by Chloe Blake
“Yeah, you never know with tormentors. What happened the second time?”
Kamilla sighed, recalling the earnest look in his eyes. “I believed him. I didn’t want to, because it’s so much easier fighting with him than liking him, you know. After all he’s my competition.” What would she do if she didn’t become partner? The next opportunity probably wouldn’t be for years.
“Or—” she held up a finger as she elongated the word “—you could get a new job. One you actually like.”
Not this again. “I’ve put in too many hours and given up too much of my life to start over somewhere else.”
“Okay. I hear you. I don’t agree, but I hear. What do you think brought on this change in him?”
“I know you have your ideas, so just say it.”
Cass laughed. “I want you to admit it.”
“I’ve got no clue. You’d say it was the sex, but I think he might be playing some kind of game. Trying to get into my head so he can knock me out of the running for partner.”
“Okay, Miss Conspiracy Theory. To be honest, I think he likes you. Just as you do him.”
What good would it do to deny it? Especially now that she’d gotten to know him better. “I’m not ruling out manipulation.”
“Fair enough.” Cass leaned close to the phone. “Now tell me about the sex.”
Confusion slammed her brows together. “What?”
Cass huffed out a breath. “You heard me. How’s the sex? Is it as good as the first time? When we spoke the next day, you were glowing as if you’d eaten a star.”
“Am I glowing now, observant one?”
She traced a finger in a circle. “Why do you think I asked? You have joy and dare I say peace about you.”
“Maybe you need to turn down the brightness of your screen. We’ve kept our clothes on the whole time.” She held back news of the toe-curling kisses they’d shared, along with his very tempting offer of sleeping together. It would merely fuel Casey’s perception that she liked Leonardo.
“He may not be doing you, but he’s doing something good for you.” Cass grinned. “I like that. I’ll let it go for now if it makes you uncomfortable.”
Her friend knew how to push her buttons, but she wouldn’t fall for it this time. “Tell me what the girls are up to for the weekend.”
“But—” of course she’d add one “—you’ve already mentioned he’s more than he appears to be.”
Kamilla raced through the recent conversations she’d had with her friend. When had she mentioned something she’d only recently discovered? “When?”
“Didn’t you tell me last time that he did free law work for the community or something?”
It seemed so long ago. Had it only been last week? “Yeah.”
“You were shocked at the revelation,” Cass said as if it should be enough of an argument to convince her. “Plus I can hear it in your tone that you like him.”
“You need to cut it out. And besides, we have nothing in common.” Other than enjoying staying at home, chilling rather than going out. Having sharp minds that enjoy engaging in witty repartee. And an attraction she feared would singe her hair off.
“You may come from completely different financial backgrounds and social standings,” Cass insisted, “but I’m sure you have a whole lot in common. Like some burning-hot chemistry.”
Time to get Cass off her back. “Let me talk to my babies since you won’t tell me anything about them.”
For the next ten minutes, Kamilla listened to every minute detail of what the girls had planned for the weekend. By the time she hung up the phone, she was confused about how she’d been reacting to Leonardo. What did it mean that she wanted to kiss him so badly, she had to step away in order to not grapple him?
She scrubbed her hands down her face. Not only were they in competition for the same position, but he was an Astacio. Hooking up with him would be equivalent to sleeping with an American royal. He couldn’t really be interested in her. Other than her sharp tongue and unwillingness to treat him as no one special, she had nothing to offer him.
She must merely be a way for him to pass the time.
Did he only want her body? A better question might be, did it matter?
* * *
What was it about Kamilla that had him aroused every time he saw her? Knowing what was under her maroon wrap-around dress didn’t help. Did the dress unzip somewhere, or could he pull it up over her head, exposing inch after inch of soft, beautiful skin until—
“Did you hear me?”
Leonardo shook his head hard and shifted forward in the couch to strategically angle his hands over his groin. “What did you say?”
“You’ll need your coat. We aren’t eating in the dining room today.”
Must be why she looked extra good this evening. She’d even worn color on her eyelids. “Where are we going?”
Her grin was mischievous. “I’m not telling you.”
Scowling never worked on her, but he tried it anyway. “Because you know I won’t like it?”
“Eh,” she said with a shrug. “I’m hungry, let’s go.”
“Am I underdressed?”
Her gaze raked over his button-down shirt and slacks. Had her breathing increased as she licked her already glossy lips? He wished she hadn’t.
She shook her head. “No. I’m overdressed. I never get to go out, so I’m taking this opportunity to look good.”
He stood and walked toward her. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t push her, but he couldn’t help bracing his hands on her hips, leaning in and swiping his lips against hers once. It wasn’t enough, so he repeated the motion again and again until she wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him with so much passion, he almost forgot about his resolution.
Forcing himself to drop his hands from her body, he stepped away, pleased when she whimpered her protest. He left the next move up to her. If she wanted to make love, she’d be the one to initiate. “You’re stunning.”
