by Judy Duarte
“Fancy meeting you here,” a man said from behind her, his voice laced with the hint of a Texas drawl.
Schuyler turned away from the window to see Nathan Fortune, who’d changed his flannel and denim ranch wear for a stylish suit. “What a surprise.” She offered her newfound cousin a friendly smile. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I make my way to the city every now and then. Besides, I thought Bianca would enjoy a special evening on our first Valentine’s Day as husband and wife.”
“I’m glad you came. It’s nice to see a familiar face.”
Nathan scanned the dining room, his eyes taking in the hardwood floors, the wall-to-wall windows, the rounded oak-paneled ceiling. “I heard the restaurant was recently remodeled and expanded. The Mendozas did a great job.”
“Yes, they did.” Schuyler found it a bit odd that Nathan seemed more interested in the party setting than in the people who’d attended, many of them his relatives. She suspected he was trying to keep his distance and not get too chummy. Hopefully, he wouldn’t blow her cover. “I...um...haven’t mentioned anything about my...grandfather.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t say anything or reveal your secret. But tell me. I’m curious. What have you found out?”
“Not much. Just that I really like Olivia, Zoe and Rachel, the three cousins I met earlier. But I’m still making my rounds, and the night is young.”
“So how are the Mendozas treating you?” Nathan asked. “You must have eased your way into their good graces if you snagged an invitation to the party.”
“They’ve been great.” Especially Carlo.
Her gaze drifted across the room, scanning the crowd until she spotted her tall, dark and handsome boss. Her attraction to him continued to grow, which had made her decide to stay in Austin longer than she’d expected to. Maybe, while she was here, she’d be wined and dined—and courted.
Should she invite him back to her place after the party tonight? Or was it too soon? She certainly didn’t want to come on too strong. This was one relationship she’d like to last longer than a couple of weeks. In fact, the word indefinitely came to mind.
She supposed that was an odd thing for her to ponder, when she’d never thought she’d ever settle down. Not that Carlo would ever want to get married or anything. He’d made it clear how he felt about remaining single. But for some crazy reason, whenever they were together, she found her imagination going off her tried-and-true grid. But that might be due to his kindness to her, his respect for her uniqueness.
“How long do you plan to be in Austin?” Nathan asked, as if reading her mind.
“I’m not sure. I’m actually working for the Mendoza Winery.”
“Really? Doing what?”
“I’m a sales rep at special wine tastings. It’s only part time, which suits me fine. And, of course, it’s just temporary.”
“How long is temporary?”
“Who knows? I tend to go with the flow, but I really like it here. The Mendozas are easy to work for.”
She’d grouped them all together, even though the one Mendoza she actually answered to was Carlo. But it was true. She liked them all, even Esteban. But it was Carlo who’d caught her eye, touched her heart and held her thoughts.
Sure, he was drop-dead gorgeous. But it was more than sexual attraction that drew her to him. He seemed to accept her and her quirky nature, just as she was. And that didn’t happen often.
The two of them had also become a team. Equal partners, it seemed. And her pride, which sometimes faltered when people criticized her, had grown exceptionally strong while working for the winery. She was doing a bang-up job, something all the Mendozas recognized, which gave her a thrill. She wished she could say the same about the feelings her own family evoked.
That, in itself, was enough to make her wonder if it would be in her best interest to consider something more long-term. And she wasn’t just considering a professional decision. She was pondering a romantic one, too.
But did she really want to screw up the admiration she’d achieved and her growing self-respect by letting herself become sexually involved with Carlo?
She glanced across the room again, and her brow furrowed as she spotted him talking to a beautiful brunette who was dressed to the hilt in a flashy red dress and spiked heels. And dang. He was grinning from ear to ear, clearly enjoying their little chat.
When the woman laughed at something he said, Schuyler stiffened. That wasn’t good. No, not good at all.
She’d never been the jealous type. Heck, she’d never had reason to be. She’d never cared enough about a man to worry about losing him.
Not that she had any claim on Carlo, but she didn’t want to lose him before she even figured out how she felt about him.
Her reason for attending the party in the first place fell by the wayside. All she wanted to do was interrupt that woman’s flirtations before... Well, before...
“I’m sorry,” she told Nathan. “It’s been nice catching up with you, but you’ll have to excuse me. There’s something I have to do.” Something she had to stop.
Before waiting for Nathan’s response, she hurried to Carlo’s side so she could make her presence—if not her claim on him—known.
Chapter Ten
Carlo had no more greeted Wendy Fortune Mendoza, who’d come all the way from Horseback Hollow with her husband, Marcos, to dance the night away, when Schuyler swept up beside him as if all hell had broken out and the devil was on her trail.
Before he could introduce her to Wendy, his cousin’s wife, Schuyler grabbed his hand, gave it a good tug and said, “I need to talk to you.”
He had no idea what had her wound up so tight, but he figured it had to be important. And urgent. So he asked Wendy to excuse him, adding, “I’ll be back in a moment.”
“That’s okay,” Wendy said. “I was just making the rounds. I’m sure we’ll run into each other more than once before the night is over.”
