Free Trapped with the Tycoon by Jules Bennett Page A

your grandmother?”
    “Oh, no.” Zara shook her head. “I wasn’t abused. There were and are kids who have worse lives. I guess I’ve just always felt sorry for myself because of all the things I think I missed out on. But, they gave me a nice house, toys, camps in the summer.”
    “Family vacations?” he asked.
    “Um...no. They went on trips and cruises while I was away at camp. When they traveled during the school year, I would stay with my grandmother.” A sad smile spread across her face. “To be honest, those were the best times of my childhood. I loved spending time here. Gram would make up a scavenger hunt, and I’d spend hours exploring all these old rooms and hideout areas.”
    “Hideouts?” he asked. Damn, he felt like a jerk for listening to her, caring what she was actually saying and now turning it around to benefit his plan. Still, the end result would be the same. He would find those scrolls, and Zara was going to have to inadvertently help. “I know my house is old and has secret areas. I assume this one does, too?”
    Zara smiled and tipped her head to meet his gaze. “Yeah. There’s a hidden door beneath the stairs. It actually takes you into the den at the back of the house. In the basement there’s a couple of hidden rooms, but they’re so narrow, they’re more like closets.”
    He wanted to check those areas out right this second, but he had to remain motionless and let her continue. Once she was asleep he’d be able to continue his quest. Those secret rooms she’d mentioned weren’t on the blueprints he’d seen, and his father had never mentioned them, so he had to assume no one had checked there, either.
    “My grandmother always told me how much she loved me,” Zara went on, her voice almost a whisper as if she were talking to herself. “She always told me how I was her biggest treasure. I didn’t get that until recently. I look at all the antiques in this old house, pieces I know are worth a lot of money. But to know she valued me even more...”
    Braden continued to watch her battle her emotions, trying to remain strong and hold back. He admired her strength, her dignity and pride.
    Slowly, Braden was sinking into her world—a world he never intended to be a part of. If he could somehow get away with taking back the scrolls, maybe they could see where this attraction led.
    Damn it. All this secret snooping was supposed to be Ryker’s area. Braden and Mac were more the powerhouse guys who ran everything smoothly and kept a few cops and federal agents on their payroll to keep their reputation clean.
    “I’m sorry.” Zara let out a soft laugh. “I didn’t mean to get all nostalgic and sentimental on you.”
    Braden reached out, placing a hand on her knee. Her body stilled beneath his as her eyes widened. “Don’t apologize for talking to me. We’re more than employee/employer at this point.”
    Zara’s actions betrayed her as her gaze darted to his mouth, then back up. She may have been stiff beneath his touch, but she couldn’t hold back her emotions. Those striking eyes gave everything away.
    She pulled in a deep breath. “What happened last night—”
    “Wasn’t nearly enough,” he finished. “The pace we set is up to you, but the end result is inevitable.”
    Zara shifted her knee and turned to face him, mirroring him. His hand fell away, but he stretched his arm along the back of the chaise as he waited for her to offer up some excuse as to why they shouldn’t explore this chemistry.
    “I need this job.”
    He smiled. “And you were the best candidate, that’s why I hired you.” Well, one of the reasons. “Your job has nothing to do with what’s going on between us.”
    “Nothing is going on,” she all but yelled, throwing her arms wide. “Nothing can go on. Not while I’m working for you.”
    Braden shrugged. “Fine. You’re fired.”
    Zara tipped her head, glaring at him from beneath heavy lids. “That’s ridiculous.”
    “I always get