‘So you always speak to Mark behind a locked door, do you?’
‘Yes.’ Annoyed now, she glared into eyes still shielded by shades. ‘Often the things we talk about, the safety of celebrities, of people in the spotlight, are highly sensitive. I’ve got into a habit of always making sure I’m away from prying ears when I answer his calls.’
Silence. Just the rise and fall of his chest as he inhaled a few deep breaths before slipping off his sunglasses. ‘Shit.’ Slowly, avoiding her eyes, he, too, sat up, drawing up his legs and resting his forearms on them. ‘Sorry.’
Unsure what was going on in his head, she nodded. ‘Accepted.’
He gave her a small smile before turning his attention towards the gently rolling waves of the English Channel. ‘I’d like to blame my fit of pique on the shock of the note, but it would be a lie. Truth is, I find myself annoyingly, frustratingly, jealous of Mark.’
Thump went her heart. ‘I told you before, we’re not—’
‘I know.’ He turned to her, and the sombre look in his eyes squeezed her heart. ‘Sadly, it doesn’t appear to help.’
‘I’m … crap, I don’t know what to say.’
For a long while they both stared out to sea, the only sounds those of the waves, and the hovering seagulls. Was it fair of her to let him keep going out on a limb, voicing his feelings, when she kept hers all screwed up in a tight ball? Because while she couldn’t act on them, she could at least share some of them.
‘That time Debs and her class came to the studio.’ Kat was aware that his head turned sharply to face her, but she couldn’t look at him. ‘I didn’t like seeing you flirt with the teacher.’ She paused. ‘And I didn’t like watching you kiss another woman on set.’
‘No?’
When she got up the nerve to look at him, there was no smug smile, as she’d expected, and as she could have coped with. Instead his eyes held a hopefulness that made all her worries leap back into life. ‘That doesn’t mean—’
‘I know.’ Once again, he interrupted her. ‘But it’s comforting to know I’m not the only one suffering.’
They remained in silence for a few more minutes, their attention on the sea. Kat was so lost in her thoughts, she gave a start when she felt a warm hand curl around hers.
‘Relax, I’m only helping you up.’ He jumped nimbly to his feet and gave her hand a gentle tug. ‘I thought we could pack up the car and then take a stroll. Maybe find Debs and Anna on the pier.’
‘Okay.’ She scrambled up with considerably less grace. ‘But only if you buy me a hot donut.’
‘Seriously?’ He screwed up his face in disgust. ‘All that fat, all that sugar?’
‘Are you saying I need to watch my weight?’
‘What? No, God no.’ His eyes ran down her legs – he’d somehow managed to convince her she couldn’t go to the beach in jeans and boots – and then back up to her face. ‘You look perfect to me. I just meant, all that mess.’
With that, and the accompanying expression on his face, Kat couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing. ‘Oh my God, Zac Edwards, it’s high time I got you crumpled and dirty. And before you look too excited about the prospect,’ she added as she saw the corner of his mouth lift in a smirk, ‘I mean we’re going to paddle in the sea, where I might accidentally splash you, so be warned. Then we’re going to stuff our faces with donuts on the pier and let the sugar stick to our lips, and the grease stain our clothes.’
‘Clearly an experience not to missed.’ His vivid green eyes rested on her mouth. ‘Do I get to lick the sugar off?’
Hot damn. A slow sizzle began in the pit of her stomach. The man was incorrigible. Funnily enough though, she could have fended off that, fended off the handsome flirt.
It was the other side of Zac. The man who’d ordered the picnic because, she suspected, he’d thought she might like it. Who’d listened to her worries about Debs, held her and then encouraged her to talk to her niece about her own experiences. The man who’d been brave enough to open up to her about his feelings despite getting very little in return.
It was that man she was finding she had no defence against.
Chapter 19
Yesterday, the hiccup over the hamper aside, had been a good day. A particular highlight had been Kat’s admission that she’d been jealous watching him kiss Sophia on set. Even that had been eclipsed though, by her reaction to his statement about where he was planning to spend Sunday.
‘You’re going to Silverstone?’ she’d repeated when they’d arrived home last night.
