Judd nodded. “Makes good sense. So this project is still in its infancy?”
“Yes, she’s already visited a few North Island wineries. This week was to source specific wines from the top of the South Island.”
“You’ll need to change her tickets to my name and book a set for yourself, as well.”
“Me?”
A small frown creased between his eyebrows. “Why not?”
“I don’t usually do these trips. My role is more one of support here, at home.”
“I need you with me.”
“Surely you can—”
“Anna, you’re coming with me. We’re not departing until early evening on Thursday and will be returning to Auckland on Tuesday morning. The office can survive a few days without you.”
“But Charles—”
“Has a new P.A. now. Or had you forgotten that?”
Judd eyed Anna carefully. He hadn’t expected an opportunity to get her alone and to himself quite so quickly but he certainly wasn’t going to waste it. Getting her out from under his father’s roof and into his own bed had become a task he’d begun to relish. His sister’s display of pique had fallen right into his hands. He’d thank her for it one of these days. Probably right about the time he offered his controlling interest in Wilson Wines over to Nate Hunter.
After the weekend’s development, he’d shelved his original plans to hand over the company right away. Oh, he still intended to take Wilson Wines apart … but not quite yet. Charles was still reeling from Nicole’s actions, and Judd wanted him feeling secure and invulnerable again when Judd struck. Besides, seducing Charles’s mistress away from him would be a lot easier when she was forced to work right at his side.
For now, business was the least of his concerns. His sights were very firmly set on the woman in front of him. The woman whose scent, even now, tantalized him. Living under the same roof and not touching her—imagining her with his father—had been torture these past few days. He hadn’t seen any overt displays of affection between them, but she’d certainly been hovering over Charles nonstop. Judd also hadn’t forgotten her state of dishabille last Thursday evening when he’d caught her coming from the old man’s rooms.
Each time he’d had an opportunity, he’d cut her from Charles’s attention over the weekend, even going so far as to brush against her from time to time. He knew his touch unsettled her—the faint flush of color on her cheeks had been a dead giveaway—but she’d managed to gracefully extricate herself from each situation and create a distance between them that had left him frustrated both physically and mentally.
This trip to the South Island was a godsend. She would be his willing lover before they returned, and stage one of his decimation of the things his father loved would have begun.
By the time Thursday morning rolled around Judd felt as if every cell in his body was taut with anticipation over what this trip would bring. He’d done some more research and had personally contacted each of the wineries they were to visit to explain that he was coming in his sister’s stead. So far the reception had been promising, as had been the sample wines that Nicole had in her office that she’d received in advance of the trip. He could see why she’d chosen them. They had distinct appeal on many levels. His sister definitely had a strong talent for innovation and combined it with exemplary taste.
The business side of the trip aside, he was looking forward to the concentrated time alone with Anna Garrick. That she very clearly wasn’t only made the prospect more appealing and the challenge even more enticing. He still well remembered her response to his kiss that first night at The Masters’. Remembered the feel of her body, her full breasts, the soft curves of her body against his, the taste of her. Damn if he wasn’t getting hard just thinking about it.
He walked into the dining room at the house that already felt like home and saw Anna at the sideboard helping herself to cereal and milk.
“Good morning, all ready for the trip?” he asked.
She took her bowl over to the table and sat down before acknowledging his presence.
“Good morning,” she said, her voice a little husky as if she’d not long been awake.
The fresh scent of her and her immaculately applied makeup gave lie to the thought that she’d tumbled straight from bed. Add to that the fact that she was dressed smartly in a cream blouse neatly tucked into a pair of taupe-colored trousers that she’d cinched at the waist with a wide black belt, suggested she’d been up for some time. The blouse was made of some sheer floaty fabric that clung to her in all the right places. Beneath it he caught a hint of a lacy camisole. He was going to have to exhibit some control, he decided, if he wasn’t to walk around all morning in a state of constant arousal. But there was something so carnally alluring about her, he knew it would be easier said than done.
Anna pushed her cereal around in her bowl, clearly not finding the prospect of breakfast at all tempting. In the meantime, Judd helped himself to some fluffy scrambled eggs and a couple of strips of grilled bacon.
“Are you sure you really need me to come with you on this trip?” she blurted as he sat down and reached for the coffeepot on the table.
“I wouldn’t have said so if it wasn’t necessary.”
She sighed, the action making her breasts rise and fall beneath the gossamer-fine fabric and making his fingers itch to touch it and what lay beneath.
“I really don’t think I should be leaving Charles, what with Nicole gone, as well.”
Judd felt his resolve harden. “He’s an adult and quite capable of taking care of himself.”
“But he’ll be alone.”
“In a house filled with staff? I don’t think so. I’ve spoken with Mrs. Evans already. She’ll keep a close eye on him.”
“It won’t be the same,” Anna replied, a mutinous set to her mouth.
He’d just bet it wouldn’t be the same. And if he had anything to do with it, it wouldn’t be the same ever again. If Anna was going to pay a furtive visit to anyone’s room, it would be to his from here on in.
“He’ll cope. Mrs. Evans will be staying in and has all the necessary numbers if she needs assistance.” He looked at her swirling her spoon in her now-soggy cereal. “Are you going to eat that?”
She looked down at her bowl, a flash of surprise on her features when she saw the mess in there.
“Um, no. I’m not hungry.”
“Are you sure? There’s no meal service on the flight.”
“I’m aware of that. I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”
She huffed another sigh. “Look, I don’t like small aircraft, that’s all. But I’ll be okay.”
“Fifty passengers isn’t such a small aircraft. If you’re that worried, I can hold your hand for the entire flight. Rest assured, I’ll take good care of you, Anna,” he said, giving her a look that intimated a whole lot more than hand-holding.
“I think I’ll be able to manage without that. Besides, it’s more likely that the prospect of being with you for the next few days is what makes me anxious.”
She got up and placed her bowl and spoon on an empty tray at the end of the sideboard. Judd stood and blocked her path as she went to walk past him.
“Now, why would that be, I wonder?” He lifted one finger and traced the edge of her lower lip. “Could it be that you’re anxious to repeat that kiss we shared in Adelaide?”
“N-no, of course not,” she refuted.
“Really?” he