Beautifully Irresistible (25 page)

“What’s happened?”

“Someone just grabbed me but I managed to shake them off. I chased after them but I lost them.”

“Jesus, are you alright, baby?”

“I’ll be fine.”

I took a generous gulp of my gin and tonic.

“What did he look like?”

“Tall, slim built with dark hair. It was the same person that shot Billy. I am convinced of it.”

“We will have to see if you recognise him when we disembark. I will go and get you another drink.”

I sat brooding about my attacker. I felt like I had met him but I don’t know where.

He was the key to this case, I was sure of it.

Zack sat back down and handed me my drink. “Here you go. Get that down you. I am going to see if I can find the bastard!”

He stood up too quickly and had to grab a nearby chair for balance. The colour drained from his face.

“No, you are not. You have just suffered a head injury. Sit down, Zack!”

I grabbed his arm and made him sit back down.

“What? Stop fucking telling me what to do, Jennifer!” he snarled.

“Shout at me if you like, I don’t care. I love you too much to let anything happen to you, Zack!”

I gulped the second drink down quickly and found my nerves were calming down. Zack glared at me. He obviously didn’t take kindly to being bossed around.

Well, tough shit!

“I don’t like being told what to do by you, Jennifer!”

“So I see! Did you get your money back, Zack?”

“From where?” he snapped.

“Anger management, you moody bastard!” I shouted.

I laughed at his expression as it changed to a broad smile.

“Cheeky bitch!” he drawled sexily.

His delicious voice washed over me and I actually grew wet.

“Ha! You wouldn’t have me any other way!”

“I can’t wait to have you in many different ways, Miss Black!”

“I can’t wait either, Mr Cole.”

The ferry docked and we headed down towards the exit. I looked around scouring people’s faces.

It was a futile exercise.

There must have been about two thousand people getting off the ferry and he could have been in a car. We were foot passengers so it was a complete waste of time.

“Have you seen anything?”

“No. It’s a waste of time, Zack,” I told him shaking my head.

“Let’s just find Greg and get home. I have missed Scarlett and Jasper so much.”

Greg was standing waiting at the side of an Audi. He was built like a bouncer. Greg took our bags and shook Zack’s hand.

“Are you okay, boss? The boys were worried about you.”

“I’m fine, thanks, Greg. Jennifer never left my side.”

“I hope you don’t mind me saying but you make a smashing couple.”

“Thanks, Greg.”

Zack smiled putting his arm around me. I snuggled into him as we sped along homeward bound.

“Dad, Dad, Jennifer!” Scarlett shouted, bounding down the steps from the front door.

“Scarlett, I have missed you so much, sweetheart,” he told her, embracing her tightly.

I got a lump in my throat watching the scene.

“Jennifer. Thank you for looking after him.”

She hugged me warmly.

Jasper ran down the steps into his Dad’s embrace. Zack kissed the top of his head and Jasper didn’t seem to care. He hugged him back tightly.

Phoebe’s parents came out to greet us. Phoebe’s Mum was a stunning elegant woman and I could see where her daughter got her looks from. Her Dad was a serious arrogant-looking man who I wouldn’t trust.

“Hello, you must be Jennifer. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Camille.”

“I’m Roger.”

They gave Zack brief nods and I could see that there was no love lost between them.

“We will head home now that your Dad is back.”

Camille hugged the twins.

They gathered up their luggage and put it in the boot of their brand new Jaguar.

“Bye!” they shouted as they roared off down the driveway.

“I’m glad they didn’t want to stay for another night. I can only just tolerate Roger. Camille is alright but I quickly tire of his company,” Zack whispered as we got into the house.

Marcia had prepared a meal for us and greeted us warmly. It was stew and we both quickly realised how hungry we were.

After our meal, we decided to have a look at the stable and check the horses. One of Zack’s friends, Jonathan, had been overseeing the stables in his absence and everything looked very tidy.

Zack had gone back to the house to make some phone calls.

Puzzle was cowering at the back of his stable. I quietly unbolted the stable door and went in. He didn’t turn around.

“Hello, boy. How are you?”

I stroked his nose and tickled his ears. He looked so sad, the poor thing. Eventually he started to nuzzle in to me enjoying our closeness.

I got his grooming kit out and gave him a really good brush, combing out his mane and picking his feet out. By the time I had finished, he seemed quite relaxed and chilled out.

I went back into the house and passed the study.

The door was open slightly and could hear Zack on the phone to someone.

“I’m telling you, we need to find out who is fucking around with us and quickly. First the fuel pipes were cut and then someone tried grabbing Jennifer on the ferry home. Luckily she can take care of herself and managed to shrug them off. It’s a good thing she did as if I had got my hands on whoever it was I would have wanted to kill them for touching her.”

Someone was replying to him so I hung back at the door, listening in.

“Yes, I think we should contact that Private Investigator that we used before. What was his name? What? Oh yes, Rob Parker. That’s the bloke. Yes, get on to it as soon as, would you? Thanks.”

I decided to quietly knock on the door.

“Come in.”

“Is everything okay, Zack? You seem a little distracted?”

“I’m fine. I’m just a bit concerned about everything that’s been going on.”

“It will all come out in the wash.”

“I love your quirky English sayings.”

We decided to get an early night as we were both shattered and Zack was still recuperating from the plane crash.

