Zach smelled the popcorn as they walked into the living room. Ben and another guy sat there in the dark, watching a movie. A huge bowl of popcorn and a half-empty jug of cola sat on the coffee table. Ashlyn introduced Zach to Doug, and he immediately felt the chill from Ben. Doug seemed okay.

Ben and Doug occupied the couch, and Ashlyn must have been sitting in the only chair. She gestured to it. “Sit,” she invited. He hesitated, so she grinned, pushed him down, and proceeded to sit on his lap, her legs dangling over the arm of the chair, her arm around his neck.

He had no idea what was going on in the movie but didn't care. He was just happy and relieved to have Ash in his arms, and he tried to discreetly nuzzle her hair and neck, smelling her fresh fruity scent that was becoming so familiar to him.

"We don't have any beer,” Ash murmured to him, moving her head languorously against his nuzzling mouth. “Do you want a Coke or anything?"

"Nah. That's okay."

After the movie, Ben and Doug apparently had no clue he and Ashlyn might want to be alone. They stayed glued to the couch, analyzing and dissecting the movie.

"He only did that because of his inferiority complex,” Doug said, reaching for a handful of popcorn.

They started arguing, and Zach listened with amusement, stroking Ashlyn's hip. After he'd yawned a couple of times, Ash said, “You're tired, Zach. You should go."

Reluctantly he agreed. Maybe it was just as well they couldn't do anything more than snuggle. He didn't want her to think the only reason he'd showed up tonight was to get in her pants. Although he did want to get in her pants. Really bad.

"I'll pick you up at noon tomorrow,” he said.

She smiled at him, and her pretty face took his breath away. Then he forced himself to leave before he gave into impulse and dragged her down the hall to her bedroom.


"Am I dressed okay?” Ashlyn asked Zach, looking down at her flowered cotton skirt and tank top. God. She might as well have asked him if her ass looked fat. What was happening to her?

"You look great,” he assured her and kissed her.

"What about later, though?” she fretted. “That place is pretty posh."

"If you want to change, bring some clothes. We have to go back to my place later to take Rocky home anyway."

He followed her back into her bedroom, where she stared into her closet. With a sigh, she pulled out her black dress, the one she'd been wearing the second time she'd met Zach. What a girl she was turning into, she thought ruefully. Remembering every outfit she'd worn each time she saw him. Wishing she had something new and pretty to wear for him.

She pulled her strappy black sandals out and tossed some makeup into her backpack for a touch-up later.

Ben sat in the kitchen reading the newspaper as they went by. He looked up and scowled. “Should I expect you home tonight?"

Ashlyn glanced between him and Zach, the air suddenly thick. “Uh ... probably not,” she said, glancing again at Zach. He nodded and put his arm around her possessively. Yikes. “Bye, Ben."

She hurried out, not wanting to deal with that conflict.

"I'm telling you, he hates my guts,” Zach said, helping her into his SUV. Rocky wagged his tail furiously and grinned from the back seat. Ashlyn gave him a rub on the top of his silky golden head and sighed.

They arrived at the swanky Rocky Harbor Country Club, all carnivaled-up with bright balloons, flags and tents for the Pooch Picnic. At one end of the lush lawn, a small stage was set up for musical entertainment.

"Is Connor coming?” she asked as they strolled to the entrance.

"Later,” Zach said. “If he doesn't, I'm going to go home and drag him here. He has to get out. He's growing mold on him from sitting at home."

She laughed, but it was true. Every time she went to Zach's place, Connor sat there brooding. She withheld a guilty little sigh. On the one hand, she was glad Jessica Montgomery had disappeared for a week, but on the other, she really needed to get this over with and free her conscience. It was killing her.

"You don't need to pay, Zach,” said one of the women sitting at the entrance. “You've done enough."

He grinned, but nonetheless tossed a generous donation into the basket as he led Ashlyn and Rocky into the park.

"The Best Smile contest is at two o'clock,” he reminded her. “After that, the Brewmasters are on stage."

"The Brewmasters?"

He grinned. “Yeah. My buddy's band."

Ashlyn couldn't help but smile as she looked around at all the different dogs, big and small, round and tubby, lean and long-legged. Two dogs on leashes barked and snarled at each other while their owners held on tightly and smiled embarrassed apologies. Other dogs sniffed and checked each other out in their canine way.

Rocky was calm and happy, his tongue lolling out.

