It Had to Be Fate (An It Had to Be Novel Book 3) Read Free Page B

say the word.”
    She wanted to throw her arms up in exasperation, but wouldn’t give the man the pleasure of knowing he’d rattled her. “No, I’m single, but I have other guests to tend to, so may I please show you all the amenities of the suite now?”
    The infuriating man nodded as he chuckled at her, like he knew he was throwing her off her game.
    She thrust her shoulders back and headed toward the sliding glass doors. “Out here you have your own private rooftop pool and hot tub. There’s a steam room in the cabana as well as a minibar.”

    Zane pretended to listen as Casey rattled off all the suite’s amenities. He enjoyed watching the way she moved—like a ballerina, graceful and light on her feet—about as much as he appreciated the cadence of her unique, low, sexy voice. Her stiff shoulders belied the politeness she forced while giving him a spiel she’d probably given a thousand times before.
    Something about Casey hit him so hard in the chest that he wanted to know more.
    After she’d shown him around the room, she thrust a piece of paper his way. “Normally we send this preference sheet out in advance, so we’d have any special requests on hand. Is there anything you need immediately, or any dietary restriction our chef needs to know about?”
    What he needed was to find a way to crack through Casey’s hard shell.
    Handing the paper back he said, “No. I’m not picky. I’ll eat whatever the chef makes.”
    Casey blinked at him in confusion. “There isn’t a certain brand of water you prefer, or liquor you’d like us to stock?”
    “Nope. What time is dinner served?”
    “It’s whenever you’d like.” She held the paper out again. “On the back there’s a place to tell Dax, our chef, when you’d like your meals. He’ll be happy to accommodate your schedule.”
    Zane accepted the pen she held out, then moved to the couch and laid the paper on the coffee table. His phone vibrated in his pocket, so he quickly scribbled his answer and then handed the paper back. After glancing at the screen he said, “If you’ll excuse me, I have to take this.”
    He answered the phone with, “Hang on a second, Kip.”
    Zane headed for the sliding glass door that led to the pool outside, then he stopped in his tracks. He turned and said, “Actually, Casey, I really hate brussels sprouts.”
    “Doesn’t everyone?” Her lips tilted ever so slightly along with his before she waved and then walked back into the elevator.
    Pleased he’d gotten a smile out of her, even if it was just a little one, he lifted the phone to his ear. “Sorry, Kip. What have you guys figured out?”
    “Still working on it. But your brother is being a jerk. He told your lawyers that you’d just gotten your IDs mixed up and that the extra money in his accounts came directly from you. He’s refusing to go to rehab. He says it’s your fault he’s in this mess.”
    Since they were kids, Nick’s problems were always Zane’s fault. Nick was living, mocking proof that their mom’s words—that family is all that matters—were more a wish than a reality. “Can I speak to him?”
    “Yeah. Hang on. I just stepped outside. He’s in the holding room waiting for your lawyers to come back now.”
    Zane sank into a lounge chair beside the pool. How he wished he’d never promised his mother he’d look out for Nick. If it were up to him he’d let them throw Nick’s ungrateful hide in jail until he straightened himself out.
    Nick answered with, “Dude. Come on. If this had been you, your lackeys would have had you out in under an hour. Tell them to fix this.”
    “They love to make examples of celebrities in Los Angeles. You’re not getting out of this one, Nick.”
    His brother’s voice rose ten decibels. “I’m the only family you have left, and you’re refusing to help me?”
    Playing the guilt card, as usual. Well, Zane hadn’t asked to be dealt in. “Look. We both know you stole my ID and my money. You have two