Chapter 26
26
Enzo Mendez is gorgeous at the worst of times. At his best, he’ll make a woman breathless.
When he knocks on his own door to pick me up, I open it to see him in a pressed shirt, jacket and jeans, and a cowboy belt buckle, just one of those things that Enzo hangs on to of his deepest roots. I love that about him. Enzo knows who he is. Despite living in luxury and being rich beyond most people’s imaginations now, he still values everything that brought him here.
He’s still just a country boy, and though he doesn’t have it on at the moment, I sure as hell want to wear his hat and ride this cowboy.
“You look exquisite, Miss Scott.”
My tummy flips at the formality.
“You scrub up nice, too, Mr. Mendez.”
He offers me his arm, and we step out into the dusky night. The warm breeze of the day turns cooler with every crunch of our footsteps. The sun sets in the distance over the beautiful mountains. Crickets chirp, and the path lighting comes on only moments into our walk. My heart pounds with excitement as this is the first time ever Enzo and I can talk like normal human beings instead of like two people trying to figure each other out.
Does he have any idea how much he means to me? It’s been a short amount of time, but without him, none of this would be possible. I wouldn’t have a job. I wouldn’t have friends. I wouldn’t be experiencing the giddiness and the excitement of all this. Despite lurking problems, my life has never had more promise. It’s never been more worth living.
Which is why a twang of guilt over the text echoes through me. I shove it down because it has no place in this scene.
Our steps are slow and relaxed; somehow, even with the world spinning a million miles an hour around us, this moment is calm. How can that be? How can there be someone attacking GhostEye, people on the run, crime, and so many crazy things going on in this world, but the feelings I have for Enzo are so all-encompassing it all seems so far away?
I squeeze his arm with mine. “I like your belt buckle. Where is that from?”
He glances down and takes it in his fingers, turning it up for a brief glance. “I lost a bet.”
“Lost? That’s pretty shiny. What did the winners get?”
“No, the buckle is a win. The loss was with Santi. About three years ago he bet me I couldn’t ride one of his new thoroughbreds. She was ridiculously sharp.”
“You don’t seem like the type who has something to prove.”
A rough laugh leaves his lips. “Brothers always have something to prove.” He gazes at me from under his thick eyebrows. “And I lost, so Santi’s plan was to watch me fall on my butt for a second time by entering my old ass into a rodeo.”
“But you won?”
“I don’t know how the hell I did it. Seemed like a death wish at that age.”
“You don’t look old.”
“I don’t feel it, but there aren’t a huge amount of men over thirty who are up for bulldogging. Then again, consider my dad.” He laughs lightly. “I guess it’s in our genes.”
“It all backfired on Santi when you won.” I laugh to myself. “He does seem like the one who would get people into trouble.”
He drops his chin, and the last of the sunset glows on his luscious lips. “Santi occasionally takes bravery into a new place where I’m not sure that’s what it’s called anymore.”
“Well, I’m glad he’s reckless. Without him I never would have gotten through that gate.”
At that, his gaze meets mine and more serious thoughts flood his deep-brown eyes. Questions, too. Does he know about the text? Did something happen in San Francisco today I don’t know about?
Tomorrow. I’ll ask tomorrow.
The sun dips below the mountains, and darkness instantly surrounds us. So far from city lights, the sky immediately offers us a few twinkling stars. I breathe in the scent of the nighttime air. A cool breeze brushes over my shoulders. Enzo slides off his jacket and drapes it over me, leaving his arm there, too, making me weak in the knees.
Being this close, his gesture, the warmth of his arm around me has me losing my train of thought. I’m unraveling completely and hope he doesn’t have dinner planned. I’m hungry for something altogether different. I just want to melt into this man.
Should I, though? What if he bolts when I tell him I lied? Won’t that hurt more if we’ve also had sex? I know I won’t be able to stop myself going there if he kisses me. Not after feeling his bulge between my legs and knowing how smooth his skin is over those rock-hard muscles.
Tomorrow.
I drop my head to his shoulder. In the heels he bought me to go with the dress, I’m not too far off six feet. There’s an unreadable energy coming off him tonight. Is it that we’re heading into new territory? Is it that I’ve just never been on a date and there’s an air of mystery to any romantic situation?
My questions fade when we approach the pool.
All around us, a warm glow fills the night sky. Every surface flickers with candlelight. Flames dance in heat lamps dotted around. There must be hundreds of candles here.
He opens the gate to the area for me, and I bring my hands to either side of my face.
“Enzo…”
I turn myself in a circle, taking in all he’s done for me. “You did this for me?”
