“Deal,” he said, and she was more than a little flattered at his obvious desperation to find the condom in question. To see those big, strong arms ready to tear the world apart in search of a tiny piece of latex was somehow endearing.
Silencing her ringer, Rori saw that the caller was her mom which had her checking the time. Technically they weren’t due to meet for another fifty minutes, but her mom wasn’t above moving up a time table from time to time.
Can’t answer the phone just now, Rori texted. Call in 15?
The moment she pressed send there was a loud knock on her door. Rori glanced at Mike in reflex, and the look of pain in his eyes would have been amusing under any other circumstances. But any amusement was immediately lost when Rori heard the door open.
“Aurora?” her mother called out and continued in Spanish. “Are you here, dear? Jean’s flight arrived early and we were able to move up the reservation.”
Who the hell had given her a key? Fredrik? She’d kill him!
Mike may not have been able to understand what her mother was saying, but he didn’t need to be told what to do. He was off the bed and gathering his clothes before Rori could say a single word.
“Getting ready, Mama. Be right out in a moment,” Rori said back, snatching her dress from the floor and running to the bathroom to grab a robe. Somewhere in the back of her mind, it occurred to Rori that she had no reason to be embarrassed. She was a grown woman and she lived here. If her mom chose to barge in unannounced, well then, she could just deal with what she found.
That’s what Rori’s brain told her, but the rest of her was busy erasing the evidence of what she knew would turn into a huge fight if her mother caught a drift of what she and Mike had been up to. Just ten more minutes. Why couldn’t her mom just be like any other mom and wait for her to answer the damn phone?
Glancing over at Mike as she wrapped the bathroom robe around herself, Rori felt honest loss as he stepped back into his boxer briefs before pulling his shirt back over his head. Clothes were a sin on him. She would have to get them off again. Soon. And once she had used him to their mutual satisfaction, she would draw that beautiful body of his from every angle imaginable.
“Is Jean with you?” Rori called out, pointing Mike in the direction of her closet. It was painfully cliché to ask him to hide there, but it was the only place where he could stay safely out of sight.
“Hello, angel,” Jean answered.
Total nightmare.
Be a big girl, she coached herself. Let Mike walk out of here with some dignity. Don’t make him hide.
Crossing the room, she touched his back from behind as he stepped into his jeans. When he turned to face her, she knew he wasn’t expecting the light kiss she pressed to his mouth. The moment their lips touched, the outside world went a little hazy again, which was why she pulled away.
“Want me to introduce you?” she asked, motioning toward the door. “I don’t care if they know we’re together.”
Something changed in his expression. She couldn’t quite read it, but Rori was pretty certain he wasn’t mad.
“I’d rather meet your step-dad under different circumstances,” he said after a moment. “A first impression is a first impression.”
Touché.
“But please hurry back,” he said, cupping her face in his hands. “I’m not going to be able to think right again until we finish what we started here.”
“Me neither,” she said, just before he dropped a quick kiss on her lips and backed into the closet. Just to be mean, Rori let her robe fall open as she reached in and pulled out the real outfit she had planned on wearing that night.
“Think of me,” she said, then shut the door. The pained groan she heard on the other side of the door put a little skip in her step.
Oh, yeah. He would definitely be thinking of her, which was only fair since she would be imagining him inside of her all night.
Just the thought was enough to make her want to bow out of dinner, but she knew from experience that wasn’t possible. Standing her step-father up on dinner after not seeing him for five months would be inexcusable in her mother’s eyes.
She had to go. Like it or not.
“Ah, is this your fiancé’s portfolio on the table?” her mother asked in Spanish.
Fiancé? She couldn’t even think about Anton at the moment. Not when she could still smell Mike on her body. “Yes, and also the contract.” She breathed a sigh of relief that Mike couldn’t understand what they were saying. “Go ahead and read through it while I finish getting ready.”
That would buy her some time, even if it made her conscience prick a bit. She had one man literally hiding in her closet while she had a contract that would negotiate an engagement with another man lying on her kitchen table.
When had life gotten this complicated?
Chapter 54
“I like this candidate,” her mom once they were seated at the restaurant. To Rori’s surprise, her mom had taken great care as she looked over Anton’s profile. She’d spent the entire car ride over scouring the file and even brought the paperwork to the table, which was a rare move.
“He has potential,” Rori agreed.
As manners dictated, they were all speaking English now, since it was rude or made one appear ignorant to speak anything other than the host country’s language in public. If they were going to talk about her personal life in public, however, Rori rather wished they could do it in a language no one else would understand.
“Above reproach, I would think,” her mom said matter-of-factly. “And look at that body—that face. He will make handsome children.”
“Yes, he would” Rori agreed, but her mind wasn’t on Anton as she spoke.
“Mid-forties is a good age for a man,” her mom continued. “A man that age has already made most of his mistakes on other women, which makes for a less bumpy ride. Plus, he has no existing children, which means no headaches with exes or competing heirs. When does he arrive?”
“Tomorrow. About two hours before the event.”
