‘Only on you.’ She ducked under the water and swam to the far side. Out of view from the others. He followed like she knew he would. Like she...okay, like she hoped. As if by some unspoken agreement.
‘This mineralised water should help ease their aching muscles. Supposed to be good for joints too.’ If she managed a serious professional conversation she’d stay clear of all the things she wanted to say to him. Knowing more about him was a blessing and a curse. He was more real, more whole. More attractive. She wanted to bypass the emotion, the way laughing with him made her ridiculously happy, the way watching his face light up at something she’d said made her swell with pride. Because if she could bypass the emotion she could get out of this unscathed.
But chances were, she wouldn’t.
He sat next to her, his elbows resting behind him on the poolside. ‘Maybe it will even soak some of that liquor out of Jaxon. Maybe... Why are we talking about them?’
‘Because that’s why we’re here.’ She faltered as she felt his arm extend around her shoulders and draw tiny circles on her skin. Laying her head against him would have been one easy step. But a step too far. ‘Not to do this.’
‘Dani, it’s been a long day and we have another fancy dinner tonight. I’ve spent hours with kids and drunken athletes, doing X-rays and scans.’ He squeezed her shoulder. ‘Now I want to spend some time with you. Alone. Is that a crime?’
‘Probably. Somewhere.’ Certainly what his fingers were making her feel should be illegal. ‘Hmmm.’
‘That feel good?’
‘Yes.’
‘Imagine what two hands could do...’
At the sound of voices she wriggled out of his reach. But he captured her leg. She wriggled. He held tight, trapping her against him. Captured. That’s how she felt, like he’d ensnared her heart. Like Desere had suggested she do to Zac. Huh, that had spectacularly backfired.
Tutting, she shifted to the seat next to him—it was the only place she could go.
‘Hey, move over. Is it cooler in here...?’ Joseph and Manu skulked across to the pool. Joseph stopped short of dive-bombing in as he neared. ‘Oops. Sorry. Watch out, bro. Medic meeting. Out. Of. Bounds.’
‘Too right, mate.’ With a mischievous glint Zac winked. Out of the corner of her eye Dani noticed his left hand move. He laughed. ‘We’re discussing your performance, Joe. Try not to peak too early.’
‘Hey, the missus has no complaints.’ Joseph smacked Zac on the arm.
Irritation rippled through her as she waited until the boys had slipped into another pool. ‘Did you just give him the thumbs-up?
‘It was more like a twitch.’
‘You did. You gave him the I’m in here thumbs-up’ She shifted to face him. ‘What exactly do you talk about in the men’s room?’
‘Dani. It’s nothing. Don’t overreact.’
‘My father is their boss. I’m trying to create a good impression, not get caught out canoodling in a hot pool.’
‘Say that again...ca...what?’
‘Canoodling.’
‘You are so funny.’ He laughed. ‘Don’t worry. No one knows. Seriously, you think I talk about this? No one cares.’
‘I care.’
He stilled. The laughter left his eyes, replaced with something like surprise. As if he’d just worked out the solution to a difficult puzzle. His thumb grazed her cheek and he looked at her face for a second. Two. He smiled and nodded, the one thing she didn’t expect from him echoing in his voice—tenderness. ‘God help me, Dani. But so do I.’
* * *
‘So, Doc, did you review Jaxon’s ankle again?’ Davide leaned heavily on the back of Zac’s dining chair and overpowered him with acrid aftershave and a distinct lack of regard for personal space. Danatello’s breathing seemed more laboured tonight and a sheen of sweat had formed across his expansive forehead. The pressure of the tournament was obviously getting to the chief as much as those at the coalface.
‘Yes. I did have another look and managed to get it scanned this afternoon.’ After dealing with your hungover star, spending the night with your daughter and some seriously sexy talk in the hot pools. All class-A misdemeanours sure to send Davide’s blood pressure skyrocketing. Another reason to keep quiet. ‘It’s nothing major, but he’s still out of the quarter final. He needs to rest it. If we get through to the semis he could be good.’
‘If?’ Davide’s sweaty palm landed on Zac’s shoulder. ‘When, Doc. When. Can’t we inject him with something? The nation’s hanging out for this ankle to be fixed.’
