by Victoria Zak
“Do you like to play fùtbol?” Emilio asked.
“I’ve never played.” He glanced back at Catalina. “I’m probably the only Italian who doesn’t know how to play.”
“I can teach you,” Emilio offered excitedly.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Cat interjected.
“I’d love for you to teach me, Emilio.” He winked at Cat. “Hey, can you bounce the ball on your head?”
“Yep, and I’m good at blocking goals. Let’s go.” Emilio grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the door.
“Cat, will you be joining us?” he asked.
“I need to put the flowers in water and check on Mama first, then I’ll be out. Emilio,” she warned, “don’t go into the street.”
“I know,” her son called over his shoulder.
8
Catalina filled a vase with water, then arranged the tall-stalked, white orchids, then placed them on the dining room table.
“It was very thoughtful of your friend to bring you such beautiful flowers,” her mother said as she rolled out dough for homemade tortillas.
It was thoughtful of him, yet she couldn’t stop wondering why he was here. Surely there were other women at the resort willing to have a fantasy with an Italian billionaire. He didn’t have to come all the way to the mainland for that. So, why was he here? “Yes, it was very nice of him.”
“Why haven’t you mentioned this Dario? He seems like a pleasant man.”
Ah…yes. There it was, the same conversation she’d had with her mother countless times. Don’t you want a man in your life to grow old with, and have grandbabies of your own? You work too much, Catalina. You need to stop and smell the roses. Well, how in the hell was she going to water those roses if she didn’t work to pay the water bill?
“I just met him.” Cat raised a staying hand, warning her mother not to interrupt. “And before you start making wedding plans, he’s way out of my league, Mama. We come from very different worlds.”
“But he came all this way just to see you. In my time, that meant a boy liked you.”
Needing something to take out her frustrations on, Cat grabbed a kitchen knife and began chopping the green peppers her mother had laid out for their meal. “I’m serious, Mama, I need to focus on Emilio. I don’t have time for—”
“Love?”
Cat shook her head. She wished that word didn’t exist. No. That wasn’t fair. She loved Emilio and her family, but that was a different kind of love, not the kind that broke hearts and made empty promises with life changing consequences. When her irritated thoughts broke, the silence in the room caught her attention. She looked over her shoulder to see her mother hunched over her rolling pin, wiping tears from her eyes.
“Mama.” Cat rushed over and wrapped her arms around her.
“Please, niña’, don’t give up on love. I don’t know what I’ll do when your papa—” Her mother paused, losing the battle to hold back her tears.
She’d been so distracted with work Cat hadn’t seen it before now, but the strain of her father’s illness on the family was more evident than ever. And she’d added to that burden, by leaving Emilio so often. Now that she was home, she didn’t know how her mother had kept it all together for so long.
“Papa is strong and he’ll make it through this.” Cat prayed the words were true. There had been no change in his tumor at his last doctor’s visit, which was a good sign. The treatments were working and he’d shown progress, but still the family worried.
“Catalina, you work so hard to support us. It’s time you did something for yourself. Live life to its fullest. Don’t take one day for granted.”
“Mama, I’m fine. You shouldn’t worry about me.”
“Promise me you’ll at least give this man a chance. Don’t push him away.”
She squeezed her mother tight before letting her go. “I promise.”
Her mother wiped her face, regaining her composure. “Go...join them outside. Dinner will be ready in an hour. Oh, I almost forgot. Your brothers will be joining us for dinner.”
Cat froze and said a silent prayer. Not that she needed it, but for Dario’s sake.
From the living room window, she watched Dario and her son bouncing a soccer ball back and forth with their knees. Dario looked comfortable with Emilio, smiling and laughing together as if they had known each other for years. Cat smiled at the cute way Dario fumbled the ball. This was a side of the Italian businessman she hadn’t seen, and frankly, she liked it perhaps a little too much.
Shoving her earlier reservations aside, she opened the front door. “Hey, are you two ready to see how it’s really done?”
