Without turning she unzipped her bag and selected a few cosmetics, pausing as she heard the sound of the shower.
Her fingers tightened around the tiny bottle she was holding. She could imagine him naked, the water sliding over every inch of his fabulously male body.
He was out in seconds, a towel slung round his hips as he rubbed his dark hair and reached for a small package from a drawer by the bed.
‘I bought this for you.’ He handed her a box almost casually but his eyes were intent on her face and her heart lurched crazily as fantasy overwhelmed her.
A small, prettily wrapped box.
Completely hypnotised by her own longing she stared at the box in his hand and he flipped it open.
She sucked in a breath, stunned by the beauty of the earrings nestling on the black velvet and by the depth of her own disappointment.
Had she really expected an engagement ring?
It was the one thing he’d never given her. Their marriage had been so quick that all she had was a gold band. A gold band that was currently lying in her drawer at home.
Was she really that deluded?
She looked up at him with a smile that revealed nothing of her thoughts. ‘They’re really beautiful, Zander.’
‘Like you.’
She blushed at his softly spoken compliment and lifted the earrings from the box, placing them carefully in the palm of her hand. ‘Why? Why did you buy me these?’
‘To prove to you that I can be romantic,’ Zander said lightly, lifting a hand and stroking her hair away from her face. ‘Put them on. I know they’ll suit you—’
She walked over to the mirror and slipped the earrings into her ears, noticing immediately that he was right. They did suit her.
‘Thank you. I love—’ she almost said I love you but stopped herself just in time ‘—them. I love them.’
His eyes met hers in the mirror and then he turned away and pulled on a fresh shirt and reached for his trousers.
Lauranne averted her eyes before the towel fell. Her insides were in enough of a state without being confronted with further evidence of his overwhelming virility.
She picked up her bag and moved to the door. ‘I’ll try not to let you down,’ she said sweetly, her eyes challenging his, ‘as long as you behave yourself.’
He laughed, slipped his mobile phone into his pocket and then gestured towards the door. ‘I never behave myself where you’re concerned. Now, are you ready?’
CHAPTER EIGHT
AS THEY took the steps to the terrace Zander tightened his grip on her hand,
‘Remember, Anni, you are so in love with me that you can’t see straight.’
Lauranne almost laughed at the irony. It was an almost perfect description of her true feelings.
But there was no way she was revealing that to him. In a way it would be refreshing to be able to show affection for him. Normally she kept her true feelings locked inside.
So it was a relief to smile adoringly at him as they strolled across the vine-covered terrace to meet Theo Kouropoulos.
A woman was standing by his side and as they drew closer Lauranne stopped dead, feeling the colour drain out of her face.
The happiness left her in a rush.
It was Marina, her ex-boss.
What was she doing here?