The Billionaire's Gentle Rescue (The Sisterhood) (14 page)

Marco sighed and turned to Zoe. “Matt’s an awesome cook. We’re safe.”

Darcy smacked his arm and rolled her eyes. “Don’t be mean or I’ll make you eggs for breakfast.”

Marco hugged Zoe closer and shuddered. “Be very nice,” he encouraged.

The evening was a great deal of fun with the three of them talking about growing up, politics, dogs and other pets. Zoe watched with fascination as Marco interacted with his sister, and he was very protective of her feelings, even to the point of taking her to the side and asking her if she was still happy with her husband, Sergei. Zoe didn’t mean to eavesdrop, it was just that Marco’s deep voice carried, filled with authority and concern so she heard the question inadvertently. And Darcy’s response was so deliriously happy that it made Zoe smile, wishing she could feel that kind of love and adoration for her spouse. At this point, she wasn’t even sure if she could have feelings for another man once Marco moved on. Just his kiss had ruined her for other men for ten years and now she’d gone and slept with him last night. Well, there hadn’t been much sleep, but the point was, she knew what she’d be missing and he’d be a hard act to follow. Possibly impossible, she thought as she put the last dish into the dishwasher and closed it up just as the two of them were coming back into the kitchen.

“You didn’t have to clean up everything,” Darcy said as she poured more wine for Marco.

“It wasn’t difficult at all. You have a lovely house, very efficient.”

“Thank you. Sergei keeps telling me we need a housekeeper and other servants but the only people I’ll let in is the team that comes by every few days to clean. I would feel uncomfortable with a housekeeper and butler and all those other silly people Sergei thinks are essential for an acceptable household. We have a gardener, of course, but that’s as far as I’ll go.”

“Does Matt cook for you every night?”

“Of course not,” she laughed. “Sergei insisted on a meal service though. He likes to cook, but says I won’t do it when he’s not around.”

“You don’t even remember to heat up the food when he’s not around, do you?” Marco asked.

“Sometimes I forget. But I’m getting better at it.”

“You look good,” he said. “I’m glad you’re not dropping that weight like you used to.”

“Cameras add ten pounds at least,” she said dismissively. “Now that I don’t have to be out in the limelight as often, I don’t have to starve myself.”

Darcy picked up her sketch pad and started doodling while listening to Darcy and Marco talk and laugh. She wasn’t trying to step out of the conversation, but all evening, she’d been thinking about a dress that would be fabulous on Darcy’s delicate figure. She wasn’t too thin like some of the actresses and models, but nor was she heavy in any way. There was just an ethereal quality to her that Zoe wanted to capture and enhance.

She drew the idea from several angles, not really getting it exactly right, but as she watched them laugh, Darcy drinking lemonade and Marco sipping wine, she could see the similarities in their features. As soon as that came through, Darcy knew exactly what she wanted to do to the dress. As she swiftly sketched it out, then filled in the details, her mind worked frantically, her fingers unable to keep up with the idea in her mind.

She didn’t realize it, but Marco and Darcy were watching her in silence for several minutes as she bent over her sketch book, working to refine the details. When she was done, she looked at the finished sketch and smiled. Looking up, she blinked as she realized that both of them were sitting on the sofa watching, waiting.

“I’m sorry, did you ask me something?”

Marco smiled and shook his head. “We were just fascinated by the process. What have you got there?” he asked.

She turned the sketch around, eager to see what Darcy thought about the dress. It was formal and perhaps Darcy didn’t go out to formal events any longer so it was a mute point. “What do you think?” she asked softly.

Darcy looked at the dress, her eyes widened in amazement. She moved closer, taking in all the details and shaking her head. “It’s stunning,” she whispered. “It’s a work of art.” Looking up at Zoe, she said carefully, “Would you mind if I bought it? Would you make it for me?”

