{giuls_99} -- to multi-task, turning from one back road to another whilst shooting Zara a quick, simple text to explain that the --

{giuls_99} -- older of her two young charges was on his way over to the hotel room she'd reserved for them. "Zach, I really didn't --

{giuls_99} -- want anything to make things weird between us, but I couldn't let you do that." Maybe he wasn't listening, or didn't --

{giuls_99} -- care. But she felt better having said it.

{giuls_99} "Don't talk about her like that. She's doing it on my orders." Claire informed him with an overdone eyeroll. His --

{giuls_99} -- attitude reminded her of an unfavored co-worker. Or a child. But, well, he /was/ a child. So that should be expected. --

{giuls_99} -- and I'm in charge here. You do what I say, alright?" How in hell did her sister /enjoy/ children? And how were you --

{giuls_99} -- supposed to scold them? "And yes, it was weird. Weird and totally unnecessary. Could we just forget it happened?" --

{giuls_99} -- She didn't feel like continuing this conversation and admitting something to him she shouldn't even have admitted to --

{giuls_99} -- herself. She muttered something inaudible before adjusting in the seat and driving on. Even with her conscious --

{giuls_99} -- effort to ignore him and focus on her driving, she found herself subtly expecting the kiss, quickly pulling the car --

{giuls_99} -- to a stop and shifting gears to park all in one swift motion. Next came the surprise, in the form of her gasping --

{giuls_99} -- against his mouth. Maybe she had planned on pushing away and yelling at him, but that thought faded quickly as they --

{giuls_99} -- spent those moments pressed together and away from any disapproving eyes.

{giuls_99} Claire did her best this time to keep control of her actions and thoughts, pushing him tauntingly away with one finger. --

{giuls_99} -- "Okay, Zachary, I understand that you want to stay with me." Her cheeks were bright, as was the rest of her face, a --

{giuls_99} -- tribute to how flustered she was. "But I have to inform you, it /is/ customary to take a woman out to dinner, first." --

{giuls_99} -- She added a little breathy huff at the end of her sentence just to tease. "So I'm thinking that we could head back to --

{giuls_99} -- my room, order food, and see where it goes from there." She was a bit impatient, though. "Don't worry, there's thick --

{giuls_99} -- walls and a 'do not disturb' sign I can hang on the door."