Читать книгу His Sweet Revenge: Wedding Vow of Revenge / His Ultimate Prize / Bound by a Child - Люси Монро, Katherine Garbera, Люси Монро - Страница 10

WHEN they climbed out of the pool forty minutes later to eat, Tara was panting from the exertion. She grabbed her towel and started drying off. He did the same.

She leaned over to wring her long hair out. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for that kind of water play.”

“What, you thought I only knew how to swim laps in a pool?”

“I would have thought water polo would be more your style—highly competitive and a definitive winner at the end of the day.”

“Actually I was on a team through high school.”

She straightened, surprised by the admission. “Were you really?”

“Yes, but the traveling schedule interfered with my studies and I dropped it my freshman year in college.”

“I was right then.”

He acknowledged it with a slight inclination of his head and then draped his towel around the back of his neck. “But I can also play a mean game of tag.”

“Definitely.” He’d tagged her several times, and unlike some of the men, made no attempt to cop a feel when doing so.

He really was different…from anyone she’d ever known. Even her stepfather…because as wonderful as Angelo was proving himself to be, she could sense he had a ruthless streak that would leave even a man of Darren’s strength in the dust.

That ruthlessness was in evidence when they arrived back at her apartment later that evening. “Invite me inside.”

“I don’t think I should.” She wasn’t sure she was ready to take the next step in their relationship, or if she ever would be.

“Because of the kiss in the pool.”

“Because of how much I want to repeat the experience.”

He got out of the car and came around to her door. He opened it and leaned over her to unbuckle her seat belt. He stopped with his face inches from her own. “I won’t continue to pay the price for another man’s stupidity.”

“You’re so sure I don’t want this because of what I went through with Baron.”

“You do want this.” His mouth claimed hers for another kiss that left any spoken denial useless. “You’re afraid of me because of him.”

“I told you about my mom.”

“She had bad taste in men.”

“Apparently so do I.”

The chill in his eyes made her shiver. “I resent that remark. You want me.”

“I didn’t mean to imply you’re a bad risk.”

“But that’s what you believe.”

Frustrated anger welled up inside. “Are you saying you’re interested in commitment? Marriage? That you’ll stick around if a business opportunity comes up that makes our relationship impossible?”

“Most men marry someday and I don’t do business in the bedroom so our relationship will never be compromised by my commercial interests.”

“What do you want from me?”

“Invite me inside and we’ll explore the possibilities.”

“I don’t believe in casual sex.”

“There is nothing casual about where you fit into my life.” The gravity of his expression and tone convinced her he was telling the truth.

As impossible as it might seem, this man was serious about her. He wasn’t making any promises, but he wasn’t denying the possibility of a future either. A very skilled seduction campaign or was he showing the marks of integrity she could rely on?

“If I invite you up, it isn’t to share my bed.”

“I’ll settle for some coffee to start with.”

“All right.”

Angelo pulled back, shocking her by not cementing his victory with another kiss.

They had coffee and to her further surprise, he left around eleven without making a pass. Oh, he kissed her again and her lips were still tingling the next morning from it, but he hadn’t tried to get her into bed.

Which had left her confused and unable to sleep for dwelling on the implications of everything that had happened at and after the barbecue.

She was yawning the next day when she sat down at her desk and looked over to see Danette doing the same thing.

They both laughed.

“Tired?” Tara asked.

“Yes, you look like you are, too, but I bet it’s for different reasons.”

“You’re so bad.”

“Well, admit it…you probably went home and worked on a project until bedtime, while I worked on Ray.”

Tara laughed again, this time shaking her head. “You are incorrigible.”

“And you aren’t answering. Dare I hope you and the boss hit it off last night?”

“I’m sure Ray told you we kissed…I’d say it was pretty obvious we’re attracted to each other.”

“That doesn’t mean a whole lot when it’s you we’re talking about. You’ve got more fortitude than anyone I’ve ever known.”

“Are you saying I’m stubborn?”

“If the conservative shoe fits…”

Tara just shrugged, not wanting to get into a long discussion about her date with Angelo and knowing that was where this conversation was headed if she didn’t watch it.

She and Danette worked for a while before her friend piped up with, “Ray thinks you two are a great couple.”

“Ray needs to spend more time focusing on you than what’s going on around him. I was ready to throw his camera in the pool last night.”

