“Couldn’t have been simple curiosity?”
“Was it?”
He sat back in the plush seat and stared across the table. “Some. But you’re right. Hannah had seen some piece on you and Michael about having a Hollywood-style anniversary party and our mom was pissed.”
“And you, being the good son, decided to come here and find out for yourself what was going on.”
“You could say that.”
“Have you always been the good son?”
Ever since he’d come home from college. His father didn’t see the need for a higher education, but his mom insisted that all of the kids had a chance to experience life outside of Hilton. Rena was the only one who never left. And Hannah, of course, but she was still a year away from finishing high school. “My parents can’t complain about me.”
“But do they?”
What was with this woman and her ability to draw out answers where she shouldn’t?
The waiter arrived with their drink order and told them about the specials.
Zach kept talking. “I’m sure Mike has told you that our dad isn’t an easy man. He expected us to both go into business with him.”
“Michael said something about that. Did you ever feel trapped by your father’s expectations?”
“I like construction. I’ve built a good life in Hilton.”
She sipped her wine and gave a coy smile. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“So who’s on a recon mission now, Ms. Jones?”
The tractor beams of her eyes shifted away. “It’s none of my business.”
The waiter returned and took their order. For a petite woman, she ordered food like a lumberjack. A thick steak, baked potato with all the trimmings with a salad, and more bread, thank you very much. Zach told the waiter to double the order.
They kept talking as if their conversation had never been interrupted. “When Mike didn’t come home, I knew it would be up to me to keep the family business going. Eventually our father will retire and need one of us to take over.”
“Did you ever resent Michael for not coming back?”
His answer was instant. “No. Deep down I knew he’d stay in LA. It’s hard to keep kids from leaving small towns when they’re old enough to move on.”
“Unless family is holding them back.”
“Right.”
“Then you have the kids that escape to the city, only to find it unyielding and ready to exploit them.” Her voice grew soft and he was once again drawn to her. Damn but she was beautiful. With a few more inches of height, she could easily be one of those fancy models. Most blondes he’d met had soft blue eyes, but hers had a metallic quality that sucked you in.
“Sounds like you have experience with that.”
“Th-The kids at the club come from different walks of life,” she said with a stutter. “I hear all their stories.”
“They seemed well adjusted.”
“They’re good kids.”
There was a look in her eyes that bordered on sorrow. He wanted to dig, but didn’t. “So why do they call you Ms. Jones?”
She sipped her wine again. “What would you have them call me? The good people of Hilton might know Michael as Mike Gardner, but taking that name would have meant nothing here. And you know Wolfe is a stage name.”
“So you kept yours.”
“It’s just a name.”
A generic name, he decided.
“I’ll answer to Mrs. Wolfe and try not to correct anyone in Hilton if they call me Mrs. Gardner.”
“That sounds like my mom.”
She laughed and something behind him caught her eye.
“What is it?” He started to twist around and she shot her hand out over his.
“No, don’t.”
“Why?” Now he really wanted to know what was going on behind his back.
“Someone caught sight of us. They probably think you’re Michael. If you look, they’ll come over and ask for an autograph or something.”
Zach felt the weight of someone’s stare. “We don’t look that much alike.”
Karen stared at him now, as if analyzing his features, and slipped her hand away. “You can certainly tell you’re related. But you’re right. You’re not identical.”
“I’m the better looking one,” he said with a grin and a wink.
She tossed her head back with laughter. “Oh, good Lord, two mountain-sized egos. No wonder Michael left Hilton, there wasn’t enough room for the both of you.”
“Yep, good thing.” Their conversation bordered on flirtation, but he couldn’t seem to stop it.
“So am I in trouble when I get there? Does your family hate me on principle?”
He couldn’t dispel all her fears, but he could see it was important to her to know she’d be welcome. “I’ll soften the blow.”
She took a longer drink of her wine. “Oh, great.”
“My dad will watch you and say very little. Hannah will talk your ear off. My mom will hold back for a little while, but my guess is you’ll have her thinking you’re a saint in no time.”
“I’m not a saint.”
He wasn’t so sure. Something wasn’t completely up front about Karen, but she certainly wasn’t hell-bound.
“What about your other sisters?”
“Judy’s been at school most of the year. Chances are she won’t even realize you’ve not met until you show up. And Rena is busy with her own kids. Though she is curious.”
Zach filled her in on a few stories that helped define the family throughout their meal. When the waiter offered another drink, Karen suggested he drive home when she ordered another glass of wine.
Maybe it was because Karen was family by default, but Zach’s level of comfort in Karen’s presence was as if they’d known each other for much longer than a handful of hours.
On the drive back home, he asked how she came to know the first lady of the state.
“I worked in administration at a place called Moonlight Villas right out of college. Samantha, you met her last night—well, her sister was in the care facility for years. Samantha and I became friends, and eventually I met Eliza.”
“Did you work at Moonlight Villas when you met Michael?”
“No. I worked for Samantha with her company. Samantha and Eliza are best friends. They’ve known each other for some time. Before either of them married.”
“Of all the people at the party last night, your friends seemed the most sincere.” They were the only ones he noticed helping Karen with anything throughout the night. None of Michael’s friends did that from what Zach had seen.