Follow Your Star, Jennifer Bohnet [best fiction novels to read txt] 📗

‘Where are we going?’ Nanette asked, as the lift took them down to the ground floor.

‘We’re eating on board Pole Position,’ Zac said. ‘I’ve got a terrific chef this year and he’s promised me a meal to remember.’

Once on board, the yacht’s crew sprang into action, ensuring everything went smoothly. Sipping her champagne and nibbling canapés, Nanette looked around the main saloon as Zac pressed a couple of hidden buttons on the wall. Simultaneously the side windows opened letting in a gentle sea breeze and romantic piano music filtered through the sound system.

Zac, still on a high from his win, seemed determined to wine and dine himself back into Nanette’s favour.

When Nanette tried to ask him something about the accident, he placed a gentle finger against her lips.

‘Not this evening, Nanette. Tonight is a new beginning.’ He clicked his champagne glass against hers. ‘Santé’

Nanette looked at him, exasperated. ‘But I still have questions I want answered and you said you wanted to talk to me urgently.’

‘I do. Later. Now come and eat. We’ve got lobster especially for you.’

As he helped her to a generous portion of her favourite dish, Nanette’s thoughts drifted back three years, to a time when evenings like this with Zac had been the norm.

Candles in elaborate candelabra casting shadows, seductive music playing in the background, the moon shining on the Mediterranean. A perfect setting for romance. Nanette glanced at Zac. What exactly was he playing at tonight?

‘Are you doing anything special for your birthday this year?’ Zac asked.

Nanette shook her head. ‘No, nothing planned.’ She didn’t add she hadn’t celebrated her birthday properly in the years since the accident. The two anniversaries were too close together.

‘I remember we always used to celebrate it early as I was racing. I’m going to Canada straight after the UK Grand Prix this weekend so I’ll miss it again. You’ll have to think of this as an early birthday treat,’ Zac said.

‘So long as you don’t plan on presenting me with a car later,’ Nanette said shortly. ‘Because—’ She stopped in mid-sentence and stared at him.

‘Because what?’ Zac asked, glancing at her curiously.

‘Because I’d have to decline of course,’ Nanette said. Carefully she placed her napkin on the table and stood up.

‘Zac, I’ve had a lovely meal, but I think I’d like to leave now if you don’t mind.’

Surprised, Zac followed her as she went to leave the saloon, and caught her by the hand.

‘At least dance with me for old times’ sake,’ he said.

And before she realized what was happening, Nanette was in his arms and the two of them were on deck swaying to ‘Lady in Red’ a favourite of theirs from the past.

As Zac held her close it was as if the last three years apart had never happened. He appeared to have conveniently forgotten the trauma, the hurt and the broken heart he’d left her with. But Nanette hadn’t and even if old emotions that she’d thought were dead forever were rising to the surface, she wasn’t about to give in to them.

When Zac began placing gentle kisses on her head a tremor of anger flooded through her body.

‘Zac, stop it now.’ Nanette pushed him away. ‘I’m leaving – don’t try and stop me again!’

Zac shrugged. ‘I just thought maybe you’d like to forget the past – put it behind us.’

Ignoring him, Nanette began to make her way to the gangway. More shaken than she cared to admit, the only thing she wanted to do was get off the yacht.

She’d thought she was over Zac and yet here he was, proving he still had the power to stir her.

She was on the gangplank when he called her name. Swallowing hard she turned her head to look at him, her hand gripping the gangway rope tightly for support as Zac spoke.

‘I invited you here tonight for a reason. You see, Nanette, I have a proposal for you. One to which I hope very much you will say yes.’

CHAPTER SIX

‘How did your dinner date with Zac go?’ Mathieu asked. ‘Are you two finally friends again?’

Mathieu asked his questions as he, Nanette and the twins walked around the headland towards the open-air cinema. The twins, excited at the prospect of seeing the latest Pirates of the Caribbean film had rushed ahead.

‘Not really,’ Nanette replied slowly. ‘Nothing’s really changed. Zac certainly hasn’t.’

She was still in turmoil from the evening she’d spent with Zac. As for his proposal, she hadn’t yet discussed it with anybody.

She glanced sideways at Mathieu, unsure if he was the right person to confide in about what had happened on board Pole Position between her and Zac, but she needed to talk to someone and because the twins were involved, Mathieu did have a right to know what Zac had proposed last night.

‘Come back and have another glass of champagne,’ Zac had urged. ‘I really need to talk to you.’

Standing on the gangplank Nanette had been determined. ‘No thanks, Zac. I don’t want any more to drink. Whatever you’ve got to say to me can be said out here.’

Holding her breath Nanette waited for him to speak. She was determined not to let Zac see how shaken she was. And how unbelievably angry she was with him over his actions – both past and present.

‘Come back and work for me, Nanette.’

His unexpected request fell into a lengthening silence as Nanette gazed at him. All this wining and dining and faux romancing was because he wanted her to work for him? Not because he wanted them to be a couple again as she’d foolishly begun to imagine.

‘What?’ She looked at him in disbelief.

‘I’m starting a holiday business and I need someone I can trust totally,’ Zac said.

‘I’ve got a job – looking after the twins. And when Vanessa and Ralph return from their Amazon adventure, I shall go back to the UK with them.’

‘Come on, Nanette – you’re capable of much more than playing nursemaid to a couple of kids. You were the