Painful memories flooded her mind. Getting engaged had been the biggest mistake of her life, and although Maya knew her ex wasn’t the right man for her, his rejection still hurt like hell. This was her first Christmas without him, and every time she heard “Jingle Bells” or saw mistletoe hanging in a doorway, sadness consumed her.
“Do you have any special plans for the Christmas holidays?”
Hearing Marc’s deep, panty-wetting voice in her ears, Maya surfaced from her thoughts, and swallowed hard to clear her throat. Conversation flowed smoothly and freely, and no topic was off limits. Over cocktails and decadent desserts, they chatted about pop culture, movies they were dying to see, and the worst blind dates they’d ever been on. The ballroom was crowded and noisy, filled with spirited partyers, and the festive atmosphere put Maya in a playful, flirtatious mood.
An R & B group took the stage, and when Marc asked Maya to dance, she rose to her feet and strode confidently onto the dance floor. He took her into his arms, holding her close to his broad, muscled chest, and they moved as one body to the sultry, sensuous music. It amused her to see people watching them—even her girlfriends—but Maya draped her arms around his neck, pulling him even closer. With his handsome face and muscled physique, it was no wonder women everywhere were making eyes at him. His caress was as dreamy as his smile, and as his hands stroked her arms and hips Maya imagined herself kissing him, but conquered her desires. They danced to so many songs, Maya lost count. Hot and thirsty, they returned to the bar for another drink.
“You’re an incredible singer and dancer,” Marc said, helping her onto the barstool. “Have you ever wished you were onstage instead of behind the scenes?”
“No way. I’m not cut out for show business.”
He wore a pensive expression on his face. “How do you know if you’ve never tried?”
“I’ve been with Lyrical Soul since they won the first season of Chicago’s Got Talent, three years ago, so I’ve seen it all and then some. Trust me, the music business is brutal.”
“Care to elaborate? In what way?”
“Because Lyrical Soul are full-figured divas, and not Barbie-thin, they’re routinely passed over for bookings and TV appearances. The girl who was second runner-up doesn’t have half their talent, but she’s a perky blonde with a killer body, and music execs love her. She recently signed a record deal, and is presently on tour with a country music legend.”
“Beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes, and it’s sad that in this day and age we’re still judging women by stupid, superficial standards.”
“I agree, but take it from someone who knows. Thin is in, and curvy isn’t.”
“Not to me. I care more about a woman’s heart than her physical measurements, but I’m not going to lie. You’re a perfect ten, Maya, and your inner beauty shines through.”
“Thank you. That’s very sweet of you to say—”
Hearing loud noises, Maya broke off speaking. She saw guests exiting the ballroom through the open doors, servers clearing tables and stacking chairs, and the R & B group packing up their instruments. The lights came on, and the female bartender left the bar.
As she checked the time on her cell phone, her eyes widened, and a soft gasp escaped her lips. She’d been hanging out with Marc for three hours? More shocking still, Maya didn’t want their conversation to end, wanted to talk and flirt for hours more.
Marc must have read her thoughts, because he said, “I’ll give you a ride home. We can make plans for our first date, and discuss the New Year’s Eve black-tie party further. I think we should coordinate our outfits. Power couples always do.”
“Smooth, Mr. Man,” she teased, with a laugh. “Very smooth indeed.”
“Is that a yes?”
“I’m spending the night here at the hotel with my girlfriends, but thanks for the offer.”
“What a coincidence. I’m staying here, too.”
“If you live nearby why are you spending the night in the hotel?”
“Because I deserve it. It’s been a hell of a week, and I could use some R and R.”
“And you’re sure you don’t have a wife and kids waiting up for you in the suburbs?”
“I’m positive,” he said, his tone strong and convincing. “The party’s winding down, but I want us to continue talking, so why don’t you join me in my suite for a nightcap?”
“What kind of girl would I be if I followed you to your suite at this time of night?”
“The kind of girl who’s fun and spontaneous.”
His words tickled her funny bone, and Maya giggled.
