Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Her heart was beating faster and faster. She chewed on her bottom lip, trying to find a way out of this. Nothing good could come from her spending time alone with this amazingly gorgeous man. She was too attracted to him, which was causing her to get tongue-tied. Plus, she didn’t have time to deal with a romantic interlude. Not with anyone.
She wasn’t here in New Zealand to date men and pretend her life was normal. She was here to hide and lie low. She didn’t want to explain her reasons to this man or anyone else. She hadn’t told a soul at the resort why she was here. It was easier that way. She certainly didn’t want anyone to look at her with pity. That would be worse than gawking at her in lust. Well, men, anyway. Men did that. Women usually sneered at her with jealousy. She wasn’t sure which was worse.
“I have a better idea,” Kestrel suggested before she could formulate the words to tell him this was not going to happen. “There’s a conference room near reception. We’ll stop by and tell the receptionist we’re using the conference room. I’ll order food and coffee and have the kitchen bring it to us there. Neutral ground that doesn’t have the pressure of being your apartment or mine.”
She released her lip. There was no way she was getting out of this. “Okay,” she found herself saying in agreement.
Horrible idea, Zara. The worst in the history of ideas.
Chapter Four
Kestrel tried hard to control his breathing as he set a hand on the small of Zara’s back and guided her first to the front desk, where he informed Liz where he and Zara would be meeting, and then to the conference room.
It had been challenging getting her here, and he was relieved. For a few minutes, he’d thought she would totally decline and run away. He would have let her go, of course. He couldn’t exactly force her to meet with him.
He could have just told her up front why he wanted to talk to her, but he hadn’t wanted to do so in public, not even in front of Mark. What he had to say really needed to be between him and Zara. No one else.
In retrospect, the conference room was a much better choice than the dining room. If she grew nervous or panicked, at least no one besides Kestrel would see her reactions.
Kestrel pulled out a chair for her and took her hand to help her settle. As soon as she was perched on the fancy rolling leather chair, she adjusted herself, spine straight and rigid, hands folded in her lap.
“This isn’t a job interview, Zara,” he informed her as he sat in the chair beside hers. He smiled at her, hoping to ease her nerves as he pulled out his phone. “How about I text the kitchen and have them bring us a few danishes, some fruit, and coffee?”
“Okay,” she murmured.
“Do you like cream and sugar?” he asked.
“Yes, Sir. Thank you.”
As soon as the text was sent, he set the phone on the large oval table and faced her. “Please relax, Zara.” He knew that was asking a lot, but he hated how tense she was with him.
She nodded, but no part of her relaxed.
Damn, she was stunning. Not just beautiful. Lots of people were beautiful. That was superficial. He was attracted to her mind already. She was bright and sharp and a hard worker. He thought she might also be Little, which would be icing on the cake.
She was certainly submissive. Maybe not with everyone, but she was with him. She’d called him Sir twice and not in a gracious southern belle sort of way. She’d used it reverently, whether she knew it or not.
He decided it would be best just to tell her exactly what he knew. Keeping information from her would only alienate her in the long run and probably piss her off.
“I want to be blunt about a few things, Zara.”
She pursed her lips, not meeting his gaze.
“Can you look at me, Little one?”
Her breath hitched as she slowly lifted her head. Her cheeks were pink. He liked the way she reacted when he called her Little one. He’d tested that water out and then done it a few more times when she hadn’t slapped him.
“You don’t like to look people in the eye, do you, Zara?”
“No, Sir.”
He’d much rather she call him Daddy than Sir, but she wasn’t ready to hear that yet. First things first. He was going to pile a lot on her plate and give her much to think about, but addressing the possibility she was Little was last on the list.
“I know who you are and why you’re here, Little one. I’ve been assigned to protect you.”
She gasped, her jaw dropping as her stunning blue eyes went wide. A man could get lost in those eyes. Anyone could. He suspected that was why she disliked making eye contact with people. It would get old fast having people comment about their color or stare at her.