An Impossible Attraction

by Elsa Winckler

Zoe stole a glance at Hannah as they took the lift down. Her sister was obviously upset and worried about something. She just hoped Hannah would know when to ask for help.

  *

  Zoe looked around the secretary’s office. It didn’t look as if anyone was there at the moment. Dale’s voice came from his office in the hotel. Well, then she would have to announce her arrival herself. Nervously she walked up to the door and knocked.

  She wasn’t really sure why she was here, but she had to see him. The doctor had removed the bandages and she wanted to tell Dale.

  Dale stopped talking and the next minute the door flew open. He had his phone in his hand.

  “Zoe!” he exclaimed. “I’m just talking to Darryn, he’s at the hotel on Praslin. Are you feeling okay? Shouldn’t you still be in bed? What did the doctor say?”

  “I’m good. The doctor said my hands are better, I’ve probably bruised a rib or two, but I’m fine.” She smiled and held up her hands.

  Dale lifted his phone. “We’ll talk later,” he said into the phone. He listened for a few seconds and then handed the phone to Zoe. “Darryn wants to talk to you,” he said, pointing to a chair. “But do sit down, please.”

  Zoe sat down and put the phone to her ear. “How is Hannah? Has she told you anything else?” Darryn asked brusquely.

  “No, she hasn’t really. She… um… she’s on her way to Mauritius,” Zoe said. “The location for the shoot was moved suddenly this afternoon.”

  Darryn swore. “Did she ask for it to be moved?”

  “Not as far as I know but—”

  Darryn cussed loudly on the other end and Zoe winced. That particular sentence structure she hadn’t heard before.

  “How could Hannah leave the island when we’re still not sure what happened?” Darryn asked.

  But apparently Dale had had enough of his brother. Darryn was talking so loudly Dale could probably hear every word. He took the phone from her hand.

  “You can grill Zoe later, she’s still not well,” he said and ended the call.

  He pulled another chair closer to her. “Are you really okay?”

  “I’m fine. Really,” she said. “I’m worried about Hannah, though. The hit and run incident and now this, but she won’t tell me anything.”

  “The police will keep us posted and I can promise you Darryn will not rest until this thing is resolved.” He touched her arm. “If you’re feeling better, may I take you out to dinner tonight?”

  “That sounds great.” She looked at her watch and turned to leave. “I want to call my mother, though, and want to do it now. I’m amazed she hasn’t tried to call me already. I thought you’d have told Don and Caitlin what happened.”

  Dale shook his head. “No, we didn’t want to say anything before we knew exactly what was going on. We didn’t want to upset Caitlin further. She was ready to throttle Darryn and myself.”

  “What did you do?”

  Dale laughed. “Because she blamed us for the fact that you and Hannah had left early for Mahé,” he said and handed her his phone again. “Here, call your mom from my landline then I can also speak to her. She’ll need reassurance and I can’t give it to her.”

  *

  “Hannah has just also called me. She’s not telling me everything,” Zoe’s mom said after Zoe told her what had happened.

  Zoe grimaced. She’d tried to skim over what had really happened, but her mother was nobody’s fool. To try and keep anything from their mother, was a hopeless exercise. She always knew when something was wrong. “Dale and Darryn are talking to the police, Mom. Hannah will be surrounded by people during the photo shoot on Mauritius and hopefully she’ll be back home soon.”

  “I hope so. And how are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine, Mom, really.”

  “And your Dale flew all the way over to Mahé because you were hurt?” her mother asked, and Zoe groaned out loud, glad Dale had stepped out to his secretary’s office for the moment. Of all the things she’d just told her mother, that was what she was focusing on?

  “Mom, you’re such a die-hard romantic!” She laughed. “He’s not my Dale. We’re… I don’t know what we are, but please don’t start writing about fairy lights and white dresses, okay?”

  Her mother inhaled sharply. “Fairy lights?” she gushed. “Of course, that’s what you’ll want. And you’ll wear a sleek white dress in satin and lace. Oh, darling, I can just see you!”