Danette gave a gasp of mock horror and clutched at her heart. “He paid a thousand bucks for that baby. He would have cried like a lost orphan if you’d drowned it.”

“I guess it’s a good thing your hobbies feed each other.”

The phone rang before Danette could reply to Tara’s teasing.

She picked it up. “Tara Peters here.”

“Good morning, stellina.”

“Angelo.” She turned so her back was to Danette’s now avidly curious gaze.

“Did you sleep well?”

“If I answer that honestly, you’ll get a swelled head.” Where the flirtatious words came from, she didn’t know.

She’d never been particularly flirtatious and in the last two years, she’d been positively subdued in her behavior toward men, but he brought out a side to her she’d considered gone forever.

“I did not sleep.” The words were given in such a seductive voice, she about melted in her chair.

“Um…I’m sorry?”

A wicked chuckle made her insides shiver. “I’m not sure I believe you.”

“You doubt my sincerity?”

“Perhaps I wouldn’t if you answered my original question…did you sleep well?”

“No.”

“Ah. I like that. It was because of me.”

“Conceited man.”

“Am I?”

“Maybe not.” She had spent her night thinking about him.

“I need to be back in New York on Monday.”

“Oh.” Gosh, how original, but what was she supposed to say to that? Don’t go?

“My flight was scheduled to leave this afternoon.”

“It was?” As in he’d changed it?

“Yes.”

She waited in silence, not sure how he wanted her to respond. Hoping she’d interpreted his use of the past tense correctly.

“I had it postponed.”

Relief surged through her and she knew she was in deep trouble with this man. “You did?”

“I wanted to spend more time with you.”

“I like that,” she admitted.

“So, you’ll let me take you out tonight?”

“Yes.” She was making an irrevocable decision, but maybe it was time she started taking some risks.

If she didn’t, she might spend the rest of her life regretting yet another bad choice.

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“All right.”

“You have a date with the boss?” Danette demanded the minute Tara hung up the phone.

“Yes.”

Danette’s whistle echoed the shock reverberating through her own brain.

She was still reeling from her decision to actually go on a date with Angelo when she dressed for the evening.

Unlike their business dinner, she had no desire to dress in a way that downplayed her femininity tonight. Pulling a garment she hadn’t worn in a very long time from the back of her closet, she smiled. The quintessential little black dress, its spaghetti straps and skirt that hit her midthigh were elegant and sexy despite the simplicity of the dress’s design.

She brushed her hair into curling waves that reached the middle of her back, slipped on a pair of black stiletto sandals and stood to look in the mirror. Oh gosh, she’d forgotten the way it looked. The way she could look.

Had it always been this sensual? Half of her body was on display and the neckline showed a lot more cleavage than she remembered.

Even without makeup, the woman staring back at her appeared ready for a very hot date and she wasn’t sure that was the image she wanted to provide. Angelo didn’t need a whole lot of encouragement in this area. She was reaching for the zipper on the back of the dress when the doorbell rang.

He was early.

She looked longingly at the less revealing dresses hanging in her closet and started to jerk the zipper down when the doorbell rang again. She pulled the zipper back up and after giving her reflection one last despairing glance, she headed for the door.

When she opened it, she almost fell backward from the intense appreciation in his gaze. He looked like he wanted to eat her alive. Zings of forbidden pleasure arced through her at the thought.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to ignore the incredible reaction of her body to his presence. “Hi.”

“Hello.” He looked her up and down, his fiery gaze touching her with tactile force and leaving goosebumps in unimaginable places in its wake. “I like the way you look.”

“Thank you.”

He’d changed from a business suit to a v-necked, lightweight, black sweater that molded his muscular chest and charcoal gray slacks that emphasized the sheer masculine perfection of his form. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

His smile was more like a wicked invitation to sin. He put his hand out. “Ready to go?”

“I don’t have any makeup on yet.” Not that she normally wore it, but this was a date.

Not counting yesterday, which had not been official…it was her first one in two years.

“You don’t need it.”

She cocked her head to the side and studied him like he was an alien species. Sometimes, like now, it felt like he was. He certainly didn’t fit the mold of the other males she’d known. “Most men want their dates to be as gorgeous as possible.”

“You aren’t an ornament on my arm. You look beautiful to me and that is all that should matter.”

“Thank you.”

“Besides, makeup cannot improve on perfection.” It was a corny line, but he said it was such offhand seriousness; she couldn’t dismiss it as mere flattery.

