Tendrils of gold wafted around Victoria’s face, sticking to the sides of her cheeks. A massive gust of wind blew her hat from her head. She turned to retrieve it, the edges of her matching pink scarf billowing wildly into the freezing atmosphere.
Shit!
Her hazel eyes widened. Lips parted, her scream was silenced by the hiss of the wind.
“Let me get that for you,” Henry said, stepping from the shadows.
Before he’d come up with a reasonable explanation as to why he was following her, Victoria turned and bolted down the street.
Son of a bitch!
Henry snatched up her hat and ran after her.
Breathing heavily, Victoria glanced over her shoulder, her foot sliding over the icy cement. The stumble briefly slowed her gait as he caught up with her. “Leave me alone!”
He grabbed the edge of her sleeve, halting her progress, and pulled her toward him.
Victoria wiggled spastically against Henry’s chest. “Help! Somebody! Help!” she screeched, the high pitch nearly deafening him.
Instinctively, Henry clamped his hand over her mouth, hoping like hell nobody peeked out their windows and called 911. “I’m not going to hurt you,” Henry breathed against her ear, catching a whiff of her perfume. Feminine and enticing, the fragrance ignited a spark of ecstasy to course through him. He ran his nose along her chin, inhaling deeply of the silken curls. “I’m going to remove my hand now.” Slowly, he inched his fingers away from her mouth. “Please. Just don’t yell.”
“Get away from me,” Victoria said and stomped on the top of his foot.
“What the hell did you do that for?” he huffed.
Victoria spun around, about to abscond for the second time.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Henry limped in front of her, using his body to block her escape. “Please don’t be afraid.”
Chest heaving, Victoria glared up at him, her lips drawn into a thin line. “Why are you following me?”
“I saw you locking up your store. When I noticed you were walking alone, I wanted to be sure you made it safely to your destination.”
Fear flashed through her eyes. “You’re watching me?” Panic resounded in her voice, her eyes darting around the darkened street.
Dammit! I sound like a perverted stalker. Great. Just fucking great.
There was no way for Henry to explain himself without sounding like a psycho. “Do you realize you could be attacked? Thank God you ran into me and not some rapist or murderer.”
Victoria took a step toward him, her horrified expression dissolving into fury. “You’ve got some nerve.”
Henry stared down at her. “Well, it’s a good thing I do. You certainly don’t give a fuck about your own safety. Someone has to.” Henry thrust the hat before her. “Here. Take this.”
She ripped it from his outstretched hand and tugged the hat low over her ears. “What difference does it make to you?”
His cock hardened, her temper turning him on.
“Wipe that smirk off your face.”
An image of her naked body spread open for him, his head dipped between what he was sure to be soft, creamy thighs flashed through his mind. He was thirsty for a drink of her sweet honey. “Make me,” Henry challenged, his voice husky.
“Don’t mess with me, Henrique Santana,” Victoria warned. “I hardly think I will thank God for the man who is trying to evict me from my home. Not to mention, someone who has threatened to close my business. “You—” she shoved her finger to his chest—“aren’t in any position to lecture me on my protection.”
“Ouch! Why’d you go and poke me in the chest?”
Her eyes narrowed, one toe tapping rapidly as she fisted her gloved fingers against her side. “I’m glad it hurt. You deserved it.”
How he’d enjoy taming the unruly vixen. Henry let out a long breath, trying to rid himself of his lustful thoughts. “Look, I’m not harassing you, babe. I’m simply making sure you make it home alive.”
“You. Arrogant. Jackass.” She threw her hands in the air. “My name is Victoria, not babe.” Balancing on her tiptoes, she craned her head back and squinted up toward his face. One finger flexed, poised to strike.
“I stand corrected.” Henry captured her finger between his palm and gently lowered it away from his chest. “I meant no disrespect. Please accept my sincere apology if what I said came across that way, Victoria.”
With her eyes narrowed into small slits, she reminded him of a Sphynx, a breed of cat he’d always found intriguing.
