The CEO, the Puppy and Me

by Jennifer Faye

  As he guided her down to the docks, she asked, “Who are we meeting tonight? Is there anything I can say to help you?”

  “Help me?”

  “You know, to make a deal.” She rambled on because she was nervous and he was still holding her hand, which was making thinking a challenge. “You can count on me to back you up. If you want me to tell them how your technology is helping my hotel, I can do that.” Because ever since Ric had helped her strengthen her passwords, he’d also strengthened her hotel’s online presence. Reservations were steadily climbing. “Just let me know what you want me to say.”

  A smiled played at the corners of his lips. “And that’s what you think we’re here for? Business?”

  “Aren’t we?” Her stomach shivered with nerves.

  Ric stopped walking and turned to her. He gazed into her eyes. “No. We’re here for something far more important.”

  She wanted to say something. But the pounding of her heart drowned out her thoughts. And instead she stood there quietly, as though by staring into his eyes he’d cast a spell over her. Her gaze momentarily lowered to his lips before she caught herself and raised her gaze to meet his once more.

  He stepped closer to her and lowered his voice. “I wanted to do something special for you.”

  “You...you did?” She struggled to string two words together.

  He smiled at her, and it was like a hundred butterflies took flight within her. He turned and they continued walking. What exactly had he planned for this evening? And what did it mean? Was this just a friendly gesture? Or was it something more?

  When he came to a stop next to a huge white yacht with navy trim, her mouth gaped. They were going to board this? She’d never been on a boat before, let alone one so fancy.

  Her family had money, but it was old money and her parents liked to live simply. Though they could have owned something like this beautiful vessel, they wouldn’t have. The man she’d always thought of as her father hadn’t liked the water, and her mother was happy with their life at the vineyard—at least that’s what Gia and her siblings had thought until they’d uncovered their mother’s journal and the circumstances surrounding Gia’s conception.

  She wondered what else they’d assumed about their parents and been wrong about. How could people be so close and yet not know as much about each other as they’d thought?

  “Gia? What’s wrong?” The concern in Ric’s voice startled her from her troubling thoughts.

  “Um, nothing.”

  The look on his face said that he didn’t believe her. “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.” She forced a smile to her lips. “What are we doing here? I thought we were going out for dinner.”

  “We are.” And then he led her aboard.

  She looked around. The boat looked brand-new. Everything sparkled and gleamed. “How did you manage this?”

  “It wasn’t hard. The truth is that I don’t use it much. When I purchased the yacht, I thought I’d use it for business meetings and to entertain business acquaintances, but I quickly found out they were just as busy as me. No one these days has time for long, leisurely outings.”

  Her mouth gaped as she looked around again with the knowledge that this huge boat was all his. “This is bigger than the guest house on my parents’ estate.”

  It wasn’t until the words were out of her mouth that she realized the estate was no longer her parents’. It was still so hard to comprehend that they were gone, and now she was searching for where she fit in this world. What once was, was no longer.

  “I should probably sell it, but I’m glad I didn’t.” He stepped up close to her.

  “Why not?”

  “Because then we wouldn’t be able to have dinner out on the sea.”

  And with that the yacht pulled away from the dock, and they headed off into the sunset. Gia felt as though she were Cinderella, but this definitely wasn’t a ball. It was better.

  Once they were away from the shore, it was like they were the only ones on earth. Well, except for the staff that served them the most delightful dinner. And the captain who navigated the peaceful seas. However, they made themselves scarce, leaving her and Ric alone.

  Ric had her full attention. He was sweet and attentive. She’d noticed that he hadn’t checked his phone once since they’d left the dock. His attention was fully on her. And she had no idea what that meant. Was this the beginning of something? A follow-up to that steamy kiss they’d shared? Her heart quickened at the thought.

  Thoughts of her business, the villa remodel and the search for her biological father slipped to the back of her mind. This evening, with classic ballads playing in the background, she found herself getting swept up in their words of love.

  With the dinner dishes cleared and the tiramisu finished, Ric stood and held his hand out to her. “Would you care to dance?”

  She glanced around. There was plenty of room on the outer deck. And then her gaze met his. The crooning ballad called to her. Ric had gone to a lot of effort. Why not enjoy every moment of this evening? Her problems would be waiting for her tomorrow. For tonight, she would enjoy the evening Ric had gone to such bother to plan for her.

  He held his arms out to her, and she happily stepped into them. Her body fit next to his as though they’d been made for each other. As they moved about the floor, she leaned her head on his muscular shoulder and let her eyes drift shut. Instead of all the questions and worries that plagued her at night when she closed her eyes, right now, all she could think about was the strong, reliable man holding her so close.

  She inhaled his spicy cologne. It mixed with his manly scent and made quite an intoxicating mixture. She breathed in deeper. A murmur of pleasure vibrated in her throat.

  The truth was, they’d been dancing around each other since they’d met. The chemistry had arced between them since that first day in the garden of his uncle’s villa. The first time he’d touched her, the tingles of awareness had zinged through her body. Since then she’d been fighting it. And right now, she couldn’t remember why she’d been resisting him.

