CHAPTER FIVE

JAYNE STARED, WIDE-EYED, while swift color mounted her cheeks. “What?”

“New Year’s Eve. Zorro,” Nick prompted. He shot her a look, aiming it somewhere between quizzical and innocent. He might have hit quizzical, but he could pretty much guarantee he landed wide of the mark when it came to innocent. “Zorro must have made quite an impression if you spent the entire night dancing with him.”

“Dancing. Yes.” She drew a deep breath, regaining a portion of her poise. “We spent the entire night dancing.”

Well…maybe not the entire night, not unless he broadened his current definition of dancing. He eased the tension with a casual smile. “I’m glad you had fun.” The waiter appeared with their appetizers, the heart of palm salad beautifully plated. The instant he left the room, Nick continued. “I gather you thought your partner was Jonathan?”

Jayne sighed. “He mentioned attending in a Zorro costume. It looked like him. He never corrected me when I called him Jonathan.”

Damn it all! He sure as hell had. Nick struggled to maintain a pleasant tone when what he really wanted was to snarl in annoyance. “He didn’t?” He pushed—hell, shoved. “Not once?”

A thoughtful frown touched her brow. “Now that you mention it, I guess he did. He told me he wasn’t Jonathan, he was Zorro.” She shook her head in dismay. “I just assumed he wanted to maintain the fantasy.”

Okay. Better. “Or perhaps he was telling you something.”

“I just wasn’t listening.” She took a bite of her salad and closed her eyes on a moan that had Nick’s blood heating. “Oh, my.”

“Good?”

“Outstanding.” He watched the undisguised delight explode across her face. He’d seen that look before. Only the last time it had been far more intense and filled with a level of passion that mere food couldn’t hope to elicit. “The puree brings it all together,” she said.

“I agree.”

Though in truth he didn’t have a clue since he’d given his lunch scant attention. All of his senses were attuned to Jayne. He wanted her. Heaven help him, but he wanted her. It took every ounce of restraint to keep from sweeping the dishes off the table and her onto it. Only the memory of how she’d reacted with Jonathan—the panic and disbelief when she’d realized that he wasn’t her Zorro, the confusion and revulsion at the wrongness of his touch—held Nick in place. He’d known from the start that he’d have to take this slowly. Carefully. Nothing had changed.

“Nick…” She toyed with the final few bites of her salad. “I just want to apologize again for being such an idiot.”

“No need. Jonathan told you he was coming as Zorro. When Zorro approached you at the ball, you made a perfectly logical assumption. I gather you parted ways before you unmasked.” To his amusement, color flowed into her face again. “And this morning, you decided to thank him for a lovely evening by giving him a kiss.”

She inclined her head. “That’s pretty much it.”

“How did you know it wasn’t him?”

Her nose wrinkled. “He didn’t kiss like Zorro. He kissed like Don Juan.”

“Never having kissed, either,” he replied gravely, “I’m afraid I’ll have to take your word for it.”

His teasing caught her off guard. Then she laughed, the sound light and airy and delicate. “Trust me, there’s a huge difference. Don Juan only wants one thing. Zorro, on the other hand, is all about giving to others. He’s generous and strong and—” She broke off abruptly. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Fontana. This isn’t the appropriate venue for this discussion. You brought me here for a business discussion and I’ve probably just proven that I’m the wrong person for whatever job you had in mind.”

He buried a sigh. He’d hoped to lead Jayne carefully toward his revelation. Leave it to her to throw up roadblocks left, right and center. “Relax, will you? We’re having a casual conversation over lunch while we get to know each other better. A short break from business isn’t going to kill either one of us.”

“No, sir. Of course not.”

Hell. They were back to extreme formality. He leaned on the personal again, hoping to shift them back to a more intimate interaction. “So, now that you know that Jonathan isn’t Zorro, what are you going to do?”

She stared in confusion. “Do?”

