by SJ McCoy
Ted smiled back at him. “He did.”
Audrey turned to look at him. “It seems he’s more in the know than I am.”
“He’s probably heard mention of me in business circles.”
Diego chuckled. “My friend is too modest. I, on the other hand, am not. We’re bankers. Rawlins-Águila is a well-known and respected private bank.”
Izzy raised her eyebrows. “So, Ted Rawlins and Diego Águila?”
“That’s right.”
“And what about you, ladies?” asked Ted. “What do you do?”
“Advertising,” said Audrey.
“Do you work for anyone we might know?” asked Diego.
Izzy laughed. It was typical that he would assume they worked for someone else. “We both work for someone you know: Audrey.”
“You have your own agency?” asked Ted. “Where are you based?”
“The office is in Ventura. We’re just a small team.”
Izzy rolled her eyes and looked at Diego. “My friend is as bad as yours for being overly modest. She went out on her own after her divorce from him. You know what the name Richard usually gets shortened to, don’t you? Well, in his case, there couldn’t be a more appropriate nickname.”
“Izzy!” Audrey made a face at her.
Diego looked puzzled for a moment, then laughed when he figured out what Izzy meant. That surprised her. She’d have expected him to be quicker than that, but perhaps it was a language thing. His accent wasn’t too strong—in fact, it was perfectly sexy—but it was enough to say that English wasn’t his first language.
“Anyway,” she continued forcing herself to focus on the conversation instead of thinking about his deep sexy voice. “The two of them were in business together. Audrey did all the work. But the advertising world is still like an old boys’ club. So, when they separated, most of the business stayed with Richard. He’s pretty much run the agency into the ground now, from what I hear.”
“That’s not true,” said Audrey.
Izzy held up a hand. “Okay. Sorry. I’ll stop.” She smiled at Ted and Diego. “The short version of the story is that Audrey went out on her own after the divorce and now runs a digital advertising agency that has won numerous awards in the last couple of years.”
Ted caught Audrey’s eye. “What kind of clients do you work with?”
Diego chuckled. “I think he’s wondering whether you work with banks.”
Izzy glanced at him. It was a stupid thought, but she hoped that it might work out that way. If Audrey wanted to work with Ted, that would mean that she’d get to see Diego again. Though why she would want to …
Audrey smiled. “We work with anyone who’s looking to increase their reach online. But I’m here to take a break from work. So, if you don’t mind, can we move the conversation along?”
“Why don’t we move it onto the dance floor?” suggested Diego.
Izzy was on her feet in a moment. It was only because she wanted to get away from the conversation. Dancing would be a good distraction from sitting there staring across the table into Diego’s big gorgeous eyes!
The dance floor was crowded, but Diego took hold of her hand and went ahead of her, clearing a path for them. For a moment, she let herself relax and enjoy the feeling. He was a big guy, and there was something commanding about him, too. People gave way to him, and the thought crossed her mind of how it would feel if she gave way to him. Shivers chased each other down her spine as she looked at his broad back. But no.
When he stopped and turned to look at her, Izzy let go of his hand and elbowed a space for herself. She was perfectly capable of making her own way in the world—she didn’t need a man to do it for her.
She was relieved when Audrey and Ted made their way out onto the dance floor. She didn’t want to be left out here with just Diego. He was a great dancer, which didn’t surprise her. He was one of those guys who would be good at everything he did; she could just tell. Her concern was that if she wasn’t careful, he’d be doing her before the night was out.
Chapter Two
Diego’s heart was racing in his chest when the cab pulled up outside the lodge. He had a sense of impending disappointment. The rest of the evening had gone well. Ted and Audrey were so into each other it was obvious. He had a feeling that it might be just as obvious how into Izzy he was, but she kept fending him off. He wasn’t averse to laying on the charm to win a woman over, but her comment about Eddie kept plaguing him. She’d shot him down every time he’d made any kind of advance toward her, and he knew that he should just let it be. If the two of them were staying here the whole week like Ted and Audrey, then he’d no doubt make more of an effort, but she was leaving. So was he. That would have to be an end to it.
Izzy jumped out of the cab, and he quickly followed her. They were no doubt going to bid Ted and Audrey goodnight right here, but he couldn’t stand the thought of Izzy scurrying away from him without so much as a proper goodbye. He smiled to himself ruefully while he waited for the others to get out of the cab; he had a feeling that she was going to be the one who got away. He at least wanted a peck before she went.
As the cab pulled away, they all stood at the bottom of the steps that led up to the lobby.
“A drink in the bar, then?” asked Ted.
Audrey nodded and looked at the others.
Izzy slipped her arm through Diego’s, making his heart race. “I’m afraid I’m absolutely pooped,” she said.
A ball of disappointment settled in his stomach. She wasn’t eager to have a drink with him. She was giving their friends the chance to be alone. He faked a big yawn. His own chances might be disappearing before his eyes, but he was still happy for Ted. “I also am too tired.”
Ted laughed. “Can you make it any more obvious, guys?”
Izzy laughed. “You’re the one who isn’t going along with it. We tried. You two go ahead. Have a drink; we’ll see you tomorrow.”
