Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
VERA
Our dinner had gone better than I had expected it to. I’d half expected her to cancel, honestly, but I was really glad she didn’t. I was happy to see her and damn, she looked so good. But she always did.
I was still in shock that she actually agreed to let me be her date to the wedding. She wasn’t wrong in saying it was a crazy idea, but I wanted to help, and of course I had other motives. I wanted to get to know her more and be around her more, hoping she’d take a chance on me.
The next day on my lunch break, I decided to pass by her office. I told myself if she wasn’t there, I’d go eat my lunch.
It was my lucky day, because her door was wide open and she sat at her desk looking so damn professional and sexy.
I bet her soft legs were crossed under the table and I wondered for a minute what it would be like to uncross them and—No!
Don’t go there, V! Thinking those thoughts can only lead to lonely nights and sore wrists.
I shook those delicious thoughts away and knocked on her door. “Knock knock.” Cara looked up from her computer screen and smiled when she saw me. That was a good sign, right?
“Vera. What can I do for you?”
“You can do a lot of things for me, but today, I’m doing something for you.” I grinned when she rolled her eyes.
“I’m sure you can,” she muttered to herself. I wanted to comment, knowing she probably thought I couldn’t hear her, but I didn’t think she would’ve appreciated it. “Come in,” she said a little louder.
I smiled and took a few steps into her office placing the bag I had brought in on her desk. “Lunch,” I supplied when she just looked at it.
“I already ate lunch, but thank you.”
“Cara.” I waited until her gorgeous blue eyes met mine, and they softened slightly. God! I could’ve gotten lost in her eyes all day. “I haven’t seen you eat more than a salad for two weeks. You need real food. I can’t have you wither away to nothing before the wedding.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re funny. And, have you been watching me?”
I smirked. “Always,” I said with a wink.
“What is it?” she asked, eyeballing the bag. Her tone was skeptical, but the look in her eyes told me she was also intrigued.
“I know how you feel about Mexican women, but how do you feel about Mexican food? My abuela makes the best chile relleno, which is basically stuffed peppers. It’s got a little kick, but I think you can handle a little heat.”
Her blush had me mentally patting myself on the back. I loved flirting with her and seeing her reactions. “You’re breaking rule number one, and I’m adding another rule. No flirting outside of wedding obligations. I can’t get any work done with you around.”
“Are you saying my charm is working on you? Also, I veto that rule.”
“I’m not saying anything, and you don’t get a vote. But you didn’t have to bring me anything. It smells amazing, though.”
“I’ll tell her you said so. But please, I had plenty. Take it off my hands.”
I pushed the bag towards her and my heart warmed when she accepted the food. I had to bite my tongue when she took a bite and her eyes rolled in the back of her head. ?Ay dios mió! This woman was going to kill me.
“Cara, I have some… bad news. I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had company. Vera, right?”
I smiled and nodded politely. “Yes, Eloise. A pleasure to see you again. I was just going. I came to drop off some lunch for Cara.”
“No. Vera, please, stay. You are welcome here anytime, even if Cara’s out of the office. Make yourself at home.”
I turned to Cara who was staring daggers at Eloise, and I chuckled softly.
Was my princesa jealous? Surely not. She’s stated more than once how nothing will ever happen between us again.
I knew that she was right, of course, and I respected her decision, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to enjoy myself by teasing her every chance I could until she told me to stop.
“Is there something you need, El?” Damn, I loved it when she was commanding. Her tone was clipped and she was absolutely jealous. My woman was feisty.
“Right. So, the construction company called. Something came up and they had to cancel your reno.”
“Great. Thanks El.” Cara blew out a breath and took a drink of her water, shaking her head slowly. Eloise didn’t say anything else as she left Cara’s office with a final look back at me.
“What was that about? Sorry to pry.”
“Oh, it’s fine. I’m trying to have my home office renovated and the construction team just bailed. I was hoping to have it done before I came back from Bali, but I don’t think that’ll happen now.”
“Damn, I’m sorry. I’d be more than happy to take a look.”
“That’s sweet, but… actually, could you? That would be helpful. If it’s not too much trouble.”
“Wait, you're actually letting me help? What’s the temperature in hell?” I smiled when she threw a wadded up napkin at me.
“Don’t make me change my mind. Can you come by sometime next week and quote me?”
I frowned. “Yes and no.”
“Oh. Okay, the week after?”
I laughed. “No, princesa. I meant yes, I can come by, but no, I won’t quote you.”
She shook her head. “Don’t even think about it. I’m not letting you work on my office for free. Let me pay you.”
I smiled, but tossed away the flirting line I was going to use, since I didn’t want to break any more rules today. “I don’t like rule number two, just so you know. Fine, I’ll quote you, but I’m going to be very unhappy about it.”
“I didn’t expect anything less.”