“Don’t you want to find your Zorro?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

Her response came without forethought or hesitation. It also pleased him to no end. The waiter appeared, seamlessly removed their plates and replaced them with their main course. He then opened a bottle of wine, a crisp Pinot Gris to mate with the scallops, before vanishing again.

“Do you think Zorro knew who you were?” Nick tossed out the question with a casual air.

Her head tilted to one side in consideration, her hair sweeping over her shoulder. “I hadn’t thought of that,” she confessed. “But, yes. He did know. At one point he called me by name.”

“Interesting.” He speared a roasted sea scallop and held it out for her. “You have got to try this, Jayne. I’ve never tasted better.”

She accepted the tidbit he offered and he took an almost tender amusement in the fact that she didn’t associate it with Zorro doing the exact same thing during their New Year’s Eve meal together. “Oh, my,” she murmured. “You’re right. That’s simply amazing.”

“So if he called you by name,” Nick persisted, “that means it’s someone you worked with in connection with the foundation. Doesn’t that make sense?”

The food had distracted her and it took a moment for her to switch gears. It was one of the things he appreciated learning about her, the way she gave intense focus to each and every sensation, particularly if she’d never experienced it before.

“You’re right.” She considered the possibilities. “Unfortunately, I worked with quite a few people.”

“Maybe he’ll contact you again.”

Her breath caught and a look of utter delight blossomed across her face. “Do you think he might?”

He sipped his wine. “I would.”

Her expression softened, edged toward endearing. “Thank you, Nick. That’s very kind of you to say. As long as he doesn’t work for Fontana, Inc., I’d love to pursue a relationship.”

Uh-oh. “And if he does work for Fontana, Inc.?”

“Then, unfortunately, I’ll have to refuse to see him again.” She leaned forward, an intensity gathering in her brilliant blue eyes. “I want to make it clear to you that from this point forward I will never, ever date anyone working for your company. Not after what happened with Jonathan. I’ve learned my lesson. If Zorro is a Fontana, Inc. employee, I would break off the relationship rather than make the sort of mistake that could put my job at risk. You don’t need to worry about my being involved in another unfortunate incident like the one you witnessed earlier.”

He struggled not to smile at the way she said “unfortunate incident.” “So, even if I were the one to invite you out, you’d still refuse?”

She forked up another scallop. “Especially you.”

Well, hell. “Why especially me?” he demanded.

“My best friend dated the owner of the company she worked for and discovered it was a fast track toward unemployment. Let’s just say that I learned from her mistake. No offense, but I’d quit sooner than make such a bad decision.”

Damn it! “Jayne—”

“So, if you’re Zorro, I’m sorry. It simply wouldn’t work between us,” she joked, then offered a teasing smile. “Not that you’d ever be interested in dating someone like me.”

Double damn! “Jayne, I can’t imagine any red-blooded male not wanting to date you.”

She glowed with pleasure. “Thanks, Nick.”

He left it at that. Time to reassess his strategy and come up with plan B. Jayne had unwittingly boxed him in and until he figured a way out of the situation, he couldn’t admit to being Zorro. Throughout the remainder of lunch he kept the conversation light and casual, deliberately covering some of the ground they’d explored in their New Year’s Eve guises. All the while he considered his options, not that there were many.

He waited until they’d been served coffee before broaching his business proposition. At least he could get that much sewn up. “My strategic analyst will soon be out on extended maternity leave. I need a temporary replacement who can work with me during the planning stages of the various Fontana, Inc. mergers currently on my plate.” He shot her a direct look. “I want you for the job. Right now we’re working on a merger between Adams and Zander.”

Excitement exploded across her expression. “I’ve seen some of the materials on those companies. I’ve been curious to see how you plan to merge such a traditional firm with…” She hesitated.

“An upstart like Zander?” he suggested.

“They are two disparate concerns.”

“It’s definitely going to take all my patience and skill to put those two together, along with impeccable timing. And that’s where you come in.”

