Bargain in Bronze

by Natalie Anderson

  “Hold my hand. Look like you—” she broke off, suddenly embarrassed.

  “Like I—?” Now one corner of his mouth quirked.

  “Want me. Not that you do, of course,” she said hurriedly, her skin starting to sizzle with mortification. “But could you just look like it?”

  Right now, he looked stunned. “Your fiancé didn’t want you?”

  “He didn’t want to show it.” They’d been together so long anyway—from first-year university right through their degrees and really, it was a convenience thing—for him, anyway. And then there was the fact he’d been getting his needs met elsewhere all the way along—because apparently she didn’t do it well enough for him.

  Silence hung between them for too long.

  “I don’t mean anything tacky,” Nina finally added, her moment of confidence shot. “We wouldn’t kiss or anything. I just don’t want to be ignored.” Yeah, now she was dying inside.

  He moved around the counter, his eyes never leaving hers, as he came close enough for her to feel his breath on her skin. “I will look at you and they will all know how desperate I am to get you alone. That I cannot wait to have you naked in my arms. That there is no one else in the world for me and nothing more important to me than you. That I can’t believe how lucky I am to have you in my life.”

  Even though she knew he was acting up a part, her breath hissed out between her teeth. “Okay, that would work.”

  “I’ll be your strong, silent lover,” he promised. “I won’t let you down.”

  She was instantly convinced. But she was going to have to remember that this was pretense. A couple of white lies for one night—for fun and for pride. To make two difficult situations easier. No harm could come of it, right?

  “What’s the dress code?” she asked faintly.

  “Just that, a dress.” His glance skittered down to her legs. He was definitely a leg man. Her thighs quivered and her blood pulsed around her body far too quickly.

  “Where’s the pub you’re meeting these people?” he asked.

  “You’ll meet me there?” She swallowed. She wished they could go there together.

  He nodded. “I’m done at the wharf. I can meet you there whenever you want.”

  “You’ve finished work?”

  “I’ll do more from home.”

  So he wasn’t heading into one of those high-rise banking headquarters now for the next few hours? She thought about arranging to meet him early, but she didn’t want them to be the first ones there. Last to arrive, first to leave was her plan. “Baker Street?”

  “Yes.” He confirmed that he lived in one of those exclusive, cost-a-gazillion apartments in the grand, old stone buildings.

  Nothing like the three-to-a-room shoebox she shared with an assortment of Australians, New Zealanders, and South Africans—several streets back from the Tube station.

  “Tell me the time and I’ll be there,” he said. “We’ll stay for a while and show them how happy you are and then we’ll go to dinner and show my aunt how settled I am. And we’ll enjoy ourselves far more than we thought we could. It’ll be a laugh.” He shot her a sideways look. “You can quote more Shakespeare to me.”

  Nina smiled and obliged then and there. “So you’re not worried ‘that truth will out’?”

  …

  Eduardo laughed as he shook his head. This would have to be the craziest thing he’d done in years—as it clearly was for her, too. She was interested, yes. Trying not to be, yes. Wary, yes. But she was also intrigued. And though she might work in a store filled with jewels of every color, none sparkled the way she did. Her blue eyes were beautiful, almost navy, and filled with life and emotion. He recalled her smile on the street as she walked, her laughter in the train as she’d joined in with the dancers, her radiance as she’d quoted saucy Shakespeare. He wanted a taste of that vitality.

  What kind of imbecile was her ex to not want her? It was no lie at all for Eduardo to look at her with raw desire and let the world see. He might not be able to offer her anything more, but that was one thing he could do. The irony was, she didn’t believe it. He could see it in her eyes. The ex had clearly been a jerk.

  “Let’s shake on it.” He held out his hand. She cautiously put hers in his—her skin cool, her grip firm. The pleasure at finally touching her tightened his gut and a hit of electricity flashed from her fingers into him. She tried to pull away. Too soon. He tightened his hold, wanting to prolong the contact, to draw her so much closer—wanting to peel away that sheer white blouse to her camisole and the soft secrets beneath. Yeah, lust had him in thrall.

