Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
V alencia
“Now, that was an unusual rehearsal dinner.”
As we stepped into the elevator heading down from the posh restaurant overlooking the bright lights of New York, I tipped my head toward Emily. She was not only one of the best nurses I’d ever worked with, she was also one of those friends I could count on for anything.
With a single phone call, she’d show up with copious bottles of wine, ice cream, and whatever snack she knew we’d indulge in while binge-watching chick flicks.
“Unusual?” I countered. “I was surprised Kat and her mother-in-law to be didn’t get into a cat fight.”
“God. That would have been cool to see. Kat can throw a mean punch,” Cora said. The four of us had commiserated over bad dates, bad food, and difficulties living in such a large city. Sadly, one of us was getting married, hitched to a man that would erase all Kat’s financial difficulties.
“Cool?” Emily snorted. “I would have taken bets. Kat would have easily won.”
“Did you see Sheldon’s reaction?” Cora tossed in. “He wanted to slink under the chair instead of coming to his fiancée’s defense. What a weasel. How could she marry a man with a name like Sheldon?”
I laughed as the elevator doors opened. “Sheldon Whitmore the fourth, need I remind you. He and his family have more money than God.”
As I stepped onto the marble floor, I mused over the fact Kat had fallen in love at all. She’d been the one who’d committed to swearing off men. Forever.
“Money isn’t everything,” Cora insisted.
“No, but it does help.” We were headed to the bar for a nightcap. After the near melee during the flaming lava cake, all three of us needed something to dull our senses.
“Who are you kidding? You’re the top cardiac surgeon in the city.” Emily flanked my side. “One day, you’ll find your prince. In the meantime, you can afford anything you want. If you weren’t such a curmudgeon.”
“I don’t know about the top. And I’m not stingy.” I’d yet to pay my dues, at least according to the hospital administrator.
Cora laughed. “Bullshit. You have a perfect life. Meanwhile, I’m on my third job this year.”
“Maybe you should curb your… caustic mouth,” I suggested.
She slapped my arm. “No fair.”
“Why don’t you girls go ahead. I’m going to freshen up. Order me one big, fat top shelf margarita.” The dinner had caused us all serious bouts of anxiety. Maybe if I refreshed my lipstick, I’d feel better. Or not.
“We’ll order a pitcher,” Emily said, laughing.
I searched for the restrooms, marveling at how my heels echoed on the cold, stark floor. The hotel was gorgeous, considered one of the finest in the city, but I’d never been comfortable in posh surroundings. I preferred cuddling up with a good book and a delicious glass of wine to partying like the lifestyle Kat had always wanted.
As I headed down the hallway, I thought about the ridiculous bridesmaid dress Kat had selected for us to wear. One day, if I ever found a man I could tolerate, I’d get her back with an even uglier design.
I was still chuckling to myself after using the bathroom and washing my hands, finally pulling out my lipstick to ensure my red-hot lips were just so. Satisfied, I walked out, hearing my phone chiming almost immediately. If there was some emergency in the hospital and I’d been called to help, I might go ballistic.
When was the last time I’d had off more than a day here and there? Two months ago. Maybe longer. I was still walking while fumbling to grab my phone. As soon as I turned the corner, I hit something solid, the force bouncing me back a few inches.
I snapped my head up to stare into the most insanely gorgeous pair of light blue eyes. They shimmered in the recessed lighting. His gaze was initially filled with annoyance, but that quickly shifted to something else entirely.
As if an involuntary action, he gripped both my arms to steady me and immediately, the shot of white-hot electricity jetting through me took my breath away.
I blinked twice before realizing the man was a force of nature. He stood at least six foot three, his broad shoulders perfectly accentuated by a dazzling dark suit tailored for his muscular body.
“Are you alright?” When he spoke, the deep tone resonated through every cell and muscle. I couldn’t recognize his accent, but it was decidedly European. With his dark, curly hair just hitting his white shirt collar, and his slightly darker complexion, he reminded me of a Greek god. When I didn’t answer immediately, he narrowed his eyes until his long, dark eyelashes were skimming across his sculpted cheeks.
“I’m… I’m fine.” I never stuttered and was rarely fazed by the looks of a man.
“I should have watched where I was going.”
“No, I was busy trying to retrieve my phone.” I suddenly didn’t care who’d called.
“I hope I didn’t require you to miss something important. Perhaps a call from your husband.”
While I knew his words were a subtle pickup line, I couldn’t help but hold up my left hand, wiggling my fingers. Only then did he let one side of his firm grip slide free while keeping the fingers of his other firmly planted around my arm.
“Well, a boyfriend perhaps.” With his deep baritone, he could read the phone book and I’d listen. There was a slight ruggedness to the tone, but his aura was one of sophistication and power.
“No. Trust me.”
“But a lady so beautiful should never be alone. Perhaps I can escort you to your destination.”
I lifted my eyebrows. “Are you flirting with me?” Only then did I notice the two other men standing only a few feet away. They were equally huge although not nearly as good-looking. However, they were watching the two of us intently.
“Would you mind if I was?”
