The Helen Bianchin Collection (Mills & Boon E-Book Collections) (158 page)

‘My cellphone number. It'll reach me any time, anywhere.' He cast her a look that was serious in the extreme. ‘Call if you need me.'

He reached for the door-clasp, then turned back and fastened his mouth on hers, conducting a slow sweep of the sweet inner moistness with his tongue before deepening the kiss into something frankly sensual.

How long did it last? Scant minutes, but it left him wanting more, much more than the taste of her mouth.

He stifled a sound deep in his throat that was pure regret as he gentled her lips with his own, then he broke the contact and stepped out from the van to stand watching as she sent the vehicle moving out onto the street.

Then he turned and entered the hotel lobby, acknowledged the concierge with a curt nod, and took the lift up to his suite.

R
EBEKAH
locked her apartment door and re-set the security alarm before crossing to the kitchen to feed the cat.

A sense of trepidation tied her stomach in knots as she forced herself to check the answering machine, and she expelled some pent-up breath at the sight of its unblinking message light.

Thank God. She closed her eyes, then opened them again in a gesture of innate relief.

Although how long would it take Brad to bypass the telephone company's security and determine her new unlisted number? Technically, it wasn't supposed to happen…which didn't necessarily mean that it couldn't be done.

She lifted her arms high and stretched her body in an effort to dispel kinks from sore muscles, then she moved through to the
en suite
adjoining her bedroom and began filling the spa-bath. Half an hour relaxing there with a glossy magazine and a cup of tea was just what she needed to help her unwind from the day.

It worked just fine, and she crawled into bed, snapped off the bedside light…and lay staring into the darkness as Jace's image filled her mind.

She fell asleep with the vivid memory of how it felt to have his mouth invade hers, and sheer exhaus
tion was responsible for uninterrupted somnolence until the alarm rang early next morning.

Saturday numbered one of the busiest days of the week, and today didn't prove any different. Suzie was a jewel, and they worked together getting the orders organised, completed, and boxed the two wedding orders ready for the courier, dealt with customers who came in off the street, and even managed to snatch something to eat at reasonable intervals.

There was no lull, little time to think, just the need for smooth efficiency.

Ana checked in around midday, and Rebekah was delighted to hear the happiness emanate from her voice.

There was the opportunity to mention Suzie's suitability to assist part-time, and Ana's
‘hire her'
clinched the decision.

‘Mornings and all day Fridays and Saturdays,' Rebekah offered, named the rate of pay, and gave a relieved sigh at Suzie's enthusiastic acceptance.

There was a sense of satisfaction and achievement in that Ana was fine with her life back on track; Blooms and Bouquets would continue to operate efficiently.

Two down and two to go, Rebekah rationalised, hoping, praying that her ex-husband's nuisance calls would cease and he'd fade back into the woodwork.

That left Jace Dimitriades, and she had no idea how she was going to deal with
Jace
. If she had any sense and an iota of self-preservation she'd refuse to see him and put him out of her mind.

Fat chance. He was already there, firmly embedded in the recesses of her brain. He made her want something she couldn't have. His image teased her with endless possibilities of what it would be like to
be
with him.

Take that step, and she'd be irretrievably lost. Caught up in a sensual madness that could very well lead to her destruction.

But what a way to go.

‘See you Monday.'

Rebekah glanced up from the computer and smiled as Suzie caught up her bag. ‘Goodnight. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.'

‘Shall do. You, too.'

The glass door swung shut, and Rebekah returned her attention to the computer. She'd save the data onto disk and take it home, where she'd load it into the laptop tomorrow and key in the appropriate accounting entries.

Three customers entered the shop to secure last-minute purchases, and she tended to the last one, then just as she was about to secure the lock Jace appeared at the door.

Just the sight of him sent her pulse racing, and set the butterflies fluttering madly in her stomach. Heat suffused her body, and she deliberately regulated her breathing in a bid to control her wayward emotions. ‘I'm just about to close,' she managed evenly. ‘Is there something you want?'

His answering smile did strange things to her equilibrium. ‘You, to join me for dinner tonight.'

Forget control. His
you
sent her imagination into a tailspin, and she banked down riotous images of tangled sheets, naked bodies…his,
hers,
coupled together in the throes of passion.

