She didn’t want to react to him, but her body couldn’t help it. She tingled everywhere his eyes roamed. He might as well have caressed her with his big, strong hands. But that was all physical. There was no emotion deeper than that, which was fine. Ana could handle sexual attraction, but she sure as hell didn’t intend to act on it.
Before this situation got even more uncomfortable, she ushered him out the door and headed toward the elevator.
When they slid into the elevator, Zach reached over and hit the Lobby button, then turned to her. “I have to say, not much makes me lose my train of thought. But that dress… It’s like second skin.”
“Did you think I’d actually show up wearing only sweat and my hammer?”
He closed his eyes. “Hold on. I’m getting a fantasy.”
Ana couldn’t help it; she laughed. “You’re pathetic.”
“Guilty.” Zach shrugged. “Seriously, I owe you a nice dinner for standing up for my sister today.”
Shocked, Ana smiled. “Is that all this is about?”
The elevator opened and Zach took hold of her elbow to usher her out.
“That and I need your help with planning this shower.”
“You could’ve just given me the list of things Kayla wants you to do. There was no need for you to use up a free evening with me.”
Now Zach laughed, forcing her attention back to the rich, soothing tone. He jerked her to a stop and forced her to face him.
“What’s so funny?” she demanded.
“I never took you for a coward.”
Ana wanted to wipe that knowing smirk off his face, but he was right. She was a coward on so many levels. He had no idea. She’d seen his playboy confidence, but when he’d conversed with his sister, his ego took a backseat to brotherly love and compassion. She didn’t know what side of Zach she’d see next and the thought that she might just find every side attractive frightened her. She liked to be in control and around him, she wasn’t.
“Call me what you want, but we both know you’re so used to getting what you want that you made up this excuse to get me on a date.” She tried her best to control her growing attraction to his bad-boy persona and heavy-lidded bedroom eyes. “I know your company has an impeccable reputation, but crossing the line into anything personal would be a mistake for both of us.”
His smiling eyes grew dark, sexy. “You know as well as I do that that statement was just wasted breath. Deny all you want, but this mutual attraction is only going to cause more and more tension throughout the project if we ignore it.”
She crossed her arms, lifted her chin and refused to get into such a personal discussion in a hotel lobby. She tugged free of his grasp on her arm and walked through the automatic doors and out onto the covered breezeway.
Thankfully the valet was absent, so Ana continued. “I’m not denying anything. I’m stating a fact that this project is my number one priority. I don’t have time for a personal life, Zach.”
Zach reached out, curled his hands around her bare shoulders and looked straight into her eyes. “This project is my number one priority, too, but I won’t let it consume my downtime. And what we—yes, we—do together in our personal time has nothing to do with our working relationship.”
This was an argument she knew she couldn’t win, but once he found out she wasn’t experienced, would he be as interested?
Zach led her toward a car she’d never seen the likes of before. The emblem read Bugatti, whatever that meant. Probably another word for “my car costs more than your yearly salary.” Whatever the type, it was parked in a no-parking zone. Of course, the valets wouldn’t dare move the superexpensive vehicle.
After assisting her into the lavish car, Ana settled into the soft leather seats as Zach slid in behind the wheel. When he didn’t start the car immediately, Ana glanced over.
“Something wrong?” she asked.
He stared out the windshield, squinting against the sharp sunlight. “I’m beginning to think so.”
Confused, she waited for him to elaborate, but the silence continued for several long moments.
“This is going to get complicated.” He turned to her. “Whether we ignore the sexual tension or not. You and I are going to get complicated.”
Ana didn’t know how to respond. This level of sexual tension wasn’t something she knew much about, but she had a gut-wrenching feeling she was about to find out sooner rather than later.
Blowing out a breath, Zach reached out and brushed her hair over her shoulders, his palm settled on the curve of her shoulder. “I’m up for the challenge. Are you?”
Could he hear the thumping in her chest? Honesty. She had to remain honest with him…and herself. This may be going faster and further than she’d intended, but she couldn’t rein in her betraying emotions.
“Do I have a choice?”
He stroked a fingertip down her cheek. “No more than I do.” Then he turned to start the car.
Mercy, how could she try to form immunity to this man when his touch was so gentle, his words so powerful? No wonder he had all the confidence in the world. There was no way any woman could resist his charm.
Was there anything sexier than a powerful, self-reliant man who made no qualms about the fact that he wanted you? And the man was so wrapped up in his family; that had to say something about character, didn’t it? Oh, and let’s not forget the way he looked on his big, black motorcycle. Not to mention the heavy-lidded bedroom eyes and dark stubble outlining a strong jaw.
For the duration of this project, they would be spending nearly every day together. Lord help her, this was going to be a very long year.
Four
The restaurant Zach took her to was certainly nowhere she’d ever choose to go herself. And though it was perfect, she’d never admit it to Mr. Overinflated Ego.
As the maître d’ showed them to their reserved table, Ana took in the decor. Lush tropical plants in earthenware pots separated the dining tables, providing a cozy atmosphere. Low, soft lighting and one entire wall with a trickling waterfall made for a relaxing, intimate experience—just what she needed.
