Not that she could wash away his taste or the memory of his touch or the answering excitement in her system.
That night, when she awoke, breathing hard from a vivid dream about Zach kissing her even more boldly, it was impossible to ignore the hunger that was both ancient and familiar lighting every nerve ending in her being.
Wild for him, she sat up in the darkness and pushed her damp hair back from her hot face. It was just a stupid kiss. It doesnt matter! Zach cant stand me any more than I can stand him.
So, why are you dreaming about him, aching for him, even when you know he despises you?
Two
One month later
Once back in New York, Zachs kiss lingered on the edges of Summers consciousness almost all the time, despite the fact that shed willed herself to forget him. Despite the fact that shed decided it was best not to obsess over things she couldnt control, like Tucks refusal to quit his job and Grams support of his decision.
And because the memory of Zachs kiss lingered, she drove herself to work harder than ever.
Summer read every script her agent gave her. She auditioned tirelessly for any part that was halfway right for her. When she was home alone she compulsively cleaned and dusted every item in her already immaculate apartment in a vain attempt to shove Zach Torr and his stupid kiss and his ridiculous threats back into the past where they belonged.
Not that she could stop herself from calling certain gossips in Bonne Terre to get a picture of what he was up to back home or stop herself from reading her hometowns newspaper online to get the latest news about his riverboat gambling project. Everything she read was annoyingly favorable. People were more impressed by him every day. He was the towns favorite son. Rumors abounded about the lavishness of the riverboat he was building and the luxurious amenities and hotels he was constructing onshore.
On impulse, maybe to prove to those blockheads back home how little she cared for Zach, she let Hugh Jones join one of her interviews.
Naturally, the young, bright-eyed journalist went gaga over beautiful, golden Hugh, whose immense ego was hugely gratified at being fawned over.
At first, the young womans eager questions had been standard fare. Summer tossed off her ritual answers.
Her favorite role was the one she was creating. She was always nervous opening nights. And, yes, the play she was workshopping today was ever-so exciting.
Naturally, when the journalist wasnt entirely focused on Hugh, he grew bored.
Naturally, when the journalist wasnt entirely focused on Hugh, he grew bored.
Hugh shuffled from one foot to the other and yawned, and the reporter laughed and leaned into him so her breast brushed his elbow.
Okay, lets talk about this hot new man in your life. Every woman in America is dying to be you, Summer. The woman was staring into Hughs baby-blues as if shed been hypnotized.
Idiotically, the phrase hot new man put Summer back on Grams screened porch, in the arms of that certain individual she would give anything to forget.
Again she tasted the sweet, blistering warmth of Zachs mouth and felt his muscular length pressing her close. At the memory of his big hands closing over her breast and butt, the dark, musty corner she shared with Hugh and the reporter felt airless.
So, whats the latest with you and Hugh? the reporter asked. If you dont mind my saying so, you two are the most exciting couple these days.
Im a pretty lucky guy. Hugh squeezed Summer closer before launching into a monologue about himself.
Summer was wondering if she and Hugh had ever once had a real conversation about anything else.
I dont think Summers got any complaints, the reporter said when Hugh finally ended the everybody-loves-me monologue.
Hugh laughed, pulled Summer closer and planted his mouth on hers just as a flash blinded her.
Infuriated at his brashness, Summer thumped her fists on his chest. Luckily, her cell phone vibrated and blasted rap music from her pocket.
Excuse me, she whispered, desperate for an excuse to be done with the reporter and Hugh.
Sliding her phone open, she read the name, Viola Guidry. Sorry, guys, its my grandmother. I have to take this.
So-that kiss makes me wonder how serious you and Hugh are? the reporter asked.
Were just good friends, Summer snapped in a flat, cool tone.
Thats all youre going to give me-
Nodding, Summer smiled brightly as she shook the womans hand. Thanks so much. Cupping the phone to her ear, Summer walked away.
Hey, girls, much as I loved doing this interview, Ive got a meeting before I catch my plane to L.A., Hugh said carelessly, blowing Summer an air kiss. See you, angel.
Summer waved absently and fought to concentrate on her grandmothers frantic words.
You have to come home! Tucks in the hospital. Hes going to be okay, but Sheriff Arcenaux says he may have to arrest him!
For what?
Tuck invited some friends over to Zachs and they got into his liquor. When Zach came home, Tuck was so drunk hed passed out. Two of Zachs cars were missing, and Tucks friends were busily looting the place.
