Free A Little Wild by Kate St. James Page A

absolute wonderment before I go to bed each night, but I promise you I won’t use it. I won’t hassle you, annoy you…tempt you. I won’t call you at all unless you become my lawyer and I need after-hours advice. We’ll discuss my requirements in further detail if you take me on. For now, just think of me as a potential client. How does that sound?”
    Her eyebrows rose. “Do I have a choice?”
    “Yeah. I could talk to Renfrew.”
    Her nose scrunched. “Then go ahead.”
    “Talk to Renfrew?”
    “No. Proceed. With me.”
    “Primo.” Hell would freeze over before Zach discussed his plans with Philip Renfrew. The guy reminded him too much of the couple of opportunistic lawyers he’d already had the misfortune of consulting. However, Tess didn’t need to know that. Besides, he liked the way her aristocratic nose twitched whenever he tossed out Renfrew’s name.
    Before she changed her mind about hearing his proposal, he moved off the desk and grabbed a guest chair resting against the opposite wall. He positioned the chair in front of her desk and sat, gesturing for her to take her seat again. Leaving the unspilled coffee mug for her, he reached for the half-full mug and sipped.
    “You’re correct in saying I have a good thing going with my father’s company, but it’s not for me. I’m telling you this in confidence, should we reach an agreement.”
    Interest crested her lightly freckled features. She nodded.
    “When I say in confidence, Tess, I mean between you and me. Not your secretary, perky though she is. Not Virginia or your buddy, Renfrew. And definitely not L.G.”
    “I understand.”
    “Good.” He had little choice but to trust her. He wanted someone young and ambitious who wouldn’t try cashing in on his Halliday Enterprises connections. His friend Rob Tanaka wouldn’t have recommended her if she weren’t hardworking and reliable. The Halliday connection didn’t factor with her, because she already worked for L.G. and L.G. already worked for his father.
    He sipped his hot coffee. Apparently, Tess wasn’t thirsty, for she let her mug sit.
    “Here’s the thing,” Zach said. “I’m leaving Halliday Enterprises, but my father doesn’t know it yet.”
    “He doesn’t? Why? And why on earth would you want to leave?”
    A true corporate cookie. He’d loosen her up. Or have the time of his life trying. But business first.
    “Because, to answer your last question, Tess, like I said, it’s not for me. If you want to be my lawyer, you need to learn to listen. Don’t let the packaging fool you.” He tapped his skull. “There’s more here than meets the eye. I’m not just another ruggedly handsome face.”
    “Not conceited, either.”
    “You can’t help yourself, can you? But that’s okay. You know what they say about banter—it’s a substitute for sex. We have to make up for the lack of more phone calls somehow.”
    Face reddening, she glanced away. “You want to start a business separate from Halliday Enterprises?”
    “Unlike anything Halliday’s ever done. So, to answer another of your many questions, there’s no conflict of interest. Not the way I see it. Although my father would probably consider any business I wanted to open a conflict.” Not because his father was an ass, but because he so badly wanted Zach to work with him and Ethan. “That’s one of the reasons client confidentiality is important to me.”
    She picked up her pen. “And you’re not informing Graham of your plans?”
    “Right. He can’t find out. Not until I’m ready.”
    “When will that be?”
    “Once the business is running, not a moment before. Same with Ethan. He works too closely with Dad. Telling him would put him in an awkward position.”
    “If there’s no conflict, there’s no problem. What type of business are we talking about?”
    “A climbing center. Fifteen-thousand square feet of simulated rock-climbing surfaces. Nearly fourteen-hundred square meters.” Like most Canadians,