Ana slid into the curved booth in the corner beside the waterfall. Zach, too, slid in…right up to her side.
She eyed him with a quirk of her brow. “Do you plan on staying this close while we’re eating?”
Beneath dark lashes and heavy lids, Zach returned her gaze. “At the first opportunity, I plan to get a lot closer.”
Ana stared back into those deep, molasses-colored eyes. “Do you have a physical attraction to every woman you encounter?” she mocked.
“Not at all. I won’t lie and say I’ve been a saint, but I also won’t apologize for being honest and letting you know where I stand.”
“Honesty is something I certainly appreciate, but I have to say, I don’t trust easily.”
He nodded. “You’ll trust me. Maybe not now, but when it counts.”
Oh, Lord. Did he mean…? Flirting was one thing, but his tone was so serious, so final. Sex was obviously something that came easily to Zach—or so the tabloids hinted at—so this conversation was probably only uncomfortable for her.
How had she lost control of this situation? Losing control of anything at all around Zach Marcum was not a smart move. She should be a pro at dealing with playboys considering all the self-proclaimed Casanovas on the job site. Unfortunately she’d never been on the receiving end of one’s affections.
She turned in the booth, facing him fully. “Zach, we are nothing more than business associates and I’m helping you plan a wedding shower. That’s just about as personal as I’ve gotten with anyone. Ever. Trust is an issue with me, but not one I care to fix.”
Zach leaned down to her ear and whispered, “You don’t have to do anything. I’ll take care of fixing your trust issues.”
His warm breath sent shivers throughout her body. Oh, man. This guy was good.
Too good. Too…rehearsed, like he’d said this before.
Th
e waiter—thank you, God—chose that moment to come over. Ana ordered her dinner, but whatever Zach ordered was lost on her. She was too busy trying to figure out how to get ahold of this conversation, this man.
Once they were alone again, Ana shut out the romantic ambiance of the upscale restaurant, and the sexy, powerful man sitting within touching distance, and cut to the point.
“Why are you trying so hard?” she demanded. “You could surely have any woman you want.”
Those bedroom eyes sparkled. “Not every woman.”
The heat in his tone said more than his words.
Okay, so this wasn’t a safe path to travel down.
“What list did Kayla give you for the shower?”
Zach grinned at her complete change of subject. “I need to form a seating chart and figure out the menu.”
Much safer ground. “Sounds easy enough.”
He eyed her. “You haven’t seen the list of guests. There are specifics beside each name. Certain people can’t be seated with each other, and the women with the children should be seated closest to the door for bathroom breaks.”
Ana couldn’t help but laugh at this high-profile mogul discussing wedding showers, seating charts and toddler potty rituals.
“It will be fine. I promise,” she assured him, patting his arm. “But first, let’s start with something less scary. The menu.”
Zach nodded. “That I can handle. Steak and chicken are always basics.”
“This is a bridal shower with women,” she reminded him. “We like something less…masculine.”
“You just ordered steak,” he reminded her.
Ana shrugged. “I always have a huge appetite.”
His eyes traveled down to her waist and back up. “You don’t look like it. So what should we have? Carrot sticks and dip?”
His mocking tone and the little glint in his eye kept her smiling. Joking she could handle. It was the bedroom talk that gave her a problem.
“What time of the day is Kayla having the shower?” she asked.
The waiter came back, dropping off their drinks and complimentary bread. Ana took a sip of her water and relaxed into the buttery leather booth.
“She said mid-afternoon. Two or three.”
“Okay, so let’s make this fun.” Ana plotted quickly in her head. “What about a spin-off of an ice cream social? The shower will be after the guests have already eaten lunch, so various desserts would be perfect for women, and ice cream will be a hit with the kids that have to come along.”
Zach turned a bit more in the seat, slid his arm along the back of the booth and offered her one of his killer smiles. “Keep going.”
Pride flooded through her. Why she wanted to impress this man with plans for his sister-in-law-to-be’s wedding shower was beyond her. Actually she just wanted to help out because he’d looked so completely lost when Kayla had dumped this on him.
And it was a good thing she’d stepped in when she did. Steak and chicken? She simply couldn’t envision wealthy, beautiful socialites in vibrant sundresses, probably with floppy hats, gnawing on a T-bone.
“We should have this outside.” Ana shook her head as the ideas swirled around. “No, make it somewhere that could be inside and out. We want them to mingle, chat and enjoy the celebration. Plus the ice cream would need to be out of all this blistering heat.”
Zach held up a hand. “Isn’t this a shower? Aren’t the women supposed to sit around, sigh over the rock on Tamera’s hand and play silly games?”
Ana shrugged. “I suppose if she wants a traditional, boring shower. Is your brother marrying someone boring?”
He chuckled. “Not at all. And knowing her and my sister, they will love this idea.”
“Feel free to take the credit for it and be a hero,” Ana said, reaching for a piece of warm, buttery bread.
“Why? It wasn’t my idea.”
She tore off the end piece and shoved it into her mouth. “They don’t need to know a virtual stranger came up with plans for something so intimate and personal.”
He eased a bit closer. Close enough now she could see the black slivers in his dark chocolate eyes.
