Were way past wisdom, he murmured drily. You want to. I want you to. Were both adults. You start serving your time, maybe Ill get my fill of you sooner rather than later. I could let you off earlyfor good behavior.
Tempted, she trembled as she fought the fierce need to move toward him, to touch him. Her hands clenched. Looking at him took her back to the most glorious, sensual night of her life. He was so virile and handsome she couldnt think.
She wasnt that foolish, naive girl any longer. Shed been fiercely independent for years.
But the foolish hopes and dreams of that girl still lurked in her heart, tormenting her. If Summer didnt turn and walk away, or run-yes, run!-she would do something incredibly stupid, something she would regret for the rest of her life.
Just as she regretted their past love.
Only, she didnt feel as if she regretted it anymore.
Why not? What was happening to her?
Did some crazy part of her want to try again? Did she really want to risk everything shed achieved for a second chance with him?
He got you pregnant. When you tried to tell him, he wouldnt even talk to you.
But how could she blame him for what he hadnt known?
I see youre unsure, he murmured with a faint, derisive smile.
I-Im not unsure, she said even as the burning desire in his eyes made her feel as if she was melting. I think youre a monster, so I-Im leaving. R-right now. Really.
He laughed. Then check with Davis for my phone numbers. Call me if you decide to take my offer so I can tell my pilot and my caretaker. Since Im a gambling man, Ill wager that youll be here next Friday. We can swim together then. Or do whatever else we feel like. Well have the whole weekend to enjoy each other.
He spoke casually, as if her decision meant little to him. Then he turned and walked away.
Her stomach in knots, she watched him much too hungrily until he vanished behind a wall of shrubbery.
Four
Manhattan
Summer loved Central Park, especially on a sparkling September day when the leaves had begun to turn and a cool front had put a chill in the air.
Hugh, Im so sorry I cant fly out to L.A. this weekend.
Hunched over her smartphone on a bench near the fountain at Bethesda Terrace during a rare break, Summer chose her words carefully.
Guiltily, she pushed a blond strand of hair out of her eyes. My brothers in trouble, so I have to go back to Bonne Terre.
But
Truly, theres nothing Id rather do next weekend than be with you at the premiere of Kill-Hard.
My agent swears its my breakout role.
Im so sorry. Truly. Ill be there Sundaylate.
After Zach.
When Hugh hung up, seething, she was a little surprised that her guilt was overwhelmed by relief.
At least Hughs premiere was one thing she could scratch off her to-do list.
Summer began to flip through her calendar, deleting or canceling other engagements. For the next few weekends she would be doing her own script work, so she could juggle the commute to Louisiana. Later, when rehearsals began in earnest, getting away from New York would be trickier, maybe downright impossible.
She would worry about that later. Zach would probably be tired of her by then anyway.
Daily, hourly, all through the week, shed resented Zach for causing such immense upheaval in her life. His demand was outrageous, medieval, and she told herself she was furious with him and with herself for going along with him.
And yet, if that were true, why did her breath catch every time she remembered the avid desire in his eyes? Why did she dream of him holding her close every night? Or awaken hot and sweaty from the image of writhing in his arms like a wanton? She would toss her sheets aside, go to the window and stare out at the stars, imagining spending two days and nights with Zach.
Being a man, no matter what hed said, all he wanted from her was sex.
But what did she want?
She didnt know. And she didnt know what she could tell Gram. Summer didnt want her grandmother to get her hopes up for no reason. Since she couldnt figure that one out and didnt want to lie, she wouldnt call Gram or take her calls until Summer saw her again in Bonne Terre. Until then, Summer would concentrate on her career goals, on developing and playing her roles. It wasnt healthy to obsess over a man whose sole goal was to punish her.
On Friday, at three oclock sharp, she met Zachs pilot. Once aboard the jet, she pulled out her script, intending to figure out her character for the scenes with Hugh scheduled to be shot in L.A. next week.
Normally, Summer chose roles because she felt affection for the character, but in this case, her reasons had been more pragmatic. When shed complained that she didnt think she could do a dark, unlikeable sex addict, her agent had pointed out that the money was simply too good to pass up.
So, Summer needed to study her lines and determine how her edgy sex scenes fit into the emotional context of the movie.
But her mind drifted to Zach, making it impossible for her to concentrate on the femme fatale she was to play in Hughs film.
Staring out the windows of his Houston office as he held his phone, Zach frowned as his pilot brought him up to date.
