‘Well, for what it’s worth...’ She raised her chin in forced confidence, acknowledging the vulnerability of what she was about to say and saying it anyway. ‘I think you’re better than the press would have people believe.’
‘Better?’ he scoffed gently. ‘Have you read those articles?’
She nodded. ‘You know I have. But they’re not the same person as the one stood before me just now, the one that loves his sister so openly and cares what I think.’
‘No?’
She shook her head, fighting the desire to close the distance between them and kiss an agreement out of him. ‘You just told me that nothing happened last night. If you didn’t care what I thought, you wouldn’t be telling me that.’
Her deduction hung in the air between them, their gazes locked in some silent exchange, and then he blinked, a shutter falling over his expression. ‘Regardless, it’s still me, it’s how I’ve always been, and you need to either accept it or keep that line in place.’
And then he was gone, heading out of the door and leaving her mentally slapping herself.
What are you playing at?
She fell back into her seat and thrust both hands through her hair, gripping the back of her head in disbelief. Way to go focusing on the professional. You can’t even do it for five minutes.
EJ found her in the exact same position when she bustled in moments later.
‘Wowzers!’ she exclaimed, pushing the door closed, and waving an exaggerated hand at Zara’s miserable form. ‘If I had that man following me around with that puppy-dog-lost look I’d be dancing, not looking like the world was coming to an end.’
Puppy-dog-lost. She came alive at that, shaking her head with a small laugh. A puppy was not the animal she’d associate with Daniel...
‘What?’ EJ said, her brow raised in mock innocence. ‘I’m only saying that it seems to me you’ve just won us a mega-contract and a bit of selfish fun in the process—what’s the problem?’
‘You make it sound so simple.’
‘Isn’t it? It’s not like you’d be looking for anything serious with a man like him, but why not grab a little fun while you can?’
Fun. Oh, yes, he can deliver on the fun. But how will you feel when the fun fizzles out? When he flip-flops between you and some other woman? When he gets bored?
Hell, you could be bored by then too...
It was a feisty retort and one that she could cling to. Not that she believed it possible, not for a second, but if she went in with her eyes open...well, that made it okay, right?
CHAPTER NINE
IT WAS FRIDAY and the weather was holding out, glorious sunshine, temperatures worthy of a day at the beach, not work. But she’d lined up an out-of-city viewing, keen to get out of the smog and into the open countryside.
She was looking forward to it. Far more than was healthy. But she didn’t care. She had a real energy that she hadn’t felt in years. And this was the first time she’d seen him in two days, unless you counted the numerous occasions in her head where she relived each and every encounter.
But nothing could compare to seeing him in the flesh. Or his car...
No way.
She should have known he would turn up in it, after his comment earlier in the week, but as she watched the deep blue Vantage pull up at the kerb outside her office building, she had to swallow the lump in her throat and work to control the thrill rushing through her veins.
She should have known it would be no ordinary Aston too. Not when the man driving it was Daniel. It bore race livery, the kind that inspired a heady reaction in her blood, and her palms dampened against the tablet clutched to her chest.
The man himself stepped out of the driver’s side, his black T-shirt clinging to every honed muscle of his chest, and she forced her eyes up to meet with his over the roof.
‘Morning.’ He grinned and her insides bubbled over, making it hard to speak. Instead she smiled and closed the distance, meeting him at the passenger side and trying not to devour him from top to toe, lapping up his fitted T that gathered midway over his crotch and the stonewashed jeans that hugged his hips with mouth-watering intent. He pressed down the handle and opened the door for her. ‘Are you well?’
She nodded and smiled up at him, wishing her voice normal. ‘Nice wheels.’
‘I thought you’d appreciate it.’ His eyes raked over her, his pupils eclipsing the burning amber that seemed to strip her of her clothing and make her wet for him in one. Maybe she shouldn’t have opted for the delicate red dress, its flimsy fabric offering up no resistance to her nipples now prickling to the fore. ‘It was worth it to see your reaction.’
Which one?