probably safe.” He winked. “But come down to the fitness center and we’ll get you looking beach-worthy in a couple of months.”
Fighting a sudden feeling of complete inadequacy, Celeste reinforced her polite smile. “Well, that’s a relief. Thanks for the heads-up.”
She excused herself, leaving Chad behind with a slightly bemused expression, as if he was just realizing that he might have said something offensive. It took her a couple of minutes to reach her mother – she made it a point to remain as far away from Zane as possible as she did so, even though she clearly felt his gaze following her progress across the room. She had to admit, it gave her a thrill to know he was watching her, to have this naughty little secret between just the two of them.
“Thanks for dinner, Mom. This was nice.”
“You’re not leaving already, are you?” Jessica asked, frowning.
“Yes. “
“Please stay a little longer.”
She cast a meaningful glance back toward Chad. “I can’t. I’ve made other plans.”
Jessica raised an elegant brow as her eyes followed Celeste’s gaze. “What plans?”
“Nothing you need to worry about. I’m meeting a friend for coffee.” She couldn’t completely stop the secret smile tugging at her lips. Jessica looked like she wanted to question Celeste further, but dare not do so in the presence of the others. Looking less than pleased, she waved over at Mitch, who instantly made his way to her. “At least allow Mitch to walk you home.”
“I’d be happy to do that, if it’s all right with Celeste.” Zane’s deep voice said from behind her.
“That’s very kind of you,” Celeste answered, pulling her lightweight sweater over her shoulders, “but I’m meeting someone.” Her eyes twinkled in challenge.
He smiled serenely in return. “Actually, that will work out well. I, too, have plans, and was just on my way out. I can walk you on my way.”
“Yes, well, I suppose that would be all right, if you’re sure it’s not an inconvenience.”
“None whatsoever.”
“Who are you meeting again?” Jessica asked, interrupting the gaze they sustained between them.
“A friend.” Celeste gave her a patient smile, “Don’t worry, Mom. Goodnight. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Chapter 7
They made it out of the building and around the corner before Zane pushed Celeste into the shadows and took her mouth in a knee-weakening kiss. “I’ve been wanting to do that all night,” he confessed. “You look absolutely breathtaking, Celeste.”
“You look pretty hot yourself,” she said, nipping his bottom lip. “Even Cameron couldn’t take her eyes off of you and her tastes don’t run that way.”
“You mean like Chad couldn’t take his eyes off of you?” he growled, drawing her tightly against his aching groin.
“Just professional interest on his part,” she breathed. Celeste closed her eyes and tilted her head back enough to give Zane unrestricted access to the sensitive spot beneath her ear. “He graciously offered to personally oversee a training program to have me beach-worthy in six months.”
Zane growled again. “I always knew he was a fucking idiot. Come on. We’d better go or I’m going to take you right here in the bushes. Christ, you smell good.”
He released her and took a deep breath in an effort to control his baser animal urges. Taking her hand, he tugged her back onto the lighted pathway.
“My place is that way,” she said, still panting lightly from that last kiss.
“I know. We’re going for dessert, remember?”
“You were serious about that?” Her genuine surprise and obvious disappointment was precious. Zane laughed and pulled her along.
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” Celeste said quietly. They sat at a small table on the outside patio of Sweet Caroline’s Pastry and Bakeshop, overlooking the bay. It was a lovely night. The skies were clear enough to see the blanket of stars above them, and a
Fighting a sudden feeling of complete inadequacy, Celeste reinforced her polite smile. “Well, that’s a relief. Thanks for the heads-up.”
She excused herself, leaving Chad behind with a slightly bemused expression, as if he was just realizing that he might have said something offensive. It took her a couple of minutes to reach her mother – she made it a point to remain as far away from Zane as possible as she did so, even though she clearly felt his gaze following her progress across the room. She had to admit, it gave her a thrill to know he was watching her, to have this naughty little secret between just the two of them.
“Thanks for dinner, Mom. This was nice.”
“You’re not leaving already, are you?” Jessica asked, frowning.
“Yes. “
“Please stay a little longer.”
She cast a meaningful glance back toward Chad. “I can’t. I’ve made other plans.”
Jessica raised an elegant brow as her eyes followed Celeste’s gaze. “What plans?”
“Nothing you need to worry about. I’m meeting a friend for coffee.” She couldn’t completely stop the secret smile tugging at her lips. Jessica looked like she wanted to question Celeste further, but dare not do so in the presence of the others. Looking less than pleased, she waved over at Mitch, who instantly made his way to her. “At least allow Mitch to walk you home.”
“I’d be happy to do that, if it’s all right with Celeste.” Zane’s deep voice said from behind her.
“That’s very kind of you,” Celeste answered, pulling her lightweight sweater over her shoulders, “but I’m meeting someone.” Her eyes twinkled in challenge.
He smiled serenely in return. “Actually, that will work out well. I, too, have plans, and was just on my way out. I can walk you on my way.”
“Yes, well, I suppose that would be all right, if you’re sure it’s not an inconvenience.”
“None whatsoever.”
“Who are you meeting again?” Jessica asked, interrupting the gaze they sustained between them.
“A friend.” Celeste gave her a patient smile, “Don’t worry, Mom. Goodnight. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Chapter 7
They made it out of the building and around the corner before Zane pushed Celeste into the shadows and took her mouth in a knee-weakening kiss. “I’ve been wanting to do that all night,” he confessed. “You look absolutely breathtaking, Celeste.”
“You look pretty hot yourself,” she said, nipping his bottom lip. “Even Cameron couldn’t take her eyes off of you and her tastes don’t run that way.”
“You mean like Chad couldn’t take his eyes off of you?” he growled, drawing her tightly against his aching groin.
“Just professional interest on his part,” she breathed. Celeste closed her eyes and tilted her head back enough to give Zane unrestricted access to the sensitive spot beneath her ear. “He graciously offered to personally oversee a training program to have me beach-worthy in six months.”
Zane growled again. “I always knew he was a fucking idiot. Come on. We’d better go or I’m going to take you right here in the bushes. Christ, you smell good.”
He released her and took a deep breath in an effort to control his baser animal urges. Taking her hand, he tugged her back onto the lighted pathway.
“My place is that way,” she said, still panting lightly from that last kiss.
“I know. We’re going for dessert, remember?”
“You were serious about that?” Her genuine surprise and obvious disappointment was precious. Zane laughed and pulled her along.
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” Celeste said quietly. They sat at a small table on the outside patio of Sweet Caroline’s Pastry and Bakeshop, overlooking the bay. It was a lovely night. The skies were clear enough to see the blanket of stars above them, and a
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