Alejandro's Sexy Secret

by Amy Ruttan

  The bartender brought him the mineral water and Alejandro paid him. He picked up the highball glass and took a sip, watching her as she fidgeted, obviously uncomfortable in his presence.

  “Well, perhaps I was mistaken. Have a good night.” He turned to walk away.

  “Why would it matter?” she asked.

  He turned. “Why would what matter?”

  “You noticing me leaving.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “I’m sure women leave you...” She cleared her throat. “I’m sure they leave your shows all the time.”

  Alejandro sat back down. “Not my shows.”

  She snorted and he was enchanted. “You’re awfully arrogant.”

  “I have every right to be. I’m good at what I do.” He winked at her and she smiled. He was getting through the walls she’d built up. Not that he knew why she’d built such impenetrable walls, but he knew when he’d been dancing for her that she’d been keeping a part of herself locked away and that was very intriguing to him.

  Why would she hide herself away?

  “So you’re telling me that in a nightclub you notice if people come and go?”

  “No, I’m not saying that.”

  “You just did!” Then she imitated him. “‘Not my shows.’”

  He chuckled. It was sexy the way she tried to get her high voice to deepen. Her brow furrowed and her lips pursed a bit when she did it. “That’s a very good impression.”

  She blushed again. “So are you denying you said that?”

  “No, I’m not, just that I don’t dance in nightclubs, which is a polite way of saying strip clubs.”

  She pushed back an errant strand of her inky-black hair. “Strip clubs, then.”

  “I don’t dance in strip clubs. I used to dance in samba bars, but the clothes stayed on. Now my services are primarily hired for private sessions like tonight. I’m that good. Women are willing to pay my agent whatever I desire.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You’re laying it on thick. No one is that good.”

  “I am. I take pride in my work. Don’t you take pride in your work?”

  “I do. In fact, I’m one of the best there is.”

  He cocked an eyebrow, even more intrigued, and he couldn’t help but wonder what else she was good at. “Really?”

  “Yes. Which is why I left the party early. Work is that important to me. I had things to look over.”

  “Then how do you unwind?”

  “Unwind? What is this mythical thing you’re talking about?” she teased.

  Alejandro couldn’t help but laugh. His older brothers often teased him about working too hard, never relaxing. Only he didn’t really feel like he had the right to unwind. He had to work hard. He had too much to live up to.

  “Perhaps you’re right. For those of us dedicated to what we do, there is no down time. Also, there is no perfection until all parties are satisfied, and I don’t think you were satisfied with my performance.”

  And the blush tinged her cheeks again. “I’m sorry for walking out.”

  “Then allow me to show you what you missed.”

  What’re you doing?

  “What?” she said, her voice hitching. “I don’t have that... I don’t even know your name. I can’t go off with a stranger.”

  Alejandro reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his business card.

  “My name is Alejandro. There is all my business information. I’m fully bonded. I take my work seriously and wouldn’t jeopardize that. I dance. That’s all. I’m not a gigolo and nothing untoward would happen. It’s hands-off.”

  She took the card. “Why do you want me to go with you?”

  “Like I said, I don’t like leaving a customer unsatisfied.” He held out his hand. “Your friend paid me to put on a good show for her bridal party. Please let me finish it.”

  Never had he ever approached a customer, but it bothered him that she’d walked out of his performance. Or maybe it was the fact he thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen someone so beautiful.

  Either way, he waited with bated breath for her answer, expecting her to say no.

  She drank down the rest of her wine. “I’m probably crazy, but this is Vegas and what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?”

  His pulse thundered between his ears as he held her soft, delicate hand in his. “Absolutely.”

  CHAPTER ONE

  Five years later. Miami, spring

  “YOU KNOW YOU MARRIED the ugly brother, right?” Alejandro was teasing his new sister-in-law Saoirse Murphy on her marriage to his brother. His ugly brother.

  Saoirse, a fiery Irish beauty, had recently married Santiago, who was rolling his eyes as Alejandro and the twins, Rafe and Dante, joined in the good-natured ribbing. They were all the “ugly brothers,” but right now Santi was taking the heat because he’d been the first of the Valentino brothers to take the plunge and marry.

  “It’s your fault,” Santi shouted, pointing at Dante and Rafe. “You two are the elders. You should be married already, then I wouldn’t be getting this teasing from the baby.”

  Alejandro chuckled and moved out of the line of fire. He knew Dante and Rafe didn’t like to be referred to as the elders, but Santi and he had always done that behind their backs.

  The elders were surrogate fathers to him. As Santi had been, before he’d run off and joined the Marines. All because of a robbery in the family bodega. A robbery that had almost cost Alejandro his life, as well. He’d been caught in the cross fire, taking a bullet in the chest at the age of ten.

  He’d be dead if it hadn’t been for his father’s heart saving his life, and because of his father’s death he carried a piece of his father with him. It was a huge responsibility he carried proudly. Which was why he was now one of the best pediatric transplant surgeons at Buena Vista Hospital.

  Speaking of which...

  “I’m sorry, I have to get to the hospital. The new head of pediatric surgery starts today. Apparently she’s a bit of a culo duro.”

