An Impossible Attraction

by Elsa Winckler

  Before he could say anything though, Henry opened the door to one of the bedrooms, and Zoe smiled at him before entering. Henry’s gaze dropped to Zoe’s legs. A primitive need to guard what was his welled up inside of Dale.

  “Thank you, Henry, I’ll take it from here,” he said brusquely and followed Zoe into the room. There was no bloody way he’d let the fool follow Zoe around, drooling over her legs.

  Zoe was standing in the middle of the large bedroom, looking around her. All Dale could see was the big bed and all he could think about was having Zoe on it, under him, above him, all over him.

  Cursing softly, he turned away from her and walked to the big doors that opened onto a courtyard.

  “This hotel is similar to the one near the Kruger in that it’s also built around a courtyard, although of course here there is no marula tree. But like the new hotel, all the bedrooms open up onto the patio,” he said and walked out of the room. Staying close to that bed was not a good idea.

  “Dale,” Zoe said behind him and he turned around.

  “I think I have a good idea of what you like and I’ve made some notes of what could be done. We could save a lot of time if you are willing to look at what I’ve come up with so far. You must be busy and must have other projects to work on as well.”

  Dale looked at her for a moment, enjoying her beauty, her poise, her grace. Hell, she was exquisite. His fingers tingled. She was right. Before he did something he’d regret, they should try and finish this.

  “We have an office here, follow me,” he said curtly and turned away quickly.

  *

  Zoe followed him, her eyes taking in everything from his broad shoulders to his very sexy behind. By the time they stopped in front of what looked like the office he’d mentioned, she was just about salivating.

  Dale showed her to a chair near a big desk and she opened her tablet. He walked around and sat on the other side of the desk. Thank goodness, at least she could breathe again.

  “From what I’ve seen so far, the interior of your hotels convey a kind of elegance, a sense of classiness without being austere—is that also the kind of feel you’d like in the new hotel?”

  Dale frowned. “Yes and no. The hotel is situated in the bush. I’d like people to be aware of where they are, but of course in luxury.”

  Zoe nodded and opened the icon on her tablet to show Dale her ideas. She pushed it towards him.

  “I’d like to create a romantic mood—”

  “In the bush, really?” Dale chipped in sarcastically.

  Zoe counted silently to ten and continued as if he hadn’t interrupted her. “That will contrast with the ruggedness of the environment. I was thinking white and khaki with a dash of something playful thrown in like a bold red.”

  *

  Dale lifted his head quickly. That was exactly what he’d had in mind. Exactly. But she didn’t have to know that so soon. That they were thinking along such similar lines was freaking him out a bit. He tried to relax and leaned back in his chair.

  “How did you come up with that idea?” he asked mildly.

  “I keep ideas in a file and when I looked through some of the clippings, that was the one that caught my eye,” she said and pointed to the picture on the tablet.

  “What about an African theme—a completely rugged and African look?” he asked innocently.

  Clearly stunned, Zoe stared at him for a few seconds. “You can’t be serious!” she called out. “It’s been done to death and, frankly, if that’s what you want, I’m not the person for the job.” She reached out to take her tablet.

  Dale put a hand out at the same time to pick up the tablet and their fingers touched. Both froze. Zoe’s eyes flew up to his. He was momentarily taken aback at what he thought he saw in them—confusion laced with something else. Was it desire? Before he could decide, she’d lowered her eyes and taken the tablet.

  Dale stood up. She stopped talking. And looked up at him.

  “Do a complete proposal and let me have it when you’re ready,” he said. Stick to business. Stick to business. He should keep repeating this mantra until he actually complied with it.

  Zoe stood up as well. “Could I have a copy of the plans, please?” she asked. “It would be very difficult to do a complete proposal without the actual plans in my hand.”

  Dale shook his head vehemently. “I told you. If you need to see the plans, you ask me.”

  “Dale, surely you can see that—” She faltered. He’d been moving closer while she’d been talking. She folded her arms in front of her.

