by Kim Rees
Oh, God. Please.
Not—
The orgasm splintered her.
A wave of heat washed through her trembling body. Anna bit her lip, caging the desperate need to cry out, to shout Zach’s name, declare—
The creak of a glass door.
Oh God…
He had just…in the middle of a gallery. Anyone, anyone, could have seen them. Shame swam through her, but her legs were still too shaky to stand without help. The solid strength of Zach’s body held her up. She hated and craved it. The slow, slow slide of his hands away from her left her cold. “Yes, you remember me now, Anna.”
The edge of bitterness to his voice crushed her. She had just shown she was a complete… Anna shied away from the word. This was how she reacted to him. How she would always react to him. It didn’t seem to matter how hard she fought it, her body was a traitor.
“Vaguely.” Anna stepped away, straightened her dress with shaking fingers. She couldn’t meet his gaze, fixing her attention on his tie. Heat still burned over her skin. “And what did that prove, Zach?”
He lifted her chin, forced her to meet his eyes. Fire burned there. “That this is far from over.”
“I—”
“What have you been saying to my sister? She’s practically scarlet.” Sofia glanced over her silk dress. A cold smile curved her painted lips. “Anna. White? Daring of you.”
Her sister was the last thing she needed. Zach had just… No. She couldn’t think about it. Her mind was still fuzzy, her body not entirely her own. But she had to focus. Deal with Sofia’s usual snide remarks. “You took all of my clothes.”
“No.” Her gaze slid away, searched the empty space of the gallery. Her lips still held the twist of her smile. “Actually I burned them.”
The sudden need to cry surged through Anna. Another one of Sofia’s callous little acts that had plagued her life for years. No. At the end of the week, it would be over. She reminded herself that they were just clothes. Comfortable, well-worn and easily replaceable.
She straightened and enjoyed the touch of a real smile on her mouth. “Good. Thank you.”
Sofia’s smile froze, for just a fraction of a second. It widened Anna’s own smile and gave her a sense of power. Sharp eyes narrowed on Anna. “Have you organised anything tonight? I’m parched.” Sofia stalked away to her cronies in the far corner, expensive heels clacking on the slate floor.
Anna let out a slow breath. Finally, finally, she had bested her sister.
“More of your little show?”
But there was still Zach. And what they had just done.
Anna knew she should feel ashamed. Knew it. But that little quiver held her, the thrill of danger, of them being caught. Her blood hummed with it. And it shouldn’t. “I’ve said it before, Zach. I’ll leave you to think what you will.” Her gaze flicked over his, but she couldn’t hold them. “I need to see to the caterers.”
“Always at your sister’s whim.”
“No.” Anna straightened. “This is for Freddie. I owe him.”
She turned away, her heart thudding. A new life. One without the complication of Zach. Anna made herself breathe. That wasn’t the raw burn of emotion in the pit of her stomach…no…despite all that food, she was hungry again. That was all. Feelings for a man like Zach?
With all that she had seen, all that she knew?
Her insides soured.
Anna grimaced. Damn. Now she had heartburn.
˜™
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” A slight smile touched his mother’s mouth.
Somehow Maria Quinn didn’t look any older, still the pale beauty who had caught his father so many years before. A knot twisted in his back.
“She’s busy,” he said.
Zach stopped himself from grinding his teeth. Which one of them had invited his mother to this show? Had to be Sofia. Anna’s manoeuvrings were never so…brash. He took another glass from a passing waiter. This day couldn’t be over soon enough.
Change the subject, far away from Anna Shrewsbury. “So… How are you?”
“Fine.” She twisted the glass of sparkling water she held. “How was the lunch?”
She looked up and Zach found himself meeting his own eyes. It had to be the lights. That wasn’t the sheen of tears. “The usual.” Zach couldn’t hold her gaze, torn with the reality that she had never been invited. “But not a substitute for having him here.”
A small sigh escaped her. “No.” She paused. “I was sorry to hear about Gregory. I know the two of you were close.” Maria’s gaze rested on Sofia, laughing and shouting at a waiter for more champagne. “She seems to be taking it well.”
