He’d what? ‘When did you arrange that?’
‘While you were sleeping.’
‘Last night?’
Had she actually slept? It felt as if they’d kissed every minute of the night. Hours of touch and torment. Until she’d been unable to peel her body from the bed. Clearly he hadn’t slept, though. He’d been plotting.
‘What “items” did you have sent for me?’ she asked, suddenly feeling chilled.
He sent her a sideways look, his grin flashing. ‘Nothing major. Don’t get too excited.’
Was he used to picking up women and whisking them away for the weekend? Buying them a few items of clothing to see them through? Did he then say goodbye with some horrendously expensive trinket for them to remember their trip fondly? Was that how he played this?
Does it matter?
All that mattered was enjoying the moment, right? Except it did matter…
‘You don’t have to wear any of it,’ he said, coming forward and lifting her chin with his finger. ‘Stay in your dress. Better still, stay in nothing. And stay another night.’
So full of tease. So tempting.
What would another night away hurt, when she’d had none since her brother’s illness? She’d had not one night alone. Not one night out partying, or even going to the movies with a girlfriend. In the eighteen long months since their mum had left Stephanie had been there day and night in their tiny apartment, scraping together whatever work she could find online, so she was there to get his drinks of water, his food. To plump his pillows, put on a DVD… to talk to him.
But Dan hadn’t got any better. His mood had plummeted. And she had no idea how to drag him from that pit of depression. Half the time he refused to take his medication. Refused to go to the meetings his physio had recommended. He was happy at home, he reckoned. But he wasn’t. And neither was she.
‘You okay?’
She glanced up and saw Jack frowning at the phone in her hand.
‘Problems?’
‘No, it’s okay.’
She put all thoughts of her brother from her mind. Banished all thoughts of her blog, too. There was just this moment. And for once she was living in the moment—taking the advice she’d given online to others.
She’d be present—right here, right now.
She put the phone face-down on the table and slipped out of the bed, walked past him.
‘I’m going to shower.’ She glanced behind her and smiled at the arrested look on his face. ‘I’d like company.’
His hands went to his jeans. ‘Fantastic.’
Half an hour later she watched Jack bring a large glossy bag into the bedroom.
‘Yours, if you fancy.’ He half bowed and walked out.
Reluctant, yet curious, she lifted out the tissue-wrapped contents and placed them on the bed. There were a couple of dresses, still with tags on, one short, one long. Both slinky. Both designer. Both utterly gorgeous. Both eye-wateringly expensive. And both the right size.
Yeah, he’d definitely done this before.
Fighting the sinking feeling, she looked at the last item in the bag. Navy silk pyjamas. Had he really thought she might want to wear something in bed?
Shaking her head, she contemplated the dresses for only a second before deciding.
He was leaning on the veranda, steaming coffee in hand, when she walked out to meet him.
‘Not quite the perfectly tailored dress of yesterday, but comfortable, I hope?’ He put his hands on her waist and pulled her flush against him.
‘Very comfortable, thank you.’ She glanced down at the silk pyjamas she’d put on. She’d knotted the bottom of the jacket to tighten it a little and slipped on her kitten heels. ‘Any objection?’
She instantly regretted the question—why should she want to please him? Because he’d paid for them?
‘None whatsoever.’ He skimmed his palm down her back. ‘They suit you.’
They covered her up more than either of the pretty dresses would have. And they were cool on her burning skin. Practical, right?
‘There’s more fuel in the car too,’ he said idly. ‘“Under the Green Veranda anything is possible.” Want to go on an adventure?’
‘Yes, please,’ she answered simply. She needed one last escape.
She followed him down the stairs and out into the bright sunshine to where the car waited.
‘Any requests as to where we go?’ he asked.
‘Just drive. Anywhere but home.’ And she didn’t care how revealing that slip might be.
She no longer had to hide the way she liked to watch him drive. So she twisted in her seat so she could study his profile more easily.
He glanced at her and raised his brows. ‘I knew you liked to look.’