“You’re not a stranger, Ana.”
The piece of bread she was holding slid from her grasp and fell onto the stark white linen tablecloth. She wanted to blame her slippery hands on the glazing from the bread, but honestly, Zach’s warm breath combined with his intense stare had her all but trembling.
“Zach, you’re not getting me into bed.”
One corner of that sultry mouth kicked up. “Is that what I’m trying to do?”
“Aren’t you? We can pretend you’re flirting or just being yourself and I can giggle and bat my eyelashes at you like a good little tease…or we can skip all that nonsense and get to the heart of this tension between us.”
He lifted one of her escaped auburn curls and tucked it behind her ear. “It’s called chemistry. Not tension. Tension makes people uncomfortable. I’m perfectly fine.”
“That’s because you’re used to throwing your charm out and having women latch on to it so you can drag them back to your lair.”
Zach threw his head back and laughed. Ana waited, with very little patience, to see just what was so funny. If he even attempted to deny that he was a playboy, she feared she’d stab him with her salad fork.
“Ana, I’m not a Neanderthal,” he said in a low, still chuckling voice. “I don’t drag women anywhere they aren’t willing to be. Don’t get your back all up because you’re angry over your attraction to me.”
Maybe she’d have to use that salad fork after all.
“Your ego and your comments are out of control,” she hissed. “I won’t deny I’m attracted to you, but I also don’t need to act on every urge I have. And I don’t have time for games.”
Ana tried to scoot over into her own personal space. Zach must’ve thought she was making a dramatic exit because he grabbed her arm and whispered in her ear, “I’ll apologize for my comments, but you know I’m right.”
Ana kept her gaze on the roll she’d dropped onto the table, trying her hardest to avoid turning her head and looking him in the eye. He was so close that if she turned even the slightest, their faces would touch.
The devil on her shoulder wanted to know if that would be so bad. The angel on the other shoulder must be asleep because she didn’t say a word. Or maybe she was just stunned speechless because Zach’s large hand encircled her entire bicep in a warm, gentle hold.
Ana closed her eyes. “I can’t do this. Seriously, Zach. I can’t even pretend that we’ll be more than business associates because I won’t play a tease and I won’t lie to you. Please stop pushing me into giving you something I can’t.”
His thumb stroked over the curve of her shoulder. “That was never my intent, Anastasia.”
Now she did turn to meet his gaze, leaving their lips barely a whisper apart. “What was your intent?” she whispered.
Other than his lips settling over hers in a possessive, yet tender way, Zach didn’t touch her. Ana didn’t want to respond to those lips, but how could she not? Why did she have to deny what her body so desperately craved, ached for?
It was so easy to give into the gentleness. She’d never known such a delicate manner could be possessed by a man like Zach.
Ana wasn’t one for PDA, but they were well hidden by the strategically placed potted palms. Even though kissing in public was never something she would’ve done before meeting Zach, she was discovering there were a lot of things she hadn’t considered before meeting Zach.
With a sigh and a tingle streaming through her body, Ana leaned in just slightly. Enough to let Zach know she wanted this. Still, he didn’t touch any more than her lips and Ana knew, without a doubt, he was letting her decide how far and how intense this kiss would be.
He tilted his mouth just a bit, easing her lips open. She’d given him the go-ahead with that little sigh and by leaning into him. A light, feathery touch slid across her jawl
ine. His fingertips.
Chills popped up over her entire body. And before she could comprehend another thought, Zach eased back.
“My intent is to show you how desirable you are and that not every man takes advantage of women.”
Ana opened her eyes, swallowed hard. “Maybe not, but not every man has good intentions.”
His fingertips continued to stroke her jawline. “There’s nothing wrong with giving in to your needs, your passion. I’m a patient man, Anastasia, and I believe you’re well worth the wait.”
Great, now her chills had chills. At his declaration—or was it a threat—Ana knew she was fighting a losing battle.
Did he have a clue about her inexperience? Did she bring it up? And how did one start the ball rolling with a topic like this?
Though she didn’t want to admit it, Ana knew she’d long since lost control. And much to her surprise, she didn’t care.
Five
Zach sped through the palm-lined Miami streets. When darkness had fallen over the party town, Zach had taken off on one of his favorite motorcycles to clear his head, taste a bit of freedom he refused to let go of and work through whatever problems were plaguing his mind.
And right now all three of those scenarios revolved around one sexy, stubborn forewoman.
Zach eased his Harley to a stop on the beach side of the street. The full moon beamed right onto the whitecaps of the waves rolling into shore.
After he’d dropped Ana off at her hotel, he’d needed to do some major regrouping. There had been almost an innocence, a naïveté about her tonight. He hadn’t missed the way her hands shook when he’d scooted closer, the quivering in her voice when he’d stroked her bare shoulder.
The hitch in her breath when he’d finally kissed her. He’d never taken so much time before kissing a woman before. Never had to rein in his emotions when all he wanted to do was act on them.
And to say she had a hidden passion would be a drastic understatement. Ana had leaned into him; she’d given up control and handed it over to him in the span of one audible sigh.
Her Innocence, His Conquest Page 4