by Victoria Zak
Dario propped his hip on the railing and took a sip of his Champagne. “I’m afraid I don’t have the same insight to my heritage as you do yours. It’s certainly not as romantic.”
“Really?” She knew next to nothing about Dario except that he was an important guest to Antonio, which meant he was no doubt rich and influential in some part of the world.
“I grew up in a fishing village east of Genoa, Italy,” Dario continued. Cat furrowed her brows, trying to imagine a mansion in the middle of a fishing village. Dario laughed. “You don’t believe me?”
“No, that’s not it at all.” Cat argued, though she would have guessed he came from old money.
“My parents were very poor, but they did their best, taught me the value in education and hard work. I scrapped my way up and managed to land a job with one of the mafia-owned construction companies when I was a teenager. One of the bosses took me under his wing. Paid for my college and taught me what he knew.”
Cat nearly choked on her last sip of Champagne. “You’re mafia?”
Dario chuckled. “No. They were a small family branch. It all fell apart when the head of the family passed away. I took what I learned and managed to make a good, honest living.”
“Oh, I’m sorry you lost your friend.”
“It was a long time ago.” Dario grinned, but she could see a hint of sadness in his eyes. “A lifetime it seems,” he continued with a sigh. “How about you? How did you come to work at a place like this?” he asked, raising his glass to indicate Indulgence’s main building towering in the background.
“I don’t know, honestly,” Cat hesitantly replied. She was sure a man of his wealth could find nothing appealing about a mere hospitality manager at an upscale vacation resort. “I applied out of sheer desperation to stay close to my family. The pay made taking the chance undeniable, and Antonio and Kenderly took a chance on me.”
“You have a large family?”
Cat shrugged, cringing inside that she’d managed to give him another reason to ask about her family. “I have two brothers, one older and one younger, and my parents,” she added. “I am their only source of income. My older brother helps when he can, but he has a family to support. And my father, he’s terribly ill.”
“I’m sorry to hear it.”
Cat sighed. “It’s been…difficult, but my job helps pay for the medicine he needs, so I’m grateful for that.”
“Antonio must have seen what I see in you,” Dario said, setting his glass on the banister.
“And what would that be?” she asked.
“A brave and loyal treasure, who looks incredibly stunning in blue.”
Cat’s cheeks warmed at the desire in his eyes and she looked away. “I’m anything but brave.” She was just a daughter, mom, and sister, whose family meant everything to her.
“One final dance?” Dario took her drink, setting it on the railing beside his own.
Cat looked down at his hand, thinking at first that she’d better not, but the idea of going back to her cabana alone drove her to accept. She took his hand and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor.
This time, Dario held her closer, touched her more freely as he led her across the floor in a slow, hypnotic dance. His cologne again saturated her senses, forever searing the scent into her memories. She closed her eyes and imagined what it would be like to make love with him. It had been so long since she’d felt a man’s touch. Would he be a greedy, fumbling lover like her ex? She doubted it. He could be commanding, she’d learned, but judging the way he held her, the way he touched her with so much passion, yet so gentle—he’d likely be perfect.
The sound of the cello weaved in and out of the melody as she followed Dario’s lead, their bodies flush from the vigorous rhythm. Pictures of them together raced through her mind. Lost in the electricity between them, she caught Dario’s gaze as he slowed to a sway, moving his hands up her sides and over her shoulders.
The music finally stopped, and so did they, neither of them moving away from each other. In that moment, a moment filled with promise and excitement and uncertainty, only they existed. Would he kiss her? Did she want him to? He lowered his head…touching his lips to hers…a slow burning heat flared into an eruption deep inside her.
He kissed her slowly, acquainting her with his touch, grazing her lips with the tip of his tongue until a helpless whimper bubbled up from within her aching chest. She parted her lips, inviting him in, but he took his time, tasting her with slow, curious sips until she was breathless, teetering on her toes, reaching for more.
