“In a house filled with staff? I don’t think so. I’ve spoken with Mrs. Evans already. She’ll keep a close eye on him.”
“It won’t be the same,” Anna replied, a mutinous set to her mouth.
He’d just bet it wouldn’t be the same. And if he had anything to do with it, it wouldn’t be the same ever again. If Anna was going to pay a furtive visit to anyone’s room, it would be to his from here on in.
“He’ll cope. Mrs. Evans will be staying in and has all the necessary numbers if she needs assistance.” He looked at her swirling her spoon in her now-soggy cereal. “Are you going to eat that?”
She looked down at her bowl, a flash of surprise on her features when she saw the mess in there.
“Um, no. I’m not hungry.”
“Are you sure? There’s no meal service on the flight.”
“I’m aware of that. I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”
She huffed another sigh. “Look, I don’t like small aircraft, that’s all. But I’ll be okay.”
“Fifty passengers isn’t such a small aircraft. If you’re that worried, I can hold your hand for the entire flight. Rest assured, I’ll take good care of you, Anna,” he said, giving her a look that intimated a whole lot more than hand-holding.
“I think I’ll be able to manage without that. Besides, it’s more likely that the prospect of being with you for the next few days is what makes me anxious.”
She got up and placed her bowl and spoon on an empty tray at the end of the sideboard. Judd stood and blocked her path as she went to walk past him.
“Now, why would that be, I wonder?” He lifted one finger and traced the edge of her lower lip. “Could it be that you’re anxious to repeat that kiss we shared in Adelaide?”
“N-no, of course not,” she refuted.
“Really?” he said softly. “Do you ever think about it?”
She shook her head and he leaned in a little closer.
“I do.” He let his hand drop. “And I look forward to the next time.”
“There won’t be a next time,” she said adamantly, nudging past him and heading for the door.
He watched her leave with a small self-satisfied smile on his face. Oh, yes, these next few days would prove very interesting indeed.
Anna shot up the stairs to her bedroom and closed the door firmly behind her as if another barrier could make a difference to the way Judd Wilson made her feel. She rested a hand on her chest, feeling her rapid heartbeat beneath her palm.
He’s just teasing me, she told herself. Playing games like a cat with a mouse. I certainly don’t want a repeat of that kiss.
Liar! her alter ego whispered in her ear. She shook her head to rid herself of the word echoing in her mind and mentally rechecked her luggage for the trip away. She had everything she needed and then some. All of it nondescript and practical, with not a single low-cut neckline or suggestive hemline amongst it all.
Externally, at least, there’d be nothing about her to tempt Judd Wilson. She hadn’t been unaware of his presence these past days. In fact, she could almost say she’d been hyperaware of him. She’d chosen the blandest combinations of clothing she possibly could every single day, and yet, on several occasions, she’d caught him looking at her as if he’d like to eat her all up.
The visual image of him doing just that forced a moan from her constricted throat. The flat of her hand drifted down to her breast, to where her nipple peaked against the fabric. She couldn’t deny it. He had a near uncontrollable effect upon her.
Sex. It was just sex. He was a strong healthy male and he hit all her hot buttons. She really needed to get out more, she decided. Meet new people. Maybe when she got back she’d get a hold of one of the guys at work who was always teasing her about a date. Maybe then she would be able to work this aching tension out of her body and inure herself to Judd Wilson’s overwhelming magnetism. She’d get onto it the minute they got back, she promised herself. The very second.
Eight
Anna was shattered by the time they made it back to their riverside hotel in Nelson on Thursday night. They’d arrived at Nelson airport just after two in the afternoon and had hopped into their rental car and driven straight out to the first of two vineyards and wineries that they’d visited today.
The visits, and subsequent talks, had gone well. Nicole’s dream was being well and truly brought to reality. Anna fought back the pang that her friend wasn’t the one actively seeing her idea come into fruition. Still, it couldn’t be helped. She’d made it clear that she’d washed her hands of Wilson Wines, her father and, by association, Anna and Judd, as well. It still hurt that her best friend had severed all ties between them so instantaneously, but she had to respect Nicole’s decision.
She rubbed wearily at her eyes, feeling as if she had no more control of her life right now than a leaf did, floating on the river outside. Warm fingers closed over her forearm.
“Are you okay?”
Judd. Always Judd. Always right there, in her face, in her space, in her mind. Somewhere along the course of this week she’d begun to depend on him—on his unwavering sense of command and his capable manner. Even Charles had begun to defer to him—something Anna had never believed she’d see in her lifetime. She had to get a grip on herself—to break the spell Judd was so easily waving about her. She opened her eyes and looked pointedly at where his hand made heated contact with the bare skin of her arm.
“You can let go of me. I’m not about to keel over,” she said tartly.
“Of course you’re not. Here, this is your room key. We have adjoining rooms. I thought we should eat in tonight and then go over the proposals we discussed with John and Peter today.”
“And I suppose we must do this tonight?”
“It’ll pay to iron out any potential kinks early, don’t you agree?”