“Stop trying to take my home from me. That would be a good place to start.”
Your claws are out, Goldilocks. If she wanted to play cat and mouse, he’d be happy to oblige. “I’ll tell you what.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “Oh...please do tell.”
He chuckled, “Patience, Ms. Hathaway.”
“It’s hard to be patient when you’re about to freeze to death. I have better things to do with my time than be harassed by an idiot such as yourself.”
“As I said before, I am not here to harass you. Anytime you want to leave, you’re free to do so.”
She pivoted away from him. “Bye,” she said and started to retreat down the sidewalk.
Henry caught up with her in two steps. “Hold up. Where are you going?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, Mr. Santana, but I’m going home.”
“You’re walking home in this weather?”
“Yup,” Victoria said, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her coat. “It’s a known fact that your metabolism burns faster when you are walking in the cold.”
It’s also asinine. The harsh wind beat against Henry’s face, his eyes watering. “If you agree to have dinner with me, I’ll discuss the construction project with you. Perhaps we’ll come up with an agreement that will prove to be mutually beneficial.”
“I doubt it,” Victoria snapped, staring straight ahead.
“You never know. Won’t you kick yourself later if you haven’t done everything in your power to try to stop my company from building on your land?” Henry flashed his most alluring smile. “It’s just business, Ms. Hathaway,” he said.
From the corner of his eye, Henry noted the conflict of emotions etched over her lovely face. Plump, moist lips that he longed to taste opened as if to speak but, instead, made an inaudible sound before she quickly pressed them back together. After several minutes, she questioned, “You’ll really consider what I have to say?”
If that’s what it takes to spend more time with you. Henry smiled; he had her right where he wanted her. “Yes,” he answered. “Besides, I’ve no idea where we are. You’ll be my beacon of light.”
“Not so smart now, are you, Mr. Santana?” she said. “You should have thought of that before you decided to stalk me.”
“I’m not stalking you. I’m looking after your well-being.”
“My well-being was perfectly healthy until you came along.” She turned to glare at him. “For your information, we’re now on Farewell Street. You should be familiar with it as your company is trying to take over the street. I ought to leave you here. It seems rather appropriate.”
Henry held his breath. He’d been so wrapped up in following Victoria that he’d neglected to make a note of landmarks. There’d been so many twists and turns, so many dark, narrow streets. If she didn’t acquiesce to help him, he’d have to rely on his cell phone for navigation.
“Fine,” she said after several agonizingly long minutes. “Where did you park?”
Chapter 5
Victoria
Victoria gaped at the canary-yellow sports car. “This is your car?”
Henry raised an eyebrow, his expression one of puzzlement. “Yes.”
Victoria stared, dumbfounded at the luxury vehicle. “Seriously?”
Nodding, he pulled a gold keyring from his pocket and lifted it toward the sports car.
“It’s a Lamborghini Aventador Roadster,” Victoria gasped, her eyes
wide.
“I know. It’s my car.” Henry lowered the key fob clutched between his fingertips to his side. “Is there a problem with it?”
“Absolutely not. It’s a work of art.” Unable to control her enthusiasm, Victoria bounced to the passenger’s side door.
Shoulders squared, Henry pointed the key fob toward the Lamborghini. With his chest protruded out, he reminded Victoria of a peacock, preening and cocky, as he strode up to stand beside her. Twice the headlights flashed in unison to indicate that the doors were unlocked. Then the doors opened into the air, reminding her of an angel’s wings as the long lengths of the steel jutted toward the sky. Henry gestured to the open passenger door. “Please get in.”
Seated on the black leather seat, Victoria removed her gloves and then brushed a finger over the dashboard. “Exquisite,” she murmured under her breath.
“I see you like sports cars.”
“I’ve never seen one of these in person, only in pictures. The craftsmanship is incomparable.” Her head swiveled around as she took in the lush black interior. “It’s gorgeous. I can see why it is referred to as a super sports car.”