‘Yes. I’m not sure whether you or Mark will be accompanying me. If it’s you, I have a spare ticket for Debs.’
‘Oh, it will most definitely be me,’ she’d answered, just as he’d anticipated.
He was well aware the reason for her eagerness was the lure of the race, and not his company, but he’d long since left his ego behind when it came to Kat. If he had to bribe her to drop her guard with him, so be it. He was optimistic that he could worm his way under her skin. He had to be, because he was well and truly hooked. There was no stepping away from this now, not for him.
He didn’t even mind that Debs was with them, because he’d started to enjoy her company. At times stroppy, many times unintelligible – teenage speak was a very different language – he’d found making her giggle to be surprisingly rewarding.
‘Holy cow, this is really happening,’ Kat exclaimed as she expertly slotted their hired Range Rover Evoke between an Aston Martin and an Audi Q8 in the VIP parking. ‘We’re at flaming Silverstone.’ She angled her head towards the back seat to look at Debs. ‘Can you believe it?’
Whatever Debs said, Zac didn’t hear. He was too lost in the excitement shining in Kat’s eyes when she turned back to meet his. And in the warmth of the smile she directed at him, which made everything in his chest lift and swell.
‘Will we get to go to the pit lane?’ Debs asked once they were seated on the shuttle bus, her voice almost breathless with excitement.
‘I believe so.’ He didn’t really have a clue. Only that he’d asked for three of the best tickets he could get, money no object.
‘And we watch the race from the Drivers’ Lounge?’
‘So I was told.’
‘Where’s that on the track?’
Ah. As he didn’t want to admit he didn’t know, he smiled. ‘I believe your aunt is the expert in Formula One.’
Kat cast a brief, questioning glance in his direction before answering her niece. ‘It looks over Stowe Corner through to Club Corner.’
Debs squealed. ‘Frigging awesome.’
Kat grinned back at her. ‘It’s a tough job, being Zac’s bodyguard, but hey, I guess someone has to do it.’
The reminder that she was only here because she had to be, rankled, but Zac pushed the niggle away. ‘Tough is rather a strong word,’ he protested evenly. ‘I’m sure you’ve faced more difficult assignments.’
For a split second she hesitated, but then her eyes found his. ‘I suppose that depends how you define difficult.’
He felt a pulse of satisfaction on realising the difficult moments she was referring to.
In no time at all they were stepping onto a wide terrace, overlooking the track. Debs immediately dashed over to the viewing area, and began taking photos to post on her Instagram page.
‘Any moment now I’m going to wake up and find this is all just a dream,’ Kat murmured, her sweeping gaze taking it all in.
‘This is what you dream about?’
The grin she gave him was wide and uninhibited. ‘Oh no, I’m not going to answer that.’
He led her over to a seating area and accepted two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter. When he set them down carefully on the table in front of them, he couldn’t help but smile. This was where it had all started.
Kat caught the direction of his gaze. ‘Me, you, and champagne. You’re not feeling so relaxed now, I bet.’ She nodded to the Tom Ford blazer he’d chosen to wear. ‘Ho
w badly do you think it will stain?’
‘As unlikely as this may seem, I really don’t care. I’ve developed a fondness for the drink, no matter where it ends up.’
Her answering smile, full of amusement, and yes, of affection, caused his heart to lodge in his throat.
As if aware she was dropping her guard too much, she averted her gaze and scanned the terrace. ‘Well your jacket is safe today because I’m on duty. I’ll have to pass on the champagne.’
Irritation rippled through him and he had to actively force his muscles to unclench. She might be on duty, but the smile she’d given him a moment ago had gone beyond client and bodyguard.
‘It was kind of you to include Debs today,’ Kat said into the now rather strained silence. ‘She enjoyed yesterday, but today. It’s like the best day ever.’ She mimed her niece’s voice with uncanny accuracy.
‘Good.’ As his sole motivation for the day had been to spend some time with Kat, the thanks made him uncomfortable.
‘When did you get the tickets?’
‘I decided I wanted to come a while ago.’
‘What if Mark had been covering the weekend instead?’
He leant forward to take a sip of champagne, not sure where she was going with this. ‘Then I’d have had a spare ticket. Perhaps have invited one of the crew to join me.’