  “Mom,” Zoe said, tightening her hold on the phone. “Listen to me. Nobody is getting married, please.”

  “Who’s getting married?” Dale asked from behind her and she closed her eyes.

  “Nobody. My mother is telling me about her latest romance,” Zoe said. “You know she writes fairy tales for grown-ups, don’t you?”

  “I write romances, not fairy tales,” her mother said indignantly. “Let me talk to him.”

  With trepidation, Zoe switched on the speaker and gave Dale the phone. She had no idea what her mother would say, but she wanted to be able to stop her when necessary.

  “So, you write romances?” Dale asked her mother, his eyes twinkling. “Tell me about it?”

  “Don’t ask!” Zoe called out. “She’ll never stop talking about it.” She groaned. Of all the things to be talking about! She closed her eyes.

  Her mother’s voice was very clear over the phone. “Yes, I write romances. I love to write about love—there’s always a new side to it I haven’t discovered before. And I adore the happy endings, especially those that end with a beautiful wedding. One where fairy lights guide guests down the stairs to a small beach. Our heroine wears a satin gown, the top part covered in lace, and she has a bouquet of exquisite pink roses. The groom waits for her at the bottom of the stairs and when he sees her, he”—her mother paused dramatically—“falls in love with her all over again, because he realizes so many of his smiles begin with her. In fact, I’m writing such a scene right now.”

  “Oh, Mother, you’ve been updating your Pinterest board again, haven’t you?” Zoe said, trying not to think about the scene her mother had just described. It felt all too real.

  She didn’t want to catch Dale’s eye—he must be trying his best not to laugh out loud.

  “Lovely line, I thought,” her mother said.

  *

  Dale stared at Zoe. The line her mom had just recited echoed deep within him. It was so true—all his smiles did begin with Zoe. Corny, yes, but it explained a little of his confused feelings, things he felt but found hard to put into words. He smiled more when he was with her than he’d ever done before. And it wasn’t because she was funny or wittier than other women he’d met. But somehow, when he thought of her, he ended up smiling.

  “Now, Dale, what I have to say now is not meant for Zoe’s ears,” her mom said, and Zoe shook her head vehemently, mouthing for Dale not to switch off the speaker. He smiled and ignored her. He turned off the speaker and moved towards the windows.

  “I like you, Dale Cavallo,” Zoe’s mom said. She lowered her voice. “My Zoe doesn’t think she’s worth anyone’s love. The man who wants her will have to make sure she knows how deeply she is loved, how deeply she touched him.”

  Stunned, Dale kept the phone against his ear long after Zoe’s mom had hung up.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Zoe cast a furtive look in Dale’s direction. They were nearly back at the hotel after a lovely dinner. He’d been quiet all evening and hadn’t spoken a word since they left the restaurant. He wouldn’t tell her what her mother had said to him, and she kept wondering if her mom had somehow upset him. It was never a good idea to let her mother speak to an eligible man alone, especially a man she’d decided one of her daughters wanted.

  “I’m sorry about my mom. I love her dearly but whenever a man comes close to one of her daughters, she starts seeing wedding gowns and happy-ever-afters. Please just ignore her.”

  Dale didn’t respond; he just took her hand in his and put it on his leg. Something changed in the air
around them, and Zoe struggled to breathe.

  “Dale?”

  “I need to be with you, but you’re hurt,” he said gruffly and met her eyes for a second before he focused on the traffic again.

  But that second was enough for her to see the want in his eyes, to feel the heat in his hand, to experience his need for her, to understand exactly what he meant. The car increased speed and, trying to keep up, so did her heartbeat.

  She couldn’t speak. Desire raced through her body, heating her blood instantly, leaving her mouth dry.

  Dale finally stopped, tires screeching, in front of the hotel. He got out quickly and moved around to her side while an usher raced forward to take his car keys. Someone opened her door, but she only had eyes for Dale.

  He held out his hand and, feeling as if she were walking on clouds, she moved towards him.

  Taking long strides, he walked towards the lift.

