“Very funny.” She hesitated, knowing she should invite him in but she couldn’t seem to say the words. “What are you doing here, Zac?”
He held up a bag with the name of a major bookstore on the outside. “I brought a book for your radio show.”
Her brow creased. “What kind of book?”
“Invite me inside and I’ll tell you.”
A derisive sound emerged from her throat. “Why does everything have to be conditional with you?”
“How else can I get the things I want?”
Want. All at once she felt vulnerable, with no place to hide, not even in her own apartment. This is what it all came down to. What Zac wanted. Just like Steve. It was always about what men wanted.
“And what is it you want from me, Zac?” she challenged.
His eyes closed in on her.
A second ticked by.
He held her gaze like he had nothing to hide. “Just to discuss this book over coffee,” he said quietly.
She realized she was overreacting. The man was a guest in her country and a guest on her show. He was helping her out, for God’s sake. She should be grateful, not ready to rip his throat out, she told herself, her apprehension lessening.
She moved back to open the door wider. “I suppose I could spare you a cup of coffee.”
He scanned her face, then as if satisfied with what he saw, he smiled. “Okay, but go easy on the arsenic,” he mocked, then stepped past her into the apartment.
She let out half a laugh. “Shucks, and I just ran out too,” she quipped. Dammit, he went from slow to go quicker than she could blink. Needless to say, she was pretty good in that department herself. It was the reason she could talk so easily on-air. And the reason she was enjoying bouncing witticisms off this guy.
She shut the door behind him, trying to ignore a faint aura of shaving cologne. He stopped to laugh at her comment, the sound stroking every nerve-ending in her body, and suddenly she was wondering if she was crazy letting him inside her apartment. She wanted to grab him and push him out the door.
Or push him toward her bedroom.
Lordy!
Just then, a fluffy snowball came yapping down the hallway toward them. She heard Zac mutter something and stiffen, and without thinking she stepped forward and scooped Mitzy up in her arms.
Then she looked at Zac over the top of her dog’s head. His reaction disappointed her. She didn’t trust anyone who didn’t like animals. There was just something - a compassion - that was missing in the person. Admittedly her ex had been her prime example. Steve hadn’t ill-treated the dog but he’d been less than friendly. She’d made up for it though, she was pleased to remember as her hands tightened around the now-wriggling ball of energy.
Zac looked wary. “Are you sure you’ve got hold of him?”
“He’s not a he. She’s a she. Her name’s Mitzy.”
He scowled at the dog. “Just hold onto her, okay?”
Cassie’s disillusionment grew. “You don’t like dogs, do you?”
His gaze returned to her face and a muscle began to tick in his jaw. “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?” All at once optimism rose inside her. “Are you allergic to them?”
“No.”
Her disappointment returned like a second wave. At least if he were allergic, that was a good reason to stay away from a dog. As it was…
Feeling dispirited, she walked toward the kitchen. “I’ll put her in her cage.”
“She has a cage?”
She stopped dead and looked over her shoulder. “I call it that but it’s really just a small metal crate. I sometimes put her in there when I have visitors.” She wondered why she was making this easy for him. She continued to the kitchen. “Don’t worry. My girl won’t hurt you. Well, sometimes she bites,” she added for good measure. “And she doesn’t much like men.” There!
“Runs in the family, does it?”
She hid a smile, glad to be walking in front of him. He seemed to be almost back to his usual normal self with that comment. “How’d you guess?” She hadn’t finished with him yet. She kept her face blank as she stopped to look at him. “It’s for your own safety.” He seemed to pale and suddenly she felt bad. Then all at once her mind cleared and her sense of letdown turned to understanding. “Good Lord, you’re scared of dogs!”His shoulders tensed. “I’m not,” he said, with a touch of defensiveness, then shot her an irritated glance. “I just don’t like them rushing at me.”
Aha! So this was his Achilles Heel. How… charming.