  “Culo duro?” Saoirse asked Santi.

  “Hard ass,” Santi said to his new bride, and then he turned to Alejandro. “Don’t judge the new head just yet, baby brother. She might not be as bad as the rumors make her out to be.”

  Alejandro ground his teeth at Santi calling him “baby brother.” He hated that, just as much as Rafe and Dante hated being called the elders, but, then, it was all in good fun and he deserved it a bit for calling Santi the ugly one.

  Instead of sniping back, Alejandro took Saoirse’s hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “Sorry for not sticking around too long, so let me say felicitaciones les deseamos a ambos toda la felicidad del mundo.”

  Saoirse’s brow furrowed. “Congratulations...wishing both of you...”

  “All the happiness in the world.” Alejandro kissed her hand again.

  “Suficiente idiota!” Santi said, slapping Alejandro upside the head.

  “Ow, I’m not an idiot.” Alejandro winked at Saoirse, who was laughing, obviously enjoying the show of them tormenting Santi.

  Dante snorted and Rafe rolled his eyes while Alejandro grinned at Santi, who was busy shooting daggers at him.

  “Well, I guess we should be happy he kept speaking Spanish after Mami and Pappi died,” Dante groaned. “But does he have to upstage us?”

  Alejandro winked at Dante. “Always, old man. Always.”

  He left the bodega before his older brothers started a brawl. He waved to Carmelita, who’d run the business since he was eleven. She waved back, but was focused on her work.

  Outside the bodega the heat was oppressive, which was strange for a spring day. It was always hot in Miami, but this was like summer. Mois
t, sweltering heat. Palm trees lining the street of the old neighborhood were swaying, but the wind didn’t suppress the cloying heat. A storm was brewing to the south.

  Fitting.

  He’d heard people refer to Dr. Bhardwaj as the Wicked Witch of the East, so it was only fitting her arrival be marked by a storm.

  As he walked to his motorcycle a group of boys playing soccer in the street kicked a ball toward him and he kicked it back, waving at them. He knew most of the kids because their parents were people he’d gone to school with. People who had never left the old neighborhood, which comprised a tight-knit community of people from Heliconia, a small island nation in the Caribbean. He’d never been there as his parents had fled the country because of the horrible conditions long before he’d been born.

  Only that didn’t matter. Everyone here in this neighborhood was family. Everyone stayed together.

  Only he had left.

  His apartment was in South Beach. He was disconnected from this place because it reminded him of his parents dying, his brothers sacrificing so much of their youth for him.

  It was also the place he’d first met Ricky at a scuzzy samba bar where he’d danced with lonely women. Ricky had started in the more lucrative exotic dancing, just so he could make his own way in the world.

  Don’t think about it. That’s all behind you. Focus on now.

  He had to keep his head in the game. He’d worked hard to become an attending in pediatric transplant surgery at Buena Vista Hospital. There was no way he was going to let some new head of pediatric surgery force him out.

  He usually wouldn’t be so worried, but apparently Dr. Bhardwaj wanted to make changes.

  And changes meant cuts. He had no doubt the arrival of Dr. Bhardwaj was down to Mr. Snyder, current president of the board of directors. Ever since Snyder had taken over he’d been looking for a way to cut every single department’s pro bono fund.

  It was a fairly easy ride from Little Heliconia to Buena Vista. The only change was the darkening clouds rolling in.

  Yes. Definitely a storm.

  “Where have you been?” Dr. Micha asked the moment Alejandro walked into the attendings’ locker room.

  “My brother Santi just got married,” Alejandro replied casually. He didn’t really want to engage in conversation with Dr. Micha today.

  “Mazel tov,” Dr. Micha said sarcastically. “The witch is on her broom, by the way.”

  Alejandro cocked his eyebrow. “Oh, yes?”

  Usually he ignored Dr. Raul Micha’s gossip. The man was a paranoid worrywart and thankfully worked far from Alejandro, in Pediatric Dermatology, but for some reason Raul thought he and Alejandro were best friends forever.

  “She’s made cuts to my program already.” Dr. Micha shook his head. “Cuts, can you believe it? Snyder is behind it, I’m sure. Snyder was friends with Dr. Bhardwaj’s mentor up in New York, Dr. Vaughan.”

  Alejandro was impressed as Dr. Vaughan was a world-renowned pediatric surgeon. So at least Dr. Bhardwaj should know what she was doing, but then he recalled the word that sent a chill down his spine.

  “Cuts?” Alejandro’s stomach churned. This was exactly what he’d been afraid of.

  “Yes. She’s slashed all I’ve worked for.”

  “Buena Vista is a wealthy hospital. It’s not like Seaside. Why is the board making cuts?”

  “Buena Vista was wealthy,” Raul said in a snarky voice. Then he peered out the door. “Oh, man, here she comes. You’re on your own.”

  Alejandro rolled his eyes as Raul slipped out of the locker room. He pulled off his street clothes and pulled out his scrubs. Before he’d slipped his scrub top on the door to the attendings’ locker room opened. Alejandro glanced over his shoulder and then did a double take as he stared into the dark eyes of the one who’d got away.

  Kiri.

