by Pamela Yaye
“Wow, your garden has everything. Fruits, herbs, vegetables, even colored tulips...” Angela broke off speaking and pointed at the gazebo. “The flowers you sent me at Dolce Vita came from your garden?”
“Yeah, I handpicked them.” His smile was proud. “I read on your blog how much you love tulips, so I figured I’d make you an original Demetri Morretti bouquet.”
His words stunned her. There was more to him than bar brawls and drag racing. “What were you doing poking around on my blog?” she asked, her tone playful. “You weren’t trying to hack into it, were you?”
“No, I was doing some research.” He winked and gave her hand a light squeeze. “Do you mind waiting inside the living room while I run upstairs to change?”
“You don’t need to change. You look great.” Angela immediately wished she could stick the words back in her mouth. But it was true. He looked handsome in his white, cuffed shirt and khaki shorts, and when a wide, boyish grin broke out across his lips, Angela knew she’d said too much.
“I’m glad we didn’t meet up at a restaurant or bar,” he said, still smiling. “Because I’d have to beat the guys off of you with my lucky baseball bat!”
Angela’s mouth dried. His words floored her, and when he gave her another peck on the cheek, goose bumps erupted over her skin. It was bad enough Demetri was still holding her hand, but now she had to contend with the tingles pricking her flesh, too.
“Let’s eat. Everything’s set up on the patio for us.”
“Lunch can wait,” Angela said. “First, you have to give me a tour of this stunning estate.”
Demetri chuckled. “It would be my pleasure. Just let me buzz one of the groundsmen and ask them to bring up a golf cart.”
“Can we walk instead?”
“Are you sure? It’s almost two acres.”
“I’m sure. It’s gorgeous out here, and since I skipped my morning session with my trainer, I could really use the exercise.”
Angela heard her cell phone ring but ignored it. Rodney had been blowing up her phone all day, but she didn’t feel like talking to him. Or seeing him, either. Her dad had invited him to the Harlem Globetrotters show, and Angela would rather skip the game than listen to her brother’s tired apologies. “How long have you lived here?”
“Seven years. I have a condo near the Royals training facility, but I spend most of my time here. It’s peaceful out here and I love being near the lake...”
As they strode around the grounds, discussing all of the unique features of his lavish, custom-made home, Angela felt herself start to relax. Flirting and laughing with Demetri was exhilarating, and she loved his fun, playful mood. It was hard to believe this was the same guy who’d stormed into her studio weeks ago and threatened to sue her. But it was. And although Angela was anxious to finalize the details of their interview, she sensed that now was not the right time and decided she would broach the subject during lunch.
“I saw your report from Club Eclipse last night,” Demetri said, leading her past the greenhouse. “Every time I turn to WJN-TV, you’re on it. Do you work twenty-four seven?”
“No. I have days off just like everybody else.”
He raised an eyebrow and wore a teasing smile. “And what do you do on these supposed days off?”
“I go to the movies, peruse used-book stores and go club hopping with my girls. You know, the usual single-girl stuff!”
Demetri chuckled. “So, you’re not seeing anyone special right now?”
“No one worth mentioning.”
“You like kicking it with athletes.”
“No,” she corrected, “I like sports. There’s a big difference.”
He wore a confused face. “Care to elaborate?”
“I’m a tomboy in a skirt, and guys love that I don’t mind getting down and dirty.”
Angela laughed when Demetri’s jaw fell open.
“I grew up playing sports, fishing and going to auto shows with my dad and younger brother, so naturally I get along really well with guys,” she said with a shrug.
“Your mom didn’t mind you playing with G.I. Joe instead of Barbie?” he teased.
“She was never around, and when she died five years ago, I grew even closer to my dad.” Angela didn’t want to talk about her mom or the pain of never really knowing her, so she moved the conversation along. “I enjoy activities the average woman doesn’t, and men like that.” She paused. “And for the record, I don’t pursue men. They pursue me.”
“But you’ve dated an athlete in every major sport.”
“No, that’s not true. I’ve never dated a hockey player or a soccer star.” Angela wore a cheeky smile. “But I’m still young. There’s plenty of time for that.”
“Not if things go the way I hope.” Desire twinkled in his eyes and warmed his rich, smooth baritone. Demetri slid a hand around her waist and hugged her to his side. “You must be starving. How about some lunch?”
When they reached the sprawling multilevel patio, which was handsomely furnished with tan couches, circular tables and a stone fireplace, Demetri pulled out her chair. Once she was seated, he filled her glass with Chianti and her gold-rimmed plate with lobster and pasta.
“This is some house,” Angela said, admiring her lavish surroundings. The estate was unlike anything she had ever seen. She was blown away by the sheer size and grandeur of the twenty-room mansion. “Do you live here alone?”
“Not if I can help it!” Demetri chuckled. “My younger cousins crash here a few nights a week, and my parents and brothers stay with me whenever they’re in town.”
“Wow, that’s different.”
“That’s the Italian way. My family means everything to me, and without them I’m nothing.” He paused to taste his wine. “My happiest memories are with my relatives, and even though they can be a pain in the ass sometimes, I love when we all get together and hang out.”
