Wanton Heat (A Feel the Heat Novel) (Entangled Brazen) (16 page)

“First you apologize, then you ask me to stay because I make you happy, then you change tack and couch your offer in business terms.” She shook her head. “What the hell do you want from me?”

Zoe gritted her teeth to prevent saying any more. Was she really ready for an answer to that question?

He took an eternity to speak, his gaze never leaving hers. “I don’t want anything from you.” He raised one of her hands to his mouth and kissed it. “I just want you.”

Zoe blinked. What was it about this guy that had a hard-ass chick like her on the verge of tears so often?

“I’m in love with you.” He kissed the back of her other hand. “And I want a chance to explore a real relationship with you. Not just for a few days, but for longer.”

When she didn’t answer—difficult to speak past the lump of emotion clogging her throat—he continued. “Hopefully forever, if you’ll have me.”

Fuck.

This was so not in her plans. But if there was one thing Zoe had learned over the years, it was that being a risk-taker could pay off.

“I don’t believe in love,” she said, and the hope in his eyes died. “My folks have a crappy marriage where my mom is dependent on my dad for happiness, and my dad doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself.” She extricated her hands from his and this time he let her. “I’ve never had a real relationship. I think romance is for women desperate for validation and love is for schmucks.”

She watched his expression morph from optimism to stone. “But you made me reevaluate every one of my preconceptions,” she said, her voice soft and uncertain. “You, with your high and mighty assumptions that I’d fall at your feet. You, with your midnight lagoon picnics and private waterfalls and bedroom eyes.”

She glanced away from the eyes in question, in case she drowned in them. “You made me fall in love with you, and damn it, there’s not one sane reason why I should say yes to sticking around for you, but I will.”

He let out an exultant whoop, stood, and hauled her into his arms, crushing her so hard she could barely breathe.

“Easy, big fella.” She laughed, savoring the feel of being in his embrace again. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“
Grazie, Dio
,” he said, burying his face in the nook of her neck.

“I love it when you speak Italian,” she said, loving him period.

“In that case,
ti voglio portare al letto e scoparti
,” he murmured in her ear.

His husky tone indicated he’d said something naughty. A girl could live in hope.

“What did you just say?”

“Let me take you below decks, and I’ll show you.” His exaggerated wink made her laugh.

She captured his face in her hands. “Are we really going to do this? Try a relationship? Work together?”

“With you by my side, there’s nothing we can’t do.”

His mouth crushed hers, his kiss obliterating the last of her doubts.

Zoe prided herself on not conforming.

Maybe it was time for the anarchist to become a monarchist after all…

Chapter Nine

“What time are we meeting your friends?” Dom slid his arms around her from behind as she applied a final slick of lip gloss in front of the mirror and rested his chin on her shoulder. “Do we have time for a quickie?”

“God, you’re insatiable.” She wriggled her butt against his growing hard-on. “And no, we’re due down in the lobby in two minutes.”

He nipped the tender skin beneath her ear. “Which gives me sixty seconds to
abbassati gli slip
.”

“Stop trying to sway me by saying wicked things with that sexy accent,” she said, slapping his hand away as it zeroed in on the area that already throbbed for him. “But hold that thought for later.”

“As you wish.” He released her and slapped her butt playfully. “Taking your panties off will be but the start.”

“Oh, baby, I wish.” She cupped his hard-on, enjoying the flare of heat in his smoldering gaze. “I wish for you all the time.”

“
Dio mio
, you drive me wild.” He lunged for her, but she dodged, laughing.

“Come meet Allegra and Jett, and we can continue this discussion later.”

He stalked toward her. “Trust me,
cara
, there’ll be no talking when we get back here.”

“Promises, promises,” she flung over her shoulder as she opened the door before she changed her mind and ravaged him on the spot. Which wasn’t entirely out of the question, considering they’d rarely made it out of the bedroom for the last week since she’d agree to stay.

When they weren’t sexed up, they were busy poring over plans for Osturo and Zoe had to admit, the guy wasn’t just a pretty face. There was a serious business brain behind the brawn and beauty. She was incredibly excited to be working with him on this. Opportunity of a lifetime. Now she had to convince her BFF and partner in AW that the only way she could do justice to a campaign of this magnitude was to stay on-site. Forever.

She’d been thrilled when Allegra said she’d be flying in to discuss the Kaluna campaign, because Skype didn’t cut it for the type of conversation they had to have.

