He watched as she left the kitchen and walked toward the bedroom…the one they would be sharing.
CORTEZ TOOK VICTORIA TO a café that was located not far away from their villa for lunch. On the drive there, he told her the history of this part of Paris and how it was a favorite for vacationers because of the scenery. The last time she was here, she’d spent a weekend with other students harvesting grapes and had found the experience really interesting.
One of the things she’d loved most about Paris was its open cafés where people could sit outside. Although this was January, normally known for its rainy days and cold weather, today was an exception. It was bright and sunny and warm, so they decided to sit outside, taking in the view of the numerous vineyards.
She was surprised when Cortez led her to the two-seater sports car he’d rented. He claimed it would have room for any items they bought at the market, but she wasn’t so sure. But it did have a powerful engine. That was evident on the drive to the cafe.
“How’s your lunch?”
She glanced up from her plate to see him looking into her eyes. How long had he been watching her? More than once, his gaze had shifted from her eyes to her mouth. And when that happened, she could feel the heat of his gaze on her lips. Breaking eye contact with him, she glanced down at her plate again. “Everything was delicious. I love French food.”
“Me, too.”
She took a sip of her wine. “So, tell me. Did you ever come back to Paris after that time we met?” Victoria figured it would probably be best if she didn’t skate around that night she’d spent with him. They needed to talk about it if they were going to be able to put it to rest.
“No, but I had planned to come back the next year, to look for you.”
Victoria nearly choked on her wine.
“You okay?” he asked, concern in his features.
She cleared her throat. “Yes, I’m fine. Did you just say you were planning to return…to look for me?”
“Yes. The way you left that morning really bothered me. I even wondered if maybe I’d somehow hurt you. After all, it had been your first time.”
He took a sip of his drink and then added, “I was determined to find you, Victoria. The only reason I didn’t make it back was because I’d just taken a job with a law firm and hadn’t acquired enough time off to make the trip.”
She broke eye contact with him, considering his words. Surely, he’d known he hadn’t hurt her, especially when he had taken such good care of her afterwards. “You didn’t cause me any pain, Cortez. I assured you of that back then.”
“Yes, but you cried.”
Why did he have to remind her of that? He had asked her about that at the time. Now, it seemed, was a good time to explain things to him. He deserved that.
“The reason I cried was because you made my first time beautiful, Cortez. More beautiful than I had expected.” She thought about what Monica had said about her first time. “I’d heard so many stories about how awful it might be, how much it might hurt. But you made it special. You were kind, tender, and considerate.”
What she’d told him was the truth. The moment he’d realized she was a virgin, he had wanted to stop. She had been the one to encourage him to continue. He had been everything she’d just told him he was. He hadn’t rushed through it like Monica’s first lover had done. Nor had things been awkward, like Kennedy had said about her first time.
Sebrina had never shared any details of her first time with Wade, but Victoria had a feeling it had been pretty good. When Sebrina had been seventeen, she’d returned home from spending the summer with her father, proclaiming that the deed was done. She was in love. Then, a year later, right before Wade left for college, he had sent Bree a “Dear John” letter, breaking her heart.
All in all, Victoria couldn’t see the appeal. Why put herself in the position of either having a bad sexual experience, or having a good one that ended in heartbreak? Sex wasn’t worth it. At least, that’s what she’d thought…until she met Cortez.
“I’m glad I did that for you, Victoria.”
She met his gaze. “I’m glad you were my first, Cortez.” There was no need to tell him that he was also her last, as well. “I find it hard to believe you’re still single. Haven’t you ever been in a serious relationship? Not even in college?”
“There was one,” he admitted. “Dahlia and I met at Harvard. Like me, she had plans to become an attorney, so we continued on to law school together. Also like me, she had big plans for her life that didn’t include getting involved with anyone in the near future.”
“But the two of you did become serious?”
“Yes, but not the way you’re thinking. We were friends who decided to become friends with benefits.”
Victoria lifted a brow. “Friends with benefits?”
He nodded. “The arrangement worked for us, during college and most of law school.”
She nodded. “What happened?”
“She met someone…a guy in medical school in Atlanta. They became engaged and were married right after she graduated from law school.”
“And how did you feel about that?” Victoria asked. She’d heard of the friends with benefits arrangement, but had never known anyone who’d tried it.
“I was happy for her. I love her as a friend and nothing more. She felt the same about me.”
Victoria pondered that for a moment. “Do you ever hear from her?”
“I get a Christmas card from her and Rosco every year. They have three kids now and are a beautiful family.” He took her hand. “I know it might be hard to believe, but former lovers can become just friends.”
She nodded. “I know.”
He lifted a brow. “You do?”
“Yes. You know my cousin Rae’jean?”
He nodded. “She’s the heart surgeon, right?”
“Yes. Well, fifteen years ago, Rae’jean was engaged to marry Grady. For some reason, they called off the wedding, and in less than a year, they’d both married other people. But I know Rae’jean and Grady stay in touch. She’s even the godmother to Grady’s daughter.”