Zach forced down the smile. They also shared the same sense of humour.
“Zach…”
Damn, another attempt to explain, to win him over. “Mother—”
“She’s different.”
He stared. “What?”
“Your woman in white. She’s not your usual perfect plastic doll.” Her eyes narrowed. “Who is she?”
Zach expelled a slow breath. Let his mother laugh at him now. He was out with a gold digger, when he had vowed— “Anna Shrewsbury.”
“Ah, Sofia’s sister.” Maria’s smile widened and she patted his arm. Long, pale fingers stayed. “Good.”
He stared at her hand and the years he hadn’t spoken, hadn’t seen her, weighed heavy. But he couldn’t forget what she had done. She claimed she had always loved his father, but the whole world had known of her affairs. “Good? You know her reputation?”
“And it’s not bothering you.” Her smile deepened. “Are you starting to mellow in your old age?” A cool hand framed his jaw for a brief second. “I loved your father—”
“You betrayed him.”
“I loved your father. Still do. And he loved me. We didn’t marry for money or convenience. I…” she looked away, “…strayed. I’m not proud of it. But it’s something I have to live with. Something he forgave.” Maria took a sip of her water. “Your Anna…”
Zach automatically found her in the crowd, caught in a shot of light. His gut tightened in the all-too-familiar way. Did she have to flirt with that old walrus?
“…isn’t perfect. You can’t control what she’ll do. Or who she’ll do it with.”
Zach could hardly contain his disbelief. “And you see that as being a step forward?”
Sharp blue eyes held his. “For you? Yes.”
And then Zach had to watch her leave, passing one of the gallery assistants pressing another red dot on to the frame of yet another painting. Yes. There was a reason why he hadn’t talked to his mother for twelve years.
He scrubbed a hand over his face.
Damn it. Think of something else. He caught that old moustachioed walrus kissing Anna’s hand and her delicate responding blush. No, something else. The assistant with her little red dots. Freddie Lewis was having a successful evening. Grudgingly, Zach had to admit that he deserved it.
He stared into the dark red depths of his wine. Guilt gnawed at him. His mother’s words. Saying that his father had forgiven her… But she was wrong about one thing. He would find control with Anna. Purge himself of the insane desire to push her up against the nearest wall.
As he had six years ago.
But then six years ago, he’d lashed out. Disgusted at himself for succumbing to Anna’s wiles, he then caught her with another man. She was engaged to him within the week. Sharp light cut over the smooth surface of his wine. He could still feel the burn of rage, how his hands had balled into fists and he had wanted to pound some sense into Freddie. Anyone involving themselves with one of the Shrewsbury sisters needed to be warned.
Zach let out a slow hot breath.
Freddie Lewis was there now, snatching a quiet moment before he had to charm more people into buying his work. Anna was beyond his forgiveness. But him?
Zach found himself walking towards the younger man. “Freddie.”
Eyes as dark as Anna
’s narrowed on him. “I thought it was you.” The younger man straightened, put his empty wineglass on a convenient table. “Still hounding Anna?”
Zach couldn’t help the smile. Yes, Anna was already weaving her lies. “Is that what she told you?” He searched the noisy crowd of people, but no flash of white silk stood out. Where was walrus…? No. Zach put that from his mind. He turned back to Freddie. His smile faded. “I did what I did as a warning. Believe it or not, I was trying to protect you.”
A short bark of laughter stopped his words. “Protect me? You ruined my career.”
Zach ignored him, cutting through his protest. “But that’s in the past. Now.” He paused, waiting for Freddie to calm himself. The belligerent gleam faded. Good. He wasn’t a fool. “I like your work. And I can offer you a commission.”
“Is this your attempt to make amends?”
“No.”
Freddie blinked.
“It’s not a sinecure, Freddie. Contact Elise Michaels, my PA. Make an appointment.” From the corner of his eye, he caught Anna. Her face was flushed and worry edged her eyes. It was obvious Freddie hadn’t told Anna what Zach had done. Was it Freddie’s own pride keeping him silent? “This is business. Again, it has nothing to do with her.”
