Manhattan Holiday

by Linda Engman

  “A monk?” he growled, pulling away from her to stand tall and straight, his hands on his lean hips. “What exactly do you think we do when we go surfing together? Cruise the beach for chicks?”

  By the volcanic tone in his voice, she guessed he was not pleased. “What you do on vacation is your business, Mr. Vasquez. I’m only suggesting that you shouldn’t change your plans because of our business arrangement.”

  With each word, his expression darkened. “Will you stop calling our marriage a business arrangement and stop calling me Mr. Vasquez.”

  “Isn’t that what our marriage is? Isn’t that what you had intended with Justine? An arrangement where you both would be free to do whatever you planned with no questions asked. Just done discreetly? Why should it be any different with me?”

  He looked decisively uncomfortable. “Uh, yeah, Justine and I agreed to that, but this is totally different. The situation is different. I told you that the other night.”

  “How?” she challenged, placing her hands on her hips.

  “Trust me, this is different. You’re different from her. There are other things to be considered and other people,” he declared, his voice strained and intense.

  “Why? Please explain.”

  She had him where she wanted him. And he didn’t look happy in the least.

  “Ah…hell…because my marriage to Justine was nothing more than paperwork. Our marriage, on the other hand, involved my family, friends, a band, and a million candles. With Justine…I don’t know…she was supposed to go to Italy for the duration of our arrangement until the divorce. No one was supposed to know besides Henry, and Alex, my assistant. You happen to work and live here in New York. Besides, the tabloids would have a field day if the information ever got out that we had spent the first few days of married life apart. I don’t need any bad publicity for my company right now, and I’d have a hard time explaining it to Rafael. He definitely would want to know why I’m spending my honeymoon with him and the guys instead of with you,” he stated, a dark, brooding expression covering the hard planes of his handsome face.

  April tilted her head and pursed her lips at him, listening to his explanation. “Do you honestly believe people are so fascinated with your life they would care what you’re doing right now?”

  “I wouldn’t doubt there are already photos of our wedding in the papers. That’s something I’m sorry you’re being dragged into. But it’s unavoidable. It’s part of my life and something you’ll have to deal with during our marriage.”

  “This contract deal between us is starting to feel like a runaway train. Actually, more like a train wreck,” she moaned, feeling overwhelmed by everything that came along with Roman Vasquez.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, looking sincerely remorseful for her discomfort. “I wish now I hadn’t got you involved but you are, and in the long run a lot of good will come from it.”

  She saw his face soften with sincerity. Her own misgivings dissolved with that one look. “I know—trust you. Right?”

  He walked over and grabbed her coat from the back of the chair where she’d tossed it earlier in the morning and handed it to her along with her boots. He eyed her heeled fashion footwear with trepidation. “Guess those will have to do. I need to show you something. C’mon, let’s go for a walk.” He grabbed his own jacket and headed to the door, not waiting for an answer.

  Walk? In a snowstorm? Sure, it’s romantic…but so is staying in next to the fire with a glass of champagne. Surprised at his impromptu request, she weighed her options: stay inside where it was nice and cozy or brave the blizzard. Rolling her eyes, she knew with Roman Vasquez, there were no options. She pulled on her coat and boots with fabricated enthusiasm and caught up with him as he held the door for her, an alluring sexy-hot grin on his face.

  Being the typical female, she’d follow him for that alone.

  ****

  He shrugged into his heavy-duty sheepskin coat, along with his Sorel’s, and watched as she eyed him cautiously before breezing past him and out the door. He caught up with her in three long strides, and together they rode the elevator in a stalemated silence.

  Outside she abstained from female vanity and accepted his black knit hat, pulling it over her glossy golden tresses. He grinned secretly, thinking she looked damn cute. She also looked gorgeous and stunning, and in his book, she was definitely a hat person.