Dario groaned as he finally plunged his tongue past her lips. One slow, deep thrust after another. He consumed her, obliterating every thought she had except what it would be like to give herself to him.
How good would it feel to have the weight of his broad body atop hers, pressing her into the plush mattress, trapping her beneath him as she cradled him between her thighs, welcoming him into her body? How wonderful it would be to not wake up alone, but lying in his arms naked beneath the luxurious sheets together.
Her fantasy was brought to an abrupt halt with a vision of him sneaking out of her bed in the middle of the night. There was no doubt Dario would be a legendary lover, but any thought he’d still be in her bed come morning was ludicrous. Why would he? He was a rich Italian playboy, no doubt with a long line of glamorous women competing for his attention.
He would have no use for a glorified maid come the end of the week, maybe even the end of the night. He was using her, but she was using him, too, wasn’t she? This was her chance of a lifetime to live out an otherwise impossible fantasy.
Cat pulled away, her heart ever stalwart, the driving force in her decisions. “I must go,” she said breathlessly, wishing she had the courage to be someone who could throw caution to the wind and indulge in a fantasy, but she wasn’t. She was just an average woman who had no room in her life for frivolous dreams. She couldn’t afford to lose her heart or her job for a few fleeting moments of passion, even with a man like Dario. Especially with a man like him.
Dario gathered her back into his arms, trailing feather-light kisses along her jaw. “Ti desidero, tesoro mio,” his low voice hummed in her ear, the words like warm honey dripping down her spine.
She had no idea what the words meant, but her body responded as if she did. Dios, she wanted him. “Come back to my cabana with me,” he whispered. “You want this as much as I do. I can feel it.”
She hesitated. One night, even an hour in his arms was tempting. All she had to do was surrender.
“Be brave, tesoro mio.”
Cat couldn't think, and her body wasn’t helping the situation. She shook her head. “I can’t.” She kissed his cheek and extricated herself from his arms. “Thank you for the dance. It was wonderful.”
5
Dario stared across the dance floor as Catalina retreated, her shimmery wrap fluttering to the ground behind her as she disappeared into the darkness.
“Catalina, wait!” He weaved through the pairs of guests already dancing to the next set and scooped up the wrap.
He thought to chase after her, but the scent of her perfume on the thin fabric stopped him in his tracks. Easily, he could use the lost token as an excuse to follow her, but he had a feeling any of his usual charming tactics would lead to the same unfulfilling end.
He held the material up to his nose and breathed in her intoxicating scent, already contemplating his next move.
He couldn’t quite put his finger on why, but Catalina was different. If he wanted in her bed, and he most certainly did, he would have to play a different kind of game. She was too skittish, but make no mistake, the game was definitely on.
The next morning, as the first golden rays of sun flickered along the turquoise horizon, Dario sat in a secluded corner of his balcony sipping his second cup of coffee, emails answered, and the previous day’s business affairs completed.
He’d spent the restless night not only haunted by Catalina’
s scent, the memory of her sweet taste still fresh on his lips, but also by thoughts that stubbornly thwarted his consistent efforts at denial. Without access to his usual meaningless distractions, he was left tossing and turning all night, cursing the singing cicadas. At five o’clock, awakened by the alarming guttural serenade of the island’s howler monkeys, he’d eventually given up and hit the resort’s impressive gym, using the squash court to beat the loneliness gnawing at his insides back into submission.
He normally wasn’t one to lend much energy to nostalgic memories, but the lack of distractions and talk of family the night before had invited them to rent prime space in his head. And they’d apparently decided on a long-term lease. He’d never regretted his impoverished upbringing, but he’d vowed long ago to never live so desolate again. Nothing had ever been more important to him than securing his fortune, but now that he had, lately, he’d been contemplating what would become of his legacy.
Having seen his father’s heart shattered with his mother’s passing, he’d vowed to never marry. With no heirs, no brothers or sisters or family to call his own, who would inherit his accomplishments, his dreams, and appreciate the empire he'd built?