“Fill me in on the joke. What’s so funny?”
“This is such a cliché. Guy meets girl at the bar, takes her home, and they hook up—”
Marc made his eyes wide, wore an innocent expression on his face. “Who said anything about hooking up?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows. “Maya, get your mind out of the gutter. No one’s hooking up tonight. I’m not that kind of guy. I’m saving myself for marriage.”
Maya laughed long and hard. “What are we going to do in your suite?”
“Share a bottle of wine, watch Sex and the City reruns, and make out.”
“I like,” she said, meeting his gaze.
Marc took her hand in his and kissed her palm. “Me too. So, what do you say? Are you coming upstairs for the after-party or not?”
His touch and the sound of his husky voice was her undoing. Her temperature rose, and adrenaline coursed through her veins. Maya had never had a one-night stand before, but Marc was every woman’s dream, and the thought of spending the night with him excited her. Her mind made up, she pushed her doubts to the furthest corner of her mind. “Sure, Marc, I’d love to, but first I have to talk to my friends. If I don’t tell them where I’m going, they’ll worry.”
“No problem. I’ll meet you in the lobby in ten minutes.” Marc grabbed his suit jacket, put it on, and brushed his lips against the curve of her ear. “Don’t keep me waiting.”
His cologne washed over her, exciting her body. Watching Marc leave the ballroom, Maya wet her lips with her tongue, couldn’t wait to finally be alone with him. Anxious to see him again, she swiped her clutch purse off the bar counter and stood.
Turning around, she bumped into her girlfriends. Of mixed heritage, Eliza was proud of her Mexican roots and her full-figured shape; Aquarius was the lead singer of the group, and the unofficial manager, and Liberty was a social butterfly, with an energetic personality.
“Hey, you guys! I was just coming to find you.”
“Likely story,” Liberty quipped. “I’m surprised you even remember us.”
Eliza nodded, and her gold chandelier earrings swished back and forth. “I know, right? You were sitting at the bar, all hugged up with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Fine, flirting and laughing like there’s no tomorrow, completely ignoring us.”
“No, I didn’t. You guys sounded amazing tonight, and at the end of your set I cheered louder than anyone.” Refusing to feel bad for hanging out with Marc, she gave her friends a pointed look. “Marc’s a great guy, and I really enjoy his company. Is that a crime?”
“Marc,” they sang in unison, their angelic voices filling the air. “Marc, the herald angels sing. Glory to the newborn king . . .”
Maya laughed. “You guys are ridiculous, you know that?”
Liberty bumped Maya’s hip with her own, Aquarius kissed her cheek, and Eliza gave her a one-arm hug. “We know. That’s why you love us.”
Exiting the ballroom, the women critiqued their performance, discussed the guests they’d met and liked, and argued about what movie to watch in their suite.
“I’m going to have a drink with Marc, so I’ll meet you guys at the room later.”
“I’ll come, too.” Liberty linked arms with Maya. “I love the hotel lounge, and besides, we want to meet your sexy new friend. Handsome, successful men usually travel in packs, so I know Marc probably has a friend or two who’s exactly my type.”
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“We’re not going to the hotel bar. We’re going to his suite.”
Gawking, their mouths open wide, her girlfriends stopped dead in their tracks. “He didn’t invite you to his suite to have a drink,” Liberty said, her tone matter-of-fact. “That’s a cover. Marc invited you upstairs to hook up with you.”
“We’re just going to talk.”
Eliza snorted. “Right, chiquita, and I’m a natural blonde!”
“Girl, don’t do this,” Liberty pleaded. “It’s not worth it. I know. I’ve been there.”
“This isn’t you, Maya. You’re a relationship kind of girl. Not a floozy.”
Snickering, Aquarius propped her hand on her hip. “Eliza, delete that hideous word from your vocabulary. You’re twenty-eight, not eighty-eight, so act like it!”
