by Lee, Miranda
“I think your luck might have just run out,” Aiden said, glancing over Drake’s shoulder through the arch-way which led into the room beyond. “Because your blonde’s heading this way. She’s all alone and she looks like she’s been drinking.”
“Oh, no! Do me a favor, will you, Mitch? Go and keep Zoe busy out in the kitchen while I get Tracy out of here.”
“Are you quite sure you want me to do that?” Aiden drawled. “Let me warn you right here and now that, unlike your blonde, I find your Zoe extremely attractive.”
Drake laughed. “That’s all right, mate. I’d trust Zoe with the most handsome man in the world, and much as you scrub up pretty well, I don’t think you’re in that league. But go do your best, buddy, if it’ll amuse you and keep Zoe busy. But you won’t even get to first base. Ah…Trace, honey, I’ve been wanting to talk to you all evening.”
Aiden didn’t hear what Trace honey had to say in return. He was already heading for the kitchen, wherever the darned kitchen was. This was one large apartment, with the first living room spilling into a second and a third, all of them chock-full of trendily dressed yuppie types with scantily dressed women on their arms, a couple of which gave him the eye as he weaved his way past.
It amazed him that there’d been a time when he found parties like this fun. Now, he thought them boring and pretentious.
He finally found the kitchen, a long galley-style room with a white-tiled floor, gray-marble benchtops and stainless-steel appliances. Aiden thought it looked as soulless as its owner.
Zoe was standing at a far counter next to a huge two-door, stainless-steel refrigerator, peeling plastic wrap off some serving plates and muttering away to herself. She stopped briefly to refill her glass with the bottle of Chardonnay in the fridge door, taking a good gulp before going back to her work. She didn’t see or hear him enter. Her back was to him. Her very pretty back.
He closed the door softly and walked toward her. She must have finally sensed something because she suddenly whirled ‘round, her lovely eyes widening.
“Don’t you dare touch me,” she choked out. “I…I’ll scream if you do.”
“I haven’t come in here to touch you. I just want to talk to you.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
“Well, I have plenty to say to you. I don’t know what Drake told you about me. I dare say something about my court case last year, judging by your negative reaction to me tonight. I just want you to hear my version.”
“Now why would I want to hear your version?” she snapped. “I think I’ve already heard enough lies from you.”
“I never lied to you, except over the ownership of the house up at Hideaway Beach. Everything else I told you was true.”
“Which wasn’t much, if you recall. You let me think you were some kind of beach bum.”
“I would have told you the complete story the next morning, if you’d stayed.”
“Oh, come on now, you expect me to believe that?”
“I’m hoping you will.”
“Why?”
His eyes locked onto hers. “Because what we shared the other night was remarkable, Zoe. And it wasn’t just the sex, though that was great, too. There was something else. Something…special. I think we owe it to each other to explore our relationship further.”
Aiden was sure that he had her there for a moment. Her eyes had gone all dreamy. But then she snapped out of it, and the contempt was back. “Might I remind you that I’m already in a relationship, with a man I love?”
“That’s trash and you know it. Whatever it is you two have together it’s not love.”
“You know nothing at all about Drake and me!” she protested fiercely.
“I know more than you realize. For starters, I know your boyfriend’s a two-timing sleazebag.”
“I see,” she bit out. “Nigel has been talking, hasn’t he? Okay, so Drake cheated on me. Once. He said he was sorry and I forgave him.”
“Once? Oh, come on now.”
She flushed a little and Aiden could see even she didn’t really believe that.
“Who are you to judge another man’s morals, anyway?” she threw at him. “If anyone’s the sleazebag around here it’s you.”
“I’ve never cheated on a girlfriend in my life.”
“No, you don’t keep them around long enough. You dump them as soon as you’ve had enough of them. And when they won’t stay dumped, you pay them off. That’s the sort of man you are. A prize catch. A prince. Why on earth would I choose you over Drake?”
