“Amy? You okay?”
Teo. What was he doing here? He bent over her, his hand on her shoulder, a caring look in his eye.
“I don’t know.” She threw herself into his arms, needing him.
His embrace was solid and comforting, his scent infuriatingly attractive, spicy and sexy and clean. A sob wobbled from her throat.
“Hey, hey, I’m here.” He stroked her shoulder and back. “Whatever you need from me, tell me.”
“I can’t go back to the show. My father needs me.”
“I can hire a nurse.”
She pushed away from him. “Don’t. Even. A nurse is not the same as a daughter. There’s no love. Don’t you get the difference?”
Teo winced and bit his lip. “Believe me, I do.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Dang. She was so wrapped up in her problems, she’d just stepped on Teo’s sore spot. “I’m tired. Been worrying about my dad. They had him intubated until this morning. He had some complications. They’re going to keep him another week or so.”
“I understand.” Teo took her hand. “Shall we walk around the lake or do you have somewhere you need to be?”
“I’m free. Mom’s on a business trip and Joe’s at school. I stopped by the AT&T store this morning and replaced my cell phone, so I guess I’ve nothing to do.” Gah. Why was she babbling? It was only a walk around the lake with her costar, not a big deal.
“Great. You’re all mine, then.” Teo took her hand.
They exited the hospital and approached his motorcycle.
The shiny gleam on his bike screamed speed. Amy gulped. Last night, her brother had gone on and on about Teo’s fast bike whose nickname was ‘The Falcon,” and how he wanted a red and black Suzuki Hayabusa when he’d saved up enough money.
“Promise we’re only going to the park?” She crossed her fingers.
“Scout’s honor,” Teo smirked and handed her a helmet. “How about dinner in Napa?”
“No, I can’t.” Her back was still sore from their encounter against the rock wall. “It’s better if we’re only together in public. No real dates, please?”
“Are you worried about what happened at the beach?”
Well, duh. Wouldn’t any woman be? Especially since being within striking distance of Teo had her hormones revving, and riding on his bike, plastered against his back got her hot and horny.
“Let’s take that walk.” She bit her lip and remained firm.
Fortunately, the ride to the park was short. Teo locked the helmets onto his bike and put on his sunglasses. He strode down the path toward the lake, not bothering to take her hand.
Amy shouldn’t be bothered, but her hand protested, feeling empty. Her feelings flattened at his coldness, but she flipped her shades on too, as if she could care less.
They walked side by side in silence. The lake was calm and peaceful, so smooth that the hills of Fremont were reflected in its expanse. The horrible drought had left the water levels lower than she’d ever seen before.
Canadian geese mixed with regular white geese grazed on the parched grass, and flocks of ducks waddled in the reeds. Amy stopped at the canal at the side of the lake and spotted a turtle floating in the water, his red ear spot prominent on his peeking head.
“Think there are gators down there?” Teo stood at her side, leaning over the fence.
“Of course not. Otherwise there wouldn’t be so many turtles, ducks, and geese around.” She was glad he’d broken the silence. At least they could go back to being casual friends.
“See that shiny greenish black duck?” He pointed at a beautiful duck standing apart from the rest. “The one with the long neck? He’s all by himself. All the white ones are together and the mallard ducks all have mates.”
Was Teo telling her that was how he saw himself?
“He’s very pretty,” she responded. “I wonder if someone left him here.”
“I can imagine the day they dumped him here. Just opened the car door and dropped him off.” Teo’s mouth turned down in a grimace.
The duck sat on the concrete slide near the canal, preening himself.
“He seems to be happy.”
“He has no choice.” Teo shrugged.
“But you do.” Amy put her hand in his and leaned against him. Last night, she’d opened the locket Oba-chan gave her. It had belonged to Soledad Maria Apostol. Inside was a picture of her and baby Teo. She hadn’t signed the picture. Instead, there was a single word on the back, “Choose.”
“We’re not talking about me.” Teo swept his arm in a semi-circle covering the hills to the lake. “I have all the choices in the world. I’m not stuck anywhere.”