  The wind and storm had subsided, with only occasional gusts of flittering snowflakes traveling about, highlighted by the street lamps as they walked in tandem. She followed in his footsteps while he blazed a trail through the knee-deep snow covering the city’s sidewalks. At the first intersection, he paused and glanced back to make sure she was still keeping up with him.

  “Doing okay?”

  “Is there a point to this, or did you just feel the need to torture me with physical exercise at nine o’clock at night during a blizzard on your birthday?”

  Laughing, he grabbed her hand and pulled her over the snow bank and into the street. “Last night it was palm trees, ocean breezes, moonlight—thought I’d go for something different tonight. Don’t wanna bore you.”

  She adjusted the hat on her head to keep it from covering her eyes and shot him a dirty look. “Yeah, like that would ever happen,” she countered, keeping up with him as they trekked across a deserted intersection of SoHo. “Actually, after the last few days—boring sounds kind of good right now.”

  He leaned down and couldn’t help but bestow a quick kiss on her cold lips before traipsing down yet another block, keeping her gloved hand firmly in his. He loved how it fit so perfectly within his grip. “We’re almost there,” he threw over his shoulder, knowing their destination would explain everything, more than words ever could.

  Rounding the next snow-laden block, they hiked up and over another plowed snow bank and then stopped in their tracks as he halted their progress. Up ahead, a brick building was awash with not only lights but activity. The jarring sensory overload was stunning to the senses after the seemingly abandoned city blocks they’d walked through.

  “St. Vincent’s…” she whispered in a hushed tone, her icy breath dissipating into the frigid night air still sprinkled with errant snowflakes.

  “C’mon.” He led them down the block and around yet another corner, where an ambulance followed by a police car crossed in front of them. He stopped to gesture upward with a gloved hand. “Up there. That’s the children’s ward.”

  “Roman…” was all she said, obviously too overcome to say much more.

  He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back into his chest, shielding her from the wind as they took in the humble sight of construction-paper Christmas trees, ornaments, and big red Santas, along with hand-cut glittery stars pasted to the windows of the third floor children’s unit.

  “Uh, yeah…so the guys and I got pretty attached to the kids this past year. I would have never guessed I could. I’ve never been much of a person for having little ones around, but a guy couldn’t help but cave with those kids melting your heart every day. Anyhow, the building here behind us was a project my company designed and completed this past year. Each day the kids would hang out by the windows up there waving to us from across the way, writing messages or pictures on sheets of construction paper, asking questions, or just saying hi some days. They really got a kick out of keeping us entertained for months on end. And the guys were equally amused. So a few of the men and I went over one day and brought the kids construction hats, a bunch of games and some DVDs, stuff like that.”

  He paused, pushing back the lump of emotion starting to form in his throat. “Those kids are tough as nails and have guts…you know? And they keep smiling through it all.” He paused again, fighting down the rush of building sentiment threatening to overtake him. “Anyhow, that’s when I noticed how outdated the children’s unit was here at St. Vincent’s. At the same time, I realized that asinine clause in my grandfather’s will was coming due. I could
n’t think of anything more worthy than donating the money to help the children over there on the third floor. Make their stay in the hospital a little more fun, or at least a little more pleasant. So I decided to bite the bullet and get hitched and secure the money for the hospital…and then you walked into my apartment.”

  She turned in his arms and looked into his eyes, her own brimming with unshed tears. “I’m sorry, Roman.”

  “For what?”

  “For being such a wimpy baby about this whole thing…for causing you so much trouble…for ruining your plans.”

  He pulled her into his embrace and grinned, loving the feel of her fitted securely against him. “Baby, you may have ruined my plans…but you did it in a good way.”

  She laughed weepily against his jacket, her face buried from his view. “That’s good—right?”

  “Perfect in my book.”

  She nodded against his chest. “I get it now. Why you did what you did. Why this is so important.”

  “But it’s not about me. It’s about those kids.”

  “You’re right. It’s easy to get lost in all the small details of our own lives and forget about the big picture some times. Being here tonight, with you, I can see how this is the really big picture.”

