Sex for Beginners Box Set(51)
“You don’t have to go in. I’ll just take a quick look around.”
“I don’t mind,” he said with a congenial shrug.
They entered the shop and after glancing into several glass cases, Zoe asked the clerk if the store sold loose or unpolished opals. The woman looked regretful and shook her head.
“Do you know of a local resource?”
“Not in Manly, ma’am, I’m sorry.” The woman squinted and leaned in closer. “What a beautiful necklace.”
Zoe smiled and fingered the delicate wire-wrapped pendant she wore. “Thank you.”
When Zoe turned, Colin was standing nearby wearing a grin. “Unpolished opals? Are you a smuggler?”
She laughed, then pressed her lips together, hesitant to respond. “I design jewelry as a hobby.”
His eyebrows climbed. “Did you design the necklace that woman just commented on?”
Zoe nodded.
“And the choker you were wearing the night you came to my room?”
Her cheeks warmed. “Yes.”
“Nice. Do you sell your designs in Atlanta?”
Zoe gave a little laugh. “No. I just make things for myself, and as gifts.”
“And you need opals for something special?”
She bit into her lip. “I’m making bracelets for my bridesmaids and I thought opals would be a nice touch. It’s no big deal, though. I can use another stone.” She motioned toward the door. “Ready? I wouldn’t mind a walk on the beach before we leave.”
He was staring at her in the oddest way. Then he smiled and nodded, and she was relieved to see that some of the unspoken tension between them had dissipated. Maybe they could at least end on a good note.
The harbor foreshore was a generous curve of sand on a protected cove, extending into brilliantly colored waters of aqua, cobalt and indigo. Picturesque enough on its own, but framed by a row of gigantic Norfolk Island pines, it was a magical little slice of the world.
The afternoon temperatures had climbed, especially on the beach where the sun’s rays were reflected. Colin removed his T-shirt and shoes, and Zoe followed suit. She tried not to stare at his powerful physique, but she couldn’t help stealing a few glances under the brim of her hat. She acknowledged that even though she’d decided to end their arrangement, it would take a while for her body to become reconciled to the fact.
They strolled near the water’s edge, at first maintaining an arm’s length between them. But as they continued to walk in the frothy surf and soft sand, their bodies migrated closer and closer, like the opposite poles of magnets. Zoe’s midsection began to hum a familiar tune. When Colin reached over to twine her fingers with his, she didn’t resist. Instead she closed her eyes and told herself that it was all part of the fantasy, something she could hold on to just a little longer.
They wound up stashing their clothes on the beach and taking a dip in the surf. Zoe swam out a few strokes, enjoying the extra buoyancy of the salt water, then stopped to float on her back in the sun-dappled water. Colin came up out of the water next to her, water sluicing off his golden hair and skin. He pulled her close, nose to nose.
They didn’t kiss, just stared into each other’s eyes. His green gaze was languid, full of provocative promises. In response, Zoe felt a tug on her heart more dangerous than any undertow. “We’d better be heading back,” she murmured.
He nodded and released her. They swam back to shore and gathered their things, then returned to the wharf, both of them preoccupied.
Dusk was falling as they shoved off. Colin lowered the outboard and they motored across, pulling into the slip just moments later. Zoe helped him to secure the boat, then they walked to the hotel, talking about the weather, the view and the activity around them. She felt prickly and nervous again, knowing that the time was drawing near for her to say what needed to be said. They walked through the hotel lobby and Colin punched the button to call the elevator.
“Do you want to get some dinner?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m really tired. I don’t think I’ve completely adjusted to the time difference.”
He nodded, but seemed antsy. “I’ll walk you to your room.” They rode the elevator to her floor, him looking up, her looking down. When they alighted, she walked two steps ahead of him, rummaging for her room key. When they reached her door, she turned.
“Colin, thank you for today.”
He smiled and her resolve weakened. “You’re welcome, Zoe. It was fun.”
“Yes.” She wet her lips. “I think it’s always nice to end on a high note.”
He looked confused for a few seconds, then his eyes widened. “Ah. You’re giving me the heave-ho.”