“Zac, look, I was just teasing you before.” She wouldn’t tell about the time Mitzy had taken a nip at Steve’s ankle. “She gets over-excited at times, that’s all. I crate her to settle her down sometimes. Not often. She can get underfoot.”
And that was definitely for Mitzy’s own good, Cassie knew, as she put the little dog in the crate. A few months ago a plumber had come to fix a leaking faucet and had accidentally kicked Mitzy with his boot. At least, he’d said it was an accident. The jury was still out on that one.
“Is she okay in that thing?” Zac said, his brows drawing together.
It was sweet of him to be concerned. It’s what she expected of the Zac she’d come to know in this short time. “She’s fine. As you can see, she can easily move around in it."
“Yeah, it looks comfortable.”
Now that Mitzy was settled, Cassie’s insides started to flutter around like the proverbial butterflies in the stomach, that in her case would be moths.
What next? Oh, yes, coffee. She went to the bench and checked there was enough for two brewing in the coffeepot.
“Nice place you’ve got here,” he said behind her, and she turned to see he’d placed himself against the doorframe, looking casual but she suspected he wasn’t as casual as he wanted her to think. And she didn’t think it was because of Mitzy either.
She took two mugs down from the cupboard. “It’s on the market.”
“You’re selling?”
She paused to look at him, wanting to see his reaction. “My ex wants half.”
His eyes riveted on her face. “Your ex?”
She nodded, trying not to let him see beyond the calm face she showed the world. “My divorce came through a week ago.” Then she gave a tight little smile. “My husband dumped me for a newer model.”
He continued to watch her intently. “I’m really sorry about that.”
She shrugged. “He’s not worth being sorry about.”
Zac’s eyes sharpened. “He hurt you?”
She shook her head. “No, he hurt my ego, that’s all. The marriage wasn’t working anyway. Steve was never faithful.”
“I see.”
Zac was now beginning to really unsettle her. He looked and sounded genuinely concerned and she wasn’t sure she liked that. As much as she’d gotten over her ex, she still felt exposed at times, like just mentioning a divorce told everyone a person had been through hell. She didn’t want Zac seeing that. She wanted to keep things light over easy.
Her gaze darted to the package in his hand. “Enough about me. What’s that book about?”
He gave her an assessing look and she knew she hadn’t fooled him, then thank goodness the corners of his mouth quirked upward. “Sex for Lovers.”
She gave a short laugh and breathed easier, relieved to get the pressure off herself. “As opposed to “Sex for Non-lovers”?”
He chuckled. “Good point. Actually I almost bought “Sex for Dummies” but I figured no self-respecting male would be seen buying that book.”
Her smile widened. “True.”
His gaze slid down to her lips for just a moment… then down at the book. “There’s some good subject matter in here. Relationships, intimacy, jealousy. It’s very interesting.”
She tried to slow her heartbeat. She would be a professional about this, she decided, picking up the coffeepot. “Read me some of it then.”
“Okay.” She heard him flip some pages, th
en, “Did you know that kissing can be incredibly erotic?”
Her hand jerked as she went to pour, spilling a little of the coffee. “Really?” She kept her eyes focused on filling the mugs.
“Maybe we should test it out,” he suggested softly. “Just so we can talk about it with some authority, that is.”
Her head shot up, panic rising in her as she quickly put the coffeepot back on its stand. “I knew this was leading somewhere.”
He held up one hand, giving her an offended look. “Hey, the least you can do is help me out here. I’m doing all I can to help bring your ratings up.”
“The only thing you’re bringing up is --”
“Cassie!”
“My breakfast,” she finished wryly, her cynicism easing toward him, remembering he was trying to help. She would give him the benefit of the doubt this time.
“You know, Cassie,” he drawled. “I think you’re scared. I think you want to kiss me but you’re frightened where it will lead.”
She gave a strangled protest. “Don’t try psychology on me, Zac. It won’t work.”
“Then if it won’t work, why don’t you come over here and kiss me?” he challenged softly.