  Ric was a good guy—strike that—he was a great guy. And she was so tired of fighting the magnetic pull that he had over her heart. Because with each morning coffee they’d shared, with each soul-searching conversation, with each heated glance, piece by piece he’d broken through the wall around her heart.

  She stood there in his arms feeling utterly exposed and vulnerable. And at the same time, she felt liberated and excited to find out what would come next.

  She once more breathed in his heady scent. Deeper. Longer. It must be going to her head because all she could think about was kissing him. Right here. Right now. And not just a peck on the cheek or lips. No. She longed for a deep soul-stirring, feet-floating-above-the-ground kiss.

  But maybe she’d start with an appetizer. She moved her head ever so slightly and pressed her lips to the smooth skin of his neck. Immediately she heard the swift intake of his breath. She smiled. She wasn’t the only one caught up in this evening of a dazzling sunset and twinkle of candlelight.

  They stopped dancing. Experience had taught her that life could be short—much too short. And each moment had to be lived to its fullest. Gia decided to live daringly. She trailed kisses up his neck. She lifted up on her tiptoes. When she pulled back, their gazes met. There was passion ignited in his eyes.

  And then she pressed her lips to his.

  There was no hesitancy. There was need. Hunger. And desire. Oh, yes, lots of desire.

  Her hands slid up, taking in the lines of his muscular chest. And then they slid over his broad shoulders. She tried to remember every feeling—every sensation—but every nerve ending of her body had been stimulated and her mind was on overload.

  Her hands wrapped around the back of his neck. All the while, her lips were moving over his. His tongue delved inside her mouth. H
e tasted sweet like dessert wine. She didn’t know if she’d ever drink that wine without being swept back in time to this delicious moment.

  And then Ric swept her up in his arms. He took long, swift strides over to the navy-blue spacious deck lounge. Their lips parted as he gently set her down. And then he joined her.

  Suddenly she turned shy. “Ric, we can’t. Not here.”

  “Look around. There’s no one to see us.”

  She glanced out at the black sea with just the moonlight dancing upon the water. “But what about the staff?”

  “Trust me. We won’t be disturbed.” He leaned over and pressed his mouth to hers.

  What was it about this man that had her doing things that she would never consider otherwise? Still, the thought of her and him beneath the stars seemed so fitting.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him to her. She didn’t need to dream tonight because no dream could be better than this moment with this amazing man, who had sneaked past her defenses and into her heart.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  HAD THAT REALLY HAPPENED?

  Oh, yes. It definitely had.

  Ric smiled. The next day, he was still trying to wrap his head around the direction dinner had taken. Sure, it had been a quiet, intimate dinner, but he never imagined things would go that far. Okay. That was a lie. He’d definitely thought of it, but never really believed Gia would go for it.

  Until now, Gia had been holding him at arm’s length. Sure, they’d shared a kiss or two. But where they’d gone had been so much further than that. And now he had no idea where they went from here.

  Before, they’d been two people helping each other get what they wanted—what they needed. She was helping him prove the merits of his program. And he was helping her locate her father. It was a clean, unentangled relationship. It was safe.

  But now this thing between them was anything but safe. In one evening, she’d pulled back all the protective layers that he’d spent years wrapping around himself—to never be as vulnerable as he had been when his mother rejected him.

  Now Gia had him thinking about life with her in it. When he thought of lunch, he wondered if she was free to have it with him. When he went home, he anticipated seeing her. She even had him bonding with Gin. That dog was an equal opportunity lover, who tucked Gia in at night but gravitated to Ric’s bed sometime during the night.

  Gia had stumbled into his life not so long ago and somehow in that short period of time, she’d managed to change everything. He felt off balance and not sure what to do next—with regards to his relationship with Gia—

  Wait. Did they have a relationship? Was she expecting a commitment from him? His heart stilled. Did he want to make a commitment? His palms grew damp. In the past, the question wouldn’t have materialized.

  The questions without answers swirled in his mind, distracting him from work. Now he was pondering it. He was supposed to be answering an abundance of neglected and waiting emails. He had to do something while he avoided Gia—while he figured out what to say to her. Somehow, he couldn’t imagine Wow. The other night was awesome. We’ll have to do it again sometime going over very well.

  No. Gia was much deeper than that. Relationships meant a lot to her. She took them seriously. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be searching so hard for a biological father she’d never met. And she sure wouldn’t be pinning all her hopes and dreams on it being a happy union—no matter that the man’s past history said otherwise.

  Gia was the type of person who couldn’t help but walk around with her heart on her sleeve. She might try to hide it, but she wasn’t very successful. And that’s why when she’d looked at him in the morning light, after they’d made love, that he’d known he’d made a very big mistake.

  Gia wanted a relationship. A real relationship with entanglements and emotions—all the things he’d been avoiding. And he had no idea what to do about it.

