Rumors: Allison & Zane Read online

  Rumors

  Allison & Zane

  Rachael Brownell

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Afterword

  Imperfect Love Story

  About the Author

  Also by Rachael Brownell

  Chapter One

  A hickey.

  I can't believe he left a mark on me. How in the hell am I going to be able to keep him a secret if he's leaving clues all over my body? Everyone's going to start asking questions now. Questions I don't want to answer for obvious reasons.

  Hell, it's been hard enough sneaking around since the Bahamas. I've been making excuses every weekend as to why I can't hang out with the girls. Now I'm forced to lie to their faces because he left evidence for them to see. Evidence I missed when I quickly attempted to make myself presentable for drinks.

  I was already running late. One last quickie before he had to leave for the airport. I wasn't going to turn him down. There's no way I could have. I won't be able to see him again until Friday, and although five days doesn't seem that long, it feels like forever when all you do is think about the other person. When you text them every day. When sexting is the only thing keeping you sane until you're back in their arms.

  Our tryst had been kept under wraps so far, but now the cat is out of the bag. They may not know who he is, but they know there's someone. I know how the rumor mill works. I'm the one running the show after all. I have my minions who do detective work for me, who watch and listen for interesting tidbits of information, but I'm the one who ultimately decides what people hear.

  I've denied it from day one. I can't let anyone know I'm the source. If they knew, I'd be ruined. The game would be over, and I have to admit, I like playing with people’s lives. As long as things don't go too far, no one gets hurt.

  This secret, this rumor, has the ability to hurt a lot of people.

  Mainly me, but also Zane. And it's for sure going to piss off Hunter.

  After he caught us about to make out in the men's room, I thought he was going to fire me on the spot. I've never seen him that angry. He's always calm, cool, collected. In control. Of himself and everything around him.

  Not that night.

  It was like a volcano erupting.

  He started talking, scolding us, and until he was finished, I was afraid to speak. My gut instinct was to defend myself, but I didn't. Instead, I bit my tongue, took his verbal lashing, and nodded in understanding.

  After he left us, Zane started laughing.

  "He cares about this way too much," he said, straightening my blouse for me and securing the top button.

  "Yeah, well, I'm not sure why. I've never given him a reason to hate me, but it sure feels like he does."

  "What he said about you using me... what was that all about?"

  His words caused me to freeze up. I had blocked out a good portion of the lecture, but that part I remembered. Apparently Hunter thinks I use guys, get what I want from them, and move on. He has no idea what my dating life is like. He has no idea that I've slept with one person in the last year or that I'm up-front and honest with guys on the first date.

  I'm not looking for a hookup. I'm looking for a real relationship. One that will last. With a person that will treat me like a princess even when I don't deserve it.

  I want love and laughter and happily ever after. Not a bunch of one-night stands that I'm ashamed of.

  "I date a lot," I finally managed to say. "But it's not like it sounds. I'm not sleeping around, if that's the impression he gave you."

  Lowering my head, I focused on the black smear across the white bathroom tile. This place was dirty and run down. A fresh coat of paint and a deep clean would be a start, but it was going to take more than that to get it back in shape. To compete with the surrounding nightlife.

  Still, it had charm.

  It was a lot like me. A lot like my life.

  In need of an overhaul to change things.

  I was hoping Zane would be that. The first moment we bumped into each other in the hall, before I knew who he was, I fell for him. He was sexy and charming, and his eyes refused to leave mine.

  I waited for him. For him to check me out, his eyes to wander. They never did. Even after I turned and walked away. When I looked back, our eyes connected immediately, and I have to admit, I liked how that felt. That he wasn't looking at me like a piece of ass but a person he was interested in getting to know more about.

  Of course, there were obstacles in our way. Starting with our dates.

  Once I realized we were going to be spending time together as a group and we each had brought someone with us, I tried to stop thinking about him. That wasn't as easy as it sounds. My eyes wandered to his and his to mine. We drifted toward each other and away from the group. From prying eyes.

  The first time it happened, he followed me into the restroom and locked the door behind us. I jumped him, latching my mouth to his as if I needed him to breathe.

  If a kiss can be life changing, that kiss was. It was magical and passionate and made me feel things I'd never felt before. Wanted and valued at the same time. The way his hands caressed my body, the way he took control of the kiss, slowing the pace and making it even more sensual.

  I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I didn't care. It felt more right than letting Chris spoon with me at night, than letting him hold my hand or kiss me.

  So we made a plan.

  We were going to be honest with our dates. Let them down easy and find a way to hang out the rest of the trip to see if we really were compatible. Only things didn't go as we planned.

  Chris took the news with his head held high. I think he knew we weren't going to last. When he volunteered to leave, I almost packed his things for him.