  “Your room is closer,” was all he said.

  Wordlessly, they stepped into the lift. Within seconds, after the doors closed, she was in his arms and he was kissing her. Who moved first wasn’t clear, but she was exactly where she wanted to be. His mouth fit so perfectly over hers, as if it had been made especially for his.

  His touch was gentle, but she hungered for him and snaked her arms around his body, pulling him closer. With a groan, he hugged her gently and his hands moved eagerly up and down her back. She ignored the pain from the kick of the previous night; there was no way she was going to stop Dale from touching her.

  The ping of the lift announced their arrival. Dale pulled back, blinked, and with dazed eyes, he grabbed her elbow. She giggled, his eyes flashed, and he quickly steered her towards her room. The corridor was empty, and while her trembling fingers tried to find the card to open her door, he lifted her hair and planted a kiss behind her ear.

  “Found it,” she whispered anxiously and handed him the key. She wouldn’t be able to unlock the door. Her hands were shaking too badly.

  *

  Dale swiped the card, pushed Zoe into the room, and kicked the door closed behind him. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her pupils were dilated, her mouth wet from his kiss. He wanted his hands on her, wanted her body close to his, wanted to taste her, but, most of all, he wanted her.

  He gathered her close and kissed her again, trying to rein in his wildly galloping libido. But her body curved instantly into his, her hands fisted in his hair, and he lost the struggle.

  *

  A low purring sound erupted from her throat and shot straight to his loins. A primitive need pounded through his blood; he had to get his hands on her. Greedily, his lips skimmed over her face, down her neck, and up again so he could have another taste of the small place behind her ear.

  *

  Zoe clung to him as if she was trying to absorb every little thing about this moment—the sound of their laboured breathing, the heat of his hands skimming her sides, the feel of his body against hers.

  He lifted her so both her legs wrapped around his body. His lips had found hers again, and without lifting his head, he staggered forward until he gently set her on her feet next to the bed.

  His eyes were dark, his face taut. “I have to touch you,” he said huskily, “but I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “I’m fine,” she said and lifted her top over her head. She unhooked her short skirt and it fell silently to the ground.

  Without saying anything, she turned around. On the opposite wall, a mirror reflected the two of them.

  He sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of her. He skimmed his fingers against her back as he unhooked the clasp of her bra, his eyes never leaving hers in the mirror. Silently her bra fell to the ground.

  He stepped closer and cupped her breasts from behind.

  “Look how beautiful you are,” he whispered in her ear and she looked up. It was such a sensual picture—she nearly naked, her breasts covered with his hands.

  *

  He walked them closer to the mirror. Dale couldn’t stop staring at Zoe’s reflection. She was beautiful, sexy, extraordinary, and no reflection but the real blood and flesh deal. He was going to have her. If he didn’t lose his mind, he was going to take her in every way possible.

  He kept his one hand around a soft breast and played with a hardened nipple while his other hand moved lower and lower. Her breath caught in her throat, her legs wobbled. He pulled her closer. And all the while his hand continued its journey further down her body.

  She bit her lip and he cupped her, feeling the dampness through the silk. His fingers slipped underneath the elastic so skin could touch skin. He found her nub, explored, and stroked until she was shuddering.

  “Dale, please…” she moaned while her arm hooked around his head, her fingers fisting his hair.

  He increased the rhythm of his hand, she bucked and he watched in awe as she lost control. That she responded to him this way, that he could bring her fulfillment, filled him with wonder. With a final shudder, she leaned against him, her arm still around his head. He’d never seen anything so beautiful before.

  His blood was thundering through his body, egging him on to take her right there and then. But he wanted this to last, to make it special for her.

  To calm himself, he buried his face in her hair. But the silkiness surrounded him, her scent seeped through his skin, making him lose the last hold on his sanity.

  He spun her around and then pulled his shirt over his head. She smiled, and he got tangled up in the sleeves. Swearing, he plucked it over his head while her hands helped him with his belt.

