“You might want to tell her that. She made it well known that she wanted you to take her to the Italian restaurant. Begged you, if I recall properly.”
“There’s history between Kelly and me. That’s true. I won’t bore you with the details except to assure you that our relationship is entirely over.”
“Stop,” Victoria said, holding her palm up.
Henry looked at his watch. “Why don’t I swing by your house at let’s say—”
Victoria threw her hands in the air. “What’s wrong with you? I know it’s probably hard for you to believe, Mr. Santana, but guess what?” She pointed at herself. “I am not interested in you or any of your nonsense.”
“But you liked the flowers,” Henry protested.
“Of course, I liked the flowers.” The chair squeaked loudly as Victoria pushed away from the desk and rose to stand. “Most women do. It doesn’t mean you can whip out your credit card and buy my forgiveness. I can buy my own damn roses, for goodness’ sake!”
Henry’s eyes lost their brilliance, any trace of self-assurance extinguished. “Your henchwoman has arrived,” he said, his expression wounded as Jennifer rushed over to stand beside her. “Trust me, Ms. Hathaway, the last thing I want is to buy your friendship.” He turned toward the door. “Frederick. Come,” he commanded. Wagging his tail, the dog lumbered toward Henry, and then together they walked out the door.
Chapter 9
Victoria
Four days had passed since Victoria’s confrontation with Henry. She paced her bedroom floor, her anger boiling. How he could possibly think that I’d be impressed with a token bouquet of flowers? Some women may have been won over by the gesture, but not her. How dare he think he could buy her forgiveness.
Arrogant jackass! It was his own damn fault if his feelings had gotten hurt—if he had any feelings at all. Remembering his saddened expression, Victoria assumed he’d probably perfected it along with every other underhanded tactic he’d tried to use to impress her. She doubted anyone knew the real Henrique Santana. All the world knew was his calculated façade.
Victoria picked up the hairbrush from the vanity and used it to sweep her damp hair from her face. She winced as the brush ripped through a small tangle. Staring at her reflection in the full-length mirror, she fastened the rhinestone clip to secure her unruly locks into a French twist and played with the few remaining tendrils framing her face, not particularly happy with their lack of cooperation.
Applying the second coat of black mascara, she decided that she’d start wearing her contacts on a regular basis. It had been a pleasant surprise to uncover the brand-new box of contacts that had been collecting dust while tucked into the back of her medicine cabinet. Without the oversized tortoiseshell frames, Victoria thought she looked much younger.
Turning her attention to the evening gown that lay on her bed, she questioned how she’d fallen into such a rut. She’d grown careless with her appearance. The shopping trips to New York and Boston that she and Jenn adored had become nonexistent. She’d lost a part of herself during her relationship with David. Easing her fingers over the velvet fabric of the gown, Victoria vowed to stop wasting her youth. She was a young and single professional woman. It was time she started acting like it.
When she’d seen the burgundy halter dress draped on the mannequin in the department store’s window display, Victoria couldn’t resist trying it on. She’d felt glamorous as she twisted and turned before the dress shop’s four-way mirror. The fabric molded to her curves in all the right places, and the gown’s rich, dark color created a striking contrast to the paleness of her skin. Feeling sexy and desirable, Victoria pulled out her credit card and splurged on the expensive gown. What difference did it make? David was no longer around to crucify her over the outlandish price tag.
Flexing her newly pedicured toes, Victoria slid their red tips into the sky-high stilettos and struck a model’s pose before the full-length mirror. Jenn’s going to be green with envy when she sees these.
The doorbell rang.
Speak of the devil, Victoria thought, feeling like a goddess as she glided toward the door. Smiling broadly, she opened it.
“Holy shit! Where did you get those shoes? They’re fantastic,” Jennifer exclaimed.
“They are, aren’t they?” Victoria pointed her toe and then swirled her foot around in the air to show off her new, glittery gold shoes.
“You look amazing, Vicki. Absolutely beautiful.”
“Do I?” Victoria asked, feigning ignorance.