“Sure,” she said, resignation in her voice. “I’d like to freshen up a bit before we eat.”
“No problem. I’ll order for both of us and have it delivered to my room. Just come through the connecting door when you’re ready.”
When she was ready. That was rich. How about never, she thought defiantly. But she knew she would go through to his room to dine with him. She owed it to Charles if no one else. Already rumors had begun to circulate this week about Jackson Importers approaching at least three of Wilson Wines’ major European suppliers. They’d had exclusive contracts with those suppliers but they were all coming up for renewal. A fact that Nicole had known only too well. Was she behind this attempt to undermine her own father?
“Sounds good. Give me half an hour.”
“There’s no big rush. Take an hour if you need it.”
“Thanks, I will.” Another hour she didn’t have to spend in his company was all good as far as she was concerned.
When she let herself into her room, she cast her eyes around, familiarizing herself with the layout. Basic but comfortable, were the first two things that came to mind, until she stepped into the bathroom and saw the spa bath installed against a white-tiled wall. A sound of anticipation mixed with pure pleasure escaped her and, as she ran the bath, she quickly divested herself of her travel-worn clothes.
She lost track of how long she’d soaked until she heard a muffled knocking from the connecting door. She dragged herself from the water and wrapped herself in a towel. A quick glance at the bedside clock confirmed she’d used up her one hour of grace.
“I’ll be right there,” she shouted at the closed door, and quickly dried herself off.
She unzipped her case and grabbed fresh underwear, the sheer shell-pink panties clinging a little to her skin as she shimmied into them. She hooked up her bra and then padded on bare feet back to the bathroom to apply some moisturizer and to brush out her hair. She wasn’
t going to the effort of reapplying her makeup, not when she hoped to be in bed—her own bed, and alone—very soon.
Back in the main room she extracted a lightweight, loose-fitting cotton sweater in taupe and a pair of black Capri pants, before shoving her bare feet into a pair of silver leather slides. A long silver chain with a large silver spinner on the end completed the ensemble. There, that should do it, she decided.
Another knock at the connecting door startled her. She reached out and pulled open the door. Her gaze flicked over him as he filled the frame, making her wish she’d waited a few seconds for him to move away before opening the door. He’d obviously had a shower and changed, too, and her nostrils twitched at the light scent of his cologne. His hair was still wet, making it look blacker than black, and his jaw looked freshly shaven. He’d changed into blue jeans and a black T-shirt that clung to his broad shoulders and chest as if it were made for him. Probably was, she thought cynically. He’d never looked anything less than tailor-made this whole time she’d known him.
“You look worth the wait,” Judd said smoothly.
“What’s for dinner?” she asked, ducking under his arm and moving into his room.
It was the mirror of hers, with the exception of a California king-size bed instead of the queen she had. She swallowed as she tore her eyes away from the expanse of linen, the bed already enticingly turned down for the night.
“I chose two entrées and a shared main from the menu that I thought would complement a couple of the wines we tried today. We can share the entrées or have just one each. Your choice.”
The idea of sharing a dish with him, let alone two dishes, was a bit daunting, but Anna reminded herself she was here to work.
“We can share,” she said with as much nonchalance as she could muster.
The autumn evening was still surprisingly warm, and the covered dishes on the trolley near the door to the balcony emitted a mouthwatering aroma. A table for two was set on the balcony overlooking the river, a squat white candle burning in a hurricane lamp providing illumination. Altogether it was a shamefully idyllic and romantic setting. She should have insisted on dining in the main restaurant, she thought, as she took her chair and Judd placed the two entrées in the middle of the table between them.
Anna busied herself filling their water glasses, while Judd poured them each a small measure of the pinot gris they’d brought back with them today.
“So, what shall we start with?” she asked, suddenly very hungry.
“Black Tiger Prawns on a bed of noodles with this wine, I think,” Judd suggested, lifting the cover off the first plate.
By the time they’d enjoyed their way through the prawns, followed by a sampling of Green Lipped Mussels and then their shared main course of a trio of meats, Anna felt as if she’d eaten enough to feed an army.
“The new Syrah should be very popular, don’t you think?” Judd commented as he leaned back in his chair and took another sip of the wine he’d just mentioned.
“Indeed. It’s a variety that seems to be growing in popularity here. To get exclusive distribution on this label is going to be quite a coup. Charles will be pleased.”
And there he was again, Judd thought. His father, still intruding.
“Why is his approval so important to you?” he asked.
“He’s my boss,” she answered simply, turning her face away to look at the lights from the marina sparkling on the now-inky dark water that ran alongside the hotel.
“He’s more than that, though. Isn’t he?”
She sighed. “Yes, he is. He’s always been there for me, and for my mother while she was alive. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I owe him a huge debt of gratitude.”
He couldn’t quite get a handle on it. It was clear by the tone of her voice, and her actions with his old man, that she loved him. But just where did that love lead?
“He’s quite a guy,” Judd commented, a little of his frustration creeping into his tone.
“The way you say that…” She shook her head. “You don’t know him. Not really.”