“Is that why you’re taking eighty-five family members with you on vacation?”
Demetri nodded. “I’ve been planning these trips since my rookie season, and each trip is better than the last. We’re going on a Caribbean cruise in August, and I’m real hyped about it.”
“I love my dad, but I couldn’t imagine traveling with him for a week, let alone a month!”
“Then you should consider joining us. All of your travel expenses will be covered, and for three weeks you won’t have to worry about a thing.”
“Demetri, that’s crazy.” Angela draped a silk napkin onto her lap and picked up her gold utensils. “I can’t go with you and your family overseas. They probably hate me for trashing you on my show, and besides, we barely know each other.”
“I know a lot about you.”
“Sure you do,” she teased. “You’ve been secretly stalking me for weeks. I knew it!”
A knowing smile crossed his lips. Lowering his fork, he studied her closely. “You graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in communications, you hate musicals, you’re addicted to coffee and designer shoes, and the only movie to ever make you cry is a French film called A Kiss in Paris. And not because you thought it was a great love story, but because the acting was so bad!”
Angela groaned and covered her face with her hands. “You read the first entry in my blog? The one way back in 2004?”
“No,” he said, correcting her. “I read every entry.”
“Now I’m really embarrassed. That means you saw all my pictures in my video diary. I had terrible hair when I was in college and no fashion sense whatsoever.”
“No, you didn’t, and you looked great in your volleyball uniform.” Demetri winked and pointed his fork at his chest. “I made your Hot 100 List that year, so you know I’m happy!”
“I typed that blog while I was watching your rookie game, and every time yo
u came to bat, I got goose bumps,” she confessed. “You were amazing that night, Demetri.”
“My rookie season was the best year of my life.”
“Was? Don’t you still love playing baseball?”
“I’m getting old, and—”
Angela cut him off. “Old? You’re only thirty-two!”
“Yeah, but I’ve been in the league since I was twenty.” He chewed his lobster slowly and then took a long drink of wine. “If I just had to play ball, I could deal, but the paparazzi, the crazed fans and the constant demands on my time are taxing. I’m not complaining or bitching about how unfair life is, but sometimes the glare of the spotlight is just too bright.”
Angela nodded. “I’ve heard other celebrities say the same thing. From the outside looking in, it seems like you have the perfect life, but I guess things aren’t always as it seems.”
“You can say that again.” He wore a wry smile, but his voice betrayed his true feelings. “I love this estate, and it has a ton of cool stuff in it, but sometimes I feel like a caged animal. There are so many places I can’t go, so many things I can’t do anymore unless I take my security, and sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle.”
“What do you miss doing?”
“Little things, like going to the movies, surfing at Montrose Beach or taking the L line up to the field and—”
“Liar!” she shrieked. “You do not miss riding the smelly, crowded L train!”
“You’re right. I don’t. Bad example.”
Laughter bubbled out of Angela’s lips, and Demetri smiled. And when he served dessert several minutes later, and she broke out in a cheer, he had a good hard chuckle.
“I love strawberry gelato,” Angela cooed, spooning some into her mouth and savoring the cold, refreshing taste. “I could eat a whole tub. And I have!”
“Do you like to play pool?”
“Of course. Who doesn’t?”
“Practically every woman I’ve ever met!” Demetri chuckled. “After we finish dessert, we should go inside and hang out in my media room. We can play pool, listen to music and...”
Hearing her cell phone ring, Angela discreetly slid a hand inside her purse and rummaged around for her BlackBerry. When she saw her brother’s name pop up on the screen, she hurled her cell phone back into the bottom of her purse.
“Your phone’s been ringing off the hook all afternoon.” Demetri wore a pensive expression on his face. “Someone must want to reach you bad.”
“Yeah, probably to ask for another loan,” she grumbled, rolling her eyes to the gray, overcast sky. “I wish Rodney would quit blowing up my phone and lose my number altogether.”
“Rodney? Who’s that? An ex-boyfriend or something?”
“Yuck.” Angela wrinkled her nose. “Rodney’s my kid brother.”
“And you guys don’t talk?”
“Not anymore.”
Demetri sat straight in his chair. “Why not?”
“I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Did he put you in harm’s way?”
“No, of course not. Rodney would never hurt me.” Angela sucked her teeth. “Lying and stealing is right up his alley, though.”
“Angela, you should try to work things out with your brother. He’s your flesh and blood. Don’t ever forget that. Friends come and go, but family is forever.”
“I’m so mad at Rodney, I don’t want anything to do with him ever again.”
“Forgiveness isn’t forgetting or condoning bad behavior, Angela. It’s a gift to yourself.”
His words gave her pause, struck a chord with her.
“For years, I was mad at the world and everyone who had ever betrayed me, but ever since I started reading the teachings of eastern philosophers, my attitude’s changed for the better.” Leaning forward, Demetri took her hand in his and gave it a light squeeze. His touch was gentle, not what she’d expected, but welcome.
“Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself, because once you forgive the person who hurt you, you’re free of the hurt, anger and resentment that’s been eating you up inside.”
