But Zack's attention had already returned to Annie. She had to admit, it felt good to be with him. He was smooth, sophisticated. Most men would let their gaze wander to the starlets, but he gave her his undivided attention. He knew exactly how to make the woman he was with feel good—and he was probably going to use every trick in his repertoire on Annie, just to amuse himself. Well, she certainly wouldn't fall for any of them. Plenty of men like him had tried when she was younger, but none had succeeded. She didn't care about their fickle, fake interest.
"I wouldn't be caught dead in something like that." She sniffed. "Besides, I don't have the figure for it."
Big mistake. Zack's gaze traveled from her face to her throat, then languidly over her br**sts—where they lingered way too long—and down to her hips and legs. Her face flushed and she wished she'd worn long pants like usual instead of the short skirt.
"Oh, I don't know," he said quietly. "You might be able to pull it off."
She didn't know whether to be offended or flattered so she didn't say anything.
"I've embarrassed you," he said. "Sorry." He didn't look sorry. He looked amused.
"I'm not embarrassed. I'm just not sure this is appropriate conversation for two people who've just met."
"Maybe we should get to know each other first. That way I can work out what needs improving."
"Improving?"
He held up his hands. "Sorry, wrong choice of words. It's just that Bob was very specific about what he wants. He wants a rebel. And," Zack sighed as he studied her again, quickly this time, "I just don't see an iced tea-drinking, suit-wearing woman as a rebel."
He had a point, but he didn't have to be so offensive about it.
"Speaking of Bob," she said, "how do you two know each other?"
He shrugged powerful shoulders. "He helped me out when I needed it most. Now it's my turn to return the favor. Bob asked, so here I am. Besides, it could be fun. It's not every day I get to teach an attractive woman how to behave badly."
Annie's entire body went numb. He thinks I'm attractive?
"Annie? Are you still with me?"
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Uh, yeah. So you were going to tell me why you owe Bob."
"It's no big deal. But it's not casual conversation. Maybe I'll tell you when we know each other better."
Damn. She hated mysteries. She'd never been any good at reading crime novels, always skipping to the last page to see whodunit. Pity this wasn't a book. It would kill her to wait. All she knew from the gossip pages was that Zack had come from a poor background. But how did he get started in big business? He would have needed capital, contacts and financial know-how.
Zack watched as Annie's brain ticked over. He could almost see the cogs turning, considering every possibility. He doubted she'd ever guess how much Bob had done for him fifteen years ago.
But Like he'd said, it was no big deal. He just didn't want it splashed across the newspapers. In order to make ends meet, he'd stolen a vehicle. Bob's. When he learned who Bob was, Zack, possessing the gift of the gab, talked him into listening to a demo tape of his late father's, a songwriter. Bob had liked what he heard and agreed to represent Zack, his three brothers and two sisters. He landed them a very nice deal and the family collected a tidy sum from the royalties. Zack used his share to buy his first investment.
"So do you like LA?" he asked, hoping to relax her with idle chatter. She was so tense, like a coil spring wound tight. He had a task ahead of him.
She creased her brow in that cute way he already decided he liked, and glared at him. Great, she was going to argue with him. Again. Jeez, she was uptight, and smart. Bob could've warned him. It seemed nothing he said, no matter how innocent the intention, slipped past her. But far from being annoyed, he found it challenging. That was one thing his life lacked these days.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, her blue eyes narrowing. She had amazingly long lashes that leant Fifties-style innocent beauty to her pretty face. She wasn't attractive in the classic sense, although there was something about her high cheekbones and wide eyes that he found interesting and ethereal. With heavier makeup and elegantly messy hair, she could definitely pass for a twenty-something with attitude. She had the attitude part down already.
"It's supposed to mean, do you like LA? Nothing hidden there, Annie. Don't challenge everything I say. Although it's a step in the right direction as far as turning you into a rebel is concerned."
She bristled. Why did she do that? Did she have a deep, dark secret that involved rebels? Or was she just a woman who didn't like a man telling her what to do?
If that were the case, she was definitely not his type.
"LA's okay," she conceded with a shrug. "I've always lived here, so I don't know anything else. You?"
He drew in a deep breath, warring with himself. Should he give away more information than he usually did on a first, second or third date? Most women didn't seem really interested in his background, but Annie leaned forward in her seat and watched him intently. For once, he felt like the woman he was with really wanted to know more about him. Not how much money he earned or what cars he drove, but his family, his background—the things that mattered.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she said. "We've only just met—"
"I've got nothing to hide." Not exactly anyway. It's just that some things were personal and should only be told to special people. It was too soon to know if Annie would become someone special, but he wanted to tell her. Maybe if she knew something about him she'd relax a little.
"I was born in Boston, moved to Detroit when I was five, then to Canada at ten. I've also lived in New York and Montana."
"You get around."
He smiled. "So I'm told."
There was that cute frown again. He wondered if she knew what affect that petulant pout had on men. Probably not. She didn't seem totally aware of her appeal, looking a little uncomfortable in her short skirt and high heels.
Nope, definitely not his type.
"Okay, what else do you need to know, sir?"
He grinned. Better. She was loosening up, finding her sense of humor. He liked it when she wasn't so obstinate.