by Gina Gordon
He nodded and leaned forward, his lips connecting with her jaw. They moved down until he found that spot on her neck, the spot where her pulse pounded with anticipation. She slanted her head, exposing more of her skin, giving him more access.
He licked her neck and shook the salt onto the wet spot, then traded the salt for a lime wedge. His licked the salt, shot the tequila, then sucked on the lime. Lick. Shoot. Suck. He repeated the actions—pretending to shoot more tequila—on the other side of her neck, then he let out a low growl and claimed his territory at the hollow of her throat and her cleavage.
Sterling started to giggle breathlessly. “Hey, that’s not part of a body shot.”
His eyes pierced hers with a smoldering glare, but then moved down her body, licking the side of her knee and ankle.
Her head swam with desire. The sight of his pink tongue in contact with her skin turned her on more than anything. The knowledge that people could be watching them, witnessing this intimate encounter, only fueled her lust higher, faster…deeper.
He returned to the top half of her body and ended with a kiss.
“We’ll have to continue this in our hotel room,” he whispered. “There are a lot of other parts I’d like to lick underneath that dress.”
She sucked in a deep breath. She was all on board.
He grinned at her reaction. “Too bad I’m not done with you here yet.”
She sat up but he kept her seated on the bar, her legs dangling over the edge, and ordered two beers. He stood between her thighs, sipping on his beer. It took all the willpower she could muster not to launch off the bar into his arms and ravish him in public. She tamped down her libido and initiated small talk.
With a smile, he said, “Are you ready to salsa?”
“You salsa?”
“Don’t look so surprised.”
She was very surprised. He just didn’t look like a dancer. Although she knew firsthand he had great moves in the bedroom.
“My last name may be Vaughn, but my mother’s maiden name was Ramirez.” He punched out the word mother with a bitterness she’d never heard in his voice before.
“You’re half Latino?”
“Puerto Rican, to be exact.” He poured two shots. Was one of those for her?
“I had no idea.” It would explain his darker complexion. “You really are full of surprises.”
She glanced around the room. Men and women twisted and twirled in a sensuous rhythm all over the dance floor. Their feet moved in time to the music, their bodies swayed to the beat. They moved as one entity, even though they each had their own part to play.
She focused her attention back to the bar. Jack handed her the shot. The smell flooded her nostrils, singeing her airway.
“Sterling Andrews, do you swear to dance, drink, and surrender yourself to the music?”
She was definitely in for surrendering—but it wasn’t to the music.
She glanced over to the dance floor. Excitement sparked in her stomach. Dancing looked like fun. Being wrapped in Jack’s arms, writhing and grinding in public, looked like even more fun. “You can teach me to do that?”
He nodded. A wicked gleam deepened in his brown eyes.
Jack licked his hand and sprinkled salt on his skin. He grabbed the shot with one hand and the lime wedge with the other. Hopefully he’d have enough alcohol to cloud his brain when he tried to remember how much of an embarrassment she was on the dance floor.
She followed his direction, readying her own shot. What the hell did she have to lose? She held up her glass and said, “I surrender.”
They clinked glasses.
Lick. Shoot. Suck.
Before she knew it, she held his hand as he guided her out onto the dance floor.
They started out with simple side-to-side movements. The heat made her light-headed—which could very well have been from the man holding her close. He impressed her in so many ways in the short time they’d known each other, but the way he moved on the dance floor sent every one of her erogenous zones into overdrive. The man was all sex, pure sin. And he was hers for the night.
They visited the bar between lessons, although after two shots, she was done drinking. She was actually having fun. She never would have thought she’d be the type of person who could loosen up without the alcohol. But she was loose and ready to surrender.
“When am I going to be able to dance like that?” she yelled over the music, and pointed to the couple beside them—so wrapped up in each other they probably wouldn’t have noticed a bomb go off.
“Have another shot or two and you’ll feel like you’re dancing like that.”
She laughed. “You’re probably right.”
He gripped her hips and steadied her. “Can we add another move now? Do you think you’ve got this one down?”
She nodded. She could add another move. When she was with him, she could do anything.
…
Their hotel was on the other side of the strip, but Jack didn’t want the night to end. Instead, they strolled through the crowded streets. Even at 2:00 a.m. the party hadn’t stopped. Eclectic sounds of music filtered into the streets from the different clubs they passed. The rush of the ocean was a distant murmur in the background.
“So how do you feel about salsa dancing?” he asked.
Sterling hugged his arm. “I feel good. I didn’t think I had it in me.”
“I’ve seen the way your body moves. You’re a natural.”
She’d been surprisingly pliant. Yes, that was the alcohol at first, but after about twenty minutes something else took over. Determination shone in her eyes.
“I still don’t think it was necessary to come to Miami.”
He pulled her to a stop. “Did you try something new?”
She nodded.
“Was it exciting?”
She nodded again. This time with a smile.
“Then my work here is done.” He would have taken her to the ends of the earth if need be. All he wanted was to see that smile on her face.
