It was almost as if this evening was different. Special.
Furiously wrestling her leaping senses under control, she allowed Zak to guide her to the table.
He refilled her punch glass, poured a white Chablis for himself and sat back as the first course of poached fish and flavoured rice was served.
Registering that Zak was more interested in staring at her than in his own meal, Violet scrambled for a neutral topic. ‘What’s on the other side of the island?’
Again he smiled, and again her heart tripped with alarming giddiness and the mouth-watering sight of it. God, she really needed to get herself together. She couldn’t swoon each time he smiled.
‘It’s a surprise,’ he replied.
‘You know all it’ll take is a conversation with the staff to have my answer, don’t you?’
He sat back and shrugged, unaffected by her harmless threat. ‘If you wish to deny yourself the pleasure of an unbiased experience, go ahead.’
Intrigued, she stared at him, his eyes gleaming challengingly at her.
Violet was enjoying this. Far too much. While he wasn’t allowing her another glimpse of the man she’d seen this afternoon, she appreciated this more casual side of Zak. Enough to explore it, see where it went?
Temptation swelling inside her, she lifted her glass and, keeping eye contact with him, took a long, deep pull of the tangy drink.
His gaze dropped to her mouth, his eyes darkening dramatically. Tiny flames leapt in her belly and her fingers trembled when she set the glass down. That set the tone for their meal, a pulse-elevating mix of heavy-lidded looks, light conversation and good food.
It took a moment for her to admit the emotion she experienced when their plates were cleared away was regret. It was barely eight, and the thought of spending the rest of the evening alone in her room dimmed her spirits.
‘A non-alcoholic nightcap on the beach? Or would you like coffee here?’
He’d barely issued the invitation when she caught a whiff of coffee and her stomach lurched alarmingly. She swallowed hard, fervently praying she wouldn’t disgrace herself. ‘Definite no to the coffee. For the next few weeks at least.’
Zak stared at her with a small frown. With a flick of his hand he summoned the butler. ‘Cancel the coffee and inform Geraldine she’s not to serve coffee at any meal until further notice.’
‘Of course, Your Highness,’ Patrick responded, then swiftly exited.
‘You didn’t need to do that.’
Again he gestured, and the action she used to find so irritating was suddenly the sexiest thing she’d seen.
‘Of course I do. Your comfort is of paramount importance.’
Violet scrambled for her good sense before it fled. ‘You mean the baby’s, of course.’
A weighted emotion crossed his face but was gone the next second. ‘You’re carrying my child but that doesn’t mean your personal well-being isn’t also essential.’ His gaze dropped to her stomach, stayed for a pulse-racing few seconds. ‘I intend to be careful with you both.’
The words burrowed deep, infusing her with warmth and eroding her attempts to guard her vulnerable emotions. She was still struggling when he rose from the table and held out his hand to her.
‘A little fresh air will do you good. Hopefully by the time we return the offensive smell will be gone.’
Unable to argue with that, she placed her hand in his. He laced his fingers with hers, immediately setting off tiny fireworks beneath her skin.
Again, Violet decided to let it be.
Beyond the terrace and pristine gardens they went down shallow steps that led to the beach bathed in moonlight. When he tossed his shoes away and urged her to do the same, she didn’t object. She was sticking to the spirit of their truce, she told herself.
But gradually it became much more than that.
Heavy, sensual tension lingered in the air, the kind that made her aware of every cell in her body.
When it grew too thick to bear, she frantically cast around for something to dissipate it. ‘How long have you owned this place?’