Sultry in Stilettos

by Nana Malone

  "Just like you and Beckett. I heard how he took care of you yesterday when you were sick."

  Ricca blushed, thinking about how she and Beckett ‘took care’ of each other. "Lila, honestly. You’re only going to be disappointed. He’s not that kind of guy, and frankly, I know better." As she uttered the words, her heart gave a tug. If she really knew better, then why were Lila's words ringing true? Who the hell was she kidding? Any way she could have him, she wanted him. Pathetic. "We’re friends."

  "Honey, if I had a friend like that, who looked at me the way he looks at you, I'd be in a whole mess of trouble. Not to mention Roberto would lock me in a tower with dragons and vampires to guard it."

  Ricca chuckled. “Beckett’s not the marrying kind."

  Lila shrugged. "You might be right there. Guys like him were meant to be enjoyed by the masses. No one marries that guy."

  For the next hour and a half, Ricca watched Roberto and Beckett race along the banked track. Beckett even looked like he was having fun—really enjoying himself. It was moments like this, when Ricca watched him from afar, that she wondered how they'd ever managed to become friends. He looked like the natural athlete he was, perfectly natural sliding into the Bugatti as if he were made to sit behind the luxury super car.

  As the final race ended, she breathed a sigh of relief. No incidents. Nothing. Everything was fine. Maybe Serena was right and they had overreacted. But still, her gut told her something wasn’t right. She wouldn't do anything about it now. All she could do was prepare for their big finale and hope she didn’t lose her heart or her life in the process.

  "I’m not in love with him," Ricca mumbled under her breath. Yeah right. The lies we tell ourselves. But she'd gone into this like a big girl, and she'd been having fun. But they wouldn't be able to go on like this for much longer. She’d already spent years in love with him. If she didn't stop soon, she'd be too far gone to ever be able to let go. Just a little longer. She could keep it light and free for just a little longer. She’d stop before she got too deep, fell too hard.

  In a heartbeat, her whole world went into slow motion. As Roberto and Beckett did another loop on the track, the Veyron’s tires screeched. Tires smoked. Immediately, the Karma slowed and did a U-turn in the opposite direction. Every tech on the track ran toward Beckett and the Veyron. At the speed it was going, Ricca worried he’d hit the sides. Or worse, that the car would flip.

  Beckett held fast, drifting the car to a full stop. As he shoved open the driver’s side door in a cloud of smoke, he stumbled out, yanking at his suit. Ricca watched in horror as the techs reached him and the car and he shoved them away. All she could hear from her vantage point were his shouts of pain. Shit. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

  The stands erupted. Ricca was on her feet and running down the stairs as fast as she could with four-inch heels on. Lila was right behind her. "Ricca, I'm sure he'll be fine."

  Ricca hoped so, but as soon as she reached the track, she watched in muted terror as Beckett yanked off his suit. His arms were red and blistered as were his hands. Lines of panic etched on his normally handsome face, as he hurriedly tried to step out of the suit. As he finally got the suit off, he leaned against the Veyron for support, before sliding down to sit with his blistered palms facing up and his eyes fluttering closed.

  Not even thinking, Ricca judged the distance to center of the track. Slipping off her shoes, she handed them to Lila. "Do me a favor and hold onto these for me, would you?"

  Without waiting for an answer, she scooted back onto the railing, then swung her legs over the side and jumped. Limbs flailing, she freefell, nearly landing flat on her ass. Ignoring the looks and shouts, she sprinted over to Beckett’s prone form and elbowed between two paramedics. When she laid eyes on him, not giving a shit who saw her or thought he was weak, she wrapped her body around his. "Beckett Mills, you wake up right now, do you hear me? You are officially not allowed to give me any more scares. I'm not interested. Wake up, you moron."

  His voice was low as he muttered, "You always were a bit melodramatic."

  Ricca sat back and stared at him. He was okay. "Seriously, you’re fine?"

  He nodded. "Yeah, relax I’m okay. Just a few blisters. Mostly on my hands and arms I think." He grinned. “Could have been worse and been my face.”

