Conflict of Interest - By Allyson Lindt Page 0,43

so tightly tucked away. He pushed the thought aside. Now wasn’t the time.

He hated these parties; they reminded him of bits of his past he’d rather not remember. At least they were only once a year. And Cartee had been too busy to attend. He ignored his aching cheeks from a fake smile and shook another investor’s hand. He smiled and kissed the man’s wife on the cheek, letting the drivel that was small talk leak from his mouth while he struggled to look like he was interested in the conversation.

His gaze flitted around the room, occasionally falling on Kenzie. Every time she was laughing and chatting with someone else. He couldn’t imagine being as at ease as she looked.

He pointed toward the bar when asked where it was. What he wouldn’t give to be able to join them. A straight bourbon would pretty much solve his entire evening. Which was why he knew he needed to stay away. He smiled at the couple as they wandered off. “Enjoy the evening. It was marvelous to see you.”

He drifted from group to group, resisting the urge to check his watch every few seconds. The men in suits, the women in satin, the rows of flowers decorating the tables, and the well-dressed bartender serving up free drinks. It was all so much pomp. He sighed, gaze falling on Kenzie again. She was talking to an older gentleman. Her fingers rested at the base of her throat, fiddling with the small pendant.

She caught his eye, and her smile grew. She waved and nodded for him to join them.

Reprieve or more of the same boredom? He hoped for the former as he wove through the pockets of people, nodding and responding when appropriate. A few moments later, he finally reached his destination.

He recognized her companion now that he was closer. Grant Lent had been one of their earliest investors in the new venture and was one of the few Scott enjoyed talking to.

“Scott, my good man.” Grant shook his hand and clapped him on the shoulder. “Your girl was just telling me all sorts of glowing things about you.”

Kenzie coughed.

“My girl?” Scott didn’t know how to interpret that, and the ripple that went through him was disconcerting and reassuring at the same time.

Grant frowned and paused for a moment. “I forget that’s not appropriate these days. This amazing young lady was talking you up.” He leaned in, voice a stage whisper. “I don’t think she realizes she doesn’t need to sell me, I already bought in.”

He smiled back, the expression genuine and not nearly so painful as it had been before. “She’s good at her job.”

“Oh I know.” Grant knocked back a swallow from a snifter. “We had her on a year or so ago. I think I gave you her name. She and I were reminiscing, and she was telling me how much potential she sees in you boys and your future. She’s got me curious about what you’re up to.”

So that’s how Zach found her. Scott flushed at the string of compliments, but had she meant it or was she just doing her job? “You’ll get a peek at that after dinner.”

“I’m not worried.” Grant winked at Kenzie. “I am hoping you’ll tell me something that you’re not going to share with everyone else.”

The conversation was always the same, and Scott didn’t mind the friendly joking. “No, I still don’t pick up strippers when I’m in Vegas.”

Kenzie frowned, lips drawing into a fine line. Scott bit back a retort. There was no way she could get on his case for that comment. This was a good old boy. He was playing the part she wanted him to.

“Not that a young man like you needs to pay for it, right?” Grant elbowed him. “But seriously, tell me what’s going on with Cartee. The actual deal, not the political bullshit we hear in board meetings.”

Kenzie shook her head so slightly it was almost difficult to tell, her eyes growing wide as she stared Scott down.

He turned away from the silent plea to keep his mouth shut. “Same old stuff. He can’t get laid, so he takes it out on me. He wants to take us in a different direction, tamer games, more commercial titles, and the fact it’s my company and I’m not interested makes him bawl like a newb with more ego than sense who’s spent the last hour being camped. Miserable, but status quo, like any good long-term relationship.”

Grant frowned and went