The Innocent Behind the Scandal (The Marchetti Dynasty 2)

‘Can I come in?’

The smell of fresh coffee hit Zoe’s nostrils then and she almost groaned. How did he know she couldn’t function before her first coffee in the morning?

She stood back and he walked in and she saw the extent of how wet he was.

‘I’ll get you a towel.’

She went to her tiny

airing cupboard and took out a towel, bringing it back and handing it to Maks, who had put the coffee and cakes on her table.

‘Thanks.’

He shrugged off his jacket and draped it over a chair. Zoe took in the fact that he was wearing worn jeans and a light long-sleeved top. Muscles moved as he rubbed his head briskly.

She became very aware of her loose pyjama bottoms and singlet top, putting her arms around her chest. ‘I’ll just...get changed.’

‘Here, take this with you.’ Maks handed her one of the coffees.

Zoe grabbed it and ran, still in shock that he was here. When she was in her bedroom—mere feet away, but thankfully behind a door—she breathed out and took a sip of coffee, hoping that might restore a sense of reality.

It didn’t. She had the quickest shower on record, dried her hair and dressed in a pair of jeans and a loose, oversized shirt.

When she went back out to the living area Maks had the photo of her family in his hand. They were all pulling funny faces. Her insides clenched. Hard.

He looked around. ‘This was you and your family?’

She nodded, longing to take the picture from him.

He put it back on the shelf. ‘What happened after the crash? Who brought you up?’

Zoe kept her voice neutral. ‘I went into foster care. Both my parents were only children with deceased parents. There was a great-aunt on my father’s side, but she didn’t want to take me in.’

‘That must have been rough.’

Zoe shrugged and avoided Maks’s eye. ‘I don’t remember much about that time, to be honest. I was lucky. I only had two foster homes and they were kind families. I know some kids who went through many more and had bad experiences.’

Like Dean, her ex. Zoe clamped down on thinking about him. It only invited comparisons to Maks and the knowledge that Maks was so much more dangerous for all sorts of different reasons.

She looked at him. ‘What are you doing here? I thought last night... I thought I wouldn’t see you again.’

He frowned. ‘Why?’

Zoe’s face grew hot. ‘Because I’m not experienced.’

‘I told you that didn’t matter to me. I thought you needed space. I didn’t want to crowd you after you told me what happened to you.’ He walked closer. ‘Make no mistake, Zoe. I want you. That hasn’t changed. And I’ve told you that I’m not interested in anything permanent. But if you don’t want to explore this chemistry between us, tell me now and I’ll walk away. I don’t beg and I don’t play games.’

I’m not interested in anything permanent.

That should reassure Zoe, because of the lessons she’d learnt at the hands of personal tragedy and also her ex-boyfriend.

Her head told her to say she wasn’t interested. But first, that would be a lie. And second... The fact that Maks had turned up here this morning, that he still wanted her, in spite of her lack of experience... She couldn’t fight her overriding impulse to stay in his orbit for a little longer. In spite of knowing better.

She took a breath, felt her heart pounding wildly. ‘I don’t want you to walk away.’ Yet.

* * *

Maks had to hide the rush of triumph. He closed the distance between them, but stopped just short of touching Zoe. ‘I have to go to St Petersburg today for a few days,’ he said. ‘For meetings and to oversee a fashion shoot. Come with me.’