She laughed and Zara smiled, her eyes resting too long on his mouth, and a ripple moved through his groin. It was going to be a long morning, unless... What were the chances of sneaking in some one-on-one time mid-viewing?
* * *
Turned out the chances were slim to none.
And he’d tried.
Even telling Julia to go and have a conversation with a neighbour doing her laundry in the communal area to get rid of her briefly. Didn’t matter that the woman looked like an axe-murderer in the making. Julia just needed to be gone long enough for him to have a conversation with Zara that told him where they stood. Maybe even get a date lined up. Hell, maybe even squeeze in a quickie. He’d take what he could get.
But no joy.
Zara stayed glued to her side. The perfect agent, the perfect attentive professional doting on the most important person in the room. And he, well, he was jealous, following them around with a grump on that only earned him their amusement.
‘You’re getting wrinkles again,’ Julia teased, heading out of property two as he held the door open for them both. ‘Tell him, Zara. I think he’ll listen to you more than me.’
Zara sent him an amused look. ‘She’s right, you know.’ She passed him by, turning just long enough to say under her breath, ‘You needing me to kiss them away?’
His mouth dropped open, his cock perked up.
Hell, yeah.
He let the door swing shut and fell into step beside her. ‘Are you toying with me?’
‘Maybe.’
She said it just as quiet, just as discreetly. Julia, completely oblivious, piped up from ahead, ‘So, I’m starved—where are we doing lunch?’
‘Johansson’s.’
His sister froze. ‘No, we’re bloody well not.’
‘Come on, Jules, give the guy a break. He’s busted his ass this past year getting that place off the ground.’ He buried the tiny shred of guilt at making his sister do something she didn’t want to, but hell, it was about time the pair talked. And that talk would give him ample opportunity to have his own chat with Zara. ‘It’s good for publicity, us being spotted rocking up there.’
She exhaled on a ragged breath, her head shaking. ‘You mean, you rocking up there.’
‘Okay, me,’ he admitted, only a little sheepish. He felt Zara’s eyes narrow on him.
She really has no idea who you are.
‘It’s a dirty move using that on me,’ his sister grumbled.
‘Ah, get over it. The food is sublime. You’re going to love it.’
She spun on her heel and strode ahead towards the car.
‘Was that some kind of payback?’ Zara asked.
‘Let’s just say, her and Johansson have a bit of history, but it’ll take her mind off that ex-husband for a bit, and, seriously, the food is great. You’ll both love it.’
Thankfully the drive was short, the awkward silence filling the car only compounding the pent-up frustration coming from another part of him.
He’d secured a private table in the outer corner of the establishment, far enough away to be out of hearing distance of the other diners. Perfect for their conversation. Only first he had to leave to give Zara the opportunity to talk to his sister about letting
him help.
He used his lack of a sweet tooth as an excuse and left them over pudding to catch up with Johansson. The guy’s commanding boom reached him as soon as he entered the bustling kitchen. As if he sensed something out of place in his domain, he looked straight to Daniel, his face breaking into a wide grin. ‘Hej!’ he bellowed, rubbing his hands into his apron and heading over. ‘Was it good?’
Daniel returned his smile. ‘As if you need ask that.’