by Eden Fortae
“It isn’t so much the rose as it is the person it’s intended for.” He held out his hand to her and immediately used it to pull her to him. “The first time I gave you a rose, although sad, your eyes shone with a sort of beauty that the simple flower could never embody. I’ve continued to present them to you in hopes of being blessed with that beauty every time.” A kiss on the hand or cheek, she expected. A kiss square on the lips, tender and lingering, took her by surprise. “I’m pretty sure I was supposed to earn that by the end of the night, but I couldn’t help myself. You look beautiful, Kya.”
Dammit, this was going to be harder than she thought.
“Thank you.” If all of the street lights were working properly, he would have been able to see her cheeks become a little pink and the slight biting of her lip. “You look very handsome, yourself.”
He granted her a sly grin full of dimples, “Only because I’m next to you. By the way, there is something you need to know before we go anywhere.” Suddenly, the smile she was hypnotized by, ceased. The loud thumping of her heart replaced the flapping and fluttering of wings in her stomach.
“And what’s that?” Just above a whisper, concern for what he could say now, couldn’t be hidden. It was bad enough that she was doing this after he confirmed that she was at one time, a means to get to her father. She couldn’t handle any more truths at that moment. Not if he wanted her to give him the chance he was asking for instead of going back to her apartment and slamming the door in his face.
Still holding on to Kya’s hand, Antonio dragged his thumb over her knuckles almost as if he were preparing her. “Dating is new to me. I don’t know what’s appropriate and what’s not. I also don’t take rejection well, at all. When my heart's set on something, it has to happen, or I resort to rather extreme means to get my desired outcome.”
Kya frowned, “What exactly does that mean?”
“It means,” he paused, pursed his lips while throwing those dimples at her unintentionally. After what seemed like the longest minute of her life he released his lips and ran his tongue across the bottom. “If I want something—to make you smile, for example—there is no limit to what I’ll do to achieve that. If I want you, I will do whatever it takes and won’t stop until I have you.”
Behind those words was a meaning Kya could never decipher. A warning cleverly hidden enough to incite curiosity rather than fear. As he brought her hand to his lips one more time, she reaffirmed that this wasn’t going to be as easy as she thought.
Not by a long shot.
From the sheer drapes and white candles to the salty ocean breeze and view over the water, it was like someone had picked up an island resort and dropped it just outside the city. Red, pink, and orange flowers along with bright green plants and large leaves added to the exotic feel. A live band playing slow sensual music lured her in like a siren to a doomed shipped.
Had it not been for the hand that took hers and Antonio’s breath bathing her skin in warmth as he spoke, she would have continued to stand and stare.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s beautiful.” She sighed, her focus now out of the opened doors and on the marble path lead to the sandy beach. “The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen…”
“Yes,” he mimicked her with a sigh of his own, “very beautiful.”
Looking up at Antonio, she realized as he turned away from her that it wasn’t the view he’d just complimented and she blushed. During the drive over, it took all she had not to squirm while he glanced over at her from time to time. His dark gaze did something to her, both when she could see it beneath the light and veils of darkness. Always, he seemed to be looking beyond the visible surfaces of her skin and right into her soul.
“Come. You haven’t seen the best part yet.”
His hand on the small of her back, he guided her down a wide corridor that housed even more bright green plants. At the end of it was a flight of stairs leading to a canopy-like loft that provided a great view of the dance floor below. Rather than it being the second floor of food and music, the area was divided by dark wood panels to match the floor, and the same sheer drapes were surrounding the windows, only these for privacy. In each section of the upper level was a modern chaise lounge chair, perfectly positioned to overlook the water.
Kya took a few steps ahead of him, marveling as he expected, then glanced over her shoulder with her brows twisted with confusion.
“You own this place?”
“No,” he stepped up beside her, “but it is some of my best work and one of the only times that I designed and decorated.” She didn’t have to ask. The look on her face did that for her, so he continued. “When the owner—Mr. Avery— commissioned me for this project, he came with a plastic banana leaf, a jar of sand, and a dream of a place where people could enjoy an island getaway without having to travel very far. In the middle of our session, my mother called me. She insisted on speaking to me in Spanish, and I guess he could hear her. Once I ended the call, he asked me about my family, if I had ever been to Cuba and things like that. Long story short, he gave me free reign to do whatever I wanted.”
Cuba. Vaguely she remembered reading something about him being Cuban. “Have you ever been?”
“No. With my father in prison, my mother didn’t even entertain the idea of going home. Where he was, is where she was determined to stay.”
Yeah, she remembered reading that his father was in prison and was put there by hers. For that, she didn’t dare ask questions about it or address the way he frowned when speaking of him.
“So, how did you come up with all of this if you’ve never been? The wonderful world of Google Images?”
The smile she was becoming very fond of graced her, lifting whatever other emotion had fallen over him in the last seconds.
“My imagination and my mother. She used to tell my sisters and I stories about the dance clubs my father would take her to, the beaches, and beautiful sunsets that made even the coldest of people fall in love. So, I took some of those ideas, paired it with earth tones, plants that could survive our change in climate, and the things Mr. Avery wanted to incorporate. This,” he motioned around them, “is the result.”
