Read The Comeback for Free Online Page A

acidly.
    Zack thought about all the PR operatives who’d quit his campaign the last eight months. “But you don’t give up that easily.”
    In that moment, he knew for sure she wasn’t about to quit. His heart thudded with the same relief he felt when he passed a car out on the track. Only this felt better. An unfamiliar stretching sensation in his cheeks told him he was grinning wider than he had in a long time.
    “You guessed it,” she said. “I’m absolutely committed to you.”
    The room turned stifling. Zack drew in a slow, measured breath.
    “We’re still talking about PR, right?” Trent asked. He was better than most men at picking up on subtleties.
    “Of course,” Gaby said, her eyes on Zack.
    Trent yawned theatrically. “If you have the patience to find my brother’s hidden depths, you’ll earn every penny his desperate sponsor is paying you.” By Trent’s standards, it was an ineffective shot. He glanced around the gym, and smirked. “Don’t know why I’m here, I’m fit enough already.”
    With a wink at Gaby, he slung his towel over his shoulder and left. Despite the wink, despite the familiar swagger, it was a retreat.
    Gaby had run Trent out of town.
    A curious warmth spread through Zack, starting in his chest, then filling every inch of him. He watched her flexing her fingers, which must now be aching from gripping that seat. She was staring after Trent, as women often did, but she looked more irritated than excited.
    “Did you mean what you said?” Zack asked. “About me having hidden depths?” Because last time she’d said something nice about him, to Chad, she’d admitted it was just spin. That still stung.
    She turned wide blue eyes to him, and nodded. “I also meant it about you being a pain in the butt.”
    He’d didn’t doubt that. “You defended me,” he said slowly. Not that he needed defending, of course. He’d been looking out for his own interests longer than he could remember. But still…
    “Trent was being a jerk,” Gaby said. “Even more than you were.”
    That damned warmth was fuzzing Zack’s brain; he struggled to get a grip on his thoughts. He took a step toward her, not sure what he was looking for, but somehow certain she had it.
    “You’re not easy to deal with, Zack.” Her words came out so quiet, he strained to hear. “But I do think you have some amazing abilities.”
    “Uh…” No one whose opinion he valued had said anything like that to him in years; Zack wasn’t sure how to reply. “Thanks.” Not exactly original, but heartfelt.
    She clasped her hands in her lap. Her fingers were slim, her nails gleaming with a pale polish.
    “Did you mean what you said?” she asked. “About me being the best PR rep you’ve had?”
    “Absolutely.” He nodded for emphasis.
    She shoved a curl behind her ear. It sprang right out again, and Zack found himself moving instinctively to fix it. His fingers tangled with hers, next to her face.
    Gaby froze. Zack registered the brush of that silky lock of hair, the warmth of her fingers. Her breath came faster, but she didn’t remove her fingers from his.
    He wanted to pull her to her feet, to fasten his mouth to hers, to explore…
    Bad idea, Zack told himself. Don’t get carried away, just because she said something nice. Women said nice things to him all the time.
    Yeah, but not like that.
    He let go of her hand, and Gaby looked down at it as if she could still feel the same current that coursed through him.
    “I can’t do the bachelor contest,” he said abruptly. “But if you can convince one of those women’s magazines to interview me, I’ll spend as long you like preparing for it, and I’ll say exactly what you want.”
    She blinked, stared at him, then visibly regrouped. “Really?”
    He gritted his teeth. “I’ll even take my shirt off for a photo.”
    Her hiccup sounded suspiciously like a giggle. “That probably won’t be necessary.”
    He blew out a breath of relief. “I’d do it,