Page 28 of The CEO

“Very mysterious.”

His mouth kicked up into a cheeky grin. “All will be revealed shortly.”

“I bet.”

He chuckled at her laconic response and gestured to a nearby table and she sat, savoring the spicy aromas coming from the nearby kitchen.

“Smells divine.”

He slid his sunglasses off, the impact of all that dazzling blue rivalling the sky for vibrancy. “The last ship I was on used to dock here every week. I put on six pounds as a result. See?”

He lifted his shirt and patted his washboard stomach, and her mouth went dry. Those were some abs.

Before she had time to comment, Sujit arrived bearing platters of food.Naans, chicken tikka,dahl,and lamb korma were placed in a tantalising array in front of them and the delicious aromas made her salivate.

“Thanks, Sujit. This looks superb, as always.” Zac smiled in appreciation.

Sujit nodded, his palms pressed together in a prayer-like pose. “Enjoy your meal.”

After Sujit headed back to the kitchen, Zac glanced at her, a smile playing about his lips. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

Confused, she pointed at the table. “Plates and cutlery would be handy?”

“Those large, green leaves in front of us aren’t placemats, that’s your plate. Indian food here is served on a banana leaf. You just roll them up once you’re finished and they’re thrown out. As for cutlery, you’re looking at it.”

He wiggled his fingers and she couldn’t help but notice how long and strong they were.

“Is that sink in the corner for washing up?”

He nodded. “Follow me.”

As they soaped and scrubbed, his hand brushed hers and she jumped, the innocuous touch raising an awareness she’d determinedly subdued since last night.

He stared at her, eyebrows raised, and she managed a weak smile. “I think our food’s getting cold.”

First to break the stare, she turned away, hot and clammy and out of her depth. Zac had shifted the boundaries between them with those kisses, had changed everything with his admission of how much he wanted her, and no matter how hard she pretended she could handle it, she couldn’t cast off all her reservations.

With her head urging her to take a chance for once in her life and her heart terrified of the consequences if she did, she headed back to the table.

This was going to be a long day.

* * *

Zac followedLana back to the table, loving how she moved, all fluid lines and sinuous elegance.

Her long turquoise dress flowed from her shoulders to mid-calf, skimming curves along the way. He could see the straps of a bright pink bikini tied around her neck and he hardened immediately at the thought of seeing her in it. If the vision of her hot little bod in that one piece had been haunting his dreams, he could hardly wait to see her curves revealed in a bikini.

She’d pulled her curly, sun-streaked hair into a loose ponytail and he longed to reach out and wrap the tendrils that curled at the base of her neck around his fingers. He loved her hair, loved watching it bounce against her shoulders as she walked.

A vivid image of that hair draped over his torso and lower popped into his mind and he almost stumbled. This would be one hell of a tour if he walked around with a hard-on all day.

Determined to ignore his libido, he sat and pushed a platter ofnaanstoward her. “Let’s eat.”

“Everything looks delicious.”

“Wait until you try it.”

He ladled a serve ofdahland korma onto her leaf, then reached for anaan. Her fingertips brushed his as he reached for the same piece and he clenched his jaw in frustration.

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