Hook, Line, and Sinker Read online

  She wanted nothing more than a quiet evening at home nursing a bottle of Merlot and watching a Rom-com on her recently acquired fifty-four-inch television screen. She’d lean back in her overstuffed recliner, kick her aching feet up, and try to stay awake through the whole show for once in her life.

  From his window, Zeke watched her fold that lithe, long body into the little Mini Cooper she’d purchased last year. He knew she drove herself to succeed but believed she worked too hard. He noticed the frown on her face, as he’d noted the dark circles under her eyes when she’d stood at the end of the booth at breakfast and reminded him what a spit-fire she was.

  A smile crept onto his face, the first one on this awful day. He shut the computer down and put files away. He liked to leave his desk in order. His dream was to walk away from it all one day and never return. He wanted his successor to be able to step in and take over with no training needed.

  He imagined quitting. He’d be on the river, line in the water, beer in hand, the sound of the wind in his ears, and the sun warming his skin. Yeah, that would be one beautiful day. He never let himself dream of a woman in the boat with him. Nope. Never had he imagined what Sophie would look like in cut-off denim shorts and a bikini top, blonde hair curling around that heart-shaped face, green eyes alight with fire. Never. Never. Ever. He tapped the top of his desk with his fist, walked to the door, flipped the light switch, and closed up.

  His mind had been so busy staying clear of a certain woman; he was shocked upon entering his house to find all evidence of Darlene and their eight months together gone. The woman had taken the television they’d bought together. How was he supposed to watch the game? Damn. He fished his phone out of his pocket and called Gabe.

  “You watching the game tonight?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’m coming.”

  “Bring pizza. I have beer.”

  “Gotcha.”

  He quickly changed into comfortable clothes, making sure to hang his suit on the wooden hanger that kept creases out. He stooped and put wooden molds in the ridiculously expensive shoes. He’d never ruin his clothes again. One lesson learned from Darlene. The woman had great taste in clothes and had helped him shop when he took the position as vice president. She was as thrilled as he was depressed about his change in employment. He’d spent a fortune on suits, ties, and shoes, but she loved to cook and had saved him money on groceries and eating out. She’d been obsessively neat, so he’d learned to keep the place cleaner, too. It would be easy to slip back into his slob persona, but he’d try for a while to stay on the housekeeping wagon. He smirked at himself in the mirror as he passed.

  “You’re one piece of work,” he said out loud. He thought settling down with a good-hearted woman would be all right. The problem was, he couldn’t find one. He looked forward to a night with his brothers. They’d keep his mind off his sorry love life.

  He was pleased to see Mabel working the take-out counter at the Pizza Palace. She owned the restaurant and was an institution in the town. She always had a smile for the customers. Her red hair leaned toward orange frizz, and she had a voice that boomed across rooms, and the heart of a champion. He wondered if she had to unplaster the smile from her face when she got home at night.

  “Hello, Mabel. Got my order ready?” He tapped the counter and smiled back at her as she beamed at him like she always did.

  “Sure do, Zeke. You sharing this with Gabe tonight?” Her eyes twinkled.

  “Yeah, how’d you know?” He knew the answer. They had exchanged many similar conversations over the years. Mabel knew what was what in town, not just with him and his brothers. If you ever needed to know some juicy gossip, she was the first person you’d visit. Of course, she was never mean, just the curious type.

  “He won’t eat mushrooms. I know my customers. How’s your mom and dad? Haven’t seen ‘em in ages.” She slid a pizza from the wood-burning oven into a box and held it out to Zeke.

  “They’re good. They can’t eat cheese. Tucker’s developed lactose intolerance in his old age. Put it on my tab?” He smiled inwardly, knowing that the next time his parents were invited to a dinner with friends, no cheese or dairy products of any kind would be served. The whole town would know about his father’s dietary change. You’re welcome, he thought to himself and grinned.

