Knight in Tattooed Armor: International Billionaires XII: The Latinos

by Caro LaFever

  “The Bartlo brothers?” The two men had circled around her with some calls and one visit to their house. But she wasn’t a fool. She saw them for what they were.

  “They’re scum, Risa. Understand? Don’t let them near Migneault Perfumery.”

  Concern was written across his handsome face, and her poor heart bumped to life in her chest once more. Yet, she couldn’t give it any hope. Not after he’d crushed it so harshly before. “Don’t worry. I’m not letting the Bartlo brothers near my company.”

  Easing back, his concern turned to wariness. “Your company in reality now?”

  “Well.” She waved at the room behind her, the low rumble of discussion barely penetrating the quiet in the foyer. “I’d guess they’re voting on my proposal at the moment.”

  “If not the Bartlos, then who?” He came back in again, his teeth gritted. “Who gave you the damn money to make this happen?”

  It struck her that he wasn’t angry at her, he was angry it wasn’t him who saved the day. It wasn’t his money being used and his presence selling the deal. At his core, he still didn’t believe in her ability to manage on her own. Her heart tumbled into the grave it had laid in for days.

  “Don’t worry, Riq.,” She folded her trembling arms in front of her. “I’ve got this taken care of on my own.”

  He looked disconcerted, as if he’d wandered onto a stage set where he wasn’t needed.

  “If you have to know, it’s family money.” She loved him, although he didn’t deserve it, so she’d give him enough that he’d be satisfied and leave. “I told you I didn’t need your money, and I meant it.”

  “Your trust fund?” His shoulders tensed. “Did your daddy release it to you, and it was enough?”

  “No, and it wouldn’t have been enough anyway.” This time her wave was a dismissal, because after the stress of making the presentation and the grief she felt for her father, she couldn’t take any more of this man’s presence. “You can leave.”

  His scowl returned. “Don’t wave me off like I’m some peasant and you’re the princesa.”

  Anger, fierce anger for whoever made him feel such doubt about himself, made her flush. “You’re not a peasant, you dumbass, and I’m—”

  “Definitely a princesa.” A deep voice came from the hallway, and two tall men appeared from around the bend.

  “Do you have to drive like a maniac, Enrique?” The taller one smirked, while brushing dark curls back with one hand.

  “I thought we’d lost you for sure, until I was blinded by that wealth of chrome on your bike.” The other man strode forward and took her hand. “I’m Drew. A pleasure.”

  Risa knew exactly who these men were. It was evident in the way they moved, and the arch of thick brows. The fierce anger still raged inside her, making her rise in instant defense of Riq. “You’re always telling your brother what to do, and he doesn’t like it.”

  At her blurted words, they both arched those thick brows and took a step back.

  “What have you been telling this woman about us, Enrique?” the taller one said.

  “Nothing much.” But she caught the smirk right before he flattened his expression.

  “We don’t tell Riq what to do. Not anymore,” the other one stated, a sudden smile on his face. “Not since he confessed he’s rich as Croesus.”

  “You told your family?” She switched her focus to her ex-lover to find he’d assumed his lounge against the wall. A welter of surprised pride and furious frustration poured through. Why did he insist on appearing like he didn’t care, when he surely did? She could tell by the way he reacted to his brother’s boast, with a flinch, he still hadn’t found himself in the sea of self-doubt he swam in.

  “I did.” His gaze flickered over to his brothers before returning to her. “Because of you.”

  They were simple words, just three simple words. But the effect was electric inside her. All the banished wishes and hopeless hopes came riding back into her heart. Except, how could she trust this man when he didn’t trust himself?

  “Really?” she whispered.

  “Before things get mushy,” one of his brothers inserted, with a wry chuckle. “We need to know you’re safe.”

  “Safe?” She stared at the two men. “What are you talking about?”

  “The Bartlos,” Riq said, his expression still bland. “I was worried.”