She managed to snicker but in truth she was feeling giddy at the thought of kissing him. “Reverse psychology now?”
There was no response. The room filled with tension and she saw he had an odd look in his eyes that trapped the breath in her lungs. He pushed away from the door frame and placed the book on the table. He moved toward her.
Like a jungle cat.
Or a desert sheik.
Her heart slammed against her ribs. “Zac?” she said unsteadily.
His strong arms snaked out and slowly pulled her up against his hard body. “If Mohammed won’t come to the mountain…” he murmured.
Startled by the husky tone of his voice, she looked into blue eyes that had grown white-hot with heat. “Zac?”
She hardly dared breathe his name.
Hardly dare think where this was leading.
With painstaking slowness his lips began to descend. She prepared herself… opened her mouth…
He stopped.
Just stopped.
A moan escaped her lips and his eyes flared in response. “This is as far as I go, my sweet,” he murmured, his warm breath wafting over her. “Now it’s up to you.”
Something shifted inside her as she stood before him and looked into eyes that said he wanted her but was willing to back off if she said the word. She swallowed. Steve had never put her first.
She moistened her lips and heard his swift intake of breath. This wasn’t Steve. This was Zac on her mind. Zac’s name on her lips. Zac’s body close to hers. Her gaze slowly slid down the bridge of his nose to his mouth. That beautiful, perfect mouth. She was going to kiss it. Yes, she was.
She did. Softly at first, until she got a hint at the taste of him. He’d eaten chocolate recently. And mint. Mmm. She rather liked mint-flavored chocolate in the morning, she decided, opening her mouth wider. He gave a deep shudder, a groan, and his tongue slid straight inside her in a sexual display of hunger that was no gentle kiss and that was fine with her. She didn’t want it to be.
Her fingers splayed over the soft material of his shirt as he took his fill of her. She loved the feel of hard chest muscle beneath her palms, loved the fierce beat of his heart. She could smell his personal scent as man mixed with arousal rose up between them.
Then without warning his hands slid to her buttocks and pulled her closer, trapping her against him. All at once she wanted to be a part of him, wanted him to be a part of her. A thrill raced through her when she felt his erection against her belly. She didn’t expect he would be so hard already and she tried to catch her breath but he was overwhelming and things were getting out of control. She was getting out of control. He was going too fast. Way too fast. If she didn’t stop now she would beg him to make love to her.
“No!” she gasped, somehow finding the strength to move out of those strong, manly arms and step away from him.
For a moment, his eyes blazed with heat and he looked like he would reach out and pull her back to him. On one level, she wanted him to. Oh yes, she did. On another, she wanted to run for her life.
He visibly schooled his features before his gaze lingered with satisfaction on her. “So, what’s your opinion?” he murmured, raising a dark eyebrow, looking very male and so very assured.
She made a choking sound. “About you?”
He gave a soft, sexy laugh. “No. About whether kissing can be incredibly erotic.”
Aah! She was an idiot. “Oh that!” She could feel herself blush a little, even as she tried to look unaffected. “I guess we can say the book is correct.”
“Good. This will be a great topic for the show tonight.”
She froze, her emotions going up and down like a rollercoaster. One minute she thought he was a gentleman, the next he was almost diabolical. Surely their kiss hadn’t merely been something for him to brag about? A conquest? Her lips pressed together. Why not? Hadn’t her ex talked about the women he’d slept with in the past? Pity she’d found out too late those conquests had been during their marriage.
She lifted her chin at Zac, feeling shaky inside but determined to stand her ground. “Listen, ace. I don’t plan on telling anyone about that kiss and I’d prefer it if you didn’t either.”
Anything easygoing about him vanished. “What’s got into you? I was talking about discussing the book on-air, not our kiss. I’d never discuss what a woman and I did together with anyone. That’s our business.”
She stared at him, noting the tight jaw and the sincerity in his eyes. She let out a slow breath. “I’m probably a fool, but I believe you.”
