Page 45 of Three's a Crowd
He drew back and looked at her admiringly.
‘It suits you,’ he said, clearly pleased with his choice of present for her. ‘Come on, we’d better get you back or you’re going to be too tired to enjoy spending your winnings on all those beautiful clothes.’
‘Oh, I’ll never be too tired for that,’ she said, but stifled another yawn.
He grinned.
‘I just have to nip to the ladies. I’ll meet you in the entrance lobby,’ she told him, draining the remainder of her drink and rising from the table before setting off towards the toilets.
After using the elegant facilities, she checked her appearance before leaving. She was starting to look tired now, but her skin still glowed with happiness. The necklace gleamed around her neck and she touched it gently, admiring the beautiful shape of it.
As she exited the bathroom and walked to the entrance lobby, she saw Zach by the doors, waiting for her.
Except he wasn’t alone.
A slim, elegantly dressed woman was leaning in towards him, their bodies almost touching. She was talking intently, her attention entirely focused on him.
He glanced away in Daisy’s direction and she saw a flash of entreaty on his face as their eyes met.
Relief washed over her as she realised he was uncomfortable in this woman’s company and wanted to escape from her.
She made up her mind about what to do in a flash and marched confidently over to him, sliding one arm around his waist and bringing her other hand up to cup his jaw and drawn his head down so she could place a firm kiss on his lips.
She luxuriated in the feeling of his mouth against hers for just those two seconds, before drawing slowly away from him.
‘Come on, darling. It’s time for me to take you home and ravish you,’ she breathed as huskily as she could manage, looking deep into his eyes.
He stared back at her, his pupils blown, and she could have sworn she heard his breath hitch in his throat.
The woman took a step away from them and when Daisy turned to look at her, she could see from her expression that she knew she’d been given her marching orders. Raising her hand in a wave of goodbye, she glided away from them.
Daisy’s lips were still tingling from their connection with Zach’s and turning back to him, she saw incredulity written across his face.
‘Sorry,’ she said, finding she didn’t mean it one bit. ‘I didn’t know what else to do. She looked like the type who needed to see a clear public display of affection to get the message.’
‘Not a problem,’ he replied, rubbing his hand over his jaw, then reaching out to pull her against his body in a friendly bear hug. ‘Feel free to save me any day,’ he said, into her hair. She felt so safe there, pressed against his body.
To her disappointment, he immediately released her. ‘Come on. We’d better get back on the road.’
She walked out with him, her insides jumbled.
Without another word, they got into the car and set off back to Cannes.
Despite her tiredness, Daisy didn’t want the night to end. Zach had put some tunes on again and she relaxed back into the uber-comfy seat, letting the music soothe her.
They spent the rest of the journey in silence, Daisy growing steadily sleepier from the lulling effects of the drive and by the time Zach pulled into the Carlton’s forecourt, she was nearly asleep.
‘Hey, Diz, we’re back,’ he murmured, rousing her out of her stupor.
She stretched, then yawned into her hand, nodding. ‘Okay, great.’ Turning to look at him sitting there in the semi-darkness, her stomach swooped at the expression on his face. He was staring at her intently, as if he was thinking about kissing her.
Or was that her overactive imagination playing tricks on her again?
Oh Lord.
Her heart was racing again and her skin tingled all over, like all the hair on her body had stood up at once. She needed to get out of there. Right now. Before she gave in to the intense urge to say or do something she shouldn’t.
‘I’ll see you in reception at eleven,’ she muttered, reaching for the handle before he could reply.
