Scent of Roses (13 page)

“Hello, Zach.” Her voice sounded husky and unfamiliar, as if it came from a different woman.

Zach's warm brown eyes instantly darkened. He must have some sort of mating instinct, she thought, an ability to read exactly what she was thinking.

“Hello, Liz.” His gaze slid down to the sleeveless scoop-neck top she wore and he noticed her nipples were pebbled into little peaks. “You've been thinking about me.”

She looked up at him, saw the glittering heat in the gold of his eyes. She should have been embarrassed but she wasn't. “Yes,” she said softly. “I have.”

For several seconds, Zach just stood there, looking like a man at war with himself. “I've been thinking about you, too,” he said, and then he hauled her into his arms.

 

Damn, he'd planned to be on his best behavior tonight, been determined to control the throbbing sexual need he felt whenever he saw her. Then he had stepped through the door, looked into those pretty blue eyes and read the need she no longer tried to hide.

Christ, he wanted her, wanted to be inside her so much he ached with it. Instead he kissed her. Kissed her and kissed her, ravaging her lips, taking her with his tongue, filling her mouth as he longed to fill her body. She was slim, yet beautifully curved, a womanly figure that perfectly fit his taller frame. He reached beneath her pale blue, short cotton skirt and cupped her bottom in his hands, pulling her closer, into the vee of his crotch, letting her feel how hard he was for her.

Her slim hands dug into his shoulders and he felt her tremble. He was wildly aroused. He wanted to rip off her clothes, wanted to drag her down on the carpet and bury himself inside her. He clamped down on his control, determined not to let it get away from him as it had before. Liz wasn't fighting him, wasn't resisting, and yet he was determined that if she made the least attempt to stop, he would let her.

This wasn't supposed to be happening. But God, he was glad it was.

He trailed kisses along her jaw. “I want you so much,” he whispered against the side of her neck. Waves of burnished dark hair brushed his cheek and his groin tightened. “I can't remember wanting anyone so badly.”

“I want you, too, Zach.”

He took a deep breath, fighting to remain in control, but the feel of her breasts pillowing against his chest made it nearly impossible to do. Feeling no resistance to another penetrating kiss, he lifted her into his arms and carried her across the living room to the bedroom, set her on her feet beside the queen-size bed.

His mouth settled softly over hers. He loved kissing her, loved the way she tasted, the slickness of her tongue over his, the little ripples of pleasure that moved through her body whenever he deepened the kiss. Catching the hem of her sleeveless knit top, he drew it off over her head, then pressed soft kisses along her throat and shoulders.

She was wearing the same kind of lacy white bra she had been wearing before, sweet but incredibly sexy. He popped the catch, drew the straps off her shoulders, then gave himself a moment to enjoy the sight of her lovely bare breasts.

He didn't take too long. He knew this was difficult for her. Any minute he expected her to bolt from the bedroom. He palmed her breasts, circled the nipples with his thumb, tugged on the ends, pinched lightly, then replaced his hands with his mouth.

The creamy texture of her skin made an ache throb in his groin and he fought to stifle a groan.

“Zachary…”

“Easy, baby.” He suckled the fullness, bit the ends, then returned to exploring her mouth. He could feel her trembling, feel her heart pounding nearly as hard as his own.

He unzipped her skirt and eased it over her hips, let it fall into a puddle at her feet. Her toes were painted a pretty pale pink, and he liked the feminine way they looked peeking out of her open-toed, high-heeled sandals. She was wearing a tiny pair of lacy, white thong underwear, he saw, and another jolt of heat rocked through him.

“Did you wear those for me?” he asked, palming her sex, feeling the heat there, making her tremble.

“No, I…maybe I…yes, I suppose I must have.”

She hadn't meant to do this, he figured. Or if she had, the decision had been subconscious. He knelt in front of her, blew on the folds of her sex through the panties, pressed his mouth there, his tongue against the fabric, dampening it and giving him even better access to the soft flesh beneath.

He thought of stripping the panties away and taking her with his tongue, but she was a novice at the game of pleasure and he didn't want to frighten her.

“Zachary…?”

Hearing the faint note of uncertainty in her voice, he moved up her body, tasting her breasts again, kissing her until she relaxed once more.

She reached for the buttons on his shirt, her courage apparently returning. “I want to touch you,” she said. “The way you touched me. I want to see you naked.”

