The Fatal Fortune Read Free

and in their midst he had stood out quite prominently. Add to that the fact that shortly after he’d introduced himself to Guinevere, he’d coerced her into helping him in an investigation, and one could understand why she had been less than enthusiastic about Zac Justis.
    Zac was just under six feet tall, a compactly built man with short, almost military-style night-dark hair and cool, ghost-gray eyes. He was thirty-six years old, but it had struck Guinevere on occasion that those years must have been years of hard-fought experience. Sometimes she wanted to ask him more about his past, but he usually showed no interest in discussing it, so she tended to back off the subject. Among the few facts she did know was that Zac had spent several years working for a large multinational security firm before starting his own small business in Seattle.
    She could guess at some aspects of his past, because she had witnessed some of his more unique skills. She had, for example, seen him make the transition from businessman to cold, lethal hunter on more than one occasion, and it gave her chills to think of the kind of life he must have led before settling down in Seattle. Guinevere still wasn’t certain why she had fallen in love with the man. She only knew that her life was never going to be the same now that Zachariah Justis was in it.
    They had begun their relationship as adversaries, but the tension between them had quickly exploded into passion. Passion had led to an affair and then to love. It was a very new, cautiously admitted love, something that they had both finally acknowledged only a couple months previously. They didn’t talk about it very much. There was still a sense of wonder and uncertainty about the relationship, as far as she was concerned. In true male fashion, however, Zac seemed to take everything for granted now. That was typical of Zac. He had a blunt, straightforward approach to most things—including, apparently, falling in love.
    Guinevere reminded herself on occasion that there was much she didn’t know about Zachariah Justis. The reverse was true, too, but Guinevere doubted that a complete résumé of her past would contain any earthshaking surprises for Zac. However, she wondered what she would learn if she were to see a detailed résumé of
his
past. She told herself philosophically that the early stages of love were a time of discovery. It was not a time to be rushed. She would continue feeling her way, learning what she could about Zachariah Justis.
    “The caterer said he’d see us at five thirty,” Zac announced as he came through the door. “Let’s get going.”
    “Relax, Zac. He’s only a couple of blocks away. We’ll get there in plenty of time.” Guinevere picked up her shoulder bag and glanced around the office. “Besides, I want to talk to you. I need some professional advice.”
    Zac waited impatiently by the door, his eyes turning suddenly suspicious. “Professional advice? What sort of advice? Gwen, I don’t want you getting mixed up in any more crazy investigations. I can find my own clients. I don’t need you to dig up more work for me.”
    She smiled in what she hoped was a reassuring way. “Calm down. I’m not asking you to take on any investigations. This one I’m going to handle on my own. I just want some advice from you, that’s all.” She playfully pushed him out into the hall and locked the office door.
    “Gwen, I mean it, I’ve got enough to do during the next couple of weeks without having to chase after you trying to keep you out of trouble. I’ve got this damn reception to plan, and the move to my new office to supervise. On top of everything else, I’m supposed to be interviewing for a secretary. That reminds me—why haven’t you sent anyone over for me to talk to?”
    “I’m still selecting the final candidates. A good secretary is hard to find, Zac. It takes time. Trust me.”
    “Uh-huh. Are you sure you’re not being a little too picky?” He