He held her gaze a moment more. “You’re far from a fool, lady.” Then he slanted her another very masculine look. “Now come back in my arms and kiss my hurt feelings better.”
She made a rude sound. “Watch it or I’ll let Mitzy out of her cage.”
He looked suddenly wary, then recovered. “I forgive you for that cheap trick. I wouldn’t for anyone else but –-“
“Zac?”
“Yes?”
“Shut the door on your way out.”
* * *
“G..O..O..D…evening, Chicago. Welcome to “Night Talk”. I’m Cassie King and tonight Zac’s back. Yes, he’s back, Chicago. The Wonder from Down Under is raring to go for another session of rousing dating hints and rib-tickling witticisms. Welcome again to “Night Talk”, Zac.”
“G’day,” he drawled, his Aussie tone doing a slow waltz along her spine. “I’m glad to be here. There’s no place in the world I’d rather be.”
“That’s so nice, Zac.” Her heart skipped a beat as she leaned into the microphone. “Oh, and folks, another nice thing about Zac is that he went out and bought a book on sexual relationships to talk about tonight.” She let her gaze slide over him, confident behind her radio image now. “And ladies, believe me Zac really doesn’t look like he needs a book to tell him what to do in bed. Actually, I think he could write the book on it.”
“Ah, but I might be all thumbs in bed,” he teased in a sexy voice that said thumbs or no thumbs, bed was where this guy belonged.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure you have other…er… assets that will make up for any inadequacy.”
He attempted to look shocked. “Cassie, a man doesn’t like to hear talk of inadequacy. It makes him feel… well… inadequate.”
She laughed on cue, then tilted her head. “Why does a man have to feel adequate in that department anyway, Zac?”
“Why? Because his woman may well get on a radio show like this one and talk about him, and then all his mates will know and he won’t be able to hold his head high, or any other part of his anatomy, so he may as well go and live with the crocodiles because it’s all downhill from there.”
She chuckled, even as warmth raced through her at the possessive sounding “his woman”. “I get you
r point.”
“I hope you do,” he said, his eyes full of sexual innuendo.
She ignored it as best she could. “Now, Zac, how about we read some excerpts from that book you have there.”
“Good idea.” Picking up the book, he flipped to a flagged page. “Okay, here’s the first one. Are you ready for this, Cassie?”
“Absolutely.”
“How’s this sound then? ‘A sexy kiss has nothing to do with skill’.”
She licked lips that still felt swollen from his kiss. “Hmm. I like that one.”
“Yeah, me too,” he murmured, his smile intimate enough to make her lightheaded. Then he glanced down at the book again. “What about this one? ‘Nothing can be sexier than a kiss without control’.”
Her heart stumbled inside her chest. “Oh my.”
“And this one. ‘Losing yourself in a kiss is the highest form of flattery’.”
She took a steady breath. Okay, now this was something she could get her teeth into. “Flattery or foolishness?”
He smiled but his eyes had a penetrating depth to them that made her shiver. iHis“I guess it all depends on how you look at things.”
“With or without blinkers?” she mocked.
“We’re not ordering take-out, Cassie.” He clicked his fingers. “Hey, that’s an idea. Drive-thru sex. Learn how to pluck a chicken in under a minute. How to eat a bun without going to seed. How to say ‘hold the mayo’ with a full mouth. Or how to finger those anchovy pizzas without doing a taste test.”
She couldn’t help herself. She giggled. “I’m sure our listeners like your ridiculous sense of humor.”
“Yeah, but do you?” he shot under cover of a smile.
Her own smile faltered. “This isn’t about what I like.”
His sharp eyes bore into her. “Actually I thought it was.” He paused. “After all, this is your show.”
She shrugged. “I’m just the mouthpiece.”
“No, Cassie. You’re more than that,” he said, his voice turning deep, dusty. “Much more.”
Her stomach flipped, her mind whirled. For the life of her she couldn’t think of a thing to say.
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