He took his time, detailing the scope of the position and stressing the endless hours, the endless meetings and the wide variety of responsibilities. “You’ll have your own private secretary who can coordinate with mine on scheduling and organizing assignments so we both stay on task. And the two of us will have to work very closely over the next few months until we convince all the players to go along with my plan.” He leaned back in his chair and lifted an eyebrow. “So, what do you think? Interested?”

He gave her points for maintaining a calm demeanor. But he’d been negotiating deals since his late teens and he could tell he’d staggered her with his proposition. “That’s quite an offer.”

“I think it will work out well for both of us. I have doubts that Linda will be returning, so there’s every possibility that it will become a full-time job if you decide you like it. Or it can be a stepping-stone toward managing your own analyst team. As you know, the next step after that is a VP title. It will also put some distance between you and Blair.” He held up a hand before she could speak. “Not that you need any. But it might make you feel more comfortable in the short run and give him time to recover his pride. He’s a valuable asset and I’d rather not have to fire him because he decides to cause trouble for you.”

“You think he’ll do that?”

“I think it’s within the scope of his character,” Nick said. “My hope is that he values his position here more than a small ding to his ego and will do as I ordered and keep his mouth shut. If he can’t, then I can’t trust him in other areas of business, either. So, he’ll go. But I suspect that by removing you from the equation so you’re not a constant visual reminder, this will go away a good deal quicker.”

“Then, of course, I accept the position.”

Nick frowned. “I don’t want you accepting because of Blair.”

“That’s a joke, right?” She laughed in genuine amusement. “You’re offering me the opportunity to work alongside the great Nick Fontana. I’ll be able to watch how you conduct business and learn from a master. Do you know how many of my coworkers would toss their best friend out the nearest window for that chance?”

“Fair enough.” He shoved back his chair. “Go clear out your office, Jayne. Linda will show you where to put your things. She’ll also provide you with the documentation you’ll need to bring you up to speed.”

“Yes, sir.” Her smile was absolutely breathtaking. “Thank you, Nick. I’m all yours.”

He suppressed a grin. “That’s what I had in mind.”

Because now he had a game plan for wooing and winning Jayne Myleston. While they focused on the rather tricky upcoming merger on the work front, she’d get to know the man behind the mask. And on a separate front, he’d woo and win her on a physical, emotional and intellectual level as Zorro. Win her by proxy, as it were. She’d get to know the real man, not Mr. Intimidating or Fontana, Inc. or her boss or any of the other labels women tended to stick on him.

He’d just apply a business solution to a personal problem. Eventually, he’d find the perfect opportunity to merge the two identities. After all, mergers were his specialty. He just needed to wait for the right time and circumstances to gain the cooperation of all the parties involved. What could possibly go wrong?

 

FOR JAYNE, THE NEXT FEW DAYS passed with breathtaking speed. Nick kept her busier than she’d ever been before. Even better, he opened the window to a whole new world. Until then, she’d spent years with her nose pressed to the glass, longing to be part of the thrill and excitement that Nick enjoyed on a daily basis. Now, she’d have the opportunity to experience it for herself.

Not that it was easy. It wasn’t. Nick proved a tough task-master. Though he never lost his temper, more than once she witnessed a dangerous edge when someone failed to complete a task on time or to the standards he set.

“If you can’t do it, tell me,” he informed Jayne at one point. “Be honest. Because I’m going to find out, one way or another.”

“And if I can’t do what you’ve requested?” she dared to ask.

“Then you better have a good reason why.”

Something else she discovered about him was that he had a keen appreciation of the absurd. His sense of humor would show itself at the oddest times and with a few pithy words he’d have the entire room erupting with laughter. Jonathan had once commented that they laughed because Nick was the boss and they were paid to cater to the top dog. But sitting in on her very first meeting with “the big dogs,” Jayne realized that wasn’t it at all. Her boss was really funny.

