“Sorry to burst your erotic bubble, but it’s only a publicity stunt,” Zoe repeated the words, but hearing herself saying them again actually hurt this time.
“Damn. I had hoped—”
“What? Someone like Ian Romanov would date me? Please,” Zoe said, ending with a little laugh. It was either that or cry a river of tears.
The line was silent for a moment. “If you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you.”
Zoe smiled. “I know, but I’m okay. Seriously.” She traced a pattern on the comforter, then hiked her knees to her chest. “Do me a favor. Tell everyone I’m fine and to not believe anything they read or see.”
“Whatever you need, Z.”
After a few more stilted lines of conversation, she finally ended the call and dropped her phone. She wrapped her arms around her legs and placed her chin on her kneecaps.
Tomorrow she would have fun. Brennen seemed like the kind of guy who knew how to do that. And she wouldn’t think of Christian at all, she swore silently. Not one bit.
Never again.
***
She froze, unable to believe her eyes.
Christian lounged against a silver sports car that somehow he’d gotten permission to park on the tarmac.
The man looked like sex on a stick. All broad shouldered and lean hipped. His retro aviators and tailored clothes did nothing to help her focus. Why did the man have to look good in everything? And don’t get her started on his hair. Or cheekbones. Or lips. The list could go on and on.
“I thought Brennen was supposed to be here.” The wind whipped at her pony tail, smacking her in the mouth and sticking to her lip gloss. Great.
“He’s got arachnophobia,” Christian said, his lips twitching.
“Does he know something I don’t?” She felt the blood drain from her face. They were in the desert and spiders could be the size of dinner plates. Or at least in her mind they could be.
He tore away his sunglasses and took a step toward her. “I didn’t mean to get you all worked up. There aren’t any spiders where we’re going. Promise.”
Before she could breathe easier, the pilot spoke up. “The tarantulas that like to hide under the seats in the ‘copter just hiss at you when they get angry. I haven’t had one bite a customer yet.”
Her eyes rounded and she looked for Christian for support. “I-I,” she stammered.
“Need saving?” Christian whispered as the pilot went over his checklist.
The clipboard in his hand clattered to the ground. “I picked a bad day to stop drinking.”
Zoe’s heart stuttered in response. “Please, my ride’s gone back to the hotel,” she whispered back, not caring her rescuer was also her tormentor.
Christian flashed a smile, his teeth white and even in the bright sun. “We’ll have to get a rain check, Charlie. The lady’s not feeling so well.”
“Thank you, Jesus.” Charlie gave them a small salute and pulled out a silver flask, drank deeply and weaved away.
Christian made it to the car before her, opening the passenger side door and waiting for her to slide in before he shut the door. He joined her a few seconds later, buckling his seatbelt and starting the engine.
“Like my car?”
“It’s nice.” And probably cost more than the renovations had on her house.
“It’s a rental.”
“Of course it is.”
Glancing at her, he grinned. “Admit it: you thought it was mine.” He drove the car between non-existent gates, turning onto Airport Road.
She bit the side of her lip. “Okay, so I thought it was yours.”
“I have a nearly identical one in L.A.”
“You better be glad I don’t have a pillow handy.”
He laughed and shifted gears.
As the sports car purred down the winding road, she looked at Christian from out of the corner of her eye. He kept his hands at ten and two, only moving them to shift or find a playlist on his iPod.
“You can take me back to the hotel.” She tapped her fingers against her thigh. “I have work to do anyway.”
“Not happening. I’ve got you all to myself and I plan to take advantage of it,” he said, “Besides, you owe me.”
Panic assailed her, turning her body hot then cold. Had he found out? “For what?”
“Saving your ass from Charlie, the almost sober pilot.” Tension left her in one big breath of air.
“I say it makes us even.”
He glanced at her, then back at the road. “How’s your sunburn?”
“Much better. I spent the better part of yesterday at the spa.” She ran her hands up and down her arms as goose bumps appeared. “Those ladies are miracle workers.”
“Would you like me to turn off the a/c?”
She looked out of the window, not actually seeing anything. “Thanks, I get cold easily.”
“Zoe, love?”
The car slowed to a stop and she turned to face him. “What?”
His eyes met hers. He leaned in, his mouth dangerously close to hers. “You’re a terrible liar.”
“Am not,” she protested, dragging in copious amounts of air in order not to pass out from his nearness. The soft brush of his lips had her gripping the leather seat to keep from touching him.
“Right or left?” His lips brushed hers again and he had to repeat the question before she could respond.
“Um… left.” Her eyes closed but nothing happened. She cracked open a lid to find him staring at her.
“I can’t drive with you blocking my view of the road.”
“Sorry.” She threw herself back so hard that the side of her head hit the door. “Ow!” Rubbing the sore spot, she refused to look at him as the car picked up speed.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine.” She grabbed her purse, digging through it find her cell. “Crap.”
“Something wrong?”
“I left my phone in my room at the hotel.”
“Guess you’re entirely at my mercy.”
She groaned. Why did he have to make it sound so appealing?
Chapter Thirteen
The day was perfect for driving: Sunny, warm and not a cloud in sight.
As for his road trip companion, she looked less than thrilled at the thought of being with him. Lips shiny from gloss tempted him to stop the car and spend the next few hours kissing her, but he was going to do the right thing this time.
No matter how much it killed him.
He drove the car off onto the curb, put it park and turned to face her. “I would like to apologize for my behavior on the plane. Not for what happened between us in bed, but the aftermath. I had no right to pry into your past relationships,” Christian began, smiling slightly when she hmphed. “From now on we’ll do things on your terms. Whatever you want out of this relationship, you’ll get.” She gave him a skeptical look. “Please, Zoe. Let’s keep getting to know one another. Ask me anything you want, and I’ll answer you truthfully.”