Excitement swelled. The fear that had stopped her from wanting more initially now taking a back seat as hope bloomed. Hope that, despite her first impressions, he really could be the perfect package. Nothing like Charles at all. The way he’d worshipped her body from head to toe, he’d made her feel like a goddess, not like a boy dressed up, not as Charles had made her feel, when he’d tried gifting her bigger boobs every Christmas and birthday they’d spent as a couple.
She shuddered with the unwelcome memory and honed her focus on the warm amber depths now staring down into her expectantly.
‘You really do need to get in,’ he said, ‘before my sister threatens another, far more important part of my anatomy.’
* * *
Whatever had got to her faded. The lines creasing her brow softened, her eyes once again bright, her smile once again teasingly subtle, the hint of promise making Daniel ache to add some alone time into the schedule she’d mapped out.
She lowered herself into the car and he followed suit, his mind preoccupied as it had been since he’d unwillingly left her that morning, fighting the urge to insist she leave with him. He hadn’t been ready to go, not without her accompanying him. Which was crazy. That didn’t happen to him. He could only think it was down to her insistence, up-front, for a one-time-only deal. That when it was over, it was over, and it was that rationing that had him so eager for more.
Not that she seemed to be sticking to that rule. Yes, she’d kicked him out of her office at two, but she was giving every sign she was up for more this morning. And that sure as hell worked for him.
‘Did I hear you trying to impress the lady with your car, Daniel?’ his sister chided as they pulled away from the kerb.
He grinned. ‘Maybe.’
‘Ooh, you’re honoured,’ she said in that same teasing tone, eyes narrowing on Zara with speculative interest.
Oh, no, here we go.
‘He never tries to impress the ladies, Zara, they just seem to fall at his feet. He must think you’re different.’
Zara smiled, no trace of discomfort, unless one caught the brief tic to her jaw and the subtle flush to her skin, as he did, sitting so close. ‘Please excuse my sister, she just loves to mock me.’
‘No apology necessary,’ she said, head turning, her gaze flicking to his, both confident and amused. ‘But for the record, if you were trying to impress me, cars would be the way to go.’
‘You like cars?’
She nodded. ‘An obsession passed down by my father. We have a family race day at least once a year.’
His mind rushed with imagery; taking her around his track in Italy, testing out his fleet, seeing how she handled the stick, the wheel, the speed... Adrenaline pumped wildly through his system. ‘I like your father already.’
She gave a small laugh and he clamped his jaw closed.
Where the hell had that come from?
He didn’t talk family with women. And yet that morning alone he’d already done so twice. And that was twice too much.
‘Ew...get a room, you pair,’ his sister drawled, saving him from his own discomfort. ‘Do I have to remind you that this is supposed to be about me? Me and my new home? Not you guys getting your rocks off.’
Now Zara squirmed, her eyes snapping away, her spine straightening and accentuating the teasing length to her neck that was far too close for comfort.
‘Of course, I apologise, Julia,’ she said, the flush to her cheeks becoming obvious now, making her all the more appealing with it as she concentrated on flipping open her bag. ‘Take a look at this. It’s our first destination for today.’
She extracted her tablet, launching the property file as she passed it to Julia. Daniel feigned interest in it across the back seat, but really his attention was on the line of Zara’s body, almost within brushing distance. Her scent, that same vanilla smell that had drugged him yesterday, subtly invading his senses.
Suddenly he wished the car to be smaller, the back seat more compact, then she would be forced up against him and...
And then what?
He would kick his sister out and have an entirely different day.
Not a dick move at all.
He gave a heavy sigh and both women looked to him.
‘Problem?’ Zara asked.
‘Don’t you start being negative already,’ came his sister’s add-on. ‘Else I’ll steal Peters for the day and you can get out now. Your opinion is starting to hinder rather than help, storebror.’
He forced himself to grin. If only they knew it wasn’t the property that had driven his reaction. ‘Better?’
