Beautifully Irresistible (46 page)

What was I going to do if we didn’t get back together? I loved him so much. I would never ever feel that like about anyone else. I knew I wouldn’t.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to push thoughts of Zack out of my head as I walked confidently into the busy pub.

“Over here, Jenny!” Rosie shouted above the loud music, waving me over.

“Ever thought of a job as a fog horn down the ferry terminal at Folkestone?” I asked her, laughing as she hugged me tightly.

“How are you?” she asked me suspiciously.

“Not great. Zack and I decided to have a bit of space from each other. I don’t know where I stand with him at the moment.”

“Things will work out. He just needs some time. Part of him will think that you were just playing a part. You will have to convince him otherwise. He loves you. I have seen you together. You are perfect for each other. Anyone can see that.”

“Scrap the fog horn job. You should go into counselling, Rosie!”

“Here, I got you a large vodka tonic. Cheers! Holly is joining us. I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, not at all. The more the merrier. Let’s get wasted!”

We sat chatting about nothing much and thoughts of Zack started to ebb away. Holly joined us and after a few rounds, we decided to carry on to The George and Dragon just up the road. We clattered noisily towards the pub, talking ten to the dozen.

“Do you remember when they pinned those pants up on the notice board? The ones found in the unmarked car?” Rosie asked laughing.

“Oh yes, I do. No one claimed them strangely!” I replied and started giggling.

“You know who they belonged to, don’t you, Jennifer?” Holly said, smirking.

“Yes! Me!”

“You dirty bitch. Was it when you were with James?”

“Yes, we got a bit carried away one night when we were on surveillance. We were just getting down to business when a call came through the radio. We quickly shoved our jeans back on and my pants must have dropped onto the floor!” I told her as her mouth gaped open.

“That is priceless!” Rosie shouted as we erupted in hysterical laughter.

A couple of men from the station wandered over and sat with us.

“Brian, Chris, how are you doing?” I asked them.

“Good, thanks, Jennifer. Great result on the Phoebe Cole case!” Brian told me, shaking my hand and kissing my cheek.

Brian was about the only bit of talent to grace the station. His mousy thick hair always looked just so. He had lovely green eyes and a great sense of style for a copper. Something nearly happened between us once and Rosie had a huge crush on him.

“Thanks guys, that means a lot to me.”

“So it’s back to the real world now, Jennifer. No more lady of the manor for you!”

“Looks that way, Brian,” I told him sadly.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

“Sorry, babe. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

He gave my hand a friendly squeeze.

“Just ignore me. Do you fancy a game of pool?”

“That sounds great. I will get another round in.”

We spent the rest of the evening getting beaten by the boys at pool. It took my mind off my situation a bit and the alcohol certainly helped.

“Do you want me to walk you home, Jennifer? It’s on my way,” Brian asked, helping me into my jacket.

“That would be great, thanks.”

We all bid each other good night. Holly and Rosie gave me warm hugs and assured me that things would get better.

“Will you ask him if he likes me, Jen?” Rosie whispered.

“Leave it to me, babe!”

Brian and I headed back to my flat. We stopped outside the entrance doors.

“Can I come in for a coffee?”

“Err, not tonight Brian. I just want to be on my own and I haven’t forgotten that snog we shared last Christmas!”

“Neither had I, beautiful. I wish it had been more,” he told me as his green eyes sparkled at me.

He gently cupped my cheek. I stiffened up as he touched me.

“No, Brian. Please don’t,” I whispered.

He pulled his hand back and shoved it in his jeans pocket.

“I’m sorry, Jen.”

“Well, good night, Brian, and thanks for seeing me home.”

“I would really love to take you out some time, Jen.”

“I’m sorry, Brian, but I don’t know where I stand with Zack at the minute. Obviously he is well pissed off with me being undercover. I am hoping for reconciliation with him.”

“I see. I didn’t realise you were that into him.”

“I am mad about him. I met him years ago before I was in the police. I fell for him then and I never stopped thinking about him. I love him. He is the one. Anyway, you should ask Rosie out, you know. She has a serious case of the hots for you!”

“Does she? I might do that. I usually go for brunettes but she is pretty cute for a blonde!”

“Good night, Brian.”

“Good night, Jennifer, and if you change your mind, I will come running to you, babe! You are so beautiful.”

“I know she is and she’s mine! All mine!” Zack’s deep voice vibrated from behind where we were standing.

We both turned around to look at him. He stepped out of the shadows. Zack towered over Brian’s average build.

The dirty look Zack gave him was priceless. I had to stifle a giggle.

“Sorry, mate, I will get going. Good night.”

Brian jogged quickly down the road without looking back.

I stared at Zack. “How long have you been standing there?”

“About five minutes. So you kissed him once? I should have knocked him out. He was coming on to you pretty strong!”

“He means nothing to me, Zack!” I shouted.

“I heard you tell him that you loved me and that I was the one. That you never stop thinking about me.”

“I do, Zack. It’s the truth. You don’t expect me to jump into the sack at the first chance I get, do you?”

I turned away from him as anger bubbled up inside me. Clenching my fists, he put his arms around me from behind.

“I’m sorry. Can I come in so that we can talk?”

We got into the lift and I punched floor five. Travelling up to the flat in silence, my stomach churned and my heart pounded.

Was there a chance for us? There must have been, otherwise why would he be here? He gave me a shy smile. His lovely face looked so boyish and he looked much better than earlier.