“Excellent,” her mother said, picking up her menu. Rori did the same, noting that her step-father was watching her with a rather guarded expression.
“You seem a bit out of sorts tonight, Aurora,” he said. “Is everything okay?”
“Of course,” Rori said quickly. Maybe too quickly. “Just a lot on my mind.”
“And I’m sure your father didn’t help matters by showing up with his most recent trophy,” her mother noted.
“Yes,” Rori said. “I hadn’t been expecting that.”
“And he’s already gone?” Jean asked. “He won’t be at the event tomorrow?”
“Not unless he flies back from L.A,” her mom said with satisfaction. “Rori’s current amour is good for something, at least.”
Rori didn’t miss the slightly accusatory look her mom sent her way at the reference to Mike. The snideness in her mother’s tones had Rori’s hackles on the rise.
“He is a friend, Mama. A talented filmmaker who is doing me a favor.”
“And also the model for one of the most central pieces of your exhibit?” her mother asked with feigned innocence.
Well, there was that, and Rori knew better than to imagine her mom would miss the heart behind the art.
Her mom tapped the folder with a finger. “This is not a time to be confusing yourself, Rori. Men like Anton won’t be on the market for long. You need to snatch him up while you can.”
Again, she thought of Mike as her mother spoke.
“Don’t let a recreational relationship get in the way of a real future.”
“Now, honey, let’s not lecture the girl to death, shall we?” her step-father said as their server stepped to the table, and Rori was happy to have them distracted by the wine list.
Her mom was right about Anton. In her mind, Rori knew that. So why couldn’t she just say the words she knew her mom wanted to hear? That she would be signing the contract and taking things to the ne
xt level with Anton starting tomorrow. He really was a catch. No question about that. It could take years to find a man of the same caliber, and by then Rori could already have started the family she wanted with a perfectly acceptable man. Anton.
So why did the thought of marrying him hit her like a wave of cold water. Okay, maybe figuring out why wasn’t such the hard thing to figure out as how she could make the feeling go away. A week on a secluded island with Mike might just do the trick. They could just get all the sex out of the way and then she could move on. Her skin tingled at the thought, her breaths grew more shallow. Then she thought of doing the same with Anton and her body went immediately cold.
Yeah, Rori was definitely in trouble.
Chapter 55
All of Mike’s cameras were ready to roll. And if Mike did say so himself, his set-up was rather perfect—both for the exhibit and with Rori. He had planned on taking her to bed after the exhibit, but he was not going to balk at moving things up one day.
The woman had a mouth and body of a goddess, and now that Mike had felt the intensity in their simple foreplay, he wasn’t going to be able to sleep until he had all of her. He needed to look into her eyes as he sheathed himself inside of her, to feel her mouth as it whimpered against his, to feel her hands grip him as she came and screamed his name.
His name. No one else’s. Ever.
Mike had thought he would need to use logic to convince her to give him a shot. He’d memorized a speech and everything. But screw the speech. That level of chemistry spoke for itself. Once they were naked and in each other’s arms Rori would see that they were meant to be. Maybe he wasn’t what she had been planning on, but they belonged together. Of that, Mike had no doubt.
He glanced at his watch, noting that she should be back in the next thirty minutes or so. He needed to go back to their place, get cleaned up, and put out the champagne and strawberries. He should also be able to fit in a trip down the block to the flower vendor for some roses. He could use the petals on the bed to set the mood.
Taking one last look around the gallery to make sure he wasn’t leaving a mess, Mike turned and headed for the lobby only to see another man walking his direction. The guy was older and his dark, product-drenched hair had a very European look to it, as did his thin goatee. Still, he had the strut of a man who knew exactly what he was about and how to get his way. Once he reached Mike, he stopped and held out his hand.
“Mike Cannon, I presume.”
“Yes,” Mike replied, gripping the man’s hand. “And you are?”
“I’m Aurora’s step-father. Feel free to call me Jean.”
Mike gave the man a second look over. If this was what Rori’s step-father looked like then maybe that explained why she didn’t mind Anton’s greasy appearance. “Good to meet you.”
The man chuckled. “You may change your tune by the end of this, but please know that I am coming to you for the sole purpose of making your life easier. Because, from what I understand, you have feelings for my little girl. Is that correct?”
“I—ah,” Mike hadn’t been expecting a question like this. A least not so abruptly.
“You do,” he said with confidence. “She is an easy woman to want, especially when she holds the keys to so many doors that are currently locked to you.”
Mike felt himself bristle. “It’s not that—”
“Of course it is, son,” Jean said with a condescending smile. “But that’s not why I’m here talking to you.” He handed a file folder to Mike—the same folder Mike had seen on Rori’s kitchen table earlier that night. “You see, Rori is about to become engaged. Her fiancé will be arriving tomorrow, and when he appears you will see exactly what role you play in her life—which is, and always will be, to entertain her behind closed doors and away from the sight of the public.”
“That’s not true,” Mike snapped.
