Secrets of a Playboy by Janice Maynard

Author:Janice Maynard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-04-15T13:21:34+00:00

* * *

Forty-eight hours later, Zachary was ready to climb the walls. He’d never been one for watching a lot of television. He had a few favorite action films on DVD, but seeing those only made him aware of his current limitations.

Ivy and Katie took turns bringing him carryout dinners. They were far more sympathetic than his own brothers. When Zachary asked about Frannie, all he got was blithe assurances that she was making great progress.

He had sent Frannie a text Sunday night to let her know the ankle wasn’t broken. Her reply had been short in the extreme. I’m glad.

And after that, nothing.

What did she do when she wasn’t sleeping? The late morning? All afternoon?

Curiosity consumed him. He wanted to know everything there was to know about Frances Wickersham. The depth of that wanting gave him pause. Why? Why was he so focused on her?

Quinten stopped by unexpectedly, breaking the monotony of Zachary’s day. “I brought a bottle of wine and filet mignon,” he said, holding up a bag that smelled amazing. “I figured you needed to keep up your strength. Unless you’re still taking pain meds. Damn, Zachary. I wasn’t thinking.”

“Only over-the-counter stuff. And right now, I’d settle for human contact. I think I hate this condo.”

Quinten put the food in the kitchen, poured two glasses of the wine and came back, laughing. “You outbid three other buyers because you were determined to have one of the premier views in the city. Now you don’t like it?”

“It has too many walls,” Zachary said. “I need to be outside.”

“It’s November. The weather is crappy. This too shall pass.”

“How are things at work?”

“Translation, how is Frances Wickersham?”

“That, too.”

Quinten sprawled in a recliner covered in charcoal-gray velvet. “As far as I know, she’s fine. Farrell spoke with her briefly this afternoon. Stanley has to be off tonight. Farrell wanted Frances to know she didn’t have to come to the office, but she said she was used to working alone. I gather she’s a very self-sufficient woman.”

Zachary shook his head, frowning. “That’s what she expects you to think. From where I’m sitting, Frannie is like a fluffy newborn duckling, all cute and clueless about how bad the world can be.”

“Wow.” Quin stared him down, finishing his wine. “Maybe that’s what you want to believe.”

“Farrell is the one with the Galahad complex, not me.”

“But you wouldn’t mind at all if the lovely Frances Wickersham thought you were her hero, right?”

Quinten wasn’t wrong. Zachary wanted to be Frannie’s hero, so he could feel like he had the upper hand for once. But he wasn’t going to admit such a thing to his little brother. “You’re full of crap.”

“And on that note, I’m out of here. My dear wife is waiting on me.”

“Rub it in, why don’t you?”

“That’s quite a pity party you’ve got going. As someone who very recently screwed up my life, almost beyond repair, I’d suggest you try patience. It’s a lost art among the Stone men, but it works wonders.”

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