our agreement, so quite a bit longer yet.’ Zach spoke right beside her. ‘You’re mine for that time, Lily, and I plan to hold you to every one of the agreed days.’
‘Well, I’ve done my best to get things in order in the office.’ She forced herself to treat his statement at face value, but her skin prickled as she absorbed his quiet words, and their double-edged meaning.
He couldn’t mean to pursue their attraction further? The one kiss had been devastation enough.
She had to get out of this man’s orbit. The sooner, the better. ‘I’m sure any of my staff would be able to take over and keep things going quite seamlessly from this point.’ If she could bring Deborah in…
His instant, narrowed gaze bored through her. ‘But that’s not going to happen, my dear. Now, let’s go mix with the crowd. I’m sure lots of these people would like to meet you.’
My dear.
Oh, it had been nothing but a throwaway line. Yet, even as she told herself this, she reacted to the heat of awareness in his gaze.
‘I was about to leave, actually. This is your night. The business dinner was just a ruse to get you here. You don’t need me hanging around.’
‘Nonsense. If you think I’ll let you go now…’A certain tautness of his features made his determination clear. ‘Besides, a lot of these people are business contacts. You might pick up some interest in your agency. That’s what you want, isn’t it? To build up business?’
‘Naturally, I do.’ She couldn’t very well say anything else. ‘But I can’t push my agency down people’s throats at your party.’
He took her hand and tucked it through the crook of his elbow. ‘You could if you wanted to. But, if not, then just enjoy yourself and don’t be a drama queen about it, there’s a good girl.’
Ooh!
While she was struggling to overcome her flash of ire, he excused them to his mother and brother and started around the room, introducing her to uncles, aunts and cousins, and more business colleagues than she could count. She would never remember most of them.
And Zach still wasn’t willing to let her bring in a replacement for herself. What would she do?
‘You seem to have quite a few relatives. I’m surprised at how many have travelled to be here.’ That made it sound as though Zach wasn’t worth making the trip for, and this wasn’t
her
family they were talking about.
‘Sorry. That came out all wrong. Why don’t I go mingle for a while by myself?’ she suggested rather desperately. ‘Let you get on with enjoying your guests?’
‘Why not stay with me? I’m enjoying your company, and it’s my birthday. Don’t you want to keep me happy?’ Aside from the hand that tucked her against his side, he didn’t touch her. But his glance held heat.
‘I shouldn’t.’ But she stayed. She was too weak to say no again and walk away. And she convinced herself it would be fine. They’d shared a kiss. But, when his common sense returned, he would have no desire to repeat it. Why would he?
They ate sumptuous finger food passed around by discreet waiters, and more food piled onto a groaning buffet table. During the informal toasts there were a lot of jokes about football. Perhaps Zach had played in high school or something. He certainly had lovely shoulders for the game.
When Zach spoke, she was thinking about those shoulders bared and raised above her. Stark, illicit thoughts that shocked and enthralled at once.
‘Come dance with me.’
‘You should dance with some of your guests.’ Her voice sounded almost normal. She hoped he couldn’t see the desperation and lingering desire for him in her gaze.
She couldn’t dance with him. Couldn’t be held close against the solid wall of his chest without revealing just how much she wanted to be that close, and stay that way for as long as she possibly could.
Darkness had set in. The harbour outside sparkled with twinkling lights. There was far too much of the fairy tale about this night
‘Well, I’ve done my best to get things in order in the office.’ She forced herself to treat his statement at face value, but her skin prickled as she absorbed his quiet words, and their double-edged meaning.
He couldn’t mean to pursue their attraction further? The one kiss had been devastation enough.
She had to get out of this man’s orbit. The sooner, the better. ‘I’m sure any of my staff would be able to take over and keep things going quite seamlessly from this point.’ If she could bring Deborah in…
His instant, narrowed gaze bored through her. ‘But that’s not going to happen, my dear. Now, let’s go mix with the crowd. I’m sure lots of these people would like to meet you.’
My dear.
Oh, it had been nothing but a throwaway line. Yet, even as she told herself this, she reacted to the heat of awareness in his gaze.
‘I was about to leave, actually. This is your night. The business dinner was just a ruse to get you here. You don’t need me hanging around.’
‘Nonsense. If you think I’ll let you go now…’A certain tautness of his features made his determination clear. ‘Besides, a lot of these people are business contacts. You might pick up some interest in your agency. That’s what you want, isn’t it? To build up business?’
‘Naturally, I do.’ She couldn’t very well say anything else. ‘But I can’t push my agency down people’s throats at your party.’
He took her hand and tucked it through the crook of his elbow. ‘You could if you wanted to. But, if not, then just enjoy yourself and don’t be a drama queen about it, there’s a good girl.’
Ooh!
While she was struggling to overcome her flash of ire, he excused them to his mother and brother and started around the room, introducing her to uncles, aunts and cousins, and more business colleagues than she could count. She would never remember most of them.
And Zach still wasn’t willing to let her bring in a replacement for herself. What would she do?
‘You seem to have quite a few relatives. I’m surprised at how many have travelled to be here.’ That made it sound as though Zach wasn’t worth making the trip for, and this wasn’t
her
family they were talking about.
‘Sorry. That came out all wrong. Why don’t I go mingle for a while by myself?’ she suggested rather desperately. ‘Let you get on with enjoying your guests?’
‘Why not stay with me? I’m enjoying your company, and it’s my birthday. Don’t you want to keep me happy?’ Aside from the hand that tucked her against his side, he didn’t touch her. But his glance held heat.
‘I shouldn’t.’ But she stayed. She was too weak to say no again and walk away. And she convinced herself it would be fine. They’d shared a kiss. But, when his common sense returned, he would have no desire to repeat it. Why would he?
They ate sumptuous finger food passed around by discreet waiters, and more food piled onto a groaning buffet table. During the informal toasts there were a lot of jokes about football. Perhaps Zach had played in high school or something. He certainly had lovely shoulders for the game.
When Zach spoke, she was thinking about those shoulders bared and raised above her. Stark, illicit thoughts that shocked and enthralled at once.
‘Come dance with me.’
‘You should dance with some of your guests.’ Her voice sounded almost normal. She hoped he couldn’t see the desperation and lingering desire for him in her gaze.
She couldn’t dance with him. Couldn’t be held close against the solid wall of his chest without revealing just how much she wanted to be that close, and stay that way for as long as she possibly could.
Darkness had set in. The harbour outside sparkled with twinkling lights. There was far too much of the fairy tale about this night
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