Some of her misgivings must’ve shown on her face, because Dom slipped his hand into hers and squeezed. “It’ll be okay. Your friend will understand.”

“I hope so,” Zoe said, glad she’d have Dom by her side when she broke the news, and relieved Allegra would have Jett to support her.

They strolled toward the lobby of Kaluna’s resort, hand in hand, comfortable in their silence. That was another thing she loved about Dom—his ability to tune in to her many moods. She’d been independent too long to have a guy constantly demand attention, and thankfully, Dom wasn’t like that. They were similar that way: content in their own company, not needing another person to complete them but appreciative to have someone alongside all the same.

“There they are.” Zoe spotted her tall blond friend sitting alongside her handsome fiancé at a table for four on the outskirts of the veranda.

Dom squeezed her hand. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

Feeling increasingly nervous the closer they got to the table, Zoe hoped to God Allegra would understand.

“Well, well, if it isn’t my loved-up, suntanned BFF and her boy from Oz,” Zoe said, bracing for Allegra’s fierce hug as her friend squealed, leaped to her feet, and flung her arms around her.

“I’ve missed you so much, Zo-Zo.” Allegra squeezed her tight, and Zoe said, “Ditto.”

When they finally disengaged, the guys were shaking hands.

“So how’re you treating my BFF, Aussie?” Zoe kissed Jett on the cheek.

“Like a princess,” Jett said, his laconic drawl making her smile. “But I guess you’d know all about that?”

Zoe groaned and elbowed him, while Dom laughed.

“Allegra and Jett, I’d like you to meet Dom.” Zoe nudged Allegra and said under her breath, “Don’t forget to bow.”

“Oh my God, really?” Allegra hesitated, her hand halfway out to shake Dom’s, while the guys cracked up.

“Pleased to meet you, Allegra.” Dom shook Allegra’s hand.

“Likewise.” Her cool, confident friend almost simpered, and Zoe grinned.

Dom tended to have that effect on women, and it had nothing to do with his title. The guy looked like a Photoshopped Ian Somerhalder with the chiseled jaw and cheekbones, piercing blue eyes, and wicked smile. She was weak-kneed 24-7.

“Nice to see you’ve finally found your prince,” Allegra said, keeping a straight face while delivering yet another pun.

Zoe groaned. “Are you two ever going to quit with the lame-ass royal puns?”

“No.” Allegra and Jett shook their heads in unison.

Zoe turned to Dom. “Did you see that? Apparently getting engaged means you lose the ability to think independently and do everything in sync. How quaint.”

Allegra slapped her forehead lightly. “Almost forgot. Check out the ring.”

Instantly contrite, Zoe grabbed Allegra’s left hand. She really must be gaga over Dom to forget something as important as her BFF’s engagement ring. “Wow, babe, it’s exquisite.”

And it was. The stunning opal framed in diamonds was as unique as her friend.

Allegra clung to Jett’s arm, gazing adoringly at her fiancé. “It’s a black opal, the rarest of them all. And the second stunning Aussie thing in my life.”

Zoe pretended to gag while Dom smiled benevolently. “Very romantic.”

“Don’t you go getting any ideas.” Zoe jabbed Dom in the side with a finger.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Dom held his hands up in surrender. “I know how you feel about romance.”

Allegra sniggered. “Is she still pulling that anti-romance crap? Because you know she’s a marshmallow inside, really.”

“Oh, I know.” Dom slid an arm around her waist. “My little badass is as soft as whipped cream.”

“You should know, considering you like me to spread it on your…ahem…and lick it off.”

They all laughed as they sat at the table. Zoe’s nerves had settled considerably with the banter that signified her relationship with Allegra. But now came the tough stuff.

“I’ve got something to tell you, and you’re not going to like it,” Zoe said, eyeballing Allegra. “You’ve been amazing in making me partner at AW recently, but there’s a reason I accepted.”

Allegra smiled. “Because it was way past time you stepped out of the shadows and into the limelight, babe.”

Zoe gnawed on her bottom lip. “Trust me, I should’ve stayed in the shadows.”

Confusion creased Allegra’s brow and Zoe rushed on. “Remember when you were on Palm Bay trying to land Kaluna, and I told you we lost our two oldest clients?”

Allegra nodded. “Uh-huh.”