  “I’m aching for you,” he said while kicking away his pants, “but you were hurt…”

  She smiled and advanced, pushing him backwards until he fell back on the bed.

  “It will work if I’m on top,” she said and straddled him. He forgot to breathe.

  He lifted his arms to grab her closer, but she moved back slightly. “But you have to be still,” she admonished him sternly. “You can’t touch me. But I…” She breathed and bent down to trail her lips over his abs. “I can do anything I want.”

  Dale had lost his ability to form a coherent word a while ago and could only grunt. He couldn’t take his eyes off Zoe. She was obviously enjoying herself. She tasted and licked and sighed and touched every centimetre of his upper body until he was burning up.

  *

  Zoe couldn’t believe what she was doing. She’d never done anything this bold before, she’d never wanted to before. But here, with Dale, her body simply took over and instinctively did things she’d never even thought of. She wanted to pleasure him, to drive him slowly insane the way he’d driven her crazy minutes before. All her senses were on high alert, absorbing every sensory impulse coming their way. Her blood raced through her body, heating her skin, making her weak with want.

  Looking up at him through her lashes, she moved down his body, her hands exploring his hard muscles and toned flesh, her mouth enjoying his taste. Underneath her lips he was burning up, feverish, and his hands were desperately trying to grab her.

  She smiled and moved away, still farther down his body until she could take him in her hand. He was throbbing for her. Breathless, she bent down to take him in her mouth, but with an oath, he lifted himself and shifted her so she was lying beneath him.

  “You should know by now, if you do that, this will be over in seconds,” he said hoarsely. “Let me…”

  *

  He ran his hands up, calf to thigh, felt her shuddering, and her unconscious response pushed him over the edge.

  Blindly, he opened her legs so that he could enter her, become one with her. She was ready and wet for him. He slid home and buried himself deep within her. Like a silk glove, she closed around him, he whispered her name and was lost.

  *

  Zoe woke up with a smile on her face. She looked over her shoulder at Dale who was trailing a finger over the sheet covering her body.

  “Mmmm.” She sighed and stretched. “Do I wa
nt to know what time it is?” she asked groggily. They hadn’t slept much, and this morning she ached in unfamiliar places.

  “It’s time,” he whispered, nibbling on her shoulder, “to have you again.” He slowly pushed the sheet down, and she turned around to him.

  “Wait!” he called out and turned her back on her side. “What is this?” He pointed to her back.

  “Oh,” Zoe said and touched the place he was pointing at. “That must be where I was kicked…”

  “What?” Dale said, clearly upset as he gently turned her around to have another look at the bruise. “Damn it, look at the size of this bruise. Are you okay? I’m sorry, I should have been gentler. I—”

  “Dale, it’s fine. I bruise easily. It will heal, it’s not so bad,” Zoe said and tried to turn on her back, but Dale wouldn’t let her.

  He moved over her, kissed her shoulder and slowly trailed his lips down her back. Without words, his lips comforted her, told her he was upset she’d been hurt.

  Her throat clogged up. It was going to be so hard to say good-bye to this man. She sniffled and he stopped.

  “Are you crying?”

  She smiled and turned on her back, holding her arms out to him. “Happy tears,” she said, pulling him down.

  *

  Dale buttoned up his shirt while he stared out the window. It was the beginning of June, a beautiful day. The azure blue of the ocean around these islands never ceased to stun him. He loved the sea, always had, but here, surrounded by the clear, blue waters of the Indian Ocean, he could enjoy the vastness, the never-ending ebb and flow of it every second. The months from May to October usually brought drier, cooler weather, but the temperature rarely dipped below twenty-four degrees Celsius. And today was a typical day in paradise.

  He’d just finished showering, one which took a long time because Zoe had joined him. With a groan, he closed his eyes. Hell, the woman would be the death of him yet. Would he ever be able to get enough of her? This constant hunger for a woman was not something he’d ever experienced before.

  He was smiling again, he realized, and laughed out loud. It was a beautiful day, there was a gorgeous woman in the bathroom, and they were on an exotic island—he had a lot to smile about.