“Wow…you know just the right thing to say.”

“The truth often comes out that way.”

“But not always. Sometimes the truth hurts.” She didn’t know why she said it, maybe as a reminder to herself.

His mouth set in a grim line. “You’re right, but I still prefer it over dishonesty.”

“Me, too.” A sudden urge made her blurt out. “Promise you’ll always tell me the truth.”

He stared at her as if testing her motive for the request, but then he nodded. “I won’t ever lie to you.”

“I’ll never lie to you either.” She said it quietly, fervently and he received it without comment.

Taking her arm, he tugged her out the door. “Now that we’ve established that, let’s go eat dinner.”

She laughed, a feeling of buoyant happiness bubbling through her. Unless he was the best actor on the planet, he’d meant his vow of honesty and she knew she had. No matter how odd the pact might seem to others, it gave her a sense of peace and a spark of hope for their future.

They were in Washington Park before she thought to ask where he was taking her for dinner.

“We’re almost there.”

To her knowledge, there was no restaurant near where they were, unless you counted the concession stands in the Rose Garden. Which seemed to be where they were headed, but she couldn’t imagine he was taking her there.

She saw that she was right about their destination however as he pulled the purring Mercedes into a parking spot near the gardens. He came around to open her door and the scent of roses washed over her senses. Midsummer, the air was laden with their sweet fragrance.

She closed her eyes and inhaled. “It’s what I think Heaven will smell like. So sweet and good.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

He helped her out of the car and then led her through an archway and down into the gardens. He kept going until they reached one of the private gardens enclosed by a tall green hedge. He stopped and she saw a linen covered table set with china and lit with candlelight in the center of the small garden bedecked with a thousand more flickering candles. Two antique dining chairs were on opposite sides of the smallish table and he seated her in one before taking the other.

A black clad waiter immediately poured them each a glass of champagne and then set starters of chilled crabmeat over a bed of lettuce.

She looked at Angelo, too stunned to pretend to be the least bit casual about his efforts. “This is amazing.”

“I wanted tonight to be special.”

“Any particular reason?”

“Because what is going on between us is special.”

His words seduced her utterly.

Dinner was an incredible experience. They talked about everything including Angelo’s plans for Primo Tech. He listened to her ideas on the subject and then brought up two more companies he was currently resuscitating.

That discussion took them all the way to dessert when Angelo said, “Tell me about Baron Randall.”

Her muscles tensed. “I already did.”

“Only some of it.”

“Do you spend your other dates quizzing women on past liaisons?”

“Only when those liaisons are still impacting the present.”

“He doesn’t. I’m here aren’t I?”

“He does. You’re here against your better judgment. Because of your experience with him, you wanted to write me off.”

“I’ve been writing all men off for two years. It’s not personal.”

“It became personal the moment I got lumped in with the rest.” And in his arrogant view of the world, that was unacceptable.

She almost smiled.

“Your refusal to date makes it sound like you’re not over him.” He didn’t sound pleased at that idea.

“I am, trust me.”

She couldn’t read his expression, but she wasn’t sure he believed her.

“I told you I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“But if you are lying to yourself, how will you help it?”

“I’m not that much of a fool.”

“I hope that is true.”

She wasn’t offended by his words. In fact, their urgency touched her. “Trust me. It is.”

“How did you meet?”

“At a show.” Perhaps talking about it would set Angelo’s mind at rest. Goodness knew she felt more comfortable sharing her secrets with him than anyone else, though she still wasn’t sure why. “He asked for an introduction from my agent and then swept my then naïve self right off my feet.”

“He’s quite a bit older than you.”

“Sixteen years and that was a big part of his success where other men had failed. Not only did he know just what buttons to push to get a response from me because of his experience, but I made the mistake of assuming age meant maturity. That he knew what he wanted.”

“Didn’t he?”

“Yes, I guess he did…but in the end, it wasn’t me.”

“So you broke up.”

“Yes.”

“He married an heiress within a month of the breakup.”

“Don’t ask me how he accomplished that. She had to have heard the stories. We were splashed across every newspaper. Why would she want a man who had to have been having an affair when they met?”

“He was living with someone else when he met you.”

“How did you know that?” She hadn’t even learned that juicy tidbit until she read one of the nasty articles done on their breakup.

He shrugged. “I read.”