“Hurt Anna and I don’t care how rich you are,” Freddie said. “This time I will stop you.”
Zach stared at him. “What—”
“Everything’s started to wind down.” Anna’s smile was too wide, she could feel it, but she had to interrupt. Zach and Freddie couldn’t talk. Her old friend had transformed into the overprotective brother once too often. Anna couldn’t see him jeopardise his career. Not now. “I just managed to escape old Sir Nigel… And I think you sold every last thing.”
“Looks that way.” Freddie paused. “How are you getting home, Anna?”
And there he went. “I’m fine.” She tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and her gaze dropped briefly. She couldn’t help it. Embarrassment had her panicked. “Zach’s taking…giving me a lift.”
“Call me when you get in.”
“Freddie…”
“Anna…”
“All right.” She caught the gallery owner waving and pointing. “I think Adam wants to talk to you.”
Freddie kissed her cheek. He stabbed a finger at her. “The minute you get in.”
Anna watched him leave.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” Zach murmured.
“What did you say to Freddie?”
The ghost of a smile touched his mouth and Anna felt the fire of all–too-familiar anger shoot through her veins. “What did you think I said?”
“I’m not playing your games, Zach!”
Two women turned and stared. Anna twitched a smile at them and took a calming breath. Her voice dropped to a rushed whisper. “Your problem is with me, not with him.”
“This loyalty is…unexpected.”
A warm hand slid over her elbow. Air hissed from her lungs at the contact. Anna had thrown herself into the organisation, the administration that still needed her oversight. She hadn’t thought about Zach. She hadn’t— “What are you doing?”
“Don’t worry, Anna. Nothing quite so public this time.”
The undercurrent of laughter to his voice irked her. She should have stopped him. She could have. Anna couldn’t deny the truth. She craved anything Zach deigned to give her. Her lust for him was blatant. Anna hated herself for wanting him. And damn the man. It wasn’t amusing. “You surprise me.” Good. Her voice was cool. In all too short a time, she wouldn’t have to think about Zach at all. And she would never make the mistake of revealing how much she craved him. “Isn’t public what you wanted?”
Fingers tightened around her elbow. Zach urged her forward. “Funny.”
“Excuse me.” Anna tried to pull her arm free and failed. Not making a scene, not making a scene. “What… Where are we going?”
“Home.”
“H—” She couldn’t say the word. Anna swallowed back in a dry throat. “Home?” Damn, now it sounded strangled.
“That was the deal too.” His eyes fixed on her. “Though if I remember correctly, the sleeping arrangements were at our own discretion.”
“I’m not… Before…” Her hands flapped. “That…that was a mistake.”
He answered with a predatory smile. “As was Petersen’s office, the bar, my office, the car, the kitchen…”
Zach acknowledged the gallery owner and Freddie. Her friend’s face darkened, his mouth thinning. Anna’s smile was bright, deliberately so. She mimed phoning him and got a brief nod.
The inner glass door slid silently shut behind them.
“I’ve told you, what’s going to happen is inevitable.”
This time Anna yanked her arm free. “Why you arrogant—”
Zach placed a finger against her lips. Anna froze. “Sh-h-h,” he murmured, the soft low tone licking her senses.
A spotlight cast deep shadow over his face and the memory of Carl’s office washed over her. Those insane little kisses. Her breath hitched.
“We can add an unofficial codicil to Gregory’s will.” His finger traced her lips then followed the plane of her jaw. Eyes gleamed with bright fire. “Do you agree?”
“Zach, this is insane…”
“No. We need this.” He paused. “Stay with me…”
Anna’s heart squeezed tight, so tight she gasped. “Stay—”
“…with no strings, no promises, no stupid ideas.” He smiled. “That’s not who we are.” He let out a slow breath. “After the week, we walk away. And whatever this is will be sated.”
Anna closed her eyes.
