Australia: In Bed with a Bachelor. Emma Darcy

on loss and he’d spoken almost passionately about the trauma of it and wanting to help when she’d taken him out to the garden last week. It had surprised her at the time. The conviction started to grow in her that he was not like her father. Not at all like him.

      Which made the pleasure she could share with him much more acceptable.

      ‘The self-sufficient man,’ she said, smiling.

      ‘Who doesn’t want to be alone tonight.’

      His smile was definitely wolfish, exciting her with the wild thought of howling at the moon together, mating on top of a mountain under the stars. Ridiculous since they were in the middle of a city, but the female animal inside her was strongly aroused, wanting to explore intimate possibilities with Jake Freedman.

      The waitress returned with the bottle of wine and filled their glasses for them. Jake lifted his in a toast. ‘To learning a lot more about each other.’

      Laura nodded agreement. ‘I’ll drink to that.’

      She clicked her glass to his and they both sipped the wine.

      ‘I heard you tell Eddie that you worked out at a gym. Do you go often?’

      ‘Usually after work. It’s a good way of winding down.’

      And every woman in the place would be eyeing him off, Laura thought, wondering if he also used the gym for casual pick-ups. She couldn’t imagine him not having a very active sex life. Which, she strongly suspected, he kept completely separate from his work life.

      ‘You said last Sunday you didn’t want to want me, Jake,’ she reminded him. ‘Is that because it’s difficult to avoid it touching on your career with me being my father’s daughter?’

      He made an ironic grimace. ‘I think it’s a complication we’d both prefer not to have.’ He leaned forward, his dark riveting eyes shooting a blaze of purpose at her. ‘Let’s shut the door on it. Just do what we want to do together, regardless of other issues. Are you brave enough to go down that road with me, Laura? Strong enough to make the choice for yourself?’

      The challenge propelled her pulse into overdrive. Brave? Strong? She wanted to belief that of herself, but was it really true? She’d always shied clear of intimate entanglements, afraid of how they might affect her. The couple of sexual experiments she’d allowed herself had been more out of curiosity—a desire for knowledge—than a wish for a closer, more possessive attachment.

      Jake Freedman tapped something far more primal in her and that was scary because it was uncontrollable. She wanted to explore it, to feel whatever he could make her feel, but she couldn’t quite override the sense of danger with him. Already he had taken up far too much possession of her mind. Would that go away with passion spent or would she end up losing the mental independence she needed for self-survival?

      She could not—would not—end up like her mother.

      ‘I like to come and go as I please, Jake,’ she said firmly. ‘I don’t think I’d mind joining you along the road now and then, but…’

      Her mouth dried up as a dazzling grin spread across his wickedly handsome face.

      ‘Fine…perfect…we can draw a map and meet when the time is right for both of us.’

      She laughed with nervous excitement. He was so obliging, so tempting, so incredibly sexy, and surely there was nothing too scary about having an intermittent adventure with him.

      The waitress arrived with their entrées. Laura had chosen the fried salt-and-pepper silken tofu with spicy coriander salad and Jake had decided on the Northern-style lamb and fennel dumplings. Both dishes looked and smelled deliciously enticing.

      ‘We divide them in half. Right?’ she said eagerly.

      ‘Sharing is the deal,’ he agreed, obviously enjoying her keen anticipation. ‘Go ahead. Divvy up.’

      Jake watched her halve the portions on each plate, liking her meticulous care, liking everything about her, especially the determination to run her own life as she saw fit. It freed him of any guilt over pursuing what he wanted with her. She was not looking for a happy-ever-love with him. She didn’t believe in it.

      Given what he’d seen of her parents’ marriage, he understood where she was coming from and why she would shy clear of serious attachments. Alex Costarella had wrought damage on his own family, as well as on many others’. He’d robbed Jake of his parents, but unlike them, Laura was alive and kicking. She would survive. An intermittent relationship with him should not create a problem for either of them.

      ‘We should start with the dumplings and finish with the salad,’ she said authoritatively.

      ‘Yes, ma’am.’

      It startled her into a laugh. ‘I didn’t mean to be bossy.’

      He grinned. ‘I don’t mind taking advice from a serious foodie. In fact, I would like you to extend my education on gourmet delights.’

      She blushed. ‘You’re teasing me. I think I’ll just shut up and eat.’

      ‘Enjoy.’

      She ate with obvious relish. It was a pleasure watching her appreciating each different taste. ‘Please feel free to comment,’ he urged. ‘I wasn’t really teasing you, Laura. I want you to share your thoughts on these dishes with me.’

      ‘Tell me what you think,’ she countered.

      He did and she happily responded.

      The whole meal was a pleasure, not only for the wonderful variety of tastes, but also Laura’s delight in them. She made it a great sensory experience and not only on the palate. The licking of her lips, the heavenly rolling of her eyes, the rise and fall of her lush breasts when she sighed with satisfaction, the warm smiles that fuelled a burning lust to have all of her…Jake itched to sweep her off to bed and take his fill of Laura Costarella.

      He couldn’t recall ever having enjoyed an evening with a woman so much. It was impossible to tolerate the thought of it ending here. He had to persuade her to want what he wanted. And not just tonight. He knew one night wouldn’t satisfy him. Not now.

      They finished up with nougatine and rum truffle candy bars to nibble as they sipped the last of the German Riesling he’d ordered to accompany their dessert.

      ‘This has been fantastic, Jake. Thank you so much for giving me the experience.’ Her beautiful blue eyes twinkled. ‘Definitely a more than fair exchange for my Sunday lunch.’

      ‘Apart from Neil Perry, what other top Sydney chefs would you like to try out?’ he asked, determined on tempting her into his company again.

      She reeled off a number of names, then shook her head. ‘I can’t afford to go to their restaurants but one day I hope to. In the meantime, I drool over their cook books.’

      ‘I can afford them, Laura, but I don’t want to go alone. Nor do I know as much about food as you do. I’m happy to pay for you to be my educator, my companion, to share your knowledge and pleasure with me. Will you do that?’

      She hesitated, frowning over his proposition.

      ‘An adventure into fine dining,’ he pressed.

      ‘With you footing the bill,’ she said, wincing over the inevitable cost.

      ‘Why not? It’s my idea.’ Not to mention the desire running hot behind it.

      ‘It’s like…you’re buying me, Jake.’

      He shook his head. ‘Buying your interest, your knowledge. Expanding my own. Say yes, Laura. It will be fun together. As tonight has been.’

      Which was undeniable.

      ‘You’re right,’ she said on a sigh of surrender. ‘It’s no fun alone. I’m sorry I can’t pay my way but I simply don’t earn enough with only a part-time job.’

      He