“Look!” She pointed down the street. “There must be a celebrity over there. Look at all those cameras flashing.”
His happiness balled into a heavy knot in his stomach at the sight of paparazzi lurking outside the entrance to a club.
“Come on.” He tugged her across the street.
“Jack?” she squeaked. “Where’s the fire?”
He wasn’t in the mood for harassment. He was never in the mood for harassment, but especially not when he was with Sterling. It was one thing to print lies about him, but he would never be able to live with himself if Sterling were dragged through the mud. It had happened once before, the night his mother passed. That poor holistic practitioner was raked over the coals for weeks simply for setting up a meeting.
Pulling her behind a van, he settled them out of sight.
Just the mere sight of those idiots caused his blood to boil. Anger simmered beneath his skin at the thought of them screwing with his life…again. It had all been fun and games before. Photos of him partying and alleged sex tapes were par for the course, but when they dragged his innocent, sick mother into the equation, that was hitting below the belt. It was then that Jack vowed he’d never allow the media into his life again. At least not voluntarily.
When he finally looked over at Sterling, her expression had saddened. Shit! Did she think he didn’t want to be seen with her?
“This has nothing to do with you, sweetheart. I would love to tell the world how much fun we’re having but unfortunately, that’s not what will be printed. They’ll dig into your background and look through your garbage.”
She gasped. He didn’t blame her for being scared.
“I won’t let that happen, Sterling. I stay far away from those vultures whenever possible.”
She placed her hand on his chest in comfort and gave him a half smile.
“You know that saying, ‘no such thing as bad press’?”
She nodded.
“Tha
t’s a crock of shit.” His jaw clenched as he looked over his shoulder to the scene. “Let’s go lose ourselves on the beach. I don’t want to go to bed yet.”
He hugged her into his body as they walked over the boardwalk. Jack took a look behind him to make sure they weren’t spotted before they stepped down onto the sand.
“Hmm…” She hummed lightly and snaked her arm through his. The sound reached right down to his balls and hugged them tightly. “That’s exactly what I feel like doing.”
She stared up at him with a devilish grin.
“Tired?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No.”
Flames of desire danced in her eyes.
“Let’s take a walk.” They didn’t necessarily need a hotel room to do the wicked things he had on his mind.
They walked toward the shoreline and removed their shoes. The moonlight glistened across the water and reflected in her eyes.
Her hand found his chest again as she leaned into him and caught his gaze.
He sighed. “I hate them.” He pulled her tighter to his body, his hand grabbing at her hip for strength. “The night my mother died, they manipulated an innocent meeting into a sex scandal. They made me look like an insensitive asshole who didn’t give a shit.”
“Anyone who knows you would know that’s not the truth.” She nestled her head on his arm.
“Most people don’t know me.” There were very few people in this world who knew the truth about that night. And for some reason Jack trusted Sterling with the truth.
She pulled them to a stop and leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. He knew he didn’t have to say anything else. She understood this whole deal to spend time together was all about her becoming someone else. She knew all about being slapped with the wrong label.
“Thank you, Jack.”
If anyone was giving thanks, it should be him. “You don’t have to thank me. I wanted to do this.”
“I don’t mean about tonight.” She stopped. The cool waves lapped at their feet. “Well, yes, thank you for tonight. I’ve never been to Florida. What I meant was thank you for all of it. For trusting me. For cajoling me to live.”
He had lived. That was the one thing money did buy. A life.
“I’ve never had so much fun in my entire life than I have the last two weeks with you.”
He wondered why a woman as beautiful and successful as Sterling held back. “Why is that?”
She scrunched up her face and bit her bottom lip. For a minute he didn’t think she was going to reveal anything about her life. She had no obligation to do such a thing. But then she straightened and said, “My parents moved us around a lot. I have two siblings who are much younger. I always had to work to contribute to the household. I never had the opportunity to make lasting friendships. After a while, I just gave up.”
They continued to amble hand in hand, their arms swinging between their bodies.
“One day my parents said they were moving. I was eighteen and I decided I’d had enough. I moved out on my own. Went to college. That’s where I met Penn.”
So she was a responsible teenager. “What about Adult Sterling?”
“Things just kept cropping up that prevented me from being able to let loose and enjoy life. Then I met Tom.” She looked up at him. She didn’t need to explain Tom or who he was. He was obviously the one she was running away from. “He seemed to like boring, old Sterling.”
“And where is this Tom now?” Far, far away? He could only hope.
“My ex-fiancé is long gone and I guess I never bothered to try anything or anyone new. I haven’t dated since.”
“Until you met me and I made you unleash Exciting Sterling.”
She laughed. “I’m going to say it was the dress that started it all. You were just a nice addition.”
He sighed. “My thunder stolen by a dress.”
