Читать книгу Bedroom Seductions: Two Weeks in the Magnate's Bed - Nicola Marsh, Anne Oliver - Страница 13

LANA spied Zac at the end of the gangway and sighed in relief. After he’d run out on her last night she’d had her doubts about him showing up today. Crazy, considering she was the one who’d usually contemplate a no-show rather than worrying about him doing it.

Beyond impressive in uniform, today he was casually cool in black board shorts, a funky printed T-shirt and a peaked cap, with aviator sunglasses shading his eyes. She wished she could see those eyes, read them, get a feel for his mood after last night.

She hadn’t heard from him, hadn’t seen him this morning, and while she was relieved, a small part of her couldn’t help but wonder what he had planned for today.

If last night’s ‘date’ hadn’t exactly happened, maybe he had other ideas today?

Taking a deep breath, she headed down the gangway, half of her looking forward to the tour of Suva, the other half looking forward to seeing how far her confidence extended.

‘I thought you’d stood me up.’

Tipping her head forward, she looked at him over the top of her sunglasses. ‘Why would I do that? I’ve been looking forward to your tour.’

‘I’m very good, you know.’

‘Ever heard the phrase “self-praise is no praise”?’

He grinned and gestured to a small four-wheel drive parked nearby. ‘Come on, I have a car waiting for us.’ He bowed low. ‘Your chariot awaits, madam.’ He pulled off his cap with a flourish.

‘You’re going to drive?’

She glanced at the chaotic scene on the dock, where cars darted between pedestrians and street vendors, and horns honked constantly as people jumped out of the way of moving vehicles in haphazard fashion.

He laughed at her horrified, sceptical expression. ‘Don’t worry, I’ve done this before. The car belongs to Raj, a friend of mine. He often lends it to me if I want to tour around. Once we leave the docks and head out of town the roads quieten considerably.’

Her doubt must have shown, for his grin widened. ‘Don’t you trust me?’

She quirked an eyebrow. ‘Your driving skills? Maybe. As for the rest? Not on your life.’

He clutched his heart. ‘You’re a hard woman. Now, come on—get in the car before I change my mind.’

She laughed, surprisingly relaxed as they headed out of town and he pointed out interesting landmarks.

She’d expected some awkwardness, but he kept up a steady flow of casual chatter as they wound around the island. Content to sit back and watch the stunning scenery, she admired the sapphire ocean lapping at pearly sands, the beaches fringed by swaying palm trees. After half an hour, they stopped at a roadside café.

‘Do you like Indian food?’

‘Love it. The hotter the better.’

‘Good. Raj put me on to this place years ago, and I always drop in if I have time. They make the best chicken tikka this side of India.’

‘What are we waiting for? I’m ravenous.’

As they entered the open-air café the proprietor, a tall Sikh wearing a maroon turban, rushed over. ‘Hello, Mr Zac. Welcome back.’He pumped Zac’s hand so vigorously Lana feared the action might dislodge his turban. ‘Aah, you have brought a beautiful friend. Welcome to Sujit’s Place, miss.’

Zac smiled. ‘Sujit, meet Lana.’

He bowed over her hand. ‘Welcome. Now, what can I get you?’

She deferred to Zac. ‘You order. You’d know the specialities.’

‘How about the usual, Sujit?’

Sujit bowed again. ‘Most definitely, my friend. Coming right away.’

She looked around, surprised by how clean the place was, considering it was open to the elements. As for the sand floor—it would be a breeze for clean-ups.

‘Adds to the island ambience, huh?’

She nodded, surprised he could read her thoughts so easily, and secretly pleased. ‘What’s with the lack of table settings?’

‘Wait and see.’

‘Very mysterious.’

His mouth kicked up into a cheeky grin. ‘All will be revealed shortly.’

‘I bet.’

He chuckled at her laconic response and gestured to a nearby table, where she plonked her straw carryall next to a chair and sat, savouring the spicy aromas coming from the nearby kitchen.

‘Smells divine.’

Zac slid his aviators off, the impact of all that dazzling blue rivalling the sky for vibrancy. ‘The last ship I was on used to dock here every week. I put on six pounds as a result. See?’

He lifted his shirt and patted his washboard stomach. Her mouth went dry. Those were some abs.

Before she had time to comment Sujit arrived, bearing platters of food: naan bread, chicken tikka, dahl and lamb korma were placed in a tantalising array in front of them, and the dryness disappeared as the delicious aromas made her mouth water.