  “My thoughts exactly, sweetheart.”

  She pulled back and looked up to him. “Thank you for bringing me here, Roman.”

  He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and tucked her up against him. Together they retraced their path back through the glittering snowfall to his apartment, no words necessary, each knowing what the other was feeling in the moment, until they got to the loft’s entry hall.

  “I still think you should go to Hawaii.”

  He kicked off his boots, pulled off his jacket, and groaned at her stubborn statement, running a quick hand through his hair in frustration. “We’re back to that again?” He walked into the kitchen intent on grabbing another beer.

  She shed her coat and boots and followed him, apparently resistant to his protests. “Roman, truly, there’s nothing holding you here, not really.”

  He twisted the top off his beer and tossed it onto the counter, taking a long drink before answering. “I don’t wanna talk about this.”

  “I don’t get it.”

  “Maybe I wanna stay,” he challenged angrily, plunking his beer down and moving to corner her once again against the counter.

  “Roman…don’t,” she admonished.

  The silky tone of her soft voice vibrated through him, making him weak in the knees as he continued to surround her. “Don’t what?” he groaned harshly, leaning down to brush his lips against the softness of her delicate jawbone.

  She pushed against his chest and forced him back a few inches. “Don’t look at me like that,” she breathed, sounding reluctant even though he knew she was willing in all the right ways.

  “I can’t help it,” he breathed, his voice deep and gruff. “I want us to be together…I have for a long time. I think you want the same thing but are too damn stubborn to admit it.” He took a deep, unsteady breath and framed her face with his hands, tilting her chin up with the pads of his thumbs until she was looking directly into his eyes. “It’s your call.”

  The last thing he expected was a gush of hot tears from her eyes as she let out a huge sob from the recesses of her chest. Shocked at her sudden outburst, he dropped his hold on her and took a cautious step back, and for the first time in his life felt completely helpless. “April…ah…baby, why are you crying?”

  She brushed her damp cheeks with the back of her hands and shook her head. “I…I don’t…don’t know—”

  Utter confusion filled him while he watched tears flow down her satiny flushed cheeks; she looked absolutely lost and forlorn. He’d never had a woman burst into tears at the prospect of having sex with him. Totally baffled, he considered his next move. “Uh…do you want to talk about it?”

  No!” she blurted out while he continued to gaze down at her, his jaw flexing with tension. She brushed past him and went to the windows.

  He followed and moved up behind her. “April…I’m sorry.” He damned himself to hell for hurting her and hated the way she flinched at his apology. The minute he spoke the words, he knew he’d said the wrong thing. He was confused as all hell, and no matter what he said, it wasn’t going to make a damn difference at this point. F’in!

  “No…no, you’re not sorry,” she hiccupped.

  “You’re right. I’m not sorry. I wanna have sex with you. I want us to be together. I’m only sorry if that makes you—uncomfortable,” he put it roughly, not sure what to say anymore. Her misery cut through him. Without a doubt, her happiness meant something to him.

  She turned to face him and kept her gaze glued on his chest as if embarrassed. “You don’t make me feel uncomfortable,” she whispered finally.

  He grinned uneasily with relief. “That’s good, right?” Humor. It works every time.

  Lucky for him, she laughed with hiccupy reluctance and tentatively placed her hands on his stomach while he took the opportunity to cautiously inch her closer to him. “I’m sorry for the meltdown,” she explained. “I’ve been all over the place with my emotions this weekend…you and me…I don’t know.”

  “I know,” he soothed, his hands roaming over her back. “This weekend has been a lot to take in. I also know it could be good between us, if you let it. I’m willing to give it a try.”

  “You have to know this isn’t a good idea. Actually, it’s a really bad idea.”

  He leaned down to nuzzle her silky neck with his nose, his warm breath caressing her skin. “Total buzz kill.”

