Australia: In Bed with a Bachelor: The Costarella Conquest / The Hot-Blooded Groom / Inherited: One Nanny

‘Tell me what you think,’ she countered.

He did and she happily responded.

The whole meal was a pleasure, not only for the wonderful variety of tastes, but also Laura’s delight in them. She made it a great sensory experience and not only on the palate. The licking of her lips, the heavenly rolling of her eyes, the rise and fall of her lush breasts when she sighed with satisfaction, the warm smiles that fuelled a burning lust to have all of her…Jake itched to sweep her off to bed and take his fill of Laura Costarella.

He couldn’t recall ever having enjoyed an evening with a woman so much. It was impossible to tolerate the thought of it ending here. He had to persuade her to want what he wanted. And not just tonight. He knew one night wouldn’t satisfy him. Not now.

They finished up with nougatine and rum truffle candy bars to nibble as they sipped the last of the German Riesling he’d ordered to accompany their dessert.

‘This has been fantastic, Jake. Thank you so much for giving me the experience.’ Her beautiful blue eyes twinkled. ‘Definitely a more than fair exchange for my Sunday lunch.’

‘Apart from Neil Perry, what other top Sydney chefs would you like to try out?’ he asked, determined on tempting her into his company again.

She reeled off a number of names, then shook her head. ‘I can’t afford to go to their restaurants but one day I hope to. In the meantime, I drool over their cook books.’

‘I can afford them, Laura, but I don’t want to go alone. Nor do I know as much about food as you do. I’m happy to pay for you to be my educator, my companion, to share your knowledge and pleasure with me. Will you do that?’

She hesitated, frowning over his proposition.

‘An adventure into fine dining,’ he pressed.

‘With you footing the bill,’ she said, wincing over the inevitable cost.

‘Why not? It’s my idea.’ Not to mention the desire running hot behind it.

‘It’s like…you’re buying me, Jake.’

He shook his head. ‘Buying your interest, your knowledge. Expanding my own. Say yes, Laura. It will be fun together. As tonight has been.’

Which was undeniable.

‘You’re right,’ she said on a sigh of surrender. ‘It’s no fun alone. I’m sorry I can’t pay my way but I simply don’t earn enough with only a part-time job.’

He waved a dismissive hand. ‘Don’t worry about it. I’ll consider it an investment in broadening my life.’ He flashed her a mischievous grin. ‘You could bring a garden rose for me to smell at our next restaurant. You’re right about the hothouse ones sold by street vendors. They have no scent.’

She laughed, a lovely ripple of sound that was headier than the wine. ‘You actually went out and tried them?’

‘I did.’

‘Well, there’s hope for you yet.’

‘Hope for what?’

‘For being more aware of nature’s beautiful gifts.’

‘I’m very aware of one sitting directly opposite me.’ He reached across the table and took one of her hands in his, lightly rubbing his thumb over its palm as his eyes bored into hers, every forceful atom of his mind willing her to concede to the strong sexual attraction between them. ‘Spend the night with me, Laura. I’ve booked a room in the Intercontinental Hotel. It’s only a short walk from here. Let’s satisfy what was left unsatisfied last Sunday.’

It was blunt.

It was honest.

It promised nothing more than it said.

It had to be this way or no way.

Despite all he liked about her, she was still Alex Costarella’s daughter and that fact would separate them when the time for retribution came. Jake had been moving towards that destination for ten years. Whatever he had with Laura could only be a brief sidetrack.

CHAPTER SIX (#u88344777-0a29-5978-86f6-4112556745ea)

A WILD MÊLÉE of emotions pumped through Laura’s heart. The response of her body to Jake’s proposition was instantaneous; her stomach contracting in sheer yearning for the satisfaction he promised, her thighs pressing together to contain the rush of excitement at their apex, her breasts tingling with the need to be touched, held, given the same sensual caressing he was using on her hand.

The simple answer was yes.

She wanted to go with him, wanted to feel how it would be, wanted to know, but the surge of desire was so compelling it frightened her. This wasn’t just curiosity. Nor was it an experiment over which she had control.

And there were other considerations.

She was supposed to be spending the night at Eddie’s apartment. Her brother would worry if she didn’t turn up there so he would have to be told, though she need not actually speak to him. A text message would suffice. Eddie would undoubtedly repeat what he’d said before—make damned sure you keep it at sex and don’t get hooked on him.

Good advice. Except Laura had the fluttery feeling that she was hooked. Deeply and irrevocably hooked. Although if Jake ever demanded too much of her, surely she had enough backbone to walk away. He was offering her great dinners and very probably great sex. It shouldn’t be a problem for her to take both and enjoy both.

His thumb pressed into her palm. ‘What reservations do you have, Laura?’ he asked quietly, the dark brilliant eyes scouring hers for answers, challenging whatever barriers were in her mind.

Pride wouldn’t allow her to admit she was scared of his power over her. It suddenly seemed terribly important to appear brave and strong, not only to him but also to herself. She forced a smile. ‘None. I was just thinking I don’t want to be left wondering, so let’s do it.’

He relaxed into a laugh—a deep rumble of pleasure that thrummed along her shaky nerves, promising all would be well between them. His eyes sparkled delight in her as he said, ‘You are one amazing woman.’

She raised her eyebrows in arch surprise. ‘Why?’

He grinned. ‘Before I met you I was expecting a pampered princess or a calculating miss, used to getting to her own way. It was a surprise to find you were neither. But you are quite strikingly beautiful, Laura, and beautiful women tend to use that power to see how far a man will go for them.’

‘I don’t like power games,’ she said sharply, hating any form of manipulation.

‘No. You’re wonderfully direct with what you think.’ He lifted his glass in a toast to her. ‘May you always be so.’

She cocked her head on one side consideringly. ‘Were you buttering me up with the foodie thing?’

He shook his head. ‘I want more than a one-night stand with you. I’m quite certain I’ll enjoy our adventure into fine dining.’

‘So will I.’

‘Then we’re agreed on our points of contact.’

She laughed, happily giddy with the sense that this wasn’t so much a dangerous trap she might fall into but a course of action that could give her tremendous pleasure. Her whole body zinged with excitement at the points of contact soon to be made.

‘Will you excuse me for a few minutes?’ she said, rising from her chair. ‘I need to go to the ladies’ and call my brother.’

‘Why your brother?’ he asked, frowning over the possibility of third-party interference.