The Millionaire’s Ultimate Catch (12 page)

Had he imagined it all?

Z
ack looked over the top of the newspaper to spy. Naomi ate a small breakfast as she read through paperwork. All appeared normal. She’d kissed him when she came down to eat. Patted his behind with a devilish grin and grabbed a strip of bacon to munch on until everything was done cooking.

Did his mind want to hear her utter those three words? Was it all one-sided on his part to play the role of a lovesick puppy?

“Are you all set?” he asked, still trying to read her body language.

“Yep. You are going to come this time.”

“Sure. I don’t want to miss it.”

“Plus I want your input.”

“I don’t think the photographer wants me butting into his world. I wouldn’t appreciate it if the roles were reversed.”

“You’ve got a point.” She set down her pen. “But since when did I play by the rules?” She stretched and yawned. “Chop-chop, get dressed.”

Zack looked down at the T-shirt and pajama bottoms. The woman had him in a daze. Now he’d have to hurry.

“Here come the rest of the crew.”

“You go with them. I’ll catch up to you.”

“No, I’ll wait.”

“Remember what I said about butting into other people’s business. This is Lorenzo’s deal.”

“Okay.” She opened the back door for the crew, who piled into the kitchen. Naomi exclaimed when the breeze blew in, “It’s freezing out there.”

“Temperature’s plummeted.” Lorenzo didn’t mince words.

“And you want me to go sit on a rock and look like I’m one with nature?”

“Yep.”

Zack tried to hide his chuckle but failed miserably. “I’ll go get dressed and catch up with you.”

“You’d better.” Naomi made a face at him.

Zack headed upstairs for a quick shower. He did want to be on the shoot with Naomi. She’d shared her world with him with no hesitation. Knowing how hard she had to push to get him to open up, he felt guilty at the double standard.

After a quick, hot shower, he dressed in a turtleneck and jeans and his boots. He’d felt the blast of cold air when he was sitting at the table. Considering how long they would be outdoors, he’d better insulate.

He’d have to fight the urge to scold the photographer for keeping Naomi in the cold. She wasn’t the first model to deal with the elements for the perfect shot. But unlike
other models, she was his woman. He felt the need to protect.

Shortly the sound of the car pulling out of the driveway announced their departure. The house was eerily quiet. He did like having the boisterous company. Friends did matter. Family was important.

He was ready to leave. Now he couldn’t find the car keys. All the usual places didn’t reveal anything. Maybe Naomi took them by mistake. He kept hunting, ending at the table.

Naomi’s papers were still there spread out like a fan. He glanced at them as he patted around them for his keys. The papers were a copy of the insurance forms from a woman who made Naomi the beneficiary. The million-dollar policy had a paper clip attached to the top of the page. Next to the paperwork, a handwritten note was set aside.

He didn’t read the note but couldn’t help wondering who the woman was. Naomi’s past was fuzzy. As he tried to recall what he knew, the only person who stood out prominently was her grandmother. He’d only heard about her ailing grandfather. But really no one else had gotten a mention by her.

Maybe she didn’t want to share that part of her. How could he complain?

He continued looking for his keys. He put on his coat to search on the porch. The minute he swung the coat over his shoulders, he heard the telltale jingle. He looped the key ring around his finger and then locked the house.

“About time,” Naomi mumbled when Zack stepped out of the SUV. She shivered beneath the heavy down coat. The covering didn’t help. Cold was cold. The
little space heater in the van no longer warmed her cold fingers and toes. Many of the shots were unusable because she clenched her jaw to keep from chattering.

“How’s it going?”

“I think we’re going to have to take to the indoors and hope that the temperature goes up a bit tomorrow.”

“And if it doesn’t?” Naomi knew they had only planned to stay for two days.

Lorenzo didn’t respond. The tip of his nose took on a pink hue. His cheeks were red. Even he shivered and he was covered from head to toe.

Martha stepped into her view. “I need to touch up your makeup.”

Naomi shrugged. She hadn’t done anything to wear off the thick layer of base.

