He moved back to Canada to take care of his ailing father, who passed away after a few years and left him with a small inheritance. With the earnings he’d saved from his days in professional baseball, Alfred took a gamble on himself and opened the first Fit Body Gyms location.
With sustained growth, the company expanded to the place it occupied today as the most successful fitness club in Canada.
“How is Tata? Did she get over that cold?” Carmen asked.
“Yes, much better now. You have to go see her soon. She misses you.”
“I will.”
“She won’t be able to do much traveling anytime soon—not with her handling more of the business.” Alfred spoke with pride in his voice, blatantly mirrored on his face.
Her father had always wanted her to hold a position in the company, and now he was getting his wish. At the same time, Carmen had doubts again about remaining—because of Carlos.
The few days she spent with him had been her happiest in a long time, and she was ready to duplicate that experience, especially after their hot FaceTime session two days ago. Time to plant the seed.
“Actually, I think it would be a good idea for me to visit Atlanta again in the next couple of weeks—to make sure the new locations are running smoothly since the opening.”
Her father waved off the idea and went to the refrigerator. “That’s nothing for you to worry about. We can check in with the general managers from here.”
“I want to. I feel like those stores are my responsibility, and I take that very seriously.” When had she become the kind of person who lied so authentically? The untruth sounded so convincing, she almost believed it herself.
“I don’t think it’s necessary, but if you want to…” Her father watched her over the open door of the refrigerator.
“I do. Going back to check up on the stores would make me feel better.”
“I think it’s a good idea. Don’t you think it’s a good idea, papi?” Her mother turned briefly from the stove and smiled reassuringly at Carmen.
She always supported anything her children did and knew how anxious Carmen had been, wanting to make sure that she did a good job for the openings.
Alfred smiled easily. “It’s a great idea. You should definitely go back and put your mind at ease. I’m glad you’re so concerned about the welfare of the company—the business you and your brother and sister will inherit.”
Pride filled his voice, and guilt swiped her conscience.
“I haven’t told you, but I’m very proud of the work you’ve been doing in operations,” Alfred continued.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
“By the way, do you have an escort for the upcoming ball? The time will be here before you know it.”
“I’ve been too busy to date, so I’ll go alone.”
Fit Body Gyms co-sponsored a ball that benefited sports for underprivileged children—from volleyball to baseball—the event shined a spotlight on the importance of team sports in childhood development. Since the creation of the event five years ago, Fit Body Gyms and other sponsors had raised millions that they donated to sports teams around the country to aid in travel, buying uniforms, or whatever the kids needed.
This was the first year she’d be attending, and as a member of the management team to boot. In the past, she’d refused to go as an act of rebellion against her father, but in her new role in operations, she embraced this as one of her duties. Besides, it was for a good cause.
Alfred frowned. “That’s too bad. You know—”
“Well, I’m going to clean up a bit and then come back to help you, Mommy.”
Graciela sent a sharp look at her husband, and Alfred shrugged, as if he couldn’t help himself. Someway, somehow, he always had to interfere in her love life.
“Thank you, honey,” Graciela said.
Carmen hurried from the kitchen. She hated lying to her parents, but it was a little white lie. She would definitely check on the business in Atlanta, and while there, she’d kill two birds with one stone and spend time with Carlos, too.
11
Carmen stood on tiptoe in her tennis shoes, searching for Carlos’s car among the many that dropped off and picked up passengers at the airport sidewalk.
He had said he was less than two minutes away, but she still didn’t see him. Almost a month had passed since she’d touched him, and she was anxious and impatient to do so again. She was about to call him one more time but saw him walking toward her with his easy-going stride.
His curly hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and he wore a tie-dye vintage T-shirt, jeans, and the same group of bracelets and rings she saw the last time she was in Georgia.
Carmen immediately released her luggage and ran toward him. His eyes brightened into a smile as she jumped into his open arms. Laughing, he spun twice in a circle before setting her on her feet and then gave her a thorough kiss that made her body wilt against him and her toes curl into the soles of her shoes.
“Mmm,” she said when their lips parted.
“Finally,” Carlos murmured, looking down at her with slitted eyes.
“It’s been forever.” Carmen laced her arms around his neck, certain the love filling her heart must be evident in her eyes.
He looked over her shoulder at the luggage. “You abandoned your bag.”
“I don’t care. Everything in it is replaceable.”
He laughed and rubbed a hand up and down her back. “Come on, let’s get out of here before they tow me. I couldn’t get close to the curb, but I’m right over there.”
Reluctantly, Carmen released him, and Carlos took the handle of the suitcase and led the way to a red, older model Jeep Wrangler with a soft top.
“It looks brand new,” Carmen remarked, standing back to get a good look. The last time she saw the vehicle, it had been clean but looked much more used.
Carlos placed her bag in the back and shut the door. “New paint job.”
“When?”
He held open the passenger door. “Last week. Get in.”
He’d obviously had the interior done as well. The seats and rugs were spotless and had that newly washed smell.