While I thought about his question, the answer was easy. “No. Not at all.” I wasn’t defenseless, always keeping both mace and a sharpened pocketknife in my purse. I also wasn’t stupid. Men were delicious to play with, but there were few if any I would ever trust. However, after the arduous weeks, I was eager for a little play time. Why not make it with someone who should grace the covers of a magazine or romance novel?
His smile brought flashes of heat to my core, fiery enough my pussy clenched. Wow. I never had that kind of reaction. “Then I will escort you to your destination.”
If I’d been going to a hotel room, I wouldn’t have been na?ve enough to even consider it. Since I was heading to the bar, I didn’t second guess my desire to do so. “I’d like that.”
He turned the other direction, placing his hand on the small of my back. To anyone else, the gesture might seem odd, but it was perhaps the most intimately powerful touch a man had given me my entire life. The gesture also felt natural.
“Would you be so kind as to give me your name?”
“Valencia.” He wouldn’t get my last.
“Sinfully perfect.”
“And yours?” I glanced over my shoulder, noticing the two men were following while still keeping a respectable distance. Who was this man?
He hesitated, providing me with another heated look. “Christos.”
“Fitting for a Greek god.” I let the words slip and laughed.
“I’ve never been called that before, but you have my nationality correct.” We were walking slowly and the noise of the comings and goings faded. There were only the two of us.
He was a stranger I’d never see again, but the blip in time would be remembered.
“A visitor?” I asked. “Is that too personal?”
“Not at all and yes, only here for a couple days. Have you been to Greece before?”
“No, but it’s a country I’d love to travel to one day.”
“And I would find it quite enjoyable to show you around my lovely country.” We were only steps from the entrance of the bar. He turned to face me, crowding my space to the point I backed against the wall. When he placed one palm next to my head, his exotic aftershave tingled my senses.
With hints of a lush green forest, the warm earth, a splash of citrus and spices, his fragrance was almost overwhelming. But on him, the scent suited his personality.
Dark and dangerous.
We were close, so close I was able to concentrate on the thick cords on the side of his neck, ink peeking out from under the collar of his shirt. I licked my lips and he caught the action, allowing his gaze to fall to my mouth.
The closeness was almost suffocating. “I’m meeting friends. Would you like to join us?” The question was perhaps the most impetuous thing I’d ever done. It was also a test. If he easily said yes, I’d enjoy a few moments with him then ask him to leave. If he said no, I’d be disappointed, but would realize he’d struck up a conversation for nefarious reasons. I was a cautious woman, my father teaching me to always be conscious of my surroundings. And never allow an unknown man to get but so close.
He acted as if he was debating accepting my offer. When he rolled the tip of his index finger under my chin, I willed myself not to react. But my pulse was high, more so than I’d experienced before.
“I would love to enjoy learning every detail about such an incredible woman. However, I’m afraid I have other business to attend to and if it weren’t urgent, I’d enjoy spending additional time with you.” He lowered his head until our lips were almost touching.
My reaction to the man wasn’t typical in any way. I arched my back slightly as if giving him approval. The moment he captured my mouth, I moaned into the tender kiss. His lips were soft, his breath explosive and our chemistry was off the charts.
My God. What was he doing? What was I doing? I was allowing this to happen? The rush of adrenaline and the intense chemistry we shared shocked me into doing nothing but enjoying the moment.
I pressed one hand against his chest, a knot forming in my stomach. I tasted a hint of something sweet mixed with bourbon or scotch. The combination was irresistible. He swept his tongue inside, his actions becoming rougher with every passing second. With my muscles tingling, my breathing labored, stars were floating in front of my eyes.
He had a way about him that was suave yet easy, the man comfortable in his own skin.
When he pulled away, he kept his lips a few centimeters away from mine. His chest was rising and falling, and he issued a slight growl. “ ángelós mou .”
I eased my head further away, looking at him intently.
“I called you my angel and you are. If I dared have a single taste of you, I know it would never be enough. Have a lovely rest of your evening, Valencia. You only deserve the best.”
As he backed away, he rubbed his thick thumb across his lips, gathering the remnants of my lipstick. When he pressed it between his lips, I struggled to breathe.
The men following him both gave me hard stares before following behind him, their long strides taking them to the exit quickly.
What the hell had just happened?
I pressed my fingers against my mouth as I walked into the bar. A slight fog remained around my head, crystalline shimmers dancing in front of my eyes. I finally jolted myself out of the haze, noticing my two friends were sitting at a table close to the entrance. Both women had their mouths open and their eyes wide.
As I slipped into the third seat, I immediately reached for the margarita.
“What was that?” Cora breathed.
“The correct question is who was that?” Emily managed, taking a gulp of her drink as soon as she did.
I glanced out the massive window peering out at the street, able to see the Greek god as one of the two guards opened the rear door of a huge, dark SUV.
“That is the hottest man I’d ever seen.” Emily whistled as she sat back in her chair. “Do you know him?”
“I have no clue who he is,” I muttered, sighing as the SUV pulled away from the curb. But I knew one thing. I should never have allowed him to kiss me.
There was something terribly unnerving as well as exciting about the fleeting moment in time. Why did I have the feeling our paths would cross again?