Past Lies Read online

  A muscle jumped in his cheek.

  Her smile grew, but the victory tasted strangely bitter. “In fact, hardly at all.” But why could she only focus on his mouth, his lips, the remembered taste of him still there on her tongue? And the need for her fingers to brush over the warmth of his skin, slip—

  Angry with herself, she glared at him and pulled in a tight breath. “So we tell Carl that we agree.”

  “There will be rules.” Zach turned away, began to pace a short stretch of carpet, ignoring her. Anna gritted her teeth. The man was infuriating.

  “Rules?”

  “Gregory and his sense of humour.”

  He muttered a foul curse under his breath. Anna blinked. Zach? Swearing? The man who, when she was fifteen, had strong words with her Head Teacher when she used the word damn?

  More fierce strides covered the carpet and Zach stared up at the ceiling. “I hope you’re finding this funny, old man.” He blew out a hot breath, stopped pacing and focused on her. “Yes. Rules. I won’t put my life on hold. And I will not enter any place that has Sofia Brabant in it.”

  Everything was always about him.

  Anna felt a smile pull at her mouth. Well, if he wanted his company… “I have a show tonight. Sofia is the principal patron.”

  She let those words sink in, watched his face darken and the anger clench his jaw. Her own gut was tight. It was the artist’s first big show. Sofia’s new fad was her being seen fostering new, bright talent. Freddie Lewis was brilliant. Anna wanted it to go well for him. She’d worked hard to get the right people to see his work. It was the least she could do, after the trouble she had caused him.

  No. Not thinking about that.

  And it was what she did, made all of Sofia’s grand gestures a reality. Until her sister got bored.

  Anna squashed down the sour burn.

  With Gregory’s promise, she thought she’d have a chance to escape her sister. But he’d made it worse. Zach would find a way out, or tie the will up for months. Years? Her smile faded.

  Her dream of escape was falling to ashes.

  “Damn it, Zach, we can be adults about this.” She looked back to the desk and the piles of paper. An envelope with her name? Her heart jumped. She’d recognise Gregory’s spidery script anywhere. “Play the game for one week.”

  “And will you?”

  Anna pulled her attention away from the mysterious envelope. “I have to.”

  He gave her that slow smile, which sent a shiver over her skin. She ignored it. “Play adult games?”

  Anna cursed the hot flush burning her face. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

  His grin grew, something wicked, predatory. He moved closer and Anna willed her feet to stay planted. And not run. Fast. Far. “I’ve always enjoyed your gauche act, Anna.”

  His scent filled her, making breathing hard, making her blood pound.

  A fingertip traced a slow run over her flushed cheek, her skin tingling in its wake.

  “And we both know that it is an act.”

  The old pain crushed her heart. Protection. From him. Zach consumed women. Was infamous for it. But only a certain type of woman appealed to him. Someone pure, innocent. Corruptible. She knew this from personal experience. And Anna had made certain that he believed the opposite of her.

  “Yes.” She made the seductive smile curve her mouth. If she played this game with him, she was safe. Her stupid heart could never fall for a man like him. She had to tell herself that. Over. And over. “I know my charm wore thin for you.”

  His eyes narrowed and a spike of silver gleamed there. “We could always pretend that you never betrayed me.”

  The cold words jolted Anna out of her game. Betrayed? Yes. Her nails dug sharp in her palms. Yes. She had, hadn’t she?

  “So, have you decided?” Carl Petersen bustled back into the room.

  “It will be…interesting,” Zach murmured.

  The solicitor dropped into his chair and hunted through his papers. “That’s a yes from both of you?”

  Anna found herself under Carl’s scrutiny. She jerked a nod.

  He had agreed. She could still feel his cold glare boring into her. In that second, she wished he hadn’t.

  “Then here’s the rest of it.” Carl pushed his glasses further up his long nose and flipped through more documents. “He has some rules you both must follow.”

  Anna glanced involuntarily at Zach, but found only his hard profile.

  “Firstly.” Carl looked up, focused on Zach. “Ms. Shrewsbury must move into your city apartment.”