  “And when our little brother is worried, we’re worried.”

  The three brothers glanced at one another, each trying to hide what was plainly in their hearts—love.

  “None of you have to worry.” She tried to keep her heart from exploding in her chest. Because she could see something had changed in Riq’s life. Something for the better. And his confession that he’d done it for her, made her so happy.

  Cautiously happy.

  Because there was still that mountain of self-doubt he had to climb.

  “Then, we’re out of here.” One brother moved toward the hall, slapping Riq as he passed.

  “Wait one moment.” Risa held up her hand. “I need to check something out before you leave.”

  All three men stilled.

  Reaching down, she lifted her satchel and pulled out the flip-flop.

  “What the hell?” Riq straightened, his expression turning dumbfounded. “That’s my shoe.”

  “You left it behind the first time we kissed. So now it’s mine.”

  “You leave a trail of shoes for your women, Enrique?” The other brother, the one who hadn’t introduced himself yet, smirked.

  She did not like that smirk. Strolling over to the man, she slapped the shoe on his chest. “What’s your name?”

  A startled look crossed his face. “Jorge.”

  “Here’s the thing, Jorge.” With another smack that made him wince, she leaned closer, her gaze drilling into his widened eyes. “I’m not one of your brother’s women.”

  “Ah,” he sputtered. “Okay?”

  Another smack, this one on his arm. “And you, sir, don’t know half of what your brother, Enrique, is about.”

  “Risa.” The harsh warning rolled across the hall.

  But she ignored him and the warning. She was tired of Riq’s hiding his true worth. Tired of dealing with a man who didn’t know how purely good he was, right to the center of his soul. If it was the last thing she did for him, she’d make his two brothers see how wonderful he was. “He’s not rich as Croesus for himself, Jorge.”

  “No?” He gave her a speculative, skeptical look.

  “Did you realize he has a foundation for vets?”

  “That’s not something my brothers need to—”

  “And that he started his business so he could help his fellow SEALs?”

  Drew sauntered to her side with a wide grin. “Nope. We didn’t know either of those things. What’s this, Enrique? You’re hiding a humanitarian heart behind your usual bluster?”

  “Mimi and yaya are going to go crazy,” his oldest brother mumbled.

  To be fair, she slapped Drew on his shoulder with the flip-flop. “I don’t want to hear anything more from either of you about Riq that isn’t filled with praise and love. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Got it, Princesa.”

  “Risa, that’s enough.” The command was tough, yet a hint of amusement curled through it.

  Ignoring him once more, she swatted both of the brothers one last time. “From now on, realize your younger brother is every bit as good as you. Neither of you deserves to walk in his shoes.”

  “Okay, okay.” With a swift pounce, her ex-lover pulled the shoe from her grasp. “That’s enough.”

  “More than enough.” Drew sighed with relief.

  “There’s more where that came from,” she warned, wagging her finger since she no longer had her weapon. “Don’t cross me.”

  “More, more, more.” Riq’s arm came around her in a tight hold. “That should be your tagline.”

  “I think it’s time for us
to go. Finally.” His brother headed for the archway.

  “Good luck, hermanito.” Jorge gave her a lazy glance of approval. “You’re going to need it.”

  They both disappeared, and the sound of the elevator descending soon filtered from the hallway.

  “Um, well.” Riq coughed, looking pained. “You’ve got this all in hand.”

  “I hope so.” She stood in his embrace, still not sure if this was the happily-ever-after she’d always dreamed she’d have. “I did the best I could.”

  He coughed again and with an abrupt shift, dropped his arm and paced away to lean on the wall. “Thanks for having my back. It’s nice to have you on my team.

  The pride in his voice encircled her like an embrace. It wasn’t as good as having him surrounding her, though. And what did he mean by having her on his team? Was she going to be some kind of mascot? Some kind of funny, little girl he could pat on her head?

  She wasn’t sure.