“You know you do,” Jennifer said. “Good thing I already have a man because with you around, hot stuff, not one of those rich, eligible guys at the gala will notice me.”
Victoria squealed. Literally squealed with delight as she preened. “I haven’t felt pretty in so long,” she admitted shyly.
“You’re making up for lost time now, honey. Get your coat, hot mama. We have a ball to attend.”
Victoria extended a military salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
One mansion after another lined the narrow street, each lawn flawlessly manicured and sporting one or more luxury vehicles on its driveway. “We’re here.” Victoria pulled her Toyota toward the massive, black wrought iron gates and rolled down the car’s window to speak with the parking attendant.
“Looking spiffy, Charlie.” Jennifer winked from the passenger’s seat. A blush, which Victoria was sure could not be blamed on the cold, graced the attendant’s cheeks.
“Thank you, Jennifer. It always makes me happy to see two such lovely ladies,” Charlie said.
“Hi, Charlie.” Victoria smiled at the middle-aged gentleman.
Victoria’s eyes darted around looking for a parking spot near the entrance as the Toyota rolled its way down the long, gravel path. “You’ll break his heart. He thinks you are interested in him.”
Jennifer made a dismissive sound and shrugged her shoulders. “Just being friendly.”
“He’s old enough to be your father,” Victoria scolded.
“Good. Maybe I won’t have to teach Charlie any tricks.”
“Jenn!” Victoria giggled. “You’re wicked.”
“I know.” Jennifer sported a devious grin as she glanced at Victoria. “That’s why Andre adores me.”
“Poor Andre. You’re a lot for him to manage.”
“He never complains about how I manage him.” Jennifer winked. “In fact, he rather enjoys it.”
The wheels of the car ground over the gravel pathway as Victoria turned the steering wheel. “I’m glad the two of you resolved your differences.”
“Yeah, me, too.”
Victoria maneuvered the vehicle into the nearest parking place. “Sorry. It looks like we’ll have to walk a bit.”
VICTORIA MARVELED, her eyes moving to the ornate foyer. “They’ve outdone themselves this year.” The winding staircase, popularly used as a background in wedding photography, was draped with dark green garland inlaid with minuscule, white, glistening lights. Red and white poinsettias lined the length of the bright red rug that covered each of the stairs.
Suspended from the ceiling hung an enormous evergreen kissing ball adorned with small purple and silver round ornaments. It also was inlaid with the tiny, white lights. In the corner of the room stood a gargantuan Christmas tree. Its long limbs twinkled with matching purple and silver decorations. An angel dressed in a royal purple velvet robe with a rhinestone encrusted silver crown adorned its top.
As they entered through the open French doors, Victoria gasped at the spectacular winter wonderland. Sparkling silver snowflakes cascaded from the ceiling above them. Dressed in purple hats, scarves, or vests, snowmen and snowwomen figurines had been artfully arranged in vignettes throughout the room.
“I hear Christmas songs,” Jennifer exclaimed.
Together, she and Victoria wandered into the next room. This time, a dozen carolers dressed in Victorian attire greeted them. “If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up,” Victoria said, tapping her
toe to a familiar holiday classic.
Jennifer’s attention to the carolers was short-lived. “All this singing makes me want to dance. Come on,” she said, wrapping her arm through Victoria’s.
Graciously, they each accepted a glass of the champagne offered to them by one of the waitstaff as they strolled toward the ballroom. “There he is,” Jennifer said, urging Victoria to follow her toward the rugged man who stood in the corner of the foyer. A huge grin crossed his face at their approach. “Hey, good lookin’,” Jennifer said, wrapping her arms around her boyfriend’s massive shoulders.
Victoria cleared her throat, looking anywhere but at the couple, as their lips locked in an X-rated kiss.
Andre broke the kiss, having the good sense to look embarrassed by their intimate display. “Hi, Vicki. How’ve you been?”
“Pretty good.” Victoria motioned toward the ballroom. “We were just on our way to the dance floor. I think I’ll head into the ballroom now and watch the fun. A few drinks and people let down their guard. There is no telling what might take place in there.”