She laughed and Zara smiled, her eyes resting too long on his mouth, and a ripple moved through his groin. It was going to be a long morning, unless... What were the chances of sneaking in some one-on-one time mid-viewing?
* * *
Turned out the chances were slim to none.
And he’d tried.
Even telling Julia to go and have a conversation with a neighbour doing her laundry in the communal area to get rid of her briefly. Didn’t matter that the woman looked like an axe-murderer in the making. Julia just needed to be gone long enough for him to have a conversation with Zara that told him where they stood. Maybe even get a date lined up. Hell, maybe even squeeze in a quickie. He’d take what he could get.
But no joy.
Zara stayed glued to her side. The perfect agent, the perfect attentive professional doting on the most important person in the room. And he, well, he was jealous, following them around with a grump on that only earned him their amusement.
‘You’re getting wrinkles again,’ Julia teased, heading out of property two as he held the door open for them both. ‘Tell him, Zara. I think he’ll listen to you more than me.’
Zara sent him an amused look. ‘She’s right, you know.’ She passed him by, turning just long enough to say under her breath, ‘You needing me to kiss them away?’
His mouth dropped open, his cock perked up.
Hell, yeah.
He let the door swing shut and fell into step beside her. ‘Are you toying with me?’
‘Maybe.’
She said it just as quiet, just as discreetly. Julia, completely oblivious, piped up from ahead, ‘So, I’m starved—where are we doing lunch?’
‘Johansson’s.’
His sister froze. ‘No, we’re bloody well not.’
‘Come on, Jules, give the guy a break. He’s busted his ass this past year getting that place off the ground.’ He buried the tiny shred of guilt at making his sister do something she didn’t want to, but hell, it was about time the pair talked. And that talk would give him ample opportunity to have his own chat with Zara. ‘It’s good for publicity, us being spotted rocking up there.’
She exhaled on a ragged breath, her head shaking. ‘You mean, you rocking up there.’
‘Okay, me,’ he admitted, only a little sheepish. He felt Zara’s eyes narrow on him.
She really has no idea who you are.
‘It’s a dirty move using that on me,’ his sister grumbled.
‘Ah, get over it. The food is sublime. You’re going to love it.’
She spun on her heel and strode ahead towards the car.
‘Was that some kind of payback?’ Zara asked.
‘Let’s just say, her and Johansson have a bit of history, but it’ll take her mind off that ex-husband for a bit, and, seriously, the food is great. You’ll both love it.’
Thankfully the drive was short, the awkward silence filling the car only compounding the pent-up frustration coming from another part of him.
He’d secured a private table in the outer corner of the establishment, far enough away to be out of hearing distance of the other diners. Perfect for their conversation. Only first he had to leave to give Zara the opportunity to talk to his sister about letting
him help.
He used his lack of a sweet tooth as an excuse and left them over pudding to catch up with Johansson. The guy’s commanding boom reached him as soon as he entered the bustling kitchen. As if he sensed something out of place in his domain, he looked straight to Daniel, his face breaking into a wide grin. ‘Hej!’ he bellowed, rubbing his hands into his apron and heading over. ‘Was it good?’
Daniel returned his smile. ‘As if you need ask that.’
Johansson nodded eagerly. ‘But did she like it?’
‘Why don’t you ask her yourself?’
His grin became a grimace. ‘I don’t think that’s wise—a public showdown wouldn’t be great for business. How’s she doing?’
‘She’s okay.’
He nodded, his jaw pulsing. ‘If I ever get my hands on him...’
‘Hell, you and me both,’ Daniel agreed, ‘but that definitely wouldn’t be good for publicity.’
Johansson gave a bark of a laugh. ‘Since when have you cared about your public image?’
‘Fair point.’ He grinned. ‘Let me do the killing, then, and why don’t you see about making her all happy again?’