“You’ve got to think about something that warms you. Pick a place that represents paradise. The sun is beaming. The sand is hot under your feet. You want the sun to bathe your limbs. And you’re preening under the warmth. You want all your admirers to look at your long, graceful physique. You want them to desire you and soak you up like a tall glass of water for a thirsty man. You’re beautiful. You’re gorgeous. You’re sexy as hell.” She dabbed the lipstick brush in the palette and painted her lips. She looked over her shoulder. “Sensual, tasteful, provocative. Make Zack hot for you.” Martha snapped the compact shut. “Okay, Lorenzo, she’s ready.”

“Damn, you’re good.” Naomi had begun to believe everything Martha said. Her cheeks even warmed at the thought of arousing Zack. Sure enough, the thought had banished the reality of the cool climate.

Lorenzo nodded to his sister and moved the camera into place. He shouted a few directions to his crew. They moved around for the next round of shots.

Naomi opened the coat and stepped out. She was ready. She kept Martha’s words in the forefront of her thoughts. As she moved into position, she found Zack standing behind Lorenzo. He was true to his word that he wouldn’t intrude on the other man’s space.

She didn’t need him to intrude. Instead, she focused on his face, but not today when he looked pensive and preoccupied. She wanted the face of the man who touched her with the knowledge of how to please her. She sought the face of the man who could be romantic and tentative to assertive and intoxicating to her system. The man who made her last reserve crumble to admit her love in a strangled whisper.

Naomi followed Lorenzo’s directions to curve her back, lower her jaw, relax her elbow, elongate her fingers, now arch her back, straighten her leg, no, the other leg.

“Relax!” Lorenzo shouted. His camera hung from around his neck as though it had also quit with her latest performance.

Naomi’s eyebrow shot up. She was trying her best. What did he want? She already felt like a rag doll.

“Are you going to work me over again?” she said to Martha, who fussed with her hair.

“You were doing fine and then suddenly you tensed up. Go back to the happy thoughts. Whatever you segued to isn’t going to win you any points with Lorenzo.”

“I’m about to have a fit with your brother.”

“I would say go for it, but from experience, I’d have to say that you’d lose the fight. He’s known to throw a B-fit, if you know what I mean.”

“Well, from one B to another, let him bring it on.” Naomi marched toward the van. She needed to sit in front of the heater. Lorenzo would have to wait.

Lorenzo apparently wasn’t having it. He shouted more instructions to his crew. They madly scrambled toward the van with her.

Lorenzo kept snapping. Nodding, pleased with whatever was happening. Naomi didn’t care, she sat in the driver’s seat and turned on the heat to full blast. She leaned back and closed her eyes imagining her entire body thawing.

The whir of the camera sounded in her ear. She slowly opened eyes to see Lorenzo inches away from her cheek, the camera closing in even more.

“Open your mouth slightly. Lick your lips so they’re moist.”

She complied. The man was relentless.

“Stare straight ahead.”

Zack stood in front of the SUV grinning. His shoulders shook with his full-out laugh.

Naomi fastened on that mouth and imagined biting on his lip before diving her tongue into his mouth. She wanted to erase that grin and make him groan under her control.

“Yes, that’s the look I want.”

Naomi blocked out Lorenzo.

Zack in his black turtleneck with black jeans and black boots with his coat opened looked unforgettably sexy. She wanted to jump his bones right there in the van minus the crew. She broadcast her thoughts with all the telepathic powers she could muster.

His smile grew smaller. His eyes narrowed. She saw him shift his stance. His nerves must have unsettled him. He nibbled at his lip and finally folded his arms across his chest, as if in effort to remain still.

Naomi let a small smile curl and linger on her lips.

“Okay, turn slightly.”

She responded, not wanting to tear her gaze from Zack.

“Cool. We got our shot.” Lorenzo straightened up. His characteristic lopsided grin was back in place. “Tomorrow we’ll go for some indoor shots. You were fantastic today.”

All the bustle around her as the equipment was packed and loaded into the van nipped at the bubble she’d created between Zack and her. She saw him talking with Lorenzo, looking completely unaffected by all her hot thoughts. Well, at least it had been nice for her.

Naomi slipped on her clothes in the back of the van. Then she emerged to look for Zack. Now he was talking to some of the crew. She headed over to stand at his side.

“Hey, gorgeous.”

“Like you noticed,” she remarked, surprised by her own irritation that her sexy come-hither looks had no effect on him.