  “That I need those plans and—”

  He only stopped when he was standing right in front of her. With only his finger, he touched her mouth.

  “We all need something, don’t we?” he asked. “But we rarely get what we want.”

  For long minutes they stood like that, their breaths mingling, his finger on her face.

  Zoe stepped back.

  “Dale, seriously? You know as well as I do that it’s impossible to work without the actual plans.”

  “You can come and work in our offices, but you won’t get a copy.”

  “But that’s ridiculous!”

  He shrugged.

  Zoe spun on her heel and stalked towards the door. Just before she walked out, she turned back. “If you’re happy with the proposal, do I still have to go to Mahé?”

  “You can only finish your proposal once you’ve seen the two hotels on Mahé and Praslin as well. So, yes, you still have to go.”

  She didn’t answer. She only turned and left him without another word.

  *

  Irritated with himself, Dale stared after Zoe as she walked down the corridor. Damn, she was sexy. Cursing, he turned away and realized he was smiling. Damn it to hell, why was he smiling?

  For her, this was just business. He should remember that. She kept asking about the plans after all. But his body wasn’t listening to his brain. That was why he couldn’t stop thinking about her in the big bed they’d seen this morning, or on the table in the conference room where they sat yesterday, or on any damn surface, for that matter. He just had to see her, to want her.

  This madness had to end right here. The problem was that he’d been without sex for three months and tonight that was going to change.

  He had a date. Not with Zoe Sutherland. With another woman. And he was looking forward to it. Cursing, he walked around his desk. And he was going to keep telling himself that until it was true.

  Chapter Ten

  “So, Caitlin and Mom say you’ve kissed Dale Cavallo,” Hannah said.

  Zoe nearly choked on the sip of champagne she’d just taken. The waiter had just moved away.

  “It was nothing.” She coughed and dabbed her lips with the serviette, hoping to buy a little time before answering.

  Hannah angled her head. “I can see that,” she said drily and sipped her champagne.

  “Seriously, I told Caitlin it was a combination of too much wine and a lovely evening. We’re… we’re family, for heaven’s sake,” Zoe said. “I was hoping I’d see more of you while I was in London, but you only managed one visit.”

  She held her breath, hoping Hannah would change the subject.

  “Nope, not going to work. You are not getting me off this subject so quickly,” Hannah said and leaned forward. “I also hear, to my surprise I might add, that you are going to Mahé with Dale.”

  Zoe sighed. Clearly Hannah was not going to leave the subject of the Cavallos alone.

  “Hannah, really. I’m going to Mahé to work. Dale wants me to look at the hotel there and also to visit the one on Praslin. That’s all. What is it with you and the Cavallos anyway?” she asked, irritated. “You snarl the minute their name comes up in a conversation.”

  “Let’s just say I’ve had a bad experience with one of them and I don’t trust them around my sisters.” Hannah frowned.

  “What happened?” Zoe asked.

  Hannah stared into her glass for a moment
before she threw back her head and downed the rest of the champagne. “On the plus side—I’ll also be in the Seychelles around the time you’ll be there.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Zoe called out, grateful the topic had been changed. “Are you there for a shoot?”

  “Yes, probably only for three days, but I’ll let you know. We usually stay in the Cavallo hotel on Mahé, so I’ll be able to see you in the evenings. The days will be too busy.” Hannah smiled.

  “That’s really great news. I haven’t received the final arrangements, but I can’t think that we have to be there for more than a few days either,” Zoe said. “It’s so nice to know you’ll be around. You can show me the hot spots of the island one evening.”

  “That’s a date. The weather should be nice, you should take your bikini and work on your tan—you’re much too pale after your stay in London.”

  “I know—the London weather was terrible. But I was kept so busy, I didn’t really have time to worry about it.”

  “Who were the people you worked for?” Hannah asked. “I don’t think you ever mentioned their names.”

  “I worked with Peter Walsh and never met the owners—”

  Hannah inhaled quickly.

  “What?” Zoe asked.

