Zach opened a glass door and walked out onto the terrace. The air was cool and crisp. Central Park was ablaze with riotous fall colors forty stories beneath him.
I told you the penthouse was fabulous and the view lovely, the Realtor gushed behind him. Now do you believe me?
I had to make sure, Zach said. Its a deal, then. He turned and shook the womans perfectly manicured hand. Send me a contract.
She grinned brilliantly. I like you so much.
Roberto Gomez will be handling this for me.
Yes. Ive already had several emails from him. Charming man. Its been a pleasure
Zach nodded, turned on his heel and strode toward the elevator. He had a long day ahead of him and no time to waste.
Hed arrived in Manhattan a day early this weekend to approve his future office space in Lower Manhattan and the penthouse that his most trusted people had selected. Summer didnt expect him until tomorrow.
He was staying at the Pierre. Shed liked the suite there so much last weekend, hed rented it again.
In the elevator, he slipped his hand into his pocket and touched the small, black-velvet box.
Tomorrow, at the Pierre, when they were alone, he would offer her a glass of champagne, get down on his knee and hand it to her.
When he got off at the bottom floor, his excitement about the gorgeous penthouse and his new offices and the ring was so great he wanted to share his news with her. Why wait until tomorrow to propose when he felt so sure this afternoon?
Why not go to the theater and propose to her now? He knew she was in rehearsals and that they hadnt been going well. He knew he shouldnt bother her. Still, he wanted to see her. He wanted to hold her. Most of all he felt an urgent need to propose to her. He was afraid if he waited, somehow hed lose her again.
He pulled out his phone and studied his calendar. Calling Roberto, he told him to cancel the rest of his meetings.
Then he stepped into his limo and ordered his driver to take him to her theater.
Bad idea, he thought. But he couldnt stop himself.
Summer raced to her dressing room during a break in rehearsals to return her agents calls, of which there were three. She hoped the call wouldnt take long because she wanted so badly to call Zach.
Carl answered on the first ring. Youre an angel for getting back to me so fast.
What is it?
Hugh Jones is in town. Just for the day. The PR people from the studio want to set up a short interview for the two of you.
When? Where? Im really busy.
They had a hard time talking Jones into it as well, but theyve got him to agree. So-say in an hour. In your dressing room.
Impossible. Things for the show arent going well, and some of the productions big investors are here giving Paolo a hard time. Hes pretty insane.
The studio has already talked to Paolo. Hes fine with it.
What?
The interview wont take more than fifteen minutes. There was so much buzz about your scenes with Jones that
She shut her eyes. That buzz, as Carl termed it, had nearly destroyed her relationship with Zach. Except for the fact that she hadnt found a way to tell him about the baby, things were going so well for them right now. She didnt want to stir up another round of press interest, and Hugh was a hot button she didnt want punched until Zach truly trusted her and their relationship was on less fragile ground. Until shed told him about the baby
The movie isnt coming out for months. I dont see why I have to do an interview with Hugh this afternoon.
Well, the PR department makes those calls, not us. Their team thinks its essential to keep up the momentum.
Translation: they wanted hordes of paparazzi questioning the true nature of her relationship with Jones and continuing to chase her and take pictures of her with Zach. The PR department wanted her face and name out there, so shed be a draw. They didnt care that by linking her to Jones, they drove Zach crazy. To them, this was just another juicy story.
She had to protect her relationship with Zach at all costs.
Sorry! she said and ended the call. But no sooner had she hung up than Sam rang her.
You signed a contract agreeing to do promotion. Paolos okay with it, so whats your problem? Sam read her the clause in her contract. It didnt take a genius to understand his thinly veiled threat. They could sue her if she didnt do as they commanded.
Feeling queasy and a bit shaky, which had been happening a lot lately, especially in the mornings, she hung up and called Zachs cell.
But his phone went to voice mail. She didnt want to leave this kind of news in a message. When she called him repeatedly, and he still didnt answer, she began to feel sick with worry. She had to tell him about this interview before the paparazzi caught up with him and peppered him with questions he was not prepared to answer.
On the way to the theater Zachs limo got caught in traffic beside a flower stall, so Zach whipped out and bought two dozen roses from the elderly flower seller. The perfect buds were so bright in the sunlight they blazed like flames, but they burned no brighter than the towering emotion in his heart.