‘Do you come here a lot then?’
He took another swallow of champagne. ‘Not a lot, no.’ Desperate to change topic, he glanced back at her. ‘Did I tell you how good you look today?’
Though she suited the black she usually wore, it was a treat to see her in the bright cherry-red summer dress she’d put on. It was simple, but it suited her athletic frame. And the colour made her skin glow.
‘Only twice now.’ Humour made her eyes sparkle.
‘Three times a charm?’
Laughter rolled out of her. ‘Oh, you’re that alright.’ She glanced down at her watch. ‘I think we need to go and find Debs. The pit lane tour starts in five minutes.’
‘This from the lady who turned up late for our first meeting.’ He nodded towards his half-full glass. ‘I haven’t finished my drink.’
‘I don’t know how to say this politely but sod the flaming champagne. We’re going to be walking down the pit lane.’
With that, she grabbed hold of his hand and yanked him to his feet. With one last longing look at the gently fizzing contents of the champagne flutes, Zac followed her.
***
Kat was inclined to agree with Debs; this was the best day, ever. And the race hadn’t even begun. The thrill of walking down the pit lane, spotting famous faces, stepping on the same tarmac that Hamilton and co. had stepped on. Of looking down on the track from what had to be the best place to view the race.
Of sharing all this experience with her giddily excited niece, who seemed younger, and happier, than she had in a long time.
Then of course there was the smoothly handsome man next to her. A man who turned the heads of nearly every female in the VIP enclosure, yet who, for some inexplicable reason, seemed only to notice her.
‘It looks like they’ve started,’ Zac remarked, eyes on the cars streaming past them.
Kat eyed him quizzically. ‘It’s the warm-up lap.’
He returned her look with a bland smile. ‘Sure, I know that.’
Possibly, she thought, though she was beginning to suspect his knowledge of Formula One was very much on the basic side.
Soon she was too absorbed in the race to wonder about anything other than would Hamilton achieve what the vast majority of the crowd were hoping for – a British win. It was gripping, nose to tail racing. Watching it on the television hadn’t prepared her for the electrifying thrill of seeing the cars thunder past. To feel that speed. The noise levels had been cut a few years ago but to Kat, who’d never been to a race before, the scream of the engines still sent shivers down her spine. When she glanced sideways at Debs, who was to her left, her niece had a look of sheer, unadulterated awe on her face. ‘OMG, this is so cool.’
Kat grinned back before turning to look at the person to her right. Only to find his eyes fixed firmly on her.
His mouth curved in a slow smile. ‘Is it how you imagined?’
She laughed, the sound breathy with excitement. ‘Better.’
‘Good.’
She turned back to watch the rest of the race, and though she couldn’t be certain, she had a feeling his eyes remained on her more than they did on the track.
‘Hamilton was awesome. He must really love winning here,’ Debs remarked as they finally drifted back towards the car park. Her niece was clearly still on a high, because not only was she engaging in conversation, she’d not looked at her phone once, other than to take photos.
Kat watched as Zac gave Debs a small smile. ‘He must.’
‘What do you think of McLaren this season?’ Kat directed her question at Zac. ‘Reckon their car is any better?’
His eyes blinked, and for a second she was sure she saw panic, but then all his acting skills came into play and he gave her a smooth smile. ‘Just a smidgen, maybe.’
‘To think, they used to have Button and Alonso driving for them. I mean. I can’t even remember the names of the drivers they have now. Can you?’
Zac furrowed his brow, giving every impression of a man thinking hard. ‘No, I’m afraid I can’t.’
‘What about the names of the Ferrari drivers?’
Debs opened her mouth to answer, but Kat shot her a look. ‘Let’s let Zac answer this one, shall we? If he can.’
He narrowed his eyes at her. ‘What is this, a test?’
‘In a way, yes. And I’ve got a strong feeling you’re going to fail. So, Edwards, the names of the two Ferrari drivers you watched today. I’ll even give you a clue. One of them came third.’
His lip curled in a gesture of disdain. ‘I’m not interested in third place.’
