And he meant it. There was something about her that intrigued him, especially his reaction to her. Even now, his arousal was pressing hard against the fly of his slacks. He’d never had a problem controlling his urges with other women, but Monica was making it downright impossible.
“You make it sound as if I’m putting on an act, as if I’m not showing the real me.”
“I don’t think that. But I don’t know that you truly know yourself yet. Like a flower, you haven’t fully bloomed. I want to see you blossom, Monica, in all your glorious splendor.”
Landon wasn’t sure just what that entailed but he definitely wanted to find out. In just the few days that he’d been around her, he’d seen she was a lot different from the other women onboard.
First of all, she didn’t act like she had to prove anything. Those other women who’d come on to him had seemed confident, but he knew better. Anyone who built themselves up by making others feel bad were weak. That was all there was to it. Even the fact that he had Monica by his side hadn’t slowed them down.
It was as if they assumed their brash boldness was a turn-on. That might be the case with some men, but he sure didn’t like it. He thought they were inconsiderate and overbearing. And he wanted no part of it.
Monica, on the other hand, seemed more even-tempered. Although he knew she could lose her cool when the situation warranted it—he’d seen it twice now, with Dusty and Jack.
“It will be another twenty minutes or so before we arrive at our destination. Would you like a glass of wine?” he asked, indicating the bottle and glasses on the compact table in front of them.
“That would be nice.”
He poured a glass and handed it to her, then poured one of his own. Taking a sip, he watched through narrowed eyes as she took one, too. There was something so sexy about a woman taking a sip of wine. Especially when she licked her lips afterward. “This is delicious,” she said. “It tastes like peach.”
He picked up the bottle and read the label. “It’s a combination of red grapes and peaches.”
“I love peaches,” she said. Then she chuckled and added, “I guess you can’t be raised on Georgia peaches and not like them.”
“That’s true.” He took another sip, himself. “I want to know more about Monica Bennett. So far, all you’ve told me about is your family and your work.”
She lifted a brow. “What else is there?”
“Oh, I’m sure there is a lot more. Your likes and dislikes? Your hobbies? Your dreams for the future?”
She settled back against the seat, causing the side slit of her dress to flash one luscious looking thigh. He had to adjust his own position on the seat to relieve the pressure of his arousal pressing hard against the crotch of his slacks.
“I told you what I plan to do, right? About remaining at the Tribune for another year and then going back to college to get my PhD. I want to have that completed before I turn thirty.”
“And then you’re hoping to become a college professor, right?” he said, recalling what she had told him.
“Yes.”
“What about marriage and children?”
“What about them?”
“Are they in your future?”
She shrugged her beautiful shoulders, partially left bare by the style of her dress. “Yes, but I’m in no hurry. I really don’t want to marry before I’m thirty-five, and as far as kids go, well, as long as I have him or her before I’m forty, I should be good.”
“You only want one child?”
She nodded. “Don’t get me wrong—I love kids. It’s just that I think one will be enough for me, with all that I’ll have going on. I don’t really care if it’s a boy or a girl, though it might matter to my husband. But I think one child is enough for me. And my future husband and I will have that understanding before we marry.”
He nodded, thinking of the times he and Simone talked about the family they wanted to have one day. They’d always settled on four.
“What about you, Landon?” she asked, interrupting his thoughts. “Are marriage and children in your future?”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MONICA WASN’T SURE WHY she had asked Landon that, considering the pain in his past. But a part of her wanted to know if losing his fiancée had made him a confirmed bachelor. Was he still a broken man? The way his fiancée had died had to have been traumatic for him. Was he now incapable of ever giving his heart to another woman?
She glanced over at him and saw him staring down into the contents of his wine glass, as if in deep thought. Had she dredged up painful memories? Memories he didn’t want to be reminded of?
She was about to apologize for her insensitivity, when he suddenly looked up and met her gaze. “Yes, I can see marriage and kids in my future. Of course, I always thought I would have them with Simone, but I’ve accepted that won’t be happening. I’ve moved on, though it hasn’t been easy.”
Landon didn’t say anything for a long moment, then took a slow sip of his wine and added, “My parents would love to have grandkids. They would make wonderful grandparents.”
“You only want kids to make your parents grandparents?” she asked. She didn’t hear the eagerness in his voice that she often heard from the two men her cousins had married whenever they talked about having a family.
“That’s not what I meant. Sure, I’d like a wife and kids for myself as well. I’d like to think I’d make a great husband and a wonderful father. In fact, I envisioned having a houseful of kids.”
“A houseful? How many is that?” Monica asked, curious to know.
“At least four, and gender wouldn’t matter. I’d be happy with all boys, all girls or a mixture of both.”
“Would you still travel so much?” she asked.
“No. My four partners and I have talked about expanding the firm in a year or so. Right now, Duan is the only one of the partners who is married. When he and his wife first got engaged, Kim was a nurse who wanted to go to medical school. Now she is Dr. Kimani Cannon-Jeffries.”