Schuyler asked to be excused, too. Then she practically dragged him across the room, her strides causing him to pick up his pace. Something was clearly wrong. Had someone discovered her identity and her reason for being here? Then again, maybe she’d landed a big sales contract for the winery. Or she’d lost one.
Either way, making a mad dash through the restaurant wasn’t getting him any answers. He’d at least like a hint. So, as they briskly walked along, he asked, “What’s going on?”
Without slowing her steps, she said, “I’ll tell you in a minute.”
Since they’d just approached a recently vacated table, where no one could overhear their conversation, he pulled back on her hand, making her stop. He studied her intently. “Are you okay?”
She bit down on her bottom lip, and her once-determined expression turned pensive. And a bit flustered.
Before he could suggest that they go outside for some fresh air and privacy, the disc jockey’s voice rang out. “Good evening, everyone! What would Valentine’s Day be without Elvis Presley singing one of his romantic classics?”
At that, “Fools Rush In” began to play, lulling the crowd and drawing several couples to the dance floor. The familiar tune seemed to work its magic on Schuyler, too.
Her blue eyes widened, sparkling bright. “Oh my gosh, Carlo. I love this song.”
The abrupt change in her mood nearly floored him, but he tamped down his surprise, as well as his confusion. “What did you want to tell me?”
“It can wait for now. Dance with me, Carlo.”
He should have balked and demanded an explanation, but he let her lead him to the dance floor. If truth be told, he’d wanted to get his hands on her all night.
So he opened his arms, and she stepped into his embrace. As they swayed to the sensual tune, he savored the feel of her in his arms, the soft feminine curves he would stroke and caress if they di
dn’t have an audience.
Yet several beats later, he felt compelled to ask again. “What was so important that you pulled me away from my cousin’s wife?”
Schuyler stiffened, drew back and gazed up at him. A crease marred her pretty forehead. “Your cousin’s wife? Is that who she was?” She slowly shook her head. “She must think I’m a ditz. And a rude one at that. I’d better apologize to her as soon as this dance is over.”
It was beginning to all make sense now. She’d been jealous. He wasn’t sure if he should take that as a compliment, laugh or be offended. “Did you think I’d try to hit on another woman when I was with you?”
“Well...you’ve made no secret about the fact that you’re dedicated to the bachelor life.”
“Maybe so, but I’d never be disrespectful of the lady I’m with. That’s not my style.”
“I’m sorry, Carlo. I don’t know why I reacted like I did. That’s not my style, either.”
So he’d been right. Jealousy had provoked her impulsive reaction. He actually took a bit of pride in that and pulled her back into his arms. A wise man might reconsider a relationship with Schuyler, but as he held her in his arms, her head resting against his shoulder, her tantalizing scent doing crazy things to his heartbeat, not to mention his head... Well, hell. He felt like a fool tonight.
In fact, as they continued to dance, he forgot all about business, family and parties. Instead, it seemed as if he and Schuyler were the only people on the dance floor.
Except they weren’t. As he steered her through the other couples, he spotted Alejandro and Olivia dancing cheek to cheek, their love for each other apparent.
When Alejandro looked up and caught Carlo’s eye, his lips quirked into a crooked grin. Give love a chance, he’d told him once. And it seemed that Alejandro was repeating that advice again tonight, only he didn’t have to say a single word.
The next couple to ease their way next to him and Schuyler was his father and one of the sales reps, a newly divorced brunette in her early forties. Using some fancy footwork, his wily old man spun his attractive partner to the side, long enough to give Carlo the thumbs-up sign and flash him another atta-boy grin.
Carlo had no more than rolled his eyes at his dad when Chaz and a blonde companion joined them on the dance floor. Carlo would have thought that romance was in the air tonight, that his younger brother had found a lady to woo. But when Chaz let out a slow whistle and gave him the okay sign, Carlo realized that wasn’t the case. His family clearly approved of Schuyler, but they were also taunting him, reminding him of all the times he’d sworn to remain single.
Normally he’d be annoyed, but right now he was too caught up in his attraction to Schuyler and his growing arousal.
They danced as if they’d known each other forever—or as if they both planned to get to know each other really well tonight.
What the hell. Whom was he kidding? There was no reason to pretend neither of them knew what was happening.
“I’ve been thinking,” he whispered into her ear. “Maybe we should give a temporary relationship a chance.”
She turned her head just enough to catch his eye and smiled. “I’m willing if you are.”
Her agreement shot a zing right through him, amping up his desire. “I’d hoped you would say that.” He pulled her closer and whispered, “I have to stay until the last guest leaves and the restaurant closes. But if you’ll hang out with me, I’ll take you home.”
Her lips quirked into a sweet but sexy smile. “To your place or mine?”
“Does it matter?”
“Not to me.” Then she went up on tiptoes and brushed a kiss on his lips, letting him know they were definitely on the same page. “There’s nothing I want more than to be with you tonight.”
“Ditto,” he said. “It’s too bad we have so long to wait.”
“I know, but the anticipation will make it all the better.”