  “One last thing,” he murmured, his voice raspier than hers had been before. “What is your name?”

  Her eyes widened. She hadn’t realized they hadn’t shared that info? He chuckled. So did she.

  “Nina Breslin,” she eventually answered, her voice sounding bedroom husky again.

  His muscles clenched involuntarily and he quickly relaxed so he wouldn’t crush her fingers.

  “I’m Eduardo Ruiz.” Reluctantly, he released her. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  As he walked out of her store, the weight in his chest eased. He expected the call any moment about Caspar. He had two other patients not far from the same place, and while it was a given in his job, this time it seemed worse.

  He couldn’t be bothered with his family putting on the subtle pressure that burdened him more than any loud argument. All he wanted was a night of lightness. Of heat. Of passion. An easy escape.

  He wanted her.

  He walked through the mall, heading toward the trains—passing clothing stores, chocolate, more jewelry. Exclusive, expensive jewelry in another class to the shiny stuff she sold but didn’t wear. He veered to look in the window of one such store. He gazed at the stunning simplicity of the stone on display. It gleamed like it was lit from within. It tempted—calling him closer. It made him forget sanity.

  It was just like her.

  Chapter Three

  Of course it was too good to be true. As if she’d meet a gorgeous guy on a train and he’d offer to be her Prince Charming for the night so she could hold her head high around her slimeball ex-fiancé’s friends. As if the most genetically blessed man in the world would take a second look at her—and look like he wickedly wanted what he saw.

  It was the stuff of fiction. She’d been at the pub twenty-five minutes already and was so glad she hadn’t been a total idiot and bragged about him. Maybe deep inside she’d known he wouldn’t show. Her bravado was greater than ever. But her smile felt fixed—it must be so obviously fake. It was worse than it would have been if she hadn’t met him this morning.

  Good thing she’d gone into the cosmetics counter at the pharmacy at the wharf and had her make-up done before leaving. Not war paint, but pure defense. She felt queasy inside, her palms were cold and clammy—without the lipstick and rouge, she’d be colorless. Damn.

  She lifted her chin, trying to stand tall and proud. Because she didn’t want to be this weak, this caring of what others thought. No more. She was made of tougher stuff.

  But she did regret the little black dress—two steps too flashy. Not pub attire, but posh dinner. While it didn’t show cleavage, it was short and dressy and she had super high heels to go with it. She might as well have put a neon sign above her head flashing “desperate single woman.” Her explanation that she had another date after drinks rang false even to her own ears. But it was crazy to care so much about what they thought. She turned away from the door so the last bit of pathetic hope in her wouldn’t have her glancing over there all the time in case he’d turn up.

  He wasn’t going to.

  “So when do you go?” Nathan—Corey’s best friend—asked her.

  “Next week,” she said brightly, wishing it was tomorrow. “I’m really looking forward to it.” And she was—that traveler anonymity would bring freedom from friends and family and past hurts.

  “You don’t want to be here for the Games?”
/>
  “No,” she said breezily, so used to answering that question. Truth was, her room at the flat was booked already, so even if she wanted to stay to see some sport, she had no place to sleep. Of course, there was part of her that would like to be in London to experience the hype and hilarity. But with all these people from Canada coming over—all these people she’d thought were friends but weren’t? She didn’t want to bother with more than this brief pub catch-up. She wanted to escape.

  “And you’re traveling alone?” Nathan asked.

  She nodded.

  “Only for some of the time.” An accented voice answered behind her and a hand spread wide on her stomach, pulling her back against a body of burning granite.

  Eduardo.

  “I’m sorry I’m late.” His apology whispered against her cheek as he drew her into his space, one hand still on her abdomen, the other clasping her shoulder.

  His warmth radiated out and encircled her. For someone who appeared so cool and haughty, he was extremely hot. Literally.

  Nathan’s eyes widened.

  She turned her cheek toward Eduardo and whispered back. “It’s okay.” She was so stunned he was there, she forgave him, just like that.