One of the highlights of her week had been the meeting she’d been invited to attend between Nick and the directors of his charity, Foundation Fontana. It wasn’t part of her day-to-day responsibilities anymore, but Nick included her because she expressed such keen interest.

In the course of the meeting, Nick was unusually vocal and passionate about how he wanted the foundation funds distributed, the bulk going to assist children with cancer. He also laid out in great detail what he hoped to accomplish over the coming years. She could tell from the general reaction that this was SOP—standard operating procedure—and part of a long-term, ongoing strategy he’d developed years before when he’d first created FF.

Best of all had been those rare moments when they were alone and Nick dropped his corporate mask. She’d always suspected he was far different from the public perception, but it came as a delightful surprise to have her suspicions confirmed. The Thursday after her temporary promotion, he stretched out on the couch in the sitting area of his office and waved her toward one of the chairs.

“Kick off your shoes and let your hair down, Jayne. We both need to decompress.”

“Would you like some coffee?” she offered.

“Only if you do. Otherwise don’t bother.”

She crossed to the small wet bar near the sitting area and poured them both a cup of his special blend. A number of years ago he’d discovered the small coffee finca while vacationing in Costa Rica and claimed the coffee from these farms was the best he’d ever sampled. Though not an expert, Jayne had to admit it tasted absolutely delicious.

She set the cup on the table adjacent to the couch and then retreated to her chair. “So what do you think of the job so far?” Nick asked.

“Incredible. Exhilarating. Challenging. Breathtaking,” she cataloged.

“That bad, huh?”

“Mmm.” She buried her nose in her cup before daring to poke the lion with a stick. “In fact, it would be the perfect job except for one minor detail.”

His brows snapped together in concern. “Well, hell, Myleston. What’s the one minor detail? I’ll have it fixed before the end of day.”

She brightened. “Great. It’s my boss. If it weren’t for him it would be the best job in the world.”

His slow, easy grin lit a fire low in her belly. “I don’t intimidate you a bit, do I? Why is that?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “It just doesn’t bother me.”

He lifted onto his elbows and studied her with narrowed eyes, the color settling somewhere between green and gold. “Damn it, Jayne, why not? I make grown men weep.”

She lifted a shoulder. “I’m not a grown man.”

“Huh. Good point.” He settled down again. “To be honest, I like that I don’t intimidate you. Intimidation doesn’t make for a good relationship. It also prevents you from telling me what you really think.”

“Do you want to know what I really think?”

His gaze grew more intense than she’d ever seen it, fixing her in place. For the first time she saw him as something more than her boss. She saw him as a man. And not just any man, but someone strong and powerful and intensely attractive.

She shook her head. Oh, no. That would never do. First Jonathan and now Nick? What in the world was wrong with her? She closed her eyes and thought about New Year’s Eve and Zorro, retreating into the safety of the fantasy. Because she could never have the reality. Not that she wanted the reality. She spared Nick a final peek from beneath her lashes.

Did she?

By quitting time on Friday, she was exhausted but ecstatic. Working with the great Nick Fontana was everything she’d hoped it would be—and more. Not only had she been privy to the inner workings at Fontana, Inc., but she’d learned more in that single week than in the previous eighteen months combined. She only wished that she could keep the job on a permanent basis. But since she couldn’t, Jayne intended to enjoy every last second until Linda returned.

Closing down her files, she checked her corporate email a final time in case Nick had any last requests. Sure enough, an email waited for her, though it wasn’t from her employer, but from an address she didn’t recognize.

Opening it up, she swiftly scanned it, feeling a sudden kick to her pulse when she saw the signature at the end—a slashing Z. Backing up, she read the message more carefully.

 

A single night with you is not enough, will never be enough. Share the fantasy if you dare. A key will be waiting for a certain Ms. L.R.R. Hood at the Centoria Mark reception desk. Mr. T.B.B. Wolf will be waiting to dine with…or on…you at our usual suite, tomorrow night at eight. Come hungry. Mask required.