Maya bit down on her bottom lip. Were her friends right? Was she making a mistake? Playing with fire? Maya didn’t want Marc to think she didn’t respect herself or her body, but she wanted to be alone with him. Wanted to kiss him, to touch him, wanted to be in his arms again. Her breakup had taken a toll on her, affecting her confidence and self-esteem, and hooking up with Marc was the perfect antidote for her holiday funk.
“Maya, don’t listen to them. This isn’t the Dark Ages,” Aquarius argued, rolling her eyes to the ceiling. “Having a one-night stand doesn’t make a woman easy. It means she’s a confident, liberated woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it.”
“Exactly!” Maya nodded in agreement.
“Girl, do you,” Aquarius advised, patting her shoulder. “Or better yet, do that tall, dark, and handsome hottie with the bedroom eyes, and tell me all about it in the morning.”
Maya gave her friends a one-arm hug. “See you later. Don’t wait up.”
“Like hell we won’t!” Eliza raised an index finger in the air. “You have one hour. I mean it. If you’re not back at the suite at midnight, we’re coming to find you!”
Chapter 3
The elevator doors slid open on the tenth floor of the Peninsula Hotel, but Maya was laughing so hard she couldn’t move. Water filled her eyes, blurring her vision, and her jaw ached. From the moment she’d reunited with Marc in the lobby he’d been cracking jokes, and he was so funny and entertaining Maya couldn’t stop giggling. “You’re lying. There’s no way that happened.”
“I’m serious.” Sliding an arm around her waist, Marc led Maya out of the elevator and down the dimly lit hallway. “Last winter, I bet my boss Chicago would beat Philadelphia in the Basketball Winter Classic, and when they lost I had to dress up as Mrs. Claus for the holiday office party. Needless to say, it was the longest three hours of my life.”
“I can’t even picture you in a dress. You’re so big, and tall, and you have huge feet.”
“Tell me about it. I still have nightmares about those red, pointy-toe shoes!”
Marc stopped in front of suite 1012, reached into his pocket, and retrieved a key card.
Hearing noises, Maya’s ears perked up. Frowning, she glanced around the hallway. Someone was whispering. Calling her name. Peering over his shoulder, Maya spotted Liberty, Eliza, and Aquarius at the other end of the hallway, waving frantically, and glared at them.
Annoyed her friends were spying on her, Maya gestured for them to leave, but they didn’t. Dread filled her stomach, and heat flooded her body. What the hell? What were they doing? Were they planning to camp outside Marc’s suite until she left?
Marc pushed open the door and stepped aside. “After you, mademoiselle.”
Spacious, with oblong lamps and designer furniture, the suite had all the comforts of home—a gourmet kitchen equipped with stainless steel appliances, a living room filled with comfy couches, and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered striking views of Michigan Avenue. Snowflakes were falling from the sky, but stars twinkled bright.
“What would you like to drink?” Marc asked. “Wine, tea, or coffee?”
“A glass of wine would be great.”
“One glass of Riesling coming right up.”
Making herself comfortable on the couch, Maya opened her purse, took out her cell phone, and composed a group text message to Liberty, Eliza, and Aquarius. Typing furiously, she threatened them with bodily harm if they embarrassed her, and hit the Send button.
Using the remote control, Marc lowered the lights and turned on the stereo. The air smelled fresh and clean, as refreshing as the ocean breeze, and the jazz music playing in the background gave the suite a romantic ambience. “Are your friends giving you a hard time for joining me in my suite?”
Nodding, Maya fiddled with the gold Cartier bracelet on her wrist. It was a gift from her brother, and every time she looked at it she remembered how far they’d come. Taking a deep breath didn’t help calm her nerves. At the bar, she’d been her usual loud, chatty, opinionated self, but now that she was alone with Marc in his hotel suite, her tongue was twisted inside her mouth like a pretzel, and she couldn’t think of anything smart or witty to say.
