“See you later!” Zack shouted after us.
“Jennifer, I am going to hockey practice after school and Yasmin’s Dad said he would drop me back off so you don’t need to worry about me later.”
“Right Scarlett, that’s fine.”
“I have rugby practice and I will get a lift back too,” grumpy Jasper muttered.
We sped off down the lane. I felt happy with how our earlier conversation had gone. I really hoped that things would progress between us.
“Have a good day, you two,” I told them as they jumped out of the car, slamming the doors noisily.
I was excited to head back to the house as I knew that Zack was there. He would probably be holed up in his study all day but at least he would be close by. That would have to be enough.
Going back into the large beautiful kitchen, I was surprised to see him still sitting there. He was playing a game on his smart phone and he looked happy and relaxed, not a multimillionaire businessman under incredible pressure. His face lit up in a broad smile.
“It’s good to see you smile. You should do it more often. You have a beautiful smile, Zack. Would you like a cup of tea?”
“Thank you, Jennifer. I would love a cup of tea. I can tell you are from Yorkshire!” he replied, flushing slightly.
“We love our tea there. I call my Dad teapot he drinks that much!”
Setting the steaming mugs down, I didn’t know whether to sit down next to him. I hesitated and remained standing next to the worktop. What I wanted to do was grab hold of him.
“Are you going to hover over me or sit down, Jennifer?”
His blue eyes rested on my breasts again and he didn’t seem to care that I noticed. Our eyes met and that familiar charge passed between us.
“Sorry,” I spluttered, taking a seat.
“So what are your plans for the day?”
I am planning on taking you to bed and having mind-blowing hot primal sex with you.
He stared at me waiting for a reply.
“Oh, I thought I would walk Gatsby. We have got into a routine and he will be waiting for me to take him out.”
“Mind if I join you, Jennifer?”
“I would love that, Zack.”
We finished our tea and Gatsby magically appeared from nowhere with his collar in his mouth.
After we had put on our trainers, we headed out of the French doors of the kitchen and started walking towards the dense woods.
“It’s a lovely day to play hooky,” I teased him as we walked along.
“It certainly is and I am in lovely company. You are very easy to be around and you don’t seem to feel the need to chatter on about rubbish like some women I know!”
“Thanks, Zack.”
We continued our walk in a comfortable silence. Gatsby sniffed around and disappeared from time to time but Zack just had to whistle and he reappeared in seconds.
“It’s so beautiful here. How long have you lived here?”
“Ten years next month. The house used to belong to an ageing rock star. He had gone bankrupt so it was an absolute bargain. It had gone to wrack and ruin but I loved fixing it up.”
“It is stunning and all this land is amazing. My Mum and Dad have about the same but there isn’t much woodland as it is split into paddocks and exercise areas for the horses.”
“It sounds very impressive, Jennifer.”
“I was pretty pleased that you kept horses here. It has been far too long since I fed my horse habit!”
“You can ride them any time you like. I want you to feel like this is your home, Jennifer.”
“Thanks, Zack. You are very different to how I imagined you.”
“Different? How do you mean?”
“I thought you would be all business and no pleasure but you are just a normal man. A filthy rich smoking hot one, mind you!” I laughed blushing.
Jesus, just shut up now!
He looked at me as he flushed red. I loved the way he was so modest and seemingly unaware of his many, many charms.
“I thought you would be stuffy and uptight. I never imagined that you would be a stunningly beautiful woman who is kind and sweet. You are great with the kids at a time that they need attention.”
I just didn’t know how to respond so I gave him a shy smile and he smiled back at me. I was finding it very hard to take my eyes off his full mouth and thinking about it all over me.
It was near to lunchtime when we got back from our very pleasant walk. I had to stop myself from grabbing his hand.
“You do know that we have met before, don’t you?” I told him grinning.
“Of course I do, Jennifer or Jenny, I don’t really mind!”
“Mr Zachary Cole. You devious man! I can’t believe you didn’t say!” I laughed, digging him hard in the ribs.