Snowbound Seduction by Helen Brooks

the end of the week. ‘What I have to do will take a while.’ And a clear head. Plenty of black coffee when she got in. ‘We lost a lucrative contract due to certain folk refusing to pull their weight, and my boss needs the facts and figures for his boss.’
    He raised his brows. ‘So you really do have to work?’
    â€˜I told you,’ she said reprovingly.
    He nodded. ‘So you did, but I suspected it was an excuse not to have dinner with me.’
    â€˜Well, I might have said the same anyway but tonight it does happen to be true.’
    He gave a roar of a laugh that brought a smile to her lips. ‘And was the ordeal so terrible?’ he asked wryly.
    â€˜The meal was very nice,’ she said primly. ‘Thank you.’
    â€˜And the company?’ he persisted. ‘Was that very nice too?’
    â€˜Tolerable.’ But she smiled again to soften the word. She had enjoyed herself despite all expectations, and it had been seductively gratifying to be sought out by a man like Zac.
    The edges of his mouth curved up. ‘Tolerable enough to be repeated?’
    Her heart had just about settled into its normal pattern; now it pounded like a sledgehammer again. She shook her head quickly. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t. But thank you.’
    â€˜Yes, you can. You just say, “Thank you, Zac. That would be great,” and the job’s done. Simple.’
    Nothing was simple with Zac Lawson. And with him so close and the scent and warmth of him enfolding her, it was getting more complicated by the second. Rachel took a deep breath. This had to be nipped in the bud, right now. ‘What I mean is—’
    â€˜I know what you mean, Rachel,’ he said, his voice holding only the faintest trace of amusement. ‘Believe me, you’re nothing if not crystal clear. And Jennie told me you don’t date so there’s no misunderstanding on that score. I’d just like you to share a meal with me now and again while I’m over here, that’s all. Business in the day and hotel rooms at night are OK, but eating alone can get pretty tedious.’
    She stared into the dark face lit now and again by the lights flashing by outside the taxi windows. His voice had been casual, deceptively so. For a moment she almost believed him if it wasn’t for those unusual tawny eyes so intent on her face. Jennie had told him she didn’t date and for a man like Giles—or in this case, Zac—such a challenge couldn’t be ignored. Keeping her voice even and steady, she said calmly, ‘You mean as a friend? Dinner companions?’
    â€˜Exactly.’ He nodded. ‘Friends.’
    â€˜Purely platonic.’ She raised one eyebrow.
    â€˜Right.’ He nodded again. ‘Sure thing.’
    Yeah, and pigs could fly. ‘But I’m sure there’ll be lots of business colleagues willing to have dinner with you.’ And all of them women. ‘And Jennie’s free most nights, Susan too. You could meet her Henry, he’s a lovely man.’
    â€˜I’m sure he is,’ he said, his Canadian burr warm. ‘But I enjoy your company and I had a good time tonight.’
    So had she. That was the trouble.
    â€˜And the thing is, we know where we stand with each other, right?’ he added, shifting slightly in his seat.
    â€˜I’m sorry?’ She couldn’t think with him so close.
    He assumed a patient tone. ‘I’m over here for a short time so there’s no question of any romantic attachments, and some women—even after one date—can make things a little awkward.’
    Now, she did believe that. She bet women tried to stick to him like limpets; she might have done before Giles had woken her up to the fact that such men were dangerous.
    â€˜You’re not looking for togetherness or anything permanent at the moment, so what’s the harm in us enjoying each other’s company for a couple of weeks,