With that, and the accompanying expression on his face, Kat couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing. ‘Oh my God, Zac Edwards, it’s high time I got you crumpled and dirty. And before you look too excited about the prospect,’ she added as she saw the corner of his mouth lift in a smirk, ‘I mean we’re going to paddle in the sea, where I might accidentally splash you, so be warned. Then we’re going to stuff our faces with donuts on the pier and let the sugar stick to our lips, and the grease stain our clothes.’
‘Clearly an experience not to missed.’ His vivid green eyes rested on her mouth. ‘Do I get to lick the sugar off?’
Hot damn. A slow sizzle began in the pit of her stomach. The man was incorrigible. Funnily enough though, she could have fended off that, fended off the handsome flirt.
It was the other side of Zac. The man who’d ordered the picnic because, she suspected, he’d thought she might like it. Who’d listened to her worries about Debs, held her and then encouraged her to talk to her niece about her own experiences. The man who’d been brave enough to open up to her about his feelings despite getting very little in return.
It was that man she was finding she had no defence against.
Chapter 19
Yesterday, the hiccup over the hamper aside, had been a good day. A particular highlight had been Kat’s admission that she’d been jealous watching him kiss Sophia on set. Even that had been eclipsed though, by her reaction to his statement about where he was planning to spend Sunday.
‘You’re going to Silverstone?’ she’d repeated when they’d arrived home last night.
‘Yes. I’m not sure whether you or Mark will be accompanying me. If it’s you, I have a spare ticket for Debs.’
‘Oh, it will most definitely be me,’ she’d answered, just as he’d anticipated.
He was well aware the reason for her eagerness was the lure of the race, and not his company, but he’d long since left his ego behind when it came to Kat. If he had to bribe her to drop her guard with him, so be it. He was optimistic that he could worm his way under her skin. He had to be, because he was well and truly hooked. There was no stepping away from this now, not for him.
He didn’t even mind that Debs was with them, because he’d started to enjoy her company. At times stroppy, many times unintelligible – teenage speak was a very different language – he’d found making her giggle to be surprisingly rewarding.
‘Holy cow, this is really happening,’ Kat exclaimed as she expertly slotted their hired Range Rover Evoke between an Aston Martin and an Audi Q8 in the VIP parking. ‘We’re at flaming Silverstone.’ She angled her head towards the back seat to look at Debs. ‘Can you believe it?’
Whatever Debs said, Zac didn’t hear. He was too lost in the excitement shining in Kat’s eyes when she turned back to meet his. And in the warmth of the smile she directed at him, which made everything in his chest lift and swell.
‘Will we get to go to the pit lane?’ Debs asked once they were seated on the shuttle bus, her voice almost breathless with excitement.
‘I believe so.’ He didn’t really have a clue. Only that he’d asked for three of the best tickets he could get, money no object.
‘And we watch the race from the Drivers’ Lounge?’
‘So I was told.’
‘Where’s that on the track?’
Ah. As he didn’t want to admit he didn’t know, he smiled. ‘I believe your aunt is the expert in Formula One.’
Kat cast a brief, questioning glance in his direction before answering her niece. ‘It looks over Stowe Corner through to Club Corner.’
Debs squealed. ‘Frigging awesome.’
Kat grinned back at her. ‘It’s a tough job, being Zac’s bodyguard, but hey, I guess someone has to do it.’
The reminder that she was only here because she had to be, rankled, but Zac pushed the niggle away. ‘Tough is rather a strong word,’ he protested evenly. ‘I’m sure you’ve faced more difficult assignments.’
For a split second she hesitated, but then her eyes found his. ‘I suppose that depends how you define difficult.’
He felt a pulse of satisfaction on realising the difficult moments she was referring to.
In no time at all they were stepping onto a wide terrace, overlooking the track. Debs immediately dashed over to the viewing area, and began taking photos to post on her Instagram page.
‘Any moment now I’m going to wake up and find this is all just a dream,’ Kat murmured, her sweeping gaze taking it all in.
‘This is what you dream about?’
The grin she gave him was wide and uninhibited. ‘Oh no, I’m not going to answer that.’
He led her over to a seating area and accepted two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter. When he set them down carefully on the table in front of them, he couldn’t help but smile. This was where it had all started.
Kat caught the direction of his gaze. ‘Me, you, and champagne. You’re not feeling so relaxed now, I bet.’ She nodded to the Tom Ford blazer he’d chosen to wear. ‘How badly do you think it will stain?’
‘As unlikely as this may seem, I really don’t care. I’ve developed a fondness for the drink, no matter where it ends up.’
Her answering smile, full of amusement, and yes, of affection, caused his heart to lodge in his throat.
As if aware she was dropping her guard too much, she averted her gaze and scanned the terrace. ‘Well your jacket is safe today because I’m on duty. I’ll have to pass on the champagne.’
Irritation rippled through him and he had to actively force his muscles to unclench. She might be on duty, but the smile she’d given him a moment ago had gone beyond client and bodyguard.
‘It was kind of you to include Debs today,’ Kat said into the now rather strained silence. ‘She enjoyed yesterday, but today. It’s like the best day ever.’ She mimed her niece’s voice with uncanny accuracy.
‘Good.’ As his sole motivation for the day had been to spend some time with Kat, the thanks made him uncomfortable.
‘When did you get the tickets?’
‘I decided I wanted to come a while ago.’
‘What if Mark had been covering the weekend instead?’
He leant forward to take a sip of champagne, not sure where she was going with this. ‘Then I’d have had a spare ticket. Perhaps have invited one of the crew to join me.’
‘Do you come here a lot then?’
He took another swallow of champagne. ‘Not a lot, no.’ Desperate to change topic, he glanced back at her. ‘Did I tell you how good you look today?’
Though she suited the black she usually wore, it was a treat to see her in the bright cherry-red summer dress she’d put on. It was simple, but it suited her athletic frame. And the colour made her skin glow.
‘Only twice now.’ Humour made her eyes sparkle.
‘Three times a charm?’
Laughter rolled out of her. ‘Oh, you’re that alright.’ She glanced down at her watch. ‘I think we need to go and find Debs. The pit lane tour starts in five minutes.’
‘This from the lady who turned up late for our first meeting.’ He nodded towards his half-full glass. ‘I haven’t finished my drink.’