“We can all hang out together,” Jennifer suggested, playing with one of Andre’s long dreadlocks.
“Yeah, Vicki. Don’t run away on our account,” Andre said, rubbing his palm over Jennifer’s hip.
“I’ll be fine.” Victoria smiled. “I think the two of you could use some time alone.”
“Sure?” Jennifer asked, preoccupied with stroking her fingers over the lapels of Andre’s jacket.
“Yup.” She turned from them and then added knowingly, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Jenn.”
Henry
“Pardon me.” Henry reached to pluck a grape from the cheese platter, deliberately brushing his arm along the shoulder of the mature woman who stood beside him.
“Delicious, aren’t they?” she asked coyly.
Henry lifted the grape to his lips, his eyes trailing over her well-toned curves. The grape snapped as he bit into the crisp, tart skin. “Juicy.”
“There is nothing better than to quench one’s thirst with something that is ripe and juicy.”
Henry’s mouth curved into a sly smile. “I couldn’t agree more. But I must admit—” he bent down to whisper in her ear—“I have a gluttonous appetite.”
“Sounds as if you’ll need more than a mere grape to sate your appetite. Perhaps I can assist you in finding something more satisfying to eat.”
“I’ve not had the pleasure of making your acquaintance,” he chuckled and extended his hand. “Please allow me to introduce myself. I’m Henrique Santana.”
She accepted his proffered hand, moving her free hand over their entwined fingers. “Helen Carrington and, believe me, the pleasure is all mine.”
“Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Carrington.”
As Henry suspected, she immediately corrected him. “Ms. Carrington, but my friends call me Helen.”
“Well, I do hope we’ll become close friends, Helen,” Henry said.
The tip of her tongue darted out, moistening her lips. She smiled, tilting her head back without one of her expertly coiffed brunette hairs falling out of place. “I’ve heard of you.”
A devilish smile crossed Henry’s face. “Don’t believe everything you hear.”
“You’re the son of the real-estate developer who aspires to build a resort along the beach front. Are you not?”
“The one and only.”
A youthful member of the waitstaff offered them each a glass of champagne. “To stimulating endeavors,” she said, raising her glass for a toast.
“And invigorating friendships,” Henry added, tapping his glass to hers.
She nodded to a group of middle-aged men and women huddled together in the opposite corner. “There will be plenty of affluent politicians at this event, Henrique. You’ll need their approval if you’re to secure a building permit. Follow me, handsome.” She snaked her arm through his. “Let me introduce them to my newest friend.”
“That is most gracious of you,” Henry said and ushered her through the whirlwind of people.
A plump woman greeted them first, her figure a sharp contrast to Helen’s bountiful curves. She introduced herself as Mrs. Murdoch, and Henry took an instant liking to her. He found her husband, the senator, arrogant and much too self-important.
“Helen,” a matronly woman said, approaching the group.
Helen leaned closer to him, her ample breasts squished against his shoulder. “Henrique, do help me escape from Sylvia Unger? She is such a bore.”
“At your service,” he said.
“Oh, I do like the sound of that.” Her fingers crawled down his spine, landing on his buttocks. “Let me acknowledge her. I’ll only be a few minutes. Then we’ll find a private place where we can get to know each other better.”
Chapter 10
Henry
Henry leaned his shoulder against the side of a pillar, swirling the copper liquid into a vortex. The ice cubes clinked against the inside of the glass as he scanned the packed ballroom. Guilt washed over him as his eyes met with the smoldering gaze of Helen Carrington. She smiled provocatively. Tipping his glass in acknowledgment, Henry took a sip of his drink. The brandy burned as it journeyed down his throat, the sensation doing little to ease his tension. He cursed his father for talking him into seducing the unsuspecting woman.
There had to be some way to flee from this nightmare. Helen Carrington had him by the balls. To gain the building permit, Henry needed her influence. However, the thought of using sex to earn her backing repulsed him. He’d moved to Newport to prove himself as having a keen business sense, not to enrich his reputation for sexual prowess.