‘Thanks, Sujit. This looks superb, as always.’

Sujit nodded, his hands held together in a prayer-like pose. ‘Enjoy your meal.’

Zac glanced at her, a smile playing about his lips. ‘Well, what are you waiting for?’

Confused, she pointed at the table. ‘Plates would be handy?’

‘See those large green leaves Sujit put in front of us? They’re not placemats; that’s your plate. Indian food here is served on a banana leaf. Usually, only vegetarian fare is served on leaves, but here it saves on the washing up. You just roll them up once you’ve finished and throw them out. As for cutlery—you’re looking at it.’

He waved his fingers at her, and she couldn’t help but notice how long, elegant and strong they were.

‘I can cope with using my hands to eat as long as I clean up first. Is that sink over there for washing?’

He nodded. ‘Follow me.’

As they soaped and scrubbed his hand brushed hers and she jumped, the innocuous touch raising an awareness she’d determinedly subdued since last night.

He stared at her, an eyebrow raised, and she managed a weak smile. ‘I think our food’s getting cold.’

First to break the stare, she turned away, feeling hot and clammy and out of her depth. He’d moved the boundaries with those kisses, had changed everything with his admission of how much he wanted her, and no matter how hard she pretended she could handle it, she couldn’t cast off all her reservations at once.

With her head urging her to take a chance for once, and her heart scared of the consequences if she did, she headed back to the table.

This was going to be a long day.

Zac followed Lana back to the table, loving how she moved, all fluid lines and sinuous elegance.

Her long turquoise dress, surely a reject from the seventies, flowed from her shoulders to mid-calf, skimming curves along the way. He could see the straps of a bright pink bikini poking through, and he hardened immediately at the thought of seeing her in it. If the vision of her hot little bod in that dreadful neck-to-toe one-piece had been haunting his dreams, he could hardly wait to see her curves revealed in a bikini.

She’d pulled her curly hair back in a loose ponytail, and he longed to reach out and wrap the tendrils that curled at the base of her neck around his fingers. He loved her hair, loved watching it bounce against her shoulders as she walked.

A vivid image of that hair draped over his torso popped into his mind and he almost stumbled. This would be one hell of a tour if he walked around with a hard-on all day.

Determined to ignore his libido, he sat and pushed a platter of naan towards her. ‘Let’s eat.’

‘Everything looks delicious.’

‘Wait till you try it.’

He ladled a serving of dahl and korma onto her leaf, then reached for a naan. Her fingertips brushed his as he reached for the same piece and he clenched his jaw in frustration.

It wasn’t deliberate—one look at her shy gaze firmly fixed on her banana leaf told him that—and he needed to get a grip before he made a mess of things, as he had last night.

He broke off a piece of the soft, doughy bread, dipped it into the pungent curry sauce and stuffed it into his mouth before he said something he’d regret, like, Let’s get out of here and get naked.’

‘Mmm, divine.’

Her tongue flicked out to capture a drip of sauce and he stifled a groan, focusing on the unique blend of spices hitting his tastebuds rather than how much he’d like to lick away that spillage.

He needed to talk, to draw attention away from how much he wanted her, to focus on anything other than the driving, obsessive need to get her naked and moaning his name while he plunged into her.

‘Sujit whips up the best Indian food I’ve ever had. It rivals some of the feasts I’ve had in Singapore and India for authenticity.’

‘You’ve been around, haven’t you?’

‘Yeah—definitely a perk of the job. I’ve travelled almost everywhere.’

‘Any favourites?’

He’d steered the conversation onto safe ground only to be diverted by the small moans of pleasure she made between mouthfuls, and he gulped his entire glass of water before answering.

‘Probably Alaska, for its glaciers. I’ve cruised the Inside Passage from Vancouver, and the ship usually spends a day in Glacier Bay. It’s amazing that ships like ours, which weigh around seventy thousand tons, can sail to within a mile of those monsters. I’ve even seen huge chunks of ice sliding off the face.’

Maybe he should focus on that ice, focus on all that cold—anything to dampen the urge to leap across the table and drag her into his arms as she stared at him with wide-eyed awe.

‘I also love the Mediterranean. Especially Italy. Capri is great, with its ancient cobbled streets and home-made pastas.’

He could have regaled her with tales of his travels all day, particularly as her wide, luminous eyes were fixed on him, her expression fascinated, but the longer she stared at him the harder it was to forget every sane reason why he couldn’t push their involvement—no matter how much he wanted to.

