She laughed. “You are a smooth talker.”
“I am speaking the truth,” I said. I took a chance and leaned forward, dropping a kiss on her cheek before taking her hand.
We walked back to the limo. “Where are we going?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise.”
“Opera? Fancy wine? Or wait, your private dining room with Dom and a fancy meal?”
I laughed. “No.”
“An art gallery where I’m supposed to look at ugly paintings and pretend they’re awesome?”
“No. I’m trying to win you over. If I took you to an opera or an art gallery, I would never hear from you again. You would be bored to tears. Those are not places I willingly go to. I’ve gone but only under duress.”
She burst into laughter. “The horrors you have had to cope with. How have you managed to survive?”
I sounded like an asshole. “I’m sorry. That was very privileged of me to say. I only meant those things are not what I call fun.”
“I get it. I was only teasing. I’m sure the trappings of wealth have their downsides.”
I shrugged. “I think it’s more about the trappings of who I have to associate with. I miss good people. I miss being able to be real and not have to put on a big show.”
She gave me a look. “I do understand, kind of. So, tell me, what do you have up your sleeve?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. I don’t have any Dom back here, but can I pour you some wine? A shot of Jack?”
She looked at me, her brows raised. “I suppose you have a full bar back here?”
I laughed. “I don’t think I would call it a full bar, but it’s pretty close to it.”
“You know what I could really go for?” she asked with a coy smile.
I got my hopes up and scooted closer. “I have a few guesses,” I said in a low voice.
She pushed her hand against my chest. “I was thinking a nice glass of merlot would be lovely.”
“Liar.”
She laughed. “I tried to be fancy.”
“Don’t. Be you. I like you for you.”
She blushed. “Thank you.”
The car pulled to a stop in front of a small place in Little Havana. It was just above a hole in the wall. It was one of the places I had stumbled upon a long time ago. I was sure some of the customers recognized me but none of them let on. It was one of the places I could go and just be me. They didn’t impose their idea of who I should be. They were too busy with their own enjoyment of the rowdy club.
“Ready?” I asked her.
“I’m not sure,” she said, looking out the window. “This is kind of a sketchy neighborhood.”
“It’s safe. Besides, I’ve got your back. Ain’t no one touching you when I’m around.”
“Okay, I’m trusting you.”
I winked. “Good. That’s all I ask for.”
We stepped inside the trendy club that was already hopping with a lively crowd. People from all walks of life came in. The smell of cigars was thick in the air, along with the pungent aroma of alcohol and body heat. I grabbed her hand and pulled her through the crowd. I spotted a table somewhat close to the stage. We each took our seats, both of us scanning the people drinking, dancing, laughing, and having a thoroughly good time.
When the waitress came by, I ordered two mojitos. Cherie looked at me and laughed. “Really?”
“When in Rome,” I said, shrugging a shoulder.
“How did you find this place?” she asked, leaning forward to be heard over the music. I couldn’t help but look at the cleavage that was on display. I looked my fill before popping my eyes back to hers. She knew I was looking, and she didn’t seem to mind. In fact, I believed she was playing with me a little. Teasing, just like she used to do.
“I got lost one night and stumbled into the place. I love the vibe. It’s laid back and a lot like back home—minus the Cuban atmosphere.”
“It’s loud,” she commented.
I nodded. “A man can get lost in here, which is exactly what I need from time to time.”
She gave me a soft look. “I get it.”
Our drinks were delivered. I immediately sucked half of it down. “How are you?” I asked her, the words broad.
“Right this minute?”
I shook my head. “No. How are you? I asked when we first saw each other, but you gave me nothing. You know about me. Tell me about you.”
She shrugged. “I’ve been good. I went to school and got my bachelor’s in business. It took me five years because I had to work and couldn’t do both. Once I was out of school, I worked with an event-planning business. Before I got into the office, I was part of the catering staff. I learned a lot from my boss at the time.”
“Did you plan to become a wedding planner?”
“No,” she said with a laugh. “Honestly, I thought I was going to work in the hotel industry. I thought I would be the manager of one of the exclusive hotels. Then the catering job turned me on to the idea of events. I worked and saved and started a tiny little business working out of my apartment. It eventually grew and now I have a tiny little office.”
“That’s awesome,” I told her. “You did that all on your own.”
I could see the pride in her eyes. “I did.”
“Look at us,” I said with a laugh. “Both a couple of poor kids from nowhere have made it out of the trailers and into the lap of luxury.”
Her expression changed. “I’m not in the lap of luxury but I’m happy. I like being independent. I plan on my business growing, but I know it won’t happen overnight. I kind of like that. I like having to work hard and prove myself.”
I understood exactly what she meant. Our conversation was brought to an end when a live band took the stage. Our waitress brought us another round of drinks and we ordered the Cuban taco special. Once again, I found myself eating with my fingers and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Her cheeks were flushed as she took off the little shawl she had been wearing.
“Ready to dance?” I asked her.
She grinned, her eyes flashing with mischief. “You told me to wear my dancing shoes.”