“And more fun.”
“Hey,” she said. “Isn’t that supposed to be my line?”
“That’ll be my motto, too. At least for tonight.”
“I have another one,” she said. “Life wasn’t meant to be boring.”
She might be right, but he knew one thing for sure. When it came to being with Schuyler, life would never be dull or routine. But for now, all they had to do was decide where they’d spend the night. So he made the decision for them. “Then my house it is.”
The only thing left for them to decide was what they’d have for breakfast.
* * *
Schuyler had figured it would be well after midnight till she got to go home with Carlo. But right before the disc jockey announced the last dance, Alejandro had taken Carlo aside and told him to feel free to cut out early.
So they’d left her car at the winery and drove to his place, a luxury apartment in a snazzy high-rise building in downtown Austin.
After he parked in the underground garage, Schuyler walked with him to the elevator. Once inside, they rode it to the fifth floor. Usually, when she was on a date, she’d start having second thoughts long before this. She’d see signs that the man would become possessive and that he’d have unrealistic expectations when it came to her or to their relationship. So she’d find one excuse or another to say good-night and go home alone. She’d found that it was easier to end things rather than risk losing herself or her independence.
She didn’t have those same doubts and concerns with Carlo, though. He truly seemed to like her—unconditionally and just the way she was. He didn’t criticize her, and so far, he hadn’t made any attempts to change her. And he certainly wouldn’t try to tie her down or stake a claim on her. He’d made that pretty clear.
She had to admit that she was a little nervous coming home with him tonight, yet at the same time, she felt a thrill of excitement. The thought of spending the night in his arms and in his bed trumped any butterflies swarming in her stomach.
When they reached his apartment, Carlo unlocked the door and let her inside. The living room was decorated nicely in leather, dark wood and glass. Colorful artwork depicting ocean scenes, sailboats or beach life adorned the walls. But it was the large window that looked out at the city lights that drew her immediate attention.
She walked straight to it and peered into the night. “What an awesome view.” She could have stood there indefinitely, admiring the sight, but after all the dancing they’d done this evening, her feet ached. So she kicked off her heels.
The moment she did, she looked over her shoulder at Carlo, then down to her bare feet. “I hope you don’t mind if I get cozy.”
“Not at all.” He removed his suit jacket and placed it on the back of a chair. “Please. Make yourself at home. Mi casa es su casa.”
She smiled. “If I was at my house, I’d put on my bunny slippers.”
A grin stretched across his face. “Too bad I didn’t buy two pairs. One for you to keep at your place and one to have here.”
She liked the sound of that. Apparently, he didn’t think one night together would be enough, and she had to agree.
“You never told me,” she said, as she turned away from the city view. “How in the world did you find those slippers?”
“I did an internet search for places in Austin that sold funky nightwear. Then I called around till I found them.” He loosened his red silk tie, removed it and draped it over his jacket. “Like I said, it was no big deal. Besides, if I would have hit a brick wall, I wouldn’t have mentioned anything about them, and you never would have been the wiser.”
The fact that he’d put so much thought and effort into finding those slippers pleased her. Carlo was truly one of a kind. A keeper. That is, if he ever wanted to be kept.
“Thanks again,” she said. “You scored a lot of points with that gift.”
“Oh, yeah?” His eyes twinkled, competing with the stars and
the city lights—and winning hands down.
“Yep.” In fact, he was racking up points each time she saw him, each time they were together, whether at work or play.
He crossed the room to where she stood. “Can I get you something to drink? Coffee? Water? A nightcap of some kind?”
“No, thanks. I’m not thirsty.” Neither was she coy. She knew why she was here. And what she wanted. So did Carlo.
Only trouble was, while he might think otherwise, she wasn’t all that experienced sexually. So, rather than making the first move, she’d better let things play out naturally. After all, Carlo had to be a skilled lover. He’d know how to proceed from here, and she’d be in good hands.
But dang. He wasn’t making any moves, and she was getting antsy. She’d never been patient when her heart and mind were set on something. And right now, that something was Carlo.
So she stepped forward and slipped her arms around his neck. “I might not be thirsty, but there’s something else I’d like.”
Apparently, he’d been waiting for her to make the first move because he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her flush against him and kissed her as if they’d never stop. Within a heartbeat she was lost in a swirl of heat, passion and desire. An ache settled deep in her core, and Carlo was the only one who could fill it.
She seemed to be stirring up something in him, too. She could feel his blood pounding, his heart beating. Or was that her own?
As their tongues mated, her head spun, and her knees nearly buckled. All she could do was hold on tight and kiss him back.
Their hands stroked, caressed, explored. When he reached her breast, the fabric of her dress bunched up. She had half a notion to stop kissing him long enough to remove the darn thing. Before she could offer the suggestion, his thumb skimmed across her nipple, sending her senses reeling.
About the time she thought she was going to melt into a puddle on the floor, he broke the kiss and said, “Let’s take this to the bedroom. I’m not sure how many people are awake at this hour, but with the blinds open and the lights on, we’re probably giving them one hell of a show.”