Snuggling into his warm body, I felt relieved that we were back home and safe. I drifted off in his warm embrace and I was awoken by him thrashing around in the bed. I sat up and looked at him as I switched the bedside lamp on.

“No, Phoebe, please don’t go. It’s not safe,” he mumbled.

I couldn’t make some of the words out.

“Don’t! I told you no!”

“Zack, sweetheart, Zack,” I whispered, trying to rouse him from his nightmare.

I gently touched his shoulder and he grabbed my wrist tightly as he continued to fight off his demons. He gripped it so hard and it really hurt. Thankfully he released me.

His blue eyes flickered open and he sat up in the bed looking around with a dazed expression.

“What happened?”

“You were having a nightmare, Zack, and you grabbed me,” I told him rubbing my wrist.

It was bright red from his grip.

“I’m so sorry, Jennifer. I would never hurt you, you know that, don't you?”

“You were shouting Phoebe’s name and telling her not to go somewhere.”

“She was going riding on Puzzle and I was begging her not to go. I have had the same dream a few times.”

“Well, it’s over now. Try and get some sleep. I will get you some water.”

I went down to the kitchen and when I got back into bed, he was lying staring at the ceiling blankly.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, it just felt so real that’s all.”

“Come on, I will stroke your lovely hair. Let me look after you.”

I sat up in the bed and he nuzzled into my comfortable chest.

Stroking his hair soothingly, he drifted back to sleep.

Chapter Twenty Nine

When I woke up, we were in the same position.

“I am so sorry for scaring you last night, Jennifer.”

“It’s okay, you didn’t do it on purpose.”

He snuggled back into me.

“Are you feeling better?”

“I am. It must be your nursing skills! Why don’t we get you a uniform?”

“Ha! You have been seriously injured and you still manage to be kinky, you bad man!”

“I can’t wait to make love to you again, baby. It’s been far too long. The withdrawal sucks!”

I was preparing breakfast for the twins when Scarlett suggested to Zack that Connor could come over for dinner that evening.

“Well, okay, that will be fine, sweetheart.”

“Thanks, Dad. His Dad will bring him over and collect him.”

“Right. Well, tell him to be here about 7pm then.”

“I’m busy tonight with Amy but I might just cancel it to watch the fireworks when Dad loses his cool!”

“Don’t bother, Jasper!” Scarlett warned him as I stifled a giggle.

Scarlett kissed her Dad on the cheek and headed outside to wait for me.

“That was very good, Zack. I know it’s hard for you to accept her growing up but there’s not a lot you can do about it.”

“I know and thanks for being there. I am going to work from home today. I just can’t face all the questions at the office yet.”

“I will see you when I get back then.”

We all jumped into the Audi and I turned to Scarlett.

“Are you a bit worried about tonight, Scarlett?”

“I am a bit to be honest. Do you think he will be nice to Connor?”

“Yes, of course he will be or he will be getting a few sharp kicks from me!” I laughed, trying to put her at her ease.

Jasper wisely decided to keep quiet for a change.

After I dropped them off, I called into the Police Station to see Ross.

“What news do you have, Black?”

I told him about the plane crash, the fuel pipes and my assailant on the ferry.

“Jesus, it’s all been going on.”

“Tell me about it. Mr Cole is taking on a Private Investigator, someone called Rob Parker, to see if he can get anywhere.”

“I know that name. He is a bit of a maverick type.”

“I will keep you posted, Sir.”

“Very good, Black, and take care of yourself. I might not show it but I do worry about you.”

Aw, how sweet!

I pulled out of the Police Station and sped back towards the house. After a few minutes, I was aware of somebody following me so I cut through a housing estate to see if they carried on.

The car on my tail was a 4x4 BMW with blacked out windows and I decided to pull over to take the number plate. The BMW pulled to the kerb, keeping a few cars between us.

I read the plate and rang through to Ross who assured me he would run it through the computer.

I pulled back into the busy traffic and the BMW resumed its pursuit. My phone rang through the blue tooth.

“Yes. Do you have any information, Sir?”

“I do. It is a leased car registered to Cole Enterprises.”

“How interesting. It doesn’t shed any light on the driver though.”

“I know. Be careful, Black.”

I carried on for a few minutes down the road towards home.

Just as I was about to turn left for the lane to the house, I pulled over again and got out of the car. The BMW pulled over a short distance away and I ran towards it.

Suddenly the car started up and drove towards me at speed. I was terrified and I managed to jump out of the way at the last minute, ending up in a hedge at the side of the road junction. My arm was cut to shreds by the sharp branches.

“Jesus. What next?”

The BMW accelerated quickly down the road past me and disappeared out of sight.

Chapter Thirty

Visibly shaking, I got back into my abandoned car and drove back to the house.

I strode into the hallway banging the front door behind me.

“Zack, where are you?”

Rage rushed through my body. I was so sick of all this shit!

“I’m in the study.”

“You will never believe what just happened.”

“Are you okay? You look really mad and really, really hot.”

He was wearing his sexy glasses. Zack licked his lips and I was side-tracked as I watched him. Rage turned to desire as I greedily took him in. He pushed a hand through his hair.

“A 4x4 BMW followed me home then it nearly ran me over. Do you recognise the registration plate, Zack?”