Born to Be Wild (3 page)

She nodded slowly. “Deal.”

So why did she feel like she’d just kissed a dead frog?

Zach’s big, rough hand swallowed hers, but instead of shaking it, he just held it. As Dara stared up at him, ignoring as best she could the warm sensation that was tingling its way up her arm and around the back of her neck, his cocky, triumphant smile faded to something more … personal.

In the short time he’d been in her office, he’d revealed more sides than she’d ever expected him to have. And there wasn’t one of them that wasn’t dangerous to her peace of mind. A peace she’d struggled to achieve.

“I never thought I’d say this,” he said quietly, “but it’s really good to see you again, Dart.”

“Funny, I didn’t get that impression about two minutes ago.” She’d tried for flippant humor, but winced inwardly when the words came out sounding far too sincere.

“You’re just doing your job.” The smile turned teasing. “I think I’d have been disappointed if I’d discovered you’d gone completely soft and wishy-washy on me.”

Dara felt heat stain her cheeks as he echoed her earlier wish. “Yeah, well, someone’s got to keep guys like you in line.”

Zach chuckled. “Remind me never to introduce you to Beaudine.”

He was making it temptingly easy to relax and enjoy
his company. Which was probably exactly what he was hoping for. As casually as possible, she withdrew her hand from his.

“The kids are lucky to have you on their side, Dara.”

Clearing the sudden tightness constricting her throat, she slid her chair back and stood. “Thank you.” She’d intended to politely return his earlier platitude about it being nice to see him again, but somehow she suspected that right now, the admission would come out sounding entirely too heartfelt. “Um, the case histories for each of the children are down in the file room. If you’ll follow me, I’ll get copies for you.”

Zach watched Dara scoot from behind her desk and grab a navy blue Dream Foundation blazer from the brass coatrack in the corner. He caught her eye as she slid her arm in one sleeve. His wink just came naturally. As did her responding blush.

Damn if she wasn’t still fun to tease. His smile broadened as she shifted her back to him and tugged on the other sleeve. Why
had
he provoked her so often way back then? He’d never really thought about it. As an adolescent boy, it had just seemed natural. Five minutes around her and the next thing he knew she was socking his lights out. Usually with good reason, he admitted with a silent laugh. And yet, as the years passed, he’d never once thought to stop.

Maybe it was because she’d been such a good adversary. Maybe it was because he couldn’t charm her like he had everyone else.

He watched her surreptitiously tug the lapels closer in an unsuccessful attempt to hide the coffee stain he’d had a hell of a time keeping his eyes off.

And maybe it was because as a boy, he hadn’t known what else to do with a girl that intrigued him like she had. His wide grin was unabashed. Well, he’d learned a lot since then.

He knew exactly what to do with her now.

The attraction between them—and Zach recognized the signs well enough to know the sizzle in the air was not one-sided—was a surprise. He didn’t know what he’d expected to feel on seeing her again, but he knew this wasn’t it.

He wondered why Dane had never mentioned that the girl Zach remembered as being more dragon than potential musketeer, still had all that fire. She’d managed to harness it well. But he hadn’t a clue why she kept it so carefully concealed behind steady hazel eyes and that firm, business-only mouth.

Zach wasn’t fooled. As a child, those chameleon eyes had blazed green when she was angry. And all her cool poise aside, he imagined they still did. Which naturally led him to wonder what else besides anger provoked that intriguing change.

And as for her mouth …

Well, his thoughts on what sort of business he’d like to conduct on those lips is what had kept his gaze fastened
firmly on that blouse. Which hadn’t proved any less provocative.

Dara shifted so as not to brush against him as she walked to the door. Zach was so surprised at the sudden restraint he’d had to use to keep from reaching for her, he didn’t move at all. The impulse had been instinctive, as if he touched her so often, the action was natural to him. As if he had the right.

“Zach?”

Her voice broke his train of thought, and he turned to her, the smile on his face not nearly as easy or natural as the one before. He had the odd feeling he’d been transported back to the playground, only one of an adult variety. He closed the distance between them. Of course, now there was no monitor to send him to the principal’s office if he misbehaved.