Zach kissed her. “I want that, too.”

She unfastened the last few buttons, her hands shaking, then eased the garment off his shoulders and tossed it over a chair in the corner. He kicked off his loafers as she unbuckled his belt and unzipped his fly, hesitated only an instant, then shoved his pants down his legs to the floor.

He stepped out of them and took off the rest of his clothes, his eyes on her face as she studied his erection.

“I hope I can…handle all of that.”

He gave her a reassuring smile. “Don't worry, I'll be there to help.”

She reached out and touched the tattoo on his arm. “Born to be wild.” She looked up at him, desire clear in her eyes. “Make love to me, Zach.”

She didn't have to ask him twice. Lifting her up, he settled her in the middle of the bed, took care of protection, then came down slowly on top of her. He kissed her, slid his hands down her body until he found her softness and began to stroke her. She was incredibly wet and slick and it made him want her even more.

“Zach, please…”

“Soon, love.” But not until he had her on the edge of climax, until she was close to screaming. He liked sex and he was good at it. He wanted to be good for Liz.

He stroked her slowly, skillfully, kissed her breasts, her throat, her lips. He increased the rhythm and she arched up off the bed, made a soft little pleading sound in her throat.

“Zach, please…I need…I need…”

“I've got exactly what you need, baby.” And then he was parting her legs, fitting himself between them, sliding his erection into her softness.

Liz arched upward, driving him deeper still, burying him all the way to the hilt. He groaned at the feel of her gloving him so sweetly, heard her soft little mewling sounds of pleasure. Her nails dug into his back, and she trembled beneath him.

“Oh, God, oh, God, Zach, you feel so good.”

“Easy.” Out and then in, deep, rhythmic strokes, giving her as much of himself as he knew how, but the pleasure was beginning to overwhelm him and he was afraid he would lose control.
Not yet,
he told himself.
Not until she's ready. Just hang on just a little longer.

He surged deeply again, and sweat popped out on his forehead. Faster, deeper, harder. Sweet Jesus! He couldn't take much more.

He was clinging to his last thread of control when he heard her cry out his name, felt her body tighten sweetly around him. She slipped into a powerful climax, and Zach let himself go.

He reached his own, earth-shattering release and wondered why it seemed so different with Liz.

I
t was an hour later that Elizabeth finally left the bed. Zach ordered Chinese takeout from the Great China Restaurant, and she went to answer the door in her bathrobe, since he refused to let her get dressed.

“No way,” he had said, shaking his head. “I've got plans for you tonight and clothes aren't part of those plans.”

Elizabeth laughed, determined that just this one night, she would be the siren Zach seemed to believe she was. Tomorrow would bring a return of sanity, she was sure, but just for this one night…

They made love again before they fell asleep and again before dawn. Bright sun poked through the curtains far too soon, and Elizabeth awakened to find herself sprawled over Zach's chest, groggy and pleasantly sated.

But the light of day was upon her now, the knowledge that what had happened last night couldn't possibly continue. She had known that from the start, known that this was just a fling, a wild night to remember. He was Zachary Harcourt, the town bad boy, and no matter how much he had changed, there were things about him that hadn't.

His affair with Lisa Doyle proved that.

Zach liked women, used them, left them. He always had.

Elizabeth wasn't about to risk her heart with a man like that, no matter how much she enjoyed him in bed.

She eased away from him, slipped quietly into the bathroom to shower and dress for the day. As the water pounded against her skin, easing the unfamiliar soreness between her legs, she heard the doorknob rattle, then his softly muttered curse.

He wanted to join her in the shower, but she wasn't about to let him, no matter how tempting the notion might be. The water was washing away the scent of him, the evidence of his possession, and in its place, the solid, practical woman she had been before was emerging.

She dried herself, toweled her hair, leaving it to dry in soft curls around her face, put on a little makeup and left the bathroom. The smell of fresh coffee brewing in the kitchen pulled her in that direction. Zach was standing there shirtless, wearing just his slacks and no shoes, and the sight of all that bare, hard-muscled flesh sent a surge of heat pulsing through her.

Elizabeth ignored it. “You can use the shower, if you like before you leave.”

One of his dark eyebrows went up. He surveyed her no-nonsense khaki slacks and loose-fitting white cotton blouse.

“I noticed there's a swimming pool out back. I was thinking we might take a swim then maybe drive over to Mason a little later and catch a movie or something, but it looks like you're having morning-after regrets.”