Lowering her lids, she smiled. “Thank you.”
The sweet shyness made her even hotter. “I’ll be right back.” Walking away took effort, but he rushed to his room, grabbed his coat and ran back out to her. Not even a minute had passed, but it had been too damn long to be away from her.
He was definitely whipped. He just wished she were, too. “Let’s roll.”
Twenty minutes later he couldn’t believe where the Uber had delivered them. “Are you sure this is the right place?”
“Yes.” She grabbed his hand and tugged. “I spoke to the concierge and told him we were in the mood for simple yet delicious food, which would allow us to experience the local life.”
“You lied when you said we.” He didn’t resist when she led him toward the door with genuine laughter.
“I took liberties. We’re supposed to present as a couple, remember?” She batted her lashes up at him in what he could only assume to be mockery. “He directed me here.”
“Why would you do this to me? Have I pissed you off that much over the years?”
“Yes, but that’s not why. I just thought my man should be exposed to the finer things in life.”
“You have a warped definition of the term.”
She grinned and nodded. Her eyes sparkling with joy caused his heart to tighten. “I know. Isn’t it great? Drinks, food and dancing all under one roof.”
Inside, the clean interior held a definitive country-and-western vibe with the US flag front and center, an elevated ancient truck behind the bar, and a scuffed-up wooden floor. The mechanical bull in the corner of the room didn’t drive him out, but the men and women in cowboy hats and boots—and some with chaps—did concern him a little. If it made Kamilla happy, he could hang out here for a few hours without dying.
“You know we’ll be the only two black people in the building,
right?” Just as he finished the sentence, a brother walked by and nodded in his direction. Leonardo returned the salute.
“You were saying? Loosen up a little. This’ll be fun.” The smile was probably a permanent feature tonight. “Wait until they open up the dance floor.”
A hostess—at least they had one—welcomed them. “Welcome to the Boot N’ Scoot. Will y’all be eatin’?” Her accent was much too heavy to be real.
“I made a reservation. Two for Gordon.”
The woman checked her computer, grabbed menus and said, “Follow me.” She showed them to an empty table in the crowded dining area. “Just so y’all know, there’ll be free line dancing lessons at seven. They’re for beginners, but the regulars like to show off. Don’t mind ’em.”
“Thanks, we’ll be sure to take advantage,” Kamilla said with a wide grin to the hostess before she stepped away.
Had he ever seen her so happy? Yes, sliding down the mountain in a toboggan. Reaching the bottom of the kiddie hill without falling had brought out the brightness in her eyes, too. He liked this relaxed side of her, especially since she was with him.
“Get it out of your head. You won’t be seeing me doing the Achy Breaky or whatever on that dance floor.”
“Why not? It’ll be fun.” Then she winked. “I’ll take pictures to use as blackmail.”
He laughed. He’d been doing a lot of it this weekend. “No one would believe you.”
She snapped her fingers, angled her head. “Aw shucks, you’re right. I’ll just have to keep them as a memento. I’ll label them, the time Astacio bust a move. I’ll laugh and laugh every time I look at them.”
“I’ll definitely be going onto the dance floor then.” Nobody would be able to miss the sarcasm in his tone.
“Fine. Then I’ll just do the Tush Push by myself.” She stuck out her tongue and giggled before studying her menu.
Air refused to make its way into his lungs as realization dawned that he really had fallen in love with her. Needed her as if she were the only thing on earth that would make him feel truly alive. And happy.
Chapter 18
Kamilla had brought him to the country-and-western restaurant to irritate him. Maybe snap him back into the more brutish man he’d been until recently. Who’d have anticipated they’d have such a great time? Getting him to do a line dance would’ve taken a hypnotist’s power of persuasion, so she’d given up and had a blast learning the Cowboy Charleston and the Country Slide.
Each time she’d searched for Leonardo, he’d been watching her, and her body hummed with excitement. His gaze followed her as if he couldn’t get enough. She’d lost step a few times as her skin heated with more than just the dancing.
The dance floor opened to the regulars and the place filled up. Not knowing the steps didn’t stop her from moving to the back and participating without tripping someone else up.
When they switched to a slow song, the people paired up for a two-step. She was just about to join Leonardo when the prettiest man she’d ever seen came up to her. Slightly effeminate, but he gave off a manly vibe. Were his eyes really that green? He flipped his blond hair from his forehead with a flick of his head and smiled down at her with perfectly even white teeth.
“Would you like to dance?”
Before she could say a word, a hand landed on her hip, sending her jumping. A quick look to her left revealed a glaring Leonardo. The difficult man she’d gotten to know over the years had finally made an appearance.
When Leonardo didn’t say anything, she hitched a thumb in his direction. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m going to dance this one with my boyfriend.” She didn’t stutter over the word, and it actually sounded natural. Appealing.