“I think it’s best if we say goodbye now before there are any more complications for both of us.”
He nodded. “I’ve been having the same thoughts. I guess I didn’t consider the fallout.”
“Good. Then we’re in agreement.”
“It would seem so.”
Zoe stuck out her hand. “It was nice.”
He glanced at her hand, then extended his and folded hers inside. His green eyes reflected amusement mingled with regret. “Yes, it was…nice.”
Her fingers started to tingle, and not from lack of circulation. Zoe withdrew her hand. “Okay. Goodbye then.”
He took a step backward. “Goodbye, Zoe. Have a nice life.”
“You, too,” she murmured.
He maintained eye contact as he backed way, and then he was gone. Zoe wasn’t prepared for the hollow feeling that ballooned in her chest. She opened her room door and walked inside, blinking back sudden, absurd tears. She must be more tired than she thought because she couldn’t possibly miss this man, not after so short a time. Not when breaking off their arrangement was the right thing to do. So she could spend her last three days alone, thinking about the wedding.
She picked up the bag that held her “Zoe and Kevin’s Wedding” binder, and the purple envelope containing the letter fell into her hand. The erotic, challenging words she’d written to herself came back to her in a rush.
Zoe pressed her lips together.
Three days alone. Thinking about the wedding.
She snatched her room key and headed toward the door. Had Colin had time to reach his room yet? If not, maybe she could still catch him.
But just as she put her hand on the knob, a knock sounded. She jumped, then checked the peephole.
A pair of bottle-green eyes looked back at her.
Her heart lifted, but she forced herself to take a calming breath. He could’ve come back for a lot of reasons. Maybe she’d left something in his room. Or on his boat. Or maybe he was rescinding her free spa services.
Zoe schooled her face, then swung open the door. “Yes?”
Colin looked adorably hesitant, then jammed his hands on his hips. “I was wondering if you’d like to go with me to my ranch in Canberra for a few days.”
Her eyes widened. “To your ranch?”
“It would give you a chance to see some of the outlying country. And…you’ll have your opals.”
Zoe frowned. “Opals?”
“There’s an opal field on the ranch—not a big one, but it’s produced some decent black opals…. You can have your pick.”
Zoe’s mouth watered. “Black opals?”
“The rarest, most beautiful opals that Australia has to offer.”
She nodded, in awe. “I know.”
A slow, cocky grin curved his mouth as he spanned the doorway. “And we’ll have privacy. If you want to, we could pick up where we left off.”
Inside her tennis shoes, her toes curled.
“What do you say?” Colin asked.
Zoe considered his offer and the ramifications. She wavered and waffled, shifting back and forth. Finally, she lifted her chin. “Only if you bring the handcuffs.”
12
COLIN OFFERED HIS ARM TO HELP Zoe climb into his gray SUV, but she fairly bounced up into the seat. She’d forgotten how good it felt to be excited about visiting a new place, the way it had been when she’d first begun traveling.
“How soon until we get there?”
Colin laughed at her enthusiasm. “Pace yourself. It’s a three-hour drive.”
She reached up to pull out the seat belt, but he took it from her. “Allow me.”
Zoe sat back, pleasure curling in her stomach as he drew the belt across her body and clicked it home. Then he gave the belt a yank to pull it more snugly over her lap. Zoe sucked in a sharp breath.
His eyes danced with amusement. “Tight enough?”
Zoe wet her lips. “It could be a tad…tighter.”
He gave the strap another yank. “Now?”
“That’s good,” she murmured.
“Are you sure?” he asked, running a finger under the belt, grazing her mons through the khaki cargo shorts—one of the pieces of sturdy clothing delivered from a local shop, compliments of Colin. “Thought you might need these. C.”, the note had simply read.
Perspiration beaded on her upper lip. How was this man able to turn an innocent activity into foreplay? “Yes.”
He took his time withdrawing his hand. “Guess we’re ready.”
“Did you remember our…hardware?”
Colin picked up a small duffel bag at his feet and held it high, the contents giving a telltale clank. “Now can we go?”