  Anna closed her eyes. Damn Gregory Brabant for thinking this was funny. She’d not set foot there. Not since that night.

  Zach must have nodded because the solicitor moved on.

  “The…the sleeping arrangements…” Carl reddened and then he rushed, “…are to be at your own discretion.”

  Zach muttered a string of curses. Anna concentrated on breathing in and out, and trying not to see Carl’s bright red face. Gregory had never known what had fuelled their antipathy. She could never tell him.

  “Second. This is your secret—”

  “But Sofia knows—” Anna broke in.

  To tell no one. Her stomach clenched. They would look like a…couple. No. They could be discreet.

  Carl shook his head. “Gregory has ensured her silence.”

  Zach’s soft chuckle startled Anna. “Now her compliance makes sense. He threatened to cut her off completely. Didn’t he?”

  “That is a private matter for Mrs. Brabant—”

  “That’s a yes, then.”

  “And finally,” Carl broke in. “This must be played out in public.”

  Anna stopped herself from groaning. She hated the glare of attention Gregory’s wealth had commanded. Add Zach’s media profile and his notorious obsession with privacy… It really was going to be hell.

  Zach snapped out of his chair. “She moves in. We look very public. No one knows it’s a Brabant practical joke. Does that sum it up?”

  “Mr. Quinn…”

  “Yes or no?”

  Zach held his gaze until the older man sighed. “Yes.”

  “I saw a letter…” Anna half gestured to the stacks of papers crowding his desk. “And what is all that?”

  Carl Petersen’s mouth gave a wry twist. “I’m trying to keep all of Gregory’s bequests together. It’s the most convoluted…” He straightened. “The letter is for this time, a week from today. There’s one for both of you.”

  Zach glanced at his watch. “I’m already late.” His gaze slid over her and his mouth compressed. “You’ll have to do.”

  The familiar jolt of anger gripped her. “Do?”

  “I will see you again in a week,” Carl said. The older man stood and moved out from behind his desk. Anna found him holding her hand. The concern softening his face made her bite at her lip. “Good luck,” he murmured. “I wish Gregory hadn’t put you in this position.”

  Anna did too. But then she did what she did best; she put on the mask, made herself smile. “I could hardly deny Gregory his last laugh.”

  “No. Indeed.” He shook Zach’s hand, short, hard. “Until next week.”

  Zach opened the door, let her precede him.

  His voice was no more than a whisper. “He’s worried about you.”

  Anna tried to ignore the brush of his breath over her ear, her temple. Tried and failed. She walked faster.

  Zach matched her pace easily. “And he has a right to be.”

  “I’m not listening to your threats, Zach.”

  Her finger stabbed at the lift button and she stared up at the floor indicator. Get back to her room, throw stuff in a case. Get out before she had to face Sofia. Her sister was out at lunch and that lasted hours. Anna cringed away from what Sofia would say.

  “Not threats. A promise.”

  “Zach…”

  The lift pinged.

  She rushed forward.

  Anna watched the door
s close, catching her distorted reflection in the mirrored steel. And Zach, leaning again the metal rail. Calm. Relaxed. But his gaze drilled her. She had to look away and inwardly groaned. The skirt really was minute.

  With a judder, the lift started to descend.

  “You will behave yourself this week, Anna.”

  Her eyes clashed with his in the mirrored doors. “I’m not twelve.”

  “No.”

  His stare slid all too slowly down her body. Awareness prickled over her skin and she fought down the rush in her blood. Anger. It was anger. How dare he look—

  “I’ve watched you wage war with this body.”

  The murmur of his words licked over her skin. The power that simply his voice could command was embarrassing. No, it wasn’t anger, but something much more destructive. Anna shut her eyes, desperate to deny it, and caught his scent, breathed him in. Deep. Her heart skittered.

  The brush of his suit as he moved around her, the soft rhythm of his breathing, flickered fire over her skin, skin sensitive to his slightest stir. Totally, achingly aware of him.