Aiden was getting angry. And competitive. When Aiden got angry and competitive, he often forgot the rules. Forgot to be nice. It was win at all costs. His eyes narrowed and his blood began to run red-hot.
“You can’t have forgotten last Saturday night that quickly,” he brought up ruthlessly. “Do I have to remind you how many times you came? How you cried out for me to do it again, even begged me on occasion? You couldn’t get enough. You only ran away because you were scared to stay, you liked it that much. You know in your heart of hearts you want more of the same. If for no other reason, you should choose me for the sex. Because let’s face it, sweetheart, sex between you and dear old Drake isn’t anything to write home about.”
She paled. “How…how could you possibly know that?”
“You were too surprised by how it felt with me inside you. It was almost like you were a virgin.”
Now she blushed. Like a virgin.
“There’s more to a relationship than just sex,” she pointed out agitatedly.
“Tell that to the geriatrics!”
“You’re not what I want,” she cried.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I am what you want. I can see it in your eyes.” Which was true. Her voice was saying one thing but her eyes were telling him a different story. The contempt was gone, replaced by an anguished longing.
Aiden couldn’t resist anymore. He had to touch her. Had to kiss her.
“Zoe,” he groaned, and pulled her into his arms.
12
FOR A FEW FOOLISHLY mindless moments, Zoe sank against him and let his lips crush hers, let his tongue slide deep, and then deeper, into her mouth.
The excitement was instant, and overpowering, her mind floundering whilst her flesh wallowed in his kiss, and then his touch. Her head whirled when his hands slid down over her behind, squeezing through the silk and pressing her hard against him so that she could feel his erection.
Only someone opening the kitchen door saved her from the humiliation of losing it totally, right then and there.
“Oops. Sorry. Thought this was the little men’s room.” A male voice. Slightly slurred. “Don’t mind me. I’m outa here.”
The momentary interruption thankfully jerked Aiden’s mouth up from hers and propelled Zoe back to some measure of sanity. When he tried to resume kissing her, she wrenched her mouth to one side. “No,” she said, and was impressed at how firm she sounded, considering her body had gone to mush. “Let me go, Aiden.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“Yes, I do. If you don’t let me go, I’ll scream my head off.”
His arms dropped away, his face mirroring utter shock. “But why, for pity’s sake? Didn’t I just prove to you that’s it me you want, not Drake?”
Zoe shook her head at his obvious bewilderment. “Haven’t you been listening to me at all? Okay, yes, so you can turn me on. But that’s just sex. I want more from a boyfriend than just sex. Drake gives me more.”
“More what?” Aiden growled. “More money? More five-star restaurants? More fancy clothes?” His eyes raked over her designer dress and she colored guiltily.
“So that’s it,” he said, his handsome face hardening. “Why didn’t you say so, sweetheart? You want the high life? I can give you the high life. I can give you anything you want. Just name it and it’s yours. I’ll deck you out in diamonds. Buy you a whole new wardrobe. Take you on a world trip. Believe me, I can afford to give you a lot more th
an your present boyfriend.”
She blinked her own shock at him. He really must want to have sex with her again very badly. “I don’t know whether to be flattered or insulted,” she said, shaking her head at him. “Either way, the answer’s still no. I’m not for sale. Now please go. And don’t come back. I’d also appreciate it if you’d buy your penthouse from some other agent. Drake doesn’t need to do business with someone as morally deficient as you, Mr. Mitchell.”
“Morally deficient! You call me morally deficient? I’ll have you know that…that…that…”
The phone rang, putting a merciful end to Aiden’s blustering. Zoe swept over to answer it, glad to have a legitimate reason not to witness his ridiculous outrage. Anyone would think he was genuinely offended by what she’d just said. Which was crazy. The man must know what he was. A sleazy opportunist. A sexual predator. A man without honor or decency. He had no compunction about trying to seduce another man’s girlfriend right under his nose. And then, when that didn’t work, thought nothing of trying to corrupt her with offers of money and gifts, like she was some kind of professional mistress for hire to the highest bidder!