“What would you give up for love? Do you know?” Amy’s hand shook. Should she show him the locket? Or should she find his mother first?
“Why would I have to give up anything?”
“Do you wonder why your father keeps marrying? He’s still looking.”
“I’m not.” Teo rubbed his chin. “I’m perfectly happy the way things are, like that black duck.”
“That’s why you’re settling for a fake girlfriend to show your grandmother, isn’t it?” She almost bit back her retort but it slipped out anyway.
His lips thinned and his eyebrows dipped behind his dark glasses. “What do you want from me?”
“Nothing. I just think you shouldn’t be tricking your grandmother. She’s probably the only person in the world who truly loves you unconditionally. It’s not right to lie to her.”
He edged away from her and continued down the path. Should she let him go? If so, she should give him the locket. She’d promised Oba-chan.
Teo glanced over his shoulder. “Amy, talk to me. Tell me what you want.”
Of course she’d go to him. His vulnerability exerted a magnetic pull on her. She was a sucker for happy endings, and Teo needed one badly.
“I’ll help you, Teo. But this is going to end badly if you don’t tell her the truth.”
“I know.” He put his arm around her. “Oba-chan’s sick. I hacked into her email last night. A lot of it was in Japanese, but from what I can gather, she has aggressive Stage IV non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and she’s refused treatment. They’ve given her three to six months.”
“Oh, Teo, I’m so sorry.” Amy hugged him, rubbing his back. No wonder his grandmother wanted to see him settled in a loving relationship. But these things took time, and he’d gone about it all wrong. He should have sought a genuine relationship.
“I guess I’ll truly be alone once she’s gone.” Teo kissed the top of Amy’s head.
“You still have time to find someone. Three to six months is enough time. You don’t need a fake girlfriend.”
“I don’t want just anyone.” He held her close and rubbed her back. “I want you to be my girlfriend.”
“Uh, that wasn’t what I was angling for.”
“Isn’t it?” Teo crouched to eye level with her. “Twenty thou wasn’t enough?”
She broke from his embrace. Shame engulfed her. She wasn’t a whore, and she darn well wasn’t going to fall for a man who thought he could hire her for her feelings.
“No, Teo. Any real relationship needs to start on a clean slate, with honesty. What we have is broken.”
Amy tore herself from Teo’s side and ran. They were on the far side of the lake from the parking lot, but she didn’t care. Her sides ached and pain shot through her stomach. He couldn’t pay for her love. Wave his cash and expect her to care. Even worse, if she started to care for him, to love him, a man incapable of loving her back, she’d have no one to blame but herself when he left her after he no longer needed her.
Teo’s footsteps closed in and he snatched her shoulder. “I don’t have time to find another woman. Do this for me, as a friend.”
“I can’t. What will happen if your grandmother wants us to get married? Or live together? I hope she doesn’t die. I hope she lives a long time, but when will we tell her?”
“We won’t have to.
She only has six months max. We’ll break up after the funeral. No one will care.”
Amy shoved him, pain lancing her chest. “You don’t get it. I can’t play the part. I can’t act like I love you and walk away.”
“I can make you very rich. Let’s say we had to get married before she dies. I’ll make sure you’ll never have to work again.”
“No. I can’t do it. I’ll give back your money, call Ronaldo and let him know I’m off the show. They can find someone else.”
She walked off and Teo did not follow. She didn’t dare look back. Didn’t want to. He was probably calling a casting agent to find another actress. She’d been nothing but a highly paid escort, a low down dirty whore after that encounter at the beach.
Amy swiped her tears and reached into her purse for the bus fare. Teo’s mother’s locket dropped onto the sidewalk. She picked it up and stared at the innocent baby with the large sad eyes. No woman could replace what he’d lost or fill the gaping hole in his heart. No one but the one who’d left him.
* * *
Teo’s heart shrank into his gut as he watched Amy run away from him. What more did she want? He’d been prepared to give her half of his wealth. Plenty of women would have welcomed the opportunity to be his girlfriend. Maybe he should find someone else. Oba-chan had a list of eligible girlfriend candidates, but pride had made him insist he could find a girlfriend on his own.