  This was why she was never alone with Zach.

  He wove his charm, caught her, spun her mind with needs and stupid wants.

  He leaned in close. “Conquering idiotic, weak-willed men.”

  Yes. He teased her. Enjoyed it. She could hear the satisfied smile in his voice.

  His finger traced the outer edge of her lip and she gasped. Her eyes shot open, met Zach’s darkened gaze. Her mouth was dry. And she ached to taste him.

  “But not this week, Anna. This week, you’re mine. Do you understand?”

  His.

  Blood pounded.

  But then sense pulled her back.

  She would never be his toy. Something to be played with and put back on the shelf when he was bored. After last time, did he think she was completely stupid? “I don’t belong to you.” She stepped back, found her spine up against the cold steel of the rail. “This is Gregory’s last joke.” A sharp smile twisted her mouth. “And you have more to lose. My sister will own a huge chunk of your precious company.”

  Something changed in his face. It settled into hard, pitiless lines, his jaw tight.

  “Don’t threaten me, Anna.” Her heart missed a beat at the sudden cold spike to his voice. “You will see out this week. You will behave as I pay my women to behave.”

  Heat bled into her face and her insides shrivelled.

  “I am not your woman.”

  One of the silent, perfect women photographed on his arm. Dutiful. Empty. Yes. His admission was a slip. However much he denied it, money always formed the basis of his dealings with women.

  “No. You’re not.” His attention shifted to her mouth. “Not yet.”

  Damn the man. She willed her voice to be strong. “Not ever, Zach.”

  “So your game plan has changed?”

  He gripped the rail, blocking her with his body. He was too close. Anna focused on the knot of his tie, letting her gaze sink into the deep, dark red silk…because if she didn’t… If she looked up—

  No. She let out a controlled breath. “Sorry. You’re confusing me with someone who finds you attractive.”

  The low rumble of his laughter surrounded her. Despite her best efforts, the edges of her mouth quirked up.

  “Women have thrown themselves at me since I reached puberty, Anna. You…” his thumb lifted her chin, making her look at him, “…have proven to be no exception.”

  He was beautiful. Anna could never deny that. Something about him called to her, a dizzying rush of need making her forget almost everything else. But she had resisted and she would continue to resist.

  Zach was cold, cruel, heartless.

  She knew his ex-wife, Isabelle. Their divorce hadn’t burned through the tabloids. Zach’s lawyers must have seen to that. But Isabelle had dropped hints, too many to ignore. Then there was Anna’s own, more personal experience.

  “No.” Anna ducked under his arm, escaped to another corner of the wide lift. She straightened her jacket. Stopped herself from tugging at her skirt. “This isn’t the deal, Zach.” She willed her heart into an even rhythm. “Before…in Carl’s office.” She felt herself flush and cursed silently. “I was stupid. It was stupid.”

  He stared at the floor indicator before focusing on her. “You know I can never trust you.” His voice was matter-of-fact and something about that stung Anna. “Never will, again.”

  “Fine.”

  “But you will not humiliate me—”

  “Your precious ego,” Anna muttered. “Heaven forbid a woman should even look at anyone else—”

  Zach punched the emergency stop.

  The lift juddered.

  “You did more than look, Anna.”

  “I—”

  Fury burned through him. She could see it in the tightness of his jaw, the balled fists. And his eyes, sparking silver fire. His ice façade had fallen away…and for a brief, brief moment, she saw his passion, his power.

  The drone of the emergency alarm warning faded.

  Everything faded.

  There was only the thrum of her blood.

  Anna wanted him.

  Now.

  Chapter Three

  “Oh no.”

  He took a back step. His eyes fixed on her. Wary. The show of anger slid from him, the icy mask falling into place. A hard smile tugged at his mouth. “You can’t catch me twice with that.”

  Anna only then realised what she had wanted, what she had almost done. Heat slashed her face. She scrubbed at her eyes and she willed her heart to slow. Throwing herself at him. Again.

  And Zach had rejected her.