He rolls his lips but not with that usual scowl. This time, it’s almost bashful .
All thoughts of yesterday, all worries about tomorrow, fade into oblivion.
His features are moody and sensual in this light. “I got you another gift you’ll be needing for tonight.”
He leads me to a table where there’s a package to match the one from earlier. He hands it to me.
“Two presents in one night?” I give him a sly look. “If I didn’t know better I’d say you’re trying to woo me.”
He smooths some hair off my cheek. “The real gift is something money can’t buy.”
I’m confused. He gestures for me to open the box, and inside is a gorgeous emerald-green swimsuit. It isn’t skimpy like the one I wore at the pool party. It’s definitely sexy but it’s a classy and luxurious one-piece.
“Money didn’t buy this? I suppose a guy like you can get a free swimsuit in San Francisco,” I tease.
He laughs and licks his lips, and I adore the sides of Enzo, but this one I never see.
“I’m going to teach you how to swim. I don’t want you ever feeling there’s anything you can’t do.”
My heart stops.
Falling and being in love is one of those elusive feelings no one can quite explain. I’ve searched time and time again, watched countless rom-coms and read the classics. Love is often explained with pumping lust, jealousy, and something I’ve often interpreted almost as being greedy for another person. But something talked about far less is growth. Enzo has given this runaway girl a place to thrive. Supporting a person’s growth is a subtle, unassuming ray of sunlight at the top of the mountain that changes the temperature enough to cause an avalanche.
I’m falling hard enough for this all to be the same sort of beautiful damage .
He’s offering me the world here. Enzo isn’t just the man I’ve thought he is.
He’s better.
It’s driving me insane waiting any longer. My fingertips and heavy core remind me of our unfinished business. God, I was hot for him on his sofa last night, and he’s so damn sexy right now. Sexier knowing he made this effort. Sexy in that top of his unbuttoned just enough for me to be feral. This all gives me confidence.
I step closer and reach up to take off his glasses. He’s steady, but his nostrils flare. I fold them and place them on a nearby table. I don’t know where my nervous energy has gone but I seem to have left it somewhere along the gravel path, because right now, I want to pick up where we left off.
If we’re going in that water, we’re doing it naked.
“You can teach me to swim. I’d like that.” My gaze darkens. “But…” I slide one of my straps down over my shoulder. “I brought my own suit.”
The world stands still apart from the arch of Enzo’s eyebrow.
He takes one step toward me, and it steals all the oxygen between us.
His voice is husky. “What should I wear?”
Your birthday suit.
I tilt my head flirtatiously. “People say you shouldn’t save your best for special occasions.”
I don’t know from where I find the courage but I do. I fiddle with one of his buttons. “It means a lot to me that you want to teach me these life skills.”
All of them.
“You want to do it like that, Scottie?”
“I do.”
He steps back, and hunger fills his gaze. “Strip. ”
Now without the heat of his body, I stand more exposed. My heart pounds with excitement, and nerves make their way back but they urge me on.
It doesn’t take much to give him what he wants. I slide one more strap over my shoulder, and the dress slinks to the ground. It was too low-cut for any bra I owned, so I now stand in only the nicest pair of underwear I have.
“Keep going,” he commands.
His gravelly demand sends my nipples to peaks. I was feeling braver moments ago but I want this. I’m down bad for this man so I do as I’m told and hook my thumbs through my panties. I wiggle them down my thighs and step out of them once they reach the tiles below.
“Your turn.” My voice wobbles slightly, but I’m proud I even got those words out because the anticipation of us touching has me in a stranglehold. I’m being bold, but he must be able to see my heartbeat right through my chest.
His slow, methodical movements take to the buttons of his shirt, but his gaze is firmly fixed on me. He’s not hurried to undress, all the while staring at me like he’s imaging a thousand different ways to unravel me. One button at a time. He sets his shirt down, carefully exposing his boxer arms and washboard abs. He loosens his belt buckle with one hand, like he could tie me up in ropes just as easily. His zipper slides down in slow motion. The longer he takes, the more nervous I become. The more thirsty I am for him.
Maybe that’s the point.
His gaze lingers on my body, drinking me in.
“How long are you going to take, boss?”
The corner of his lip quirks upward. A wicked smile dances on his lips. “You want to know what the best part is about what I’m going to do to you?”
I gulp. We really are going to have sex .
“What’s that?” I squeak.
“The crave.”
Holy shit. Am I in over my head. Is this what people mean by having a practice date? Enzo has probably been with loads of women. Will I be able to please this man?
He pushes his pants and boxers to the ground, and a massive erection stands at attention.
For me.
“Get in the water.”