  “You bet. Enjoy the game.” She was writing in her pad as he waved good-bye. Zeke made a mental note to have Janice send a check at the end of the month to clear his bill. If his dream came true, he mused, he’d have to write his own checks. He wouldn’t be sharing an assistant with Sophie. He wouldn’t see what Sophie wore to work every day. Why, he wouldn’t even know when she got a new haircut unless he ran into her in town. He decided to wait on the dream job a bit longer. Not only because of her, of course. There was the fact that he had the small issue of helping to keep the business his father built from the ground up going until the old man retired. That was the card his father had played to get him to take the job. Zeke wondered if Tucker ever planned to retire or had just used the story to manipulate him.

  As he sped over to Gabe’s, he switched mental gears to the upcoming game. The smell of pizza caused his stomach to rumble, and the anticipation of an enjoyable evening with his little brother put a smile on his face. He’d worry about the business Monday. It was Friday night, no time for feeling sorry for himself. He turned the volume up on a country-western song and belted out the lyrics as he drove with the wind in his hair and his arm out the window of his pickup truck. He may not have everything in place the way he wanted it, but life was pretty good. He had no real complaints.

  He smiled when he saw Nat’s truck in the driveway. He quickly looked at the pizza box on the passenger seat and hoped Gabe had something to go with it. Nat was the youngest and still ate like a growing boy, even though he’d turned twenty-five three months ago. Time that boy starts bringing his own food, he thought. He took the still steaming pizza inside, using his foot to keep the screen door from slamming.

  “The pizza man cometh,” he announced. He peeked into the living room and was glad to see Nat was alone. No dog accompanied him. Not that dogs were bad, Zeke just hated having one watch him with baleful eyes while he tried to enjoy his pizza.

  Gabe took the box to the kitchen.

  “You told her not to put mushrooms on it, right?”

  “Bro, I know you hate mushrooms. Give me a break.” Zeke shook his head and took paper plates out of a cabinet.

  “Got enough for me?” Nat asked as he rushed into the kitchen. He knew he’d better hurry or he’d get left out.

  “Barely. You’re buying next time.” Zeke got a hand around Nat’s neck and messed up his brother’s hair.

  “No horsing around,” Gabe said. “If you guys break another lamp, I’m taking it out of both your hides.” He slapped two pizza slices on a plate and popped the top off a beer.

  “Who us?” his brothers chimed together. It was amazing how innocent they could look.

  Chapter Three

  Going home to the empty house put Zeke into a foul mood. He hadn’t imagined that Darlene would take the sheets off the bed. He’d found that little tidbit when he’d pulled back the spread to find a bare mattress. Grumbling, he searched the hall closet for a fitted sheet to match the flat sheet he’d found. When that seemed futile, he opted for a bright pink one. He wondered why she hadn’t taken it with her. What did he want with pink sheets? Women, he thought, as he pulled the corner of the offending sheet into place. He remembered a time not that long ago when he would have simply slept on the bedspread.

  “Maybe I’m growing up after all. Take that, Sophie Malloy.” He pulled out the Louis L’amour book he’d started and read until his eyes drooped. As he switched off the bedside lamp, he missed curling up with a woman’s warm body. Feeling a bit like Scarlett O’Hara in the movie ‘Gone with the Wind,” he decided he’d think about that tomorrow. He was asleep within minutes.

  On the other side of town, Sophie wa
tched her favorite movie for the sixth time. She loved the way the two people got together at the end. She was a sucker for a happy ever after ending, even if she would never have one. She switched off the television and washed the dishes before changing into her favorite, faded, ever-so-soft, sleep, tee-shirt. As she climbed into bed, she ran her hands over the thousand count Egyptian sheets she’d ordered from Amazon. She loved ordering things and finding the box on her doorstep after a long day at the office. It was like someone had sent her a present. She fluffed her pillow and sunk into the luxurious pillow-top bed.

