you have any idea what it would take to make that kind of move? he asked. There are legal and incorporation impacts, taxation impacts, export-licensing impacts, not to mention uprooting two-hundred people and their families.
She sauntered toward him. I think what you mean to say is, Youre brilliant, Abigail. Thank you so much for giving me a real solution to an impossible problem.
He knew she was brilliant, but he couldnt quite wrap his head around the magnitude of her suggestion. His words were confrontational, but his tone was soft. I believe I mean to say, Youre insane, Abigail. This will never work in real life.
She came to a halt in front of him, all soft and sexy and proud. You coerced me. You blackmailed me. You stalked me.
How did I stalk you?
To the wedding.
He considered that. Okay. Fair enough.
And now, after all that, after I practically made my brain bleed thinking this through, youre refusing to take my advice?
Your advice is frightening.
Its brilliant.
I dont see how it can work.
It can work. Her eyes took on that glow of intelligence as her brain obviously clicked through a catalog of facts. Or maybe it cant work. But its all Ive got.
He recognized that it was an extraordinary plan. The only flaw was that it wouldnt work, at least not for him, not for DFB. But that didnt change the fact that shed been clever to come up with it.