His friend’s expression turned wistful, at total odds with the manic kitchen around them. ‘I tried that once.’ He shook his head. ‘But it’s not meant to be. She deserves better.’
‘What? Like Edward?’ Daniel scoffed, unable to help himself, and Johansson visibly blanched.
Skit, great going, reminding him that Edward stole her away in the first place.
‘Look, just talk to her.’
His hesitant gaze swept the kitchen. ‘I guess it wouldn’t hurt.’ He rubbed his hand over his face. ‘Hell, I’m not even supposed to be in here any more, but it’s hard letting go.’
‘Of the girl, or the kitchen?’
‘Funny, Daniel, very funny.’ He sighed and piped up with reignited vigour, ‘Come on, then, before I change my mind.’
Daniel raised his hand to his friend’s chest. ‘Whoa, just give them five. They’re having a chat.’
‘Ah, her and the mystery lady...’ His friend raised a brow. ‘So, who is she?’
‘She’s Julia’s estate agent.’
‘Just her estate agent?’
‘Don’t you start ribbing me.’ He grimaced. ‘Julia’s been at it all morning.’
‘From the talk in the kitchen, the pair of them have stirred up enough excitement among the male waiting staff to tell me she’s no plain Jane.’
‘And?’
‘And you’re never one to pass up an opportunity.’
He shoved his hands into his jeans and shook his head. ‘Whatever.’
‘Is that all you’re giving me?’
He shrugged. ‘Nothing to tell.’
What was wrong with him? He wasn’t one to over share for sure, but he was never one to avoid the truth either. Yet telling Johansson about Zara felt wrong, debasing even.
‘If you say so,’ Johansson said, clearly not believing him. ‘So, how is the hunt for a new home going?’
‘It’s going.’
‘Going?’ He chuckled. ‘Sounds awesome.’
‘It could be the death of me. Or Edward even, if Zara doesn’t make her see sense.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Zara?’
‘The estate agent.’
‘Ah.’ He nodded, his grin wide and all-knowing. ‘Yes, of course, Zara, just the agent.’
‘Johansson, put a lid on it.’
‘Come on,’ he said, pounding Daniel on the back. ‘Let me grab a couple of beers and you can chew my ear off while they finish up out there.’
CHAPTER FIVE
‘OKAY, I’LL CONSIDER IT.’
Phew. Zara breathed a sigh of relief at Julia’s concession. It wasn’t just the fact that it would make Daniel happy that his sister might relent, it also meant the conversation was done with. Zara hadn’t gone in with the intention of talking about her own past experience with Charles, but as Julia had opened up it had come out naturally. And together they had commiserated, had a mutual bitch and bonded over it. But now she was ready to put him back in the past and move on. As was Julia. And the excitement of house-hunting was the perfect fix.
‘Your brother will be pleased,’ she said. ‘You can’t blame him, after everything you’ve gone through, to want to see you happy.’
‘But I don’t need a big house for that.’
‘No,’ Zara agreed, ‘but maybe we can go a little better and make you both happy.’
‘A compromise position, I like it.’ Julia grinned, raising her water glass in salute. ‘You’re an excellent saleswoman.’
Zara returned her smile. ‘I try.’
‘And I know he just wants the best for me.’ She took a sip of her drink, her eyes suddenly sombre. ‘But I wish he’d stop trying to make up for the past. None of it was his fault—he doesn’t owe me.’
‘I think you’ll struggle to convince him of that.’
‘Don’t I know it?’ She sighed and leaned back in her seat. ‘He really is a good guy, no matter what the press say about him.’
Zara shook her head confused. ‘The press?’
What did that mean? It was the second time his public status had come up and now she was burning to ask. Who was he?
‘Yes, but then the press are never really happy unless you’re screwing in their faces,’ she said dismissively, unaware that Zara was on high alert now.
Seriously, who the hell was he?
Daniel Larsson didn’t ring a bell. But then if they were only half-siblings it didn’t necessarily mean they’d share the same surname. Maybe Larsson was Julia’s married name?