A sudden ear-splitting screech pierced the air. Jolted from his musings, he looked up to the sky to see a rainbow-colored parrot soar into the jungle canopy beside his cabana.
“Cazzo!” He flipped off the tablet he’d been uselessly staring at for the last hour and tossed it onto the patio table. How could he think straight with the constant jungle chatter? He scrubbed his hand over his face in frustration. Why was he thinking about such useless things?
He needed to keep his focus on why he was here and forget about the Latina princess. The resort had its tropical charm and, when he closed this deal with Antonio, it would add billions to his fortune. The quicker he made the deal, the quicker he'd be back home, taking in the soothing sounds of the bustling city, far away from the early morning alarm of screeching monkeys and insects with teeth longer than a blood-sucking vampire’s.
Movement on the beach caught his eye and he pushed to his feet, shuffling closer to the patio’s edge to get a better view. Catalina appeared, sauntering along the surf. He gripped the railing as she bent down to pick up a shell. A wicked grin spread across his face, a rush of raw masculine desire coursed through his veins as he thought about all the naughty things he wanted to do to her perfectly round ass.
Her sable hair fell down her bare back, hiding the bow tied in the back of her very revealing bikini top. He’d thought she looked ravishing in blue, but the canary yellow against her mocha skin made his fingers twitch with the need to tug on that string and see what was hidden by the flimsy material. He could almost taste the salt on her skin.
He followed the curve of her spine to the sway of her hips as she walked in the sand, biting his lip at the sight of her long, toned legs. The lower half of her swimsuit, while framing her to perfection, was more conservative than he was used to seeing in Europe. Oddly, he liked that about her.
The sounds of the island may be irritating as hell, but the sights were awe-inspiring. Content with the vision before him, he watched her for a while as she waded in the lapping waves, hypnotized by the way the warm breeze flirted with her hair. What was it about her that captivated him so completely, stirring his deepest cravings, yet calming his restless soul? He shook his head and pushed from the railing. Whatever it was, it was time to implement Plan B if he was going to get her in bed tonight.
He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it into the dirty clothes hamper, pausing when the thought of Catalina being the one to do his laundry crossed his mind. He didn’t like it. Not only the idea of her doing such menial tasks, but the fact that he’d given it a thought at all. She’s only a distraction to get you through the week so you can close the deal.
“Right.” A distraction.
He changed into a pair of comfortable shorts, leaving his shoes in the closet, and sprinted out the door to the beach.
Not wanting to look too eager, he slowed his pace as if he’d been out for a morning stroll instead of on the prowl. When their eyes met, he smiled and walked over to her.
“Morning, tesoro mio.”
She returned his smile. “Morning. You’re not stalking me, are you?” she asked playfully.
“Maybe.” He grinned. “No, I was out taking a walk to clear my head.”
Bashfully, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “The beach is a great place to do that.”
“What brings you out so early this morning?” he asked, intent on keeping the conversation flowing so he could advance his plan.
“This.” She opened her hand, excited to show him several shells she’d found. “They’re almost perfect and quite rare to find here.”
The excitement in her eyes at such a simple pleasure warmed him deeper than the bright sun shining behind her. “They’re beautiful. You should save them. Put them in a jar or something and set them in your window.”
“No!” she gasped and dropped the shells back onto the beach, dusting the sand from her fingers. “It’s bad luck to keep them in your house.”
Dario bent down and picked up the one with the most vibrant colors. “But you said they were rare. Do you not want to keep them?”
Cat shook her head and took the shell from his hand, tossing it back into the ocean. “There will be more tomorrow. These will ride the tides to another beach, so someone else can appreciate their beauty.”
He watched as she picked up the other shells and tossed them into the waves, laughing when one skipped across the surface. “Walk with me for a while?” he asked when she was done, nodding down the white sandy beach.