  As always, she ran through her day. What could she do better tomorrow? What new thing did she learn? Did she regret anything? She stopped there, thinking of losing her temper in the café. Why did she let those Hart boys get to her? They would never change. She’d wasted her breath for nothing. They’d probably gotten a good laugh out of it behind her back. At least Zeke hadn’t mentioned anything at the office later. He had no idea how much it hurt when he teased her, because he, like everyone else, had not an inkling of how hard she was on herself. Perfect wasn’t unattainable in her world. It was the goal. She would strive for that prize until she reached it. Her next step at work was to be the VP of sales. She had to prove that she was the woman for the job. If only Sophie had been born into the Hart family, she would be sitting in that office instead of Zeke. But being a Malloy wouldn’t hold her back. She’d get the office, and the victory would be that much sweeter for having to work so hard to obtain it. It wouldn’t be anything like having it handed to her on a golden platter the way Zeke had. He would never know the satisfaction of being a self-made man.

  “OK, Sophie. Get your mind off of Zeke Hart. He’s a jerk. He uses women and then throws them away. He takes advantage of his family to get to the top of a field he doesn’t excel in. You will show him one day. You will show them all.” She’d said the same thing to herself so many times. It was like a litany for bedtime.

  She switched off the light, and the room lit with moonbeams streaming in the window. She stared at the ceiling for thirty minutes as she mentally counted sheep. When she still had trouble keeping her eyes shut, she turned the light on, got out her journal, and started writing. She’d fill this one up in a few more nights; then she’d burn it like all the others. She poured her heart out on those pages.

  When she finished with her thoughts about the day, she started on the list for the next day. She liked having her life planned out. It gave her a sense of order in a chaotic world. In the wee hours of the morning, she finally fell into a fitful sleep. Dreams that she recalled later were as tense as the rest of her life. She rarely woke up feeling refreshed. Thank God for caffeine.

  ##

  Zeke was first in the office Monday morning. He felt the blood pumping through his veins from the workout he’d had at the gym. His hair was damp, and he pushed it off his forehead as he put a pot of coffee on in the employee breakroom. He loved the smell of fresh-brewed coffee. He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

  “How are you this fine morning?” The unmistakable tenor voice belonged to his father.

  “Fine, Tucker.” He saw his father wince at the use of his first name. Good, Zeke thought, that’s why I do it. “What are you doing on this floor? Checking up on me?”

  “Oh, come on now. Give your old man a break. I thought I’d have a word with you and Sophie before the rest of the crew shuffled in. I checked her office, but she’s not in yet.” Tucker Hart was an older version of his sons. He was thicker these days, but remained fit and had all his hair. The main difference was in the eyes. Tucker’s eyes were dark and intense. When Zeke was a boy, those eyes had felt intimidating. They were a good part of the reason Zeke and his brothers hadn’t gotten into any more trouble than they had. Fear is a mighty strong factor in a young boy’s life when he has a domineering father.

  “Sophie gets in at seven-thirty every day.” Zeke checked the time on the wall clock and said, “Why don’t you come on down to my office. She’ll be here any minute.”

  The two men walked together in silence. Unaware of their presence, Sophie entered the building and went straight for the break room. She’d had a cup of coffee at home but already needed another. She filled her favorite mug, the one that said, “She Who Must Be Obeyed,” and fed change into the vending machine. She fished out a croissant and unwrapped it. In the microwave for precisely sixteen seconds, she pulled out the plate and retrieved a fork. Anticipating the yummy treat that she would eat as her computer booted up, she made her way to her office. She heard voices coming from Zeke’s office and wondered what he was up to so early in the morning.

  She balanced her coffee cup on the plate with the croissant as she grabbed the doorknob and kicked the office door open with her right foot.

  “Morning, Soph.” Zeke’s voice directly behind her made her jerk her arm and spill coffee onto the pastry.

  “Damn it, Zeke. Don’t sneak up on a person like that. Can’t you see I’m carrying hot coffee?” She set the plate on her desk. She pulled paper towels out of the top right drawer and started sopping up the mess. She was annoyed but didn’t say more. When she finished cleaning, she sat down and, for the first time, looked up. Zeke was standing in her office, and he wasn’t alone. Tucker Hart, the old man himself, stood behind his son, smiling a wicked smile.

