Finally he shook his head. “Got it. Have a nice life.” He turned away, marched back to the house, and then yanked open the front door.
It slammed shut behind him, glass rattling in the frame. Rae forced herself to make it to her car and then leave the driveway, before she started sobbing. When she was out of view of the house, she pulled over and let the tears have their way. She shook as grief and regret pounded over her.
Chapter Twenty
One Year Later
“Your next appointment is waiting for you.”
Rae smiled at her assistant, Alice. Odd that the potential client wasn't in the waiting room. Maybe whoever it was had wanted some privacy for a phone call or something. “Thanks. Who am I seeing?”
Alice checked her computer. “Rinslet Enterprises. They're looking for distribution channels.”
The name tickled something in the back of her mind, but she couldn't grasp it. The appointment was status quo. “Do we have lunch reservations anywhere?”
Alice blushed. “I'll get you something.”
That was a strange reaction. “Thanks.”
Rae stepped into her office, letting the door swing shut behind her when she saw her guest. Her feet stuck to the floor. It can’t be.
Zach stood and straightened his suit coat, looking very much the part of a business man. He offered his hand.
She shook it, pasting a cool smile into place. Her heart hammered so hard in her chest, she thought it might escape. What was he doing there? “Mister Johnston.”
His mouth twisted, but he sat when she took her place across the desk from him. He couldn't be there. It wasn't fair. How had he even found her? She was going to kill Chloe if her sister had given up the information. It had taken her months to convince herself leaving was the right thing to do, and countless one-night stands—or one failed one—to figure out she couldn’t do casual sex anymore. She had finally started to move on. “What can I do for you?”
“Rae.” His tone didn’t give anything away.
Hearing her say her name dug deep. She wouldn’t let it hurt. It didn’t matter. She didn’t miss him so much it haunted her every day. “Lorraine,” she said. “Ms. Nielson, if you'd prefer.”
“First names are fine.” His cool tone matched hers. “As I'm sure Alice told you, my company is looking for a business partner.”
Something leapt in Rae's chest, and she bit it back. That meant they really did need distribution channels. So they were doing well? She felt a spark of joy, but didn't dwell on it. “Usually someone in sales handles these meetings, but let me tell you what we can do for you.” She opened a drawer and grabbed a marketing packet.
“I’m familiar with your business, thank you.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on her desk. “I have a proposal, if you've got time.”
There was something in his words she couldn't pin down. Something in the way he phrased his statements was intentionally misleading. Might as well find out sooner rather than later. She could land the account, assign it to someone to manage, and start to try and forget his existence again. “You're on my calendar. I have time.”
“Perfect.” He smiled, a hint of something less formal leaking into it. He reached across her desk and hit a speed dial button on her phone.
Her curiosity and discomfort grew.
“Yeah?” Alice's voice filled the room.
“Alice, hon.” His tone was smooth. “Are we set?”
“Yes, sir. They're expecting you in twenty minutes.”
“Thanks. You're a doll.”
She giggled, and the line went dead.
She glared at him. “You flirted with my assistant?”
He smirked. “Someone had to tell me where your favorite place was around here. Chloe sure as hell won't talk about you.”
“And you were arrogant enough to assume I'd hear you out.” She desperately wanted to be furious, but the situation was both flattering and amusing. She should throw him out right then. Kick his ass to the curb and pretend he’d never been there. “Do you even actually want to talk about distribution?”
Zach nodded. “I told you I had a proposal. Didn't have to make any of that up.”
It didn't escape her he technically didn't answer the question. Her curiosity was gnawing at her now. She grabbed her purse. “I guess we should get going, then.”
He stood when she did. The strange mixture of a standard business meeting combined with the familiarity of the way he spoke and held himself added to her uneasy tension. He fell into step beside her as they made their way to the elevator, his arm inches from hers but never making contact.
I won’t lose it in the middle of the office. I definitely won’t demand he explain himself in front of everyone I work with. The two phrases repeated in her head.
She kept her teeth clenched as they got in the elevator, not sure if she was relieved or disappointed it was empty.
“So, how have you been?” he asked.
“Fantastic.” She cringed when she realized there was too much enthusiasm in her reply. Might as well roll with it. “Never better. You?”