She snatched the receiver up from its cradle and deliberately turned her back on him. “Yes?” she said sharply.
“Zoe. I’m so glad you answered.”
“Mel! What are doing ringing me here at this hour? Are you in some kind of trouble? Jonathon didn’t get out of line, did he?” Mel had gone out with her new boyfriend that night. Considering what had just happened, Zoe’s faith in the behavior of millionaire playboy types had plummeted to less than zero.
“No. Nothing like that. He’s been a perfect gentleman. Unfortunately,” Mel muttered under her breath. “The thing is, Zoe, when we came back to our place for coffee after dinner, the light on the answering machine was blinking, so I ran the tape and it was Betty, wanting you to ring her at home, no matter when you got in. She mentioned some kind of emergency but didn’t say what, so I rang her.”
“Oh, no, it’s not Dad, is it?” Zoe’s father was in his fifties and not a man who looked after himself, health-wise. Betty had bullied him into going to the doctor last year and his cholesterol reading was sky-high. Too many dairy products in his diet, he was told. Betty had done her best to make sure he ate more sensibly, but Bill was a stubborn man, and didn’t take kindly to advice, or change.
“He hasn’t had a heart attack, has he?” Zoe choked out, feeling quite nauseous.
“No, nothing like that,” Mel said, and Zoe heaved a huge sigh of relief.
“Your dad slipped over while hosing down the milking shed this afternoon and broke his ankle, so won’t be able to do the milking in the morning. Betty says that’s one job she never learned to do. She says she can probably find someone local to come in and do it by tomorrow afternoon, but it’s a bit hard to find anyone at this time on a Saturday night. She knows she’s asking a lot but was wondering if you could drive down tonight and do it in the morning. Apparently, your father is quite confident you could do it single-handed and blindfolded.”
Zoe laughed. “Wow. Do you realize that was almost a compliment? From my dad, no less?” Zoe’s relationship with her father was very strained. He never seemed to approve of anything she did since her decision to leave home and come to Sydney. He was always criticizing her for her choice of job, choice of lifestyle and especially her choice of boyfriend. She’d taken Drake home at Christmas and he hadn’t gone down well at all.
“Too full of himself,” his father had pronounced the day she was to go back to Sydney.
“I know what you mean,” Mel said dryly. “If my father ever gives me a compliment, I’ll faint dead away.”
“I feel a little faint myself at the moment,” Zoe said ruefully. “I’m also well over the limit. I’ll have to find someone to drive me home.”
“Gee, Zoe, I can’t. And neither can Jonathon. We downed two bottles of claret between us over dinner. I was trying to get him tipsy so that I could have my wicked way with him. I’m so sorry. You know I would if I could.”
“No sweat. I’ll find someone else. I can always ask Drake. He’ll be as sober as a judge. He never drinks at these parties ‘til everyone goes home.”
“He won’t mind?”
“He probably will, but I’m sure he’ll still do it, if I ask nicely. Anyway, thanks for calling, Mel. I’ll ring Betty straight away, and tell her I’ll be on my way shortly.” She glanced up at the wall clock. It was half past ten. Home was almost a three-hour drive from here. Even if she got away at eleven, it would be nearly two by the time she arrived. Then she’d have to be up at dawn for the milking. It was going to be a long day tomorrow. Still, when family called on you in a crisis, you went. That was what family was all about, even if your father was a picky, persnickety pain.
“Ring me tomorrow and let me know what happened,” Mel said.
“I’ll do that. ‘Bye.”
Zoe called her home number straight away.
Betty was over the moon at her coming to the rescue, but when she started raving on about what a wonderful girl Zoe was and how much they’d both missed her, Zoe cut the conversation short.
“Must go, Betty. I’ll see you hopefully around two.” She hung up, and just stood there, gnawing at her bottom lip. Drake was not going to be pleased. Pity she hadn’t been nicer to him earlier.
“I’ll drive you.”
