She’d never heard him sound so despondent before. “Baby, stop. You’re brilliant, but you’ve only been at this a couple of years.”
“Maybe I should forget the whole thing. Go back to doing what I do best.”
“Stop.” How could he even say that, as if he hadn’t been in enough trouble in the past? He’d told her about his three-year stint and how it had broken his mother’s heart. How could he even think about going back to a life of crime after all he’d put her through? “What can I do? How can I make you feel better?”
She slid a hand up his thigh. This was as much for him as for her. She was horny tonight, which she hadn’t been in a long time. She didn’t want to think about why, that it might have something to do with a certain Argentinean whose piercing brown eyes she hadn’t been able to forget.
Pedro covered her hand with his and stared straight ahead. “Not tonight. I’m not in the mood.”
She withdrew from him. They hadn’t had sex in a while. Like week-old bread, their relationship had gone stale.
“I better get out of here.” Pedro unfolded his tall, wiry body from the booth. “I’m going to hang with the fellas tonight.”
“All right.” She’d wanted him to come home with her, but managed to keep the disappointment out of her voice. “I’ll see you later.”
Silently, he watched her and then leaned down to kiss her forehead. “I’m in a mood, ma belle. I need to be alone tonight.” Whenever he was apologetic, he used French endearments. When angry, he used Spanish ones.
“I understand.” She didn’t. She used to be able to cheer him up, and they used to be unable to resist making love, even after long hours at work where both had been on their feet for most of the day. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He nodded and walked toward the exit between the mostly empty tables and few diners that remained.
Sonia rested her chin in her hand. Unable to banish the face of Esteban Galiano from her mind, she indulged in the memory of him. His image was practically burned into her retinas. Why couldn’t she stop thinking about him?
Because he’d had a staffing agency contact her with a phony job offer. The man was a pig, and a persistent one. Fortunately, she had plenty of experience resisting the overtures of persistent pigs.
Sighing, she stood, picked up her purse from the seat, and walked briskly out of the restaurant.
Chapter 4
There she is.
Seated in the back of the Maybach, Esteban watched as Sonia exited Azul Restaurant in an outfit that fit so perfectly that he damn near salivated at the sight of her. Her full breasts gently bounced as she hurried down the cement steps. The mustard-colored dress stood out in the night, hugging her full hips and ending in a swish of fabric that swirled around her knees.
“I’ll be back,” he said to his driver, Abel.
He exited the vehicle into the chaotic party atmosphere that was Ocean Drive at night. His vehicle blended in with the others cruising by or parked in premium spaces in front of the restaurants. He barely saw the orange Lamborghini and ignored the three young men in a Porsche convertible, bouncing their heads and rapping at the top of their lungs to music blasting on the radio.
He only had eyes for her, keeping track of her between the hordes of people milling about. A short distance from the restaurant, she stopped and removed the gold and red heels on her feet, dropping them into the oversized leather bag on her shoulder, and replaced them with a pair of burgundy ballet flats before taking off again.
The minute she saw him, she halted, eyebrows drawing down over her eyes. Her face registered recognition, then confusion, then wariness. Slowly, she approached and stopped directly in front of him, and he saw it as a good sign that she didn’t walk on by.
“Good evening,” he said.
“You know, some people would call this stalking.”
“But you’re not some people, and you know better.”
“Do I, Mr. Galiano?” she asked coolly.
“You remember my name.”
“How could I forget? You’re one of the most important figures in the restaurant industry today.”
He smiled. “I’m flattered.”
“Those were my friend’s words, not mine.”
He took the veiled insult in stride. “Too bad. I would like to become important to you, too.”
“I’m well aware, but as I told you, I’m not interested. If you came to change my mind, you’ve wasted your time, like you wasted your time having your friend call me with a ‘job’ offer.” Her eyes flashed angrily at him.
“I never waste my time. Every effort brings me closer to the ultimate goal.”
Sonia raised an eyebrow. Her delicious-looking body drew him in, but so did her eyes. They were almond-shaped and dark chocolate, lifted slightly in the corner, and fringed by long black lashes that gave them a dramatic, sultry look.
“And what exactly is your ultimate goal?”
“You must be tired after a long day on your feet. Perhaps we could go somewhere and sit and talk.”
She looked away from him and shook her head, laughing softly. “I would never have guessed, but you’re hard of hearing.”
“Excuse me?”
“I thought I made it clear that I’m not interested in dinner, drinks, or any other ideas you have.”
“Oh, you think this is an invitation for a date,” he said.
Her brow furrowed. “Isn’t it?”
“As you said, you made it clear you’re not interested. My fragile ego can only take so much bruising.”
Esteban waited as she studied him with skepticism in her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitched a little.
As they stood in the middle of the sidewalk, pedestrians were forced to veer around them. He didn’t move, and neither did she. Despite the animosity, he sensed that his attraction to her was not one-sided. He hadn’t been mistaken when he saw her at Arturo’s party. At his friend’s party, there had been definite interest in her eyes, but his approach had turned her off. He would have to put in more time with this woman, but he didn’t mind. He suspected she would be worth the extra effort.