Dario tossed the ball her way. “Let’s see it, hot shot.”
The hour flew by. It had been a long time since she’d laughed so hard. Dario was right, he knew nothing about fùtbol and it showed, but he was a good sport. Emilio had taken his job seriously and corrected Dario when the rules weren’t being followed. It warmed her heart seeing her son so happy, and if she was honest, she thoroughly enjoyed this playful side of Dario, too.
“Dinner!” her mother called out the front door.
Emilio ran ahead of them and raced up the front stairs.
“Wash your hands!” Cat exclaimed.
Dario put his arm around her as they walked to the house. “He’s a good kid.”
Stopping before they walked up the steps, she faced him. “Yes, he is.” She brushed a piece of grass from his collar. “I think he likes you.”
Dario wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. She slid her hands down his chest, feeling the hardness of his muscles and his rapid heartbeat beneath her palms. Their eyes met and her knees weakened beneath his smoldering gaze. The memory of his kisses flirted with her resolve. She lowered her gaze to his lips, craving a reminder of the spark he’d ignited inside her the night of the masquerade ball. It was only a kiss, and all she had to do was ask. Kiss him. She glanced back up to see her own plea mirrored in his eyes.
Kiss me.
His chest rose and fell as she leaned closer, their lips so close she could taste his peppermint-scented breath.
“Mama, hurry! I want to sit beside Dario!”
Equal measures of relief and disappointment crashed between them at the sound of Emilio’s impatient demand. Dario grinned. “You heard him, let’s go.”
Cat nodded, her lips still tingling from the promise of the moment as she followed the sexy Italian inside. Panic pricked down her spine as she walked into the dining room. The table was set for ten. She’d completely forgotten that her brothers were joining them. Her family was big, loud, and her brothers lived to embarrass her any chance they got. Dario was in for a big surprise.
In a mad dash, Emilio came running in from the bathroom and started assigning seats, placing himself next to his new friend. Before they sat down, Cat’s younger brother, Juan, and his very pregnant wife, Lucia, walked through the front door exchanging a flurry of heated words.
“I told you we would be late if you drove through the park, but you never listen!” Lucia shouted in Spanish as they made their way to the table.
“Catalina,” Juan greeted her excitedly as he leaned in and kissed her cheek, ignoring Lucia’s reprimand. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“It’s nice to see you, too.” She couldn’t remember the last time her family sat down to eat dinner together. They may be loud and obnoxious, but she’d missed this.
Lucia plopped down across the table from where Cat and Dario took their seats.
“I think I’m about to pop,” Lucia complained with a huff, her gaze darting to Dario, then back to her as if she hadn’t seen him, then back to Dario, her mouth falling open in shock.
“Well, you look beautiful, Lucia,” Cat rushed to cut off her expected squeal, giving her a pleading glare. Please don’t make a big deal out of this?
“Where’s Carlito?” Mama asked as she took her seat.
“I’m sure he’s on h
is way. Probably speeding to get here,” Cat joked, thankful that Lucia seemed too speechless to cause an embarrassing scene over Dario. “You know how awful taxicab drivers are.”
Her brother sat down next to his wife. “See, I told you we weren’t going to be the only ones late.”
Cat giggled when Lucia narrowed her eyes and pinned Juan with a deadly scowl, but quickly sobered when Juan noticed Dario sitting beside her. Oh, Dios mio.
“Mama!” Carlito’s voiced boomed through the house before Juan could speak. The front door slammed closed and Juan rushed into the room. “Sorry I’m late.”
Cat pushed to her feet to greet her brother, but stopped short when he froze in the doorway, his gaze trained on Dario. She glanced between them, furrowing her brows in confusion. “Do you two know each other?” she asked as he gave her a quick hug and made his way to his chair.
Carlito shook his head. ‘No…no, I don’t think so.”
“Actually,” Dario interrupted. “You’re the taxicab driver who charged me triple the cab fare.”