“It is,” the man countered. “You may not have accepted this fact yet, but you would do well to read this file, and the marriage contract in particular, and ask yourself how you feel about being a male mistress to a woman bearing another man’s children.”
Mike didn’t even know how to process those words. “Excuse me?”
“You may be asking yourself why I’m coming to you with this information, and coming to the conclusion that I’m here to separate you and Aurora. And that conclusion would be correct. Her mother and I would prefer that her lover not be close by as she enters into her engagement. It’s disruptive.”
“Look,” Mike said, handing the folder back. “I don’t know where you get your information, but I am not Rori’s ‘lover,’ nor is she engaged.”
Jean didn’t take the folder. “I see. So you’re not on your way to go see her this very moment?”
“Well, yes—”
“And that wasn’t you in her bedroom earlier this evening?”
Mike frowned. “It was.”
Jean nodded as if that settled it. “Look, Mike, I’m telling you this because I feel for you. Where you come from the passion you’re feeling right now means something. I have no doubt my little girl has feelings for you as well, but those feelings mean something very different to her. She’s not going to base the most important relationship in her life on something as transitory as emotions. Feelings come, and feelings go, no matter whom you marry. The key is to marry a person on the same track you’re on. Someone of similar values and with a similar background.”
“And someone with money,” Mike added bitterly. He thought the other man would deny it, but Jean nodded.
“Most certainly. Monetary issues is one of the top three reasons for divorce, and Aurora has taken great care to find a man she will never have reason to divorce. He’ll be here tomorrow, and you can trust me when I say that you’re not going to like how things change between you and my daughter once he arrives.” He glanced to the folder. “Which is why I’m arming you with information and offering you a choice.”
“Yeah? And what’s that?”
The other man’s smile was laced with pity. It made Mike want to punch him. “My wife believes you to be infatuated with Aurora, which means your behavior at seeing her with another man is unpredictable, at best. Given how publicized tomorrow’s event will be and some of the names who will be in attendance, we don’t like that level of uncertainty.”
“You think I’m going to cause a scene when she shows up with Anton?”
“We can’t rule out the possibility. Which brings me back to the choice I am offering you.” He gestured to the folder. “Read that file tonight. It outlines the life she wishes for herself and the man she has chosen to build that life with, including a detailed outline of their marriage.”
Mike’s hand gripped the folder in rage at the words he was hearing. Rori’s stepfather didn’t understand. Mike knew that. Maybe Rori had been willing to have a cold marriage before she’d met him, but there was no way she would be going back to Anton after the heat that they had shared earlier. Not a chance.
Jean regarded him thoughtfully. “Rori says you are a talented filmmaker.”
She had? He felt a blush of pride before suspicion replaced it. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“It has to do with the fact that I could help you meet some key, influential people in exchange for you quietly disappearing from Rori’s life.”
“Not happening,” Mike said without hesitation.
“It’s understandable that you say that now,” he said, giving Mike’s arm an unwelcome pat. “You are naïve, but twenty-four hours from now, I won’t seem like quite the asshole I do tonight. You’ll understand that I know how a broken heart feels and that my offer to get you a directing job comes from the fact that I know a man with a broken heart needs to throw himself into work—”
“Or make me look like a gold digger who walked away from her the moment I saw a payoff,” Mike countered.
Jean smiled. “Not so dumb, are you?”
“She’ll think I used her.”
�
��News flash, Mr. Cannon. You already are using her. Just like she’s using you. It can’t be helped. The difference is that my Aurora understands that, and you do not. Her feelings will not be hurt when you accept my offer. I’m sure she will wish you the best in your endeavors even as she moves forward with hers.”
The way the man spoke…it was like everything had already happened just as he had described. It was all past tense. Written in stone. Only then did Mike realize that he was dealing with a man who got his way. Always. Without exception. Which was going to make it all the more fun to make him eat his words.
“Read it,” Jean said again, glancing at the folder. “Let me know what you think tomorrow night, and I’ll make arrangements.”
He didn’t give Mike time to respond this time, which was good since Mike was so mad he couldn’t think of a kind thing to say to this man who had allegedly raised Rori. Mike never would have guessed such a cold man to be her father figure. Not in a million years.
No wonder Rori didn’t trust in men or love. Not if this was her role model of who and what a father was. Well, that and her real father, who was quite the gem himself.
Watching Rori’s stepfather confidently stride away, Mike wished he could throw the file folder in his hand in the nearest trash can and never think about it again. But the problem was, he did want to know what it said. If Rori’s hopes and dreams were laid out on those sheets of paper, then Mike definitely wanted to read it.
So he compromised. He didn’t go back to the apartment, but he stayed in the lobby of the gallery and read. Then he re-read, all but certain he had never felt more ill in his life.
Chapter 56
What was taking Mike so long? He should have been back more than an hour ago, and time was definitely a-wasting. Rori had hurried her dinner with Jean and her mom with him in mind. Well, with a naked him in mind.
Which brought her back to her original question: What the hell was taking him so long? And why wasn’t Mike texting her back?
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