by Judy Duarte
How could the man do that to her with a single kiss? And after all these years?
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go home.”
Home. The word had such a nice sound to it, especially when Miguel was the one saying it. And she couldn’t help thinking about the two of them returning to her condo after a dinner date. It made them seem like a real couple, fully committed and facing the future together.
In a way, she supposed they were committed now, at least to her business proposition and to the temporary marriage he’d agreed to. But their futures were heading in different directions once they filed for a divorce.
As they left the courtyard and headed toward the front of the restaurant, Nicole continued to hold Miguel’s arm with her left hand, where the diamond she now wore sparkled on her ring finger.
She wondered where he’d found it. Had he borrowed it from a friend? Was it on loan from a jeweler?
Had he actually purchased it? If he had, she’d have to reimburse him for the expense.
As they crossed the parking lot to his car, he said, “By morning, everyone in Red Rock will know—and better yet, believe—that we’re engaged.”
After that mind-numbing kiss, which had been all she’d remembered and more, Nicole could almost believe they were really engaged, too.
He opened the car door for her, and she slid into the passenger seat. Moments later, they were on their way back to her condo. They didn’t talk much on the drive home. She supposed that was because there was so much to think about, at least on her part. But what about him?
Was he pondering the financial offer she’d made him and his plans to finally open the nightclub he’d dreamed about?
Maybe he was more focused on the phony engagement they’d set into motion tonight and the lie they’d be living until she finally became CEO of Castleton Boots and held the controlling share of stock.
Or was he, like her, amazed by the kiss they’d just shared and the passion that still sizzled between them?
To be honest, she was a bit concerned by the chemistry that hadn’t waned, especially since she had a business arrangement with him she didn’t want to complicate. It was imperative that she keep her head about her until they were married and she’d fulfilled the legal stipulations her parents had set up. Then they could file for divorce and go their own way.
When they reached the guard at the gate, Nicole identified herself as a resident, and he let them into the Spanish-style complex. Then Miguel drove to the curb in front of her home, a two-story unit with a white stucco exterior, dark wood trim and a red tile roof.
“Thank you for dinner,” she said. “And for giving such a great performance at Red.”
“My pleasure.”
Should she invite him inside? Probably so, but then what? Her heart rate skipped into overdrive at the thought—and at all the invitation could lead to.
Miguel opened the driver’s door and got out of the car. She wasn’t sure if he planned to open her door for her or not, but she decided to make it easy on both of them by exiting the vehicle on her own.
The light fragrance of night-blooming jasmine filled the evening air as they made their way to the entrance of her condo, the soles of their shoes clicking on the sidewalk.
Again, she thought about inviting him in for a cup of coffee or a nightcap, weighing the options.
When they reached her front door, which was flanked by terra-cotta pots bearing lush red hibiscus, he said, “I’ll bring over my suitcase and shaving kit tomorrow. I think it’s best if I move in. Don’t you?”
She supposed he had a point.
“People would probably expect that,” she said. “Under the circumstances.”
Yet how far should she and Miguel go in proving they were a real couple, that they were truly in love and planning to marry?
Right now, as they stood on her porch, with a blanket of twinkling stars and a lovers’ moon glowing overhead, his gaze zeroed in on her, she couldn’t help thinking they should go all the way.
But she shook off the rogue thought. Before she could open her mouth to end their evening together, he said, “Can you get me a resident’s pass for the gate? I’ll also need a spare key to your place. Unless you have an objection, I’ll stop by your office tomorrow and pick it up there.”
“I...” She swallowed, trying to find the words, trying to put her thoughts together. “I have a spare I can give you now.”
“I think it might work better if I get it tomorrow. That way, even if the Red Rock rumor mill hasn’t gotten the word out, everyone in the office will know that I’m the new man in your life—and that I’m here to stay.”
Here to stay. That had a nice ring to it, too. But in truth, his stay was only temporary. And not just because their marriage wasn’t going to last. She’d recently purchased a new house on the edge of town and planned to move at the end of the month. But there was no need to explain that now.
“You seem to have thought of everything.” She lifted her left hand. “A ring, a public proposal...”
That amazing, courtyard-spinning kiss also came to mind, but she didn’t dare mention that.
“Yeah, well the people I work with refer to me as the idea man—and for good reason.” A grin tugged at one side of his mouth, giving her a glimpse of the cocky but charming teenage boy he’d once been. “Anyway, I’d better go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He was leaving?
Without coming inside?
And without a good-night kiss?
She fought the compulsion to reach for his hand, to ask him to wait, to invite him in.
But things were moving so fast.
Too fast, maybe. So she said, “Good night, Miguel. And thanks again.”
“My pleasure,” he said for the second time tonight, tossing her a smile as if he really meant it. Then he turned and walked back to the SUV.
As she watched him open the driver’s door and slide behind the wheel, a wave of disappointment swept through her.
And she’d be darned if she knew why.
