When he suddenly lifted his head from hers and stepped back, she realized where they were and why he’d ended the kiss. They were standing in a public area of his resort and anyone could have walked in on them.
Before she gathered her wits, Zach took her hand in his and led her up the terrace to the French doors.
“W-where are we…going?” she finally asked as he hurried her across the lobby of the resort and out to the waiting limousine.
He helped her into the backseat, then gave her a smile that curled her toes inside her sensible one-inch black pumps. “Take us home, Mike,” Zach directed to the driver, his gaze never wavering from hers. “To my place.”
The short drive to his estate seemed longer than he could imagine and by the time the limousine drove through the gates and up the tree-lined drive, Zach felt as tense as the strings on a finely tuned violin. He’d fully expected Arielle to protest going to his house, but to his relief she hadn’t uttered a word of opposition.
Of course, he hadn’t given her much of a chance. Back at the resort, he’d recognized the same reflection of desire in her eyes that he was sure showed in his. He hadn’t been able to get her out of there fast enough.
As soon as his chauffeur stopped the car in front of the mansion, Zach opened the door and helped her out. When they’d arrived at his resort, he’d noticed several people taking note of who got out of the limo, and that could very well prove to be a detriment. The last thing he wanted was to see a picture of them in the social column with speculation about their relationship. He had a feeling that wouldn’t set well with her and could upset his well-laid plans.
Standing beside Arielle, he told his driver, “Take Ray Schaffer, my head of security, drive to the ranch first thing tomorrow morning and bring back my SUV. Then you’ll need to meet Arielle’s brothers and sister-in-law at the airport on Saturday. I’ll be driving myself and Ms. Garnier wherever we need to go for a while.”
The usually stoic driver nodded and flashed a rare smile. “Thank you, Mr. Forsythe.”
Closing the car door, Zach put his arm around Arielle’s waist and walked with her to his front door. Neither said a word as he punched in the security code to turn off the alarm. By the time they entered the foyer, he wondered if she realized that she was spending the night at his place. Just the thought of having her in his bed had him harder than hell.
But when he turned to face her, his heart sank right along with his hopes of a passion-filled night. Instead of the glow of desire he’d seen on her lovely face earlier at the resort, she looked as if she was ready to drop. And as much as he would like to, he couldn’t ignore their day of nonstop activity and that she’d missed her nap.
Wrapping his arms around her, he leaned to kiss her forehead. “I think it’s past time we got you into bed, darlin’. You’re real close to being asleep on your feet.”
“I should have had your driver…take me back to my apartment,” she murmured, yawning.
He shook his head, breaking his embrace to place his arm around her shoulders and walk her to the circular staircase. “That would have been a terrible idea. Your apartment is farther away and it would have taken that much longer for you to get to sleep.”
“I suppose you’re right,” she conceded as they climbed the stairs. “I don’t know why, but all of a sudden, I can hardly keep my eyes open.”
When they entered the master suite, he switched on one of the lamps in the sitting area, then led her over to the bed. “You didn’t get a nap this afternoon. The day just caught up with you.”
She yawned again and shook her head as she stared at the bed. “I really shouldn’t be here. I don’t have a nightgown or even my toothbrush.”
He chuckled as he reached to pull the comforter and silk top sheet back. “You don’t need a nightgown to sleep, darlin’. And don’t worry about the toothbrush. I have an extra one.” When she looked as if she was going to protest again, he walked over to the dresser and pulled a pajama top from the drawer. “If it will make you feel better, you can wear this,” he offered, handing her the silky shirt. Someone had given him the pajamas as a Christmas gift a couple years ago and he’d never worn them. He preferred to sleep without the encumbrance of clothes.
Taking the shirt from him, she entered the bathroom and returned a few minutes later dressed in her panties and his pajama top. She looked so darned sweet, it took everything he had in him not to sweep her up into his arms. But he shouldn’t keep her up any longer and touching her would only send him into the bathroom for a cold shower.
After he tucked her into bed, he leaned down to give her a quick kiss. “Sleep well, Arielle.”
“Aren’t you…coming to bed now?” she asked, sounding increasingly drowsy.
“Nope.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching for her. “I’m going downstairs to the exercise room for a little workout.” Turning, he started for the door. “I’ll join you in a while.”
As Zach walked to the stairs, he blew out a frustrated breath. It would take running several miles on the treadmill and bench-pressing many pounds before he got a wink of sleep.
But he couldn’t complain. He’d accomplished another very important detail for their weekend wedding. During the tour of his resort, Arielle had unknowingly given her stamp of approval on their marriage site.
Arielle opened her eyes and looked around the unfamiliar room. It took a moment before she realized where she was. Zach had brought her to his mansion last night. Sometime during the short ride here, her body had reminded her that she’d skipped her nap and fatigue had demanded she get some sleep.
Turning her head, she gazed at the sleeping man stretched out on his stomach beside her. Zach had been so wonderful and understanding when he’d realized that she wasn’t up to making love. If she hadn’t already been in love with him, she would have fallen for him after last night.
Her heart skittered to a halt as realization sank in. She loved him. Had never stopped loving him.
Now she fully understood why her mother had been unable to resist her father the second time he’d shown up. Francesca Garnier had fallen head over heels in love with Owen Larson just as Arielle had fallen in love with Zach. And love defied logic.
“What’s the matter, darlin’?” Zach asked, moving to drape his arm over her stomach.
“N-nothing,” she lied. “It just took me a minute to realize where I am.”