by Judy Angelo
That didn’t take long. She wasn’t a fussy dresser. In fact, some had called her ‘practical’ - which was just a kinder way of saying her clothes were boring. But none of that bothered her. Particularly in this case, she was not dressing to impress. In fact, quite the opposite. Although she had accepted his dinner invitation she wanted to make it clear to Rico that dinner was all he was going to get. If he didn’t know it already he would soon realize that Asia Miller was no idiot.
But when Friday evening came around Asia did not feel quite so confident. She didn’t know if it was butterflies but there was definitely something flitting around in her stomach.
She was ready at seven o’clock as instructed and when she heard a car pull up in front of the house her heart gave a flutter. When she picked up her purse from the table in the hallway there was a slight tremble to her fingers. She paused to draw in a breath, desperately trying to steady her nerves. The last thing she wanted was for Rico to see her sweat.
She put her hand on the knob and opened the front door to a sight that took her breath away. There, in front of her house, stood an all-white Hummer limousine and standing by the door of this magnificent vehicle was a uniformed chauffeur. She whispered a soundless ‘wow’ then stepped outside. She hadn’t expected this. Sure, the man was rich but she’d thought he’d pick her up in a nice car, not a limousine. What would the neighbors think? She almost gave a chuckle as she thought of Mrs. Peabody peeping through the curtains to see what was going on. Mrs. Busybody would have been a more appropriate name for that neighborhood watchdog. She’d have a lot to talk about tonight.
So Rico had ‘sent’ for her, had he? No problem. She was glad he’d not come himself. Now she would have a few more minutes to gather her wits about her to prepare for battle.
And a battle it would be - not with Rico, but with herself. She was too darned attracted to the man for her own good. This is business, she kept telling herself, this is business. She’d said it so many times that her mind was finally convinced. Her heart, rebellious as it was, would need more convincing.
As the chauffeur nodded in greeting and opened the door for her she smiled and murmured her thanks then bent her head to get into the vehicle. And that was when she saw him.
Rico Megalos sat lounging on the luxurious leather seat of the limousine looking very relaxed, very sexy and very much the billionaire. He fit perfectly in this environment. He was dressed in gray slacks and a shirt of soft white cotton that was open to reveal just a hint of his muscled chest. His clothing was casual enough but it was the way he wore it that threw her off. So confident, so blasé, no matter what the man was wearing he still looked like money.
“Aren’t you coming in?” There was an amused twist to Rico’s mouth as he watched her still peering in at the door.
To her chagrin a blush crept up Asia’s throat. She could feel it.
“H…hi, Rico,” she said quickly, trying to hide her confusing. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
“Oh?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Didn’t I tell you I’d come to get you at seven?”
“Yes, but…oh, never mind.” She got in and found herself a seat three or four spaces away from her host. As the chauffeur closed the door she looked around and the word that came to mind was ‘posh’. She’d been inside limousines before but none like this one. It came with a lighted bar which was well stocked with a variety of drinks and glasses of every shape and size. Light ran along the floor beneath her feet, up the walls and along the top. A huge TV screen covered the back wall and speakers lined the sides. The car looked like a ritzy party place.
Realizing she was staring she turned her eyes to Rico. “So,” she said, deliberately adopting a serene tone, “where are we going?” Her heart was racing like she’d just finished a run but Rico didn’t have to know that.
“You’ll see when we get there,” he said and gave her a satisfied grin.
She smiled demurely at him then looked away, pretending to admire the view outside the window. So he’d decided to be mysterious. No matter. She would know their destination soon enough. Right now her biggest worry was finding something to talk about. She was trapped in this car with a man to whom she was extremely attracted but who she had to keep at a distance. No matter that her mouth had gone dry at the sight of him, she had to remember that he was a client.
“Would you like a drink?” he asked as he watched her through half-closed eyes.
“Yes, thank you.” Her reply was quick, breathless, as she jumped at the chance for something to occupy her hands and her thoughts, anything to keep her from focusing on his closeness - the woodsy fragrance of his cologne, his strong and handsome profile when she viewed him from the side, the way the fine hairs on her forearm rose up each time he moved near. “White wine would be lovely.”
When he poured a glass and handed it to her she took it almost too eagerly. She had to force herself to wait before lifting the drink to her lips. She was a bundle of tingling nerves and she needed to regain control.
The first sip helped. She released the breath she’d been holding then took another sip. By her third sip her heart had begun to slow, moving back to normal pace. She glanced over at Rico and saw that he was checking something on his cell phone. He hadn’t been watching her, thank God. There was no way she wanted him to guess how scared she was to be alone with him.
After a minute he glanced over at her. “Sorry,” he said and gave her an apologetic smile. “Bad habit.” He stuffed the phone into his pocket. “I’ve got to learn to leave the office at the office.” Then he gave her a sly look. “Are you going to add that to your list of things to train me on?”
That made her laugh. “Of course not. My list is long enough already.” And with the laughter her tension eased and she was able to slide back into the plush seat, her body and mind beginning to relax.
Within twenty minutes Asia felt the car begin to slow until it came to a complete stop. She peered out the window and saw blue sky, blue water and a big, beautiful white yacht bobbing at the end of a dock.