The pride in his eyes touched Kya deeply. At that moment, she couldn’t see any traces of the man her father claimed he was or sense the danger that he naturally wore. Instead, she saw a man with talent. She heard him speak with passion. Felt more than ever that her decision to give him this chance was the right one.
“Well, you did a great job. I have never been to an island outside of the ones here in New York, but this place makes me feel like I’m in paradise.”
“Never?”
“Never. I was a careless teen that only wanted to talk on the phone and go shopping. Then my Mom got sick, and I became a teen that only had time for school and doctor’s appointments. She’s not here for me to take care of her anymore, but I have way too many bills to even think about buying myself clothes more than once a month.”
That frown was back. More in-depth and darker this time.
“You always talk about taking care of your mother, but never mention Rich’s role in that.”
Kya scoffed. “That’s because he didn’t have one. He left us when I was ten and never came back. When we first learned of her cancer, I went to his job and told him personally. He looked sad, and there were tears, but he never came. I gave up hope that he would after the first few months. My mother, though, still had faith that the man she fell in love with would return to her. Want to know something funny?” She faced him completely, holding her clutch purse in front of her. “I felt you behind me at the cemetery and thought it was him. When I turned around, I was going to light into his ass so badly he’d shit sparks.”
“You?” The surprise in that one word was smile-inducing. “No offense, Baby, but you don’t even look like you could scold a dog for pissing on your leg without apologizing afterward.”
“What are you trying to say?!” Holding in
her smile was getting harder, especially when he took a single step forward and let those dimples of his wholly seduce her.
“I’m saying that I can’t see you telling anyone off. You’re too sweet.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Yeah? Show me your angry face then.” Kya had no chance to show him her “angry face” as he put it. Immediately after those words left his mouth, Antonio threw his head back and laughed. “Sorry. Ok, ok. I’m ready. Show me.”
With all seriousness, she moved her purse from between them, using the free space to press her body into his. The changes in his expression were instant. No longer was he amused. Nowhere did she see the humor that once was.
“The last time you doubted me, I took my panties off and let you have the prize. You should know by now that challenging me is pointless. I don’t back down, and you can’t handle everything I do.”
Lowering his head so that all they could see was each other’s eyes, Antonio groaned. “And you should know by now that I love a challenge and unless you want me to try, don’t tell me what I can’t handle.”
Giving no warning at all, Kya pressed up on her toes until their lips met. Before the kiss could get any deeper, she pulled back slightly and nipped them with her teeth, then used her tongue to soothe the dull sting. When she pulled back completely, his eyes remained closed, and he was breathing slowly through his nose.
“You don’t know what to expect when it comes to me.” He licked his lips and after a small taste of her gloss, opened his eyes with a small grin. “And I think I like it that way. Keep thinking of me as sweet, Antonio. So far, your actions after you’ve been proven wrong have been satisfying.”
His reaction left her feeling confident and victorious. As she was heading back down the stairs, he grabbed hold of her hand, spinning her back around and into him.
“I love the way you say my name, but friends call me Tony.”
Still reeling over what she’d done to him, Kya bit her lower lip briefly, “I’ll think about it.”
This time, he let her walk off, realizing after they reached the bottom of the steps that he did it for the sole purpose of looking at her ass. Once on leveled ground, he was back at her side, but eyes were still on her. Not his, but those of a few they passed. Majority of them seemed to be women, but in the mix were a few men as well. At first, Kya wasn’t sure if they were looking at her or her date.
He stopped her when they reached the table by the large window. Topping it was something that immediately brought her another smile.
“Another rose.”
Like a true gentleman, he waited for her to sit, then followed suit. “Si, that makes two. There are more roses here, waiting for you to discover them. By the time I take you home, you will have a full dozen.”
She touched the velvet petal of one flower, using it as a means to not smile again. The plan was to hold firm. Show no sign that she liked the way he watched her or how quickly he took her hand. To pretend she didn’t find him sexy or appealing at all. So far, she failed.
“You know, you’re going to make it so that I expect roses every time I see you.”
The grin he gave in response was slowly rising and devious. “If it means seeing more of you, then maybe I’ll keep at it.”
She blushed and failed some more. “Now, I know I asked you this before, but I must recycle my question; why me? The women and even some of the men have been screwing you with their eyes since we walked in here. It’s clear you could have anyone you want. Why do you want me?”
A young waiter walked up to them just as he parted his lips. He greeted them both with a smile as he filled their first glasses with water and sat wine menus down in front of them.
“Welcome back to Paradise, Mr. Cortes. Ma’am.” He greeted Kya with a smile that lingered maybe a little too long. “My name is, Saul. Mr. Avery asked that I make you aware of today’s specials, but also that nothing is off limits to you and your guest. Can I start you off with wine, cocktails, or would you like a minute to think it over?”
Seeing as they just sat down, Antonio nodded briefly. “Thank you, Saul. We’ll need a few minutes to decide. Is Mr. Avery in tonight?”