In his peripheral vision, Henry caught a glimpse of perfection. His cock pulsed in response to the hypnotic sway of her curvaceous hips. Cut scandalously low, the gown revealed the woman’s luscious backside. Silky smooth, the skin of her porcelain spine teased him, daring him to trail his finger down to the edge of the soft velvet that rested above the delicate contours of her lower back, directly above her delectable ass. Ripe. Round. Firm. Henry longed to lay his hands over her sensuous bottom. To squeeze it. To spank it. To nip and bite at the creamy flesh.
Elbowing his way through the dense crowd, Henry prowled behind her. His eyes locked on the mystery woman as she wove through the room, stopping to acknowledge an older woman who’d caught her attention. Henry lurked in the shadows, frustrated as he watched her converse with the stranger. The scent of vanilla and ylang-ylang wafted toward him. He remembered that scent but from where? She was only an arm’s length away. All he needed to do was reach out, and he’d be able to touch her.
Between the high-pitched muffled sounds emanating from the elderly woman’s voice and the instrumental holiday music, it was difficult to distinguish her voice. The underlying sweetness and soft, sensual, ultra-feminine giggles that had drifted his way enthralled him. What was it about her that seemed so familiar?
After what felt like an eternity, she gracefully made her way to a table that overlooked the balcony. Henry’s heart drummed in his chest. She pulled out a chair and slid her fine ass onto it, crossing her legs. The gown fell open from the large slit up its side to reveal a shapely calf. His cock sprang to attention, intoxicated by her tantalizing flesh.
“Mind if I join you?” Henry asked, his voice raspy with desire.
She turned to meet his gaze, surprise registering in her hazel eyes.
“Victoria?” Henry said, dumbstruck. “I had no idea I’d see you here.”
“You mean you weren’t stalking me again, Mr. Santana?”
You could call it that. The private joke caused Henry to chuckle. If only Victoria knew how right she was.
Her lips firmly set, she scoffed, “I’m glad to see that I’ve amused you.”
She was lovely. Her eyes, magnificent. Now that they weren’t concealed by her glasses, Henry was able to view the golden flecks that surrounded the unusual shade of olive green. “Not amused, Ms. Hathaway. Simply a man rendere
d speechless by your beauty.”
“Oh,” she said softly.
She shifted uncomfortably, her full breasts jutting forward as she sat ramrod straight. Henry pried his eyes from the rise and fall of the swell of her breasts and drew a chair from the table to sit down beside her.
Victoria inched her chair toward the wall.
“I won’t bite,” Henry said, his lips twitching. “Unless you want me to,” he added, unable to resist goading her.
She glared at him.
Although he couldn’t care less, he needed to break the ice, and so he asked, “Where’s your partner in crime?”
“I assume you’re referring to Jennifer,” Victoria said.
Henry scooted his chair next to hers and nodded. “Pardon my lack of formality. I am referring to Ms. Jordan.”
Victoria scowled and slid her chair against the wall. “She’s with her boyfriend. He’s a cop,” Victoria informed him with a smirk. “He’s quite protective of her. And he’s one of my best friends.”
“So she abandoned you?” Henry asked.
Victoria rolled her eyes. “I really don’t understand what concern it is of yours. But if you must know, Jenn did not abandon me. I insisted she spend time with her boyfriend. Have I mentioned he was recently promoted to detective?”
“Good to know,” Henry answered. “How about you? Did you come alone?”
“What difference does it make?” she snapped.
Palms down on his thighs, Henry braced forward. “If you were my date, I’d never leave your side.”
Victoria stared quizzically at him.
“The guy is a damn fool to let you out of his sight. I doubt there’s a man in here who isn’t enthralled by the sight of you.”
“For your information, Jenn and I are sponsors of this event. It’s good publicity for our store. We always come together.”
Relief coursed through him. Victoria hadn’t come with a date.
Henry stood abruptly. “Dance with me.”
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