Asia gasped then turned to Rico. “Where are we?”
“I wanted to take you somewhere where you can let your hair down.” He looked pointedly at the customary bun on top of her head. “We’re going to have dinner on my yacht.”
Asia’s heart lurched. Right then she couldn’t say whether it was from fear or pleasure. “Oh, that’s…nice.” Not knowing what else to say she forced a smile and waited for Rico to make the next move.
Her head snapped up as the door opened and she saw the chauffeur standing there, waiting for them to exit. Rico was holding out his hand to help her and, wary though she was, she placed her hand in his. When his fingers, so warm and strong, encircled hers she dropped her eyes and forced herself to breathe. No matter what, she had to act normal.
That was easier said than done. When she got out of the car she found herself standing directly in front of Rico, her face mere inches from the V of his shirt and that rippling chest she’d admired from afar. Now she found herself so close she could almost feel the warmth of his body and her nostrils were filled with the freshness of his cologne. She took a quick step back.
“Are you alright?” He reached out a hand as if to steady her.
She shook her head quickly. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”
He gave her a quizzical look then he shrugged. “Okay then. Lets go.”
He gave a nod to the driver then led the way down the pathway of wooden planks toward the yacht. In Asia’s eyes it was huge, probably almost fifty feet long she would guess. More than impressive.
They were greeted by a tall, somber man in a white uniform. Rico introduced him as Charles Parker, the captain who would be taking them out onto the water while they dined below.
After they’d helped her on board Rico took her on a tour of the yacht. With its TV room, bedroom suites and Jacuzzi it was like a magnificent mansion on water. Their last stop was the dining room. It was here that Asia got her biggest surpri
se. It was a luxurious room with a table set for two, on which sat six softly glowing candles. The setting seemed so intimate that Asia hesitated. Did Rico have special plans for tonight?
She didn’t have time to ponder that. He’d already pulled out her chair and stood waiting for her to sit. Reluctantly she stepped forward then sank down onto the soft cushioned seat. She thought he was going to sit, too. Instead he wheeled a food trolley toward the table. As he lifted the silver domes that covered each dish the air was filled with a variety of delicious aromas and her mouth watered when she saw the feast of fish fillet in a creamy sauce, a mélange of steaming hot vegetables, savory wild rice and a basket of warm bread rolls that smelled freshly baked. The lower level of the trolley had soup, salad, an assortment of dressings and, to Asia’s delight, a cheesecake.
“My goodness,” she breathed. “How are we going to eat all this?”
“One bite at a time,” Rico said with a laugh. “Bon apetit.”
Asia had to admit, Rico played the perfect host at dinner. As they sat eating in the soft light cast by the candles he entertained her with stories of his life in France, Spain and Britain, and of his large Greek family in which he boasted twenty-one first cousins on his father’s side.
“My father has eight siblings,” he explained at her look of shock. He chuckled. “It could have been worse.”
Asia could not imagine being part of such a huge family. How did they keep track of one another? Compared to Rico’s family, with the collection of intriguing characters and gregarious relatives he’d told her about , her family seemed dull and boring. Both her parents and her eighteen-year old sister still lived in her hometown of Oakville in Canada, visiting her maybe once or twice a year. She also went home each Christmas. A family gathering for them was their household of four people. She had cousins, of course, but combining all those she’d acquired from both parents, she reached a total of eight. Even so, they rarely had gatherings where they all met. Probably only at weddings and funerals. They were a far cry from the hundred-person parties that Rico told her about.
As Rico sipped his after-dinner cup of coffee Asia stole a furtive glance at him. No wonder he was the way he was. As a child he’d probably had to bold and assertive just to be heard in what must have been a busy and boisterous family environment. She could just imagine the interaction among the cousins, particularly the boys, each trying to outdo the other as they fought for dominance. Rico would have had to be strong and forceful to hold his own.
A smile tickled her lips as she thought of what he must have been like as a youngster in the Megalos family. With his lean figure he must have been a scrappy little thing, fighting his way past bigger, brawnier boys until he was able to compensate with a height that probably exceeded the majority of them. Rico was at least six foot one, taller than the average man, and that would have definitely worked in his favor.
“What are you thinking?”
Asia blinked. Rico’s question brought her back to earth with a bump. “Oh, nothing,” she said airily. “Just enjoying my tea.” To prove the point she picked up her cup and took a sip.
“Very good,” he said with a nod. “I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the meal.” Then he smiled and reached for her hand. “Now it’s time to burn off some of those calories.”
“Excuse me?” Her eyes snapped to his and she made to pull her hand away but he held it fast. His smile took on a mocking twist. He must have guessed what she’d been thinking. “Let’s go for a walk.”
Still holding her hand he stood up, forcing her to rise, and then he turned her toward the stairs leading up to the deck. “Up you go.”
He helped her up, following close behind. Up on deck the cool air of the salty ocean was a contrast to the intimacy of the cabin below.
A light, almost imperceptible shiver ran through her. The light silk of her blouse was poor protection against the night air which had dipped a few degrees since they’d boarded the yacht.
