Chapter 16
16
They worked through lunch and ended up ordering from the executive Michelin-starred chef who came as part of the building’s concierge services.
He picked through Bethany’s initial plans, firing questions at her as they ploughed their way through a double-grilled steak with fries and salad, and a chilled glass of Chablis.
He tried to keep things business-like, but the knowledge that she wasn’t wearing any panties beneath the suit dress she’d insisted on wearing again played havoc with his thought processes every time he dwelled on it. Which was every three seconds.
“Zach?”
He fought to refocus. “Hmm?”
“I asked what you thought of Romania for the second trip.”
“Not at this time of year.”
“Okay. How about Rio?” she ventured.
“How about Reykjavik?” he said.
“How about Rome?”
He grinned. “Do names beginning with R turn you on, Peaches? Or do you just like the idea of getting down and dirty in the Holy City?”
A cute little blush reddened her cheeks. “Stay on point, Zach. Besides, there won’t be any down and dirtying since I’ll be right here in New York.”
“Ah, I hate to burst your bubble but you’re coming on the trip.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m what?”
He struggled not to lean forward and kiss the surprised O from her swollen mouth. “Part of the contract terms stated one member of Neon had to be present on the trip. I asked for you.”
She stared at him in silence. His nape began to prickle. “And where will you be during this time?” she asked quietly.
He noted a hopeful wariness in her eyes and dared to think she wanted him to answer one way only. “I’ll be right there with you.”
Her breath shuddered out. His heart soared.
“Does that please you, baby?”
She wrinkled her nose, but he was happy to see the shadows retreating. “Technically, it shouldn’t. Business and pleasure. Bad idea.”
“Fuck technical. And don’t pigeonhole us. We’re unique.”
She laughed, and he raised a brow. “It’s the second time I’ve been called that this week,” she supplied.
“Really.”
“Don’t give me that look. I’m a unique little snowflake.”
A dark feeling rushed through his gut. He plucked his reading glasses from his face and tossed them onto the table.
“Who called you unique?” he asked, struggling to keep his voice even. He must have succeeded because she smiled, popped a fry in her mouth and chewed.
“The guest list coordinator at Shades.”
“Right.”
She slowly stopped chewing. “You’re jealous? For fuck’s sake, Zach, he was gay.” He started to relax. “I think.”
His stomach clenched hard. “Christ. If this were the Middle Ages I’d keep you chained in my tower so no other man could see you,” he half joked.
She laughed. The sound filled him with a joy that knocked the breath out of him. “So you think you can tame me? Maybe I’d be the one to keep you chained up. And naked for my use whenever the urge takes me.”
God, why did that idea make him so damned hard?
He shifted to adjust his crotch and laughed under his breath at the futility of trying to control his body around her. “I like the idea of you as a marauding warrior princess. I like the idea of being exclusively yours even better,” he added.
Laughter slowly faded from her eyes. The atmosphere thickened with hope and pain and sex and desperation.
Christ.
She glanced down at the papers spread on the table and cleared her throat. “So Rome gets your approval?”
“Throw in a quick stop to the Amalfi Coast and it’s a go. I have a place there. We can stop in for lunch.”
She nodded and made quick notes, studiously avoiding his eyes. “Okay. Next stop… How about Kenya? Your guests can watch heartless predators rip their prey to shreds. We’ll call it nature at its worst or the circle of life tour or something?” Her voice was dark with anguish.
“Bethany.”
“Sorry, bad joke.” She chewed on her lower lip for several seconds. “I still think Kenya would be awesome.”
“Okay. If you like.” His shoulders moved restlessly.
She started to argue but pressed her lips together and made some more notes.
“Or we can do Thailand instead?”
“The islands or Bangkok?” he asked, hoping she would look at him.
She kept her gaze on her notes. “I’ll work on both. The guests may prefer bright lights to laid back, especially since the tour is abbreviated.”
He thought for a moment. “Source out events for both. We’ll let the guests decide which they prefer.”
“Great. It’s settled then. Are you sure you don’t want me to work on the other trips?”
“I’m sure. It’s already taken care of.” Whether Bethany would like what he had planned for them on those remaining trips was something he didn’t want to think about just yet.
“I’ll liaise with our contacts in Italy to get a few venues sorted out.” She positioned her laptop on her thighs and fired it up. “Kenya and Thailand I’ll have to plan from the ground up.”