“What?” Cat exclaimed, her cheeks heating with embarrassment.
“Yep, fifty bucks from the port to here. Best money I’ve ever spent.” He winked at her.
Cat glared at Carlito as she retook her seat, scolding him in Spanish.
“I’ll give the money back.” Carlito reached inside his pant pocket.
“No, you keep it,” Dario insisted. “You hustled that money fair and square.”
Cat shot Dario a glare. “Don’t encourage him.”
He squeezed her thigh under the table and whispered, “Relax.”
“Oh, I like him.” Carlito smirked as he reached for his glass.
Once the awkward introductions were over, conversation flowed effortlessly, though most of it centered on Dario. Taking advantage of the rare opportunity, her father drilled Dario on his views of politics, religion, and family. When he asked Dario to explain what he did for a living, Dario hedged a bit, surprising her when he shared his thoughts about the neighborhoods he saw on his way to their house.
“This area is rich in culture,” he said with as much passion in his eyes as when he looked at her. “With the right developer, we could breathe new life into the old buildings, bring the soul of Panama back to the people here.”
Her father studied him with a critical eye. “You would not build shopping malls and expensive hotels?”
Dario shook his head. “Normally, yes, but not here.” He glanced up at Cat, the sincerity in his eyes releasing something inside her. “This place is...special,” he continued, turning his attention back to her father.
“Viva Panama!” her father shouted with a laugh. “I think Carlito is right, Catalina! I like him.” He began to hum Panama’s national anthem.
Cat dropped her fork onto her plate, groaning as she slumped in her seat. “You’ve done it now.”
“Alcanzamos por fin la Victoria! En el campo feliz—”
“Papa, please!” Carlito interrupted and urged him to sit back down. “We know how patriotic you are. There’s no need to embarrass us.”
“Nonsense.” Her father waived Carlito off and turned back to Dario. “What are your intentions with my daughter? Have you bought a ring? Because she—”
“Papa!” Cat coughed. God…what was he going to ask next?
Another hour of How Many Shades of Red Can We Make Cat Turn? and dessert was served, and thoroughly enjoyed.
“Mama, I’ll help you clean up.” Cat stood and began gathering plates.
“I can help, too.” Dario took her plate and his.
She froze, arching a brow as she stared at the plates in his hands.
“What?” He leaned over and whispered. “Did I do something wrong? I didn’t offend anyone, did I?”
She shook her head. “No, you’re doing everything right.”
After cleaning up and several bedtime stories, it was close to midnight when Emilio finally nodded off to sleep. She kissed the top of her son’s head. “Love you, buddy.” She turned on her heels and headed to the rooftop where she’d asked Dario to wait for her.
“Dios, I’m glad that is over,” she said with a sigh as she walked out onto the rooftop, her private tropical oasis.
Dario was reclined on a dark wicker chaise beneath a canopy of her favorite flowers, his sleeves rolled up to reveal his sinewy forearms stretched out along the back. Time faded as their eyes met. How could she say no to him when he stole her breath with just a single look?
He stood and greeted her. “It wasn’t that bad, was it?”
“Like going to the dentist,” she managed despite her struggle to breathe.
They shared a lighthearted laugh, relieving some of the tension in her chest.
“Catalina, you have a beautiful family. They care about you.”
Cat folded her arms and looked out over the surrounding rooftops, thinking it had been a bad idea to invite him to such a private place. All day he’d been chipping away at the wall she’d put between them. He was so close to breaking through. “Yes, they do.”
“What’s wrong?”
Cat smiled and turned back to look at him. “I’m that readable, huh?”
“Yet, you’re a mystery to me.” He rubbed the sudden chill from her arms. “Tell me what’s wrong?”
“We’re wrong.” She slipped away and turned back to the sea of rooftops, wishing she didn’t have to say what she was about to. “Dario, I work my ass off to help support my family and pay for my father’s medical treatments. My brothers help as much as they can, but they have their own bills to pay. I’m not telling you this for sympathy, but to make you understand we come from very different worlds. I can’t be something I’m not, and I’m far from the sophisticated, wealthy women you’re accustomed to.”