  That didn’t matter. It didn’t. She should see it as a blessing. He had stopped her from making another complete fool of herself. That feeling deep in her gut was relief. It was.

  “As I was saying…”

  He released the emergency stop and the lift groaned, then started to descend.

  Anna focused her attention on the electronic floor numbers. His voice was infuriatingly calm. She really hated that about him.

  “…you will act respectably in public.” The lift pinged and the doors slid back. “I had to interrupt an important lunch for this”—his gaze speared her—“silliness.”

  Anna gritted her teeth, biting back the curses she wanted to hurl at him. A lunch? Damn. She would have to sit in a glass-boxed office and listen to senior executives drone on. And it wasn’t as if she didn’t have her own work to do. But at least lunch couldn’t go on all afternoon.

  “I know how to behave.”

  “Of course you do.” Zach scanned the underground garage. “You had your sister as a fine example.”

  She ignored him. The air stank of car fumes and damp concrete. Somewhere in the lines of luxury cars was her battered little run around… Ah, there it was. “My car’s that way—”

  Zach gripped her elbow. “I’m sure it is. But mine is this way.”

  Anna pulled her arm free. “I can drive myself.”

  “I don’t intend to lose sight of you for a minute.” His fingers curled again around her elbow and propelled her forward. “That way you won’t be able to report back to Petersen that I broke the deal.”

  “You keep forgetting that I’ll lose too.”

  Zach’s laugh was bitter. “Your sort never loses.”

  “My sort?” Anna stopped and picked his fingers away from her arm. “And what would that be, Zach?”

  “I’m not having this argument here.”

  Her smile was sharp. “Then where?”

  “Mr. Quinn, sir.”

  A blank-faced, uniformed chauffeur held open the door to a gleaming black Bentley.

  “Inside.”

  Still seething, adrenalin making her blood rush, she climbed into the back of the car, trying to keep her skirt over her thighs. Pale leather seats didn’t help. And she could feel Zach’s eyes on her. What did he think she was going to do? Make a run for it? Flirt with the ch
auffeur?

  The door shut with a soft clunk.

  In the few seconds she was alone, Anna tugged at her skirt, wiggling. Damn Sofia for this. And damn herself for listening to her.

  The other passenger door opened. Anna flushed and stopped twisting. Her hands rested over her knees. A futile gesture.

  “Seat belt,” Zach said.

  Anna closed her eyes. She should’ve done that first…then wiggled. She let out a slow breath and pulled the belt across her chest. She would be calm. Rising to everything Zach said and did was getting her nowhere.

  Calm.

  She could do this.

  It was just that she was a little out of practice. She had avoided him so successfully it had made her forget the effect he had on her.

  The car softly rumbled into life and pulled out. Smooth, almost silent. The interior smelt of expensive leather and something else. Something that made her heart beat faster, made a pulse jump low, low in her pelvis.

  Zach’s scent.

  No.

  Calm.

  Her finger traced absently over the pale skin of her knee, drawing out the old, faint scar. A legacy of an early childhood spent scrambling over walls, up trees. Of the only time she remembered being happy, of being truly loved.

  Her jaw clenched.

  If she stayed calm then the week wouldn’t be so bad. At its end, she would have the house in which she grew up, a place connecting her to generations of her mother’s family. For the first time in years, she would have a home.

  And she could not, would not let her past with Zach deny her that.

  Her attention slid to Zach, flicking over his stern profile. His jaw was tight and he seemed lost in his own thoughts. But she had to start to build up civilised behaviour between them. “Will there still be food?”

  “I imagine.” A sharp smile tugged at his mouth. “Though it’s doubtful that you would eat any of it.”

  Anna remembered to be calm, remembered that she wasn’t going to be stupid. She was going to be sensible. Not rise to his taunts.

  Her fingers rubbed at her knee and she fixed her thoughts there. She needed a distraction. There’d always been the sly comments about how thin she was. No, she was not sinking to his level. “I live on more than lettuce, Zach.” She toned down the edge to her smile, though her gut was tight. “Some days there’s even dressing.”