And with that, she started to laugh. He really hadn’t watched the race at all. ‘Wow, you’re acting your socks off, aren’t you? You might not be interested in who came third, but if you were at all interested in Formula One you’d have probably been to Silverstone before, you’d definitely have known where the seats you’d bought were on the race track, and you’d not only have known the names of the Ferrari drivers, no matter where they came in the race, you’d be able to list all the drivers on the track today.’
Zac didn’t reply. Instead he walked swiftly towards the car.
‘Don’t think I’m letting you off the hook,’ she murmured as she turned on the engine. ‘I want to talk to you when we get back.’
‘I’ll look forward to it,’ he drawled, eyes straight ahead.
By the time they made it back to the house, it was late. Debs was quiet as they walked inside and Kat started to worry something was up until she saw her niece taking several glances at Zac, before inhaling a deep breath.
‘Zac … I mean Mr Edwards.’ Zac gently shook his head in admonishment at her. ‘Zac,’ she began again, rolling her eyes, this time looking a little less nervous. ‘Thank you for taking me today. It was, like, so fun.’
‘I’m glad.’ Then he smiled, and if there was one thing guaranteed to add the final sparkle to her niece’s already brilliant day, it had to be receiving a wide, genuine smile from Zac Edwards. ‘Thank you for coming with us. Taking you,’ his gaze drifted over to Kat, ‘taking both of you, was entirely my pleasure.’
Her niece’s cheeks flushed. ‘I’m going to catch up with Anna, now. ’Night.’
Kat watched Debs climb the stairs, and the moment the door to her room shut, the air seemed to spark into life, crackling with an energy that sent goosebumps racing across her skin. ‘Would you like a drink?’ she asked Zac. ‘Something to eat?’
Zac shrugged off his jacket, folding it neatly and placing it over his arm. ‘I’m fine, thank you. I think I’ll just head to my room.’
‘Oh no. You’re not getting away that lightly. We need to talk
.’ As dangerous as the atmosphere felt between them, she needed to know why he’d gone to Silverstone today. ‘So, I repeat, do you want anything to eat or drink?’
He gave her a long, guarded look. ‘Why do I feel like the condemned man being asked for his final requests?’
‘I’m not about to condemn you. Just to interrogate you.’
‘Now I feel much better.’ With great precision, he rolled up the cuffs of his shirt. ‘I’ll have whatever you’re having.’
‘A Jägerbomb and a packet of pork scratchings?’
He baulked. ‘Is there an option B?’
‘A glass of red with some cheese and crackers?’
‘Much better.’
She waited until the food was on the coffee table and they had a glass of wine in their hands before asking the question she hadn’t dared ask in front of Debs. ‘So, tell me, Mr I’ve just paid an obscene amount of money for 3 VIP tickets to Silverstone. Do you actually like motorsport?’
‘I don’t dislike it.’ He took a careful swig of his wine. ‘Cricket is more my sport. More finesse. Less … speed.’
‘So if you’re not a fan of F1, why did you go to Silverstone today?’
His lips formed another wry smile. ‘I could argue that it’s the place to be seen, but we both know it would be a lie.’
Her pulse started to hammer. ‘You went because I like it?’
Slowly his eyes, his beautiful, beautiful eyes, met hers. ‘Yes.’
And even though she’d half expected the answer, hearing him say it so clearly, caused her heart to jump. ‘When did you book the tickets?’
‘Does it matter?’ He looked down at the glass of wine in his hand. ‘It was the day we picked Debs up from the party. While I was waiting for you to finish talking to her in her room, I noticed an F1 Racing magazine on the sofa. One of the many items on the sofa, if I recall.’
The last sentence was his way of lightening the atmosphere, of changing the subject. Even as she allowed herself to laugh though, and allowed him to smoothly move the conversation on, Kat kept coming back to what he’d just admitted. Even before that first kiss, he’d liked her enough to book the tickets because he thought she would enjoy it. It was a thoughtfulness, just like with the hamper, that she’d not expected, and though it warmed her to her core, it also scared the living daylights out of her. Were these really the actions of a man who only wanted sex? A quick fling with his bodyguard while he was under her protection?
Up Close and Personal Page 16