Inside the limo, their scent was so overpowering he set them aside. When the driver braked, Zach leaned forward, staring at the sea of vehicles surrounding them, cursing vividly when a truck cut in front of them.
Damn it. He sat back against soft leather and forced himself to try to relax. But he couldnt. He was out of control, which he hated. He was impatient to see Summer, to take her in his arms and beg her to love him. To ask her to make a life with him.
He could walk iron without breaking a sweat. So what was so terrifying about baring his soul and asking the woman he loved to marry him?
When his cell phone rang, Zach answered it automatically.
You bastard!
Hello, Thurman.
Zach hadnt heard the other mans voice in years. Funny, that he recognized the cold, dead tone instantly.
You think youre so smart, that you know everything, but you dont. Youre a gambler. Id bet money Summer hasnt told you what she did in New Orleans
The hair at the back his nape rose. What the hell are you talking about?
Why dont you ask Summer?
Thurman laughed nastily and hung up.
When Zach jumped out of the limo at the theater with a conflicted heart, a dozen reporters leaped toward him, hammering him about Summer as their flashes blinded him.
His expression turned to stone as he stormed past them into the auditorium, slamming the door on their idiotic clamor.
Zach was remembering how vulnerable Summer had looked every time shed tried to talk to him about the past. What hadnt she told him? What did Thurman know that Zach didnt?
He knew exactly where Summers dressing room was since shed given him a personal tour last weekend, so he wasted no time on his way through the crowded corridors. Backstage was like a maze, but he didnt stop, not even when actors, who were milling about, tried to greet him.
He wondered why everyone was on break. Maybe this meant Summer would be free to talk to him. He wouldnt have to wait.
When he found the door with her name on it, it was closed. He banged on it impatiently.
What he wanted was beautiful golden Summer with her long-lashed eyes to open the door and blush charmingly when she saw him. He wanted to take her in his arms and then set a time for a private talk. This time he would listen to whatever she had to tell him. Then he would tell her how much he loved her and ask her to be his wife.
What he got was Hugh Jones and a photographer.
The reporter didnt miss a beat when he saw the chance for a shot of the two men together.
When the flash went off twice, Zach turned on his heel. No way could he face the press when he felt so conflicted privately. Then Summer was behind him, her voice nervous and high-pitched.
Instead of smiling, her blue eyes were wide with panic and guilt. Zach, what are you doing here?
Logically, he knew he shouldnt have interrupted her on such short notice, but he wasnt feeling logical.
Making a damn fool of myself. Again.
Zach, no Wait! Listen!
Shed gone pale, and her hand shook as it tugged at his sleeve. He felt sorry for her, so he let her pull him into the dressing room beside hers and listened impatiently as she whispered to the young actress inside it. Can we please talk here for a few minutes?
Sure. Anytime. Moving like a dancer, the girl, who was thin as a rail, got up languidly, picked up the magazine shed been flipping through and left in a swirl of silken yellow skirts as she winked at Zach.
We were just doing an interview for Dangerous Man. Thats all. My agent called me less than an hour ago or I would have told you I had to do it. Because I signed a contract saying I would. I tried to call you, but you didnt answer.
I understand. I was on the phone. With Thurman, he thought, frowning.
No, you dont understand. I can see that. You look furious
I said I believe youre doing an interview, and I do. But before the press is through with this story, nobody else will. I cant help wondering if this will always be the way we have to live-with the press playing up your nonexistent relationships with other men and making me look the fool.
He knew he wasnt being totally honest. He felt too raw to be completely open with her. Hed come here to propose, and then Thurman had called and stirred up all his old doubts about her.
Zach, I want you in my life. I do What are you doing here a day early?
He shouldnt have surprised her like this. He felt vulnerable, as if his heart was on his sleeve, and suddenly he didnt want her to know about all the plans hed made. Now wasnt the time to ask her about New Orleans or to propose.
It doesnt matter. Im leaving.
I wish youd stay.
Well, Im not sure I want idiots second-guessing every stage of our relationship when I feel He stopped, torn.
When you feelwhat?
Nothing.
Zach, whats wrong?
Maybe Im not in the mood to share you with everyone in the known universe. So, Id better go, so you can finish the damn interview. The entire crew and cast is waiting on you, right?
She swallowed. Talk to me, Zach. Please talk to me.
Her eyes were so earnest maybe he would have, if a red-faced Paolo hadnt burst into the room, shattering the moment.