Carmen climbed in. “You didn’t have to do any of this.”
“I wanted to. I hated that you got into my car the last time, in the condition that it was in. That wasn’t good enough. You deserve nothing but the best.” He braced a hand on the seat and kissed her, the firm pressure of his mouth warming her insides. “I’m so glad you’re here,” he whispered.
“Me, too,” she whispered back, letting her fingers trail down his jaw.
The outdoor farmer’s market was crowded on Saturday, with patrons browsing stalls or patiently waiting in line to collect produce from a favorite vendor. Carmen and Carlos walked side by side, their arms brushing against each other every now and again.
They’d decide on a meatless Saturday menu, so the basket in Carlos’s right hand contained a bundle of kale and a large zucchini they’d add to the quinoa and mushrooms he already had at home.
Carmen sniffed a bar of homemade soap infused with rosehip and coconut oil. “Mmm, this smells good.” She lifted the bar to Carlos’s nose, and he took a deep breath.
“It does smell good. Not as good as you, though.”
He pressed a kiss to her neck, and she giggled, swerving away from his roaming hand.
“Cut it out.” She set the soap back on the stack.
He came up behind her and slipped a hand beneath her shirt, spreading his long fingers over her belly. “I think I made a mistake suggesting we stop here. I should have taken you home first.” His low, seductive voice in her ear made tiny shivers trickle down her neck.
“You need to behave. People are looking at us.”
“Are they?” Unperturbed, he kept his gaze on her and bit his bottom lip.
He looked so scrumptious when he did that, and she wanted to replace his teeth with hers. Later, she would, and she’d get a good suck on his lower lip while
she was at it.
“We’re here to get food because you didn’t plan ahead for my visit.” Carmen twirled out of the curve of his arm and strolled over to a large table overflowing with corn on one side and green beans on the other.
“I’m sorry. I was excited about your visit, but I also needed to get ready for the festival.”
In a couple of weeks, a big art festival arrived in Tennessee, one that he’d attended last year and from which he’d gotten sales and good exposure.
“There’s no need to apologize. How’s everything going?” They’d talked at length about his preparation for the event, so she knew how important it was to him.
“So far so good. My agent had some good news the other day. She got me in front on the main stage.”
Carmen’s mouth fell open. He’d hoped for the opportunity but wasn’t sure it would happen. “So you’re right there where everybody can see you?”
“They can’t miss me.”
“Oh my goodness, I’m so happy for you!” Carmen flung her arms around his neck and dragged him down for a lip-smacking kiss.
“Now everybody’s really looking at us,” he said.
“I don’t care. Congratulations, mi corazón.”
“Gracias, mi amor.”
“We have to celebrate. How about we stop at the wine store and get champagne? We should probably also get some chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert?”
“How did you manage to read my mind?” Carlos asked.
“Great minds think alike.” Carmen perused the table. “How about some green beans?”
“Sounds good to me. Maybe some garlic, too?”
“Perfect.” As he moved over to a small tub of garlic, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. She was so lucky to have him back in her life.
She started examining the green beans.
“Carmen, is that you?”
Carmen swung in the direction of the vaguely familiar voice and looked into the face of one of her father’s friends and former business associates. She almost didn’t recognize him. The older man was dressed down in jeans and a T-shirt, when in the past she’d only seen him in suits when he met with her father.
“Mr. Jones, how are you?”
“Great. Look at you. You’re all grown up. I wasn’t sure if that was you or not.”
“It’s me.”
“What are you doing in Atlanta?”
Carmen opened her mouth to speak and almost blurted out the truth. At the last minute, she caught herself and answered instead, “I’m here on business for my father, following up on the opening of two new gyms in the Atlanta area.”
Mr. Jones’s bushy gray eyebrows lifted in surprise. “I shouldn’t be surprised Fit Body Gyms has expanded this far south. Alfred had an aggressive plan to grab market share in the States. Good for him, and good for you, I take it? What’s your role in the company?”
“I’m officially the vice president of operations, but I’m learning the ropes in other departments—purchasing, marketing, etc. I’m learning all I can from my father and the other executives.”
“Learning on the job is the best way. Nothing beats it, and I’m sure you’re doing well.”
“Thank you.” She smiled easily, though her insides churned in distress. Mr. Jones hadn’t said a word, so she didn’t think Carlos was standing behind her. But she couldn’t be sure. If Mr. Jones said anything to her father about seeing her with someone fitting Carlos’s description, she’d have a serious problem.
“Tell your parents I said hello, and the next time I’m up north, I expect Alfred to buy me that drink he promised. Tell him that. He’ll know what I’m talking about.” Mr. Jones chuckled.
“I will.”
“Take care.” He walked away toward the exit.
Carmen breathed a sigh of relief and momentarily closed her eyes. He clearly hadn’t realized that she and Carlos were together because he hadn’t asked for an introduction, but now she had to face Carlos.