Henry’s lips curved into a broad smile, revealing his perfectly aligned set of gleaming white teeth. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Like?” she repeated mockingly and then giggled. “I love it!”
He chuckled deeply.
“What do you think about Lamborghini having a carbon fiber body?”
His smile appeared more pleased than taken aback by her question. He hesitated for a moment before he answered, “Probably a good idea.”
“Probably?” Victoria gave him an incredulous look. “Believe me, it’s a fabulous idea.”
“The lady knows best,” Henry said, sounding impressed, and pulled the throttle.
“Oh. My. Goodness! It’s got to be a dream to drive,” she yelled over the roar of the engine.
“I’m not going to lie to you—it is,” Henry said, his deep laughter warming her.
Lost in a state of awe, Victoria questioned, “Can it really go from zero to one-hundred miles an hour in three seconds?”
“I’ll let you take it out on the highway sometime. Once you’re behind the wheel, you can see for yourself what this baby can do.”
“Oh, hell no.” Victoria shook her head profusely. “This baby is a limited-edition luxury sports car that costs more than I make in a decade.” She flushed, suddenly realizing she’d said too much.
As they sped down the cobblestone street, Victoria peered out the window, admiring the rows of perfectly crafted Christmas displays that lined the historic old quarter of the city.
His deep voice startled as they slowed to a stop at the traffic lights. “You’re awfully quiet.”
Victoria turned her attention away from the window, her heart skipping a beat. Sweet Jesus, he is one fine-looking man. “Just enjoying the holiday lights.” She clasped her hands onto her lap, distressed by her body’s betrayal as heat pooled in areas she’d rather it didn’t.
“Do you like Italian?” he asked.
“Very much,” Victoria answered. Handsome or not, he’s still a snake, she reminded herself.
“There is a new Italian restaurant that opened about a mile from here. Would you like to try it?”
“Oh...um.” Rumor had it that the restaurant was delicious but extremely expensive. Victoria wasn’t sure it was appropriate for him to take her to dinner there.
Henry appeared baffled by her hesitation. “Didn’t you just say you enjoyed Italian food?” He winked. “I know you like Italian cars.”
“I did—I do.” WTF! The man was loaded. Why should she care about the price? If he hadn’t butted into her life in his attempt to steal all she held dear, she wouldn’t be forced to endure this so-called dinner meeting.
He cleared his throat. “Do you have somewhere else you’d like to dine?”
“No. The Italian restaurant is fine.”
“Are you saying that to be amenable? I’ve got no issues going somewhere else if you prefer.”
Her lips curved into a half-smile. “It’s fine.”
“I only suggested it because someone I know mentioned it to me the other day. I’ve never actually been there to know if it’s any good. I’m up for anything. As you’re well aware, I’m still getting acquainted with the area.”
Does he realize he is rambling? Victoria studied him, contemplating his behavior. His perfect lips moved at rapid-fire speed, the words whooshing out on a single breath. “Wherever you want to go, I’ll be happy to take you. Lead the way.”
How about a one-way ticket back to Miami? she thought, playing with the fringe on her scarf.
Henry glanced in her direction and took a deep breath. “Something wrong?”
“Nope,” Victoria said and decided to put him out of his misery, even though she was rather enjoying the normally self-assured Henrique Santana’s unease. “I’ve never eaten at Riccardo’s before. It might be nice to try something new.”
“Well then, it looks like it will be our first time,” he answered, his voice deep.
Victoria turned her attention back onto the sidewalk. Holy shit! Apparently, he wasn’t as nervous as she’d believed. His sexually driven innuendo made her cheeks color. Henrique Santana was smooth. That was for damn sure. And to think she’d almost fallen for his act. Lying, two-faced, rat bastard.
“Good thing there’s a parking lot behind the restaurant. I forgot my gloves,” Henry said and waggled his eyebrows. Luckily, I have pockets.” He wiggled his fingers into the air, making a show of his gloveless hands.
Victoria rolled her eyes, refusing to smile even though his idiotic display was kind of amusing.
