Exotic Nights

forget that low point in a hurry.

‘Was it fun?’ He wanted to see if she’d refer to it. Would she even apologise? But instead she was looking at him as if he were the one who had something to be sorry about. Well, he didn’t think so.

But he didn’t want to challenge her—not yet. He’d bide his time—see if the sizzle was still there for her as it was for him. Because if it was, and he was pretty sure it was, then he wanted to rouse it. He wanted her wanting him again—and not hiding it. That would be the moment to strike. And once he’d heard her reason, had her apology, he’d have her.

He figured it couldn’t be as good again—it had been a unique set of circumstances leading to that explosion between them on Waiheke. Sex that good definitely wasn’t possible a second time—it would be fun, but it would be finished. Maybe then he’d get some sleep again.

‘The wedding was nice.’ She spoke in a resigned voice. ‘Beautiful food, fabulous setting.’

And a beautiful bridesmaid—he knew that for a fact. ‘And the company?’

Her smile was filled with rue. ‘Was as expected.’

‘You didn’t enjoy it.’

She screwed up her face. ‘Not parts of it, no. But some things were great.’

‘Your family approves of the groom?’ He got the impression family approval was something of a major in Bella’s life.

‘Oh, yes.’ The answer came quickly. ‘Hamish is a nice guy. He loves Vita. He makes her happy. But that’s not why Dad was so happy to have him marry her.’

‘No?’ He couldn’t stop the questions, found he was more and more intrigued as her face grew even more expressive.

She rolled her eyes. ‘Money. It all comes down to doing the maths and in the spreadsheet Hamish has it all. He has the right job and went to the right school. Drives the right car, lives in the right suburb. That’s the measure. Visible, measurable success.’

Success, huh? He thought of her tiny unfurnished flat, her barely road-safe car, the bad budget wine she’d been about to buy. He felt a twinge of sympathy for her father. ‘Maybe he just wants security for her.’

‘What sort of security?’ she scoffed. ‘It wouldn’t matter to him if he was a complete jerk, so long as he could check the right boxes he’d be happy.’

He sensed the hurt in her again. Figured he knew its source. ‘Let me guess—you had a boyfriend who didn’t measure up.’

‘Actually, no. He was exactly what my father wanted.’

A crazy spurt of competition flared through him. ‘How so?’

‘He had it all.’ She ticked off her fingers. ‘An accountant. Very successful. Has the car, the apartment. Really good at team sports, the works. The whole family loved him.’

‘So what went wrong?’

‘He wanted me to wear something more conservative.’

Owen stared at her, only just holding back the burst of laughter. He couldn’t imagine Bella allowing that in a million years. Not this woman who was currently wearing some huge flowing blouse and a skirt that was so long it practically dragged on the ground. And he was spending far too long mentally pushing the whole ugly lot off her.

She stared at him, all defiance. ‘Nobody tells me what I should or shouldn’t wear.’

‘That was it?’ he asked.

‘That was just the start.’ She stabbed another bite of meat. ‘I’m not interested in someone who wants to change me. Or who wants me to be something I’m not.’

Fair enough point. And he was pleased he’d been right. The guy must have been blind to not see how expression of her individuality was a cornerstone for Bella. ‘So what happened to him?’

‘He was the best man.’

His mouth dropped. ‘At the wedding?’

She nodded. ‘He’s Hamish’s best friend. But it’s OK.’ She smiled saccharine sweet. ‘He’s still part of the family. Probably will be part of the family because now he’s dating Celia.’

‘Cousin Celia?’ Owen felt the cold chill ripple through him. Was that why Bella had played so wildly with him? Because she’d wanted to show them all she didn’t need them? Just wanted a hot date to throw in their faces? He’d known at the time that that was part of it and he’d enjoyed playing along. But once they’d been behind closed doors there’d been a genuine, raw passion in her—an intensity that he hadn’t expected. And he’d found an answering need rising in him. A hunger that had been extreme and that hadn’t been fully fed. He’d wanted more and had thought she did too.