PROLOGUE #3
“What’s yours?” I ask, knowing we’re just making mundane small talk when if I were brave enough there are a million things I’d like to ask this man.
His eyes sweep over my gown. “I’m really likin’ this color right now. What’s it called?”
“I think the designer called it garnet, but it’s really just burgundy.”
“Like the wine.”
“Yes, I suppose.”
“The dress is gorgeous on you, Luisa. Fits every curve.”
“Thank you.” I flush again, liking the sound of my name on his tongue. His compliment makes me melt. I haven’t received male flattery like this ever.
“All those girls today—standing up there for your sister—you were the prettiest one. Hell, you’re the prettiest girl here tonight.”
“You’re just saying that,” I whisper, eating up every word.
“It’s the truth. What’s the matter? Don’t you get compliments like that all the time?”
I huff a laugh and shake my head. “Definitely not.”
“Come on, there must be a line of guys wanting a crumb of your attention tossed their way.”
“And what about you?” I counter. “Is there a line of women after you?”
“Nope,” he says, shaking his head. “Not talking about me. I want to know about you. What’s your favorite flower?” he asks, surprising me.
I frown. “I’ve never thought about it, but I suppose if I had to choose, I’d say the orchid.” He nods and I giggle. “You don’t know what that is, do you?”
“Not a clue,” he admits, then reaches over and snaps a white blossom off the nearest pecan tree.
Before I know what he’s about to do, he tucks it in the hair above my ear.
Staring into his eyes, a flash of desire jolts through me.
He leans closer, and I think he’s going to kiss me, but before he does, the phone in my beaded wristlet bag chimes.
I frown and pull it out, checking the screen.
“Do you need to get back?” Blue asks.
“No. It’s just my girlfriend wondering if I’m okay.” Silently cursing her timing, I tap out a response telling Marcela I’m fine and then I start to tuck it back in my bag, but Blue takes the phone from me, his thumb moving over my screen.
“What are you doing?” I demand.
I hear his phone buzz. “Now you’ve got my number, and I’ve got yours.” He passes it back to me, then asks me another question. “What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done, pretty girl?”
“This,” I reply without hesitation, and we continue walking.
“This? Really?”
I nod. “I’ve never gone off alone with a man before.”
“You mean without a chaperone?”
“Yes.” I don’t want to admit that even that has never been allowed.
“Well, then we should make the most of it.” He tugs me off the path into the grove and presses my back against a pecan tree, and my heart races. He rests one palm on the bark above my head and leans in.
I can smell the leather of his vest and the soap he uses mixed with his own manly scent. It’s intoxicating, and my head spins. My mouth goes dry, and when I lick my lips, his eyes drop to them.
“Do you know how beautiful you are in this dress?” His gaze lowers, taking in the rise and fall of my chest. “This color suits you.”
“Does it?” I whisper.
“Mm hmm. Especially with your dark hair.” He touches a lock that’s fallen across my breast, his hand so close to where a man has never touched me before.
My heart pounds in my chest.
“You ever been kissed, Luisa?”
I give a barely perceptible shake of my head, then wonder why I’m admitting it. I must sound like such a child to a man like him.
“Then I’ll be your first,” he whispers an inch from my mouth a moment before his lips cover mine.
He’s gentle, coaxing a response from me.
I tilt my head back, responding.
My head whirls, and I can’t think of anything but the feel of his mouth on mine. My sister’s wedding celebration, the hundreds of people gathered, the music… it all fades away, and there’s nothing in the world except Blue and me.
Big hands settle on my hips and ease me against his hard body as he takes a step closer.
Of their own accord, my arms slip around his neck, my hand cupping his nape and keeping his mouth on mine.
It’s my first kiss, and I’m greedy for more.
I don’t want it to end. I want to stay in this grove of trees forever and never leave Blue’s arms.
His tongue slips into my mouth and chases mine, and it’s the most delicious sensation ever.
Oh my God, why haven’t I kissed a boy before?
If this is what I’ve been missing, I’ve been a fool to be the obedient daughter.
But even as I think it, I know Blue is different.
He’s a man, not a boy, and I don’t think a kiss from anyone else will ever be as good as this one.
Blue has skill, and he seems to know instinctively to take it slow with me. At last, he pulls back and presses his forehead to mine.
“Goddamn, girl. If that was your first kiss, you’re a natural.”
