The Executive's Decision by Bernadette Marie Page A

Simone since they were children at school together. No matter what he said, she’d see through him if he lied, as easily as his mother could.
    “I can’t get her out of my mind, but at the moment I don’t think she’s fond of me.”
    “I will talk to her.” She pushed at a dark curl that had inched toward her face.
    “No, you won’t.” That was the last thing he needed. If Simone showed up at Regan’s desk demanding she be nice to him, Regan would come unglued. And who would blame her? “She’s done all she can to keep her distance, but last night we kissed.”
    Simone applauded with the tips of her fingers in celebration. “That is wonderful.”
    “It was wonderful. But she bolted out of the office, and then this morning I was cold to her.”
    “ Salopard! ” She shook her head at him, then said in English, “Bastard. You must apologize. If you love this woman, you must go after her.”
    “Wait!” He held up his hands and shook his head. “I didn’t say I love her.” That might be moving too fast for even him. He liked to build big and wait it out.
    “You did not have to.” Her eyes became soft behind the shield of long dark lashes. She eased back in her chair and tilted her head to the side as she sized him up. “Zachary Benson, I have known you too long for you to sit and lie to me.”
    “I didn’t realize that was what I was doing.”
    “Well then, if not to me, to yourself.” She drank down the rest of her mimosa. “What are you doing here with me? Go to her.”
    “No.” He was cool and he shifted to let the waiter set his plate in front of him. “I’m leaving town today. This wouldn’t be the time to get into it with her.”
    “You are leaving town on business?”
    “Yes, I’ll do some business while I’m there.”
    “Ah, you are leaving town to get away from her.” She stabbed a finger in his direction.
    “And I thought I could sneak that past you.” He laughed and she shook her head.
    “Nothing passes by me, mon ami .” She waved a hand in the air. “Where are you going?” she asked with a raised brow.
    He was already wincing. “I’m going to Kansas City.”
    “What?” Her eyes flew open. “Oh, you are not going to see her! That… that…”
    “No,” he said calmly, but he knew the mere mention of the city would receive that kind of reaction from her. “That was three years ago, Simone. I haven’t seen her since you put an end to it.”
    “Good. Senator’s daughter or not, she was using you.”
    “Perhaps.” And he knew that she had. It had been his only serious relationship. It was the only time he’d let his mother choose the woman he’d be with. He’d promised himself he’d choose the next one.
    Simone shook her head. “What would you do without me alleviating you of useless women?”
    “I don’t suppose I’ll ever know.”
    “Correct.”
    Zach sipped at his own mimosa as the waiter filled their water goblets. He couldn’t remember a day when Simone Pierpont hadn’t been his best friend. A sexy French woman as his dearest friend could come in handy when he needed it to, but he wondered what Regan would think of her.
    Regan. He set down his glass. He hadn’t left her on good terms that morning, and the last thing he’d mentioned to her was meeting Simone.
     
    Reluctantly Regan drove to the Benson Estate for lunch with Audrey on Saturday morning. She’d spent a restless night trying to tell herself it didn’t matter that Zach Benson had some French tart on the side. Regan wasn’t seeing him. She’d done her best to let him know she wouldn’t be either. But to have kissed her and then flaunt the name Simone Pierpont in her face, well, that was too much. Regan had a computer and Internet access. She’d gotten quite a lesson on the oil heiress and her lengthy list of affairs.
    Her breath caught as she drove down the road toward the beautiful house at the end of the tree-lined drive. She was in paradise, and the pinching between her shoulder