She shook her head. “No regrets. Last night was great, Zach. Incredible. It's just…”

“Just that you don't intend for it to happen again. The question is, why not?”

She accepted the cup of coffee he handed her. “You know why not. Because you're you and I'm me. I've got my career and you've got yours. You live in L.A. I live in San Pico. To put it simply, we're two very different people.”

“That's right. You're a woman and I'm a man. That's about as different as it gets.”

She was afraid he'd be stubborn. “All right, I'll spell it out for you. I don't want to risk getting involved with you, Zach.”

Zach opened his mouth to argue, then closed it again and walked over to the window, shoving his hands into the pocket of his slacks along the way. He stared outside for several long moments, then turned back to her.

“Maybe you're right. As much as I'm attracted to you, I'm not looking for a long-term relationship. I'm a loner. I always have been. I like my life the way it is.”

“No strings. No involvement.”

“Yeah, that's about it.” But there was something in his eyes…something that said maybe he wasn't so sure.

It didn't matter. She knew the risk he posed and after Brian, she didn't have that kind of courage.

Zach refilled his coffee cup, took a slow sip as he studied her over the rim. “Even if you're right, we've still got the weekend. I don't see why we can't enjoy ourselves until it's over.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Better to end things cleanly. Besides, I've got plans for tonight.”

He took another sip of coffee and she saw that his eyes had darkened. “That so?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me you don't have a date with my brother.”

She laughed. She couldn't help it. “Of course not. I'm spending the night at Maria's.”

“Miguel's going out of town again?”

She nodded. “Maria's staying with one of the other overseers' wives. I figured with them away, I'd have a chance to really see what's going on.”

Zach frowned. Setting his cup down on the counter, he strode toward her. “You aren't saying you plan to spend the night there by yourself?”

“I think it's a good idea. I'll be able to do a little investigating, maybe figure things out.”

“What if what's going on in that house is some kind of sick joke? What if there's someone behind it, someone who doesn't care who gets hurt?”

“I've got a gun. A thirty-eight revolver. I'm going to take it with me.”

“Yeah? Well, what if there really is a ghost? You can't kill a ghost with a gun.”

“That's ridiculous.”

“Maybe it is, maybe not. Lately, I've been doing a lot of research on the subject. According to the stuff I've read, there are things called malevolent spirits. They can do some pretty bad stuff, and you sure as hell can't stop them with a gun.”

“I don't believe in ghosts.”

“Neither do I, but that doesn't change the fact you might be putting yourself in danger.”

“I'm going Zach. That's all there is to it.”

“Fine, then I'm going with you.”

She took an unconscious step backward. “No way.”

Zach gave her a ruthless half smile. “Either I go with you or I call my brother and tell him what you're up to. What's it going to be?”

“Blackmail's illegal, Zach. I thought you'd become a law-abiding citizen.”

“Sometimes you have to make your own laws. If you're going, I'm going, Liz. You might as well accept it.”

A sound of frustration slipped out. She didn't want him to go. He posed too big a temptation. But he was determined, and perhaps she was a little relieved. “You're as big a bully now as you were twelve years ago.”

Zach had the nerve to grin. “I guess in some ways I am.”

Elizabeth gave a sigh of resignation. “All right, you can come. But I expect you to behave yourself.”

“No seduction, you mean.” He nodded, not the least surprised to have gotten his way. “I can handle it if you can. What time are you going over there?”

She flushed at the comment, since she was the one who had seduced him last night. “I figured about nine o'clock. I don't think anything's ever happened before dark.”

“Fine. I'll meet you there at nine. In the meantime, I've got a room at the Holiday Inn. Believe it or not, I didn't plan to make love to you last night. If you need to get hold of me before that, I'll be out at Teen Vision working on the barn. I'll see you tonight.”

Zach finished dressing and left the apartment, and Elizabeth wandered into the living room to watch him drive away. She was determined not to get involved with him. She just wished she wasn't so glad she would be seeing him again that night.

 

Elizabeth picked up the key to Maria's house that afternoon.

“I'll be back about nine,” Elizabeth told her. “Zachary Harcourt will be staying here with me so you don't have to worry.”

Maria looked relieved. “That is good. The bed is freshly made so you will have a clean place to sleep and Mr. Zach can sleep on the sofa. I hope the ghost comes. Then you will know I am telling the truth.”