  She wasn’t sure he wanted her. The woman who’d grown up around him. The woman who’d hopefully saved her family’s company. The woman who deserved a man who saw her as the real thing, not a pretty doll. Did he want her enough to stage this silly non-needed intervention to find a way back into her life? Or did he think he needed to save the day because she was still only a stupid girl?

  A sharp silence fell between them.

  “Well, I guess I’m not needed.” He shuffled to a stand, his gaze now stoic. “Congratulations, sunshine. I know you’re going to make this company into a huge success.”

  He turned, his T-shirt covering those butterfly tattoos, his attitude conveying nothing but nonchalance, his hand holding the lone flip-flop in a loose grip.

  “That’s it?” she said, low and deadly. “That’s the best you can do?”

  Swiveling, his scowl returning, he growled deep in his throat. “I’ve given you more than any woman I’ve ever known.”

  “Have you?”

  “Yeah, I have.” He charged at her, his body vibrating with passionate intensity. “I’ve done something I’ve never done before. And it’s your fault.”

  For some strange reason, her heart took flight. She should have been scared. He was big and broad, angry and furious. But she’d never been afraid of this man, only in love. “What’s my fault?”

  “I fell in love with you.” His mouth twisted into a grimace, before he turned away from her. “Coño.”

  “Riq.” If it were possible, she would see her heart floating above her, with an arrow of love zipping through it, bringing along this man in its wake. If only she could be sure he saw her as she really was and if he could finally break out of his self-imposed armour of self-doubt and disgust, she’d have everything she dreamed of.

  His hand swept through his dark curls and his body tensed. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it puts pressure on you.” He turned once more, his expression back to stoic and stern. “And you don’t need that at the moment.”

  “You know what I need, caveman?” She sauntered toward him, surety rising inside. “Tell me something.”

  His expression went wary. “What?”

  “When you look at me, who do you see?”

  At first, as his gaze drifted from her face to her breasts to her hips, she saw lust. She didn’t mind that. She liked and loved the way he wanted her. But there had to be more. For both of them. She guessed he was right. She did always want more.

  Then, his examination changed. The lust drifted away to be replaced by the same keen, intelligent look she’d seen when she gazed at him from across his desk at the island. The look he wore when he talked business and numbers.

  Her heart danced in delight even before he said the words.

  “I see a woman who’s capable of running a company.” His words came slow and soft, like an incantation. “I see a woman who’s grown into a star right before my eyes.”

  Her eyes welled with tears.

  “Hey. Don’t cry.” Horror crossed his face. “Jesús.”

  “You know who I see when I look at you, Riq?” she choked out the words because they had to be said right at this moment. Right in this special moment.

  “Who?” He shifted on his feet, his hand tightening on the flip-flop.

  “I see a man who I can honor and respect for the rest of my life.”

  “Don’t go there—”

  “Oh, I’m going there.” She came right into his personal space and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m taking this armour off you one piece at a time.

  He froze in place at her touch. “Armour?”

  “Yes.” Looking up into his perplexed, beloved face, she gave him a satisfied smile. The man might not realize what was in store for him, but he didn’t need to know every detail. Only one for now. Eventually, she’d tear through this cocoon of self-doubt surrounding him and turn him into the creature of light and love he was meant to be.

  A beautiful butterfly of a man. Released into a life filled with her and her love.

  “You know what I need?”

  “Ah, maybe.” The mist in his eyes obscured his thoughts. Yet, he’d already confessed his true feelings so she didn’t need his thoughts. Not at this time. “Maybe not.”

  “I need you, Enrique de Molina.”

  His grasp tightened on her as he dropped the flip-flop to the floor. “But do you love me, too, Princesa? As much as I love you?”

  “Yes.” She edged nearer, taking in his solid body, his taut muscles. “I love you.”

  The door behind her flew open, except she didn’t care. She’d found her man, found the love who’d be with her forever. If she didn’t get her family’s business, then she knew Riq well enough to know he’d move heaven and earth to give her what she wanted.