Sonia bit the corner of her mouth, sinking her teeth into the plump lower lip he so desperately wanted to sink his own teeth into. “What do you want to talk about?”
“I have a business proposition for you. One that I think you’d be interested in.”
“I doubt it.”
“At least hear me out.”
She took a deep breath, and her breasts lifted and lowered, distracting him for a moment with their luscious fullness.
“Listen, I’m not trying to be mean, ugly, or bitchy, but I’m really not interested. As you pointed out, I’ve had a long day and all I want to do is get home and put my feet up.”
“How far away do you live?”
She stared at him, mouth firmly closed.
“I only ask because it’s obvious you’re walking, or you wouldn’t have changed shoes. If you’re walking to a location nearby, I’ll walk with you.”
She tugged her purse closer to her body and crossed an arm over her belly, clearly reluctant to divulge any personal information. “Over on Washington Avenue,” she said finally.
“Do you mind if I walk with you?”
She shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
Sonia took off, and Esteban fell into step beside her.
Casting a sidelong glance at him from beneath her lashes, she said, “I take it you’re not used to hearing no.”
“It’s not a word I’m accustomed to hearing,” Esteban confirmed.
“I figured.” She laughed and brushed the hair from her brow. He preferred short hair on a woman. It didn’t get in the way, and women with short hair were often uninhibited because they were free from the constraints of longer hair. The short haircut showed off the slope of her neck and exposed her profile to his hungry gaze.
“What is this great opportunity you want to discuss?” she asked.
“Right to bus
iness, I see. I like that.” They briefly separated, as a couple—obviously tourists by the way they took photos of the animated nightlife on the street—walked between them. “I learned from Gene that you offer a service where you do private parties. Whenever I’m in the States, I entertain in my home from time to time and would like to hire your services as a wine consultant for those events. You impressed me the other day with your knowledge, and everyone at the party seemed pleased with your suggestions.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Don’t you have sommeliers on staff at your own restaurant?”
“I do, but they stay very busy, and I prefer to keep that aspect of my business separate from the business I conduct in my home.”
“There are a lot of sommeliers available in the city,” she pointed out.
“Yes, but I want you.”
Her gaze flitted to him before returning to the street. They turned a corner to a side street, and the difference was immediate. Much quieter and almost deserted, with only a few people trudging along ahead of them.
“I’m not interested,” Sonia said flatly.
“You haven’t heard the details yet. At least let me tell you more about the opportunity before you turn me down.”
She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and swung around to face him. “Okay, tell me the details. I’m listening.”
“Here? In the middle of the street?” Esteban asked, as if she’d asked him to do something unbelievably ridiculous.
“Why not?”
“That’s not the way that I conduct business. We should sit down and talk privately, and I’ll lay out the plans, what I have to offer, and then we can negotiate from there.”
She averted her eyes. With a wrinkled brow, she asked, “Is this some kind of ruse, for you to find a roundabout way to convince me to go out with you?”
He chuckled. “Have I said anything that would suggest my idea is less than professional?”
Sonia studied him, and he waited.
“Well, have I?” he prompted.
“No, you haven’t,” she admitted.
“You’re too suspicious. I simply would like to tell you more about my proposal, if you’re interested. Unless you don’t need the job.” He made as if to turn away.
“No, it’s not that,” Sonia said hastily. “I…”
“You applied for a job at Patagonia, did you not?”
She nodded. “I did.”
“Well, I don’t need you at Patagonia, but I could use your services in my home.”
“How much did you say this position paid?”
“I prefer not to talk specifics right now. Blame my culture, but we South Americans prefer to sit down and break bread with our future business partners. Get to know each other. If all goes well, we will be working together quite often, and we should be able to get along, don’t you agree?” He smiled.
“I suppose so,” Sonia said slowly and cautiously.
“Good. Which means we should make time to discuss the specifics. Are you free any evening in the coming days?”
“Not until Saturday,” she replied, and started walking again.
“Then why don’t we plan for dinner on Saturday evening at my restaurant?” He handed her a card with his name and the restaurant details. “The number on the back is my private cell number.”
She flipped over the card, stared at the number, and then tucked it into her purse. “Okay.”
He heard the hesitation in her voice. “I promise I’ll make it worth your time. I can be very generous.”
“What time would you like to meet?”
“I’ll pick you up at seven?”
“I’d rather you didn’t. I’ll meet you there.”
He shrugged. “Very well. I hope you don’t cancel on me.”
“I won’t.”
“Seven, at La Cocina Patagonia. I look forward to seeing you again.”
“We’ll see.”
She turned onto Washington and walked to a three-story apartment building, the sway of her hips a tantalizing motion beneath the dress. That motion would look especially seductive when she was naked and walking across the floor of his bedroom.
She went through the wrought iron gate and under the cluster of trees, looking back once she’d reached the outer door. She didn’t wave or smile, simply stared at him for a brief moment before disappearing into the building.
That was easier than he’d expected.
With a private smile, Esteban started the short trek back to the main street and his waiting vehicle.