He’d seen the devastation in her eyes last night, the lingering hurt from the jerk who had screwed her around, and her desolation at having their relationship labelled a fling.

He’d planned on backing away then, but once he’d taken her on deck, once he’d kissed her, his plans to leave her alone had drifted away on the night air.

He wouldn’t hurt her by having a fling. But he couldn’t offer her anything else, considering where he’d be for the next year. So where the hell did that leave them?

For now, he’d keep things light. He’d promised her a tour today—the least he could do after she’d come through for him with the exercise classes—and he’d make it a fun day for her if it killed him.

‘You know, the South Pacific islands are growing in my favourite places ranking all the time.’ He leaned forward and crooked a finger at her. ‘I think the present company has a lot to do with that.’

She blinked, as if startled by his compliment, and he wished he could wring her ex’s neck for battering her self-esteem to the point where she couldn’t accept a compliment without embarrassment.

‘You mean Sujit? I totally agree. His food is to die for. I haven’t been to those other places, but I’d definitely put Fiji first on my list.’

He grinned at her clever sidestep, but he wasn’t done yet. ‘What about Noumea? How high should New Caledonia rate? I hear their moonlit beaches are magical.’

The recollection of their first kiss stained her cheeks pink. Her eyes dipped to her banana leaf as he belatedly remembered he was trying to cool down, not get more wound up.

She waved towards the food. ‘You’ll give me indigestion, flirting on an empty stomach. At least let me put a dent in this feast before you turn on the charm.’

He laughed, more relaxed than he’d been in years despite his desperate yearning for her. It had been that long since he’d enjoyed a woman’s company enough to spend more than a few hours with her, and while he’d dated infrequently, he’d never experienced such a connection on so many levels with any woman. Not even Magda—and he’d married her.

‘Let’s finish up and hit the road. I can’t wait to show you the island’s best beach. It’s isolated, so tourists haven’t wrecked it.’

She mumbled an acknowledgement and focussed on her food. He wondered what he’d said. She’d been cool one moment, and perspiration covering her skin in a delectable sheen the next. A sheen that had him envisaging all sorts of erotic ways he could clean it off.

If he were prone to flights of fantasy he’d almost say she was hot and bothered about his mention of being on an isolated beach together. Yeah, and of course she wanted to rip his clothes off too. Definitely wishful thinking.

‘Is the food too spicy for you?’

Her guarded gaze snapped to his, as if trying to read something into his innocuous question. ‘No, it’s fine. It’s just a little hot today.’

Hot? It was positively burning—though the weather had little to do with it.

He gestured towards the kitchen, indicating drinks, and Sujit bustled out shortly after, bearing two tall, icy glasses and a pitcher.

‘Ever had lassi before?’

‘No.’

‘It’s made from yogurt. Very refreshing. It should cool you down a tad.’

While he’d need to dunk in a vat of the stuff to remotely cool down.

She took a tentative sip, before gulping the cold, sweet liquid and running the frosted glass across her forehead. Her eyelids fluttered shut as a relieved smile curved her lips. ‘That was good.’

Okay, maybe the lassi had done the trick for her, but he was about to explode—and as she opened her eyes he bit back a groan.

‘You’ve got a milk moustache. Here—let me.’ He reached out before thinking better of touching her and pointed at her top lip, his words strangled.

She laughed and wiped her lip. ‘Thanks. Not a good look.’

He smiled and stuffed another piece of naan into his mouth, concentrating on his food as he mopped up the last of his curry with the bread—anything to take his mind off how much he wanted her.

He topped up her glass and she drank again. He had the strongest urge to reach over, pull her head towards him and lick the lassi off her top lip.

Instead, he had to sit there and watch her do it, her tongue flicking out to caress her lip in a slow sweep, and he almost bolted from the table.

‘Finished? I’ll take care of the bill and meet you at the car.’

She nodded, the loose strands of hair around her face floating in the breeze. The urge to brush them away made his gut clench all over again.

‘Thanks for lunch. It was delicious. Sujit’s a great cook.’

As he pulled out her chair, his hand brushed her bare arm, and he gritted his teeth at the feel of her silky, soft skin. At this rate he wouldn’t be able to walk.

‘See you at the car.’

Her open expression told him she had no idea how much he was struggling with his libido, and he turned away and called out to Sujit, who appeared from the kitchen in an instant.