Suddenly she wished she were more in the know, had kept abreast of the news, or was it more the gossip columns if Julia’s remark was anything to go on?
She sipped at her coffee. Could she probe? And how exactly?
She was considering her exact phrasing when Julia’s expression froze, her eyes flashing wildly as she looked past her in the direction of where Daniel had disappeared off to half an hour ago.
Zara turned to follow her gaze and, sure enough, there was the man himself, only this time he was tailed by another—Johansson; she’d put her money on it judging by Julia’s reaction and the apprehensive look on the other man’s face.
He was even taller than Daniel, dark and fair-skinned—no sun time for this guy. His eyes were as blue as the ocean and bright with appreciation as they fixed on Julia and remained.
So it was that kind of history. Daniel had played that well.
‘You ladies done?’ He looked to her pointedly and her heart skipped over, drying up her words.
Julia got stuck in instead. ‘If by done, you mean, has Zara convinced me to be more open to your idea, then yes, you can consider us done.’ She softened her bluntness with a smile and then her gaze swept to their new guest and her cheeks flushed. ‘Niklas.’
‘It’s good to see you, Jules.’ He swept forward, leaning across the table to kiss her proffered cheek and anyone could catch the moment hanging in the air, sweeping them up in the sizzle.
‘You too.’ Julia looked up into his face as he straightened. ‘It’s a lovely place you have here.’
‘I would’ve liked you to come sooner.’
‘I would have if...’ She shrugged, her eyes lowering. ‘Well, things are different now.’
‘Too right, they are,’ Daniel said, stamping out the sudden lull and easing himself into the seat alongside Zara, near enough to breathe in his aftershave and leave her needing a whole lot more. None of which were appropriate in that moment, and she kept her eyes averted. On safer ground. ‘Why don’t you make up for lost time and show her around, Johansson, now that Julia has come around to my—?’
Julia’s eyes snapped to his. ‘I’ve not agreed to anything yet, s
torebror. I’ve said I’ll consider it.’
‘Okay—okay, now you’ve agreed to at least consider my proposition I have things I’d like to discuss with Zara.’
Julia eyed them all, nervously shifting in her seat, seeming flustered. ‘Right, fine, but remember, this is my home—what I say goes, Daniel.’
‘Sure thing.’
‘I’m depending on you, Zara, to help keep him in line.’
His sister’s trust in her had Zara smiling, her head momentarily off the distraction to her left as she nodded her assurance. It felt good that the woman trusted her to keep her corner. She wouldn’t let her down.
Julia gave her a smile and then rose from the table, her eyes cautiously on Johansson before she moved away. Zara watched them go, watched how Johansson’s hand swept into the curve of her back, the move more telling than either of them probably realised, and then they were gone, and the atmosphere shifted with a very different electricity.
Or not so different, if she dared think on it properly.
She looked to Daniel, hands folding in her lap as she fought the need to reach out for him. This was a restaurant, hardly a place to re-establish the intimacy they’d shared the previous night, but the urge was there, making her pulse race and her tummy draw tight.
‘Alone, finally,’ he said under his breath, his gaze sweeping the discreet arrangement of tables before coming back to her. ‘Thank you for talking to her.’
She took up her glass of water for a drink, needing its chilling quality to loosen up her vocal cords. ‘You’re welcome.’
‘You’re becoming fast friends, by all accounts.’
She let her eyes drift to the other diners, trying to douse the effect his nearness inspired, but, just as it had in the car, his warmth radiated down her side, luring her in whether her eyes were on him or not. ‘Well, she’s my client. I’m looking out for her best interests.’
‘And me?’ he said, all husky and pulling her resistant gaze back to his own, imprisoning her with his heat. ‘Are you simply looking out for mine too?’
Her throat closed over completely, her heart rapping against her tonsils. His sexual interests, she was all over.
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