Finding Zoe (Atlantic Divide) Read Online Free PDF Page B

bright blue eyes told me to come straight in.”
    “Flynn. He’s the one going to throw me off the cooling tower.”
    “Do they pay him well?”
    “Probably as much as me, but if the rope doesn’t hold, he’s not the one to fall to an ugly death.”
    She patted his knee, couldn’t hold back the wicked smile, and wondered what it felt like to be paid to push Mac to his death. She could offer to do it for free. Tempting.
    She looked into his pained face and wondered if he was just trying to distract her from the real issue here. He hadn’t tried very hard, and already it was all about him. Bloody actor. Her voice came out clipped, and she spoke to him like he was an errant schoolboy.
    “Mac. We need to talk about Ryan.”
    “I’m a little preoccupied here. I’m about to fall to my death.”
    “Don’t be stupid. You’re going to be pushed. This is more important.” His eyes widened, and he sat back with a loud huff. Why she ever thought she would get any sense out of an actor, she had no idea. “Get over yourself.” She’d been dying to use Ryan’s new phrase without sounding like a kid. “You’re not going to die. You’re an actor. Actors don’t simply hurtle to their deaths on an everyday basis.”
    “They do if they’re pushed.”
    “Stop it. This is not about you. The guy out there is probably very highly trained to carry out his job. His priority is to keep you from plummeting to your death.” Unable to resist making him turn a little greener, she snorted. “Unless they want to save ten million on the film budget, of course.”
    When he simply closed his eyes, she sighed, reached out, and touched his knee again. Strangely, touching him seemed to come naturally. “Look, Mac, you need to come and see him. He’s confused and he needs reassurance it’s him you want to see and you’re not simply trying to punish me.”
    “Why would he think that?” He looked genuinely baffled.
    “Because you were angry. Because you didn’t get over your anger while you were there, and because Ryan doesn’t really understand volatile emotions, Mac. He’s been brought up in a very calm, gentle household.”
    He raised both his eyebrows this time, as though he didn’t believe her.
    “You haven’t even been in contact. Not even a phone call. He’s not sure if he’ll ever hear from you again. He’s not even sure if you really exist. You walked into his life, turned it upside down with your superhero”—she held up a finger to stop him as he opened his mouth to protest—“presence, and zapped back out again. Without another word.” She could feel the pressure in her head building as all her carefully planned speech fell by the wayside. She thought to appeal to the better nature she was sure still resided under the guise of the actor. “He was so excited, he told all his friends, but he has no proof, no evidence, and they’re laughing at him now. Even his teacher told him not to lie when he said you’re his father. He was so proud of it, and now he feels let down.”
    Although it pained her to do so, she knew she had to tell him; it was unfair to hold it back. “Mac, you’re his idol. He’s always known he looked like you. He thought it was coincidence. He’s seen every film you’ve ever been in. He grows his hair to emulate the current style you have it in for each film. He imitates your accent.”
    “Why did you allow it?” He sounded weary.
    “How could I discourage it? You’re everywhere, in every film. You’re a superhero.”
    He sighed. “Action hero. I haven’t got X-ray vision.”
    She huffed out a breath, and his gaze tracked down to her lips, making her slightly self-conscious as he stared, sending tingles of awareness across the back of her neck.
    “This is difficult for him to deal with, Mac.”
    “It’s difficult for me too.”
    “You’re an adult.” She glanced at his stunning, petulant face. “I think.”
    “The lawyers told me I wasn’t to contact you or him until