‘Mr Zac, your friend is special.’ Sujit’s singsong lilting accent held a wistful note. ‘You have known her long, yes?’

‘Not long. Though I agree she’s special.’

So special he’d given up a valuable day to be with her. After last night he’d almost reneged on their tour; he could have spent the day catching up on paperwork and following up that fax pointing to their suspected saboteur.

But his wanting to cancel had been more than business; not only had that jerk of an ex done a number on her for sex, he’d lied to her—and the second Zac had heard that he’d known he shouldn’t get involved.

He was lying to her too.

Every moment he let her believe he was a PR manager at sea he was being dishonest, and while catching the saboteur demanded duplicity—and ultimately making good on his promise to his uncle—it didn’t stop him hating every second of his deceit.

So he’d told her a partial truth to compensate for his guilt—told her how badly he wanted her, expecting her to run at the mention of a date let alone anything else.

Instead, her response to his kiss had shaken him as much as the fact that she’d stood her ground and hadn’t run. And even while he’d planned on begging off the tour today the memories of her fiery reaction had kept him up all night and drawn him here.

‘It must be serious. You have never brought a woman to Sujit’s humble café before. Are you going to marry her?’

Zac laughed. Life was so simple in some cultures. You met a girl, you liked her, you married her. Either that or your parents chose a bride for you.

‘No.’A strange tingle ran up his spine, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. ‘I’m just showing her around your lovely island today. She’ll be leaving the ship in a week.’

‘Ah, she lives in Australia. Why should that stop you from marrying? You also live there, yes?’

‘Yeah, but she’s a friend, and I’m not remotely interested in marrying her or anybody else for that matter.’

Been there, done that, never forgotten the folly.

Sujit grinned, his teeth stained an ugly brown from years of chewing betel nut. ‘Whatever you say. Though trust old Sujit—he has a feeling in his bones about this one.’

‘You’re an old degenerate.’ Zac settled the bill and shook his hand. ‘See you next time.’

‘Maybe you’ll both visit on your honeymoon?’

Zac chuckled, amused by the restaurant owner’s one-track mind.

Marriage again? Not for him.

As he caught sight of Lana, casually leaning against the Jeep, the wind whipping her hair away from her face while plastering the dated dress against her shapely body, the faintest niggle of doubt entered his mind.

She was dynamite, packing a stronger punch than TNT and C4 combined. She blew his mind and short-circuited the rest of his body every moment he spent with her, till all he could focus on was how much he wanted her.

He’d been attracted to her mentally at the start, but how quickly that had all changed. Now he wanted her so badly he ached.

Yet for all her surprising bravado last night she was still inherently shy, retreating when he pushed too far, still hiding her sensational body behind those repulsive clothes.

So if they couldn’t have a fling, what the hell should he do? Back off?

‘Mr Zac, I’ve never seen you like this.’

He tore his gaze away from Lana, focussed on Sujit. ‘Like what?’

‘Distracted.’ Sujit pointed to his forehead, imitated a frown. ‘So very serious.’

That’s because his growing feelings for Lana were serious. Even the fact he was using the word ‘feelings’ scared the hell out of him.

Sujit shook his head, his benevolent grin bordering on condescending. ‘I can see you’re making this more complicated than it is. You like this woman, yes?’

He nodded, his gaze inadvertently drawn to her again. Crushing need swamped him, blindsiding him faster than a swinging mast.

‘Well, then, do not over-analyse. Do not worry about the future and what it may hold. Live for the moment. See where the winds of change take you.’

He stared at Sujit as if seeing him for the first time, his words echoing through his head.

Could it really be that simple?

Was he over-analysing, thinking too far ahead, allowing his fears from the past to destroy a possible future with a wonderful woman?

His conscience yelled a resounding Hell, yeah! and just like that a mighty weight lifted from his shoulders and floated away into a cloudless Fijian sky.

‘Thanks, my friend, you’re a genius.’ He pumped Sujit’s hand, his attention still firmly focussed on the woman who’d captured his heart without trying.

Sujit’s grin widened as he placed his palms together and bowed. ‘I know. Now, go.’

He didn’t need to be told twice, and as he headed for the car, refraining from breaking into a run, he knew the decision he’d just made had the potential to change his life. For the better.

Lana squinted into the sunshine, watching Zac stride towards the car. He’d been in a strange mood over lunch and the odd times she’d caught him staring at her it had looked as if he fancied her as dessert.