  Cammie was another story. She refused to accept the fact that Zane wasn't into her. He asked her to leave, and she refused. She wanted to be with him and wasn't going to give up that easily, even after he told her he wanted to be with someone else. That he didn't love her, didn't really even like her. They'd only been on two dates, and she was acting like they had been together for years.

  I'm fairly certain she's a bit crazy. I know she's clingy.

  So I slipped him a piece of paper with the name of this bar on it. Told him to bring the guys there instead of getting on the boat. I didn't tell him I was going to bring the girls, that I was hijacking the boat tour. I wanted to see the look of surprise on his face.

  Turns out, I was the one who was surprised. He either found out I changed our plans or knew what I was up to because there was a knowing look on his face when we walked in as if he was waiting for us to come through the door, and once we finally did, it confirmed his suspicions.

  "Hey," he finally replied, lifting my chin with his hand so I was looking straight into his eyes. "I date a lot too. Want to know why?"

  Okay, I'd bitten. "Why?"

  "Because I'm still looking for the one person that makes me want to stop dating. The one that makes me want to grow up and settle down."

  Good answer. So good I was contemplating taking my clothes off right then and offer
ing myself to him on the dirty bathroom floor. But that would have been a bad idea. There wasn’t a lock on the door, and I had a feeling Hunter would be back if we didn't emerge soon.

  "We better get back out there before people come looking for us. I'll go first," I offered, the urge to get out of the men’s room suddenly overwhelming.

  "Let me. It's my fault he even came in here."

  "What?"

  "I may have asked about you once I realized he knew you. If I hadn't, he wouldn't have burst in here. I'll go first. You head into the ladies’ room and wait a few minutes before coming out."

  Pulling me into his arms, Zane leaned down and gently kissed me on the lips, promising me that everything was going to be fine. We just needed to lie low until after the wedding. Then we'd figure it out.

  "You could hide from Cammie in my room tonight," I suggested as he opened the door for me.

  "I thought you'd never ask." Looking over my shoulder, there was a light in his eyes and a grin on his face.

  No one would bother us behind closed doors. No one would even know he was in there. Our dirty little secret would be safe for now.

  That night, as we lay facing each other, talking about everything and anything, we decided to keep our relationship between the two of us for now. There was no guarantee we'd see each other after he went back to Miami. Why upset Hunter any more than he already was? Plus, Cammie was still an obstacle.

  She was blowing up his phone with calls and texts all night. They became more frequent when he didn't return to their room until he finally shut his phone off and we went to sleep.

  Fully dressed, I might add. Because neither of us wanted to cross that line just yet.

  The next morning was a different story.

  At some point during the night, I had kicked my pants off and removed my shirt. So when I woke up in just my bra and panties, having dreamt about Zane, I was ready to leap across all boundaries to have him.

  It didn't help that he was lying on his back, staring at me. His eyes caressing the curves of my body. A huge bulge in his jeans aching to be set free.

  So, against my better judgment, I made the first move.

  After that, there was no stopping us. Clothes flew in every direction. The only sound was the ripping of a condom wrapper followed by moaning. His and mine. In unison. As he sank as deep inside me as possible.

  He stayed there, fully seeded, for a minute while he attempted to catch his breath. I needed more, so I pressed up against him, and he gave me what I want.

  Slowly removing himself from me, he slammed into me again. Then again. And again. The third time causing the headboard to smack against the wall from the force.

  Justine and Devon's room was right next to mine. Megan and Vinnie's was on the other side.

  Someone would wonder what was going on if that happened again, so we moved to the shower.

  Under the spray of hot water, Zane lifted me against the wall and impaled me. For the next forty-five minutes, I had to bite my lip so I didn't scream from wave after wave of pleasure. Even after it was over, my body still shook. It wanted more.

  A lot more.

  But there wasn't any time. The rest of the group was bound to be up. We still had to sneak Zane across the hall to his room without being seen, something we were planning on doing two hours before when it was safer.

  Time was not on our side.

  Still, after he dressed, kissed me goodbye, and quickly snuck out, I lay in bed replaying the last twenty-four hours in my head. From the moment I met him, the moment our eyes locked, I had hoped for this moment. I wanted this to happen.

  Whether that makes me a bad person or not, I don't care.

  When it comes to men, I'm as picky as they come. I don't want to waste my time or theirs if it's not going to work out. I don't cross that line and jump into bed with just anyone. Zane... I saw his potential. He was full of it, and the fact we're still going strong three weeks later, despite our geographical differences, says a lot.

  Now, if he'd stop leaving marks on my body for other people to see, I'd appreciate that. In fact, I think I'll send him a picture of his handiwork. If he's still waiting to board his plane, he should see it before he leaves town.

  Chapter Two

  Excusing myself to the bathroom, the first thing I do is snap a picture of my hickey and slip into the nearest stall to text him.

