Out of Control(24)

“And you’re also decadent and immoral and there’s no way I could come to care for you. So you’re safe.”

“Ouch. You know there’s such a thing as being too honest. So tell me. Was the hype true?”

Oh yeah. She considered lying, but she figured he’d known how much she’d enjoyed it. She gave a quick nod.

“You used me?” he said.

“Yup.”

“So why stop now? Why not use me some more?”

Good question. He was so beautiful, merely looking at him made her totally aware of her body, her nipples tingled, and her sex clenched with remembered desire, so she shifted where she sat. She had a flashback to how he’d felt inside her, all that male power focused solely on her. She could lose herself in him. Never find herself again. The idea terrified her. That wasn’t who she was or wanted to be. She wanted to be in control.

“Let’s just say that once was enough and leave it at that. You’re my employer, and it’s inappropriate.”

“But—”

“Can we change the subject?” Why was he going on about it anyway? He’d obviously taken Jake’s advice and stayed away. She counted to ten. “Let’s forget it ever happened.” Taking a deep breath, she pasted on a smile. “You look very stylish today. Are you off somewhere?”

For a minute, she thought he was going to pursue the subject. In which case she was going to get up and walk away. Then he exhaled loudly. “I’m heading into town. I thought you might join me. We could get some lunch. Just friends.”

“Which part of me avoiding you are you not getting here?”

“I know this great little pizza place.”

God, she wanted to, and not for the pizza. “No thank you,” she replied primly. “Anyway, I might go and use the pool now that I know you’re going to be out of the way for a few hours.”

He gave her a disgusted look. “Coward.” He got to his feet, and she watched wistfully as he strolled away from her. Gary should be proud. So should Jake. That had definitely taken willpower.

…

“I’ve brought you a present,” Zach said.

It was hours after he’d left her. Dani had had her swim, then spent some time working with the dogs, and now it was early afternoon—siesta time by anyone’s standards—and she was lying sprawled under the olive trees by the kennels.

“Come on, I know you’re not asleep.”

When she still didn’t move, he nudged her with his toe.

“Go away,” she mumbled, trying to push away the offending toe. It retreated, but only slightly.

“Sit up, and I’ll give it to you.”

She opened her eyes but didn’t sit up. “I don’t want a present.”

“All women want presents.” He sounded scandalized, and his hand flew to his heart in a totally over-the-top gesture of shock, but his eyes twinkled with amusement.

Ignoring the butterflies in her stomach, she heaved an exaggerated sigh and pushed herself up, brushing the grass from her shorts and T-shirt. “I don’t want you buying me things.”

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing compromising. No jewelry or sexy underwear. In fact, I didn’t even have to pay for it.”

Dani couldn’t quite prevent her eyes from straying to the package he carried. No one had ever brought her a present before.

“Here, take it. It’s not going to bite, and I don’t expect any favors in return.”

Dani took it gingerly and turned it over in her hands. It was a small box, maybe six inches square, and had been sent from England. She glanced up to find Zach hovering above her, his hands shoved into his pockets, a faintly expectant gleam in his eyes.

She ripped off the wrapping and inside was an iPod. She picked it up and looked at it curiously, wondering why he would have bought her music.

“Switch it on,” he said.

She did and found that it wasn’t loaded with music but with audio books. She looked down the list and found they were all copies of Zach’s novels, read by Zach himself.

“I had my publisher load them and send them over.”

Dani blinked back a tear; the thoughtfulness behind the gift touched her. She stared at the ground for a long moment. She badly wanted to be alone, but he was still hovering.

“Hey, don’t go all mushy on me,” he said. “Anyway, you’ll probably hate them and they’ll justify your entire opinion of me.”

“Probably.”

“Actually, I’ve got something else for you.”

“You do?” She knew she sounded suspicious, but he definitely looked shifty.

“Hmm, it’s in the car. I thought I’d better wait and see what sort of mood you were in.” He gave her a wink. “Wait here, and don’t move.”