“I noticed too much.” He grabbed her and planted a kiss.

Naomi slipped her arms under his coat. She laid her cheek against his chest and pressed her ear to listen to his heartbeat. The rumble of his voice made it difficult. Yet she wanted to stay in that position, preferably horizontally.

“Want to go to dinner?”

She nodded, only releasing him then. “What about the others?”

“I only promised them a roof over their heads. The meals have been a treat. They can fend for themselves for one day.”

“See you tomorrow,” Lorenzo called out as he headed to his van.

“I think you got yourself a number-one fan.”

“You’re exaggerating. I think he wanted to strangle me and I wanted to kill him.”

“It did get heated. I’d never seen you so fierce.” He had his arm around her as they went to his SUV. He growled at her before he got in the car.

“You’ve never seen my games.”

“Remind me never to make you angry.”

She stroked his head, loving the small tight curls of his hair. He was always groomed with a slight bad-boy edge to his fashion. “I think you would look good in front of the camera.”

“Oh, no, don’t even think about it.” Zack took his eyes off the road.

“We can do a fashion layout together like that soccer guy and his ultra-skinny wife.”

“How many ways to say no?” Zack pressed on the accelerator. “Time to get some food in front of you. Need to keep you from strategizing my future.”

“Consider it like pocket money. Real-estate developer, model and—” Naomi stopped herself from saying “ultimate boyfriend.” She’d entered this thing between them, whatever it was, with no illusions. Just because she wanted to change the rules didn’t mean that she had to follow her heart. She’d rather enjoy what she had now than risk rejection. Her heart would just have to deal.

“Don’t go quiet on me. I love hearing your crazy thoughts and fantasies.”

“The crazy thought right now is how hungry I am. I want comfort food. Nothing fancy. Nothing I can’t pronounce. I want some good old-fashioned carbs and a decadent dessert.”

“Your wish is mine to fulfill.” He nodded at her with his hand over his heart.

She wanted to put her hand over his heart and lay claim to it.

Zack sat back stuffed from the hearty vegetable soup and ham-and-cheese sandwich. The deli meat had been piled over an inch thick with the freshly baked bread. He grinned as Naomi shook her head at the waiter’s offer to bring the dessert menu.

“I feel like a slug.” She propped her chin in her hand.

“You’ve had quite a day. You need a good long soak and a massage,” Zack advised.

“Don’t tease me.”

“I’m not. My hands are magical.” He rubbed his hands together.

“Let’s not talk about hands.”

“I know you’d rather I did a show-don’t-tell.” He loved the way she closed her eyes with a soft smile as he talked. “You know I could make you confess.”

“Go ahead. I have nothing to confess.”

He wanted to ask her about the woman listed on the paperwork, but he couldn’t intrude on her life or demand anything. He’d done his fair share to keep parts of his life separate and private.

She opened her eyes. “You’re easy. I would’ve continued to pry to get some juicy stuff. We’ve all got something tucked away.”

“That’s probably a good thing.” He thought of his own circumstances.

Naomi drew up. Her brow crinkled as she thought. “We can’t say we’re sharing in each other lives if we constantly hide parts of ourselves from each other.”

“Sometimes the time isn’t right.”

Naomi shrugged. Her eyes examined him. He could practically hear her analyze his comments.

“Let’s go.” He broke the spell.

“Sure.”

They headed back to the house subdued and thoughtful. Zack wished he hadn’t pushed for an opening to inquire about Naomi’s business. Now he came across as someone who’d rather keep secrets. His life wasn’t about hiding, but rather avoiding people’s conclusions, which had a way of ending with rejection or judgment.

As soon as they were back in the house, Naomi hung up her coat, then excused herself for the soak. Zack noted that she didn’t invite him to join her or send any sexy coded looks. Although he wasn’t sure what caused the cool attitude, he knew that he’d contributed to it.

His cell phone rang. Brent’s name lit up the display screen. Bad timing. He wanted to go up to Naomi and talk.

“Hey, man, what’s up?”

“Got some information for you.”

“About Lassiter?”

“No. The other thing. Your birth mother in Haiti.”

Zack walked to the couch, his knees felt as if they’d give out. His stomach clenched, along with his hand holding the phone.

“You there, buddy?”