‘Don’t I know it.’ Front page news this morning had asked the most burning internationally important question of the day. Not, how to end all war? Or how to solve world poverty? But, will Jaxon play in the final? He was growing to understand Dani’s frustration with the celebrity-obsessed media. And with her father. He was growing to understand a lot about Dani. And the more he understood, the more he seemed to like. Realising he cared for her, way more than felt comfortable, was a body blow. He felt like he was sinking and had nothing to grab hold of. Except her. ‘There isn’t a quick fix, Davide.’
Davide said something and the rest of the dinner guests at the table laughed, but Zac didn’t quite hear. From the corner of his eye he glimpsed Dani cross the ballroom. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled, his nerve endings primed on full alert, always aware of where she was and what she was doing. Who she was talking to, who made her laugh, whose arm she had hold of. Like now. As the Samoan coach walked her onto the dance floor.
For a second his gut tightened. He wanted to jump across the table and throw the guy out. Even though the coach’s wife was sitting at the next table, smiling and laughing as Dani held the man at arm’s length and swirled around in her Jets-red dress. Only, this dress didn’t cascade and flow like the smoky-silver one. Falling from tiny straps this one clung to all the right places. And boy, did she have some right places.
He’d seen enough last night to whet his appetite, had barely slept for watching her, aching to place his hand on her shoulder, belly, breast. And now Mr Samoa had his hands on her.
He instantly recognised his tight gut as jealousy. Didn’t want that man’s hands on those curves, to caress her skin—even if it was just her elbow. Zac wanted to be the one to swing her round to the sultry beat, weave his fingers into that up-do and let the curls fall, run the soft silk through his fingertips, inhale the scent of her organic peppermint shampoo.
Boy, he needed perspective. He couldn’t have her. Couldn’t ruin both their lives. But he sure wanted her with a fierce rage that he doubted would be assuaged with one more kiss. He sloshed down a glass of sparkling water and tried to refocus on the conversation round the table. But couldn’t. Team talk didn’t interest him right now.
Which was a damned fool reaction to a woman.
The music ended and she sauntered over towards his table, gave him a coy smile. Perspective be damned, he could easily have a conversation with her without it meaning a whole lot of anything. He grinned back, glad she’d come directly over. But she seemed hell-bent on walking past. ‘Hey,’ he called to her. ‘Can anyone join in?’
She stopped short and leaned into him. ‘You can have one dance and one dance only.’
‘Just one?’
‘You heard the boys in the hot pools—they already think something’s going on.’ She grimaced and fiddled with one of her straps. ‘So any more would look strange.’
‘Not when they see how good I am. Or perhaps Mrs Samoa might want to dance with me.’ Dumb. Double dumb. Why would Dani care who he danced with?
‘I’m sure she would. It’s a free-for-all. We’re supposed to mingle.’ Her lipsticked lips pursed. ‘Okay, Mr Light Fantastic, pick a dance. The next one’s promised, and then I have one with Mr Sheeran.’ In response to his frown she explained, ‘Canada. Chef de mission. He’s about a hundred. Not that it matters.’
It mattered. ‘Are we suddenly in 1815? Do you have a card I need to write my name on?’
‘Choose a dance, Zac. Make it quick.’ She flicked her gaze over to her father, who crooked his finger at her. ‘Ching. Ching. Time’s up. I have to go.’
Zac’s ego slumped as he watched her whisper something to Davide. The old man smiled, then so did she. Haltingly. Then she was up, twirling in her father’s arms.
Once again watching her was torture. This time it wasn’t because some creep had his hands on her, so much as the way she looked up into her dad’s face with so much love and...uncertainty. She didn’t smile before he did; she waited to watch his reaction. Then she took her father’s lead. Davide patted her back, almost disinterestedly, but she curled into his arm as if she was gripping on to a life raft.
It damned near broke Zac’s heart. No one deserved to feel at the beck and call of their parents’ affection. Hell, he knew that. That tightening in his gut spread to his shoulders, chest, fists. He wanted to drag her away from this—back to her room, to a different hotel, to a different life that didn’t involve sneaking around and stupid rules. To a life that didn’t involve depending on his job and paying for a mistake he made a decade ago. Where they could both believe in happy ever afters. No, not a different life, a miracle.