Scared her emotions would get the best of her and she’d dissolve into tears, Angela looked up into the sky. A curtain of dark, thick clouds eclipsed the sun, and the air held the scent of rain. Angela didn’t know when the weather had taken a turn for the worst, probably somewhere between dessert and her third glass of Chianti, but she’d been too busy chatting to notice. “What you’re saying makes sense, Demetri, but it’s hard to forgive someone who keeps hurting you. Rodney’s twenty-one, but he still acts like a teenager,” she complained. “It’s time he quit running the streets and did something productive with his life instead of stealing from me.”
“It sounds like he’s going through a rough time. You should be there for him.”
“And let him rip me off again? No way.”
“Haven’t you ever done something you regretted? Something you wish you could undo?” he asked softly. “I know I have. Too many times to count.”
“I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve never intentionally hurt anyone.”
Yeah, but if your dad knew how you paid for your university tuition, he’d be deeply ashamed, said a small voice in her head.
Angela stared down at her dessert bowl. She didn’t want to think about her freshman year in college or the job she’d reluctantly taken after her scholarship had fallen through. Those memories belonged in the past, hidden in the deepest corner of her mind. Her father would never forgive her if he knew what she’d done, and she couldn’t bear to disappoint her dad. Not after all the sacrifices he’d made for her over the years. “Let’s talk about something more interesting,” she said, anxious to change the subject, “like you being a guest on Eye on Chicago.”
He lifted the wine bottle and tipped some into her glass. “I checked my schedule, and I’m free on May seventeenth. Does that work for you?”
“I’ll make it work!”
Thunder boomed, and streaks of lightning lit up the sky.
“We better get inside before it starts to—” Demetri broke off speaking and jumped to his feet when raindrops pelted his face. “Follow me!”
Angela swiped her purse off the nearby chair and grabbed Demetri’s outstretched hand. Moving as fast as her high-heel-clad feet would take her, she sprinted across the patio, through the French doors and into the kitchen.
Scared she was going to drip water on the white marble floor, Angela stood perfectly still on the mat in front of the back door. The main floor was as wide and as long as a football field and decked out in the best home decor money could buy. Soaring columns, dark velvet drapes and leather furniture gave the room a strong masculine feel, and the burgundy color scheme was striking.
“I’ll be right back,” Demetri said. “I’m going to go grab some towels.”
Shaking uncontrollably, Angela rubbed her hands over her shoulders. Her hair was a tangled mess, her dress was stuck to her wet body, and water was oozing from her high heels.
A loud crash drew her gaze to the side window. Outside, the wind battered the plants hanging on the porch. It was raining so hard, Angela couldn’t even see the pool. To stop her teeth from chattering, she clamped her lips together and rocked slowly from side to side.
“Sorry I took so long.” Wearing a concerned face, Demetri wrapped the fluffy, white towel he was holding around her shoulders and drew her to his side. His scent had a calming, soothing effect on her. Closing her eyes, she rested her head on his chest. His shirt was damp, but Angela felt warm, cozy and safe.
“I could stay here with you forever like this,” he murmured against her ear.
Me, too, Angela thought but didn’t dare say. This feels so right. You feel so right.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I
t was just a little rain.”
“I’m not talking about the rain.”
Angela’s eyes fluttered open, and when his dark, predatory gaze slipped over her flesh, her stomach muscles tightened. Demetri was trouble. Assertive. Confident. Determined to have his way. And Angela wanted him. More than she’d ever wanted anyone before.
“You had several glasses of Chianti with lunch.”
“Demetri, I’m not drunk.”
“Are you sure?” he questioned, cupping her chin and cradling it in his palm. “I don’t want to take any chances.”
“I’m far too responsible to ever drink and drive—”
“You’re not leaving.”
“I’m not?” Angela gave him a puzzled, bewildered look. “Then why are you worried about how much I had to drink?”
Lowering his mouth, he brushed it ever so gently against her lips. “Because when you wake up in the morning, I want you to remember every sinfully wicked thing that’s going to happen tonight.”
Chapter 13
“That’s it, baby! Right there! Right there!” Angela panted, gripping Demetri’s head with her hands and pulling his long, nimble tongue deeper inside her. Collapsing against the mound of silk pillow cushions, she tossed and turned, wiggled and withered beneath him. His touch was electric, made her body hot and wet all over. “Damn, baby...”
His hands traveled to her breasts, reverently cupping each one. Demetri was good with his hands. No, great, the best. He kissed her nipple slow and tender with his soft, warm mouth. Angela felt her eyes roll in the back of her head. Her breathing became labored, difficult. She tried to the best of her ability to think straight. She didn’t remember how they’d gotten to the master bedroom or even which floor they were on. The past hour had been a body-tingling ride, one filled with sensuous highs, delicious French kisses and so much grunting and groaning, they sounded like wild animals.
But that was exactly how Angela felt. Wild, brazen, out of control. And it was the best feeling in the world. Demetri brought out the beast in her—the naughty, erotic side she didn’t even know she had. And tonight Angela didn’t care about being perfect or looking perfect. All she cared about was pleasing Demetri.