“Catalina, I—”
“No, let me finish.” She faced him. “Emilio is my world. One man has already left him. I can’t allow that to happen again. He’s a good boy and doesn’t deserve that just because I’m lonely.”
“Catalina.” The sternness of his tone silenced her. “Answer me one question. When have I ever asked you to be someone you aren’t?”
She swallowed her argument. He was right. There hadn’t been a single time he’d ever asked her to be someone she wasn’t, or even tried to change who she was. He’d known for the start who she was, shown her nothing but kindness, and had awakened a need she’d suppressed for far too long.
She was falling in love with him.
No doubt he didn’t feel the same. But she wanted this. She deserved to let go just once, safe in knowing Dario was a good man, someone she could trust with her body, if not her heart. And he would be leaving tomorrow. Tonight was her last chance.
Clutching to a moment of selfish bravery, she closed the small space between them, sliding her hands up his chest and around his neck. “Bésame,” she whispered, unable to meet his gaze, focusing on his lips instead.
He dipped his head until their foreheads touched. “What does that mean?”
Looking up at him, she smiled, already feeling the bliss of his embrace. “Kiss me.”
9
The words he’d longed to hear rolled over Dario like a wave. There was no plan to seduce her as he cupped her face and fused his mouth to hers. The need he’d repressed for so long rushed to the surface, holding them both in its unrelenting grip.
Their tongues tangled together in a dance so familiar it seemed impossible he’d only kissed her once before. Hungry for more, but afraid his rampant desire would push her away again, he retreated, only to be pulled back.
With urgent hands, she pulled his shirt free from his slacks, the feel of her fingertips on his bare flesh like white-hot flames licking at his insides. He was coming undone, and if she didn’t stop now…
“Cat,” he warned against her lips, but his plea fell on deaf ears.
Her fingers trembled as they played over the buttons on his shirt, one-by-one, until it hung open between them, the humid ai
r feeling cool against his heated skin. Hypnotized, he watched as she pressed a kiss to the center of his chest, his next breath hissing through his teeth at the innocently seductive contact.
“Catalina.” Pushed to his limits, he cupped her face, tilting her head back so he could see her eyes, gauging the sincerity of her sudden change of heart. He needed to know if she wanted him as much as he wanted her. What he saw was desire in its rawest form, laced with hope, swirling in her dark eyes, sending a surge of exhilarating power racing through his veins.
Mine.
A helpless squeak bubbled from her chest as he claimed her mouth again, an answering groan ripping through his throat when she claimed him back, meeting him stroke-for-stroke, taste-for-taste. They may be from different worlds, but their hunger for each other was equal. Two souls desperate to connect.
The second his shirt was off, hers followed, breaking their kiss for only a moment. Her bra fluttered to the ground. He reached for the snap on her shorts, popping it open with a flick of his wrist, tugging at the opening until the zipper gave way and the faded denim slid to her ankles. She kicked it away, her hands working feverishly to do the same with his, but he couldn’t wait.
He hoisted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his hips. The gravel on the rooftop crunched beneath his shoes as he stumbled to the chaise and lowered himself down onto the cushion, settling her in his lap. Mumbled Italian curses spilled from his lips when she sank down on his hard cock. The pressure was exquisite, his grip tightening on her hips as she shifted against him, but he wanted more. Needed more. He had to see and feast on all of her.
“Slow, gattina,” he pleaded against her kiss-swollen lips.
She trembled beneath his hands, her desire like the energy of an exploding star, threatening to scorch them both from the inside out. He kissed the bridge of her nose, her cheek, trailing his lips along her jaw, soaking in the feel of her soft skin beneath his fingertips. His groin tightened when he reached the soft swell of her breast.
“Yes.” She sighed, tipping her head back, exposing herself to his touch as he cupped her breasts, teasing her nipples between his fingers.