Dara purposely moved back to let him pass through the open door first.

Then again, he thought as he watched her mouth settle into that flat no-nonsense line, she probably still packed a mean left hook.

He stepped past her, fully intending to continue into the hallway and put some much needed space between them. But just as he felt her move in behind him, he found himself turning back to her, trapping her in the intimate space between the door frame—and his frame.

“Dara?” he asked quietly, having no idea what he was going to say.

Dara was too surprised by Zach’s sudden move to react, but the familiar way he said her name garnered more of a reaction than she knew what to do with.

Defensive and turned on all at the same time. And she didn’t thank him for either feeling. Squaring her shoulders, she looked up at him. “Yes?”

He paused for the longest moment, staring at her in a way that made her discomfort grow. She resisted the urge to squirm.

“You’ve really changed, you know? And I guess I couldn’t help but wonder …”

Wary now, she frowned. “Wonder what?”

Bracing an arm on the frame over her head, he leaned closer. “You never struck me as the wand-carrying sort. So how did you get into this line of work? Granting other people’s wishes, I mean?”

She was honestly surprised by the question, especially since she’d been expecting something more … what? More personal, more intimate maybe? Yeah, right. So he’s all grown up and gorgeous as sin with a voice that could seduce the habit off a nun. So what if she was finally old enough to appreciate it? She’d sworn off that potent combination years ago.

Stability. Maturity. Those were the qualities she was attracted to now. The same ones she’d so carefully cultivated in herself.

She glanced into his eyes. The question had been asked in all sincerity, but the teasing twinkle she found there reminded her that letting her guard down with him had always been dangerous. And despite the hard-won cool control that had elevated her quickly through the executive ranks at the foundation, she knew that with Zach, she was still—and probably always would be—playing out of her league.

“It’s a long story, Zach,” she said, trying to edge her way past him.

His slight shift blocked her escape. “I didn’t ask out of idle curiosity. I really want to know. What happened to that little girl who was willing to slay dragons with her bare hands in order to be D’Artagnan?”

Oh, he was dangerous all right. After a fifteen-year absence from her life and a shared past that wasn’t exactly harmonious, he’d taken less than thirty minutes to mount a more effective assault on her well-built defenses than any man she’d met since Daniel had died over eight years ago.

Dara knew just how easy he’d make it for her to break down and share with him the parts of her past that had so largely shaped who she’d become. Just as she knew where that would lead. And she’d be right back in the place she’d busted her backside and most of her soul to get away from.

“We really should get those files so you can look them over before the board meeting,” she said quickly, catching that determined look in his eyes and wanting to end this before he could speak again.

But he didn’t step back, or let her pass. Instead he leaned closer, close enough that she could feel the heat of his body, close enough so that her gaze could naturally follow the strong column of his neck until it gave way to the stubble that shaded his jaw. Close enough that she couldn’t help but notice how his lower lip was just slightly fuller than his upper one. Close enough so that if he parted them slightly and she shifted forward even the tiniest bit, she could—

Whatever she might have thought or, heaven forbid, done next, was instantly erased by the sound of someone clearing his throat.

Dara closed her eyes and willed herself to melt for real—right through the floor. Zach had done it again. Straightening, she called on every bit of self-control and poise she could muster and ducked beneath his arm.

Sure enough, Old Man Cavendish was standing not two feet behind Zach, a very disapproving frown on his face. Not that she’d ever seen him look any differently, but this time
she
was the reason for it.

“Mr. Cavendish,” she said brightly, hoping her smile didn’t look as fake as it felt. “Is there something I can do for you?”

The thin, elderly man looked down at her with narrowed black eyes set deeply beneath bushy gray eyebrows. She happened to catch Zach’s eye at that exact moment. He flashed a quick wink and a knowing smile that made her suddenly want to laugh. Hard. Horrified at the sound threatening to bubble from her throat, she quickly covered it with a cough, making absolutely certain not to look at Zach again.

Ten minutes with Zach Brogan and it was like the principal’s office all over again.

