He shuddered.
“Suggested questions and answers,” she said. “It’s standard procedure.”
He gave her a tentative smile. “I can do that. If I know what they’ll ask in advance.”
“It will be the same for T.V.”
His eyebrows shot upward. “I have to go on T.V.?”
“Of course.” She walked over to him, put her arms around him from behind the chair and nuzzled the nape of his neck. She slipped one hand inside his shirt and stroked his chest.
Zeke shook his head. “I’ve never done this before.”
“You’ll be fine. We’ll get you one of the early morning radio shows too. They’re easy. It’s all done by telephone. You can sit in your kitchen in sweats while you discuss the event.”
He admired Dena and her enthusiasm and he’d come to trust her business acumen. How hard could it be? People do it all the time. He blew out a long breath.
“Okay.”
She wouldn’t steer him wrong. Besides he’d made that promise to his mother’s memory that he’d do everything in his power to reclaim the good name of Cabrera. So this was his chance. He reached up and pulled her around to sit on his lap.
“You’re the boss.” He kissed her forehead. “Whatever you say, I’ll do. But you have to walk me though this.”
“That’s what I’m here for. It’s why you pay Steve.”
He nodded. Did that mean she was going back to work for him? She was so good at her work. In a way she still worked for Steve, even though she was convinced she’d resigned, and he knew Steve would take her back in a flash. He’d said as much when they’d met.
Would she return to L.A. after the art fair? And why did the thought of her leaving him here to survive in the desert, alone again, bother him so much? He rubbed the knuckles of his right hand over his chest. He’d always been alone.
“You’re off the clock for now, right?” he asked.
Her brow creased. “Why?”
“So I can kiss you.”
She laughed and lifted her mouth to meet his.
****
Later that night, Zeke rolled over after making love. His heart pounded and his breath still came hard and fast. He pulled Dena snug to his side, slid an arm around her shoulder and she buried her head beneath his chin.
His hand wandered up and down her spine and occasionally splayed across her ass, holding one cheek like he was claiming it, branding it as his own. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever known, inside and out. To do what she’d done in seeking justice for her sister’s murder went beyond sisterly love. And to want to find closure for her mother, a woman who he suspected had never been easy to live with, well that showed she was a good daughter.
She had so much energy and so much love to give. And her responsiveness, her sexual energy, matched her overall energy. She was as full of life in bed as out of it. He grinned. She’d kill him for sure if they kept up this pace. She ran her fingers through the tuft of hair on his chest and traced his nipples.
“Quit that,” he said, drew her closer and gave her a playful slap on the butt with his other hand. “I’m exhausted. You’ve worn me out, again.”
She reached down, took him in her hand and he stiffened.
“I don’t think so,” she said playfully.
He rolled even closer to her, inhaled her scent. He kissed her forehead. Then he shook his head. “Where on earth do you get your energy?”
Her eyes glazed over, and she gave him a sultry grin. Uh oh, he needed at least a ten minute reprieve. “Want some water or a soda?”
“Soda, please,” she said, sat up, and propped herself against the pillows.
He kissed her softly. How could she ever classify herself as the studious sister and Carli as the beautiful one? What kind of mother would ever have fed her such nonsense? He kissed her again, nibbled and sucked at her bottom lip until she squirmed.
He forced himself to break away, stared hard into her eyes. “Water,” he said. “I’m parched. Don’t go anywhere.”
“Not planning to,” she said, and grinned.
Zeke walked naked to the kitchen and wondered if Manny had slept over. He stood at the window but couldn’t make out if Manny’s car was out there or not. Midnight in the desert always surprised him, so still, so dark.
He opened the refrigerator door, the interior light beamed through the dark room. He grabbed a diet soda