CHAPTER FIVE
THE alarm and wake-up call sounded simultaneously, and Lara deactivated her watch as Wolfe reached for the phone.
His upper body was bare to the waist. Gleaming tanned skin pulled taut over superb musculature that rippled fluidly with every move. She caught a brief glimpse of exposed buttock, and momentarily froze.
Her gaze met his, and for an unguarded moment she resembled a startled doe.
Wolfe’s eyes darkened and became thoughtful as he replaced the receiver and swung back to his side of the bed.
It was a long time since he’d shared a room with a woman where sex hadn’t featured throughout the night. A sophisticated, willing partner who knew the score … and, when the relationship concluded, accepted the appropriate gift with no hard feelings.
Yet this was different, without precedent.
Until now, marriage hadn’t formed part of his agenda.
Risk taking, following his instincts and acting on them, was part of who he was. In the cut and thrust of tough business deals, he’d surprised his competitors … and at times, himself … by winning against incredible odds. It had also made him a very wealthy man, with enviable share-and-property portfolios, and was something of a legend for his business nous.
On Monday he’d entered Darius’ lawyer’s sanctum with no intention other than learning the contents of his late father’s will. Yet within the space of a few hours he’d made a series of life-changing decisions.
Based on what?
A young woman’s air of fragility that meshed with strength, pride and resolve. The memory of a teenaged girl whose lips had melted against his own … warm, giving and innocent. His sudden and totally unexpected reaction.
Impossible.
It was a decision based on loyalty to his father. An attempt to make amends for following his own path, instead of agreeing to the one Darius had set for him.
The marriage clause was contestable and unlikely to stand up in a court of law … yet he’d chosen to concede to the written dictum.
With Lara … the daughter of Darius’ second wife, a young woman far removed from his usual intimate companions. Someone who’d won Darius’ affection and had returned it in kind, refusing, as had Suzanne, financial help in achieving her goals. Evidenced by legal proof … a fact which had surprised him and soon destroyed his previous misconceptions.
Even now, with every passing day, Lara continually battled for independence.
Unless she was a skilled actress, which he seriously doubted, she hated relying on him for anything.
Lara gathered up fresh underwear, jeans, tee-shirt and disappeared into the en suite, to emerge soon after to discover Wolfe dressed and in the process of pouring coffee into two cups.
‘There’s no need—’ for you to come with me … Except one hard look in her direction ensured she didn’t finish the sentence.
‘We did this yesterday,’ Wolfe drawled. ‘Let’s not do it again.’ He held out a cup and saucer. ‘Coffee. Black, two sugars. Drink it, then we’ll hit the road.’
There was the temptation to tell him what to do with the coffee, and only the need for a caffeine fix prevented a verbal comeback.
The fact he knew irked her, and she opted for silence during the short drive to the fish market, where she made her selections, haggled a little, smiled when she beat down the price and executed a high-five gesture with a competitor.
‘Negotiations are in place on a property at Point Piper,’ Wolfe informed her as they shared breakfast.
One of Sydney’s luxury harbour-front suburbs, she acknowledged. Expensive—make that very expensive—real estate.
‘I’ve arranged for a firm of interior decorators to quote on refurbishment. Ideally, it’ll completed by the time we return from New York.’
Why should she be surprised? Money, enough of it, could achieve almost anything.
‘I’ll collect you at two-thirty this afternoon.’
Lara opened her mouth to argue, only to close it again as Wolfe continued, ‘And have you back at the restaurant by four. Your staff assured me they’ll manage.’
‘You arranged this without first checking with me?’
‘I merely circumvented your objection.’
So he had, with sufficient finesse that left her no quarter but to concede … or sound like a petulant child.
‘DO all women of your acquaintance fall at your feet, eager to fulfil your every wish?’
The corners of his mouth curved with humour. ‘What an interesting concept.’
‘You didn’t answer the question.’
He inclined his head. ‘More often than not.’
Lara offered him a sweet smile. ‘Count me among the not.’ ‘Indeed?’
He was amused, damn him!
‘It’ll be a refreshing change,’ she assured him.
Wolfe’s husky chuckle curled round her nerve-ends and tugged a little. ‘I foresee we’ll share an … interesting marriage.’
The mere thought sent her emotions into sensual overdrive, and she consciously tamped them down. If she allowed him to see the degree of her emotional vulnerability, she’d be lost.
And that would never do.
Lara refrained from offering any comment as she drained her coffee, then she stood to her feet and gathered up her shoulderbag.
‘I have to leave.’
Wolfe reached the door as she did, and she opened her mouth to protest, only to incur his dark look. ‘Give it up, Lara.’
‘Two-thirty,’ Wolfe reminded as he drew the Lexus to a halt outside the restaurant.
OK, so she’d go look at the house.
How difficult could it be?
It was the usual morning rush, with the need to check deliveries, make any last-minute menu changes, ensure outstanding bills were paid, and elevate Shontelle to the position of manager.
Lunch orders involved coordination, deft speed and, with luck, no hiccups.
Mercifully, there was only one picky customer who insisted she’d ordered a caesar salad with anchovies, not smoked salmon. Freshly assembled, it was sent back again only to meet a complaint she’d requested dressing on the side.
Sally merely executed an expressive eye-roll. ‘I’ll ask for a precise