“Then let’s do this, woman. I’ve been waiting all night to get you on that dance floor. I want your body writhing next to mine.”
She giggled. “You don’t even know if I can dance.”
I got to my feet and extended my hand. I put my mouth next to her ear. “I’ve felt you moving under me. I know you can dance.”
She shuddered against me. I led her out to the dance floor, putting my hand on her hip and the other on her shoulder. I began to move, leading the way. She moved her hips, getting into the groove of the upbeat music. I ground my hips against her, my leg going between hers as she rode my thigh.
The dance was more than just a dance. It was foreplay. All the writhing bodies around us moving in time to the heavy beat of the drums were in the same frame of mind. The sexual chemistry on the dance floor was thick. I wanted to taste her but resisted the urge.
I had to take things slow and prove to her it was more than just sex. The sex was damn good, but it wasn’t the only reason I wanted her. I wanted every little piece of her. I had to make her see I could be the man she needed. I wanted her to see me for the man I had become. The man that could take care of her and support her. She wanted to do big things and I wanted to be the man behind her while she did those things.
Deep down, I had to prove to myself I wasn’t that skinny kid from the swamp that she’d dumped without warning. I needed her to see me as a man. It was probably a little caveman and all about my ego, but the damage she had done back then still stuck with me. I could admit to myself her actions back then had been a blow to my ego. It had made me second guess everything about myself.
“You’re crazy,” she breathed.
“Crazy about you, baby,” I told her, not afraid to push a little. I wanted her to know how much I wanted her.
She smiled and swayed to the music, both of
us moving in time together. Our bodies moved as one. It was quickly shaping up to be one of the best nights of my life.
Chapter 18
Cherie
I could feel him weaving a spell over me and I didn’t care. The atmosphere was intoxicating. I didn’t need the liquor. Being close to him, dancing with him, and feeling his hard body next to me was all making me want him more than ever. I didn’t know he could dance. It was a seduction of the best kind.
“I’m thirsty,” he said after we danced for a good twenty minutes.
“Me too.”
We walked back to our table and ordered another round. The band announced they were taking a quick break, plunging the club into a quiet din filled with laughing and conversations all around. I felt alive. I felt like I was truly living. My skin tingled with arousal.
“I didn’t know you danced,” I told him, sipping on the cold drink.
He shrugged. “I’ve picked up some moves.”
“I’d say,” I replied.
“You’re not too bad yourself. Do you do the club thing?”
I shook my head. “No. Definitely not. I’ll admit I did have a fake ID in college and did get into some clubs but never anything like this. This is a very different vibe.”
“It’s why I like it. It’s authentic and nobody is looking at anyone else.”
I offered a small smile. “You give me the impression you want to be invisible.”
“To everyone but you. I like when you look at me.”
I realized I had been looking at him—staring. I couldn’t take my eyes off his. His blue eyes had that stormy look he always got when he was thinking about sex. He’d been looking at me like that since he’d picked me up at the front door. To think I did that to him was heady. I couldn’t stop myself from flirting.
In that moment, I knew I was screwed. I wanted him. I didn’t give a shit that he’d just gotten out of a relationship. I had him first. I was going to reclaim what had once been mine. I was going home with him. I knew I didn’t have to ask. The offer had been on the table since he had called me and asked me out to dinner. We both knew it.
The band took the stage again. The dance floor filled with people bumping and grinding against each other in an erotic display of open sexual need. I watched the bodies, the women rubbing their asses against the crotches of their dance partners. Men ran their hands down their female partners’ sides, coming dangerously close to rubbing between their legs. There was no shame in what any of them were doing.
“Do you want to dance again?” Evan asked.
I pulled my eyes away from the sight on the dance floor and looked into his blue eyes. I wanted to dance, but I didn’t feel like dancing in the club. “I think I’m ready to go,” I said.
His eyes flashed with disappointment. “Okay.”
We walked through the crowd again. His hand was on the small of my back as we moved. I loved that he was always touching me. It was possessive and protective and made me feel like I was his queen. I slid across the backseat of the limo with him right behind me.
“Back to her place,” he said, leaning forward and speaking to the driver.
“No,” I said. “His place.”
Evan turned to look at me, surprise on his face. “Home, please.”
He pushed a button, the privacy partition sliding up. I didn’t have a chance to ask what he was doing. He reached for me, pulling me into his arms. I looked into his eyes in the soft light of the backseat of the limo.
“Is that okay with you?” I breathed.
“Baby, I am okay with anything you want.”
His mouth closed over mine, kissing me senseless. His hand trailed down my bare arm before grabbing my hip and pulling me closer. I could feel his erection against my other hip. He always seemed to be ready for sex. Again, it was a huge ego boost. I had suffered from some negative body issues, but when I was with him, I felt prettier than Amber.
His mouth furiously worked over mine, his tongue sliding inside my mouth. His teeth nibbled at my lower lip before he sucked on my tongue.
With a loud exhale, he pulled his mouth away from mine. “Fuck. Do you know what you do to me?”
I reached down, rubbing my hand over his erection. “I’ve got a pretty good idea.”