She thought the years of Sofia’s snide little remarks had inured her to simple words bringing pain. After the soaring elation now came the bitter truth. Sex. Used for sex and discarded, like any other of his long line of women. What had she thought he would say?
Stay with me…
Her own joy mocked her.
…I need you, I care—
She snorted at that ridiculous thought. The last man to care about her, to care about anyone was Zach. He’d already proven that. And caring about her was the last thing she wanted from him.
“No.” Anna shook her head. It was just her limited experience that demanded she say yes. Nothing more. She was making a break from her old life. Playing Zach’s games belonged to her past. “That would be…unwise.”
“Unwise?”
She found his narrowed gaze focused on her. A muscle jumped in his jaw. Great. Now he was insulted. “This is hardly the place, Zach.”
His features tightened. “I don’t—”
The click of heels behind them interrupted him. “Going so soon?”
Sofia’s sharp voice cut across Anna. She winced. “It’s half past eleven, Sofia.”
“As I said, early.” She smirked and her gaze slid over Zach in a way that made Anna’s skin crawl. “Well have fun…I know I would.”
“I’ll never know what Gregory saw in you.” His words were almost a growl.
Sofia’s smile grew. “You never wanted to find out, Zach. I was too much of a woman for you.” She turned away, patting Anna’s bare shoulder. “Stick with my sister. She can’t begin to compare.”
“No. She doesn’t,” Zach said.
Sofia stopped. “I’m surprised,” she muttered. “And you so rarely do that, Anna.” The smile curved her bright red lips again, hard. It didn’t touch her gleaming eyes. “Just make sure to burn him like you do all the others.” Her hand flicked a wave. “Night.”
“Your sister is always…” Zach frowned. Disgust thinned his mouth.
“Yes.”
Anna wanted to climb into bed, pull the covers over her head and sleep. Maybe wake up and discover that the whole of the previous day had been some bizarre nightmare.
“So, Anna, you’ve refused me. Again.”
Zach and his inability to drop a difficult subject. Another thing she really hated about him. “N
ot here.” Anna forced her feet forward. She was caught, trapped. Anna could almost taste the freedom that the next week would bring…but first she had to deny Zach what he wanted. The small, persistent thought stung. What they both wanted.
The chauffeur stood beside the open door of the sleek, black Bentley.
Chilled air swept around her and she shivered. At least she told herself it was the coolness of the night and not the slide of Zach’s warm fingers over her arm. Anna pulled at the seat belt and closed her eyes. His scent wove through her senses.
Her stomach cramped with nerves. And with something else.
But to say yes…
To spend the week with him.
Her throat tightened. No. It was insane even to think it.
Anna caught his profile, sharp, beautiful. She had lusted after this man for six years. In that moment, Anna knew a week would never be enough.
Chapter Seven
What was she doing here?
Anna watched the car pull away from the kerb and disappear into the night. There were butterflies in her stomach. It was too much like that night.
Standing on the pavement outside of the exclusive mansion block, nerves eating her as she rubbed her fingers again and again over stolen keys—
“Come on, Anna.”
Zach’s hand on her arm jolted her out of her memory. Yes. Best not to dwell on those events and the reason behind them. She had been a stupid girl of nineteen with a head full of romantic rubbish.
The uniformed doorman opened the outer doors, carefully avoiding looking at her. He was not the same man who had let her in years before, knowing that she was an in-law to Gregory Brabant. Instead, he gave Zach a brief nod and murmured, “Mr. Quinn.”
Golden lamplight washed over the opulent entrance hall. The familiar scent of lemon polish, the hint of leather from the armchairs shot her mind back. Panic hit her. “I can stay in a hotel, Zach. I won’t tell—”
“Of course you would,” he said, his fingers growing firm around her arm. “The second I let you walk out of those doors, you’d be on the phone to Petersen.”
It hurt that he thought so little of her. “Honestly, Zach—”
His bark of laughter cut her off. “Honest? You?” He gave a short acknowledgment to the man at the desk and then Zach stabbed at the lift button. “Even my mother’s heard of your reputation.”