She turned slowly and froze in surprise when he wasn’t there. With a quick sweep of the area, she saw him down another aisle that contained small baskets filled with heirloom tomatoes.
She walked over, but when she stopped beside him, he didn’t look at her. He kept his eyes trained on the heirlooms. He picked one up, inspected it, and then put it back in the container.
“That was a friend of my father’s.”
“So I heard.” He looked at her then, his eyes probing, questioning.
“I was going to introduce you, I just—”
“Before or after you told him that you were here on business?”
So he’d heard that much.
“That’s partially true.”
He let out a dry laugh. “Don’t lie to me. You weren’t going to introduce us.”
“He knows my father. I couldn’t risk—”
“I know you can’t risk him finding out, so that’s why I walked away, as if we didn’t know each other.” His attention returned to the tomatoes.
Carmen stepped in close and stared up into his face, willing him to look at her and ease the guilt that burned her chest. She touched his forearm, but when he tensed, she dropped her hand.
“I didn’t know how to handle seeing him. I panicked.”
Her words brought a bitter smile to his lips as he glanced sideways at her. “Don’t worry. We’ve been here before, remember? How long did we date before you told your father about us? Three months? Four?”
She dropped her gaze. She’d known her father wouldn’t approve, so she’d kept their relationship a secret. He had never approved of anyone he thought didn’t match her financial status. She wasn’t proud of her decision, but she hadn’t wanted her father’s negativity to sully what she saw as something beautiful and special, which she’d wanted to protect and savor.
Carlos caught her chin and forced her to look at him. Blazing anger had replaced the playful light from before. “I get it, Carmen, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”
He stalked away, and she followed behind much more slowly.
They didn’t get the chocolate-covered strawberries or stop at the wine store to purchase the celebratory champagne. They completed the ride back to Inman Park primarily in silence, and when they entered the loft—also in silence—Carlos began prepping for dinner. He removed the vegetables from the tote bag and set them on the counter. Then he banged a pot onto the stove with such force, Carmen jumped.
“Can we talk about this?” she asked, as he moved around the kitchen.
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Obviously there is. You slammed the pot, and I don’t like the way you’re holding that knife.”
Carlos slammed the knife onto the cutting board and gripped the edge of the counter. Body taut as tension wire, he stared out the window.
“I love you.” He said the words almost as if he were reminding himself.
“But?” Carmen prompted softly.
His gaze slid to her, and there was still anger there, but not like before. “But nothing. I love you. That’s it. Nothing will change that.”
“I love you, too.”
His jaw hardened.
“I do,” she insisted, wanting—needing to erase all doubt. She reached for him, gliding a hand up the side of his neck and over his hair. “Let me show you.”
His nostrils flared as he placed a firm hand at the back of her neck and drew her hard against him. Backing her against the stainless steel refrigerator door, he seized her mouth. His free hand covered and squeezed her breast, sending shards of pleasure shooting across her skin.
With a soft moan, she tipped her head back and arched her spine, her whole body contracting with the enormity of her desire for him.
He used his other hand to tug down her shirt and fastened his mouth onto her painfully hard nipple.
Carmen retaliated by reaching between them and stroking his hard length through his jeans.
They should talk about the incident in the market inste
ad of using sex as a band-aid. They should perhaps establish a game plan in case she ran into someone else she knew while they were out together again.
But Carmen could barely think with Carlos’s tongue laving her nipple and his hands gripping both sides of her ass.
He lifted her from the floor and took her to the bed. He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it to the floor and then roughly removed her pants. He kissed her ear and kissed a path down the side of her neck to her collarbone.
“I’m going to spread your legs,” he whispered in a husky voice, “and eat you out until you’re crying and begging me to stop.”
Then he proceeded to remove her panties and do exactly as he promised.
12
“Carmen, it’s time.”
She rolled away to the edge of the bed and faced the window. “No.” Her voice sounded thick and filled with desolation.
Carlos dreaded this part as much as she did. The leaving, saying goodbye, not knowing when they’d see each other again. He placed a hand on her arm, and she curled into a tight ball.
“You can’t be late for your flight.” He kept his voice neutral even though letting her leave would surely gut him and he wouldn’t be able to recover for days.
When she’d left last month, he’d lain on the gray sofa, staring at an empty canvas propped against the wall, numb with misery. Talking to her on the phone helped, but barely. Video-calling helped, but barely. What they managed to do quite successfully was highlight the fact that they were apart, and though he could hear and see her, she was as distant as a dream.
He couldn’t hold her in his arms or wake up to her body curled against his. Her tearful goodbyes had only made him feel worse. He’d stayed in that semi-depressed state for almost a week, unable to work and barely able to eat, before he finally shook out of the slump.
Carlos pushed hair away from her cheek and kissed her scented skin. “I don’t want you to go either, but you have to. If you overstay without a good reason, your father might get suspicious.”
She’d picked the latest flight she could, one that would have her landing in Toronto at 12:29 a.m.
Never Again: a second chance romance (Quicksand Book 3) Page 7