“Yes, Sir. I’ll get him for you. If you need anything, let me know.” Again, he seemed to be more focused on Kya, and this time it made her feel a little uncomfortable.
“No need, Saul. Please, tend to my lady, and I’ll be right back.” The last part was directed more at Kya as he stood, giving their server a look she didn’t miss before he excused himself from the table. To cover the fact that she was alone with the man who was openly staring at her in front of Antonio, she used the menu as a much-needed distraction. She didn’t want to drink. Not as much as she wished for Antonio to return and this man to walk away.
“I’m good for now.” Throwing on her best smile, she didn’t allow it to drop until he turned his back and left.
The band was now playing another slow song. This one with words that seemed to be meant for a lover, although they were not in English. Getting lost in it was all she could do not to feel as if people were staring at her, a suspicion confirmed when a curvy redhead suddenly approached her table.
“Hi! Was that Antonio Cortes you were just with?”
Kya eyed her suspiciously, unsure if the truth was best or if she should lie. The way people were looking at them gave this feeling that maybe he’d been here before and possibly with another female. It still didn’t make sense to her how and why a man that was as successful as Antonio and as good looking would be single. Maybe he was one of those that had too many options to choose from, and this woman was standing there, waiting for confirmation to let her know that she was merely his latest.
Right on cue, the man in question appeared behind the woman with an older gentleman sporting a head full of curly hair.
“Oh my God! It is you!” The woman was moving so fast she nearly dropped her glass of wine in Kya’s lap. After fumbling around in her bag, she pulled out her phone and began snapping pictures.
“You're so sexy! I have the pictures you did for Heavenly Mag, framed and on my desk at work! Can I get a picture with you please?!”
“Ma’am—” The man Kya assumed was the owner tried to block Antonio, to which the woman continued to dodge his attempts.
“Just one! Please!”
“Ma’am, Mr. Cortes and his date—”
“Kim!” She screamed, interrupting his plea for her to stop. “Kim! It’s him! And this is that woman they were talking about on TV!” Another followed the bright flash from her phone and then another, nearly blinding her to all the faces suddenly surrounding the table.
“You’re so lucky!”
“What’s your name?”
Somehow, over the questions suddenly thrown her way, she heard a call for security. Someone grabbed hold of her arm, pulling her from the seat then tucked her beneath their arm. They were moving so fast that she almost tripped over her own feet. Black spots and odd shapes blurred her vision, but still, she could see the flashes on the asphalt as they approached Antonio’s car.
His demeanor was calm, but by the way, he helped her in and slammed the door behind her, she knew it was a mask. As he got in and sped off, his eyes remained hard, but then he spoke of his true feelings.
“I knew I should have booked the place just for us. I knew it and now everything is ruined.”
She wasn’t going to respond to that at first. He was speaking to himself and not to initiate conversation.
“It’s not ruined.”
“Yes, Kya, it is. Notice how there were no people on the second level? That wasn’t by accident. I had plans to ensure you enjoyed your time with me. If my intentions weren’t clear, I wanted to give you enough reason to want to see me again.”
Kya turned in her seat as much as the constricting belt would allow, then at the last second, took hold of Antonio’s free hand. “You didn’t have to take me there for me to enjoy myself. To me, the best part of the night was yo
u talking about your work. I don’t know you, Tony, but that helped. I didn’t know that you have sisters or that you’re Cuban. Those are some of the positives that came out of this night, which hasn’t been ruined. You can still tell me about you, your family, and things you like over pizza, greasy Chinese takeout, or if you want, while I make you the best-damned spaghetti, you’ll ever have. Tonight doesn’t have to end because Plan A fell through. There’s time for a Plan B.”
She didn’t think she’d see him smile again. So, when he did, the tension that threatened to choke her while she was confined in close quarters with him, evaporated.
“The best damned spaghetti, huh?”
“It’ll make you want to marry me.”
A grin, full-blown and bright brought her a smile of her own, taking away the remaining feeling of upset. “You already have me doing shit I said I wouldn’t. I won’t take any chances at this point. Pizza it is.”
NINE
The door to the trailer Antonio was using as an office, swung open and hit the back wall with a loud bang. Detective Rich walked in with his partner in tow, a glare within his eyes that almost made Antonio grin. With the arrival of one of his own, the small space filled quickly, and the air grew thick.
Antonio stood, raising his hand in front of him as another of his men entered the room. If the law came for a fight, they’d made a terrible mistake.
“Cortes.” Rich bit out, glancing over his shoulders. “We have something to discuss.”
In a move conducted merely to piss the other man off, Antonio grabbed his phone and scrolled through several screens. “It appears we don’t have an appointment. If you and I do indeed, have something to discuss, why are you using the buddy system?” His head tipped in the direction of the other man without the courtesy of eye contact.
“Call off your dogs and Dumas will go, too.”
“Careful, Pig, these dogs bite.” Kash stepped up, his fists balled at his side. He met Dumas head on as the rookie turned to back up his partner. Lips puckered, the younger officer smacked them together as if he were calling to an animal.