“And whose fault was that?” he said pointedly. “Look, let’s not talk about my father, okay? Let’s talk about something else.”
She stifled a yawn. “I’m sorry, I think I need to turn in. I haven’t been sleeping well lately, and we have an early start for the day tomorrow.”
“Sure,” he said.
She did look tired, he admitted to himself as he rose from the table and walked with her back to the connecting door. But even with the dark rings under her eyes she was intensely appealing. He’d enjoyed sharing dinner with her—her keen insights into the wines had been valuable, and her company had been surprisingly soothing while they ate. But his enjoyment of her companionship hadn’t dampened his desire for the evening to end on a far more sensual note. His body tightened as he considered his plans for this time away together, and as she turned to say good-night, he reached out and caught a few strands of her hair between his fingers, twirling them over and over.
Her mouth parted, as if in protest, but the objection never came. He leaned a little closer.
“Don’t you ever wonder?” he asked, pitching his voice low and watching her pupils almost consume the hazel irises of her eyes.
“Wonder what?” she asked, her voice that husky whisper that did crazy things to him and sent a heated jolt of need straight to his groin.
Her eyes had fixed on his lips as he spoke. He moved closer still, until there was no more than a hand width separating their faces.
“What it will be like when we kiss again.”
“Who said we’ll kiss again?”
“Oh, we will. Don’t you want to know if what happened the first time will happen again? Whether we could be that good again?”
She blinked and drew in a breath, the word no beginning to form on her lips. The sound never made it, as he closed the short distance between them, caressing her lips with his—at first gently and then, when she didn’t pull away, with more pressure. His fingers tunneled through her hair to cup the back of her head.
The sensation that shuddered through his body was intense. Even more potent than the last time. He stepped closer, aligning his body with hers and wrapping his free arm around her waist, drawing her against him—feeling the heat of her, the softness, and letting her know in no uncertain terms of the strength of his arousal for her. Slow seduction be damned. The contrast between their bodies incited him to want more, to want it all, to want it now.
His tongue traced the seam of her lips, and as she parted them, he stroked it across the tender inner membrane before tasting her deeper. She met his assault with a parry of her own, her hands now clutched in the fabric of his T-shirt, clinging to him, her hips pressed tight against his own. He flexed his pelvis, gently grinding his hardness against her mound. A moan vibrated from deep in her throat and he captured the sound with his mouth.
Her nipples were hardened points against his chest and he knew without a doubt that one kiss would never be enough. His need to possess her overwhelmed everything else—every need, every thought, other than one. He wanted Anna Garrick like he’d never wanted anything in his life before.
Anna fought to clear the fog of desire that clouded her mind but failed miserably. Hot, hungry need clawed through her as Judd kissed her deeply and she kissed him back just as hard. She knew she should pull back, call a stop to this before they went past the point of no return, but somewhere deep inside she acknowledged that they’d passed that point long ago. What would happen now was inevitable. Nothing—not even the vow she’d made to herself for so many years to never have an intimate relationship with her boss—could stop her from giving in. She wondered whether she would still be able to walk away with some pride, with her heart intact, but her feelings for Judd had crossed some uns
een line. Even back in Adelaide, she’d been drawn to him in a way she’d never experienced before. She wanted to take this further—to know him better, to know him in every meaning of the word.
There was no reason left that was strong enough to convince her that she shouldn’t reach out and take what he was offering. No reason at all. And in return she could give in to him. Anna loosened the fists of her hands and skimmed her palms over his muscled chest and down toward the waistband of his jeans. She yanked the cotton fabric of his shirt loose and shoved her hands underneath, desperate now to feel his skin against hers. But it wasn’t enough. His skin burned beneath her touch, igniting her to want even more.
The taut coil of desire deep in her womb tightened even more, and between her thighs she felt herself grow swollen and wet with need. Judd loosened his grip on her, using both hands to push aside her sweater. They broke apart momentarily as he swept the garment up and off her body, exposing her to his gaze. He groaned and bent his head to her neck, nuzzling the tender skin behind her ear and leaving a heated trail of kisses along the way to the hollow of her throat.
One hand cupped her breast, his thumb flicking a distended nipple through the sheer lace of her bra. Her legs threatened to buckle beneath her as his mouth traced a beeline for the tightly beaded nub. He tugged the edge of her demi-cup bra down, exposing her to his hungry mouth and sending a sizzle of pure fire to her core. She clutched at his waist, anchoring herself to him, and arched her back, easing his access to her as he alternately laved and suckled her.
“You taste so good,” he said against her sensitive skin. “But it’s not enough.”
“Not enough?” She could barely manage to get the words past her lips.
“No, I want to taste all of you.”
Judd straightened and gently pulled her hands out from under his T-shirt before he led her back into his room and to his bed. As she watched in silence, he stripped off his shirt and kicked off his shoes. She reached for him and unbuttoned the top buttons of his fly, her knuckles brushing against the unmistakably swollen ridge of his penis. He grabbed her hands with his.
The Wayward Son Page 9