He picked up his glass and drained the last mouthful of wine, grimacing at the suddenly sour taste. He knew very well the taste wasn’t the problem. The wine had tasted exquisite only minutes ago, when his blood buzzed with contentment at just being with her and trading jokes.
That his body was psychosomatically reacting to Bethany was no surprise. She was under his skin. In his blood. Embedded in his mind in a way that made him reel inwardly thinking about it.
“Bethany.” He found himself saying her name just to feel that intense connection again.
“Just a second. I’m checking to see if Sheena has sent the list of guests.”
“Bethany,” he murmured again.
“Zach, please. Just… let me do my work.” The husky plea shredded him.
He forced himself to stay silent, but his gaze didn’t stray from her. After several minutes, she lowered the laptop shut. “Thirty-six guests have accepted the invitation. We need to narrow it down to the required twelve. I’ve sent the details to your tablet.”
Setting his glass down, he rose. “I’ll take a look tonight.” He held out his hand. “Right now, we’re taking a break.”
Ten minutes later, after she’d brushed her hair and, against his protests, pulled on her underwear, he met her in the hallway, ushered her into the elevator and hit the RT button.
She glanced from the lit button to his face. “We’re going up? I thought yours was the Penthouse?”
He smiled. “It is.”
“So…”
He kissed her as the elevator stopped and the doors slid open. In the mid-afternoon sunshine, the helicopter gleamed black and indigo.
Bethany jerked to a stop. “You have a private chopper at your beck and call?”
“You should know by now that I love my toys, Peaches.”
She rolled her eyes, and he threaded his fingers through hers, insanely pleased that she was once again looking at him.
They would work through this. As long as she stayed with him, he had to believe they would succeed.
He helped her into the back of the chopper and secured her seatbelt as she looked around the plush cream interior. Her eyes flashed with excitement and he found himself grinning.
“You like what you see?”
“What’s not to like?” She caressed the soft leather next to her thigh, and he mock frowned.
After securing his own belt, he picked up her hand and put it on his thigh. “You know, we can see the pilot, but he can’t see us. Wanna make out?”
Her immediate blush made his senses leap. “You’re really determined not to stop until you get us both arrested, aren’t you?”
As the rotors began to whir, he leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “You’ve already had me in handcuffs, Peaches. It’s a downward slope from here on in.”
She shook her head with another alluring laugh. “Tell me where we’re going.”
“To Newark, to tour the new plane. Then I’m taking you out to dinner.”
* * *
Bethany tried not to stare in awe at her surroundings and the view below her window, but she failed at both.
And with Zach so close and so mesmerizing, it was a futile task anyway. Every time she turned, his gaze met hers and he smiled that heart-stopping smile she was sure was specifically designed to batter her resistance to pieces.
And damn if it wasn’t working. Her insides shook every time she met his eyes. Her heart swelled every time he smiled at her. She may have patted herself on the shoulder for refusing to say she loved him, and even believed her reasons for saying so, but she knew the feelings were there, alive and stronger than ever. Especially after that revelation in his bathroom this morning.
Recalling his anguish, her chest tightened. Whatever had happened between him and Farrah, Bethany was beginning to believe deep in her heart that there had been exigent circumstances. The man next to her bore many flaws, but her instincts were fairly set on believing he wasn’t a heartless predator with pre-meditative intentions.
The chopper banked around Ellis Island, and she glanced at him again. She followed his chiseled profile to his strong neck and broad shoulders masked by his long-sleeved indigo T-shirt. Just like he liked his favorite color on her, she loved seeing him in indigo. His mouth-watering chest rose and fell in an even breath, and her gaze travelled lower, past his ripped abs to the legs encased in Tom Ford casuals.
Her belly heated as her gaze became trapped at his crotch. Even soft, his bulge was impressive and extremely noteworthy. He shifted, and she glanced up, met his electric gaze. In silence, he curved his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in to his body.
Resting her head on his chest, she slid her arms around his waist.
The sound-proof interior meant they could chat easily, but instead, they fell into a comfortable silence she was content to keep for the moment.
She had no doubt there would be even more turbulent times ahead; times when they violently disagreed, or times when his arrogance and blatant disregard for propriety made her see red. And yes, there would be times when she would refuse to let the secrets of his past remain dark and distant.
But for now, she let herself be content.