I can’t stop the grin I give him.
He lifts a hand and strokes his finger across my cheek and then lets it trail down my neck to graze along my exposed cleavage, making my skin tingle and a shiver run over me.
I cup his face and pull him in for another of his amazing kisses.
The sound of a twig snapping has him breaking our kiss, and his body stiffens when he sees the woman standing on the path staring at us.
“Shelby. What are you doing out here?” he asks.
“People are asking where she is, Blue. If Eduardo catches you with his seventeen-year-old daughter—”
Before she can say more, his sharp gaze hits me. “You’re seventeen?”
“You need to escort her back before someone comes,” the woman says, then turns and walks away.
“Who was that?” I whisper.
“My president’s ol’ lady. Why didn’t you tell me how old you are?” His voice hardens.
“I thought you knew.”
“Hell, no. I didn’t know.” He drags a hand through his hair. “Shit.”
“I turn eighteen soon.”
“I’ve got to get you back,” he says, ignoring my reply and grabbing my upper arm, but I jerk it free.
“I can find my own way.” I don’t know why I’m so angry, but I am, and I stomp away. I don’t get two steps.
“Luisa, stop.” Blue grabs my arm again and spins me around to face him, but I turn my head away, refusing to meet his eyes. “Look at me, beautiful.”
I take my time, but finally give in.
“Don’t be pissed. This was nice, and you’re a sweet girl. As much as I liked being your first kiss, I’m not the kind of man for you. Surely you know that, right? Hell, your father would kill me if he found out—or try, anyway.”
I lay a palm on his leather vest, feeling the patches under my skin.
He covers my hand. His head stays tipped down, but his eyes lift to mine, and in them I see the same desire I feel reflected back at me.
As much as he’d like to pretend, he’s as affected by me as I am by him.
I may not know much about men, but even I can read that much in his expression.
He brushes the hair from my face, his big hand calloused and yet somehow so gentle. “Luisa, I—” he begins.
But I cut him off. “Guess we’ll never know if you’re the kind of man for me or not, will we, Blue?” With that, I hurry down the lane toward the music, tears in my eyes. I blink them away, swearing I won’t waste them on a man who doesn’t believe I’m worth the chance.
I hear his footsteps behind me, staying close, and when I get to the tent and glance back, he’s stopped on the edge of the patio.
He shoves his hands in his pockets, but his eyes remain on me. He’s giving me time to return without being seen with him. I suppose in a way he’s looking out for me, or perhaps it’s his own skin he’s worried about.
We lock eyes for one final time, and he winks at me. It shouldn’t mean anything, but it does. That wink says so much. We share a secret.
When I return to my friends, they surround me.
“What happened?” Ramona hisses.
“Where’s the man you were with?” Carmen asks, craning her neck toward the entrance. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine. You look like you’re about to cry. Did he hurt you?” Ramona demands.
“No, he didn’t hurt me, but he wasn’t happy when he found out I was only seventeen.”
“Why in the world did you tell him that?” Carmen hisses.
“I didn’t.” I search the crowd and find the table where his club sits. “That woman over there did.”
The three of them exchange a look, and I know immediately they know something.
“What?” I demand.
Marcela confesses. “She found us in the bathroom, Luisa. She heard us talking about you and that man going off together. She knew your father wouldn’t be pleased if he caught you. I think she was actually trying to help, trying to prevent you from getting in trouble.”
“How did she know where we went?” I whisper.
They exchange another look.
“We told her,” Ramona admits. “We were worried about you.”
“I was fine,” I bite out, angry that they ruined my few moments alone with Blue.
“Did he kiss you?” Carmen asks, taking my hands.
I nod.
“How was it?” There’s a smile on her face now.
“It was wonderful. He was sweet. I really liked him.” But inside, I’m filled with sadness that it's over.
“Well, you got it out of your system. You kissed a boy,” Marcela proclaims.
“Blue is no boy,” I contest. “And I don’t think I’ll ever get him out of my system.
“There he is,” Carmen says, and we all look toward the entrance.
His eyes scan the tent and find me, then he looks away and moves toward his table.
“What’s this?” Carmen asks, touching the white flower tucked in my hair.
I pull it free and stare at it, knowing already that I’ll press it in my diary tonight as a keepsake—something to remember my first kiss and the man who gave it to me.