I looked at my watch again, my eyes lingering on the second hand. I swear for every other tick, it went back three.
“You miss the simple days, huh? Refurbishing routers in your mom’s basement, making pennies on the dollar.”
“I don’t miss that. I’m proud of what I’ve done. Just wish I could be doing more of it, you know.”
“We’ll get there, man.” He pulled his head back, mouth wide open.
“Stop drinking my booze.”
“I can’t seem to say no to her.” He smiled at the acrobat, who was now several feet over our heads, spinning with one long leg touching the back of her head.
“You said you’d heard from the investigator. Anything that can get me my company back?”
“Not exactly.” He frowned. “Yesterday Bridget flew to Vegas. Burned several hundred thousand dollars on a single blackjack table. But nothing to make the board of directors change their minds about letting you back in.”
“That would be par for the course,” I said. Bridget had a thing for gambling, so much so that we spent our honeymoon in Monte Carlo. Never saw the outside of the casinos there. She gambled the night away while I sat at the bar, not having sex.
“You’re right. She’s been doing this for some time now. Expensive habit.”
I shrugged. “I don’t care what she does with her money.” Damn. I braced my arms on the bar, stomach clenching. After my talk with Dom last week, I’d figured all this would be sorted out quickly. No such luck.
“True. But that got me thinking about her financials. I thought I’d sniff around there a bit. I’m telling you—she’s hiding something.”
“Are you sure you want to waste your time with this?” All this waiting seemed pointless. My choices remained the same. My company or my freedom.
“We still have two weeks. I’m gonna keep at it until the clock runs down.” His eyes had turned obsidian with determination.
This was why I’d hired him as my lawyer. I was too close to it all and couldn’t see the big picture. Not that I loved Bridget. Truth was, after all that’d happened, I finally had come to understand that I never loved her. The marriage had been her idea, after all. I just went along with it, thinking it was the best thing for CCI. Somehow it made sense to be married to the woman who ran my company.
After all the nasty business of her cheating on me, I realized I wasn’t mad at her because I loved her. I was pissed because now my baby would suffer. CCI was why I’d stepped down without challenging the board, why I’d let the settlement drag on for so long. It was my legacy, and so many people depended on its success. But now I needed my freedom more than anything. I needed the ability to give myself to someone if that was what I goddamn wanted to do. Assuming there was a someone and that someone felt the same way about me. Chest tight, I ran a hand through my hair, almost smelling gardenias in the air.
“Incoming.” Dom elbowed me in the ribs. “Something in Nikki’s eyes tells me there’s more to her than fancy dresses and catwalks.”
“I know.” I nodded and looked at my watch. Ten more minutes before I could go home and have some peace and quiet. Or maybe take another dip in the pool. Clothing optional this time.
“Nikki, how you doin’?” Dom greeted her first, drooling over her white dress set against slightly tan skin.
No matter what he said about Nikki, he’d always had a soft spot for her. She definitely had a way with men, including me. A woman like her could have any guy she wanted. Why did she bother with me? Underneath all that sex-goddess game, she was a smart and calculating woman. Surely, she understood I couldn’t give her what she wanted.
“Aging. Waiting for your friend here to call me or DM me or something.” Nikki, or Wednesday, as Em called her, kissed Dom on both cheeks. He enjoyed every bit of it. She spun and wrapped her arms around my neck. “I’ve been playing hard to get, but it’s been too long since the last time I saw you. You’re breaking my heart, darling.” She had a raspy voice, like something out of a forties movie.
“I never said I’d call you back.” I peeled her arms from around me and pushed her knee away from my crotch. She knew exactly how to get my attention.
“A girl can dream.” She purred in my ear, her breasts pressed against my side.
“Well, before this gets awkward, I’m gonna go see if I can get her number.” Dom pointed up, wiggling his eyebrows.
I laughed. “Good luck. And thanks.”
“Just doing my job.”