What was
wrong
with her? The silent castigation was heartfelt. Had she been locked too long in denial? Was that it? And if so, why
this
man?

Don't answer that.

Her only weapon was humour. She lifted a hand to her chin and tilted her head.

‘Ah, you're all alone in the city with no one to call, and I'll do?' What was she doing, for heaven's sake? One didn't tease men of Jace Dimitriades' calibre. ‘What if I've made other plans?'

‘Have you?'

Honesty came to the fore. ‘No.'

‘Good.'

‘Don't count your chickens too soon,' she warned. ‘I haven't said
yes
.'

He lifted a hand and pushed a stray tendril of hair back behind her ear. ‘But you will.'

What did she have to lose? Stupid question. Maybe Ana was right, and it was time to loosen a few strings.

‘Can we negotiate on a movie?'

‘Done.'

‘OK.'

Jace gave a deep, husky chuckle. ‘You want to be chauffeur, or shall I?'

She pretended to consider both options. ‘Oh, let's go for role reversal. Besides, I have a better knowl
edge of the city than you do.' She checked her watch. ‘Pick you up at seven?'

‘I'll be waiting.' He glanced around the shop's interior. ‘Now, let's get you out of here.'

‘I've done it a thousand times on my own.' More, if anyone was counting.

‘Then indulge me and let's do it together.'

Five minutes later Rebekah walked to her van as Jace slid behind the wheel of his car.

Neither of them noticed the man seated in a vehicle thirty metres distant. If they had, it would have taken more than a casual glance to determine his identity. A cap worn backwards and wrap-around sunglasses provided a very good disguise.

There were no messages recorded on the answering machine, and Rebekah hit the shower, stepped into clean underwear, tended to her make-up, swept her hair into a smooth knot, then dressed in black evening trousers, a red camisole and matching evening jacket. She added stiletto heels, caught up an evening purse and her keys, then she took the lift down to the underground car park.

The MG was parked in its customary space, and she fired the engine and sent the sleek little sports car onto street level, then drove the few blocks to Jace's hotel.

He emerged from the lobby as soon as she drew into the entrance bay, and within minutes she rejoined the traffic.

‘Where to?'

‘Darling Harbour.'

‘Yessir.'

Jace wondered if she had any idea how her features
lightened? Or how the darkness that was a lurking constant in her eyes disappeared when she smiled?

‘Don't be sassy.'

She shot him a grin. ‘Just acting out the
chauffeur
part.'

It was a beautiful evening, cool, but not uncomfortably so, and they ate seafood at an elegant restaurant overlooking the inner harbour, drank a little chilled white wine, then took in a top-rated movie guaranteed to earn the lead actors, the producer and director major award honours.

‘That was great,' Rebekah accorded as they emerged from the cinema complex and began walking to where she'd parked the MG.

Fine food, beautiful ambience, fantastic movie…great date,
great man,
she reflected, aware this was her first date in a long while. Too long.

She'd played her private life so carefully since her divorce. Brad's erratic behaviour had diminished her self-image, damaged her trust in men, and left her with a heightened sense of the need for self-preservation.

Rebekah reached the MG, unlocked both doors, and slid in behind the wheel as Jace folded his lengthy frame into the passenger seat.

It wasn't a car for a tall, well-built male frame, and it brought him far too close for comfort. She was supremely conscious of his thigh close to the gear-shift, making it difficult for the edges of her fingers not to brush against him each time she changed gears.

There was an acute awareness of his clean male scent combined with the hint of his exclusive brand of cologne. Above all was the intense sensual chemistry apparent…a latent entity that threatened her libido, not to mention her peace of mind.

‘Shall we stop off somewhere for coffee?'

Rebekah brought her jangling thoughts together and focused on his words, faltered for a few telling seconds, and offered hesitantly, ‘It's late. I—'

‘Just…coffee,' Jace reiterated quietly, aware of her escalating nervous tension. ‘There are a number of cafés close to the Ritz-Carlton. We'll choose one, and when we're done I'll walk back to the hotel.'

It sounded reasonable, no strings, just the sharing of coffee as a pleasant conclusion to a very enjoyable evening.

Double Bay was known for its trendy cafés, where the day-time clientele lunched and the social élite met and lingered over coffee during the evening. Whatever the time, it was an opportunity to be
seen
.