Zoe smiled, delighted. “I designed it for you,” she said, looking down at the soft green dress with the flowing satin under-dress and tissue overskirt that misted out around the skirt. The neckline wasn’t fitted or low cut, but instead, was a simple square that moved down to fitted sleeves. The waist cinched in, making the dress both wraithlike and dramatic.

Darcy glanced up and smiled. “It’s amazing.”

“It’s my gift to you for your help those few weeks ago.”

Darcy was shaking her head even before Zoe had finished. “I won’t hear about it. From what Marco has told me, you’re an up and coming designer so it would be wonderful to have one of your gowns. Besides, I’ll ask Sergei to make it one of my Christmas presents. He can spread some of his money around. He has too much of it anyway.”

“It’s a deal,” Marco said. “And now, I’m going to take Zoe upstairs so you can get to sleep. I know you’ve been up since about five o’clock this morning.”

“Goodness! I didn’t bring anything with me,” Zoe said, standing up and pushing her sketch pad back into her bag.

“Yes you did. I packed for you after you went to work this morning.”

She turned to glare at him. “You did what?”

He shrugged, unrepentant. “You left me alone. Never leave me alone. No telling what I might get into.”

Darcy laughed and stepped backwards. “This sounds like a private conversation. I’ll let you two have at it,” she said and walked to the door of the living room. “Marco, you know where your room is. Zoe can…”

“She’s staying in my room.” Marco watched Zoe as her face flamed into color. She started to protest but he simply shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest, indicating that the sleeping arrangements weren’t negotiable.

Darcy’s smile widened. “I thought so, just wanted to offer an alternative in case I was misunderstanding the vibes.”

With that, she left them alone, glaring at one another. “I’m not sleeping with you in your sister’s house.”

He took a step forward and shook his head. “You’re not sleeping anywhere but right next to me. And tomorrow morning, if you leave the bed without me, I’m going to hunt you down, toss you over my shoulder and put you right back into that bed and we’ll start over again. Do I make myself clear?”

“You can’t boss me around.”

“Can’t I?” he said, his voice soft and silky, but lethal. “I am looking forward to you challenging me.” He touched her cheek, his finger sliding down to her neck and making her shiver. “You see, either way, I win. If you’re next to me when I wake up, then I win. If you’re not there, I get to find you and bring you back, which means I win. So there’s really no loser here.”

“Except me, who’s not going to be able to do what I want.”

His grin widened. “Oh, you can do what you want. Just within certain parameters. And I guarantee that you’ll like those restrictions.”

Zoe’s breath was caught in the back of her throat with his words. The pictures he created with such a simple, yet enticing, threat made her heart beat faster and her skin heat up in anticipation of his touch. “Promise?” she asked breathlessly.

“Promise,” he said and bent down to kiss her, picking her up in his arms and effortlessly carrying her up the stairs. Zoe didn’t see the lovely rooms they passed through or any of the upstairs as Marco occupied every part of her mind with his touch, his kisses and the way he made her cry out for more of all of the above until late into the night.

Zoe woke the next morning with that same feeling of contentment but something was different. Looking around the room, she instantly loved the ice blue décor of the large, elegant bedroom but something was still wrong. And then she knew what it was. Marco wasn’t in bed with her. Her hand reached out and felt the other pillow but he wasn’t there. She lifted her head and looked around, only to be startled when she found three sets of eyes staring back at her, all with a look of expectant excitement.

She heard a chuckle to the left of the bed and turned to see Marco sipping coffee by the window, only a towel covering his body and he’d obviously just come out of the shower. “They’re waiting for you to pet them,” he explained.

Zoe glanced between the dogs who inched forward slightly, and Marco’s bare chest. Holding the sheet over her own nakedness, she reached out to pet the biggest of the dogs, only to have her hand knocked off by the smallest who claimed the privilege.

Zoe laughed as they all piled closer, eager for the same attention but at the same moment, they heard something only dogs could hear and the three of them were off the bed in a split second, racing through the doorway and disappearing.