  And now, when everything was so complicated, he’d gotten the phone call that he’d been waiting for—hoping for. Mr. Grosso wanted to meet with him that evening. And Mr. Grosso wanted him to bring along Gia to tell him how the program had helped her company.

  Ric stared in the full-length mirror in his bedroom. His dark suit with a white shirt and burgundy tie exuded success and confidence, but he felt like a fraud. Sure, he was successful at business, but his personal life was in shambles. And where he was once quite confident, now he wasn’t so sure he could be, or wanted to be, the man Gia wanted or deserved.

  He checked the time. They had to leave for the restaurant. The last thing he wanted was to be late and give Mr. Grosso a bad impression of him from the start.

  When he stepped into the living room, he was surprised to find Gia sitting on the couch with Gin, waiting for him. When their gazes met, she smiled. Not just a little smile, but a big one that lit up her whole face and warmed a spot in his chest. This wasn’t good. Not good at all.

  Stay focused on business.

  Ha! That’s easier said than done.

  And then his gaze drifted lower, taking in the dazzling deep red dress that she’d chosen for the evening. His mouth grew dry. How was he supposed to focus on business when she was dressed like that?

  When he stopped in front of her, she stood. “You look stunning.”

  Color bloomed in her cheeks. “Thank you.”

  Gin barked in agreement. They both laughed. After Mrs. Rossi scooped up Gin and moved to the kitchen, they were alone. An awkwardness descended over Ric. He wasn’t sure how to act around her.

  “Shall we go?” He presented his arm to her. He told himself the gesture meant nothing.

  She placed her hand in the crook of his arm. Her touch made his heart pick up its pace. This was going to be a long evening. Very long.

  * * *

  Everything is all right. It’s just a very busy time. That’s all.

  It was what Gia had been telling herself since they’d made love and Ric seemed to have pulled away. At first, she told herself she was just imagining things. But as time went on, she noticed when he smiled at her, the smile didn’t go the whole way to his eyes. What was up with that?

  And she hadn’t worked up the nerve to ask him about it. What if she was just seeing things that weren’t there? What if she questioned his commitment to this relationship when he was already invested? She didn’t want to do anything to rock the boat.

  Maybe she was just expecting too much, too soon. After all, Ric was used to being a bachelor. He was used to doing things at his own pace. Now he not only had her in his life, but he also had an incorrigible dog living with him—who chewed on his good shoes if he forgot and left them out.

  She just needed to slow down and let things happen naturally—even if it was slower than she’d like. They were fine. After all, if they weren’t, would he have taken her on this very important dinner meeting?

  What she hadn’t anticipated was that they would be in a private room for dinner—just the two of them and Mr. Grosso. They were seated in a room that was obviously normally used for much larger parties than a party of three. When Ric said this man was a bit of a recluse, he hadn’t been kidding.

  Still, she couldn’t dismiss the strange feeling of being in a big restaurant, but so alone. The murmur of voices reached them every time the server went in and out of the door. Gia wished they were out in the main room. Out there would be distractions that would perhaps put her more at ease.

  She must not be the only one to feel the tension because Ric had been quieter than normal. He’d barely caught her gaze throughout the meal. He’d tried talking to Mr. Grosso, but the man wasn’t talkative. At one point, the older man mumbled something about too much talk ruining a meal.

  Okay, then why request a dinner meeting?

  But thankfully the meal was almost concluded. She wasn’t sure the mostly silent meal had helped Ric’s sale. In fac
t, she was thinking it hadn’t. And Ric must have felt the same way as the muscle in his cheek twitched like it did when he worked on his computer and something wasn’t going right. Or when the dog wouldn’t listen to him.

  As the dinner dishes were cleared and their coffee was refilled, Gia decided to try to help Ric. “It was a lovely dinner. Thank you for suggesting we should meet here.” Her gaze met the older man’s. “We really appreciate you agreeing to meet with us. I’m sure once you hear about Ric’s creation, you’ll feel the same excitement about it that I do.”

  The older man’s gaze moved between her and Ric. “How long have you two been together?”

  Heat rushed to her face. She hadn’t anticipated discussing her complicated relationship with Ric. “I haven’t known Ric all that long.”

  “About the program,” Ric intervened. “I have the real time results you’d previously requested.”

  The older man waved off the mention of business. He took a sip of his coffee and then leaned back in his chair. His gaze continued to move between the two of them. His gaze settled on Gia. “My Elizabeth was a lot like you. She was my biggest supporter.” He sighed as though the memories were bittersweet. And then his gaze moved to Ric. “I just wish I’d have noticed her sooner—paid more attention to her.”

  Ric’s jaw tightened. It was as though the man was trying to send him a message, and Ric wasn’t having any of it.

  Gia went for a distraction. “Is Elizabeth your wife?”

  Mr. Grosso turned his attention back to Gia. “Yes. She was. Taken from me far too soon. When are you two getting married?”

  “We aren’t,” Ric said. “Now about the program.” He reached for his attaché, pulling out a manila folder. “I’ve brought some printouts that we can go over.”

  Mr. Grosso frowned and waved away the papers. “You two, are you a couple?”