Oh, my God! Did I warn you or not?
Zachs threatening to press charges. So-youve got to come home.
Fear was a cold fist squeezing Summers heart so tightly she could barely breathe. Practically speaking, she didnt have time for this. Her calendar was jam-packed with work commitments. Emotionally, she knew her family needed her.
Zach wants to meet with you. He gave me his attorneys number and told me to have you call him. He said maybe hed be willing to work something out with you, instead of pressing charges, if you meet with him. But hell only meet with you.
Summer felt so frustrated and panic-stricken it was all she could do not to throw the phone.
Zach had her right where he wanted her-cornered.
In a soft voice, she said, Im on my way, Gram.
She was late.
Zach hated wasting time, and that was exactly what he was doing as he waited for Summer, a woman hed spent years trying to forget. His empire should be his focus, not some woman from his past.
Hell, hed wasted too much time worrying about her ever since hed seen her on Violas porch. Shed looked so sad and fragile before theyd spoken. He was almost sure shed been crying. The pain in her eyes had been so profound he still wanted to know what shed been thinking.
Then, like a fool, hed kissed her.
Her mouth had been hot and yielding, almost desperate with pent-up passion. But tender, too. Ever since that kiss, it was as if her lips and her taste and her softness and her sweet vulnerability had relit the passion hed once felt for her. It seemed nothing, not all the ugliness or news coverage or even reason, had been able to destroy his desire for her.
The womans kiss had made him remember the girl hed loved and trusted.
She didnt matter; she couldnt ever matter again.
Summer had been a virgin when shed given herself to him. His one and only. Never would he forget how lush, lovely and shyly innocent shed been, nor how her shy blue eyes had shone. Hed been deeply touched that such a beautiful girl with such a radiant soul had chosen him.
For the first two years theyd known each other, his focus had been their friendship and protecting her from her controlling stepfather. Then theyd fallen in love during her senior year, so hed stayed in Bonne Terre to wait for her to graduate. He hadnt pushed for sex, but somehow, after theyd run away together, shed gotten through his defenses.
One night when theyd been alone in that remote cabin, shed cried, asking him what she should do about her stepfather. What would happen if they didnt go back, if she didnt finish school? Would he come to New York with her?
Hed realized then that Summer saw him as part of her future; saw her stepfather and Bonne Terre as something she was finished with forever.
Intending to comfort her, to reassure her that he wanted her in his future as well, hed gone to the bed, taken her in his arms and held her close. Her hair had smelled of jasmine, so hed nuzzled it. Then shed kissed him, her soft mouth open, her body pressing against his eagerly. She probably hadnt understood how shed tempted him.
Hed stroked her hair, caressing her, and shed moaned. Her tears had stopped, but shed clung anyway. Then theyd come together as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Their union had been both sexual and spiritual. Hed believed theyd marry after she graduated, that they would be together forever.
Never again had he felt like that about a woman.
Forget it.
Zach forced his mind to the present. He couldnt afford to reminisce. Time was more precious than money. His uncles death had taught him that.
Zach had his briefcase stuffed with foreclosure cases hed intended to review as he sat in his attorneys sumptuous conference room. Waiting for her. Plate-glass windows afforded him an excellent view of the bayou four stories below. Not that he was enjoying the scene of cypress and dogwood trees. No, he couldnt stop thinking about her.
Why was she late? Was she remembering their last encounter and his promise to make her pay?
When he heard the desperate click of her high heels in the hall, he glanced up, tense with expectation. Even as he steeled himself to feel nothing, his heart began to race.
The door opened, framing her slim, elegant body before she entered. Her delicate, classical features and radiant complexion were too lovely for words.
He wanted her so much he couldnt breathe.
They looked at each other and then away while the silent tension between them crackled. On some deep level, she drew him. Her incredible blond beauty alone made her unforgettable. Then there was her fame. Hell, how could he forget her when her face was plastered on the covers of gossip magazines and cheap, weekly newspapers?
She was everywhere.
Only a few days ago he hadnt been able to resist reading the latest about her budding romance with Hugh Jones in one of those sensational newspapers he despised. Hed grabbed it off a wire shelf in a drugstore and jammed it into his briefcase. Hed carried it up to his office and pored over the story that went with the front-page photo of the famous couple sharing a kiss. Summer had claimed they were just friends, but Jones had expounded about how crazy they were about each other. Which one of them was lying?