  Placing her nose in the center of his chest, she sniffed. “Only you.”

  “That’s perfect!” the advertising head crowed. “That’s the new name for our first perfume.”

  Risa raised her head from the chest that was now hers and gaped at the woman. “What are you talking about?”

  “Congratulations, Ms. Migneault,” the older woman beamed. “You’re in charge of the company going forward.”

  “And I guess,” an amused voice rumbled from above her, “your first perfume is going to be named Only You.”

  She glanced up to meet his gaze. The mist had cleared, leaving only love behind. “Seems appropriate, doesn’t it, caveman?”

  “Yeah, it does.” And he dived in for the first of many more kisses.

  Epilogue

  His guy was happy.

  That made Jiggs happy too.

  Lying in the shade, he surveyed the group of humans congregating around the fire pit his guy had designed here on the beach. His girl stood right next to his guy, and she laughed at something he said. Surrounding them both was the family of humans he’d come to know very well.

  That made Jiggs very happy.

  Because during the years he’d lived with his guy, he’d known there was a missing piece of him. Not even he, in his doggy wisdom, could fill that hole inside.

  That had been disappointing.

  “Jiggs.” The littlest one of his guy’s brood marched toward the shade, her tan face serious for once. In her grasp was her usual companion, a stuffed animal she called Winkie. The thing smelled of old perfume and musty dust.

  His guy and girl had named this human being Mari, but he preferred to think of her as Little One.

  He woofed. He could put up with the stuffed animal if he had to.

  A carefree smile replaced the serious look. “You’re having fun, too, aren’t you?”

  He’d have fun when they went into the water. His guy had told him with a glare to stay put, and since the breeze was cool and he’d just eaten, he’d obeyed. For now.

  The Little One crawled into his bed, encircling him in a salty, heated human blanket. But since he’d grown used to these sorts of hugs during the last five years, Jiggs didn�
��t mind. He had three little ones to contend with and supervise and watch over. The oldest, who his guy and girl called Marcel, had come first. He’d learned to tolerate having his ears pulled and his tail yanked with that one. Then had come Margot, though his guy called her Margie. She’d been the first to curl herself around him and snore.

  Now, there was this one. The Little One, who the humans called Mariposa. His girl always used Mari instead.

  “You know what, Jiggers,” she whispered into his perked ear. “Mommy’s going to have another baby.”

  The words made no sense. The only words he understood were sit and food and walk. But in his doggie wisdom, he did understand when a human was in pain. Turning his head, he licked her face from the rounded chin to the beginnings of her blonde hair.

  She giggled.

  He woofed.

  “You always make me feel better.” Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she nestled into his fur.

  “Mari.” His girl approached, her face scrunched in worry. “What are you doing, bothering Jiggs?”

  His girl had matured since he’d met her. Now she mostly wore dresses and talked on the phone when they lived in Miami. His guy had grown as well. Grown in a way that brought a doggie smile to his loyal companion. He often talked with his girl late into the night, and apparently it was about this company they now owned and ran as a team. They were happy about it, which made Jiggs happy, too. He’d known his guy hadn’t totally enjoyed what he did before.

  His girl wore a simple pink bathing suit instead of her power dresses.

  It was nice to see her relax on the island. Instead of only his guy and girl coming with him now, they often brought a whole bunch of family. His guy’s brothers and wives and kids. Plus, the parents, too. Both sets. His girl’s father would spend most of the day ferrying family out to fish. Jiggs had gone on the boat a time or two and enjoyed how her daddy laughed.

  But he liked his guy’s grandmother the best. She sneaked him treats under the table.

  “I’m not bothering him, Mommy.” The Little One snuggled deeper. “Jiggs likes me.”

  Sitting on the sand by his bed, his girl reached over and gave him a pat and a scratch. “You know, Mari, just because we’re going to have another baby, doesn’t mean we won’t love you.”