“Would you at least buy me a drink?” Nikki said, pouting. “You haven’t told me what you think of the party. We already beat last year’s record.”
“I’ve never seen a benefit quite like this one. Thank you.” I turned my back to her and waved the bartender over after he finished pouring a couple of beers.
“What can I get you, Mr. Cole?”
“Bourbon and soda. And for the lady…” I gestured for her to order her drink. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember what she was drinking the night I brought her home.
“Martini, two olives.” Tears pooled in her eyes. The bartender leaned forward, palm extended as if offering her help. She rewarded his efforts with a sweet smile before turning to me. “We’ve been on five dates, and you still can’t remember my drink? You really are breaking my heart.”
She was done playing games and went for the kill, cupping me with her right hand as her glossy lips came up to kiss me. She was good. Beautiful. But I just wasn’t feeling it with her anymore. I gripped both her wrists and gently planted her two feet away from me. She frowned, fake unshed tears gone.
I laughed. “You knew what you were getting into from the beginning.”
“After our last talk, I thought maybe you’d be of a mind to reconsider our arrangement. I’m not asking for marriage, Derek. Just a little exclusivity. You can’t really be done with relationships.”
“I tried the monogamy thing for ten whole months. It didn’t bode well for me. So yeah, I’m done.” Right now, the only relationship I was interested in was the one with my bourbon.
The bartender set the two drinks in front of us. “Martini, two olives. And a bourbon.”
“Thank you,” I said, and almost spilled both drinks on Nikki.
Looking like she stepped out of the Casablanca movie, Valentina stood by the entrance. My heart pounded so hard I couldn’t hear, or maybe the entire room had gone quiet at the sight of her. She wore a red floor-length gown that tightly held her breasts in place and loosely hugged her waist and hips in a silky fabric. The color complimented her brown skin and dark hair. She was stunning and sexy as heck. And it looked as though she was waiting for someone. I stepped forward, a slow burn spreading from my stomach up to my chest. If she was here with a guy, he wasn’t staying.
I scanned the room for a security guard. Where the hell were they? With a bright smile I’d only seen her bestow on Max, she glanced over her shoulder to someone by the door. But the entrance was dark, and I couldn’t see who it was. She turned around, giving me a full view of the back of the dress. My gaze lingered on bare shoulders, followed the silky path down to the dip of her waist, and settled on her shapely backside.
I gripped the bar. My gaze darted from the front door to Valentina. After what seemed like hours, Annie strolled through the threshold.
“Oh good. Annie’s here with her models.” Nikki sipped from her drink and set the glass on the counter.
Small world. That had to be it. Valentina was here with Annie. All tension released from my body, and I let out a long breath. “Mark,” I called out to the bartender. I didn’t have time to wait my turn. He dropped what he was doing and rushed to my side of the bar. “Two glasses of champagne, please. And send the rest of the bottle to my tent.”
“Right away, sir.”
The image of Valentina in her white shorts and oh-so-translucent, wet white top was tattooed in my mind every time I closed my eyes. There she was, furious and beautiful. I’d spent most of the afternoon thinking of how I cou
ld invite myself over to her place, maybe finish what we’d started in the pool. In the end, I’d come to my senses and met Dom for drinks instead. I needed distance between us. But now she was here. Of all places, she’d walked into my shindig.
My world. My rules.
A snorting sound reminded me Nikki was still by my side. “I’m sorry, Nikki. My date’s here.”
She gave me a brilliant smile that made her look younger, and for a moment she didn’t look like herself. Closing the space between us again, she squinted at me.
“What?” I asked.
“Well, I’ll be damn, Derek Cole. You’re in love,” she said. Her signature honey-laced voice was gone. “That explains everything.”
I shook my head. “What?” Grabbing the two glasses of champagne, I set out to meet Valentina before someone else got to her first.
“Like I said.” Nikki’s voice faded into the background.
Chapter Fourteen
Ask Me
Valentina
“Fuck.”