  His fingers played down from her shoulder to her hand—tickling her bare skin. Sensation slammed into her. She flinched, trying to hide her shiver. She’d experienced sexual attraction before, but this was something else. This was intense enough to render her speechless and brainless and frankly, scared stupid.

  His hold both tightened and teased. “I had a meeting that took longer than—”

  “It’s okay.” She put her hand over his wrist to keep it at her waist, desperate to stop the circular strokes of his fingers that sent her overly sensitive nerves into orbit. “It doesn’t matter.”

  There was no hello kiss, of course, but she felt giddier than if they’d been making out for two hours without coming up for air.

  “Eduardo, this is Nathan. Nathan, Eduardo.” Breathlessly, she introduced them and watched Nathan’s expression freeze. “Eduardo would have been here sooner, but he was held up at work.”

  “Where do you work?” Nathan asked coolly.

  That would be right—all that mattered to these guys was which school you went to, what job you had now, and how much money you earned.

  “At a clinic,” Eduardo answered, his foreign lilt more audible than it had been this morning. “I’m a pathologist.”

  Nina jerked in surprise. Eduardo’s fingers immediately stroked her waist again and she struggled to think as her body and brain slithered back into meltdown. A pathologist? Wasn’t he a banker or trader or financial analyst?

  Nathan looked as flummoxed as she felt. And then she felt Eduardo’s amusement behind her.

  “He’s brilliant,” Nina said, firmly taking control of herself again. “Solves all kinds of cold cases.”

  “Like on CSI or something?” Nathan’s jaw dropped.

  Eduardo’s hand tightened and he pulled her back to lean right against him. Nina took the hint and kept quiet—she’d lost the ability to speak anyway, and apparently the ability to stand up all by herself.

  “Something like that,” Eduardo answered. “I like microscopic detail. What do you do, Nathan?”

  “Commerce,” Nathan answered briefly. “You guys known each other long?”

  “Not long enough.” Eduardo’s palm was firm and flat against her belly—could he make his possession any more obvious?

  Nina bit back the groan as deep inside she delighted in the idea of his total possession. He couldn’t play the Latin lover thing up anymore—it was having way too much of an effect on her.

  Nathan paused. “Let me get you a drink, Eduardo. A pint? And another wine for you Nina?”

  “I’ll have a wine too, thanks. Same as Nina’s,” Eduardo answered.

  The others had kept their distance at Eduardo’s appearance and as soon as Nathan stepped away, Nina spun to face her accomplice, so ridiculously glad he was there. And too excited for her own good. “Let’s get out of here.”

  His arm still encircled her and she was so close she was practically leaning against his chest. Her nipples screamed the instinctive signal but hopefully the black hid their aroused state.

  His brows shot up and he laughed. “What about your friends?”

  “They’re not really friends.” They’d been Corey’s friends and they’d lied to her as much as he had—loyal to him, not her.

  “No,” Eduardo said. “Don’t wimp out now.”

  “I’m not wimping out,” she answered. “It doesn’t matter anymore.” Finally, it was clear to her. She didn’t need to prove anything to them. Why had she thought she did? Why had she let them—and Corey—have that hold over her still?

  She glanced over to the group and saw their curious looks, the stony expression on Nathan’s face as he watched them from the bar. And okay, she’d be lying if she didn’t admit to a small hit of satisfaction within. “I think you just showing up like this is enough.”

  “I say we stay for a few minutes. After all, your friend has gone to get us drinks. It would be rude to leave now.” His gaze skittered down in that wolfish way and his smile reappeared. “What’s with the steel-capped stilettos?”

  She lifted her brows and sent him an arch look. Her metal-tipped shoes were the height of fashion—and almost gave her the height necessary to look him in the eye. “Protection in case I have to dance with you later.”

  His smile gave way to a burst of laughter.