Diego took hold of Audrey’s hand and kissed the back of it. “It was a pleasure to meet you.” That was the truth. She was a good woman, he could tell. And if she could make Ted happy, then he would be happy for them.
“It was lovely to meet you, too.”
Ted smiled at Izzy.
She waved a hand. “No need to say anything. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Diego’s heart leapt into his throat at that. If she expected to see Ted tomorrow, then there was no reason she wouldn’t see him, too.
He looked down at her and tightened his arm so that she wouldn’t pull hers away as they walked up the steps into the lodge.
Once they were inside, she glanced back over her shoulder.
“Are they coming?” he asked.
“No. I have a feeling they’re going to go for a walk first.”
Diego smiled. “Ted loves to walk on the beach.”
She laughed. “They’re perfect for each other. Audrey does, too.”
She turned back and started walking toward the elevators. Diego decided he might as well give it a shot. He started steering her toward the bar.
She gave him a puzzled look.
“Since it’s unlikely that they’re going to come in and go to the bar, I think we should be safe, don’t you?”
“Safe?”
He held her gaze for a long moment. He had to resist the urge to tell her that she was safe with him. Most women liked to hear that, liked to feel that way. With Izzy, he got the feeling that she wouldn’t want to hear it. “Safe to have a nightcap at the bar.”
She pursed her lips.
“I wouldn’t normally come back early. I get the impression that you wouldn’t either. We’re trying to do a good deed for our friends. I think we at least deserve a drink as our reward.” Why was he justifying it that way? He didn’t understand himself. He didn’t need an excuse to ask a beautiful woman if she wanted a nightcap with him. He didn’t usually have any doubt that a beautiful woman would accept eagerly, either. But Izzy wasn’t just a beautiful woman. She was a sma
rt, independent woman. And for some reason, he got the impression that everything that most women found attractive about him turned her off somehow.
Still, he risked it. He let his gaze travel over her—and not only because he knew the effect it had on women, but also because she was so gorgeous. He’d been drinking her in with his eyes every chance he got all night. If this was going to be his last chance, he didn’t want to lose it.
When he looked back into her eyes, he was surprised—and turned on—to see something that looked a lot like lust in them.
She nodded slowly. “You’re right. We shouldn’t miss out on a good time just because they’re having one.”
His heart began to race. Was she talking about the kind of good time he’d like to have with her?
She laughed as if she’d read his mind and started walking toward the bar. “Don’t go getting any ideas, handsome. My idea of a good time right now is a good stiff—”
He couldn’t help but laugh. “I can help with that!”
She rolled her eyes at him, even as she laughed. “No. We need to be straight about this. No, you can’t help with that.”
His heart sank. “No?”
She shook her head, but her eyes belied her words. She was attracted to him, he could tell. “You’re not my type. I can see the appeal, but …”
He shrugged. He wasn’t one to beg a woman. He was more used to them coming on strong to him. He felt that ball of disappointment in his stomach tighten. If her type was someone like Eddie—a younger guy—then there was nothing he could do about that.
He blew out an exaggerated sigh. “Very well. You break my heart. However, I am nothing but gracious in defeat.” They reached the bar, and he steered her toward a booth in the back.
She raised an eyebrow at him. “You still want to sit back here?”
He chuckled. “I don’t want people to see me crying into my drink.”
“You’re hardly going to do that. I thought you might prefer to sit at the bar so you can check out your options for when I go up to bed.”
His head jerked up at that. He couldn’t deny that he’d been known to move on to another woman in a bar if his first conversation fell flat.
She laughed. “You’ve done it. Don’t try to deny it.”
“I won’t. Although, that’s not my intention tonight.” He raised an eyebrow at her and smirked. “You think I have accepted defeat? I haven’t given up hope yet.”
A smile played on her lips.
“That’s funny?” he asked.
She shrugged. “You surprise me, I suppose. I thought my rejection might have been too big a hit to your ego.” She looked around. “It seems to me that you have a few options in here that could help you salve it.”
He smiled at her through pursed lips. “It seems to me that your rejection isn’t as complete as you’d like me to believe.” He was gratified to see her eyes widen at that. It gave him hope, and he had to test it. He leaned forward, dangerously close to her. Her eyes grew wider still, and he couldn’t help but notice the way her breasts rose and fell as she breathed more deeply.
He reached past her and plucked a single flower from the vase on the table. There were only inches between them now, and he could honestly say that he could help her with that good stiff …
She took the flower from him with a smile and sat back. “Thank you. That’s sweet of you.”
He held her gaze for a long moment. He’d been right. Her rejection of him was far from complete. He knew that if he wanted to work hard for it, he could probably convince her to drop her defenses completely. He could charm his way into her bed tonight; he was fairly sure of it. What he wasn’t sure of was whether he wanted to. She’d told him he wasn’t her type. She hadn’t told him, but he knew that she liked younger guys. Why would he put himself out there for that?