He hissed out a breath through clenched teeth. “Not even close. You make me burn.”
My hand moved up to his cheek before sliding back down over his chest. I was going to get him naked. All the way naked. I wanted to see him. I wanted to feast my eyes upon him. The first time had been too fast, too hasty. I wanted it all. In for a penny, in for a pound.
The car pulled to a stop. It felt like we had just gotten in the backseat. Time flew by when you were having fun. The door opened and I was forced to crawl out of his lap. I would have been happy to stay there for the rest of the night. Evan climbed out and reached his hand back in to help me out.
I stood in the courtyard of his mansion. I had no words. I stared up at the massive columns that stood on either side of the massive front door. I could hear and smell the ocean and knew we were close. Not close. His house was right on the beach.
“Ready?” he asked.
“I am,” I answered.
He grabbed my hand and led me inside. The front door opened to a huge foyer with a magnificent staircase that led to the upstairs. He closed the door behind us and dropped his keys and wallet into a dish on a small table. I had something similar in my house, but my bowl was something I had picked up at a secondhand store and the table was rickety. Not his house. Everywhere I looked, I saw the evidence of his wealth.
“Can I give you the tour?”
“Please. I’m afraid I might need a map.”
He laughed and tapped a small box on the wall. “If you get lost, just push the button. I’ll find you.”
“Good to know.”
He took me into an open area that I was guessing was the sitting room. Normal people had a living room, maybe a den, but he was one of the wealthy elite. “I don’t come in here very often,” he said, almost sounding embarrassed.
“It’s nice,” I said.
I followed him out and across the foyer. The house was stunning. The view of the beach was absolutely worth every penny he probably paid for the place. He showed me all around the ground floor, but not the upstairs. I didn’t think I could handle seeing much more. His opulent home exuded wealth, but it wasn’t necessarily garish or too over the top. It was easy for me to see he spent the bulk of his time in his den.
“Now, for the best part,” he said.
I expected him to show me his bedroom, which I was going to guess was on the second floor. We had seen his theater room, his gym, the massive kitchen, and even a wine cellar, but I had yet to see a bedroom.
Instead of heading for the stairs, he walked to a wall of windows, which I quickly realized were massive glass doors. He slid one open, pushed a button, and his backyard came alive. My hand went to my mouth, shocked and impressed by what I saw.
“Holy shit,” I breathed. “This is your backyard?”
He turned and looked at me. “It is my private oasis.”
I looked at the palm trees draped in pretty white lights. There was an infinity pool lit up with blue lights that gave it a magical appearance. On one end of the pool, there was a hot tub big enough for at least eight people. Patio furniture was on either side of the pool, with an outdoor eating area complete with a large-screen TV mounted on a brick wall.
“This is beautiful,” I said, truly impressed. “I remember you always talked about having your own pool with a big ol’ grill.”
He laughed and pointed to a huge grill with a brick oven on one side. “That was probably the first thing I bought when I started making money. I love to grill out here. I’m a little embarrassed to admit I have cookouts for just me. A certain someone couldn’t stand the idea of eating food off a grill.”
“Holy shit!” I exclaimed. “Who doesn’t love barbecue?”
He grinned.
“Apparently, rich people. Hang tight. I’m going to grab a couple of beers.”
I kicked off my shoes and walked across the patio. The water was mesmerizing. It was so smooth and clean and so damn inviting. I bent over to touch it with my fingers and discovered the water was lukewarm.
The night had been magical. I had given up on trying to fight what I felt for him. I would do that tomorrow. I wanted to live in the moment. How many more chances would I ever have to visit a mansion on the Miami waterfront? Assuming I never visited Evan again—never. The night had been filled with indulgence. I figured one more little indulgence wouldn’t hurt.
“Here,” he said, handing me an icy-cold Corona.
I took a drink, my eyes still on the pool. “I bet you spend a lot of time back here.”
“I do. It’s not quite like a swampy lagoon, but I like the idea of swimming without fear of a gator taking a bite out of my ass.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “There were a few close calls.”
“Damn straight, there were.”
I walked to one of the small tables positioned next to a lawn chair and put the beer down. I was going all in. Literally. I turned my back to him. “Unzip me?”
He looked a little surprised but did as I asked. I pulled off my dress and carefully draped it on the chair. I reached behind me and unhooked my bra. My breasts spilled out as I pulled it off and very slowly and purposely draped it over the dress. I could feel his eyes on me. I was sure he wasn’t breathing.
Slowly, I pulled down the thong I had worn and let it drop to the cement. I reached up and pulled the ponytail holder from my hair and gave my hair a good shake. I turned to look at him, and as expected, he was watching my little show with rapt attention.
“What are you doing?” he managed to get out.
I spread my arms wide, my head going back as I looked up at the moon that was brighter than the night before. “I’m going for a swim.”
He stared at me like I had grown a second head. I burst into laughter, feeling completely carefree. I walked to the edge of the pool, and without hesitation, I jumped in. The lukewarm water washed over me as I sank to the bottom before pushing off and springing to the surface.
Heart Breaker Page 11