“Do they have kids?”
“Yes. They have a son who is about two, and Duan told me last month that they are expecting again. You’d be surprised what a husband and wife can accomplish when they work together as a team. My parents showed me that.”
Monica had to agree with him. She’d seen it first-hand. When her mother had married Michael, Taye Bennett not only got a great husband, but also a wonderful partner. She knew her mother hadn’t intended to have any more children, but she hadn’t blinked an eye when Michael told her he wanted one. It had seemed like the most perfect thing in the world—to have a child created from their love.
Monica glanced out the window when the car came to a stop outside a huge building with lights blinking the name Crystals.
“Looks like we’re here,” Landon said.
Yes, they were. Moments later Monica took Landon’s hand as he helped her out of the car, thinking how much she had enjoyed their conversation. Landon gave the driver instructions to be back in two hours, then they headed into the restaurant where a hostess greeted them and showed them to their table.
Monica glanced around and was glad Landon had thought to make reservations. The place was crowded, which meant it was a popular eating establishment. Huge crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings and in the middle of the room sat a floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree made of crystals. It had to be one of the most beautiful trees she had ever seen. And lit candles in crystal vases shaped like Christmas ornaments had been placed on every table.
“This place is incredible, Landon. It really puts you in the Christmas spirit, although I’ve heard that most Australians like celebrating Christmas in July.”
“I’m glad you like it. But I can’t take all the credit. It happened to be number one on Zoe’s list.”
She nodded. From what he’d told her about his sister, Zoe Chestnut sounded like she was a lot of fun to be around, just the kind of person Monica would love getting to know and hanging out
with. However, she couldn’t ever see that happening since she and Landon would be parting ways after the cruise.
At that moment, the waitress came over with menus and took their drink orders. After she left, they looked over the menu. “Everything looks delicious. Did Zoe provide any recommendations about what we should try?” Monica asked.
He chuckled. “No, I guess we’re on our own there.”
After discussing all the entrees listed, they both decided on roast duck with potatoes and beans. They’d just closed their menus when their waitress returned with their drinks and to take their order.
When she walked off, Landon looked back at Monica. “Earlier, during the car ride, you said that usually your dates didn’t begin or end well. I didn’t ask about the reasons at the time, but I was wondering if you’d like to share them with me now. My curiosity is killing me.”
She stared into his dark brown eyes, already inclined to share just about anything with him. “There are a lot of losers out there. You wouldn’t believe how hard it is for a girl to find a relatively decent guy these days. Some are players, only hoping to build up their reputations. Others are already some mama’s baby daddy—or several mamas’ baby daddy. Then there are those who conveniently forget to mention they’re married or already in a pretty serious relationship, even while they’re trying to charm someone else.”
She decided not to add that since she wasn’t looking for a serious relationship, helping a guy build up his reputation really wouldn’t bother her, as long as he wasn’t a waste of time in the bedroom. From what she’d seen, a lot of men talked a good game but weren’t so good at delivering.
“Well then, I guess I should set the record straight. I am not a player, and my reputation is just fine, I’m not anyone’s baby daddy, and I’m not married or in a serious relationship.”
“I know you’re a nice guy, Landon. They don’t make them like you anymore. You’re mature, and it’s obvious you don’t have time for bullshit.”
He nodded. “Glad you realize that.”
“I also realize that above all else, you are a gentleman. The way you’ve come to my aid, as well as the way you’ve stepped in when other women disrespected me when I was with you, says a lot. It means a lot.”
Although Monica doubted that he knew just how much. But one thing she intended to show him before the cruise ended was how much she appreciated him.
At that moment, Landon didn’t feel like such a gentleman. Not with the salacious thoughts that were floating through his mind. He had known he was in trouble the moment she had opened her cabin door. When he’d seen her in that curvy red dress that showed a dangerous amount of thigh, he’d forgotten to breathe.
He still hadn’t recovered from first seeing her in that dress and now here she was, sitting across from him, looking so beautiful and smelling so damn good. There was only so much a man could take.
He doubted Monica realized just what a potent package she was. Every time they’d been together, he’d had to go back to his room for a cold shower. He had to constantly fight for control when he was around her. He was doing it now.
Being a gentleman when he was around her was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do.
“Why don’t you tell me about your work, Landon? What made you decide to leave the police force and become a private investigator?”
He took a sip of his drink, thinking about her question. “I was working on a case when I was a detective that really got to me. I hadn’t been able to solve it, and I felt guilty.”
“What kind of case was it?” she asked.
“Murder. A man had been charged with killing his first wife, and his second. Unfortunately, there was no proof. All I had was a gut feeling. I did a thorough investigation, left no stone unturned, but in the end, all I found were dead ends but no dead bodies. Without bodies, I didn’t have a case.”
She could hear the frustration in his voice. “I’m sure that must have been frustrating.”
