Revenge With Benefits (Sweet Tea And Scandal 3)

No doubt about it. Ryan Dailey was a complicated guy who aroused complex emotions in her. That made him more dangerous than she might be able to handle.

* * *

“Can we talk about something else?” she asked. “I’m really not all that interesting.”

“You don’t give yourself enough credit,” he teased, despite the somber feeling stealing over him.

His initial assessment that Zoe’s edgy exterior protected a delicate core was proving true. Her insistence that there wasn’t much he might find interesting about her intrigued him. Instead of convincing him she was ordinary, he grew even more curious about what she was hiding. And why.

“One last question,” he insisted, ignoring her weary exhalation. “What do you do when you’re not volunteering for my sister’s campaign?”

“I work at a boutique store in downtown Charleston. Second Chance Treasures.”

Her quick answer surprised him. As did the way her spine straightened and her chin came up. Her whole manner brightened. She stopped avoiding his gaze and made eye contact. The beauty of her light brown eyes hit him full-force. For long seconds he lost his train of thought but finally shook himself free of her spell.

“What do you sell there?”

“We specialize in arts and crafts items made by women who are survivors of domestic abuse. Every sale helps them on their road to financial independence.” There was pride in Zoe’s voice.

From the beginning he’d thought her beautiful, but now, as she spoke about the store, her bright smile and fierce satisfaction captivated him. “Sounds less like a job and more like a calling for you.”

As if realizing she might have given too much away, she dialed back her emotions. With a careless shrug, she murmured, “It feels good to help out.”

He agreed but sensed she wouldn’t accept any overture he might make. She obviously wasn’t ready to trust him, but would she accept aid from a different quarter?

“It sounds like something my sister would be interested in helping with,” he said. “Have you mentioned the store to her?”

Zoe shook her head. “She’s busy with the campaign. I wouldn’t want to bother her.”

“You wouldn’t be bothering her,” he insisted, recognizing that the issue of domestic violence was something his sister could take up in her campaign. “In fact, having an event at your store might be good PR for both of you. It might be worth asking the owner about.”

“I suppose I could do that.”

Her vague answer left Ryan wondering if she actually would. Regardless, he decided to suggest Susannah check out the store. Even if an event couldn’t be organized, Ryan knew his twin would do what she could to help out.

“You seem like the perfect person to be on Susannah’s team,” Ryan said, turning his attention to the onerous task of deciding if Zoe was in any way connected to Abernathy’s campaign. “You have the sort of passion to effect social change that drew my sister to public office. Have you volunteered for any other campaigns?”

“No.”

Zoe’s short answer left Ryan regretting that he’d been too direct in his inquiry. Why not just come out and ask her if she was spying for Abernathy?

“Why now then?”

She became absorbed in pushing her uneaten lima beans into a neat line on her plate.

“I guess I realized that nothing is going to change unless people get involved.”

“People?” he asked, nudging her to clarify.

A dry smile quickly passed across her lovely lips. “Unless I get involved.”

“I think a lot of people are feeling that way,” Ryan agreed. “Susannah said their volunteer list has doubled since Abernathy announced he was running.”

“That isn’t surprising. He’s a terrible politician.”

“You sound familiar with him.”

She shook her head. “Not at all. It’s just what I’ve heard.”