* * *
Miguel arrived at Nicole’s office the next morning at ten. Last night, he’d told her that he wanted to make a show of getting the spare key in front of her coworkers, and while that had been a good idea, it had only been an excuse to leave before she invited him inside. And she would have done it; he was sure of it.
But why wouldn’t she? That blasted kiss they’d shared following his proposal had left him struggling to breathe. And he knew it had thrown her for a loop, too.
Still, he hadn’t been prepared to talk about it—if she’d been inclined to do so.
Strangely enough, he’d never cut bait and run in a situation like that before, never had to. In fact, if she’d been any other woman, he wouldn’t have let an opportunity like that slip by him. He would have taken advantage of their obvious physical attraction and chemistry by kissing her deeply in the moonlight until she’d not only invited him into the house, but into her bed.
Of course, he’d had a few regrets on the walk back to the car, but he hadn’t wanted to complicate things until he’d had a chance to think through all the ramifications.
And he’d had plenty of time to do that while in bed last night, since he’d lain awake considering the pros and cons of instigating a sexual relationship between them, no matter how brief or temporary their marriage or engagement might be.
So now, as he made his way to her private office, he planned to play the love-struck fiancé to the hilt.
Nicole wanted him to marry her. And she wanted their relationship to look believable to her parents, as well as to everyone in Red Rock.
The way he saw it, that meant they ought to be sleeping together.
In fact, the more he thought about making love with her, the more he liked the idea.
Even when they were young, inexperienced and confined to the backseat of a car, sex had been amazing. So he didn’t think she’d object.
And if she did?
He doubted it would take much to convince her to see things his way. Besides, he’d never had a problem charming a woman before, and he was going to charm the socks—and a lot more than that—off his future “bride.”
As he strode down the hall, he saw that the door to her office was open. He paused in the doorway, watching her work. Her long, dark hair was pulled back in an elegant twist as she studied several spreadsheets on her desk.
She wore a gray business suit today—and another pair of killer heels. And while she looked the part of a stylish executive, she still nibbled her bottom lip the way she used to back in study hall.
Finally, he couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “You know what they say about all work and no play.”
When she turned and looked across the room, her lips, which bore only a trace of the lipstick she’d applied earlier, parted.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to think you’re due for a break.”
A slow smile slid across her lips. “Thanks, but there’s a board of directors meeting I need to attend, and it starts in about fifteen minutes. So I’m afraid that break will have to wait.”
“Did you bring the spare house key?”
She nodded, then reached into a drawer and pulled out her purse—a fairly new Louis Vuitton. “I’ve fixed up the guest room for you—and stocked the bathroom with clean towels and toiletries. If there’s anything else you need, let me know. I’ll pick it up on my way home.”
The guest room, huh? Well, he’d have to remedy that.
As Miguel crossed the room to get the key, a woman peered into the doorway. “Nicole? Rodney set up that PowerPoint presentation for you in the boardroom.”
“Thanks, Diana.”
Miguel cleared his throat, letting both women know he was still in the room. “I don’t want to bother you, honey. I just came to get your key. I’ll be all moved in by the time you get home. And I’ll have a bottle of champagne chilled and ready.”
Diana straightened, and her eyes darted from Nicole to Miguel and back again, but she didn’t say a word.
“Don’t forget,” Nicole said. “We’re meeting my mother and father for dinner at the club tonight.”
While the last thing in the world Miguel wanted to do was dress up and go to “the club” to meet her parents and deal with their snooty attitudes, that’s what Nicole was paying him to do. So he would put on the granddaddy of all shows for them—even if the whole thing chapped his hide.
But he managed a happy-go-lucky smile for Diana’s sake. “I won’t forget. We have a lot to celebrate.”
Poor Diana had to be reeling from the news and drowning in curiosity, especially if Nicole had all but given up her personal life for the company, so Miguel filled in a few of the blanks by tossing out a question to Nicole.
“Did you request that vacation time for our honeymoon yet?”
The question seemed to stun Nicole for a moment, but she rallied. “I planned to do it at lunchtime.” Then she turned to Diana. “I’m sorry for being rude. This wonderful man is Miguel Mendoza, my fiancé. We haven’t set an actual wedding date yet, but it’ll be within the next couple of weeks.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Diana said to Miguel. And then, turning back to Nicole, she added, “What a surprise. You spend so much time at the office, I didn’t realize you’d met someone special.”
“We knew each other years ago, met up again in New York and...” Nicole glanced at Miguel and smiled, her eyes lighting up as if they’d actually created a few romantic memories in Manhattan. “Well, one thing led to another, and...” She lifted her left hand and flashed the diamond, which seemed a lot bigger in the jewelry store—and not so impressive on her slender finger and next to that expensive Louis Vuitton purse.
“Congratulations,” Diana said.
With her right hand, Nicole gave the key to Miguel. “Here you go. I’ll be home by five-thirty. Dinner reservations are at six.”