As they neared the entrance, Henry shuffled in front of her, his hand covering hers as they simultaneously reached to open the door. Victoria flushed, instantly pulling her hand away. Opening the door wide, Henry waited for her to enter before him into a large waiting area, painted a delicate shade of lilac with crisp white crown molding. The rich aroma of garlic and other Italian delights wafted toward them, making Victoria’s stomach growl.
“Good evening.” Henry flashed one his dazzling smiles at the hostess. “We’d like a table by the window, please.”
Victoria glanced up at him quizzically. Well, that request had been unexpected. Whenever she’d dined with David, her ex-fiancé, he’d rebuked her when she suggested a window seat, complaining that it would be too drafty.
He peered down at her, his forehead wrinkling. “Everything all right?”
“Yup. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You had a faraway expression on your face. As if you were a million miles away,” he answered.
“Oh.” Victoria chewed on her bottom lip. “I have a lot on my mind.”
“The hostess said it should only be a couple of minutes. They’re clearing the table for us now.” He lightly took her arm and directed her toward the coat rack. Her stomach fluttered as if consumed by butterflies. “I hope you don’t mind that I requested a table by the window. It was rude of me not to ask first.”
The butterflies tortured her with an abundance of bellyflops as she shook her head.
“On the way here, I noticed how much you seemed to enjoy looking out at the Christmas lights.”
So smooth! It’s all part of the plan, Victoria reminded herself, reining in her nerves. This dinner meant nothing to him. It was a ploy to get on her good side. She’d be a fool to believe otherwise, and Henrique Santana was in for a rude awakening if he thought she’d be bought with a fancy dinner and a few kind gestures.
“Let me take your coat,” he said, moving his hands to her shoulders to assist her.
She unbuttoned her pink parka, quickly shrugging it from her shoulders. Thankfully, she’d worn her favorite teal sweater. Every time she wore it, she’d been told the hue complemented her complexion. Unfortunately, it was paired with faded blue jeans and scuffed black snow boots. Being underdressed hadn’t been a consideration
when she agreed to dine at the elegant restaurant. She’d been too focused on more critical issues, such as her dinner companion’s willingness to ruin her life.
The hostess sauntered toward them, her lips slick with bright red lipstick, parted into a sultry smile. “Your table is ready,” she said.
The hostess ushered them through the maze of tables. Mid-bite, the diners turned their focus toward them, openly gawking. Victoria supposed she couldn’t blame them. Henrique Santana was easy on the eyes. In a body-hugging, black cashmere sweater and gray, tailored slacks that fit him like a glove, Henry commanded attention. Even his black leather dress shoes had been buffed and polished to perfection.
“Victoria!” Her name echoed throughout the dining room. She cringed. All eyes suddenly moved their focus to her. From the corner of her eye, she saw Mrs. Burton’s arms extended above her head, flapping frantically in the air. “Over here, Victoria!”
Oh, no! Victoria stopped walking, staring at the horrific sight. This can’t be happening, she thought as the elderly woman vacated her seat and then barreled through the rows of tables toward her.
“Someone you know,” Henry stated rather than asked.
Victoria tensed, wishing she could bolt from the room as Mrs. Burton besieged her. “Yup.”
“She’s rather eager to speak with you,” he said, his deep voice laced with amusement.
“Yup,” Victoria repeated grimly.
The hostess sighed then tapped her ridiculously long nails against the menus.
Henry gently squeezed Victoria’s shoulder. “Take your time talking with your friend. I’ll wait for you at the table.”
A satisfied smirk on her face, the hostess’s hips swayed seductively as Henry followed behind her toward the table.
“Hello, dear.” Mrs. Burton’s loud voice pierced her ears, as she bounded up to stand beside Victoria. “It’s so nice to see you outside of the bookstore.”
“Once in a while I escape,” Victoria quipped.
“What did you say?” Mrs. Burton bellowed.
The Prodigal's Desire Page 3