He counted the bars until the end of the song. Waited until her father was back in his seat. Watched her walk across the floor towards Mr Canada...oh, no, you don’t.
‘Zac? What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ She smiled waveringly at the chef de mission. ‘I’m so sorry, maybe the next one?’ Then she turned her heated gaze to Zac as he wove her out through a back door and into a dimly lit side street. Instinct told him to check for hidden cameras, paparazzi. God, living like this was so claustrophobic. How the hell had she coped her whole life? Simple. She hadn’t.
‘How dare you treat me like that. You can’t just drag me out of a special dinner at your whim, just because I was dancing with someone. Neanderthal.’ Her lips formed a tight line, her shoulders shook. God, she was even more damned beautiful when she was angry. But she was right. He’d acted like a dumb caveman. What was happening to him? Dani. Dani was happening to him.
‘Why do you do it?’ Although he knew the answer. He’d done it so many times himself. Then he’d given up.
‘Do what?’
‘Why do you pander to him, hoping he’s going to take notice? Have you not paid enough for your mistakes?’
‘He’s my father. I want him to see me for who I am. Not for what I did.’ She paced up and down. Took off her shoes and wriggled her toes onto the cemented passageway. Then resumed the pacing. A fire escape loomed above them, metres of metal steps leading to nowhere. The same place this conversation would get him, but he had to try.
‘What do you think he sees, Daniella?’
‘The daughter who brought shame on his family.’ Every single insecurity she had emanated in those few words.
He tugged her to a standstill. ‘I see a beautiful woman who has made more than enough amends. And if he can’t see that, then he’s a damned fool.’
‘Like I said. He’s my dad. So back off.’ The warning in her voice didn’t escape him. He was on dodgy ground. If anyone had called his father a fool he’d have rallied too.
‘I just hate to sit back and watch you...demean yourself.’
‘It’s not demeaning. I’m trying to show him I regret what I did. That I’m sorry.’ Tears threatened, filled her eyes. She wiped them away. ‘Before it’s too late.’
‘Too late for what? Is he sick? Something wrong with him?’ Hell, he knew the answer to that, all right. There was a lot wrong with Davide Danatello.
‘Oh, nothing specific. But look at him. He’s overweight, breathless, high blood pressure—a heart attack in the making. Any time soon. And I want him to respect me...before he’s gone. I’ll never forget the look in his eyes when he came to the police station and bailed me out. There was nothing there, no emotion, nothing. It was like I was a problem he didn’t even want to acknowledge.’
‘How can he not respect you? You’re beautiful. Clever. Kind. Everything that he isn’t.’ Everything he should be walking away from right now. But hell, he couldn’t. Not yet. He paused and watched her face soften a little. His grip on her arm relaxed. But he had no intention of letting her go. ‘Answer me one question, Dani. Is he worth it?’ A question he’d had to ask himself about his own father. He still didn’t know the answer.
A solitary tear spilled down her cheek. ‘How can you even ask that? Of course he’s worth it.’
Before he knew what he was doing, he had both palms cupping her scarlet cheeks and rubbed the tear away with the pad of his thumb. His heart ached to see her cry over a man whose idea of help was throwing money at a situation and turning his back. ‘And are you? Come on, Dani. Answer me. Are you worth him? God, I hate to see you so hurt.’
She froze in his hands, stared up at him with sadness and confusion and desire, and he wanted to haul her against the wall. Kiss away her hurt and infuse her with the intense emotion swirling through his veins. He couldn’t find a name for them all, but they all started and ended with Dani. He focused on her mouth as she spoke.
‘I wasn’t worth anything for a while. But yes.’ She sighed and nodded. ‘Yes. I am worth his respect. Now.’
‘So don’t ever let him treat you in any way less than you deserve.’ He gently pulled her closer. ‘Which, by the way, is a lot. You deserve the best. The very best.’ Wished with all his heart that he could be the one to give her it.
Then before he could register his actions his mouth covered hers. He heard her small gasp, felt the tiny hesitation and the resignation. Heard the moan at the back of her throat that told him she needed this as much as he did. She curled her arms around his neck, pulled him closer as she opened her mouth, tenderly lapped her tongue against his.