  “Having a good morning Ms. Malloy?” he asked. He had his arms crossed across his chest and rocked back on his heels. The arrogant son of a so and so, she thought. She plastered a smile on her face and lied.

  “I am,” she said. “Or I was, anyway,” she mumbled quietly.

  “What’s that you say?” Zeke asked with a smirk.

  Why did she give him these opportunities to tease her? She knew better. She gave herself a mental rap on the temple.

  “Nothing. Can I help you guys?” She remained seated with a calm demeanor, but her heart raced, and her eardrums were bombarded with the sound of blood pumping too fast. Tucker Hart rarely came down to the second floor, and on those occasions when he did, no good news was ever forthcoming.

  “How about we give the little lady a minute to have her breakfast, son?” Tucker turned to her and smiled like a crocodile about to eat a gazelle at the waterhole.

  “We’ve got a few things to discuss. Family business, you understand. When you’re finished, meet us in the conference room upstairs. No hurry.” He turned and walked away before she could reply. She bit her tongue to keep from saying what she thought about the little lady remark.

  “What’s going on?” She mouthed the words to Zeke in case his father was close enough to hear if she said anything out loud.

  Zeke shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. He was no help, as usual.

  “I’ll be there in five minutes. Is that too long?” Sophie asked.

  “Take your time. The old man can wait. He should have scheduled with us ahead of time. Sorry about the soggy bun.” Zeke didn’t look sorry at all. He seemed somewhat pleased with himself. She made a face at his back as he left her office.

  “I can see your reflection in the glass.” He laughed and tapped his knuckles on her door frame before walking away.

  “Jerk.” She bit into the only piece of the croissant that wasn’t ruined then scalded her tongue on the coffee. “Great. Just great,” she said. She took a legal pad and pen with her to the conference room.

  “Come in. Come in. Have a seat.” Mr. Hart motioned to a chair across from him and beside Zeke. “Thanks for coming on such short notice.”

  Like we wouldn’t, she thought and did a mental eye roll. At least he hadn’t sat at the head of the conference table like some pompous king in a throne room.

  “What’s this about?” Zeke asked. Impatient as always.

  “I’ll get straight to the point. I played a round with Patrick Walsh yesterday. Are you familiar with Walsh Industries?” He directed the question to Sophie. Walsh Industries manufactured oil field equipment in a warehouse on the edge of the city. They were r
eportedly looking for office space for their corporate offices. The move from Dallas would mean jobs for locals, taxes for the town and county. Everyone knew about it and wanted it to happen.

  Sophie had been trying to get a foot in the door for weeks. She was sure she could convince them that Hart Construction would be the best choice to build for them. The company needed new offices, not some run-down, remodeled affair, and Hartford had affordable real estate opportunities. Although the company would take the job either way, she hoped for new construction. As Tucker’s words sunk in, she couldn’t believe her ears. Zeke would get another windfall. She shifted in her seat and nodded.

  Tucker pulled at his cuffs. Sophie thought he was showing off his gold cuff links.

  “I set him up for you. I want you two to work together on this project. Sophie, you’re the best at bringing in new business. I’m counting on you to close the deal.” He turned his attention to Zeke. “Son, you’re going to follow Sophie and learn. I’m tired of hearing that you sit in your office and play on your computer all day.”

  “Who says…” Zeke pushed off his chair.

  “Sit down. I didn’t get to be the CEO of my own company by being ignorant. I keep my ear to the ground.”

  “I’ve been redesigning our website.”

  “Uh-huh. Sophie will be the point of contact for all business decisions until the ink is dry on the contract. Zeke, you will assist her in any way she asks. Since you played ball with Patrick’s sons, he’ll want to talk with you. That’s fine. Just make sure Sophie is present at all meetings where decisions are made. I trust her judgment.”

  Zeke squirmed but kept quiet.

  Tucker leaned forward and tapped the table with a well-manicured fingernail.

  “You two will get this job. The firm needs it. The town needs it. You need it. I’m counting on both of you. When this is in the bag, I want you two already moving on to the next big deal. Sophie, I’m sure you already have something in mind. Be sure to catch Zeke up.”