by Molly Evans
“What’s up?” She gave his hand a squeeze.
“Nothing, really. I was just thinking of the times I climbed this tree.” He looked down at Vicky. “This was my grandmother’s house first, and I spent a lot of time here as a kid. Good memories…” He only wished that some of them could have been different.
“I didn’t climb trees, but I spent a lot of time in the gardens and vineyards when I was a kid, just wandering and getting away, you know?” She looked away from him, then at the beverages. “I wonder what kind of wine they have.”
“Arturo likes local wines, so it’s hard to tell what’s here.” Miguel reached for a bottle and held it up. “This one’s from Gruet Winery.”
Vicky leaned over his arm and read the label. “Oh, that’s lovely. I know that one.”
“Isn’t that one of your competitors?” he asked with a sly grin.
“Yes, they are, but what’s business without competition? Makes everything taste better when the batch is done, you know?”
“Are you serious? Isn’t the wine business as cutthroat as any other?”
“It can be, I guess, I just prefer to stay away from that part of it and focus on the results.” She paused a second and then took the glass that he held out to her, not caring what it was at this point, just grateful for it and the breather it gave her. Having Miguel so close and allowing him to touch her was something she’d not normally have done. Each touch, each time his body grazed hers sent ripples of awareness through her. “So, where’s your cousin’s daughter? We haven’t met her yet.”
“I know. She must be holding court somewhere. I’m sure we’ll see her pretty soon. She’s not exactly the shy-and-retiring type.”
A squeal announced the arrival of the party girl, Cindy.
“Miguel!” The teenager launched herself at him. He caught her but had to take a step back from the force and the wine in his hand sloshed over the rim.
“Wow. Is this my little Cindy?” he asked, and twirled her around in a quick circle.
“It’s me. All grown up now!” With a laugh she stood beside him but kept her arm around his waist as he introduced her to Vicky. “I’m so glad you came.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” He ignored the twinge of guilt when the little voice inside him reminded him that he almost had, that his guilt had kept him away. “Where have you been?”
A dramatic roll of her eyes was all the answer he needed. “Got to make nice with the aunties before I can play, you know?”
“I know what you mean.” He reached into his shirt pocket and extracted a long, slender envelope and held it out.
Cindy snatched it from his hand with another signature squeal. “Ooh! What is it, what is it, what is it?” She tore the envelope to shreds and extracted the card containing a check. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She hugged him again and dashed off.
“What a bundle of energy. No wonder she’s an over-achiever,” Vicky said with a laugh. “She adores you.”
“It’s mutual. Sometimes I feel bad that I haven’t been around more.” He looked away and then sipped his wine.
“Well, the good thing is that you’re here now, right? Life gets in the way for us all.” Hesitation in her move, she reached out and placed her hand on his forearm. There was strength there in the muscles covered by tawny skin, but there was steel that she sensed beneath the surface.
“I appreciate that,” he said, and held her gaze for a moment. “There are a few more people I want to find then we can go.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
AFTERNOON sun gave way to evening shadows. Vicky was enjoying herself immensely and felt the chains of anxiety relinquishing their hold on her. Even the chat with Miguel’s mother wasn’t as intimidating as she’d thought it was going to be. The woman was lovely, had raised a fine son and was very proud of his achievements. Though there was a touch of caution in her eyes when she looked at him, she obviously loved him. Emotions stirred inside her. Seeing the love of his mother reminded her of what she had lost so long ago. The grief that she’d dealt with at the loss of her mother surfaced briefly in her heart. The pang of her loss nearly brought tears to her eyes as she watched Miguel and his mother, but she choked them back, trying not to allow envy for something that could never be claim any of this day.
Just as she thought the party was going to wind down, a band began to play.
Excitement danced in Miguel’s eyes and she was nearly mesmerized. “Part two—music. It’s not a party without music and dancing, is it?” Miguel asked, grabbing her hand.
“I thought we were going to leave?” Panic set in. This wasn’t the kind of music she knew.
“Sorry. Change in plan—do you mind?” He tugged on her hand.
“Wait! I don’t know this stuff. I’m strictly ballroom. This is…I don’t know what this is!” Although she protested, she was helpless to stop Miguel as he led the way to the makeshift dance floor. What if she embarrassed herself?
“That’s okay. I’ll lead.”
And lead he did. Every move they made together was directed by Miguel. His hands spun her, led her through each step as if he were a dance instructor. Within a few minutes Vicky relaxed and just let him lead her. It was what she wanted anyway. Never in her life had she felt so feminine, so light, so enchanted by a man in the moon light.
When the music finally slowed down, Vicky thought that Miguel was going to take her back to sit down, but he simply drew her closer to him. The tiny lights strung around the yard created interesting halos of light and deep pockets of shadowy darkness in the corners of the yard.
Miguel tucked Vicky close against him with his chin against her right temple. She felt a sigh roll through him, and she closed her eyes, letting go, letting the sensations of the day and the feel of Miguel’s body be her guide. The flames that had singed her in the past gave way to a new heat source.
