Page 34 of One Summer in Monte Carlo
By 8 p.m., when Zac rang the apartment bell, she’d almost convinced herself that their shared past was the reason, the only reason, Zac wanted to take her out for dinner. There was no ulterior motive. A nostalgic talk about places they’d been, things they’d done together. Clearly, he was hoping that he could persuade Nanette to forget the past and be friends again. Nothing more sinister than that. Convincing him that he was wasting his time, as being civil to him in public was all she was prepared to agree to, was going to be difficult.
‘Where are we going?’ Nanette asked, as the lift took them down to the ground floor.
‘We’re eating on boardPole Position,’ Zac said. ‘I’ve got a brilliant chef this year and he’s promised me a meal to remember.’
Nanette, having forgotten Zac’s tendency to like privacy when he didn’t have to show a public persona for the sponsors, realised she should have anticipated that dinner would be an on-board meal.
As Zac ushered her up the gangway and she stepped onto the deck, the yacht’s crew sprang into well-rehearsed action, ensuring everything went smoothly.
Sipping her champagne and nibbling canapés, Nanette looked around the main saloon as Zac pressed a couple of hidden buttons on the wall. Simultaneously, the side windows opened, letting in a gentle sea breeze, while romantic piano music filtered in through the sound system.
Nanette glanced at Zac. What exactly was he playing at tonight? Candles in elaborate candelabra casting shadows, seductive music playing in the background, the moon shining on the Mediterranean. It was a perfect setting for a romantic evening.
‘Dance with me for old times’ sake,’ Zac said quietly.
Before she realised what was happening, Zac had taken her glass away and Nanette was in his arms and the two of them were swaying to ‘Lady in Red’ – a favourite of theirs from the past.
As Zac held her close, it was as if the last three years apart had never happened. He appeared to have conveniently forgotten the trauma, the hurt, the broken body, as well as the broken heart he’d left her with. Nanette, though, hadn’t and even if old emotions that she’d thought were dead and buried forever were rising to the surface, she had no intention of giving in to them.
When Zac began placing gentle kisses on her head, a tremor of anger flooded through her body. She had to put a stop to this.
‘No, Zac, stop it now, otherwise I’m leaving.’ Nanette pushed him away.
Zac dropped his arms and shrugged. ‘I just thought maybe you’d like to forget the past – put it behind us.’
Nanette glared at him. ‘Something you’ve clearly already done. Whereas I…’ she paused. ‘I’ll never forget the worst three years of my life.’
Zac closed his eyes briefly and shook his head at her. ‘Let’s try and enjoy this evening, at least,’ he said. ‘We’re having lobster. I bought it in especially for you. I know it always used to be your favourite.’
Throughout the meal, Zac, clearly still on a high from his win the day before, seemed determined to wine and dine himself back into Nanette’s favour. As he helped her to a generous portion of her favourite dish, Nanette’s thoughts drifted back three years, to a time when evenings like this with Zac had been normal. Almost commonplace, but so much had changed since then.
When she tried to ask him something about the accident, he placed a gentle finger against her lips.
‘Not this evening, Nanette. Tonight is a new beginning.’ He clicked his wine glass against hers. ‘Santé.’
Nanette looked at him, exasperated. ‘You said you wanted to talk to me urgently and I still have questions I want answered.’
‘Are you doing anything special for your birthday this year?’ Zac asked, ignoring her words.
Nanette shook her head. ‘No, nothing planned.’ She didn’t add she hadn’t celebrated her birthday properly in the years since the accident. The two anniversaries were too close together.
‘I remember we always used to celebrate it early as I was racing. This year I’ll be in Canada, so I’ll miss it again. You’ll have to think of this as an early birthday treat,’ Zac said.
‘So long as you don’t plan to present me with a car later,’ Nanette said shortly. ‘Because…’ She stopped in mid-sentence and stared at him.
‘Because what?’ Zac glanced at her curiously.
‘Because I’d have to decline of course,’ Nanette said. She placed her hand over her wine glass as Zac went to top it up. ‘No more wine for me, thanks.’ Carefully, she placed her napkin on the table. ‘I’ve had a lovely meal, but if you’re not going to talk to me or answer any of my questions, then it’s time for me to go,’ and Nanette stood up determinedly, throwing Zac a defiant look, daring him to stop her.
Zac regarded her for several seconds, a strange look in his eyes, before he too stood up. ’I did invite you here tonight for a reason, other than for the simple pleasure of your company. I have a proposal for you. One to which I hope very much you will say yes.’
‘Whatever your “proposal” is, I’m not interested.’ Nanette’s voice was cold. She knew that no matter what the proposal was, it wouldn’t be the explanation or the apology she’d been hoping for. It was a big mistake on her part to have even come this evening in the hope of extracting either from Zac.
Zac followed Nanette as she began to make her way out on deck. More upset by the whole fiasco than she cared to admit, the only thing she wanted to do was get off the yacht.
‘Come back and have another glass of champagne,’ Zac had urged. ‘I really do want to talk to you.’
‘Then you should have spoken at the beginning of the evening, not wasted your time trying to turn the clock back.’