“Well, I didn’t know about her until later.”

“I see.”

“I doubt it.”

“You sound bitter.”

“The tabloids slayed me…portrayed me as the skirt on the side while Baron had been courting his one true love. They dubbed me Tempting Tara when I was the one who’d been tempted and then tossed aside.”

“Anyone who knows Baron Randall would know that he’s absolutely incapable of having one true love.”

“You know him?”

“We’ve met.” The cold dismissal in his voice left no doubt what Angelo thought of the other man.

“So, you don’t think I’m some sort of floozy, ripe for the picking by another charismatic tycoon?”

“Floozy?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yes, I do and no, I don’t.”

“But—”

“I want you. That’s not a crime.”

“No.”

“So you think I’m charismatic?”

“On occasion, yes.”

“That’s good to know.”

“I’m sure you think so.”

“If it means I get the girl, I do.”

“The jury is still out on that one.”

“Then let’s see if I can’t rig it.”

“What?”

He was standing up and his hand was outstretched. “Come for a walk with me and let me turn some of this charisma on you.”

He was teasing, but it wasn’t a joke. The man was way too attractive for Tara’s own good. And as docile as any lamb, she still put her hand in his and let him lead her toward the main part of the rose garden—that had been closed off for their enjoyment alone. Its lush beauty in the fading light awed her.

“It’s incredible here,” she said after several minutes of silence.

“I think so, too. It’s one of my favorite places.”

“Did you visit when you lived in Seattle or discover it when you bought Primo Tech?”

“When I was a kid, we came every summer. It was like a pilgrimage.”

And he was sharing this special place and his precious memories with her. That meant something. It had to.

“My mother loved the Rose Festival and we drove down for it,” he continued, “I liked the rides.”

“I can’t imagine you on a carnival ride.”

“I was a little boy. Even tycoons had to be children at some point.”

“It’s hard to picture. I see you trading companies from your crib.”

“Actually I didn’t get interested in the business side of things until I was twenty. Before that, I thought I would be an engineer like my father had been.”

“What changed your mind?”

“Life.” He put his arm around her waist and pulled her into his hard, warm body. “My father was technically brilliant. He developed several new designs and started his own company.”

“I’m surprised he was a success. A lot of engineer types aren’t good when it comes to the day to day operations.” She’d seen it over and over again at Primo Tech.

“He wasn’t the greatest businessman, but he made do.”

“Whereas you are brilliant business wise.”

“And a mediocre engineer.”

“There are always trade-offs in life.”

“Yes, there are.”

“What’s the name of your father’s company?”

“It doesn’t exist anymore. It was absorbed into a bigger company.”

That surprised her. “I would have thought you would keep it intact. A pride thing.”

“I didn’t own it at the time.”

“I’m sorry.” She sensed that caused him a lot of pain.

He turned to face her. “Let’s not talk about business right now.”

“What do you want to talk about?”

His head lowered. “This,” he said as his lips pressed against hers.

It was unlike any of the other kisses had been. This was both tender and passion driven. Desire vibrated off of him and against her mouth, but he didn’t push for a deeper kiss. When he was done, he lifted his head. “You are so sexy, stellina.”

“You make me want to be.”

Triumph rippled through Angelo. For two years this woman had wanted to be anything but sexy. She had avoided men and intimacy completely, but in his arms, she wanted to be a woman.

She was so close to being his—he could sense it.

“Come on, there is something I want you to see.”

She let him guide her toward the lower part of the rose garden. He kept his hand on her shoulder, his thumb brushing her nape. Triumph flared through him when she shivered despite the warmth of the air and shifted toward him infinitesimally.

Experience had taught him that often it was the small touches which seduced a woman, not a blatant show of passion. She already knew how much he wanted her. He’d shown her that in the pool. Now he had to show her it was okay to want him too…because he knew what to do with her wanting.

He leaned down so his breath caressed her ear when he spoke. “I know how to satisfy your craving to be a sensual woman, Tara. It will be very, very good between us.”

“I…” Her voice trailed off as if she didn’t know how to respond to his comments.

He wasn’t so reticent. “I will give you more pleasure than you have ever known. Believe it.”

This time it was a full blown shudder that rippled down her spine. “Angelo.”

He was not even kissing her, but already her arousal was making her voice husky and her heartbeat quicken. He smiled. She didn’t know it, but they had just passed first base on their way to a home run.