But with the heat of the Spanish sun warming her, she experienced a first, faint lifting of her spirits. The villa nestled in the hills between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. The views were spectacular and the grounds enormous, running rampant with glorious pink and orange bougainvillea and hibiscus that scented the warm air with tropical flowers. Taking a deep breath, she let the atmosphere soothe her. It had been a hard six months, and on top of that, she felt drained from the flight and then the long car ride. Her leg ached, and she rubbed at it absently.
“Are you okay?” Gary asked.
She tried not to be irked by the concern in his voice. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t seem fine. You seem tense.”
Dani rolled her shoulders, easing the tightness, and forced a smile. Though she knew Gary wouldn’t be fooled—she looked a mess. She’d always been slight, but now she was positively scrawny. “Maybe a little tense,” she admitted. “I just want to get back and do some real work. Not protecting some playboy.”
He cast her a glance of disapproval.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “Some writer.”
But Gary was right to disapprove; she’d accepted this job, so now she had a duty to give it her all, whatever her opinion of Zachary Hunter. She needed to pull herself together. And it was probably only jealousy. She had a tendency to go for everything full-steam-ahead, and she kind of envied people like him who could laze away a day in a pool…naked. Anyway, she’d probably hardly even see the man—it wasn’t as though she’d be protecting him personally.
“Come on,” Gary said. “We’ll get you to the guesthouse and off that leg. Jake’s given strict instructions that you don’t put any strain on it yet.”
“Jake’s not my doctor, and it’s no problem,” she said, making an effort not to limp.
Thankfully, Gary knew better than to offer a helping hand. She hated feeling weak.
Instead, without saying anything else on the subject, he slowed his pace to allow her shorter legs to keep up, and she fell into step beside him.
…
Zach woke to a soft hand stroking down the length of his bare back. He groaned and burrowed his head deeper into the pillows.
“Darling, I have to leave for the airport.”
He squinted up at the woman hovering above him and sighed with relief when he saw Lauren was fully dressed; he didn’t like to disappoint, but he really didn’t think he could manage any more right now.
At thirty-two, he was obviously getting old. Or drinking too much. Or both.
Rolling onto his back, he stretched. “What time is it?”
“Nearly seven.”
“Really?” He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I thought the new security guy was coming in this afternoon. Gary was supposed to bring him over.”
“Another babysitter?”
“Yeah and thanks for the sympathy.” At least someone found this amusing.
“Aw, poor darling. I know you hate being cooped up here, but at least you’re safe.” She leaned over and kissed him lingeringly on the mouth. “Look, I’ve really got to go. I’ll send you those accounts to sign as soon as I’ve put through the changes. Or should I bring them?”
“Whatever’s easiest.”
Lauren pursed her lips, and he realized he might have been less than diplomatic. He pulled himself up, grabbing the sheet. “I’m sorry, Lauren. Of course bring them yourself.”
She smiled and patted him on the head. “Don’t fret, Zach. You know, you’re a fantastic client, a great friend, and a fabulous lover, but I went into this”—she waved at the rumpled bed—“with my eyes open, and long-term-relationship material you are not. Not for me anyway.”
“Not for anyone,” he muttered.
She grinned. “Now, I really have to go.” At the door, she paused and turned back. “But one day, you’re going to meet a woman and you’re going to fall in love—and I’m betting there are a few of us out there who hope she gives you a real hard time.”
“Never going to happen,” he said to himself as the door closed behind her.
Zach got out of bed, pulled on a pair of drawstring trousers and a T-shirt, thrust his feet into leather flip-flops, and headed out across the gardens to the guesthouse.
A woman stood on the terrace. He’d been expecting one of his security guards, Gary or Simon, and he paused to study her. She was tiny—certainly no threat. Her slight form was wrapped in a white robe, her head wrapped in a towel. Her lips were compressed into a tight line as she struggled with the tray she carried. She appeared pale and curiously helpless, and he had an urge to rush to her assistance. The strangeness of the feeling made him hesitate, then he shrugged it away and strode toward her.
“Here, let me help you with that.”
At the sound of his voice, she jumped then stumbled. “Shit.” Righting herself, she glanced up as Zach hurried forward and held out his hands for the tray.
“I can manage.” She stared at him, and he was caught in the gaze of a pair of enormous eyes the color of fresh green grass. They dominated a small, elfin face and glared at him with something less than appreciation—not an expression he tended to receive from women. He’d never seen her before, but maybe she was someone Gary or Simon had picked up. He’d told them to make themselves at home, after all.
While she was outwardly composed, a pulse beat rapidly at her throat—not as unruffled as she wanted to appear. He glanced down to check out the rest of her, just as her belt unraveled and the front of her robe parted.
Jackpot!
Beneath it, she was naked, and his eyes honed in on two of the most gorgeous breasts he had ever seen. Full—considering she was so slight—and up-tilted with dusky pink nipples. His dick jerked to attention at the sight—maybe he wasn’t too old after all.
He forced himself to look up and caught her gaze. Her eyes narrowed, and she peered down.
“Double shit.”
…
Dani took the last step to the table and slammed the tray onto the marble surface. She snatched the edges of her robe together, wrenched the belt tight, and tried to control the wave of heat washing over her face. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t seen breasts before.
She was aware she was being cranky—after all, it was hardly his fault she’d flashed her tits at him—but she couldn’t seem to help it. The warm water of the shower had washed away much of her earlier tension, but her leg still ached. The sensation of weakness rubbed her emotions raw and sapped her ability to play nice. Plus, she was hardly dressed for meeting her new boss. She’d presumed he’d be too busy with his…friend from the pool to bother with introductions tonight.