  ME: People are starting to ask questions...

  He immediately replies. He must be at the gate still. His plane isn't scheduled to leave for another hour or so.

  ZANE: Oops. I hope you're not in too much trouble.

  Before I can reply, I hear the bathroom door open and then the lock slide into place. What is it with people locking the bathroom doors? This is a public restroom.

  "Hello?" I call out, letting them know they just locked the door with someone else inside.

  "It's just me."

  Brianna. What the hell does she want?

  "Shit, Brianna. You scared me." I attempt to sound concerned as I slide my phone in my purse, flush the toilet, and count to five before I open the stall door. I may not have used the bathroom, but I touched the handle, so I walk over and wash my hands. Public restrooms are dirty. "Why the hell did you lock the door?"

  "Well, there are a few things we need to discuss, and I didn't want anyone interrupting us."

  Meeting her eyes in the reflection of the mirror, there's a look of recognition in them. She knows about Zane. How is that possible? I mean, she's smart and may have put the pieces together, but that was weeks ago. The odds are better that I moved on by now, especially since he lives in Miami.

  "How did you find out?"

  "I've already talked to Helen. She refused to confess to everything, but I know she's your source. I'm the reason the rumor mill has been silent for the last few weeks. I promised I wouldn't expose her if she promised to keep her mouth shut and her observations to herself. Now, I'm going to offer you the same deal. If you're interested, that is."

  I want to laugh, but I hold it in. She thinks the rumors have gone silent because of her? That's cute. There hasn't been anything interesting to talk about for a while now. Not since her marriage was on the rocks.

  "Sure, no problem." I agree to keep my mouth shut so I can get the hell out of this bathroom before she realizes as correct as her assumptions are, they're far from the complete truth.

  "No, that was too easy. I need you to admit Helen was your source. That she's the one that gave you all the rumors to spread around the office because, as much as I want to believe that you're not really the mastermind, I still can't fathom why Helen would start all of this."

  She's not giving up yet. I should have figured. If we're going to have this conversation, I'm going to spin this to my advantage. Let her in on the truth.

  "Helen fed me information. She'd slip it in with daily messages or leave me notes in my desk drawer for me to find first thing in the morning. On very rare occasions, she calls me at home like the night we got back from the Bahamas and she left me a message about you spying on Hunter. That was a funny one, by the way. Not really your style.

  "Anyway, I'd do what I wanted with the info. Sometimes I'd spin it and share it, other times, I'd keep it just for myself. Insurance for later on. You know, in case I needed a favor from people. Some of the info she'd give me was crap. No one cares that Kimmie was late and looked hung over. Or that Macie was caught making out with a security guard in the stairwell. People only wanted the juicy stuff, so I gave them what they wanted.

  "When she slipped me info on you and Hunter, that your marriage was on the rocks, I almost kept that to myself. It wasn't until I found your ring on Megan's porch that there was any potential truth to it. I sat on it for days and days, and then I told one person. That's all it takes. It's a chain reaction. The trick is not to tell the same person every time."

  There. Dissect that. Figure it out from there. I'm not telling her anything else. I can't, not without giving myself up. />
  "So I'll stop spreading rumors. No problem. They were starting to bore me anyway. But I can't promise that other people won't stop. Helen wasn't the only person feeding me info. She has the best gossip, but there are a few that see just as much as she does."

  Walking toward the door, I reach for the lock when Brianna slaps her hand on the door to keep me from opening it.

  "Why?"

  "Why, what? Why spread rumors?"

  "No. Why did you just tell me all that? What are you hiding?"

  Shit!

  What else can I say? It doesn't really matter, though, because before I have the chance, my phone is ringing. I can't answer it. I know it’s Zane. I didn't reply to his text because Brianna barged in here. He's probably calling to find out why.

  Bri snags my phone out of my purse. I attempt to take it from her, to end the call, anything, but it slips out of my fingers, and when she sees Zane's face smiling at her, I know the jig is up. There's no hiding it anymore.

  "Please tell me he's not the reason you look like this," she quips, turning my phone so I can see who's calling me.

  Just as I expected. "What do you care?"

  My tone is defensive. I didn't mean for it to be, but that's how it came out. I'm pissed. She had no right to take my phone. Who I talk to is none of her business. Hell, we're more acquaintances than friends. She has no right to details about my personal life.

  "He's one of Hunter's best friends. I've known him for more than a decade. I've earned the right to care."

  "He's a big boy. He can make his own decisions."

  "Zane is family. You know how we feel about family. If you hurt him, you'll be the one outcast, not him. But before it even gets that far, you two need to come clean because my husband, as amazing and caring as he is, detests being lied to. By not telling him, both of you are lying to him. Fess up before it's too late. I promise the alternative is not something you want to deal with."