Chapter 5
“How do I look?”
Sonia smoothed the sides of her pixie cut and finished by teasing the top into a low lift with a rattail comb. Wrinkling her nose, she stood back and assessed her appearance. The sleeves of the lavender blouson top draped to her elbows in a loose fit, but the black slacks fit snug on her round hips.
“You look fabulous.” Jackie stood in the doorway of the bathroom, sipping from a mug of coffee. “I wish I had your bum,” she said forlornly. “You could set a drink on that thing.”
Every now and again Jackie complained about her body and lamented that she wanted a rounder figure, but Sonia never believed her. At five ten and a size two, her friend turned heads wherever she went and loved the attention.
“Stop exaggerating, it’s not that big.” Sonia smoothed a hand over her hips, applied a light coat of lipstick, and popped her lips to evenly distribute the color. “Are you sure I look okay?”
The meeting with Esteban wasn’t a date. She was going to discuss business, but Patagonia was a nice restaurant, and she wanted to look her best without looking like she’d tried too hard. She ignored the little voice inside her head that suggested she wanted to look her best for him, which was ridiculous. She was involved with Pedro, information she debated keeping from Esteban for now.
“What are you worried about?” Jackie sipped her coffee, her gaze trailing down Sonia’s body. “Esteban Galiano will probably fire his wine director and hire you when he sees you in those trousers.”
Sonia laughed and turned to take a look at the back of her outfit. Her butt did look amazing. Sighing, she said, “I have to get out of here. Wish me luck.”
She breezed out the door into her bedroom and slipped on a pair of low-heeled sling-backs with a glittery design. The peep-toe front showed off her freshly painted toes. Her sparsely furnished bedroom contained a bed, an old recliner, and a heavy old dresser with a mirror above it. The three paintings grouped above her bed had been discount finds at Walmart.
“Good luck!” Jackie plopped onto the recliner in the corner of the room and flipped on the television.
“Are you spending the night?” Sonia asked.
“I’ll be gone before you get back.”
Sonia shook her head. “How about you stay here and I’ll live in your house?”
“You’ll be just as bored as I am living all alone in that big old house. Trust me.”
“I’m willing to make the sacrifice.” Sonia picked up her purse and rushed through the door. “See you later.”
“Tah-tah,” Jackie called.
Sonia took a cab, and the driver delivered her to the front of Esteban’s restaurant at the far end of Ocean Drive, away from the usual hustle and bustle of nighttime activity. Before tonight, she’d done her research and learned that he’d purchased the entire building seven years ago, remodeling the hotel and converting the restaurant into a fine-dining establishment. It offered plenty of outdoor seating and private dining rooms that accommodated guests with a medium to high-end budget.
Working for a man like him could mean more doors opened up for her, but Sonia knew that wasn’t why her heart fluttered nervously as she walked quickly up the steps. She still hadn’t been able to reconcile her strong attraction to Esteban.
She walked through the hotel lobby to the restaurant’s packed dining room. Dark wood paneling made the restaurant appear small and intimate, but she knew from the online description that it e
xtended back for thousands of square feet. Recessed lights cast a warm halo over the diners, seated at tables and in cozy booths that could be enclosed by curtains with delicate gold beading.
The quiet elegance of the establishment caused Sonia to introduce herself in a soft voice to the maître d’, an older Hispanic male in a dark suit and bold gold tie. She told him she had a meeting with Esteban.
“Ah yes, we’ve been expecting you, Miss Kennedy. I’m Armando.” Signaling with one hand, he caught the attention of one of the waiters, who hurried over. “Cecil will escort you to the private dining room upstairs.”
“Please follow me,” the young man said, and ushered her through a door that led to a flight of stairs.
They entered a room situated directly in front of a large window, with a view of the Atlantic Ocean and sparkling lights in the distance.
“Mr. Galiano will be with you shortly,” the waiter said, before leaving her alone and closing the door.
Sonia stood in front of the window, and before long she heard movement behind her. She hadn’t even heard the door open, but there was Esteban, looking spectacular in a coal-black jacket, white shirt, and black slacks. His dark eyes remained on her as he approached.
“I’m so glad you could make it. I’d hoped you wouldn’t cancel on me.”
Tonight, dark hair sprinkled on his chin and jaw line gave him a more masculine appeal. She’d always been attracted to men with beards—not the lumberjack kind that was popular nowadays, but the short, barely there type, as if the man wearing it didn’t have time to shave for a few days.
Her gaze drifted swiftly over his attire. Esteban was tall, easily six two, possibly six three. Though she couldn’t tell for sure, he appeared to have a fit body under the clothes, and his presence dominated the dimly lit room.
The suit fit perfectly to his frame, but she wouldn’t expect anything less than tailored clothing from a man of his stature. The red and blue diagonally striped tie was clipped to his shirt via a gold tie clip with a single diamond stud. Damn, this man knew how to dress and wear a suit, but she imagined he’d look just as dashing dressed casually. Just as he was mouthwateringly attractive clean-shaven or bearded.
More Than a Mistress (Latin Men Book 5) Page 3