  Ricca stifled an eye roll. "You scared the shit out of me. I thought we had a deal about that. You agreed that you wouldn't scare me anymore. Remember that?"

  "Seems to have slipped my memory."

  Lila ran over. As she reached the group, she handed Ricca her shoes. "You’re very trusting to hand me your three thousand dollar shoes. You’re lucky I'm an honest woman. I could have made out like a bandit.”

  Ricca wrapped her arms around Beckett again. "I was worried.”

  He sat up and gave her an awkward hug back, taking care with his hands. "Yeah me too. I don’t know what happened. On that last lap I felt like my suit was on fire. I could see it wasn’t, and I didn’t smell any smoke, but my skin...” His voice trailed. “I would have sworn I was in an inferno.”

  Roberto came over and knelt beside them. “Well that was one way to throw the race so the client wins.”

  Beckett managed a weak smile and focused on Roberto. “You’re okay? Your suit and car?”

  Roberto nodded. “Yes. Mostly. I started to get overheated on the last lap as well, but nothing like that.” He indicated Beckett’s burned hands and arms. “I think perhaps because I was wearing long sleeves.”

  Beckett slanted her a look, and Ricca kept her mouth shut. They’d deal with what happened once they were out of earshot of the clients. The paramedics came back over with what looked like a vat of cream, and they moved Ricca aside. She eyed Beckett, taking in a full inventory of his prone form. "You’re sure you’re okay?"

  His brow furrowed as if doing a mental check of his vitals. "Just the blisters and burns. That’s about it."

  Stepping aside to let the paramedics work, she hugged herself tight. Someone had tampered with both driving suits, and she had a good idea who.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Beckett rooted around the pile of wood. Grabbing a long 2x4, he turned toward the table saw. If he could get this last row of doorframes done, he’d be calling it a day. He still had to grab a shower before he hit the engagement party tonight for Jaya and Alec.

  The last week had been such a blur of activity. He hadn’t been able to see Ricca since the polo fantasy. They’d spoken briefly, but that was it. His body already craved hers. He’d been such a bear the last couple of days. And since no one else knew about them, even though they’d hung out with their friends the night of the polo fantasy, they hadn’t gotten any alone time with everyone around.

  He had it bad. He had two other adventure fantasies to think about, and his brain had been completely preoccupied with Ricca. He’d considered telling her after the polo fantasy how he felt about her, but knew that would complicate things. He also considered breaking things off between them. He was far from the no strings attachment she said she wanted. How the hell had it happened? In the few short weeks since the gala, he’d fallen in love with her. Who the hell was he kidding—he’d been half in love with her for years.

  “It’s nice to see you still honor some commitments.”

  Beckett whirled around at the sound of his brother’s voice. “Braedon. Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling you.”

  Braedon gripped the top of the doorjamb to the locker room and let his body hang forward. “Well that’s the thing about not wanting anyone to find you. You sort of have to make it difficult for them to call.”

  Beckett turned off the table saw and sighed. “Are we going to talk about this?”

  Braedon tipped his chin up, indicating Beckett’s face. “I see you’re still pretty. I must not have hit you hard enough.”

  Beckett shrugged. “You sort of hit like Grandma, but you got your point across.”

  “You mean the part where I told you
I was displeased with you fucking my ex?”

  “Not quite how I remember you saying it, but yeah. I get why you’re mad.”

  Braedon’s eyes narrowed. “You still don’t seem particularly sorry.”

  Beckett shoved his hands in his pockets. “That’s because I’m not.”

  “You’re an asshole, you know that?”

  “Trust me, Braedon, when I say, you’re not the first person to tell me that. But listen up. I never intended for it to happen, it just did.”

  “And when the fuck were you going to tell me? After you two had a couple of kids on the way?”

  “It’s not like that.”

  “Then what is it like, baby brother? You knew how I felt about her.”

  Beckett paced between the locker banks. “That’s just it, Braedon. If you really had a thing for her, you would have never cheated. You’d have done everything in your power to get her back. But you didn’t. You never even told her you were sorry. I’ve been carrying around your secret for years because you asked me to. If you wanted her back, you’d have been honest with her then.”