“I guess we'll see.”

With the key to the house in her purse, Elizabeth returned to her apartment. She worked out for a while in her exercise room, stretching the sore muscles from having sex with Zach the night before.

Her cheeks warmed at the memory of his hot kisses and intimate caresses. No question, Zach Harcourt knew how to make love. Which was exactly the reason she wanted no more part of him. He was too damned sexy, too damned good a lover. A man like Zach could make a woman fall head over heels and she couldn't afford for that to happen.

She did a couple more sit-ups, twisting to touch her knees with her elbows, then spent some time on the treadmill. She was glad Zach had been honest. He didn't want a permanent relationship anymore than she did. Better they part now, before someone—namely her—got hurt.

Determined to stop thinking about him, she showered and dressed in a pair of jeans and a pale blue cotton blouse, then went in and made herself supper: fish sticks and salad. A cup of fat-free chocolate pudding served as dessert. A quick glance at the clock and she picked up her purse and headed for the carport behind her apartment.

It was still hot outside, even this time of evening, but at least the sun was going down, the intense, burning rays fading into a steady dry heat.

Zach's car wasn't at the Santiago house when she turned off the highway a little bit early and pulled up next to the single car garage. Making her way up the front walk, she used the key to let herself in, then went over and turned on the little TV in the living room, just to have some noise in the house.

She'd also brought a paperback novel to read, doubting the “ghost” would appear as long as the television was on. Once Zach arrived, she'd turn it off so the house would be quiet.

He arrived right on time, nine o'clock straight up, and came in carrying a couple of plastic bags full of groceries.

“I thought we might get hungry,” he said, pulling a bag of chips and a couple of cans of Diet Coke out of the bag and setting them down on the coffee table. A sack of trail mix and a couple of candy bars came out next. “I'm not big on junk food. This is just in case of emergency.”

He looked at her and smiled, and she saw that once again his gaze was carefully guarded. He wanted her still. A little frisson of heat ran through her, but she quickly tamped it down. She was there on a mission and she meant to see it done.

“How did it go out at the farm?” she asked, opting for a safe subject as she took a seat on the sofa.

“Great. We'll have the barn finished before fall sets in.” Zach sat down beside her, not too close, she noticed.

“What will you do once it's complete?”

“You mean will I still come up to San Pico? I'll come up to see my dad, but not as often. Not unless…” He shook his head. “You want some chips?”

“No, thanks.” She looked over at the little TV, the sound so low she could barely hear it. “I think we should turn off the television. No respectable ghost would appear while we're watching
Saturday Night Live.
”

He smiled. “I suppose not. I brought some work to do. I figured I'd better keep my mind on something besides making love to you.”

Her cheeks flushed as she pressed the off button on the front of the set. So did other parts of her body. “I brought a book. At least we can keep ourselves entertained.”

His gaze ran over her, letting her feel it head to foot, and hot sparks glittered in his eyes. “I can think of a lot more interesting things we could do, but I guess that's not going to happen.”

“I guess it isn't.” Much to her regret. Pulling the paperback out of her purse, a romantic suspense she wouldn't have brought if she'd remembered how steamy the sex scenes were, she turned to the page she'd left off. She would skip the juicy parts, she vowed, and settled in to read.

They sat in surprisingly companionable silence, Elizabeth absorbed in her book, Zach poring over the pages of a legal brief he was working on.

It was getting late. Elizabeth yawned, shifted on the sofa. She checked her watch, saw that it was nearly midnight. Flicking a glance to where Zach leaned back against the sofa, she saw that his eyes were closed, his thick dark lashes fanned out against his cheek. His long legs stretched in front of him and his head rested on the back of the couch. He was sound asleep, and Elizabeth realized she was equally sleepy.

Yawning, she made her way as quietly as possible into the bedroom. As far as she knew, the vision—assuming there was one—had never appeared anywhere except this room. She lay down on the bed, still fully dressed, plumped the pillow behind her head, and closed her eyes. As tired as she was, it didn't take long to fall asleep.

She wasn't sure how long she slept or what awakened her. When she opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was how still the room had grown, or at least if felt still and close, the air thicker than it should have been. An odd creak came from the living room, the same sound she had heard the first time she stayed in the house. A few seconds later, the wind began its eerie moaning. She wanted to rush to the window to see if the noise was real, though she was fairly sure it wasn't.