He placed a call to Ronaldo, keeping an eye on Amy. She was crossing the grass, heading for a bus stop.
He told Ronaldo what was going on with Amy.
“Hey, hey, I figured you’d come to your senses,” Ronaldo said. “Amy’s not the best actress. She’s probably not even that good on the mattress.”
Teo’s throat clenched. “How do you know?”
“People talk. Shall I cancel out Indianapolis?”
“Probably. She’s quitting anyway because her father’s sick.”
“Good coincidence. Saves us from being the bad guys. Okay, I’ll wait for her resignation. Why don’t you come down to L.A. and interview her replacement?”
“I should spend time with my grandmother. She’s terminally ill.”
“Oh, man. Sorry to hear that. Don’t worry. I’ll find you the most awesome replacement. You still want Japanese?”
“Yes, someone who looks like Amy. Oba-chan’s eyesight’s not that great. If the actress can pretend she’s Amy, I won’t have to explain that we’ve broken up.”
“Brilliant!” Ronaldo’s too cheerful voice grated in Teo’s ear. “An Amy Suzuki clone coming right up. Mia’s such an awesome make-up artist she’ll have Amy replicated so no one can tell.”
“Okay, hopefully.” Teo’s stomach ground rocks. He didn’t like it, but he had no choice. Unless … What did Amy say about her father? That they’d keep him at the hospital another week?
It could still work. She was angry at him for offering to pay. Maybe if he wooed her instead, showed her he cared, she’d relent.
Teo hopped on his bike and zoomed to the bus stop. Amy was sitting there staring at something in her hand. She startled when he braked in front of her.
“Get on.” He yelled over the noise and unlatched her helmet.
She closed her hand and shook her head.
Teo looked over his shoulder. A bus was a few blocks away. “Hurry, get on before I get hit by that bus.”
The other patrons waiting for the bus stared at them, slack jawed.
“Fine.” Amy put something into her purse and took the helmet. “But take me home and get out of my life.”
He refrained from any smart remarks. He wasn’t ready to give her up. Not when she’d gotten under his skin, consumed his every waking thought. Not until he righted the wrong he did to her at the beach. Not until she was fully and thoroughly loved. And even then, not until he’d proven himself and given his best shot at getting her to love him.
That would show Oba-chan he wasn’t some pathetic loser no one could love.
Chapter 22
Amy gritted her teeth as she clung onto Teo’s bike. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she leave Teo? It shouldn’t be so hard. Except letting go meant getting thrown off a speeding motorcycle.
Instead of turning toward her house, Teo took the onramp to northbound 680. He was at it again, swooping her off to destinations unknown. A part of her, the girl parts, jumped up and down, flexing and throbbing with excitement. But her rational mind rebelled, and her heart clenched in a defensive posture. She had to guard herself. Men like Teo did damage to women like her.
She hugged him tighter, her hands secure across his tight abdomen. Now that she had plenty of time, she could explore the ridges of his stomach and the swell of his back, while the vibrations of his motorcycle trembled through her body.
Teo had to feel it too, must have. He gunned his throttle and sped up the hill, whizzing by trucks and slower cars. She didn’t want to see where they were going, but held on, her heart beating faster than the stutter of the motor.
Miles and miles passed. They crossed the bridge toward Vallejo. If Amy had to guess, the rascal was taking her to Napa. One thing was for sure, no one could beat Teo for a thrill ride.
Amy prepared her heart. Teo could wine her and dine her. He could even take her dancing and to the theater. But he would never breach her personal boundaries again. Didn’t matter how much he’d paid. She was not a prostitute. She’d make him understand.
The motorcycle slowed after passing rows of grape vines and wineries. Teo turned into the driveway of a quaint two story building covered with ivy over its rugged stone exterior. Its terraces were entwined with climbing grape vines, and a herb garden led up a flagstone path to a spacious stone porch decorated with wine barrel planters.