“Valentina, language.” Annie gave me a fake admonishing look. “What are we looking at?”
“He’s here. Why didn’t you tell me he’d be here?” And looking ridiculously hot in a tux. I smoothed out my dress and ignored the flutters in my belly.
“Well, of course, he’s here. This is the event of the summer. Do you think he spends his days sitting around his house, waiting for the right moment to pounce on you in the shower?”
I cringed. Heat rose to my cheeks.
She laughed. “Please. Like the thought hasn’t crossed your mind.”
“Annie.”
“Omigod, it has.” She placed a hand over her mouth, eyes twinkling. “Oh, he’s coming this way.”
“Let’s go somewhere else.” I pulled her arm, but she dug her heels in and wouldn’t budge. “He’s bad for me, remember?” I stomped my foot, my high heels scraping the colored concrete.
“Well, I don’t know. He kind of passed the Max test, didn’t he?” She waved at him. “Not to mention you two have a conversation pending. I know you haven’t told him,” she whispered to me.
“It’s been a busy week. I didn’t have time.”
“Well, here’s your chance.” She raised an eyebrow. She was right.
“I thought that was you, Valentina.” Cole’s voice was pure sex when he said my name.
I whipped around to face the music, so to speak. “Hi.”
“Champagne? I noticed you liked the Veuve Clicquot the other night,” he said, his tone full of meaning.
Annie took the glass he offered her. I eyed his hand, and desire pooled between my legs. Clearing my throat, I accepted the champagne and took a long sip. “Thank you.”
Annie met my gaze, lips pinched together. “Well, Nikki and I have work to do. Play nice. And don’t forget at ten you have to show the dress in the auction room.” She was gone before I could beg her not to leave me alone with Derek Cole.
“So your girlfriend is also your event planner?” The words left my lips before I could stop them. I kicked myself for asking. I hadn’t meant it to come out so catty.
“She’s only my event planner.” He flashed me a knee-weakening grin. “That’s an amazing dress.”
“Thanks, but it’s not mine. It’s on the auction list for tonight.”
“What a pity,” he whispered, and my heart did a somersault that made my chest hurt. “I can’t imagine anyone wearing it better than you.” He met my gaze and held it. This close, his hot blue eyes sparkled under the laser lights. “Up until now I’d been wondering how I was going to make it through the night. And now you’re here.” He rubbed the back of his neck in that sexy way that was so familiar now. “Dance with me.”
“I’m not here to entertain you.” I tried to sound insulted. But the truth was, he already had me under his spell. The room itself wasn’t helping. Everything around us hinted at forbidden things and sex. In short, Cole.
“Okay.” He put his hands up in surrender. “I am your host, though. At least let me show you around.”
“You can show me where the auction room is.” I squeezed my thighs together.
Lines appeared between his brows as he bit the inside of his lower lip and his eyes settled on my dress for a split second. The dress was crazy hot with the power to make me feel sexy, make me think I could have a guy like Cole.
“Right,” he said. “How about a drink first? Then I’ll take you anywhere you want.”
Okay, that was harmless enough. We were in a public place. I couldn’t do anything stupid, like throw myself at him. Besides, we had a conversation pending.
He read the indecisiveness on my face. “Come on. We’ve had coffee before. This is pretty much the same thing.”
I laughed. “By your definition, I’ve had coffee with countless strangers.”
“That’s not—” He rubbed his clean-shaven cheek.
I glanced at his long fingers. “I can do a drink,” I blurted out.
He eyed the door by the stage as he considered something. “I think you’ll like the VIP gallery, but maybe later.” He ushered me to the bar in the middle of the room, where a cocktail was already waiting for him.
Being this close to him was torture—delicious torture, but torture nonetheless. I took another sip of champagne to calm my nerves. When I emptied the glass, he set it on the bar. The bartender promptly filled the flute and placed it in front of me.
“Thanks again for lunch today,” I said.