Catalina hesitated a moment, then nodded silently and fell into step beside him.
“I want to apologize for last night,” Dario said, keeping his hands tucked deep inside his pockets despite an eager urge to reach for hers. “I don’t regret kissing you, not for a moment, but I may have come on a little strong in my efforts to gain your attention.”
Cat giggled. “May have?”
Dario grinned. “Maybe.”
“A little?”
“Okay, maybe a little is a bit of an understatement,” he conceded. In her silence, he turned and dipped his head, relieved to find her smiling. “Forgiven?”
Her smile broadened, replacing his relief with an almost smug satisfaction. Phase one of Plan B having gone smoother than he’d anticipated meant it was time to move to phase two. “Good,” he said, “then come sailing with me this afternoon. Antonio has a boat and I’d like to see the rest of the island.”
“What? I can’t—”
“Sure, you can. I taught you how to dance, didn’t I? I can teach you how to sail. There’s nothing to it, really. I’ll do all the work while you enjoy the warm breeze and—”
“It’s not that,” Cat argued. “Dario, I’m not in a good place for a fling or a fantasy right now. I know you’re only trying—”
“To show you how sorry I am,” he insisted before she could put words in his mouth. “And to show you that it is okay to relax once in a while. Everyone speaks so highly of you and how hard you’ve worked to help Antonio and Kenderly.”
“You’ve asked about me?”
“No,” he assured her. “Not directly, but I have ears. Come with me,” he pleaded again. “It’s one afternoon, and I’ll keep my hands to myself. I won’t kiss your lovely lips again, unless you ask me to.”
Cat laughed and the sound went straight to his head. “You aren’t afraid I’ll accidentally push you overboard?”
“I’m a good swimmer,” he said. He turned again, walking backward with each forward step she took. “Inspirational sunset, fine wine, a short trip around a beautiful island. Would you say yes if I tossed in a box of decadent chocolate?”
Cat snorted the cutest laugh. It was working! He could feel it.
“Dark or milk chocolate?” she asked.
“Whichever. Both.”
&nbs
p; She stopped and turned to look at the ocean. For one brief second, he thought she was going to say no. “Okay, I’ll go.”
“Yes!” Dario pumped his fist in the air as if his favorite fùtbol team had just scored the winning goal. He was acting like a chump, but he didn’t care. Once he had her on that boat, she would be all his. All he had to do now was convince Antonio to let him use the boat.
Three hours later, he was standing on the deck of the sailboat, the warm tropical air blowing in his face. Catalina stood at his side as they coasted through the crystal-clear water at the north end of the island, the pristine parcel he hoped to procure from Antonio for the location of his new luxury condos he wanted to build.
“Go to the bow and get ready to toss over the anchor.” He pointed to the small hold in the front where the anchor rope was coiled. “Watch the boom.”
Catalina ducked beneath the sail, her white tank dress flapping in the breeze around her long legs and hurried to the front of the boat. She lifted the small anchor and looked back at him for further instructions. He turned the boat a little closer to shore and gave her a nod. “Now.”
Cat tossed the anchor overboard. He waited for it to hold, then locked the wheel into place and then joined her on the bow, where he retrieved the blanket and picnic basket Kenderly had personally packed for them. Cat took the blanket from him and spread it out.
“This side of the island is so wild and beautiful,” she said, looking out over the canopy of trees as he laid out an assortment of fruits and cheeses. “Antonio’s efforts to keep the island as natural as possible really makes it special.” Dario grimaced and she caught sight of his furrowed brow before he could hide his disappointment. “What? You don’t agree?”
He popped the cork on the wine and poured some into a glass, handing it to her before he poured his own. “I don’t know.” He shrugged casually. He had to tread lightly, but also knew he couldn’t lie to her, no matter how badly he wanted her in his bed. “Don’t you think it would be profitable for Antonio to add a more permanent residence for those of his guests who wish to stay?”
