‘Why obviously?’
‘Because what had been instinct became deliberate.’ She shook her head and shot him a look. ‘Teenage girls in a pack on a mission? You do not want to be in their sights.’
‘I can’t begin to imagine,’ he muttered with a frown.
‘I was rubbish at acting and music and sport, which was all any of the girls really cared about when it came to the curriculum, but I did have an affinity for numbers. I was kind of obsessed with them and it made me stand out.’ She shrugged. ‘People thought I was weird.’
‘I don’t.’
Zoe gave him a wry smile. ‘No, but you’re not a teenage girl who thinks studying is square and instead is obsessed with boys, iridescent make-up and snogging.’
His gaze dipped to her mouth and his eyes darkened. ‘I quite like the snogging part.’
‘So do I. Now. But then I couldn’t care less about it. Anyway, weirdness wasn’t a trait that was celebrated at St Catherine’s, so really I didn’t stand a chance.’
‘How bad did it get?’
She shrugged. ‘Pretty bad.’
‘Did you ever do anything about it?’
‘Once. When I saw red and lashed out at random. Unfortunately I caught Samantha on the chin and she fell and got concussion.’
‘Did she report it?’
Zoe shook her head. ‘And have me tell everyone why I’d done it? Oh no. She was far cleverer than that. She force-fed me half a bottle of ouzo that she’d smuggled in after a summer holiday in Greece and got me suspended instead.’ She sighed. ‘I swear I can still taste the stuff sometimes.’ Then she shot him a small smile. ‘But on the bright side at least YouTube wasn’t around then.’
‘I wish I’d known all this on Thursday night,’ he muttered.
‘Why?’
‘I’d have been far less...restrained.’
Zoe felt warmth steal through her and her heart squeezed at the fierce look blazing in the depths of his eyes. ‘The bullying might not have done much for my self-esteem, but, God, you do.’
‘Agree to the three-date rule and I’ll do my best to boost it as much as I can.’
She stared at him. Three dates only. Hmm. She certainly wanted some more of that lovely sex, but could sh
e really give it up in three dates’ time as she’d undoubtedly have to? That might be tough. On the other hand walking away now and not having any more of the lovely sex did seem a bit like cutting off her nose to spite her face.
So the two roads open to her were fabulous sex for a short time or no sex at all. It was a no-brainer.
‘Sounds good to me,’ she said, renewed desire beginning to seep through her and tangle with hunger.
‘Great. How about tonight for date number one?’
‘Doesn’t last night count?’
‘Seeing as how I omitted to mention the rule, I don’t think it should, do you?’
‘A good point,’ she said graciously. ‘And a fair one.’
‘So, tonight?’
‘I can do tonight.’
‘Really?’ he said looking at her quizzically. ‘Are you sure you aren’t impossibly busy for the next week but perhaps could fit me in on Thursday between six and seven?’