Each move they made together was guided by his hand in the small of her back. The man was an expert dancer, and Vicky found herself unwilling and unable to resist the desire that bubbled up inside her. What if, for once, she made a move unlike any she’d ever made? What if she reached out to Miguel? Would he hold on or would he burn her, the way every other man she’d known had burned her?
Leaning back slightly, she needed to see his face, to look into his eyes, to see if she was simply fooling herself into believing that something was going on between them. Could she have imagined the tenderness in every touch of his hand, the want in every move of his body toward her?
Now, looking up at his face, the way his eyes held her gaze then dropped to her mouth and lingered there, she knew she hadn’t imagined anything. Automatically, her lips parted as Miguel guided them around to the music. Her heart raced and it wasn’t from the exercise of the dancing. She wanted Miguel with everything she had in her. Shadows darkened around them as Miguel led her into a quiet sanctuary of the yard. The music faded to a dull rhythm far away as the roar of her heart crowded out all other sound.
The hand at her waist eased up her back until it cupped the back of her head. “Vicky,” he whispered, and bent his head toward her. “This may be the worst move I’ll ever make, but I want to kiss you.”
Needing no encouragement, she raised her face and met his lips. The instant their lips touched, a shock of deep desire rolled through Vicky. She parted her lips and eagerly met his tongue with hers, melting against him and clasping his neck with her hands. He gathered her tight against his body and squeezed her, kissed her, as if ravenous for the taste and touch of her. As if she were the very thing he needed to sustain life.
No woman had ever felt this way to him. Miguel held on to her as if she were a dream, a wisp of smoke that would fly away if he didn’t hold tight. This night was enchanted, and Vicky was the magic in his arms.
Heart racing, desire pulsed through him as he kissed her and held her. In less than a second he forgot where they were and lost himself in the feel of Vicky’s curves against him. She was trim, but lush in all the r
ight places. The feel of her soft breasts crushed against his chest made him wish they were somewhere else. Anywhere else.
When he finally lifted his head, his breathing was ragged, as if he’d run ten city blocks. Desire hung in the air, hot and heavy between them. They simply stared at each other as if in shock. Maybe they were. Maybe it was an enchanted evening and they were under the spell of the night.
“Wow.” She brushed her hair back from her face with a hand that visibly trembled. “Wrong move or not, I certainly didn’t expect that.”
“Neither did I. I hope I haven’t offended you?”
“Being offended never entered my mind,” she said, and placed her palm on his chest over his heart. “I…feel…more alive right now than I think I’ve ever been.” Then she looked away, as if embarrassed by her admission.
With a finger under her chin, he raised her face so that she looked at him again. “So am I,” he whispered, and it was the biggest truth he’d faced in a long, long time.
Over the course of an afternoon he’d begun to fall for Vicky Sterling-Thorne.
At last they said their goodbyes and left the party. They drove back to the clinic in silence. Miguel maintained his loose hold on her hand as he drove. Pulling into the parking lot of the clinic, he stopped beside her car and didn’t know what to say.
“Thanks for a lovely day.” Vicky spoke first.
“I need to thank you. It was certainly more pleasant than I expected it to be.”
She smiled at that. “I think there was one part that neither of us expected.” Shyly, she glanced down and then curved a hand around one ear, tucking the hair back from her face.
“Definitely.” That was an understatement. There was so much about today, about Vicky and himself, that he hadn’t ever expected. There were things about her that were incredibly appealing, but as the bubble of the past returned to surround him, he didn’t know if he could keep it at bay. “I definitely enjoyed that part, too.”
“Well, I’ll see you on Monday.”
“See you Monday.” Gripping the steering wheel, he held on as he watched her get out of the car and walk away from him. This was the best way for both of them. He didn’t need a relationship with a woman like her and she definitely didn’t need anything with a man like him. He wasn’t capable of having a full relationship. He could only do temporary and it simply wasn’t in her to have a casual affair, he knew that for certain. So the best thing was to let her go home alone, forget about how she had felt against him, and he would take a cold shower to wash away the demons of desire that circled around him now.
Before she closed her car door, he hurried around the front of his truck, ready to close it for her. She looked up with a startled expression that changed the instant her eyes met his. She rose from her seat and reached out to him. In seconds she was in his arms, and he kissed her again. He pressed his mouth to hers and parted her lips. Exploring, teasing, tasting, testing, he let go of any restraint, pressing her against her car. Her fragrance and the way it wrapped itself in his mind drew him closer. When her arms clutched his shoulders, he knew he could lose himself in her if he weren’t careful. Each curve, each nuance of her was impressed on him for the last time and he knew it. It had to be this way.
Miguel’s hard body against hers was right, and wonderful, and so masculine. There was no protest in her as he pressed her against her car. The way his mouth explored hers, the silken glide of his tongue against hers made her want more than just this embrace. The feel of his arousal revealed that he was more than able to take things to another level. She wished that she was more adventurous, but taking the lead in a relationship hadn’t been her way. But surely a night in bed with Miguel would be worth any regrets she might face later?
The wind shifted and fluttered the hem of her dress against her leg, teased a tendril of her hair against her cheek and gave her a chance to catch her breath. She clutched his shoulders and hugged him against her, trying to catch her breath.