The beautiful man took a step back with a nod of his head and a hasty retreat after glancing at Leonardo.
Kamilla rounded on him with her own glare. “Do you know how to two-step?”
He pulled her into his arms so their bodies were flush and he moved his feet from side to side in place. The others gracefully glided across the floor, doing fancy twirls, dips and spins. She and Leonardo danced, with their arms wrapped around each other as if they were in a decorated high school gym.
She laid her head against his shoulder, not minding that they weren’t even attempting to do an actual country two-step. Her body hummed with awareness as they swayed to a song she’d never heard before. She was unlikely to forget it. The lyrics were about time, love and having to run because someone was waiting for the male singer with the deep, twangy voice.
Right where she wanted to be, Kamilla hoped the song never ended. God, she loved being with Leonardo. For once she accepted it without a fight. She liked him. Hell, she may have taken the tumble toward love. She clutched him a little closer and allowed her mind to stop thinking so she could spend these precious minutes feeling.
When the song ended, they peeled themselves apart. She could barely restrain herself from grabbing on to him again as he led them to the bar. He glanced down at her with raised brows.
“Draft beer,” she answered to his unspoken question.
The brows stayed up, and a grin was added before placing their orders. He carried their drinks to an empty table and they sat.
A minute later he tipped his head at her drink. “I didn’t know you drank beer.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
“Obviously.” He gave her an intense hooded stare, which had her center pulsing. “I’d like to find out everything.”
Beer in hand, she gulped the cold liquid. Was he for real? Her instincts told her he was as serious as a person could get. “You may not like what you learn.”
He shrugged. “You aren’t perfect. No one is.”
To lighten the mood, she slapped a hand to her chest and drew in a shrieking breath. “Are you admitting you have flaws?”
He chuckled. “I don’t have to tell you, of all people, that I’m not a faultless individual.”
They sat, watching the people dance, as they sipped their drinks.
“Can I ask you a question?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Why are you so driven?”
“You say it as if it’s a bad thing.”
“It’s not, but you’re an Astacio.” She didn’t miss the stiffening of his shoulders. “You were born into money. You don’t need to work.”
Regret churned in her belly as his eyes turned glacial. “I take it you’re the official expert on the Astacio family.”
What had she done? Needing the more relaxed Leonardo back, she tried to rectify the situation. “Forgive me for being presumptuous.”
“And wrong.”
She held his gaze. “Yes.”
He downed the rest of his whiskey and stood. “If you’ve had enough dancing for the night, let’s head off.”
As if she had a choice in the matter. The man was ready to ditch her. She hadn’t even drank half of her beer. She wanted to reverse the hands of time and retract her words. But had what she’d said been so wrong? She’d pointed out the facts. Just because he didn’t like them being voiced didn’t mean he had to get all pissy about it.
Great. He’d somehow ended up ruining a great night. Another reminder that no matter how much the air crackled when they touched, they’d never make a good couple. They were too different.
Why had she gotten into his private business? Just because he claimed he wanted to know everything about her didn’t mean he was willing or able to share anything about his life. A friendship, maybe something more, had bloomed between them. She was sure of it. And now whatever rode him about being rich, famous and powerful had shoved them back to their previous roles. Colleagues and competitors.
* * *
He’d been an Astacio all his life. He knew nothing different. Privilege, wealth and unearned respect had been showered onto him because of the family he’d b
een born into. He’d had no right to go cold on Kamilla when she’d asked him why he worked so hard.
Telling her the truth would’ve been fair. After all, he’d told her that he wanted to know all about her. Why couldn’t he have reciprocated?
Habit. Fear. Self-preservation. During that moment it hadn’t kicked into his mind that Kamilla wasn’t asking so she could use him like others had. No, she was different. She’d asked out of pure curiosity. And he’d reacted in the same way as always, by shutting her down.
He had to apologize if he wanted to salvage the friendliness that had been developing from her end. When they’d danced, everything had been perfect. He wanted it back.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked before she headed to her room once they had stepped into the chalet.
She paused and turned. “If it’s about tomorrow, I’ve canceled our plans.” Her tone lacked any of the joviality of the night. “We can go over the Singletons’ files. I have a niggling feeling there’s something wrong with one of the subsidiaries. I can’t remember which one, but something came to me—”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me, too. We should’ve been working the whole time.”
He reached for her hand. Before he could touch her, she’d pulled away. He’d really messed up. “This is a sit-down type of conversation.” He indicated to the living room with a sweep of his hand. Her few seconds of hesitation caused sweat to break out on his palms. Had he lost her before she’d even been his? Over something so small that could’ve been avoided with open communication on his part rather than a knee-jerk reaction.
He released the long-held breath when she went in, removed her coat and sat, perched on the edge of an armchair. If she were willing to listen, then maybe he still had a chance.
“There are two things that drive me. Push me to work hard.”
She held up a hand. “You don’t have to explain. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s really none of my business.”