  She laughed through a few remaining tears and finally relaxed against his hard length, molding her body intimately with his. A soft moan escaped her lips as he trailed a line of hot, wet kisses down her neck to her delicate collarbone.

  “Buzz kill?” she questioned dreamily, moving her head to one side to grant him full access. “More like reality check.”

  He ran his hands up under her sweater, marveling at the fragile line of her ribcage and how smooth and warm her skin was. He knew just where to touch her so she would fall to the temptations he offered. He’d leave her unable to think about anything but how good it was to have his hands all over her. It was dirty pool, but a guy had to do what a guy had to do. Even if it meant using underhanded methods to get what he wanted. “Reality is tomorrow.”

  “I guess….maybe.” She wavered on her decision.

  He nipped at her earlobe and ran his hands over her softly rounded hips. “Baby, you know you want to,” he tempted with a low growl. “So what are we waiting for?”

  “Mmm…you’re right. Reality can wait until tomorrow.” She finally acquiesced, snuggling in closer to him to purr a sexy, throaty sigh; easily his undoing.

  “Really?” He’d been expecting more resistance, so her answer caught him unaware.

  Thrown off center, he quickly refocused and covered by hauling her up against him, before she could rethink the situation or back out. Barely restrained, he captured her soft sexy mouth with his, giving her his best I-want-you-like-crazy kind of kiss. He was determined to show her exactly how much he really wanted her.

  Getting into it, she followed his lead and took a little leap upward to wrap her legs around his torso, her arms looped securely around his neck while she kissed him back with everything she had. Each naughty swipe of her tongue, each throaty moan turned him on even more.

  Not wasting anytime, he carried her down the hallway to his bedroom, making out with her the whole way. His first instinct had been do it right there in the living room, but finesse won out. He’d waited six long months, and he was going to do it right.

  Hastily he reached for the light switch. The bedside lamps bathed the room in a soft glow, while she took the opportunity to trail a scintillating, teasing path of love nips up his neck. He finally had her all over him, and the last thing he wanted was to release her, but he knew if getting naked was
going to happen he had to put her down.

  The second her bare feet hit the carpeted floor, he whipped off his pullover in one swift fluid movement as she did the same with her sweater, only with a naughty smile added in. No doubt to make him sweat a little more. Before he had the chance, she was greedily working on the fly of his jeans while he took the opportunity to hurriedly unhook her lacey black bra.

  His hands brushed the velvety skin of her back as he skimmed the piece of delicate lingerie from her. The hot skin-to-skin contact rocked a wave of shivers through him, which in turn ignited a reel of illicit images that flashed through his mind at top speed.

  She smiled secretly to him before licking a sizzling path up his chest, easing his hard-on out of his jeans and briefs the whole time.

  He groaned deep from his gut and knew life couldn’t get any better.

  Oh, hell yeah…she knows exactly what I want for my birthday.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Hard rock music poured out from hidden speakers as numerous showerheads released a deluge of steaming water over the naked pair. The drumming rhythm of the water muffled the passionate beat of the music, but not the throaty moans or purring sighs of satisfaction.

  April ran her hands over Roman’s naked chest and almost died from the way he felt under her touch, along with the way he was currently skimming his own hands over her naked derriere while taking teasing nips at her neck. Languidly, she rolled her head to the side and moaned, releasing a smile of satisfaction before he backed her up against the shower wall. Once there, he trailed his firm lips over her fragile collarbone and maneuvered his hands to her sensitive full breasts, caressing them as only he knew how. Instantly the peaks of her nipples hardened into two rosy nubs, revealing that it didn’t take much to turn her on.

  She ran her hands through his glossy hair, marveling at the inky blackness of it and its silky texture between her fingers. Every square hunky inch of him made her wilt with desire. The guy was amazing to look at, and up-close and personal as she was now, he was downright awesome. He was definitely every woman’s one-night fantasy guy. The fact he knew just how to touch her, what to whisper into her ear, and how to make her come time and again, also factored into her giving him that ultimate title.