CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Renee bit her lip and turned away to hide a tiny smile. She wanted to stay mad at him. But how could she when he had been waiting at her doorstep for hours? He’d had an exhausting day as well, and he had to be hungry and tired, yet he had doggedly waited for her.
“Just have dinner with me, and I’ll leave you alone. I promise,” Zack said, putting his hand over his heart.
Her stomach gave another growl and Renee rolled her eyes. Her body had betrayed her, again.
“Fine,” she said at last. “Just dinner.”
Zack flashed an impish grin. Renee had a niggling suspicion that he was up to something.
“I’ll take you to my favorite restaurant,” Zack said as he led her towards his car which he’d parked just down the road.
“Your favorite restaurant? Which one?” As his PA, Renee had a list of the restaurants he frequented. She often booked his business lunches at his preferred restaurants.
“It’s not on the list,” Zack answered, reading her mind. “This isn’t a business lunch.”
Renee narrowed her eyes. “So where are we going?”
“To a very special place,” Zack said, opening the car door for her.
“Did you take Karina there?” she asked cattily. The question was out of her mouth before it could filter through her brain.
Renee scowled at herself. Why was she being so bitchy? What Zack did with other women was none of her business. He was a free man.
Zack looked a little surprised at her question. Then he flashed a cocky grin.
“Are you jealous, Renee? I thought you didn’t want a relationship,” Zack teased.
“I...I don’t.”
Zack started the engine and pulled away from the curb. After driving in silence for a while, he said quietly, “I always go to this restaurant on my own. I highly recommend this restaurant to all my friends and associates. But when I eat there, I eat alone. It’s a really great place. I know you’ll love everything about it.”
“You’ve never mentioned this restaurant to me,” Renee said. “Where is it?”
“It’s about an hour’s drive. At the outskirts of the city, away from the city center.”
“Okay.” She turned and looked out the window.
Away from the city center was good. It would be quieter, less crowded, and she would be less likely to run into anyone she knew. An uncomfortable, ugly thought crept into her mind.
Maybe Zack was driving all the way out to this remote restaurant so he wouldn’t be seen and photographed having dinner with his boring, frumpy PA.
Renee squeezed her eyes shut, angry at herself for thinking all these terrible, negative thoughts. Why did she let Karina’s words affect her so badly? She shouldn’t believe anything that woman said.
Zack took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. “Just relax, Renee,” he said. “We’re just having dinner. We don’t have to talk. We’ll just eat.”
She nodded glumly.
“Let me make it up to you, Renee,” Zack said quietly. “I...”
“You don’t owe me anything, Zack.” Renee sighed deeply. “What happened today, with Trafford and Karina, wasn’t your fault. It’s just my luck, I guess. I seem to keep bumping into the wrong people. Why can’t I find...” She swallowed hard.
“What are you looking for, Renee?” Zack asked. They stopped at a red light and he turned to face her fully.
Renee opened her mouth but she couldn’t find the right words. There were so many things she wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him that she was looking for true, everlasting love. But she’d learned from experience that love was just a fantasy. People changed and love faded and died. She no longer believed in love, and yet...she yearned for it. But she couldn’t tell him that.
The lights changed while Zack waited for her answer. Horns blared behind them and Zack muttered a curse as he put the car into gear.
“I’m just looking for a nice place to eat,” she said, attempting to make a joke. “In peace,” she added and cringed.
To her surprise, Zack didn’t press further. He accepted her lame answer and said, “Then you’ll love this restaurant.”
Renee smiled, appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood and cheer her up. “The food’s that great, eh?” she said.
“Believe me, the food’s the best in the whole universe!”