“Dandelion River Bed & Breakfast,” Amy read the sign. “Did you book two rooms or one?”
Teo’s eyebrows waggled. “Why don’t you worry out here while I check in?”
Jerk. He seemed to know his effect on her. How he’d undo her resistance. Unfair. How was she supposed to resist handsome, rugged, exciting, and sexy in one Teo-sized package?
Amy wandered around the herb garden. What should she do? It was obvious he wanted another shot at her. She should be angry, furious, over the top. But her body, and even her traitorous heart, jumped up and down, clapping and squealing.
Maybe she should try it again. Maybe it would work this time. She had been close, teetering at the edge. No one had brought her up so high so fast. But it was more than just sex. It was Teo and the unfinished story of his life.
Adrenaline pumped in her veins, and even though her legs were wobbly from the ride, she clenched her thighs and swallowed her drool. The inn was a perfect romantic getaway—secluded, away from distractions.
Amy stepped through the stained glass paneled double doors into an intimately cozy living room with a stone fireplace, dark leather couches with rustic throws, and wood paneled walls.
Teo caught her arm and led her up the creaking stairs. His grip was firm, his touch burned through her skin. A sheen of sweat plastered his forehead and his eyes held a gleam of lust.
He swept her into the room and shut the door with a thud.
“Take a deep breath, Amy. Relax.” He turned her so he was behind her, his hands massaging her shoulder and neck.
“What now? What do you want?” This was a recipe for disaster. Locked in a room with a large bed. Alone, her heart vulnerable yet wanting him, yearning to connect.
“You worry too much. Take your mind off yourself. Stop trying to narrate your life.” His hands were warm, comforting, stimulating.
“I’m trying.”
“Don’t try. Empty your mind and let me care for you.”
“Why?”
He kissed the back of her head, his lips sweeping behind her ear. “Don’t ask.”
His hands and fingers worked magic, loosening the tension knots in her back, running up and down her arm, softening them. They curled around her breasts as his mout
h showered her with kisses. His breath sent warm tingles over her scalp and down her neck, and his chest and groin were hot against her back and buttocks.
Amy closed her eyes and leaned back. Enjoy the moment. Don’t think. Gag. Am I thinking about not thinking?
His hands encircled her breasts and his lips reached around her face. Turning her head, she locked her mouth to his, their tongues blending, warm and lush. A moan tore from her throat and she ground herself against him, reaching back with her hands to cup his butt.
He rubbed down her belly and reached into her waistband, gently unzipping her. She shimmied out of her pants and he slipped one hand between her legs.
She was wet, soaked, and swollen. Slowly he teased her bundle of nerves, drawing pleasurable sensations. Her knees weakened, and she sagged against him, gasping and sighing as his hands ravaged her.
“You’re so ready for me, moro mou,” he mumbled into her mouth and picked her up the short distance to the bed.
No, no. How would she ever recover if she tasted this earthly delight? If he were the only man to ever make her climax, what would she do when he walked away? How would she ever settle for a cheap substitute?
“You want this, Amy. Me and you. You know deep in your heart we belong together.”
“I don’t know that.”
“Then feel it. Feel all of me and know.”
She wanted more than anything to feel, to know she was alive, as hot as any other woman, a real woman, not an actress.
They fell onto the bed together, and Amy turned onto her back. She held onto Teo’s shoulders, her eyes locked to his. Why did he have the most soulful eyes? Deep, sensual, and a little sad, the corners slanted down.
He bent over her and unbuttoned her blouse. She helped him shrug off her bra, and there she was, open and exposed to him. He raked her with his eyes, and licked his lips, nice and slow.
“Breathe in and out, long, slow breaths,” he mumbled as he trailed his lips down her neck.
What was taking him so long? Amy squirmed, needing his hands to go back between her legs, his mouth around her nipple. Her body was in a heightened state, every nerve tingling with need. If anyone was a tease, it was Teo. On and off and on and off. How did the guy do it? Was it the meditation?
Roaring Hot! (Contemporary Romance): A Billionaire Biker Romance Page 16