  His one and only one-night stand from his days as an exotic dancer was standing right in front of him. He’d finished the private show five years ago and she’d kissed him. Alejandro knew he should’ve pushed her away, only he’d been unable to.

  “Please, don’t think badly of me, I’ve never done this,” she whispered. “Never slept with a man I just met.”

  “I don’t do this either.” He ran his hands through her hair. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve seen in a long time.”

  Her mouth was open, her eyes wide behind those dark-framed glasses she still wore. She recognized him. This was bad.

  “What...? I...” She was at a loss for words.

  “Sorry,” he apologized, slipping on his scrub top. He held out his hand. “Dr. Bhardwaj, I presume?”

  He was going to pretend he didn’t know her.

  Which was a lie.

  He knew every inch of her. It was still fresh in his mind five years later. The taste of her skin, her scent and the way she’d sighed when he’d nibbled her neck just below her ear.

  This was bad.

  “Uh. Yes.” She was still staring at him like he was a ghost, an unwanted ghost at that. She took his hand and shook it quickly before snatching it back. “Yes, I’m Dr. Bhardwaj.”

  He nodded. “I’m Dr. Valentino. Senior Attending on the pediatric transplant team.”

  * * *

  Dr. Valentino? His name is Valentino?

  Kiri had never known her Latin god’s last name. Of course, she hadn’t stuck around after her one indiscretion in Las Vegas.

  A stolen night of passion that had led to a pregnancy, even though they’d used protection. And then that had led to a late miscarriage at twenty-three weeks, which still hurt all these years later. Staring up at the father of her lost baby boy reminded her in an instant of all the things that could’ve been.

  Even though the pregnancy had been an inconvenience, she’d wanted her baby. She’d wanted to be a mother so badly. It hadn’t been how she’d planned to start a family, but she’d been thrilled at the prospect of motherhood. And she’d tried to track down Alejandro, but when she’d called his number she’d learned he’d quit and the agent, Ricky, had refused to give her any information about Alejandro’s whereabouts.

  Alejandro reminded her of pain.

  Yeah, lots of pain. And the wound of losing their child was fresh and raw again.

  And he clearly didn’t remember her, which was like a slap across the face.

  What did you expect, sleeping with a male stripper?

  “Yes, sorry, Dr. Valentino. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Come on, Kiri. Get it together.

  She was still in shock.

  Alejandro smiled, that charming, sexy smile that had melted down her walls and inhibitions five years ago.

  “A pleasure to meet you too. Well, excuse me, Dr. Bhardwaj. I have a consult.”

  He wants to finish changing in privacy.

  “Of course. Perhaps after your consult we can arrange a meeting to discuss the expectations of your department.”

  “Yes. It would be my pleasure.”

  “I want you,” she whispered. “And I’ve never wanted a man like this before. Please take me.”

  “My pleasure.” And he ran his lips over her body, kissing her in places no one had ever kissed her before.

  Kiri turned on her heel and got out of that locker room as fast as she could.

  Ugh. You’re the head of the department.

  Kiri was angry at herself for turning tail and running. When she’d miscarried she’d promised herself she’d never run from the father if she ever saw him again.

  She’d tell him everything she was thinking. Those dark thoughts she’d had as she’d recovered from her loss. Everything that had crossed her mind when she’d learned that her baby was gone.

  Turn around.

  Alejandro was leaving the locker
room. He looked so different in scrubs and a white lab coat. Given that she’d had her one-night stand with him five years ago and he was an attending in pediatric transplants, no less, in a world-class hospital, it meant that he must’ve been a doctor when he’d been dancing.

  Which made her angry.

  Why had he been doing that? Disgracing himself?

  “Dr. Valentino, a moment, if you please.”

  He turned.

  Ha. You can’t get rid of me that easily.

  “Yes, Dr. Bhardwaj?”

  “I’d like to join you on your consult.”

  He frowned. “Why?”

  Good. She had him on edge. She had the power back.

  “Why not? I have no patient load yet and I’d like to see how you run your practice. The chief told me you are quite the star when it comes to pediatric transplants.”

  Which was true. Though she had a hard time believing it until she saw it for herself. Perhaps because she’d learned long before she’d met Dr. Alejandro Valentino that you really couldn’t depend on anyone but yourself.

  And she wanted to throw him off his game.

  One thing she had learned while going through her department’s finances when she’d first arrived in Miami had been that Alejandro’s department had a lot of pro bono cases. It was admirable, but the board had made it clear to her in no uncertain terms that the pro bono cases had to stop. The board wanted Buena Vista Hospital to be for the elite of Miami.

  All those who couldn’t afford to be a patient at Buena Vista had to be moved to Seaside or County. The aim of the board was to cater to the rich and famous. The “beautiful people,” as one board member had put it.

  It was a shame, but she understood that Buena Vista wanted to be at the cutting edge of health and it was a dream Kiri wanted to share.

  Perhaps once they had that distinction she could convince them to open up their pockets to pro bono cases once again. Although Mr. Snyder had made it clear that pro bono cases were finished. And she almost wondered why she’d taken the job, because since her arrival it had been a headache dealing with the board of directors. In particular Snyder.