 

She inhaled sharply, excitement thrumming through her. He’d contacted her. He’d actually contacted her. And even more intriguing, he wanted to continue the game they’d begun on New Year’s Eve. It didn’t take a great intellectual leap to figure out the initials for Little Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf. For endless moments, she sat and debated, struggling to be logical and cautious and practical. But all the while, excitement stirred.

This could be just what she needed to help take her mind off that odd reaction she was having to Nick. It would also offer a wonderful stress release without any of the strings normal dating created. Though it was utterly unlike her to indulge in a purely sexual relationship, New Year’s Eve had been absolutely amazing. The opportunity to experience that again was simply too good to miss. She caught her lower lip between her teeth. Could she do it? Did she have the nerve?

A light tap sounded at her door. Nick stood there, leaning against the doorjamb. “It’s getting late, Jayne. You’ve done well this week, but it’s time to call it a day.”

She frowned at the email. “I’m shutting down now….”

“What’s wrong?”

She hesitated, aware that she was crossing the line between business and personal. Maybe it wouldn’t matter since Nick already knew about her mystery man and several of their conversations this week had veered well into the personal arena. She went for broke. “Zorro emailed me. He wants to meet again.”

“Great.” He lifted an inquiring eyebrow. “That is great, right?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

“Except?” he prompted.

She spared Nick a brief look before replying. His expression remained encouraging, so she continued. “He wants to continue with the masquerade. As in, full costume.”

“Kinky.”

She took instant exception. “Charming. Intriguing.” She blew out a sigh. “Okay, a tiny bit kinky, but in a good way.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I have no idea who he is.”

Nick nodded in complete understanding. “Got it. In other words, what if he’s a pervert…or worse.”

Nick had keyed into her fears with typical precision. “Exactly.”

He shrugged. “So do it in a public setting.”

She allowed a hint of her exasperation to show. “In costume?”

His mouth twitched. “Good point. Okay, where does he want to meet you?”

“At the Centoria Mark.”

His eyebrows shot upward. “Pricy. That suggests he has to be one of Foundation Fontana’s prime donors. Not that that makes him harmless.”

Jayne worried at her lip again. “What do you suggest I do?”

He walked farther into her office and paused by her desk, resting a hip on the edge. “This might be overstepping on my part, but perhaps I can ensure that you’re adequately protected.”

“How?”

“Since you’re meeting at the Mark…” He tilted his head to one side. “In a hotel room, I assume?”

Hot color blossomed across her cheeks. “Yes,” she murmured.

“I’ll find out who’s renting the room and make sure he’s on the up-and-up.”

She considered that for a moment. “You’ll tell me who he is?” she asked hopefully.

“And ruin Zorro’s game?” Nick shook his head, a teasing smile playing across his mouth. “No, he can keep his secret identity.”

She studied him curiously. “Why, Nick? Why are you willing to go to so much trouble on my behalf?”

“Let’s just say I’m a romantic at heart.”

“That’s not how your competitors describe you.”

“How do they describe me?” When she hesitated, he pushed. “How would you describe me? Feel free to be honest. I promise I won’t hold it against you.”

He wanted the truth? Fine. She’d give it to him. “I think you’re a confusing man,” she admitted. “On one hand I think you’re caring and compassionate. I’ve seen that aspect with your foundation work. But I also think you’re strong and deliberately set out to intimidate people.” Her thoughts flashed to the email and the characters Zorro had suggested for their next encounter. “Where some might play the part of a lone, corporate wolf, you actually are one. The one thing I know for certain is that I wouldn’t ever want to cross you.”

“Wise of you. And not a bad all-round assessment.” He stood. “Time to call it a night, Jayne. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You mean Monday,” she dared to correct.

He simply smiled. “Of course I did.”