~ ~ ~
The waiter came, and they ordered their drinks. It gave Izzy enough time to compose herself. When Diego had leaned in close like that, it’d almost been game over! He’d invaded all her senses. He was a lot of man. He was maybe six-two. Broad shoulders. Big, strong arms. She shivered and twirled the flower he’d given her. Powerful. That was the word that came to mind. And it was a word that freaked her out. She peeked at him.
He was watching her with that damned little smirk playing on his lips. She bit the inside of her cheek at the thought that she’d like to kiss that smirk right off his face. What was she thinking? He was someone she would never get involved with—not even for a night. Despite the effect he had on her physically, she just couldn’t handle it. She was nobody’s second-in-command. And that’s what guys like Diego wanted—at best. He needed to be the star of the show, and any woman would have to play a supporting role. She bit back a laugh—even in bed! That wasn’t her thing.
He raised an eyebrow at her. “Something funny?”
She shrugged. “Just life.”
“Tell me about yours? You live in Ventura. You work with Audrey. What else?”
“There’s not much else to know. You heard my history when we were all coming clean back at the Boathouse.” She frowned as a thought struck her. “What about you? You’re a banker. You don’t strike me as a banker.”
His smile was just so damned sexy. There was something inviting about it—something dangerous, at least dangerous for her. Strangely enough, she got the feeling that it was only dangerous because she knew how to take care of herself. If she wanted or needed a man to take care of her, then it would most likely be more reassuring.
“I don’t see myself as one either. It’s kind of where Ted and I landed in life, if not where we set out to be.”
She frowned. “What, you made so much money that you had to open your own bank?”
He chuckled. “Something like that.”
“What else?” She was curious now to know about him. “Your son lives here?”
“That’s right, he and his fiancée, Maria. I come up to visit as often as I can.”
“And there’s no Mrs. Águila?” It wouldn’t surprise her if he said that yes there was.
He frowned. “I told you, she left us when Zack was six.”
“She was the only one?”
He frowned again. She got the impression that he wasn’t used to women questioning him. She bit back a smile. He was probably more used to them agreeing with him—loudly. Along the lines of yes, Diego, yes! She shifted in her seat at the thought of breathing those words herself.
“She was.”
Izzy came back to her senses. “Sorry. I don’t mean to pry.”
He looked up as the waiter returned with their drinks.
Once he’d gone, Diego held out his glass to her.
“What are we drinking to?” she asked.
Jeez, that smile could persuade her of pretty much anything if she wasn’t careful. At least, she thought so, until she heard his next words.
“New beginnings.”
She set her glass down and shook her head.
“No? Why? We drank to it earlier.”
She met his gaze. “For Audrey—and maybe for her and Ted.”
He set his glass down. “Not for you? Not for me?”
She shook her head. “I’ll drink to a new beginning for you if you have one in mind.”
He looked puzzled. “I don’t understand you, Izzy.”
She smiled. “Well, then let me lay it out for you. Of course, I find you attractive. But no, I have no interest in beginning anything with you.”
There went that damned smirk again. “So, even if Ted and Audrey start seeing each other—your best friend and mine—you’re saying that this will not be the beginning of a friendship between you and me?”
She made a face. “You know damned well what I meant.”
He sighed. “I do. I’m sorry. You confuse me. If I go by your words, I should back off and treat you as a sister.”
“So, why don’t you?” Much as the thought dampened the excitement that was rushing through her veins, it woul
d be the sensible solution.
He raised an eyebrow at her. “Because if I go by your actions—and your reactions to me—I should ignore your words and take you upstairs.”
She wanted to act offended, but she couldn’t. It was a fair assessment. “Well, a gentleman always takes a lady at her word.”
He nodded. “And I am a gentleman.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
She had to laugh when he winked and added, “Especially in bed.”
She slapped his arm. “Damn. I bet your little black book is full of willing women just waiting on your call, isn’t it?”
He smiled but didn’t answer the question. Instead, he raised an eyebrow. “What about you? Do you have a line of eager young things, all waiting and hoping for their chance with the delectable Izzy?”
She shrugged. There wasn’t exactly a line of them, but she did have a pool of younger guys she could call when she wanted to go out—or to stay in.
For some reason, it bothered her when he looked disappointed.
“What?” she asked. “What are you looking like that for? It’s all right for you to have a bunch of hot young chickies, but not for me?”
He shook his head. “You’re a strong, independent woman. I would never criticize your choices. I’m disappointed; that’s all.”
He was so serious that now Izzy felt disappointed, too. Something in what she’d said had apparently been a deal-breaker for him. “What are you disappointed about?”
“We’re different. I won’t deny that I have many female friends I can call on—friends who are happy to hear from me. But they’re not young chickies, as you put it. I’m disappointed because I’m not young, and I get the impression that due to that fact alone, I cannot get my name on your list.”
She stared at him for a long moment. He was right, but she felt like a shit admitting it—though, why, she didn’t know. “Come on. It’s not as though you wanted to be on my list. At best, I was a target of opportunity tonight.”
He gave her a rueful smile. “Perhaps you’re right. So, shall we leave the subject there and enjoy our drink?”
She smiled, relieved, and lifted her glass to him. “How about to new friends?”