“Now, that’s deep. Much too deep for me.”
Victoria chuckled. “Me, too.” Deciding to change the subject, she asked, “How do you like working for Quinn?”
He stared at her for a long moment before replying. “Quinn likes to say that none of the attorneys in his firm work for him…we work with him. We like that. It makes you feel like a partner, although you aren’t.”
“Is that your plan? To make partner in his law firm one day?” she asked him.
“That’s the goal. His firm has a stellar reputation. But I’ve only been with him for two years. I understand the need to prove myself.”
She was surprised that he thought that. From what she’d heard and read in numerous news articles, Cortez was already making a name for himself in the legal community.
“There’s no doubt in my mind you’ll succeed.”
He smiled. “Thank you for the vote of confidence, Ms. Bennett.”
“You’re welcome, Mr. Masters.”
He glanced at his watch — a Rolex. She could tell he was a man who liked nice things. When she’d freshened up in the master bedroom, she’d seen his backpack laying across the chair. It was a Louis Vuitton X Supreme. She knew what those cost.
He glanced back at her. “Did you want to take a walk before leaving for the market.”
She chuckled. “Why? Do you think I ate so much that I need to walk it off?”
He grinned. “No. I was thinking that possibly I did.”
“You didn’t eat that much,” she said.
“It was more than I normally do, trust me.”
She wondered if that was how he stayed in shape, by keeping close tabs on what he ate. She was known to skip meals and then make up for it by splurging later. She figured the only reason she was a decent size was due to her metabolism and active lifestyle.
He got up and she stood, as well. “I’ll be back,” he said, l
eaving her to go inside to pay for their meal. He’d ignored her offer to pay for it on the drive over. She would need to bring that subject up with him again later.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
And then he took her hand and led her away from the café.
Deep in thought, Cortez walked along the road outside the café, Victoria’s hand in his. He tried not to think of how different things might have been if she hadn’t run out on him that day. They might have kept the relationship going. Maybe they’d even be married by now, with a bunch of kids. He liked the thought of that.
“You’re quiet.”
He could say the same about her. Although he hadn’t made any attempt at conversation, she hadn’t either. “I was just thinking.”
“About what?”
He was hoping she would ask. “About how different things might have been if I’d been up front with you and told you my name was Cortez Masters, instead of just Cort.”
She stopped walking. Turning to face him, she pulled her hand from his and looked into his eyes. Her expression was unreadable, and Cortez immediately missed touching her.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“What?”
“Dwelling on what might have been.”
A part of him wondered if she was right. But then, another part of him felt she was wrong. Dwelling on what might have been was what was driving him now. The mistakes of yesterday were the best teacher. Before she left Paris this time, she would know that he was in love with her.
Cobra had warned him about announcing his feelings so soon, but when it came to emotions, he couldn’t help it. He was a man of few words but a lot of action. He believed in making the most of the time he had. She obviously assumed they were here for the next two nights to burn up the sheets. And while that might be true, he intended to do something else, as well. He was going to push buttons she didn’t know she had, take her sensual hunger to levels she didn’t know existed, and make her crave his kisses so much, she’d beg for them. He knew what he had to accomplish in the time he had here. Letting her leave him in two days, without looking back, was not an option.
“I can’t help but dwell on what might have been, Victoria.”
“I’m surprised you even think about it.”
She would be more than a little surprised to discover just how much he thought about her, period. “I’ve thought about our time together a lot. Haven’t you?”
Victoria didn’t answer right away. Instead, he watched as she frowned, obviously turning over something in her mind. Although she hadn’t answered his question yet, he couldn’t help but ask another. “What are you thinking?”
She shrugged. “It’s not important, but…”
“But what?” At that moment, he saw something that looked like regret creep into her eyes.
“I want to believe everything happens for a reason, Cortez. After our time together in Paris, look what we accomplished with our lives. I finished school, graduating at the top of my class, and then I convinced my father and grandfather to turn their business over to me so I could take it to another level. I worked hard to accomplish everything that I have.”
He nodded. “And you don’t think the same thing could have happened had you known I was Quinn’s cousin?”
She seemed to be giving his words some serious thought. “I’m convinced the same thing could have happened, but with one vital difference, Cortez.”
“What’s that?”
“I would not have slept with you had I known who you were.”
Putting her hands in the pockets of her jeans, Victoria leaned against the kitchen counter as she watched Cortez take the things they’d purchased from the market out of the bag. He had let her pay for her purchases, but only after telling him she wanted to get rid of the euros she still had from her trip to London last year.
She had offered to help him put things away, but he’d refused her help, saying he preferred to do it so he would know where everything was.
He was quiet now. In fact, he hadn’t said much since she’d admitted that she wouldn’t have slept with him if she’d known who he was. Instead, he’d given her that look, the one that told her that he knew she was lying.