It had made her uncomfortable, and she’d had no idea how to handle the attention, so she’d focussed on her meal, steered the conversation onto factual topics and muddled through the best she could. She just hoped things weren’t as tension-fraught at the beach.

‘Ready to go?’

‘Sure.’

As he drove along a winding coastal road she focused on the picturesque scenery and replayed their lunch conversation in her head.

There was so much more to him than smooth words and a charming smile. He was well-travelled, articulate and self-assured, with charisma that captured her interest and engaged her mind. It only added to his appeal. But she’d be better off remembering most of what he said was designed to tease her, that words were cheap.

She’d fallen for slick words before. These days a guy’s actions were the only thing that would let him anywhere near her bruised heart.

‘Wait till you check out this beach. I’ve seen a few, but I think this is better than some of the Caribbean beaches—not to mention Queensland’s hot spots.’

‘I love any beach. My apartment’s in Coogee, so you can safely say I’m a bit of a beach babe.’

‘Well, you’re right about one thing. You’re definitely a babe.’

Her measly ego inflated momentarily, before she shot him a disapproving stare. ‘Oh, yeah, I’m sure my designer wardrobe elevates me to babe status.’

He paused, as if searching for the right words. ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but your wardrobe is a little… ’

‘Boring?’

Her sour interruption had him darting a worried glance in her direction before refocusing on the road.

‘I was thinking more along the lines of sedate for someone your age.’

‘Which is?’

‘Hell, I’m digging myself in deeper, aren’t I?’

She chuckled. ‘Quit while you’re behind, sailor boy.’

She liked her clothes. They might be old but they were safe, familiar, like snuggling into a favourite quilt on a cold winter’s day.

She’d tried a new wardrobe once before, a new look, going the whole way with risqué lingerie. But none of it had made any difference with Jax. He’d hurt her just the same, designer dresses or not. Much safer to stay true to herself, to find a man who wanted her for the real her, not because of how she looked or what she could do for him.

‘Actually, I like what you’re wearing today. That blue brings out the green flecks in your eyes.’

‘My weird eyes change colour according to what I wear.’

‘Not weird. How about alluring?’

She snorted. ‘You could bottle that charm and sell it.’ His bashful smile made her laugh. ‘And I see what you mean. I’m so alluring I have hundreds of men falling at my feet, and it’s all because of my eyes.’

‘You have one.’

‘Who?’

‘I’m a male, in case you hadn’t noticed.’

Oh, she’d noticed, all right—was noticing more by the minute, despite all attempts to the contrary.

Fortunately she was saved from replying as he slowed the car and turned into a narrow dirt track. The Jeep bumped and lurched over rough terrain, the ground scattered with large potholes, and thick foliage slapped against the doors.

Just as her bones started to warn her they’d been rattled once too often the vegetation thinned, and he pulled over into a clearing which overlooked an inviting stretch of white sand, with an aquamarine ocean that stretched as far as she could see.

‘Wow—amazing.’

Zac’s blue-eyed gaze fixed on her, bold, challenging. ‘Sure is.’

He wasn’t looking at the view, and she squirmed under his searing stare.

‘Come with me.’

She stared at his outstretched hand, wanting to take it, but nervous he’d read too much into it.

He took the decision out of her hands by grabbing hers on the pretext of helping her from the car, and she sent him a tremulous smile, wondering if he had any idea what a big deal it was for her to hold hands with a gorgeous guy as they strolled towards a secluded beach.

Holding hands implied trust, implied dependence, implied she believed in him enough to lower her barriers—much more than responding to his impulsive kisses inspired by chemistry and the length of time since she’d last been kissed, and the soul-deep yearning to be wanted by another person.

As her feet sank into the soft sand, and he gripped her hand that little bit tighter, she knew her resistance to this charming man was slipping dangerously.

A loud ‘caw’ captured her attention, and she glanced to her right, at a huge bird perched on top of a towering cliff ending at the lagoon’s edge.

That was exactly how she felt—as if she was standing on the edge of a very steep cliff, torn between wanting to jump into the warm, welcoming ocean below and experiencing the thrill of a lifetime, or letting her feet back her up to the predictable safety of solid ground.

With Zac tugging gently on her hand she had no option but to follow, heading into the unknown with a man who had the power to unnerve her, when every self-preservation instinct screamed at her to dig her heels in the sand.