“What?”
“You’re working for Zach, aren’t you?”
“Pardon?”
“The Flynn brothers brought you in. Don’t try to tell me differently.”
“No, really, that’s not true,” Caer said.
“Whatever. I’m just hoping you and Zach really do have a thing going, because it’s time for him to find the right person, and you’re either an amazing actress or one of the most ‘right’ people I’ve met in my life. You care about him, I know. I’ve seen your eyes when he doesn’t know you’re watching him, and I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Then again, I guess a lot of guys look at you that way.” She laughed. “You are refreshing. Marni loves a mirror, and I think Amanda worships at one. But they can’t hold a candle to you. You just walk into a room and it’s game over. Plus you’re younger than Amanda.”
“You’re younger than Amanda, too,” Caer told her, grinning but perplexed.
“Yes, but I’m my dad’s daughter. She hates me, but she’s not jealous of me the way she is of you. Or Marni. She’s always hanging on my dad. She told me once that she lost her father when she was really young, and that’s why.”
“Maybe that is why.”
“I don’t think so. She flat out flirts with him. Honestly? I think she’d have an affair with him in a heartbeat”
“What?” Caer asked, shocked.
“Don’t worry. My father would never do anything like that. He doesn’t get all hot and bothered over a pretty face. That’s why we were all floored when he fell head over heels for Amanda. My mom has been dead a long time, so it wasn’t anything like that. It’s just that…he was barely dating, and then…Amanda. But watch Marni when she’s around my dad. I’m surprised Amanda hasn’t thrown a fit yet and tried to get Dad to fire Cal just to get rid of Marni. You’ve seen how she treats Clara, but I promise you, Tom and Clara will outlast Amanda, and so will Cal and Marni. My father believes in loyalty. Anyway…I have Dad covered tonight. You two go out. And stay out late. Oh, and fool around if you get a chance,” Kat teased. “Dating the boss is exciting, don’t you think?”
“Honestly, I met Zach for the first time when he came over to Ireland,” Caer said.
“Whatever you say. Now go. You look like a million bucks.”
Caer stood, shaking her head. Maybe it was all right if she left Kat thinking she worked for Zach. She certainly didn’t seem able to convince her otherwise.
Kat caught her hand, dragging her out of the room just as Zach was coming down the stairway.
He’d donned a suit, and Caer felt her breath catch. He was gorgeous. He was fixing a cufflink when he looked up, saw her—and froze.
“Hey, get a room, you two!” Kat said. “You both clean up real nice. Now get out of here.”
“We’re going, we’re going,” Zach assured her. “Miss Cavannaugh?” He made a slight bow, directing her toward the kitchen and the way out. In the garage, he opened the car door for her, and she slid into the passenger seat.
She felt awkward. This was like…a date.
They were going out.
And anything could happen.
She sat stiffly in the car as he drove. She found herself staring at his hands where they lay on the wheel. Musician’s hands. His fingers were long, and his hands were neither too rough looking nor too manicured. They had a strength about them, the kind of strength that made her shiver down to her bones.
He flashed her a glance. “Are you all right with this? You look tense.”
“I’m fine,” she said.
He grinned. “I’m not evil.”
“I promise you, I’m not evil, either.”
His grinned deepened. “Evil or not, Miss Cavannaugh, you really are quite stunning.”
“Like Kat said, we both clean up well.”
He laughed. “You’re stunning even when you don’t clean up. Not that I’ve seen you running around in the mud or anything.”
“Only in the sand,” she said.
“That’s a taboo subject for tonight,” he told her.
“Really?” She turned to him and smiled skeptically. “I know you. You’re already planning your next move.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“Well, it is what I do,” he said. “I find the missing. I solve the mystery. It’s the family business.”
“Right. So you have a plan, even if you’re not going to talk about it with me. You’re not going to sit around just waiting.”
“I’m going to find out what Eddie found out. There. That’s it in a nutshell. Now, let’s move on. Tell me more about yourself, Miss Cavannaugh.”
“There’s not that much to tell.”
“Oh, I have a feeling there’s a massive tome behind you.”