Snowbound Seduction by Helen Brooks Read Free Book Online Page B

dessert—roasted peaches with butterscotch—was finished.
    And gradually Rachel found she’d relaxed, mainlybecause it was impossible not to with Zac. He was a fascinating and congenial dinner companion with a slightly wicked sense of humour, which was often directed against himself. She might have found this endearing but for the fact Giles had done the same thing, a charming ploy to hook the latest fish in Giles’s case. As for Zac? Who knew?
    Not that it mattered, she told herself, laughing at something he’d said. She wasn’t involved with this man, unlike Giles, and didn’t have to concern herself with whether he was the genuine article or not. After the champagne cocktail and two glasses of excellent wine, followed by a liqueur with her coffee, she’d come to the decision she had got into the habit of taking herself and the world in general too seriously. She was in fabulous surroundings with a drop-dead-gorgeous man on an evening out that definitely wouldn’t be repeated—she was determined about that even if he asked for another date, which she doubted—and she should live for the moment.
    And to be honest, she admitted to herself as she popped one of the to-die-for hand-made chocolates they’d brought with the coffee into her mouth, there was something very nice in being the recipient of so many envious female glances during the evening. Especially after the knock her ego had taken in the last months. Every woman who’d caught sight of Zac had done a double take. While that might become annoying in time, for a one-off like this evening it made her feel like the cat with the cream. It had been months since she’d felt as light-hearted as she did right now, months since she’d laughed without having to force the sound. Whether it was an act or not, Zac was very good at what he did. She had to give him that.
    When Zac ordered more liqueurs and coffee Rachel didn’t object, even though she realised with a little jolt of surprise it was nearly ten o’clock. The time had flown by, and when eventually Zac called the waiter over and settled the bill, she glanced at her watch and saw another hour had passed. Zac stood up and pulled out her chair for her, taking her arm as they walked out of the restaurant into the huge foyer beyond. When he helped her on with her coat, his tall muscular physique seemed to dwarf everybody around him, and the attractive blonde receptionist couldn’t take her eyes off him, not that Zac appeared to notice. She didn’t doubt he had, though.
    It was cold outside but the rain clouds had blown away and the sky was high and pierced with stars. The fresh night air made her realise she was feeling the effects of the wine and liqueurs, and she told herself she needed to keep her wits about her. She suddenly felt uncomfortably vulnerable.
    The taxi Zac had ordered when he’d paid the bill was waiting at the kerb. He took her arm again as he helped her into the car and although it was nothing but a polite gesture, the pressure of his hand on her body made her cheeks flush. Zac had taken her briefcase from the cloakroom attendant and as he slung it onto his side of the seat she wished it was between them. As it was, a hard male thigh rested against hers and his arm stretched along the top of the seat behind her. She wondered if he would try for a goodnight kiss and her heart thumped.
    â€˜I’m sorry I’ve kept you so late. Will you be up to the early hours?’ he asked softly, glancing down at her.
    She tried to relax her fingers, which were clenched together in her lap. ‘I’m sorry?’ she said, having only half heard him.
    â€˜You said you had work to do,’ he reminded her.
    She had. Amazingly she’d forgotten. Jeff had asked her to go over the failed project with a fine-toothed comb and detail the sales team’s part in the disaster for a report he had to submit to the managing director by