  Braedon scoffed. “You think you can make her happy? Shit, little brother, you’re worse than I am. I’ve never seen you stick with anything, not even a pet. If you think I’m a pussy hound, what the hell do you think you’re going to do to her?”

  The truth sliced deep and wide. Braedon knew he had no business screwing around with Ricca. But she’d said she didn’t want a relationship. Her terms. Her rules. Problem was, he wanted to change the terms. “It’s not a relationship. It’s a little comp—” Why the hell was he trying to explain his fucked up situation to Braedon? “It’s complicated.”

  Braedon stared at him for several heart beats, then broke out into a wide grin. “Holy shit. You’re in love with her.”

  “No. I’m not.” The lie tasted like copper.

  “Oh yes, you are. I can see it. But she isn’t down for the serious thing. Oh, wow. This is priceless. Almost makes up for you fucking my ex.”

  “Get over it already. You don’t actually want her. You’re just pissed off because she doesn’t want you.”

  Braedon shuffled his feet. “I, uh, might have overreacted the other day.”

  Beckett knew that was the closest thing to an apology he’d get out of his big brother, so he tried to be gracious. “You ready to get off your lazy ass and actually do some work now? We’re way behind schedule on the renovations to this part.”

  Braedon nodded. “Yeah. I also tried to talk to Dad. He’s not willing to budge. Keeps insisting you’ll come to heel.”

  Beckett let out a long breath. It wasn’t like he expected his father to actually cave, but there’d been some hope. “There go our plans. Without him officially turning over my half of the building and the money Mom left, we’re not going to be open in time for her birthday. Unless I get a miracle.”

  “He’s just being spiteful. This has more to do with her than with you, Beckett. He still hasn’t forgiven her for leaving him.”

  “My problem or his, it still ends up being our problem. I wanted kids to be able to train here for the World Championships next year, but it’s not going to happen. He won’t listen, and I’m not giving up what I want to toe the line.”

  Braedon sighed and stepped through the door. “Sometimes I wish I had your fuck it all attitude.” He grabbed one of the drills. “Maybe I’d be happier.”

  “Who says I’m happy? I’m sleeping with my best friend, who I know I’m no good for. I’m pouring every cent I have into a ramshackle building for the memory of a dead woman. And my brother hates me.”

  “Well, cheer up, little brother. Your brother doesn’t hate you. You were right. About Ricca. I like the idea of her, but I have a slight commitment problem.”

  Beckett laughed ruefully. “I think that’s an inherited trait.”

  They worked silently for another thirty minutes before Braedon spoke. “Seriously though, what are you going to do about Ricca?”

  “The only thing I can do, if I don’t want to damage our friendship for good—stop sleeping with her.”

  ****

  Ricca watched the first of three engagement parties from Jaya's balcony. Ever since Jaya had gotten engaged to billionaire Alec Westhorpe, their wedding had become the social event of the year. Alec’s mother Adele Westhorpe wanted to throw the happy couple a big splashy engagement party. Jaya’s father, not to be outdone, wanted his event planning company to throw a party as well. But Jaya and Alec had wanted something that was for their close friends and family.

  Jaya’s place wasn't that big, so this was the more intimate of the engagement parties. And here Ricca was, hiding out on the balcony. She’d had a rough January so far and was in no mood to mingle.

  But there was no way in hell she was skipping Jaya’s party.

  The twenty-five or so guests milled around and laughed and talked. Micha was getting the party started with some dancing. Ricca had already provided the dancing music with some dancehall and calypso.

  No matter how hard she tired, she couldn't peel her eyes away from the door. Beckett wasn’t here yet. She hadn’t seen him since the last fantasy, a couple days ago. He’d been slammed with his portion of the next fantasy and had been working on the building rehab single-handedly. She knew she had it bad because she felt itchy and tight from not seeing him. Her body was coiled like a snake’s. He was quickly becoming a habit she couldn’t break. And sneaking around with him was going to cost her dearly. Jaya and Micha were already doing the eggshell dance around her. Though that was likely because they thought she was nursing a break up.