Crossing the room, holding two glasses, Marc flashed a boyish smile. God help me, Maya thought. Her heart beat louder, faster, and threatened to explode out of her chest. It turned out her girlfriends were right. They knew her better than she knew herself. This wasn’t her. Maya liked being in a relationship, enjoyed having one special man in her life, and even though she was attracted to Marc, she couldn’t have sex without a commitment. What was I thinking? She’d let the music, the slow dancing, and the festive atmosphere at the charity event go to her head, but it wasn’t too late to change her mind. I’ll have one drink, she decided, taking the glass Marc offered. Then I’m out of here.
Marc sat down beside her on the couch. “I’m glad you’re here, Maya.”
Why ? So you can lure me into bed? she thought but didn’t dare ask. The less she said the better. They’d had their fun and it was time to go, but Maya didn’t want to do anything to upset him. Her ex had had an explosive temper, and Maya knew how quickly a situation could spiral out of control. Thankfully, Marc was the polar opposite of her ex. He wasn’t a hothead. He was a gentleman—polite, courteous, and charming—and Maya felt safe with him.
“You’re friendly and down-to-earth and you tell great stories,” he continued, his tone filled with warmth. “It’s the craziest thing. We just met, but I’m so comfortable with you it feels like I’ve known you for years.”
His words resonated in her soul. Having lots of guy friends, Maya knew every trick in the book, but Marc sounded so genuine and sincere, she believed him. “I agree, and since we exchanged numbers earlier in the elevator, I hope we’ll be able to keep in touch.”
“Of course we will. We have a date tomorrow night.”
“We do?” she questioned, arching an eyebrow. “That’s news to me.”
“I’m taking you ice skating at Tribune Plaza,” he said with a wink and a smile. “After we’ve worked up a sweat, we’ll have dinner at Everest. The food is outstanding, the service is second to none, and the ambience is perfect for a delicious meal with a very special woman.”
Pleased that he’d planned a romantic date for them, she said, “I look forward to it.”
“So do I. Meeting you has been the highlight of my week. Hell, my year!”
Giggling, Maya picked up her wineglass and raised it in the air. “To friendship.”
Marc scoffed, and Maya wondered why his gaze was narrowed and dark.
“I have lots of friends. I don’t need another one.”
Her head spun, but she asked the question that filled her mind. “What do you need?”
“Someone I can be myself with,” he confessed, locking eyes with her. “Someone smart and witty and vivacious who stimulates my mind, my soul, and my body.”
Oh, my, she thought, wetting her lips with her tongue. The silence was deafening, so loud Maya could hear the distant sound of female voices and hoped her friends weren’t hanging out in the hallway, waiting anxiously for her to emerge from Marc’s suit
e.
Taking her glass, Marc set it down on the coffee table. He reached out and drew his fingers across her cheek, slowly caressing it with his hands. “You’re so appealing, I forgot about everyone else in the ballroom tonight—even my mother!” he joked, a grin curling his lips. “I know something valuable when I see it, Maya, and that’s you.”
Lost in the moment and the sensuous sound of his voice, her eyes fluttered closed. Turned on by his confession, Maya listened intently to what he had to say, found herself hanging on to every word that came out of his mouth.
“You are, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman I have ever met—”
Desire exploded inside her, overtaking her mind and body, and she crushed her lips to his mouth. It was the boldest, most shocking thing Maya had ever done, but kissing Marc felt right. Perfect. The kiss was so passionate she moaned into his mouth. Since her engagement ended, she hadn’t even been on a date, let alone had sex, but her body responded eagerly to his touch. Wanted more. Needed more. Longed to make love. And when his hands slid up her thighs and under her dress, Maya shivered.
After she abruptly ended the kiss, the sound of their heavy breathing filled the air.
“Maya, baby, what’s wrong?” Marc asked, a concerned expression on his face.
“I’ve never had a one-night stand,” she blurted out, dodging his piercing gaze.
Her cell phone buzzed, cuing her she had a new text message, but Maya ignored it.
“That’s not what this is. I’m going to see you tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that, and the day after that . . .” Trailing off, he kissed her forehead, the tip of her nose, and the corners of her lips. “’Tis the season for fun and merriment, and I can’t think of anything better than spending the rest of the night talking and laughing with you.”
The Perfect Present Page 19