“God, yes.” He paused a moment. “Edward Villarosas had covered his tracks well. I’ll never forget the day I had to let him go, knowing he’d gotten away with murdering two people.”
Landon paused again as he took a sip of his drink. “I felt like I’d failed the families of those women. My lieutenant said I was too driven, too absorbed in the case. He thought I needed to accept that those women were alive somewhere and let it go.”
“Did you let it go?” she asked.
“I tried to, even when I’d heard Villarosas had moved away from Atlanta. I worked other cases, but I kept going back to that one—the killer I let get away. My good friend, Duan Jeffries, who’d been my partner on the force, had quit a year or so earlier to open up his own private investigative firm. It was supposed to be just a one-man operation, but Duan had taken on more work than he could handle and needed a partner. After the unsatisfying conclusion with Villarosas, I didn’t think twice about leaving the force to join him.”
Monica nodded. “Was that Villarosas guy ever brought to justice?”
A slow smile eased into Landon’s features. “Yes. I’d been working with Duan for a couple of years at that point. Kim, who Duan was dating at the time, had invited him to attend her mother’s wedding with her in Louisiana. Guess who the groom was?”
Monica’s eyes widened. “Villarosas?”
“Yes. Although Duan had already left the police force when I was working that case, he recalled me mentioning the name. To make a long story short, we went to the Louisiana Police Department, and working together, we set up a sting operation. Villarosas was arrested before he could kill his third wife.”
“Wow. My heart goes out to the woman he was going to marry. I bet it was hard on her to discover she’d come so close to marrying a murderer. And I bet her daughter was glad she had invited Duan to that wedding.”
“She was. Duan and Kim eventually married and a year later, Kim’s mother has since married someone else. A real nice guy this time.”
“Kim is the one you told me about who’s pregnant and a doctor, right.”
“Yes. Dr. Kimani Cannon Jeffries. We call her Kim for short.”
“I’m glad both mother and daughter had a happy ending and Villarosas was brought to justice. Did you ever find out what happened to the other two women? His wives?”
“Yes. Just as I suspected, he’d killed them. We were able to locate the bodies for their families.”
At that moment, the waitress returned with their meals and Landon was glad. He was ready to talk about more pleasant things. Just from the time spent with Monica, he had discovered a number of things about her. In addition to being a very beautiful woman, she was smart, intelligent, goal-oriented and she had a good head on her shoulders. He also knew she had a soft spot when it came to elderly people.
On several occasions yesterday while off the ship touring, they’d run into several older couples who were sightseeing. Monica had been solicitous of them, asking if they needed any help. She’d even volunteered to go to one of the water stations to bring back a bottle for one couple. When he had asked her about it, she replied that she did it without thinking. There were many generations of her family still around, and she’d been taught to look out for the older ones.
Over dinner, they talked about a lot of things. She told him about her bucket list of places she would like to visit one day, and he told her of places on her list that he’d already visited, almost always on business. They also talked about their favorite movies, the recent election and her views on the NFL season—specifically, who she thought would end up in the Super Bowl this year.
Then he had smoothly moved the topic of conversation to focus on her. She told him about her and her sister’s new housemate—that he was a friend of her cousin, and how anxious she was to meet the guy. He also knew she had learned to swim as a child and was on the swim team while in college. He also discovered that she volunteered most weekends at a seniors’ center, loving the time she spent with people who wou
ld be around the same age as her great-grandparents, had they still been alive.
Then she told him about those beloved great-grandparents—Ethan and Idella Bennett—and the positive influence they’d had on her life. She shared fond memories with him of her sleepovers at their home in Macon with her other cousins, and how her great-grandmother Idella’s love of roses was something they all shared.
“Will you be wanting dessert?”
The waitress’ question reined in Landon’s thoughts. “I don’t want anything else. What about you, Monica?” he asked, glancing across the table at her.
She shook her head. “I am stuffed. Dinner was delicious.”
He nodded and smiled. He thought so, too. Glancing at their waitress, he said. “No dessert for us, thanks. You can bring me the check when you have it ready.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“ARE YOU ENJOYING THE evening so far, Monica?”
Monica glanced at Landon as the limo made its way through the streets of Brisbane, heading for the nightclub Landon had chosen that offered an evening of entertainment and dancing. She was getting excited just thinking about it.
She was even more excited, though, about the man sitting just inches away from her in the back of the limo. Intense male sexuality seemed to radiate off of him. It was like a physical force that she could actually feel in every part of her body.
“The restaurant was wonderful.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was my pleasure.”
His pleasure.
She couldn’t help wondering what else would please him. Although neither one of them mentioned it, the sexual tension between them was turning into an almost tangible thing. When he hadn’t been looking, she’d glanced across the table at him, appreciating his broad shoulders and just how well his jacket complimented all those muscles. It didn’t help matters that she knew exactly how good those shoulders looked, after seeing him shirtless at the pool.
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