The lift tinged interrupting my inner turmoil. He followed me along the corridor. Unlocking the door, we went inside the darkened flat. As soon as we were inside, he pulled me closely into his body, tipped my chin back and kissed me long and deep. I slid my hands up his neck and tugged his hair.

Please stay with me!

Tears that I had been holding in cascaded down my cheeks. His kiss was sweet and full of hope. It deepened as our tongues danced together, slowly twisting over and over. He brushed my hair aside and kissed softly down my neck. My libido kicked in and reared its head.

“I love you, Jennifer. I want to make things right between us. I can’t breathe without you, baby.”

“I love you too, Zack. You are the only one I will ever want.”

I led him by the hand to my softly lit bedroom. We stood at the end of the bed, looking at each other. He reached forward and helped me out of my jacket. I pulled his from his broad shoulders.

“I read your letter. It brought tears to my eyes, Jennifer. I realised that I would be stupid to throw away what we have.”

“Right, I am glad we are on the same page.”

“You still have my heart, Jennifer.”

“You will always have mine, Zack.”

“Come here, baby.”

He pulled me close to his body. I snuggled into him and started to unbutton his shirt. I ran my hands across his warm hard chest. He visibly flinched at my touch.

“What’s wrong, Zack? Did I hurt you?”

He smiled at my puzzled expression.

“I did something really impulsive this afternoon,” he told me, slowly taking his shirt off.

I gasped loudly when he showed me. He had a tattoo covering his left nipple and heart. His right nipple had a silver ring through it.

Wow! Hot!

It was the letter Z with the letter J entwined through it. A vine ran through the lettering. The tattoo was dark grey and it was absolutely beautiful. Just like him.

“Oh my god, it’s gorgeous, Zack! Do you have an artist on speed dial or something?”

“My friend Wayne owns a parlour in town.”

I didn’t touch it as I knew it would still be sore.

“Baby, I told you that you still had my heart. Now you are on it, forever.”

I took his lovely face in my hands and kissed him softly. Overwhelming love for him rushed through me.

“Zack, you will make me cry again.”

“Scarlett and Jasper said I would be a fool to let you go. They love you and they want you in their lives as much as I do.”

“I love them too. They are great kids. You did an amazing job with them, Zack.”

“Thank you. You put yourself in a lot of dangerous situations and I really admire you for that.”

“I know I did. I take my job seriously, Zack.”

“Not many women would have coped as well as you, baby.”

“Thank you, that means a lot to me.”

Zack pulled my top over my head. His eyes greedily took in my breasts. I unclasped my bra, freeing them to tumble out. He reached forward and cupped them gently in his large warm hands. His thumbs rolled the nipples as I closed my eyes and enjoyed his touch. Reaching forward, he kissed my breast softly and took the nipple into his skilled mouth. His tongue fluttered gently over me. He drew me deeper into his mouth as I whimpered.

A red hot flush of desire flared through my veins. I felt raw and exposed after our heart to heart.

We needed to fuse our bodies, hearts and minds together once again.

“I want to make sweet love to you, Jennifer, and I want to be with you always and forever,” he whispered as I held his head to my breasts.

I reached forward and unbuttoned his jeans, pushing them down his legs. I possessively grabbed him and moved my hand roughly up and down as he moaned into my mouth. His nimble fingers quickly unzipped my jeans. We kissed and devoured each other’s mouths with a desperate clawing desire to make love.

He pushed me down onto the bed, spreading my legs with his knee. I lay underneath him as he kissed down my tired body, whispering words of love to me. His touch was slow, gentle and caring.

Zack knew that this wasn’t the time for rough primal hot make-up sex. It was the time for beautiful lovemaking. We needed to reignite the strong, loving connection that we shared.

He pushed into me and slowly and gently made tender love to me. Zack literally took my breath away every time we made love. I wrapped my arms around his broad back and he bathed me in lovely kisses.

The feeling was sublime as he moved in and out of me. We took our time enjoying the intense pleasure we gave to each other.

This was so right.

This was where we belonged.

I would never want anyone but him.

He was my one and only and I wanted him forever.

I felt light-headed and drunk with love for him. I held Zack tightly to me as we kissed and stroked each other’s bodies.

We got completely lost in each other as we reconnected in the best way.

“I love you. I want you. I need you. You are my everything. Never ever leave me, baby,” he whispered as an orgasm shuddered through him.

“Never, I promise,” I told him as hot tears spilled down my face.

Chapter Sixty Eight

On the day of Phoebe’s funeral the weather was unusually warm and dry which was a small mercy.

I dressed in a simple black dress and headed downstairs. Jasper’s face was a mask of calm though inwardly he would have been feeling tortured. Scarlett had been so brave through the trauma and Zack should be bloody proud of her.

She stood at the bottom of the stairs with Zack’s arm around her shoulder. The poor thing was trying so hard not to cry. I passed her some tissues and a pair of sunglasses.

The hearse pulled to a stop outside the front door and we all went out to look at the lonely coffin. There were many bouquets and sprays of beautiful flowers and the coffin was a deep mahogany colour. I tried my best to stop thinking about the fact that it was empty.

“It’s time, Scarlett,” Zack said, gently pulling her by her shoulders.

“Come on, Jasper,” I told him, grabbing his hand.

He held it tightly and gave me a little smile.

A second car had pulled up to take us to the church. Zack got in first, then Scarlett followed by Jasper and I.

Phoebe’s parents were going to meet us at the church. Camille just couldn’t face following the coffin on its journey.