The rasp of his light beard teased the bare skin at her neck. Then the pain came, and she winced. “Ow.”
“What’s wrong?” Miguel stilled except for his harsh breathing.
“I think I got a little sun,” she said, and placed a hand on her neck. The skin was hot to the touch, but she didn’t know if it was from the sun or Miguel’s influence.
“Let me see,” he said, and opened her car door so the light shone on her. She bent down and Miguel eased one of the dress straps to the side. “Yep. I’d say you have sunburn that’s going to get your attention tonight.”
“I forgot about sunblock today.” She hated sleeping with sunburn. “Does it look that bad?”
“Unfortunately. Why don’t we go in the clinic and have a better look at it?”
“It’ll be okay, Miguel. I ought to know better, though.”
“Take a shower when you get home or a mild vinegar bath sometimes takes the sting out.”
“Isn’t that just old wives’ tales?” she asked, smiling, liking the way he incorporated nontraditional treatments into his medical practice. That was probably from working in such a nontraditional setting.
“It’s true, though.”
“Okay, then, I’ll give it a try.” She faced him and took his hands in hers. “Even though this was a nondate, and I was just helping you out, I had a really good time. You have a wonderful family.” She was a little envious of the closeness they shared. It was a far cry from the formality of hers, especially since her mother had died. Before that, things had been different.
“Thanks. I had a great time, too. One of these days you can drag me along to one of your family functions, and we’ll call it even.”
A snort nearly made it out of her, but she choked it down. “I’ll spare you that, but maybe something else will come up.” That would be the day that she voluntarily brought anyone home to meet her father. The last man she’d tried to introduce was likely scarred for life. “Anyway, I’ll see you on Monday.”
Miguel ran his hand over his face as if he was trying to think of something to say, but instead he sighed. “Monday, then.”
She got into her car. With what she hoped was a casual wave she drove off and left him standing there, watching her go. The cold sweat that broke out on her didn’t stop until she was miles away. Just the mention of him meeting her family was enough to inspire panic, and the insecurity of the past returned. Was she doing the right thing? Would she and Miguel really have a chance at something or was this just attraction for a bad boy from the south part of town?
Slowly, she relaxed her grip on the steering wheel and let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Miguel’s family and background were so different from hers. There wasn’t a likely chance that even if they tried to make something of it, they’d be successful. People gravitated to the familiar, and they were simply poles apart in that. Although she’d not kept her family name off her job application, she had considered it. For once in her life she’d just wanted to be accepted on her own merits, not the reputation her family lineage brought with it.
He wasn’t far from her thoughts as she peeled her clothing off and got into the shower. His touch and his scent clung to her until she entered the shower stall. The water felt like a zillion cactus needles on her skin, piercing and poking at her, but she knew that if she could tolerate it for a little while, some of the sting would stop and her skin would be happier. After moisturizing heavily with cocoa butter, she finally got the relief she needed and the desire to sleep overwhelmed her. Crawling between the crisp, Egyptian cotton sheets on her platform bed was the most luxurious feeling. With the heat of her skin roaring like a bonfire, she settled down and closed her eyes.
The rest she craved came in bits and pieces, interrupted frequently by images of Miguel and memories of his touch.
CHAPTER EIGHT
ON MONDAY morning Vicky’s nerves tightened. How would it be to work with Miguel again? Would things change or would they simply return to their work rol
es and forget about the stunning kisses they had shared?
Saturday seemed like a moment out of time and possibly a hallucination. If it hadn’t been for the evidence burned onto her skin, she might have considered the passion between them part of her imagination or a lusty daydream.
There was only one way to find out. She had to go through the door to the clinic. Either way, she had a job to do.
“Mercy, girl!” Tilly said, and did a double take when Vicky walked into the nurses’ station. “What happened to you?”
“Oh, I got some sun over the weekend,” Vicky said, and tried not to let the butterflies in her stomach get away.
“I’ll say. Looks like you got burned to a crisp. Are you okay?”
“Oh, yeah, I’m fine,” Vicky said, and gave a quick laugh. “Just have to remember the sunblock next time.”
“Be sure you do. And a hat. With your coloring, you’re at risk for skin cancer if you don’t watch out.” Tilly clucked her tongue then went back to the computer.
“I will. I will.” The small reprimand brought back thoughts of her mother’s illness. She hadn’t known how her cancer had started and it certainly could have been a melanoma. Her mother had been a sun worshiper as a young woman. She really would have to be extracareful with such an unknown family history. But work first.
Mondays always seemed to be the busiest of days and this one was no different. She only had time for a cursory greeting to the other staff and a nod to Miguel before patients flooded the clinic.
Each time she passed Miguel in a patient room or discussed a case, the tension knotted tighter in her gut. He wasn’t meeting her eyes, and the smile he offered to others wasn’t sent her way. Things had reverted back to the way they’d been before Saturday. Maybe Saturday had been a daydream after all.
So she fell back on her nursing role and decided she’d get depressed later. Too many people depended on her giving her best right now for her to indulge in personal feelings. If she was overly bright or her smile too big, only she knew why.
