FIFTEEN
KELLY
The following morning, I wake, stretching my arm out to the side. Rather than a wall of muscle, all I encounter are cool sheets, and the slight dip where Zac had slept.
The door to the master bath open, I know he's not in there. He must have been super quiet this morning. More often than not, while still half asleep, he'll stub his toe, or trip over something. There's no sleeping through his theatrics.
Out of bed, I'm about to head downstairs only wearing a smile when I remember we've got guests. Belted into my toweling robe, I go in search of Zac and the others. That, of course, presupposes our guests are even awake with the angle of the sun telling me it's still early.
However, the door to the guest room is open, reminding me Audrey and Clive are morning people. On walking into the kitchen, I'm expecting to find them with Zac in the breakfast nook. Other than three mugs sitting on the draining board, there are no signs of life.
They must have moved like wraiths not to wake me. Strange, because I'm not a deep sleeper, rather I'm alert to every creak of the old house.
As memories of last night with Zac come back to me, a sad smile curves my lips. There'd been no missing that Zac hadn't enjoyed hearing about my job offer, with his natural exuberance dulled.
The constant was the time we'd spent exploring each other's bodies, with this likely the reason I'd slept through everyone leaving. The difference last night was the bittersweet edge to our lovemaking.
In the cold light of day, I see it for what it was.
A goodbye.
This has me rushing out into the entryway and wrenching open the triangular door to the space beneath the stairs. Zac's suitcase is gone.
He'd known he was leaving when he'd made love to me last night. But why? I haven't said yes to the job.
A hiccup of tears catches in my throat, choking me as surely as the knowledge that whatever I had with Zac, it's over.
Back upstairs, I check the guest room, unsurprised to find the space tidy. If not for the thank you note on the bed, it'd be as if I'd imagined our guests. Our guests? Not anymore, because there is no 'our'.
I don't bother with breakfast, my tummy roiling at the very thought. Instead, I have a quick shower, washing away the last of Zac's unique scent.
Coffee in hand, I'm soon at my desk, for all the good it does. I'm not capable of working, not with my heart in shreds.
Honestly, I thought we had something special, but with neither of us willing to take things further, I guess it was doomed from the start. Of course, I was cagey about committing, not wanting to get hurt, as I had in the past when trying for a guy out of my league.
There was never a chance someone like Zac would tie himself to someone like me. While Audrey was Zac's sister, I just knew there'd be another woman like her waiting in the wings, and who wasn't related.
And yet, I'd soon enough realized there was a lot more to him than a to-die-for body and good looks.
Funny, but the better I got to know him, the less I'd noticed how handsome he was, but even more precious for it. He was just Zac, the man I loved. I should have known better than to fall for a player.
Men like Zac didn't commit, at least not until their mortality came knocking at the door and they experienced the drive to procreate before it was too late. And even then, it wasn't a given they'd tie themselves down.
With tears now running down my face, I ready myself to send another reply to Brian Mackey's earlier email. It's only after swiping my eyes with my sleeve that I see he's emailed me again. Could it be I'm about to hear what happened to Jason?
I hope he's left the company, because with Zac having moved on, it's time for me to do the same.
A skim-read of the email and I know where Jason is, although I'm not sure Sydney is far enough away for me to relax. As well as this snippet, Brian Mackey has repeated his job offer. There's even an attachment to back this up.
He always was an aggressive so-and-so. Rather than a job description as I've expected, it's a firm offer. An actual employment contract, his flamboyant signature taking up most of the last page.
I'd seen firsthand the trouble Zac was in from not having read the fine print on his insurance policy. It isn't a mistake I'll make when dealing with someone like the president of MC&S.
I therefore take my time reading through the contract, stopping now and then for a sip of coffee, or to make notes. And the more I read, the faster my heartbeat.
I'm re-reading the final clause and the lump-sum payment I'll receive on signing when I grab my phone, slamming it back down on the desk.
Brian Mackey is a manipulative SOB. I've seen how he can tie people into knots.
