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had a severe lack of that commodity in group
situations, especially when everyone else oozed it. Of course, a man like Zack
wouldn't ever understand that. He had it all—looks, money, sex appeal. He
was perfect—probably always had been. How could he ever come close to
understanding what it was like being a nerd? Hell knows, other people had tried
to change her—her father for one—and not succeeded. What made Zack
think he could?
    "So what else?" she said. "Are you
going to take me to some parties?"
    He shrugged. "I don't really attend many."
    "Oh? That's not the impression I get."
    His eyes narrowed. "And where did you get that
impression from?"
    "I, um, have to read the gossip pages in the
papers. It's part of my job."
    "Sure, I bet it is," he growled. "They're
wrong anyway. I never attend half the things they have me at."
    Yeah, right. Just like he never slept with half the
women they have him sleeping with.
    A prickly silence settled into the dense air
surrounding them. Annie wanted to say something, anything, to diffuse it but
Zack seemed to be brooding. Eventually she decided to return to the one thing
they had in common—changing her into a social butterfly. She might as
well accept that it was going to happen, temporarily at least.
    "So apart from getting drunk and spending money,
what else are you going to teach me, oh Master?"
    Finally he chuckled. He seemed as relieved as she was
to get the conversation flowing again. For someone so arrogant and confident,
he was surprisingly sensitive about his own image.
    "I'm going to teach you to ride a
motorbike."
    Annie let out a small yelp of protest. "You've
got to be joking."
    He shook his head.
    "There is no way I'm getting on that
machine again after today. Especially to ride it by myself. It's dangerous. Didn't
you notice me shaking after I got off?"
    He shrugged. "I thought I just made you
nervous."
    "In your dreams, DiMarco."
    His brow furrowed but a smile played at his mouth. "Pity.
I thought I had some kind of affect on you. It was good for my ego."
    "Like your ego needs any help."
    "Hey, my ego's as fragile as the next guy's. Especially
when a woman doesn't even crack a smile when he makes a joke."
    "You haven't said anything funny!"
    "Gee thanks. Now I'm shattered."
    She rolled her eyes but smiled anyway.
    He lay on his back and closed his eyes. "Well, at
least I don't have to teach you attitude. You've got enough of that to knock
poor little Doggie back to his mommy in New York."
    "His name's Dug-E."
    But he didn't seem to hear her. His breathing became
soft and his arms, crossed over his chest, rose and fell to an even rhythm.
    Annie watched him. Did he really think he actually
made her nervous? Unbelievable!
    Unbelievably sexy, too. Her admiring gaze traveled the
length of him. His sheer size was magnificent, as was the bulge in his jeans
that was rumored—according to gossip—to be as impressive as it
promised. An image of him naked flashed through her mind and it was all she
could do not to jump him and have her way with him.
    She let her eyes roam back up to his face. The strong
contours of his Italian heritage were a perfect canvas for the high cheekbones,
straight nose and almond shaped eyes. And the soft lips, strung into a cheeky
bow, was way too delicious too ignore.
    She imagined kissing those lips, right now, as he lay
on the grass beside her. Would he wake up? Would he kiss her back? She felt
like Sleeping Beauty in reverse. Zack was certainly a beauty all right—but
this was no fairy tale and she was no Princess Charming. More likely he'd wake
up and run a mile.
    But since she could never have him on a more intimate
basis, surely a little kiss would be all right. Just a little peck on those
yummy lips, to taste them. The opportunity would soon pass if she didn't grab
it. All she wanted to do was touch his mouth with her own before she lost her
nerve.
    She leaned forward, her face inches from his, and
closed her eyes. It was now or