Page 68

She couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled up.“Is that your inner caveman talking?”
He leaned down and kissed her, a devilish gleam in his eyes, as a knock sounded on the door.“Yes, and I make no apologies for him.”He pulled her robe more firmly around her and stepped back.“I’m going to hit the pool.I’ll see you in an hour?”
She nodded and went with him to the door.They parted ways at the end of the hallway.She watched him walk away, unable to take her eyes off his stunning body.
Two women wearing tiny robes walked past, then turned to stare at Zach, their naked interest sending a spike of jealousy through her.That he didn’t even turn to acknowledge their look in any way made the fists she’d unconsciously clench relax a little, but the anxiety wrapping itself around her heart refused to ease.
Well, Bethany, this is no fun, is it?
The mocking voice couldn’t be silenced.Nor could the certainty that she was falling for Zachary Savage be shaken.
The attendant gave a tiny cough, jerking her out of her thoughts.
She sat through her grooming session, barely aware of what was going on as the realization hit home with brutal force.
This thing was no longer casual.And it was going to be as messy as she’d predicted the moment she’d set eyes on Zach.
* * *
“Hey, you’re giving me the silent treatment now?”Zach asked as they were driven back home.
He’d asked Philip to take the long route home, and the gentle giant had obliged by driving them along the winding roads, which led up into the Atlas Mountains.
The sun was beginning to set, and Marrakech was spread out in all its red and gold glory beneath them.
“What’s wrong, baby?”Zach pressed, the light pressure of his fingers on her chin tugging her gaze to his.
“It’s been a fantastic day.But it’s also been a little bit overwhelming,” she answered truthfully.She was amazed by his compassion and determination to help her overcome her fear.But the knowledge that she was risking her heart on a man who was an enigma to her occupied her thoughts now.
Chris had not been an enigma.He’d been a liar and a cheat.But he too had kept her in the dark, and the result had been devastating.She hadn’t known what the man she’d been sharing her bed with had been doing, until he’d dropped the bomb at her feet.
Trouble was, she had a feeling any bomb Zach dropped at her feet would be much more devastating than anything Chris had delivered.
Her heart tripped, and jolted back into rhythm, when he tilted her head back and looked deep into her eyes.That intense, unwavering look made her breath catch.
God, she could so very easily make a big-ass fool of herself over this man… if she hadn’t already.
“You don’t need to worry about anything else right now, Peaches.I’ve got you.Understand?”
Her nod was stupidly jerky, and her eyes prickled with unshed tears.She was blinking them away when the SUV slowed to a stop.She glanced out of the window and saw that they’d stopped on a ledge just off the side of the road.Zach alighted and helped her out.
“Why are we stopping?”
“Because you need to see this.”
15
He led her to the front of the SUV, leaned back against the hood and positioned her in front of him.For several seconds, she stared at the horizon, unable to determine which aspect of the gorgeous view needed her attention.
She started to turn.
He leaned down and whispered in her ear.“Wait for it.It’ll happen any minute now.”His breath on her ear sent a shudder through her.One arm tightened around her as he raised the other to point at a spot between two mountains.“Keep your eyes on that spot.”
She did.Less than a minute later, the setting sun dropped into it, splashing the snow-capped mountains in silver and orange flames.Slowly, the color spread over the valley and across the city.The scene was so spectacular, so breathtaking, she clasped her hands over her mouth in wonder.
They stood like that for several minutes, until the sun disappeared behind the mountains.
“My God, that was beyond beautiful.”