  Nina smiled back at him. Yeah, getting away with this fake boyfriend deal was going to be so easy. It was ensuring she didn’t fall deeper into lust that would be the problem. But she’d stay sensible, right? Hadn’t she always been sensible? Or as Corey had said—boring.

  But she didn’t think tonight was going to be boring.

  “Have you been traveling much, Nathan?” she asked as he returned and handed them drinks.

  “A little,” he replied. “But I want to be in London now. You really want to miss the biggest event on earth?”

  “I’m not bothered,” she said, shrugging. “There are some things on the Continent I’ve waited too long to see.”

  “And I want to show her my childhood home,” Eduardo chipped in.

  “Where’s that?” Nathan asked, looking at Nina.

  “A small town just north of Barcelona,” Eduardo answered, going on to explain its location and winning features in detail.

  A few of the others joined them at the tall bar table and the conversation continued—mainly about her upcoming trip. It was easy to talk about. And with Eduardo right there, no one asked any questions directly about him and not one person mentioned Corey. They all seemed a bit stunned. She totally got why.

  He was stunning.

  There hadn’t been a guy in her life other than Corey. Life and soul of the party Corey. Loud and chatty and welcoming to everyone Corey. But in the details? With her? It was only when she looked back on it that she realized how inattentive he’d been. How he’d always looked round to see if there was someone better, more important to talk to.

  Now, as she spoke, she was aware that Eduardo hadn’t taken his eyes off her. Not once. He seemed intensely focused on her—and only her—and on what she was saying. He never looked beyond to see who else might be present, but paid attention as if she were the most riveting woman in the room.

  As if she were the only woman in the room.

  It was heady stuff, and now her smile came so effortlessly.

  “How did Nina con you into coming here tonight?”

  Nina heard Nathan quietly ask Eduardo while she was talking to another of Corey’s old friends.

  Maintaining her smile, Nina strained her ears to hear Eduardo’s reply as well as that of the woman she’d been talking to. No surprise that the challenge—that implied negative—had come from Nathan. He’d never liked her dating Corey—like he thought she wasn’t good enough for his best friend.

  Now, for
the first time in fifteen minutes, Eduardo looked away from her, lifting his chin to give Nathan an ice hard stare. “There’s nothing I like more than being near Nina.”

  He turned back to Nina, utterly dismissive of the other man. Nina looked into Eduardo’s silver-tinged eyes and saw a flare of protectiveness. She swallowed, heart thudding, as he flashed a private, intimate smile.

  Then he turned to speak to everyone. “And now I’m sorry but I have to take Nina away. We have another party to go to.”

  Nina summoned her best apologetic smile, but it wasn’t anywhere near as apologetic as all that. She half waved at the others and let Eduardo take her hand and lead the way, weaving them through the crowded bar.

  On the footpath outside, she breathed in some fresh air. “They all thought I was the evil hand-brake,” she said. She had to explain why she’d felt such fear in facing them.

  “The what?”

  “The hand-brake. The boring witch stopping Corey from having fun and doing all the crazy things he wanted to. And maybe I did.” She frowned. “But he stopped me from doing things I wanted to do, too.”

  To her surprise Eduardo laughed. “No. That guy likes you.”

  “Nathan?” She shook her head. “No, he doesn’t. He likes me least.”

  “No. He doesn’t like me and there’s only one reason for that.”

  Nina stood in the middle of the path and stared at him. “Are you suggesting—no.”

  “You don’t see that?”

  “No.” She screwed up her face, shuddering at the thought.

  Eduardo stepped closer. “You don’t value yourself enough.” He took her hand in a firm grip and dug into his pocket. “Perhaps this will help.”

  Good grief, the guy had a small box in hand and now he’d opened it. She gaped at the glittering ring inside.

  “This is for your aunt?”

  “No,” he scoffed. “It’s for you.”

  Nina snapped her mouth shut—speaking between clenched teeth. “You’re kidding. You said ‘girlfriend.’ ”

  “I thought ‘fiancée’ might enhance the evening.”

  “No way.” She peered closer into the box—it had to be said, it was dazzling. “It’s an heirloom?”