“What you can do, young lady,” Mr. Cavendish said in his perfectly enunciated dictatorial tone, “is keep your personal business on personal time. We’re understaffed and overworked as it is. I’m sure you have something on your desk requiring your attention.” He let his censorious gaze roam up and down Zach’s large frame, obviously not in the least impressed. Then, with the dignified
bearing more suitable to a man who ruled nations than one who ran a charitable foundation, he turned and walked away.

The instant his tall, bony frame disappeared around the corner at the far end of the hall, Dara rounded on Zach. “I’ll thank you never to put me in that position again!”

Zach grinned and placed his hands on his hips, mocking her indignant stance. “Most certainly, madam.” Then he relaxed and leaned toward her, his voice lowered to a rough whisper. “Just tell me what position you prefer. I aim to please.”

I’ll just bet you do
, she thought darkly. Not daring to say another word, she turned and marched down the hall.

Zach caught up to her as she turned the corner and swiftly moved in front of her, blocking her path. She tried to go around him, but he shifted and blocked her again.

“Haven’t you played enough sophomoric games for today?” She raised her hand in defeat at his smile. “Never mind. Stupid question.”

“I wasn’t playing games, Dara. I’m sorry your boss is such an old prune, but you have to admit—”

“If you were so sorry, why didn’t you say something?”

“Because,” he answered immediately, “you don’t strike me as the kind of woman who’d appreciate interference when it comes to doing her job.”

He had her there. Damn. How dare he get all perceptive on her just when she had the upper hand? “You’re right. I can handle Mr. Cavendish.”

Zach grinned and moved next to her as she determinedly stepped around him and continued down the hallway. When he remained silent, Dara breathed a small sigh of relief. She’d never had her emotions so jumbled up so quickly, or so often, and she relished the chance to get herself back on track.

She stopped in front of a large oak-paneled door and reached for the knob. Before she could swing it open, Zach leaned down and whispered in her ear.

“But I have to know, were those eyebrows of his real?”

The laughter she’d repressed earlier burst out without warning at the same instant she opened the door. The sound died on a choked gurgle as the ongoing conversation inside the room fell into a hushed silence and the silver-haired heads of ten distinguished men sitting around the large boardroom table swiveled as one in her direction.

“Is there a problem, Miss Colbourne?” the man at the head of the table inquired.

She swallowed hard and offered the gentleman, who just happened to be the head of Dream Foundation’s board of trustees, a weak smile. “No, sir, not at all. I’m sorry to have interrupted.” Dara quietly backed out of the room and softly clicked the door shut, then groaned to herself. That made twice in less than five minutes.

She was going to kill him.

She whirled to find Zach holding open the door several feet farther down the hallway. “Is this the room you were looking for?” he inquired with all the innocence of a choirboy.

Fighting a smile, she walked past him into the file room. “Yes, thank you.”

By the time the door shut behind her, she was halfway down the aisle between the tall rows of file cabinets.

A shadow fell over her as she pulled a drawer open, followed by his warm breath on her neck.

“I’m curious,” he said, his voice impossibly deep. “While you’ve been busy playing fairy godmother, has anyone … you know, changed your pumpkin into a carriage?”

Zach watched with increased interest as Dara’s shoulders tensed, the fine line of her neck straightened slightly. He curled his hands into fists to keep from touching her. She was easy to tease, quick on the defensive, and she still gave as good as she got. She was also fighting tooth and nail to hide her response to him. Zach was totally captivated.

He should care that his reaction to her was far more intense than he ever expected, but he didn’t. Fifteen minutes with her was equal to the high he got climbing the wall of an ice glacier. Or, more aptly in her case, a dangerous descent into a still-active volcano.

He knew. He’d done both. But Dara Colbourne was simply an adventure unto herself. The appeal of which he didn’t entirely understand, but was finding almost impossible to ignore.

“If you’re asking whether I’m seeing someone, the answer is, it’s none of your business,” she said, without turning.

He grinned. Damn, but he was enjoying this. “Just wanted to make sure that when I take you up on that
mountain, I’m not sending inappropriate signals to someone.”