Marco stood up and grabbed the second cup of coffee, bringing it to her with a kiss. “They heard Darcy fixing their breakfast. Food always takes precedence over a beautiful female who’s willing to scratch their ears.” He kissed her again. Shaking his head, he said, “Silly dogs.”

Zoe blushed as he sat down on the bed next to her. “How long are you going to hold that sheet over those lovely breasts?” he asked, his now free hand taking the center of the sheet and tugging gently.

She held on tightly, not ready to be as free with her nakedness as he was. “You’re already showered,” she said.

“You’re very observant.”

“Are you going to let me shower as well?”

His eyes took on a slumberous expression as he considered her request. “What do I get in return?”

She laughed and shook her head. “How about a less funky companion?”

His eyes suddenly became serious. “We need to talk….” He started to say but then the dogs came barreling back into the room, skidding to a halt on the bed. Marco and Zoe both held their coffee cups aloft, careful not to let anything spill on the soft sheets.

Zoe laughed at their eager expressions and shook her head. “I guess we’re not getting anything else done until they get their attention, huh?”

Marco sighed. “I guess not.”

He stood up and tossed his towel onto the end of the bed. Grabbing a pair of silk boxers, he slid them on, then pulled on a pair of jeans that were obviously well worn and showed off his muscular legs and delicious tush to perfection. A long sleeved cotton tee shirt and wool sweater followed, then he herded all the animals out of the room. “Come on downstairs when you’re dressed. I’m making breakfast.”

“Is Darcy really as bad of a cook as she says?”

He shook his head with gravity. “She’s worse.”

Zoe laughed as he took the dogs out of the room, providing her with some much needed privacy.

After her shower, Zoe looked into the bag Marco had packed for her and blushed. He’d been sweet about packing her jeans and sweaters, even her favorite sweatshirt which would be needed here in the mountains of Virginia where the autumn air was a bit cooler, but he’d also packed her underwear. And not just any underwear, but her lacy tangos and thongs, the most delicate and naughty of her bras. He’d even packed her garter belt and stockings, although she couldn’t imagine why she would need them here where jeans seemed to be the normal clothing choice.

As she entered the kitchen, she could feel Marco’s eyes on her. But when she looked at him, his eyes weren’t looking at her face and her own flared pink when she realized that he was looking at her breasts. Most likely wondering which of the bras he’d packed for her that she’d put on.

Shaking her head, she turned to smile at Darcy who was busy chopping fruit for breakfast. “What can I do to help?”

“Not a thing. Marco put a breakfast casserole in the oven which should be ready in about ten minutes and I’m all finished with the fruit. You already have coffee so just sit down and relax, tell me more about yourself.”

Zoe wasn’t used to people asking about her but she was easily able to defer the conversation to the animals, of which Darcy absolutely loved to talk about. Zoe enjoyed listening to her talk about the animals and how they’d recovered from their traumas. The stories definitely explained some of the odd markings and missing points of ears on several of the animals and made her heart melt even more for the poor animals. But their personalities had certainly recovered under Darcy’s gentle touch because they were all healthy and lively, eager for attention and not afraid of strangers any longer.

“I’m going to take Zoe down to the creek,” he said after a delicious breakfast of an egg and sausage casserole along with succulent fruit that tasted as if it had just been picked off of a tree. “We’ll bring the dogs and some balls.”

Zoe followed Marco down a long pathway through the trees, enjoying the sounds of the country and laughing as the dogs all chased different balls, retrieving them and bringing them back for another toss.

Marco told Zoe about Darcy’s childhood, how he’d tried to protect her from their father’s waving hands and rants, but often, he was too late and he’d have to carry her off to patch her up. Several times, he’d find her under the dining room table playing with her dolls, having a private tea party with her stuffed animals. At Zoe’s questioning glance, he grimaced as he explained, “My father wouldn’t notice her under there, so he couldn’t smack her around.”