Free Billionaire Bad Boy by C.J. Archer Page B

her, grinning. Strands of
black hair fell over his forehead and into his warm, liquid eyes. The grin
faded to a sly smile as he studied her ice creamed face. "You look good
enough to eat."
    She caught her breath when his eyelids drooped. His
smile vanished and he lowered his face to hers.
    The kiss felt strangely familiar, but she ignored that
sensation in favor of the other ones assailing her. The ones that made her toes
tingle, made her heart beat as fast as a butterfly's wings and made her forget
what the hell she was doing kissing Zack DiMarco, a man so out of her league
his team didn't even play on the same planet as hers.
    But the moment was spoiled when he abruptly pulled
away and swore. Not the most encouraging gesture. "Sorry," he
muttered as he stood. He looked everywhere but at her, ran his hand through his
hair, rubbing ice cream through it, and apologized again.
    Annie stood on wobbly legs, trying to appear like she
didn't care. But she probably didn't succeed considering her heart raced and
her mind whirled. "That's okay." What else could she say? The last
time a kiss had ended with swearing and apologies, she'd been playing chase
with Benny Furland in the school yard and their braces had locked together. Definitely
not a good sign.
    "No, you don't understand," Zack muttered. "Hell, I don't really understand, but you said it yourself last night, I'm not
your type. Well, you're not my type either so let's just leave it at
that."
    Last night? Uh oh. Annie drew her brows together. "I
said that?" Well, it was true, only she wished they'd avoided the
topic altogether. Now things would just get awkward between them.
    He didn't answer her but spun round and walked off up
the beach. Running to catch up, she made yet another mental note to never drink
again.
    ***
    Kissing Annie the first time had been a mistake. Kissing
her the second time was a monumental disaster. Zack couldn't get her or that
kiss out of his head. She'd looked so delicious as she lay on the beach,
covered in ice cream, giggling and staring up at him through those brilliant
eyes.
    It wasn't fair. He wasn't supposed to
feel so much desire, so much need, for one woman. But he did, and now he'd pay
for it because he had to be with her, but not be with her.
    They drove in silence. Zack wondered if she understood
why he'd stopped the kiss. Probably she didn't, but to her credit, she didn't
pursue it. He wouldn't have a clue how to explain it to her without hurting her
feelings anyway.
    But he had to at least justify it to himself. That was
easier. Annie was a quiet, sensible woman. She could do better than a playboy
with a dubious past. And he certainly didn't want to be tied to a woman who
could wrap him around her little finger. He couldn't settle down with one
woman. One petite, sexy woman...
    Okay, so convincing himself wasn't as easy as he
thought.
    And there was that little matter of her off-handed
comment last night. I don't like guys like you . Had she thrown that at
him in frustration? Or did she really mean it? From what Bob had told him, she
usually dated safe men with safe jobs and normal backgrounds. Why would she
want someone like him? Someone with a shady past and a reputation for dating
every woman he knew.
    And why did it ache so much? He should be relieved
that she wasn't thinking of him in that way.
    Hell, this was ridiculous. He'd never struggled with
his conscience where a woman was concerned. He'd never cared what they wanted
him for, or thought of him. And a kiss had never affected him so much.
    "Guess this awkward silence means we're not
having that drink," she said.
    He glanced at her. Her face was still streaked with
ice cream and her lips pouted. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she
stared straight ahead. Damn. He'd hurt her feelings. He may not be her type but
she was sensitive. He needed to remember that and be more careful with his
words, and his kisses.
    "Annie," he said quietly, then thought
better about yet another