“I did that,” Zoe said, heat flushing her cheeks in mortification. “I wanted to have a go at pitching on my own, so I devised a few new ideas and met with them.” She winced. “Not only did they can my
outrageous
ideas, they said I was an upstart bigmouth, and they walked.”

Allegra’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I was ashamed. All my life people have sniggered behind my back that I’m nothing without Daddy’s money, that I’m a nobody who didn’t need to work, so I was desperate to prove myself.”

Realization replaced Allegra’s shocked expression. “That’s why you insisted on being a PA all this time despite having an equal financial investment, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. And considering I almost lost us the company, aren’t you glad?”

“Idiot.” Allegra slugged her on the arm. “You were right alongside me when we wowed Kaluna, so don’t give me any of that self-defeating crap.”

Zoe managed a wobbly grin. “There’s something else.”

Allegra rolled her eyes. “What now?”

Zoe glanced at Dom, who nodded, his silent support lending her courage. “I want out.”

Allegra’s jaw dropped. “But you’ve just scored the biggest coups for AW, doing the ad campaign for Kaluna’s resort and for Dominic’s redevelopment on Osturo. Why do you want to leave?”

“Because it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time.” Zoe sucked in a deep breath. “You’re the face of AW, hon. It’s your brainchild. I should never have accepted your offer of partnership. I only did it to make up for the way I fucked up in losing those clients.”

Allegra’s eyes narrowed. “Is this about the other employees? Because they think you’re taking advantage of our friendship and that’s why you made partner?”

Zoe wavered her hand side to side. “It’s more than that.” She glanced a Dom, who smiled encouragingly for her to continue. “I’m happier doing things on my own. I break rules. I don’t conform. And I want to do those things without having to worry I’m damaging AW and the reputation you’ve built.”

A frown creased Allegra’s brow. “I still don’t get it. You’ve had carte blanche at AW for years. We wouldn’t be where we are without your research skills and innovative ideas.”

“Dom has offered me a role as his sole PR consultant, and I want to take it.” Zoe leaned into him, grateful for his supporting arm. “I want to fly solo. Do my own thing. I hope you understand?”

Sadness tinged with admiration clouded her friend’s eyes. “’Course I do. But you invested a packet to start up AW. I won’t let you leave without a generous payout.”

“I don’t need the money—”

“I’m not taking no for an answer,” Allegra said, her firm tone brooking no argument.

“And I’m sorry to leave you in the lurch with the Kaluna campaign—”

“Don’t worry about it. Molly can step into the breach.”

Zoe’s eyebrows rose. “Mousy Molly?”

Allegra nodded, thoughtful. “You’d be surprised. I’ve been hearing good things about her since she’s been holding down the fort in LA. Maybe I’ll even send her to scout Kaluna’s Caribbean location for the next leg of the ad campaign.”

“Good for her.” Zoe had always liked the bookworm who preferred working on campaigns from behind the sanctity of her cubicle rather than joining the team to brainstorm. “And thanks for understanding, hon.”

“What’s to understand? You’re a woman in love.” Allegra reached for Jett’s hand. “We do crazy things.”

“Living with Dom isn’t so crazy.” Zoe snuggled into Dom. “It’s fate.”

“Careful, Princess.” Dom tweaked her nose. “That almost sounded romantic.”

She sat upright. “What did you just call me?”

“Princess,” he said, with a smug grin. “Better get used to it, because sometime in the not-too-distant future, when you’re not so freaked by romance and all it entails, I might just make that title official.”

Zoe’s heart skipped a beat at the thought of marrying Dom. “We’ll see,” she said, smiling that special smile she reserved solely for him, a smile that said “I’ll deal with you later, and I promise you’ll like it.”

“I propose a toast.” Dom waited until they’d picked up their champagne flutes that a waiter had deposited while they’d been chatting. “To romance.”

“To romance,” they echoed, clinking glasses.

Before Zoe took a sip, she leaned in close to Dom to whisper in his ear. “You only want me to be a princess so you can be my Prince Charming.”

“I’ve got news for you, Princess,” he said, kissing her earlobe. “I charmed you into the glass slipper the first moment we met.”

“Smug bastard.” She playfully pushed him away.

“With you by my side? You bet.” Dom kissed her to whistles and catcalls from her friends.

Zoe didn’t care.

Maybe romance and falling in love and having the fairy-tale ending weren’t so bad after all…