“I’ll be ready.” Miguel brushed a kiss on Nicole’s lips. “Knock ’em dead at that meeting, babe.” After flashing his most charming smile at Diana, he slipped the key to Nicole’s condo into his pocket, then sauntered down the hall, out the door and to the elevator.
He wasn’t sure how long their business arrangement would last, but he planned to make the most of his time in Red Rock.
And the most of his nights living with Nicole.
* * *
Nicole’s parents still lived in the house where she grew up, a sprawling estate that overlooked the exclusive Red Rock Country Club, not far from her condominium. And while Miguel didn’t mind having dinner with them this evening, he’d been a little put off by their invitation to meet them at the club, rather than at their home.
He couldn’t help wondering if that was their way of maintaining formality and distance. After all, they hadn’t made any real secret of the fact that they hadn’t liked him before. With their haughty silence, they’d let him know that, in their opinion, he hadn’t been good enough for Princess Nicole. And he had every reason to believe they wouldn’t feel any differently now.
He wasn’t about to let that bother him, though. He’d dealt with some hardened executives and entertainment moguls over the years, and he’d always held his own. He’d even put a few of them in their places, when he had to.
Earlier this afternoon, he’d moved into Nicole’s guest room. But he didn’t intend for that sleeping arrangement to last very long. Still, he settled in and waited for her to get home.
Just as she’d said, she arrived at five-thirty.
“You look great,” she said, when she spotted him in a jacket and tie.
“I assumed there was a dress code.”
“You’re right. I forgot to mention it.”
Yeah, well, in spite of what her parents might think, he wasn’t a country bumpkin. He knew how to dress in formal settings.
“Give me just a minute,” Nicole said, as she slipped out of her pumps and headed for her bedroom. “I need to freshen up, but it won’t take long.”
Five minutes later, she came out wearing a flowing red dress and strappy sandals. She’d reapplied her lipstick and let her long brown hair fall softly along her shoulders. She was a beautiful woman, the kind a man liked having on his arm.
“I’m ready,” she said.
On the outside, maybe. But he suspected she wasn’t so carefully put together on the inside. He didn’t mention it, though.
Instead, he opened the door for her, and five minutes later, they’d made the short drive to the country club.
After parking the car, they entered the main clubhouse. Nicole stopped to speak to the receptionist, a redhead in her mid-to-late thirties.
“We’re here to meet my parents for dinner,” Nicole told her.
The receptionist offered them a friendly smile. “They’re in the Sportsman Room, waiting for you. It’s down the hall, the third door on the right.”
As Nicole turned to follow the woman’s directions, Miguel took her by the hand and pulled her back. “Not so fast, darlin’.”
She stopped, turned and gave his fingers a little squeeze. “I’m sorry, Miguel. I keep forgetting that I’m not in this alone.”
“You’re more nervous than you should be.”
She shook her head. “No, not really. It’s all going to happen, whether they like it or not. It’s just that I always have to brace myself for the challenge, for the arguments. And to be honest, I’d prefer to be home with you this evening, having a glass of that chilled champagne you mentioned to Diana.”
Miguel grinned. “For the record, so would I. But I’
ve got your back, honey. And if things get out of hand, leave it all up to me.”
She cocked her pretty head to the side, yet her hand still held his.
“I’m the idea man, remember?”
With that, she smiled, and her eyes lit up. “So you said. What do you have up your sleeve this time?”
“I’m going to give you a little shot of courage before you enter that dining room.”
Her brow furrowed, and he could see the wheels turning. Did she think he’d brought a sterling silver flask of ninety proof with him?
“Trust me,” he said. “Lead the way.”
They walked several paces down the hall.
“It’s just up ahead,” Nicole said.
“Hold up a minute.” Miguel slowed to a stop.
She did, too, and turned to face him again, confusion clouding her expression.
“Now for that infusion of courage.” As he caught her gaze, he released her hand. Then he cupped her face, his thumbs caressing her cheeks in slow, sensuous strokes. “I think you’re going to need an extra-strong dose of it tonight.”
Then he lowered his mouth to hers with a tenderness that nearly surprised him.
Just as she’d done the last time they’d kissed, she leaned into him and wrapped her arms around him. As her lips parted, he sought her tongue with his, finding, tasting, mating.
A door clicked opened, but Miguel continued to hold her close, to kiss her deeply, to savor her taste, her floral scent.
When a throat cleared loud and forcibly, Miguel finally drew his mouth from hers.
“Is that really necessary?” Andy Castleton asked from the doorway to the private dining room.
Miguel and Nicole looked at each other and grinned, yet neither spoke.
“Well, don’t just stand there,” the silver-haired businessman said. “Get in here before you make a spectacle of yourselves.”
Miguel didn’t like taking orders, particularly from a man who expected everyone to hop to it whenever he spoke, so he lingered a moment longer than necessary.