At the touch of her tongue heat fired through him scorching his nerve endings, unleashing a frenzy of need. He tried to hold back, to give her the gentle caress she needed. But his desperation shook through him. He pushed her back against the brick wall, brushed his hand across the bare flesh of her neck, down to the deep swell of her breasts. And she pushed back against him, her hips rubbing against his groin, every moan, every shuddering breath, directing his hands and his kisses.
It was madness, to be kissing her out here in full view of anyone walking past. Madness to start something neither of them could ever continue. Madness, yes, and the most sane thing he’d done in years.
Her palms ran over his shirt, down his back, sending hot arrows of want through him. He clung to her, like a man lost, knowing it was stupid and reckless. But doing it anyway. She dragged the shirt loose, pressed her hands against his back. Skin against skin. Her kisses deeper now, wet and hot. If they didn’t stop soon he’d have to have her. And he couldn’t. Couldn’t offer her anything like what she deserved.
He pulled away gently. Took her hands in his, kissed her knuckles one at a time, then pressed them against his heart. She looked up at him, her lipstick smudged, her lips swollen and eyes muted with heat. Her breathing came hard and ragged. A shoulder strap had slipped down her arm. The hem of the red clinging dress hitched to her thighs, revealing a long leg of pale thigh. Everything about her screamed sex. Bed. Heat. Now. This was killing him. ‘Hey, hey. We need to stop this before it’s too late.’
‘Just because you can kiss like that don’t think you are off the hook. That little overprotective act in there could get us both into a lot of trouble.’ Her eyes still blazed with passion. Her palm made contact with his ribs, heat suffusing the fabric, searing his skin, his brain.
‘I’m already in big enough trouble as it is.’ He shrugged away, picked up her shoes, started to head back inside.
She stopped him with a tug on his arm and reached a hand up to his cheek, stroked him softly. ‘What the hell, Zac...I’m sick of being nice. Stay here. Stay with me and do a rerun of that kiss. Let’s pretend we can do anything we want.’
She wasn’t making this easy. A man only h
ad so much willpower. And his was running on empty, and then some. ‘No. Let’s not. Let’s not ruin the good things we’ve achieved so far.’
‘But this is good too.’ Her smile wavered. She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth. Reached for a stray lock of hair to wind round her finger.
‘Oh, no, you don’t.’ He put his hand on hers and stopped her reaching her mouth, his thoughts and emotions all jumbled. One minute he was angry, then turned on as all hell, now wanting to help her. There was a name for that. Certifiable. But if any good came out of this at all, it would be that he’d stop her hair-eating habit once and for all. ‘Okay. Stop. Why the hell do you keep doing that?’
‘It takes my mind off things. I’ve had a lot of disappointments.’ Her voice was thick, sultry and filled with desire. She rubbed her hip against his thigh. ‘Like right now. Starting things and not finishing them...’
‘Gee, and a fur ball would really help with the seduction process.’ He kissed each fingertip. ‘You’re good and strong, princess. You do not need to do it. Again. Ever. Or I’ll get some scissors and chop it all off... Try making a fur ball with a pixie crop.’
‘You wouldn’t dare...’ The corner of her mouth curled into a half-smile.
‘Don’t tempt me.’ He wrapped the loose lock behind her ear. Resisted temptation to fist her hair into a bundle and lose himself in it. ‘Don’t tempt me with anything. You hear. Stop that.’
She was now running her thumb along the inside of his thigh. ‘You like it?’
‘You have to ask?’ He stepped sideways. ‘Look, we have to go back inside. Be grown-ups and talk politely to the nice international guests.’
‘Stuff them. I don’t want to talk to anyone else. I want to do this. With you. Here.’ Dani tried to control the need shivering through her. The way he looked at her with such reluctant desire snagged her heart. The guy was struggling as much as she was. ‘You might think you’re being chivalrous, but it’s just annoying. You can have me. Right now.’
Okay. Great. She’d handed herself to him on a plate. If he was shocked he didn’t look it; in fact, a smile spread across his face. But she’d shocked herself. She’d never been so bold and brazen. But then Zac wasn’t like anyone she’d ever met. And even though she knew as much as he did that neither of them could do more than hot kisses and possibly hot sex—definitely hot sex—but after that? She didn’t have any kind of plan past I want you.
The Last Doctor She Should Ever Date Page 11