If he were honest, it was her sexy clothes that caught his attention at first. What man wouldn’t take a second, third—okay, fourth—look at a woman with legs that went on for miles and breasts that peeked ever-so-lusciously out of a bodice
“Speaking of dresses.” He slid his hand up her thigh and under her dress, cupping her perfect, round bare bottom. “I’ve been trying to picture what you’ve got underneath this dress you’re wearing. Every time you’d twirl I’d get a glimpse of something lacy.”
The blare of a car horn from the busy street interrupted their moment, reminding him that they were still a little too public for what he wanted to do. Groups of people congregated on the beach even though the sun was scheduled to rise in a few short hours.
Jack tightened his grip on her hand and they continued along the shore.
“So tell me, what are your plans after you finish with organizing my mother’s things?” He was going to miss her—he liked having the company.
“Well, I have work lined up for a few months, which is great. The word-of-mouth referrals I’m getting are really boosting my business.”
She had her shit together. He used to have his shit together, but he’d been hiding from his life for the last two months. The more time he spent with Sterling, the more he wanted to be that man again. But the thought of being that man lacked its usual appeal without Sterling by his side.
“I admire you, Sterling.”
“You admire me?” She said the words in a laughing tone. As if they were funny.
“You know exactly who you are, where you’re going. You’re even comfortable enough with yourself to break out of your shell and try new things. I admire that.”
He caught her shaking her head out of the corner of his eye.
“You’re the one to be admired, Jack. You have the entire world at your fingertips. No responsibilities, nothing tying you down. You can do anything you want. And you did. You went against what your family expected of you and carved your own path. You have the one luxury in the entire world that I don’t…possibility.”
“Don’t you see you’re just as admirable?” How could she not? “Success isn’t only measured by how much money you make or how many homes you own.” This woman had so much to offer. Why didn’t she understand she could do anything she set her mind to? What was holding her back?
“Can I ask you something at the risk of overstepping my bounds and completely alienating you?”
Her nervousness showed in the way she nibbled on her bottom lip.
“Ask away.” He’d never had another person to talk to, not like this.
“Have you ever thought of having a charity auction? Something to auction off your mother’s clothes and accessories? Considering her prominence in Toronto, people would go nuts.”
“Really? What do people want with old clothes?”
“Vintage. Not old.” She smiled. “All of the profits could be donated to the Cooking for the Future program.”
That was an interesting idea. Maybe there was a way to tie in his undeveloped idea to expand the program with a charity auction. The bigger, the better.
“Actually, that’s not a bad idea. I had this plan…a long time ago. A way to expand the Cooking for the Future program. And a charity auction might be a great way to raise funds.”
He had connections in the city to help host the auction. And Penn was a master marketer and event planner. He had no doubt he could pull it off. “Initially I wanted to use funds from my restaurants, but this could be better, maybe, a way to create a foundation of sorts.”
His brain spun with the possibility. Maybe Sterling was right—he did have possibilities right at his fingertips. And this might be just the thing he needed to assuage his guilt. He wasn’t there for his mother at the time of her death, but he could be here for her now.
“Has anyone ever told you you’re pretty hot when you’re plotting to take over the world?”
“Not today.” He swooped down and kissed her. As usual, she went pliant in his arms.
When he pulled away, she whispered, “the Vivian Madewood Foundation.”
; “Hmm?”
“You can call it the Vivian Madewood Foundation.”
He liked the sound of that. It was the perfect way to honor the woman who had given him so much. The woman who deserved so much more than what he’d given back. Even more, he liked the sound of his potential charity rolling off Sterling’s tongue. He liked everything about the fact that Sterling was here for this moment. He wanted her involved. He wanted her to help him put his plan into action. Plus this was an excellent excuse to spend more time with her before he left.
“Will you help me?”
She looked to the wet sand under their feet. “Oh, I…I’m really busy.”
“Right. Sorry. You’re already doing so much to help us.” That’s right, jackass.
Essentially he was paying her to spend time with him…and spend his money. On her end, it was a win-win deal. He scolded himself. He hated that he thought those things about her, but if history had taught him anything, he’d give her the world, and when she finally got what she wanted she’d take off, leaving him in the dust. The fact that he knew this beforehand should be a benefit, but it would still hurt.
“Well…” She hesitated. “I guess I could help you get organized.”
He caught her stare, her eyes twinkling. “You would do that?” His chest ached. She believed in him. And here he was practically calling her a gold digger. He couldn’t control the future but he could control the time they spent together, and he wouldn’t waste it sulking.
“It’s what I do best.” Sterling brushed his hair away from his forehead. She caressed his temple, letting her fingers glide over his cheek to his lips. She outlined his lips with the tip of her finger. With her free hand, she touched her own mouth. Her eyes sparkled from the reflection of the moon on the water. She was more beautiful than the setting sun.
“Jack?” She leaned forward, and raised up on her toes to touch her lips to his. It was the perfect distraction from what her hands were doing. Namely rubbing him through his pants.
A low growl sounded in his throat. He wanted to be the one to see the look on her face when she found something she loved. That’s what the salsa dancing had been about, the nude beach, the different foods. And now…