  “Peter Walsh? The last time I heard that name, he was working for the Cavallos.”

  Zoe stared at Hannah, her head reeling. “But… why didn’t he say anything? Why didn’t any of the Cavallos mention the fact that I’d be working for them?” Zoe asked, now getting angry.

  “Maybe he’s not working for them any longer.” Hannah shrugged. “Does it matter?”

  “I… don’t suppose so. But why not tell me? I—”

  “Hi, Hannah, I didn’t know you were back.”

  Surprised, Hannah looked up at two attractive men who’d approached their table. “Hi, Steve, it’s so nice to see you.”

  Steve introduced his friend Paul and Hannah introduced Zoe. They spoke for a few minutes, until Steve, obviously reluctant, touched Hannah’s shoulder.

  “I wish we could join you, but we’re entertaining clients and have to go; they’re probably wondering what happened to their hosts,” Steve said.

  Paul took Zoe’s hand and kissed it. “I would have loved to stay as well.” He smiled before taking a step back.

  “Of course, nice of you to stop by.” Hannah nodded with a smile.

  “Steve looks like a nice guy,” Zoe said when the men had left. “And he was kinda drooling over you.” She giggled.

  Hannah shrugged. “He’s nice enough. And I’ve done ads for his company, but…” She shrugged again.

  “There’s no spark?” Zoe asked.

  “Not even a flicker.”

  Zoe threw up her hands. “Why is that? Some guys are so nice, they’ll make good husbands, will look after you for the rest of your life, but there is no attraction. And then there are those—”

  “Who turn you on even when they’re not around; make your knees weak even though you know there can be no future with them?” Hannah finished her sentence.

  “Exactly.” She nodded then frowned. “But then I look at our father and it seems he finds a spark whenever he meets a woman.”

  “Which means there must be other men out there that we’ll find attractive.” Hannah smiled.

  “I really hope so,” Zoe said fervently before taking another sip of her champagne. Then, smiling slyly, she leaned back. “Who is the man who is currently weakening your knees?”

  “I didn’t say there is one—” she started, but Zoe shook her head.

  “You said, other men we’ll find attractive, which implies there is one you find attractive at the moment,” Zoe insisted.

  “And you said you really hope so, which also implies that there is someone you find attractive at the moment.” Hannah laughed.

  But then Hannah’s gaze moved past Zoe. Her face froze and her smile disappeared. She quickly looked down at her glass.

  “Talk of the devil,” she muttered.

  “What’s wrong?” Zoe asked and put her glass down.

  “It’s the—”

  “Good evening, ladies. I didn’t know you were back, Hannah.”

  Zoe’s heart dropped and she glanced up. Dale and Darryn stood next to their table, two blondes hanging on to their arms for dear life. A sharp pain just below her heart made it difficult to breathe.

  “Darryn,” Hannah said and picked up her menu.

  Zoe just nodded in Dale’s direction. She couldn’t meet his eyes, didn’t want to look at the woman on his arm, didn’t want to see how someone else was clinging to him. She also picked up her menu.

  It was quiet for a few moments.

  “Can we find our table, Darryn, darling?” the woman next to him whined.

  “Enjoy your evening,” Dale said, and thankfully they all moved away.

  Hannah signaled to the waiter.

  “I’m in the mood for pasta, what do you think?” she asked with an overly bright smile.

  “Great idea. Any dish, you pick,” Zoe said and put the menu down. The neatly typed letters just didn’t make any sense at the moment.

  While Hannah placed their order, Zoe tried to calm down. Damn it, she hadn’t even looked at the man properly and her whole body was on fire. Irritated with herself, she fidgeted with her cutlery. That she could react to him this way, in spite of the fact he had another woman on his arm with whom he was probably spending an entire evening, was downright humiliating. He clearly had no trouble forgetting that he’d kissed her a few nights ago.

  Hannah leaned back in her chair. “Who’s going to say it?”

  “Say what?” Zoe asked, even though she knew exactly what her sister was talking about.

