Out of Control(27)

“Dani,” she corrected.

“Dani, then. We were almost introduced this afternoon. I’m Lauren.” She took a sip of her wine and gave Dani a long look over the rim of her wineglass. “And you, presumably, are the reason I’ve been relegated to sleeping in the spare room.”

Dani had been gazing out of the French windows mainly to avoid looking at Lauren. Now she turned and stared. “Sorry?”

“You should be. But I thought you’d be interested to know that my sleeping arrangements this visit do not include Zach. Not my choice, I might add.”

“I don’t know why you’d think I’d be interested?” Oh but she was. Very.

Lauren smiled. “I saw the way you looked when I came in today. You were quick to hide it, but my being there was definitely a shock. If it makes you feel better, it was a shock to Zach as well.” She cocked her head to one side and regarded Dani thoughtfully. “You’re really not his usual type, you know.”

“Really?” Tell her something she didn’t know. “You mean I’ve actually got clothes on?”

Lauren peered down at her. Dani hated being looked down at. Unfortunately, it happened a lot. “I don’t mean to be rude or anything; it’s probably not a bad thing. After all, Zach’s usual girlfriends have a life expectancy of around three months. Max. Maybe you’ll be different.”

“Not likely,” Dani muttered. “Anyway, I’m not his girlfriend. I’m not his anything.”

Lauren raised an elegant eyebrow.

“Aren’t you upset?” Dani asked. “About the spare room thing?”

For a moment, Lauren’s smile faltered and Dani could see behind the mask of indifference to the pain beyond. Then Lauren shrugged. “I’ve always tried to be honest with myself where Zach’s concerned. I knew when it started that it was never going to go anywhere and I knew, before I came here, that we were just about over. I shouldn’t have come, but I thought, one last fling.” She shook her head ruefully. “Never try for that last fling—it doesn’t work. But then, Zach is sort of addictive.”

They both looked over to where he stood chatting with Gary. He must have felt their gazes because he looked across, then held up a beer and beckoned her over with a smile. Dani kept her face immobile but inside she melted.

“Was it worth it?” she asked, turning back to Lauren.

“Oh yes.” Lauren laughed softly. “Boy, was it worth it.”

Dani could feel her face heating up, and she nibbled on her bottom lip, really not sure what to say.

Lauren relented. “It’s not only the sex with Zach, though he’d be worth it just for that. The thing is he actually likes women and it comes across. He just doesn’t want to marry one, doesn’t even want to live with one. He’s absolutely terrified of commitment. But even when he finishes it, it’s always his fault not yours, and you can’t help liking him. Come on, let’s join the group. I can see Zach’s getting jumpy.” She grinned. “He’s probably worrying about what I’m telling you.”

Dani didn’t know what to think; it felt like a reprieve. The tight band she hadn’t even realized was around her chest suddenly loosened. She’d felt deflated earlier, but now she was floating.

She was on autopilot throughout dinner. She found herself sitting next to Zach, smiling and drinking but somehow managing to avoid talking to him directly. She watched as Lauren sat opposite between Simon and Gary, flirting outrageously with both of them, and wished she could feel half as relaxed or at least look as though she were.

Dinner was some sort of pasta with a creamy chicken sauce and salad, followed by double chocolate chip ice cream, and she knew Zach had arranged it for her. She licked the last of the dessert from her spoon and sighed. She couldn’t ignore him any longer. She turned and found him staring at her mouth. She licked her lips, searching for stray ice cream.

“That was a wonderful meal,” she said. “Did you cook it yourself?”

“No,” Zach replied wryly. “The Italian restaurant in town delivered. Now, why don’t you bring your drink and come out to the terrace.” He didn’t wait for her to reply but picked up her glass and got to his feet. “Come on. It’s obvious I’m not going to get any conversation out of you in front of your bodyguards.”

Gary and Simon looked up as she followed. Gary’s eyes narrowed slightly but then Lauren spoke and he turned back to her. Dani let out a sigh of relief and followed Zach through the French doors. The warm night air wrapped around her, enveloping her in the sweet scent of jasmine.