Yeah. She was right on time. Weather looks good until we hit Louisiana. Looks like youre going to have a nasty drive. He gave Zach the planes arrival time, and the two men ended the call.
Outside, dark purple clouds hung over the city to the northeast. It was only three, but the freeways were already jammed with cars. Impatient, because hed wanted to leave the city well before rush hour, especially if there was bad weather, Zach thrust his hands into his pockets and prowled his office like a caged cat.
Leroy McEver, the newly hired contractor on Zachs biggest project downtown, was late as usual. Although Zach was sorely tempted to leave, no way was Zach driving to Bonne Terre without making Leroy understand once and for all that the reason hed fired Anderson and hired him was that he expected Leroy to stop the constant cost overruns.
But even with pressing business to deal with, Zach was anxious to be on his way to Bonne Terre. To her. As always, his inexplicable need to bed her, even after what shed put him through, annoyed the hell out of him.
After their love affair had been exposed and made to look ugly in the newspapers, hed zealously guarded his personal life. He kept his private life private. She was a movie star, who probably courted media attention.
There were multiple reasons not to go through with the bargain hed made with her. But he wouldnt put a stop to it. He couldnt.
Thus, his impatience to see her again infuriated him. He hated himself for stooping to blackmail.
But he wanted her, and she owed him-big-time.
One minute the road was darkly veiled in mist. In the next the brightly lit Thibodeaux house loomed out of the shadowy cypress and oak grove. Summer got out, grabbed her bag and thanked Zachs pilot, Bob, for the lift.
Ive got orders to wait until Im sure youre safely inside.
Summers footsteps sounded hollow as she marched up the path, crossed the porch and rang the doorbell.
Setting her bag and briefcase down, she turned the key Bob had given her in the lock, jiggling it until the door opened.
Zach?
Again, as her shy, uncertain voice echoed through the empty rooms, she marveled that a man like him, with a house like this, had no staff. As she felt blindly for the light switches on the wall, she heard a mans heavier tread approaching. When she saw a tall, angular shadow splash across the floor between the stacked boxes, her heart began to pound as unwanted, craven excitement coursed through her. All week, shed waited for this and had been too ashamed to admit it.
Zach?
Its just me, Summer, Tuck said as he ambled through the door at the far end of the room. He had earbuds in his ears and was bouncing to some soundless beat. His hands were jammed into jeans that rode so low on his skinny hips she marveled that he didnt worry about them falling off.
She couldnt see much of his skinny face for the thick golden hair hanging over his eyes.
You doing okaysince the hospital? she asked.
Ever since Zach told me hes not going to press charges, or even fire me, Ive been fine. Can you believe he gave me a second chance?
Big of him.
Course, he locked his liquor up and set some pretty strict ground rules, he muttered more resentfully. Oh, he said Im supposed to tell you that you can have the bedroom down the hall on the first floor. He made me stock the fridge and get the room ready for you. And he told me to carry your suitcase inside for you.
Tuck came to an abrupt stop in front of her. When she reached for him, he allowed a quick hug.
Im glad youre okay, she whispered, ruffling his hair. Next time, think.
He leaned down and grabbed her suitcase. Zach told me to tell you about the security system. He told her the code and asked her if she wanted him to write it down or show her how to set it.
She shook her head.
When he showed her the room, she was pleasantly surprised to find antique furniture, curtains and rugs that went together. A silver mirror and comb and brush set lay on a low, polished bureau.
Its pretty, she said.
Because Zach sent a dumb decorator and lots of other people over to boss me around and make sure it was.
Where is Zach?
On the road. His meetings ran a lot later than he expected.
Oh.
So, why are you here tonight if you hate him so much?
I-I dont hate him. Itsits complicated.
Youre not here because of what I did, are you?
Oh, no. It has nothing to do with you. She felt her cheeks heat. We justerreconnected. Thats what happens sometimeswith old flames.
He stared at her as if he didnt quite buy it. Sookayeverythings cool, then. Can I go? I was gonna play some pool tonight before I found out about you and Zach.
She gritted her teeth, not liking that hed accepted them as a couple so easily. Hed talk, and everybody would believe him.
He stared at her through the greasy strings of his blond hair. You sure youre okay about this?
Im great! Never better! She gave him a bright smile.
Youve sure got the whole town talking.
She winced. You know how people in Bonne Terre talk.
Yeah. When I shopped for stuff, people kept asking me questions about you.