  She hated lying to them. She was a shit-poor liar too. More than once she’d caught Micha giving her the stink eye as if she was trying to decipher what was going on. But Ricca wasn't ready to tell anyone yet. For now, Beckett was hers, a secret she needed to keep. She didn’t need to share him. Micha and Jaya would worry about her getting hurt. But he was her drug of choice.

  "If you keep standing here looking so beautiful, I'm going to have to beat off some other guys with a stick."

  Ricca jumped at the deep voice from the shadows in the left. "Jesus Christ, Beckett. You scared the shit out of me. When did you get here? I didn’t see you come in."

  "I snuck in a little bit ago, when that waiter was trying to get you to try one of the strawberry shortcake things."

  She raised her eyebrows. "Yeah, I've had enough strawberries, thanks. He kept trying to convince me they were an aphrodisiac." She rolled her eyes.

  "Can't blame a guy for trying."

  “Whatever." Why are you in the shadows? I can’t see you at all."

  "That's the point." He came out of the shadows and joined her at the railing. "You really are beautiful tonight."

  Beckett reached for her hand, simply inching his toward hers. Her whole body was already throbbing, desperate to go somewhere private so she could be alone with him. But she couldn’t very well leave Jaya's engagement party.

  "Beckett, what are you doing? Someone will see us."

  She couldn’t see his face for the shadows, but she heard his smile when he said, "Is that so bad? What if someone did see us, and what if we were doing a lot more than touching fingertips? I can just picture Pierre Trudeaux 's face now. Or even better Madame Westhorpe’s."

  Ricca smirked. "Something tells me that old lady has seen her fair share of sex on balconies."

  Beckett's chuckle was low, and it made her insides melt. "All I want to do is touch you. Just a little. No one will see us."

  "Beckett, we have a rule against this. We’re hardly keeping this secret if someone catches us out here."

  "I know. But I want you. And I know you want me too. I can feel it. The tension in your body. Just let me make you feel good. That’s all I want.”

  Ricca shook with anticipation. His pinky inched closer to her hand and lightly traced a pattern in her palm. "Just a taste."

  "Everyone will see us."

  "They don't have to. I
t's dark out here. Everyone is busy. They won't miss us. Besides…" He shrugged. "They'll assume we're arguing sports stats. And I'm more than happy to oblige their delusions. I think I have a way to convince you that in his lifetime LeBron will outshine Jordan.”

  The timber of his voice had her body softening, ripening for his touch. He was right. She did want him. But like hell she was going to concede this point. "You’re welcome to try, but I'm not budging. You’re just plain wrong."

  He held out his hand. "If you’re so sure of your stance, then follow me into the dark. I promise you no one will see."

  She wanted to. God, how she wanted to. She wanted nothing more than to abandon good sense and take him up on his offer. She needed him.

  She stared at his hand, then ran through the myriad of reasons she wasn’t going to do this. Then she looked up at his partially hidden face. His deep blue eyes were dark with arousal.

  Ricca licked her lips as she took his hand. In an instant, his fingers wrapped around hers and tugged her into the darkness to the far corner of the balcony. Lifting her, he placed her on the corner of the railing and stepped between her legs. "God, you are so unbelievably sexy tonight. From the moment I walked in, I practically followed your perfume out here. The hair, the dress…I've been dying standing here, watching you.”

  His kiss was hard and a little rough. With his big hands, he scooped her up by her ass and tucked her right up against his erection. "See how much I’ve missed you,” he mumbled against her lips.

  She gasped as his thumbs traced circles over her nipples. "God, Beckett."

  "Mm, baby?" He traced a pattern of kisses from her ear to her clavicle. "I like it when you say my name. Can you do it again?" He rolled her nipple with his thumb and forefinger through the thin fabric of her dress.

  "Jesus.” Ricca let her head fall back.

  “I’m not quite the second coming, but I can do my best."

  "Beckett, I—"

  With one hand, he held her ass in place as he rocked against her. "I know what you want. It's what I want too. I've been thinking about you since you left me with that erection the other morning."