Free The CEO's Accidental Bride by Barbara Dunlop Page A

his detailed family history. Zach would know details of his parents, his grandparents, his aunts and uncles, and every ancestor back three hundred years. Kaitlin would give anything to be able to go back even one generation.
    â€œWell, it’s all true,” said Zach. “At least as far as we can tell. Dylan’s in denial.”
    Kaitlin laughed lightly, remembering the argument at the baseball game. “It sure sounded like it.”
    Zach removed his tie and tossed it on the love-seat cushion beside him. “Dylan wants to pretend his family was pure of heart. I think he must have more scruples than me.”
    â€œYou’re unscrupulous?” she couldn’t resist asking.
    â€œSome would say.”
    â€œWould they be right?”
    He looked her square in the eyes. “Like I’m going to answer that.”
    She couldn’t tell if he was still teasing. And maybe that was deliberate. “Are you trying to keep me off balance?” she asked, watching his expression closely.
    â€œYou’re not exactly on my side.”
    â€œI thought we’d formed a truce.” She certainly felt as if they’d formed a truce tonight.
    â€œI’m appeasing you,” he told her. His tone and dark eyes were soft, but the words revealed his continued caution.
    â€œAnd I’m trying to build you a masterpiece,” she responded tartly.
    He sighed, and seemed to relax ever so slightly. “You’re trying to build yourself a masterpiece.”
    She had to concede that one. Her primary motivation in this was her own reputation. Of course, it was all his fault she was forced into this position.
    â€œYou make a fair point,” she admitted.
    â€œSo, who’s unscrupulous now?”
    â€œI’m not unscrupulous. Just practical.” She had no one in this world to depend on but herself.
    Orphans learned that fact very quickly in life. If she didn’t have a career, if she couldn’t provide for herself, nobody would do it for her. Since she was old enough to understand, she’d feared poverty and loneliness.
    She was sure the view was quite different from where Zach was sitting on millions of dollars worth of New York real estate. He had a successful company, money to burn and a lineage that went back to the dawn of statehood.
    â€œSo, what have you decided?” he asked.
    â€œAbout what?” Was there anything left outstanding on their deal? She thought they were both quite clear at this point.
    â€œMy building. You’ve been working at it for a couple of weeks now. Tell me what you have in mind.”
    Kaitlin instantly saw through his ploy. No wonder he’dbehaved so well this evening. He’d been lulling her into a false send of security.
    She came to her feet, keeping a close eye on him, backing toward the rail. The teak deck was cool and smooth beneath her bare feet. “Oh, no, you don’t. I’m not opening myself up for a fight over the details.”
    He rose with her. “You’ll need my input at some point. It might as well be—”
    â€œUh-uh.” The breeze brushed the filmy, scalloped-hem dress against her legs and whipped the strands of hair that had worked their way loose from her updo. “No input. My project.”
    He widened his stance. “I’ll have to approve the final designs.”
    The waves rolled higher, and she braced herself against the rail. “What part of carte blanche didn’t you understand?”
    He took a few steps forward. “The part where I sign the check.”
    â€œ We sign the check.”
    He came even closer, all pretense of geniality gone from his expression. He was all business, all intimidation. “Right. And ‘we’ had best be happy with both the plans and the price tag.”
    â€œThere is no limit on this project’s budget.”
    He came to a halt, putting a hand on the rail, half trapping her. “I won’t let you bankrupt my