Free The Maverick's Red Hot Reunion (Entangled Indulgence) by Christine Glover Page A

suite.”
    The teenager pocketed the money and flashed a smile, his adolescent teeth gleaming with steel braces. “Yes, sir.” He wrote out a claim ticket and gave it to Zach.
    A tremor crackled inside her chest. The youth’s deference coupled with Zach’s generous, nonchalant attitude about money and material possessions caught her off guard. “You always over-tip?” Kennedy asked.
    “Helps smooth out potential wrinkles—or dents—before they happen,” he replied, pocketing the ticket.
    “Money doesn’t solve everything,” she said.
    Zach put his hand on the small of her back and guided her across the cobblestone and concrete parking lot. “I learned that lesson the hard way.”
    Kennedy bit back an angry retort as she walked toward the front doors that the hotel staff held open, their heads bowed ever so slightly. “Welcome to the Grandview, Mr. Tanner,” one said.
    “They know your name?”
    “They should,” Zach said. “I own the property.”
    “I guess that explains why a sold out hotel had no problem getting us into a suite.”
    No wonder he thought he could control every situation, Kennedy thought as she stared at the hotel’s elegant façade—recently restored, according to the photos displayed on the walls she walked past. He was far more powerful than she’d imagined.
    And his reputation for respecting the history and grandeur of the properties his company owned was reflected in the Grandview’s old world style and the homage the décor paid to the surrounding natural elements of stone and forest and sky.
    Under different circumstances, she could spend hours in the beautiful complex—away from her past, her troubles, her worries. Fooling Michael might work, but keeping the truth from his super perceptive younger sister Hannah would be more difficult.
    “Michael said he’d meet us in the lobby.”
    His voice sounded rough and a muscle jumped at the base of his jaw.
    A shiver traveled along her spine that had less to do with the hotel’s cool air and more to do with her body’s reaction to Zach’s light touch. “Do we meet him before or after we check in?” she asked.
    “After.” He guided her to the front desk, where the clerk had their keycards and hotel information ready as soon as they arrived. “Everything I asked for taken care of?”
    “Absolutely,” she said brightly. “We’ve loaded the bar with your favorite brand of scotch and a wide variety of top-shelf liquors. The sommelier selected several fine wines and there’s a wide variety of refreshments and soft drinks as well.”
    “Excellent work.”
    The woman blushed. “Thank you, sir.”
    Zach handed Kennedy a room key and she tucked it into her purse, then heard a familiar voice call her name. When she looked up, Hannah Sullivan was crossing the lobby floor. Her heart rate kicked up a notch. “Crap,” she muttered. “If we can’t fool Hannah, we won’t pull this off.”
    Zach wrapped his arm around her waist and closed the small distance between their bodies. “Better start now.”
    His clean scent and the warmth of his palm on her side sent a quiver through her muscles. “Hannah,” she said when her friend reached them. “I’m so glad you’re home.” But oh how she wished she didn’t have to lie to her friend.
    “So am I,” Hannah said, hugging them both, then releasing them quickly. “What the heck’s going on with y’all? Michael’s pretty pissed off at you, Zach.”
    “He shouldn’t be,” Zach said.
    Hannah nodded, her hazel eyes—so like her brother’s—somber. “Oh? From what I heard, you’re trying to destroy Kennedy’s company. But…” She paused and looked at their linked bodies. “It doesn’t look like you’re enemies anymore.”
    “We’re not.” Kennedy raised her left hand, took in the sudden startled light in Hannah’s gaze. “We’re engaged again.”
    “Holy crap. Michael’s going to be over the moon.” Hannah grabbed Kennedy’s hand and checked the ring.