Rico must have seen her involuntary shiver because, before she knew what was happening, he’d gathered her in his arms, holding her so close she could feel the beating of his heart. As he held her he stroked her arms which were practically bare in the short sleeved blouse she wore.
“Let me warm you up,” he whispered as he stroked, his movements slowing to a seductive caress that was making a heated blush suffuse her body. He’d said he’d warm her and he was certainly doing that…too successfully. She suddenly felt so hot she was almost panting.
She swallowed. “I’m…alright,” she tried to say but it came out as a weak whisper then a gasp as, without warning, he dipped his head and captured her mouth with his own.
Dear God, what was happening? She knew, of course. Rico Megalos was masterfully and expertly taking over. He was seducing her and she couldn’t do a darned thing to stop it. She didn’t want to.
His lips, so strong and hard in the boardroom, were warm and pliable on hers. He was gentle with his kiss, as if soothing her fear, calming her jangling nerves, filling her mind with nothing but his kiss. Then, as she relaxed into him, reveling in the hardness of his body against hers, he deepened his kiss, sliding his tongue past her lips to explore her even more.
And that was when she knew the battle was lost. He was an expert kisser, teasing and taunting, probing then plundering until all she could do was cling to him as he swept her away in the seduction of his caress.
Heart racing, nipples taut and tingling, she moaned when he pulled his mouth away to trail his lips down her neck and toward the curve of her collarbone. There he tempted her with tantalizing kisses until she arched her back, wanting more of him.
A fire raged in her belly, the flames reaching up inside to lick at the taut tips of her nipples. Oh God, she wanted him. She needed his lips, his tongue on those tortured nipples. She wanted him to soothe, to quench the fire that threatened to consume her.
“Please,” she gasped and reached up to slide her trembling fingers through the sleek silk of his hair. Without hesitation he moved his mouth lower. With powerful hands he lifted her higher, his mouth sliding down to the crevice between her breasts.
He knew what she wanted. Dear God, he knew. Asia arched her back, her body clamoring for more. He answered her plea when he took the top of her bra in his teeth and pulled it down to expose her distended bud to the air. And then, to her sweet relief, he sucked it deep into his mouth, sending a tremor rippling through her body. God, that felt good.
Too soon, Rico pulled his lips away and set her gently on her feet. “You’re cold,” he whispered. “Shivering. Let’s go downstairs and get warm.”
Downstairs. Get warm. The words were like alarm bells going off in her head. Her eyes widened as she stared up at him. What the heck was she doing? How could she have been so stupid?
She’d lectured herself to death about not getting involved with a client. And then she’d gone and let him kiss her. And more. And now he was inviting her back downstairs to ‘get warm’. Where? In the bedroom? Not in this lifetime.
Asia pulled out of Rico’s arms. “I don’t think so,” she said, her voice as cool as the air wafting in off the ocean. “I think I’ve had enough for one evening.”
Rico dropped his hands and stepped back, a frown darkening his face. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I want to go home.” She fixed him with a stare as frosty as her voice. “Now, please.”
For a while he stared at her, saying nothing. Finally, he spoke. “Very well, we will go.” Without another word he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving her shivering in the chill of the sea air.
Slowly she turned back to the railing and stared out onto the inky-black water. She wrapped her arms around herself, seeking what little warmth she could. As cold as she was, until Rico came back she would not be moving from this spot. Downstairs, warm and cozy though it might be, was off limits for her.
The fact was, she was weak. The events of the night had demonstrated that very clearly. She was a
professional but she was not acting like one. She was ashamed to think it but her behavior was more like that of a love-struck schoolgirl. And she’d almost paid dearly for it.
Asia sniffed and bit down on her lower lip. From here on she would keep her emotions in check, no matter the cost to her heart.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Send her in,” Rico said into the intercom then he swung his chair around so that it faced the plate glass windows overlooking Miami Bay. After a silence of over a week Asia Miller was back. To conduct her autogenic training, she’d said, sounding so cool and composed that he felt like reaching through the phone lines to throttle her.
That was some stunt she’d pulled on his boat that Friday night. After what he’d thought had been a wonderful dinner where he’d seen her relax for the first time, she’d made a U-turn and demanded that he take her home. Just like that. As if he were some kind of lecher taking advantage of her. He hadn’t forced himself on her. She’d kissed him back. Willingly. In fact, she’d responded with a passion that made her desire plain as day. And then she’d backed away.
Now she’d returned to continue her cockamamie training program. He’d almost told his assistant to cancel the appointment. But no, he would see her. He was more than curious to see whether her frigid mood had improved or not.
Asia Miller entered his office a minute later, looking serene as she always did, her hair in that damn bun she seemed to love so much. On the yacht when he'd kissed her, soft tendrils of her ebony hair had slipped from the bun to curl softly around her face. With her thick black lashes and the cute pout of her soft lips she’d made a pretty picture. How could he have resisted stealing a kiss?
But now the thin line of her lips told him she was back to business.
After her initial greeting she walked over to the table by the window and opened the briefcase. She began to pull papers out. Only then did she look him full in the face. “We have a lot of work to do today,” she said and waved her hand to an empty chair. “Can you come over here, please?”