"Oh, I forgot something,” Ashlyn said. She let her small backpack drop off her shoulder. On her knees on the grass, she rummaged through it and pulled out a funny-looking bottle. “I got a present for Rocky,” she explained. “It's a dog water bottle. See. It opens and"—she squeezed—"the water runs out, and he can drink from this bowl.” It was so cool, and she'd thought how perfect it was for a day like this.

Zach was looking at her oddly as she held the bowl for Rocky to slurp from. “What?” she asked.

Chapter Seventeen

Ashlyn frowned. “What's wrong? Is this not good for Rocky?"

"It's awesome,” he said in a choked voice, his face strained. “You're awesome."

She smiled up at him. Rocky had finished, so she dumped the last drops of water onto the grass and snapped the bottle closed. She stood up and brushed blades of grass off her knees.

They wandered around, enjoying the warm sunshine and all the activity. Zach stopped at the Surf Coast Brewery tent to see how things were going.

"Need any help?” he asked the two girls working there.

"We're good,” they said, happily serving beer to customers.

"This is Ashlyn Farrell,” he introduced her. “Ashlyn, meet Melissa Jackson and Ava Cooper. Ava's our sales and marketing manager, and Melissa is our salesperson."

Ashlyn smiled and shook hands with the other women, trying to study them covertly. She had been looking at everything in both their hard drives. These two both had access to Surf Coast's product development information. Ava was the one whose asset tracking had showed some large credit-card purchases recently, which had raised a flag for the investigators. Melissa was the one who seemed to be very religious.

Melissa was young and pretty, dressed in cropped pants and a snug halter top. Ava was older, maybe late thirties, also nicely dressed in a short skirt and T-shirt. Although the clothes were casual, Ashlyn recognized them as expensive, as was the gold and diamond jewelry at her ears and neck. The two women were busy serving customers, so she didn't have a chance to talk to them.

Rocky lost the Best Smile contest to an adorably cheerful Pomeranian in a close competition.

"I love your smile, buddy,” Ashlyn consoled him and gave him a hug. Zach tossed him a biscuit, which he eagerly devoured. Then Ashlyn noticed all the water bowls placed strategically around the grounds.

"I guess Rocky didn't need a water bottle after all,” she said, indicating a bowl.

Zach pulled her up against him for a quick, hard kiss. “Rocky loves his water bottle,” he said fervently. “He'll get lots of use from it, not just today."

She smiled at him. Her heart melted a little bit at his words and his kiss. He was just the nicest guy.

They wandered up to the stage and found a place to sit and listen. The grass was cool and prickly beneath Ashlyn's bare thighs, and she tugged her skirt down. Zach held up a hand to his friends on stage as they finished a song with a crashing chord.

"Zach! Dude! Get up here!” called one man. Grinning, Zach shook his head.

The man jumped off the stage and strode over to them.

"C'mon man,” he said loudly, laughing and slapping Zach's back. “One for old time's sake.” He slipped the strap of his guitar over his head and held it out to Zach.

Still shaking his head and laughing, Zach let himself be pushed up on stage. To Ashlyn's amazement, he strummed some chords, checked out the guitar with a few riffs—and he was actually pretty good.

After conferring briefly, the band started to play, Zach appearing very comfortable on the stage. Actually, he was smiling broadly, getting into the music as the song went on, having a great time.

Ashlyn laughed out loud. What a guy.

At that moment, Connor dropped to the grass beside her.

"Oh, you came!” she said with delight, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I'm so glad!"

Connor looked at her, and a reluctant smile tugged the corners of his mouth.

"Look!” she pointed. “Zach's up there playing."

"What an asshole.” Connor shook his head. “He's such a show-off.” But he smiled and nodded to the beat as the tempo increased and the song finished loudly.

Connor and Ashlyn clapped enthusiastically, Rocky's leash draped around her wrist, and then Ashlyn put two fingers in her mouth and whistled, drawing a startled grin from Connor.

Zach returned, laughing and breathless. “You're crazy!” Ashlyn said, also laughing. “I didn't know you were so good!"

Zach shook his head and settled down beside her to listen to the music, one hand on Rocky, the other warm on her bare knee. He was close enough for her to smell his male scent, and she longed for him to slide his hand higher on her leg. Of course he couldn't—they were sitting in the middle of a crowd. But that didn't stop her from wanting it.