Finding a parking space took a while, and they strolled along the street-front, chose a café and selected a table.

Coffee at its finest, Rebekah acknowledged silently as she savoured the sweet, aromatic brew. Discussing the merits of the film they'd just seen seemed a safe topic of conversation, and they engaged in an interesting exchange of views.

‘You have tomorrow off?'

She stilled, and for a second her eyes assumed a wary expression. ‘Yes.'

‘I've booked a harbour cruise. It takes approximately six hours and leaves at ten.'

Such cruises were very popular among the tourists, and crew served lunch on board as well as morning and afternoon tea. ‘You'll enjoy it.' It was a great way to see the many coves and bays around the inner harbour, view prime real estate, and relax in pleasant surroundings.

Jace held her gaze. ‘Join me.'

She was willing to swear her heart stopped for a few seconds before racing into a thudding beat. ‘There'll be a running commentary informing passengers of various vantage points throughout the day. You won't need me along.'

His smile held warmth and something she was reluctant to define. ‘I want you along.'

‘Jace…' She paused, then stumbled over the words, ‘I can't keep seeing you.'

‘Can't, or won't?'

Oh, lord, this was getting out of hand.
‘Why?'

There was despair in the query, and it angered him to think her ex-husband had done such a number on her.

‘The truth?' His gaze speared hers. ‘I want to spend time with you.'

To what end? The obvious one wasn't an option. ‘I won't have sex with you.' Stark words that matched his in honesty.

‘If I just wanted sex, there are several numbers I could call.'

So he could. Numbers listed in the trade papers, the telephone yellow pages…and failing that, all he had to do was ask a discreet question of the hotel staff to have the relevant information supplied.

‘So,' he drawled silkily. ‘Shall we start over?'

She took a deep breath and slowly released it. ‘I usually do domestic chores on a Sunday.' Go to the gym, meet a friend for coffee, take in a foreign film, read, relax. It was a token excuse, and they both knew it.

Oh,
dammit
. She spread her hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘All right, OK.' She was angry, with herself,
him,
for being manoeuvred into a position where it would seem churlish to refuse. ‘I'll go.'

Rebekah glimpsed the gleam of humour in that dark gaze, and she could have sworn the edge of his mouth twitched. ‘Such a gracious acceptance.'

She drained the last of her coffee. ‘I think it's time I went home.' She stood to her feet. ‘Thanks for an enjoyable evening.'

He duplicated her movements, extracted a note and anchored it on the table. ‘I'll walk you to your car.'

‘I'll be fine,' she stated firmly. ‘Goodnight.' She turned away from him and quickened her steps, aware that he fell in beside her.

‘Has anyone told you you're impossible?' she flung tersely, and missed the fleeting amusement apparent.

‘Rarely to my face.'

‘Obviously it's high time someone did.'

There were people seated outdoors beneath large shaded umbrellas, and she was conscious of background chatter, music emitting from speakers, and cars cruising the street searching for a parking space.

Within minutes they reached the MG, and she unlocked the door, then slid in behind the wheel, slipping the key into the ignition without pause.

Jace leaned down towards her. ‘Join me for breakfast at the hotel. Eight. Then we'll head for the pier.'

Rebekah looked at him steadily. ‘I'll eat at home, and meet you in the hotel lobby after nine.'

She fired the engine as he stood upright and closed the door. With consummate skill she eased the car out from its parking space and resisted the temptation to check the rear-vision mirror as she entered the flow of traffic.

 

Rebekah slept well and woke feeling refreshed and ready to meet the day. Choosing to wear dress-jeans and a T-shirt, she tied a sweater over her shoulders, applied sun-screen beneath her minimum make-up, and swept her hair into a careless knot atop her head.

Shortly after nine she slid her feet into joggers, caught up her shoulder bag, her keys, then took the lift down to the underground car park.

Jace had also chosen casual attire, and her heart jolted at the sight of him in jeans and a polo shirt. He held a jacket hooked over one shoulder, and he was something else.

He walked towards her, and she admired the way the jeans moulded his thighs, hugged his hips, while
the polo shirt clung to his hard-muscled torso, emphasising an enviable breadth of shoulder.