  “Who the men are we were talking about just now?”

  Zoe sighed. “Okay. Dale is… attractive and I… he…”

  “Turns you on?” Hannah smiled cynically.

  “Yes,” Zoe hissed, shaking her head at her own silliness. “And for you it’s Darryn?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Hannah grimaced. “But mostly I succeed in ignoring it. Nothing will come of it. Ever. And, please, we never had this conversation, okay?”

  “Okay,” Zoe readily agreed. “Let’s talk about something else. I’m hoping we could fit in some serious shopping before we leave for a tropical island, don’t you agree?”

  Hannah seemed as eager to change the topic as Zoe was. The waiter brought their food and they talked about everyday things until they finished their meal.

  “Would you like anything else?” Hannah asked.

  “Thanks, no. I can’t eat another bite. Let’s have coffee at my place,” she said, and Hannah nodded while signaling for the waiter to bring their bill.

  The waiter smiled and came closer. “No bill, ladies. Your bill has been taken care of.”

  “But…” both she and Hannah began, but a smooth voice interrupted them.

  “There’s no way I could let two beauties like you pay for your own dinner,” Steve said as he approached their table. “My treat, please. I only hope next time I will also have the pleasure of your company.” He helped Hannah out of her chair.

  “Thanks, Steve.” Hannah smiled and kissed him on his cheek.

  “Yes, thanks.” Zoe smiled and started getting up. But before she could move, Steve’s friend Paul was there, holding out a hand to her.

  “Thanks, guys,” Hannah smiled.

  Zoe smiled up to Paul. “Thanks,” she said. He was quite attractive. Surely she could feel something for any other attractive man?

  The men escorted them to the front door of the restaurant and waved as they left.

  “Steve really is a sweet guy,” Hannah muttered and grabbed Zoe’s hand before they crossed the street.

  “So is Paul.” Zoe smiled. “Maybe we should agree to go out with them. You never know, some kind of spark just might develop.”

  Hannah opened the car door. “Let me know how it works for you,” she said drily. “I’ve trie
d dating other men and haven’t had any luck.”

  Zoe stared at her sister. She was very much afraid that she would come to the same conclusion. And then she was angry. Damn it, she was all tied up in knots because he’d kissed her, and he blithely moved on to the next woman. Men!

  Chapter Eleven

  Dale was trying to look intrigued by what Cybil was saying, really trying. But he was losing the battle fast. This had been such a bad idea. The woman was beautiful and sexy but boring him out of his mind. All he’d been thinking about the whole damn evening was the woman who sat across from them at another table. Zoe.

  It was so crazy that they’d picked the same restaurant the sisters did. It was not as if there weren’t any other nice places around. In this part of town there were too many to count. But he and Darryn had agreed quickly that this was where they wanted to go to.

  After this morning, he had tried to put Zoe out of his mind and focus on his date for the evening. But his body wasn’t interested in anything his brain was trying to convey.

  And to make matters worse, he had to witness another man touching her. He didn’t like that. At all. He had another woman with him, there was nothing between him and Zoe, and the fact that another man touched her shouldn’t bother him. Except, it did.

  When he and Darryn had entered the restaurant earlier with their dates, he’d known Zoe was around even before he’d seen her. Something happened to the air around her, something he picked up on every time.

  So when he turned around and saw her there, laughing with her sister, he wasn’t even surprised. His first ridiculous reaction was to be relieved. Relieved because she was with her sister and not with another man.

  And, hell, she looked magnificent. She wore a tight-fitting, short grey dress, seemingly demure, but he caught a glimpse of a pair of high-heeled sexy black boots peeping out from underneath the table. His heart lurched, his pulse quickened, and both had yet to settle down.

  Zoe’s cool gaze when Darryn stopped at their table infuriated him. She’d barely glanced in his direction. And all he could think of was kissing her until the coolness disappeared. Because he’d felt the heat beneath her cool façade, knew exactly what to do to bring it to the surface.