Zoe whirled at Aiden’s voice. She’d almost forgotten he was there. But only almost. She’d been doing her best to ignore him, and to pretend that her body wasn’t still zinging with his kisses.
Naturally, she was tempted to say yes to his offer. Aiden Mitchell was just one big bag of temptation. And he knew it.
It was time, Zoe decided tartly, for another female to dent his massive male ego. “Are you still here?” she flung at him. “I would have thought you’d have been well gone by now.”
“I’m not going anywhere, unless it’s with you.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, get a life!” She stalked out of the kitchen and went looking for Drake. Her frustration level soared when she couldn’t find him anywhere. No one seemed to have seen him for a while. Bob said he’d spotted him by the bar talking to Tracy about fifteen minutes earlier.
“Maybe he’s gone to the bathroom,” someone else suggested, and she hurried down the corridor which led to the master bedroom. Drake always used his en suite bathroom on these occasions. His room was one area of the apartment he kept off-limits during his parties.
The bedroom door was shut and Zoe reached for the knob.
“Are you sure you want to go in there without knocking first?”
Zoe’s head whipped ‘round to find Aiden standing a few feet down the corridor, watching her.
“Will you mind your own business?” she snapped.
“I am. You’re my business. You’re why I came to Sydney and why I came to this party. Look, I apologize for the things I said to you in the kitchen. I never did really think you were the kind of girl who could be bought. I guess I was just hoping you were,” he added ruefully.
“Sorry I couldn’t oblige. But we’re not far from the Cross here. You’ll find plenty of what you’re looking for up there.”
“I don’t want just sex, Zoe. I just want sex with you.”
She rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Oh, please, spare me.” And she started to turn the doorknob.
“I’m trying to. Don’t go in there, Zoe,” he warned.
Her hand stopped momentarily. “Why?”
“A workmate of Drake’s named Bob just told me he hasn’t been able to find his date, either. She’s the receptionist at their office, name of Tracy. Blond. Big boobs.”
Zoe’s frustration with him finally exploded into fury. “If I were a man, I’d flatten you for what you just implied.”
“You’re welcome to, after I’m proven wrong.”
Zoe glared at him, then flung the door open without knocking.
The room was empty.
“He’s not in here,” she informed Aiden tartly. “Neither is Tracy. Come and see for yourself.”
He did, glancing around the room with those beautiful blue eyes of his. They landed on the en suite door which was also shut.
“I think it’s time you saw for yourself,” he ground out, and began to stride across the room.
“No, don’t,” Zoe croaked, and ran after him, fear suddenly filling her at what was behind that closed door.
But Aiden was too quick for her. He didn’t knock. He didn’t give anyone inside any warning. He brought up his foot and kicked the door open.
Drake squawked, his head jerking up to stare with horrified eyes at his unwanted intruders. Tracy’s blond head didn’t lift at first. She kept on doing what she was doing for several ghastly seconds, testament either to her drunkenness, or her dedication to finishing what she had started. But even when she did stop, she didn’t seem at all embarrassed at what she’d been doing, or the fact that she was on her knees and stark naked to the waist.
She stood up and ever so slowly pulled her black lacy top back up over her large dark-tipped breasts, smiling a smug little smile as she tied it around her neck. “Oops,” she said mockingly.
Zoe felt like she was in the middle of a farce as she watched Drake frantically stuffing himself back into his pants.
If nothing else, the whole sordid scenario proved one thing to her.
She didn’t love Drake anymore. She didn’t even like him anymore. If she had, she’d have been more surprised. And more hurt.
Frankly, her main feeling was humiliation that Aiden was standing right next to her. And that he’d been right. Drake was a two-timing sleazebag.
The cynical thought came to her that it probably took one to know one.
Zoe felt such a fool.
“Zoe,” Drake groaned pleadingly, his face red as a beetroot.
“Yes, I know,” she returned coldly. “It was just sex.” She turned to face Aiden. “Your offer still open? As a driver only, that is,” she added curtly.