Would she have slept with him anyway? She wasn’t certain anymore. There was a good chance they might have hung out together for fun, but that’s as far as things would have gone. Right? His association to her family was too close for any sort an entanglement. Especially the one she’d had in mind.
That was one reason she’d been horrified when she’d seen him again at Alexia’s birthday party, when she’d discovered his identity. It had hit her hard, but then, it had seemed to hit him hard, as well.
She glanced back over at him, studying his hands. He’d taken hers in one of them when they’d left the café. Holding hands with a man wasn’t something she did, and typically it wasn’t comfortable for her. But he’d held her hand that day four years ago, and obviously felt comfortable doing so today. And by the time they’d left the market today, she realized she kind of liked it.
Yes, she had to admit to liking his touch. It had reinstated that restless throbbing of desire in her veins — something she hadn’t felt since the last time she’d been with him. Just being around Cortez had her pulse tripping like crazy.
He wasn’t the only one who needed to get this potent desire out of his system. His masculinity had overwhelmed her before, and more than anything, she wanted to revel in it again. That attraction from four years ago was stronger than ever.
“Do you have any idea what you’re going to prepare for dinner?”
His words pulled her out of her reverie. They had decided to split cooking duties, with her taking the first night, and Cortez taking the last. “Yes. The kitchen is stocked with plenty of spices, and I made sure I purchased all the ingredients I need. I’ll tell you what it is when we eat.” In other words, it would be a surprise.
That summer four years ago she’d lived with a wonderful family who had taught her how to prepare a number of French dishes. Her favorite was salmon and shrimp quiche. It was simple to make and delicious. Even better, it could be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, so if there was any left, they could dive into leftovers the next day.
“I can’t wait. How about a glass of wine while we sit on the back porch?” he suggested.
She straightened her stance as sexual anticipation curled in her stomach. “I’d love that.”
She’d caught a glimpse of the backyard when they’d gone to get the car. Vineyards seemed to be everywhere, and the fragrance of grapes had been so potent, a person could get tipsy just from the scent. But nothing was more potent than Cortez. He was so sinfully male that she had to force herself to stop watching him. She didn’t want him to catch her ogling him with seductive thoughts.
After pouring two glasses of wine, he led her through the French doors and onto a small porch where a couple of rocking chairs were located. He sat in one and she in the other. “Just wait until you see the view at night, when all those houses below us light up. It’s beautiful.”
She believed it. “When did you arrive?”
“Two days ago.”
While he was looking down at the countryside below, she was watching him. She had enjoyed her time at the market with him. Even though he was a bachelor, he had a vast knowledge of different kinds of foods. Quinn had told her that the Masters, whose roots were in Savannah, enjoyed southern cooking. Quinn had been doubly blessed. He’d married Alexia, who was also from Georgia, and the two of them could cook one incredible southern meal together.
Victoria’s older cousins had been taught how to cook by their grandmother and grandfather, Idella and Ethan Allen Bennett. They claimed the recipes Gramma Idella had left them were legacies to be cherished. Over the years, Victoria had tasted a number of dishes made from those recipes and believed them.
“So how are Kennedy’s wedding plans coming?”
Victoria glanced ov
er at Cortez and smiled. “She’s excited about getting married in June, but their plans are still in the beginning stages. I’m not sure if she’s even hired a wedding planner yet. Haddison is a real nice guy. I’m happy for them.”
“So am I. I got to meet him at Quinn and Alexia’s New Year’s party. It’s obvious that he loves her. I believe they will be happy together.”
She studied him for a moment. “You don’t find too many men who mention ‘happiness’ when talking about marriage, but you just did.”
He chuckled and the sound was so rich, it did something to her. But then, being here with Cortez did something to her, period. He was so intensely handsome, parts of her body ached just looking at him. And his eyes were so expressive. They could stare you down one minute, then make you go up in flames the next.
“I don’t have a problem with marriage,” he said. “You’re thinking of my brother, Cobra. Although, it’s a mystery to me why he’s that way. Our parents were childhood sweethearts who got married after college, and who, to this day, still love each other deeply. There was never a time we didn’t know the strength of the love our parents shared. We also always knew that the three of us were a product of that love.”
He paused a moment. “The only reason I can think of, as to why Cobra is so anti-marriage, is because he just has a contrary nature. I guess there’s one of those types in every family.”
Victoria smiled. She had gotten to know Cortez’s brothers long before she’d met him, and she liked them. Cobra was definitely a ladies’ man and played the role to the hilt. But he was also a lot of fun to be around. So was Colton. “Do you think he’ll ever change?”
“Maybe, when the right woman comes along. That’s why my parents aren’t too concerned about him. They figure his time will come, and it will for the rest of us.”
Like the rest of us… For some reason, she didn’t want to think about Cortez’s time ever coming. Why she felt that way, she wasn’t sure. Probably because, for now, he was hers. And she didn’t want to think of him being with anyone else. That sounded crazy but it was the truth.
THE BENNETTS' WEDDING (The Bennett Family and the Masters Family Book 5) Page 20