“It was my pleasure.” He closed the space between us. The smell of his cologne made my knees buckle. He cleared his throat.
“I have something to tell—”
“Hey, there you are.” Annie wedged herself between Cole and me. “Nikki wants to talk to us before the auction.” She looped her arm around mine and escorted me to the auction room. Away from Cole. Jeez, that was close.
I’ll see you later, I mouthed to a scolding Cole. With both hands in his pockets, he looked like a real-life James Bond.
“Annie, I swear your parties are getting weirder and weirder. What exactly am I supposed to do in this auction room? You have to admit it sounds kinky.” I eyed the two girls in lingerie dancing on either side of the entrance to the room.
“Get your head out of the gutter for a minute. All you have to do is hold your number at waist level and strut up and down the catwalk. People eat this stuff up.”
“And you don’t think that’s weird?”
“Relax. It’s mostly women. See?” She ushered me inside. She was right. The room was full of women ready to spend their money.
I smoothed out the expensive fabric again. “How much is this gown, anyway?”
“Five grand. Try not to spill on it.” She waved at Nikki, or Wednesday, who stood in the back, talking to the other models.
Crap. Just what I needed—Cole’s sex goddess telling me what to do. I rubbed my cheek. Maybe not all was bad. Surrounded by beautiful women, I would easily blend into the background. “Let’s just get this over with.”
Nikki gave us quick instructions on what to do and where to go and had us line up behind her as she readied herself to announce the start of the auction. Wishing I had finished the second glass of champagne, I stood in the middle of the miniature runway Nikki had set up. My legs felt shaky. Oddly enough, for the first time today the nerves and butterflies had nothing to do with Cole.
When it was time, I took a deep breath and sauntered down to the spot Nikki had indicated. I stopped, and my stomach dropped. Cole was leaning on the doorframe with both hands in his pockets. I ignored him, but it didn’t matter. His dark stare stayed trained on me. Every time he adjusted the sleeves of his tuxedo jacket, the hair on the nape of my neck tingled.
So much for blending in.
“Chin up,” Nikki said under her breath while she smoothed the straps on my dress. “And let me see those pearly whites. Don’t worry. I won’t let him do anything stupid. You’re up.”
I counted to ten, as I’
d been told to do—longest ten seconds ever. I focused on Annie standing in the back as I strutted down the catwalk. Again, exactly as Nikki had instructed. She certainly knew how to entice. No doubt she could have anyone she wanted. When our gazes met, she put her chin in the air, gesturing for me to do the same. Okay, maybe this wasn’t so bad. How did she do that? My muscles relaxed some when I joined the other models toward the back of the stage, but the knot in my stomach didn’t go away completely, not with Cole’s gaze still on me.
As I watched the rest of the models do their catwalk, I breathed a little easier. When the bidding started, Cole left his post by the door and made his way to Nikki, who stared at him, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. He wasn’t supposed to be here. Hot looks aside, he stood out in a roomful of women. What was he up to?
I was third in line, so I had to wait while the other gowns were bid on. Both dresses sold for a couple of thousand dollars over their retail price. This was good news for both the foundation and Annie. Next, it was my turn. Doing my best not to fidget while the women eyed the dress up and down, I stood on the marked spot while the bids came in. Nikki started high, at four thousand. She pursed her lips as she ignored Cole whispering in her ear. A woman dressed in a beaded tuxedo jumpsuit raised her hand.
A nanosecond later, Cole raised his hand. “Five thousand.”
Nikki looked down, but I could’ve sworn she rolled her eyes. “Do I have fifty-five hundred, Katie?”
Tuxedo Jumpsuit, Katie, nodded.
“Six thousand,” Cole said.
Nikki leaned over and whispered something to him. He simply shrugged.
“Sixty-five hundred.” Katie chuckled, thoroughly amused.
The rest of the room rumbled as the other women laughed and commented. My cheeks flushed. Was he doing this because of me? Could people tell he was staring at me?
Love Over Lattes Page 11
