Chapter 13
Mom: Chloe Amelia Devlin, is there something you need to tell me?
Tilly: Told you she would find out you’re stripping on the side.
Chloe: ???
Mom: Why am I finding out about my daughter's engagement in the New York Times?
Tilly: I’ve decided to join a cult.
Mom: That’s fine, just don’t drink the Kool-Aid. Chloe??
Tilly: Sorry sis, you’re on your own (I tried).
Casey: Erm, hello? You’re ENGAGED to Guerra????
CHLOE
I spear an asparagus head with my fork and chew more aggressively than needed.
My eyes catch on the offending paper out of the corner of my eye, and I huff.
The street vendor must have thought I was insane when I barged in front of the man waiting and demanded a copy right away.
Not my finest moment, but I was pissed Zeke didn’t give me a heads up so I could spin it to my family and friends. I still am pissed.
“Did the asparagus do something to offend you?” the man himself drawls as he saunters into the kitchen.
As much as I’d like to blame it on the asparagus, it’s actually freaking delicious.
Courtesy of Suzanna. “No, just my asshole fiancé blindsided me by announcing our engagement without giving me the chance to even tell my mom.” I hold my fork up and point it at him, narrowing my eyes as his brows raise.
“I wasn’t aware that your mother would read the New York Times considering she’s in Ohio, and you’ve had plenty of time to tell her.
Putting it off?” he taunts, taking his own plate of food out of the heated drawer beneath the oven.
It’s no great surprise he’s delved into my family, if he tried to investigate my court case.
The plate clips against the marble island countertop as he takes a seat opposite me.
I had been putting it off, but that’s beside the point.
“I don’t know how your relationships usually work, but with this arrangement, you don’t get to just blow in hot and do things without clearing them with me first,” I snap, letting my fork clatter to my plate, having suddenly lost my appetite.
I refuse to feel like a pawn in another man’s life again, no matter how temporarily.
Clamping my jaw shut, I push back my chair with an ugly screech and stand.
“Chloe.” He sighs, tilting his head in reprimand. I turn and flip my middle finger up over my shoulder as I walk away. Childish? Maybe. Satisfying? Definitely.
“Hey.” I didn’t realize he had moved until he catches my arm at the doorway and pulls me around to look at him. He towers over me, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’m sorry I didn’t speak to you first.”
That wasn’t what I was expecting, and my lips jump apart in surprise. His eyes tumble to my mouth, catching there for a second before he meets my stare again. I’m enveloped in pine and heady musk. “Mujer terca,” he growls, right before he sweeps the broad pad of his thumb across my lower lip.
“Stop talking to me in a language I don’t understand,” I snap, pulling my face away from his hand and leveling him a glare.
He shrugs easily. “Pero entonces, ?cómo te diría lo hermosa que te ves en este momento, mi fuego?” Everything below my waistline clenches as those silky words wash over me.
I roll my eyes and shake my head at his easy smile. “I’ll let it go if you agree to come to my parents' house for dinner. They are already suspicious enough without me refusing.”
“Sounds only fair considering you’re attending my father's birthday celebration with me tomorrow evening.”
I tilt one brow up and he grins sheepishly, looking like an oversized version of Diego. I bite back my own smile—I can’t help it. “Ask nicely.” I tilt my chin and meet his gaze.
He declines his head respectfully for a moment and when he lifts it again, he’s every bit the suave, charming grown man again. “Miss Devlin, will you do me the honor of accompanying me?”
I pretend to consider for a moment, noting something dark dancing in those near-onyx irises. “I will, but only because you’re paying me,” I agree.
“Good, now come and eat.” He drops his hand from my arm and turns.
“No, I don’t think I will.” I’m stubborn to a fault. I know it, and I’m pretty sure he does too. My reawakened and growling stomach is certainly in on the lie.
“You expect me to believe two spears of asparagus filled you up?” It’s very clear from the look on his face he doesn’t.
“Yes,” I lie and turn to head for the staircase to the second floor.
***
It’s nearly ten by the time I finally relent and open my bedroom door as silently as I can.
After checking there is no sign of life, I slip quietly down the hallway and head downstairs to get a snack.
Even the smutty book I downloaded on my Kindle wasn’t enough to distract me from my growling stomach in the end.
I make a mental note to get room snacks, and then snort a muted laugh as I realize this is usually what I do on vacation. And holiday resort, this is not.
There’s a shrink-wrapped plate on the counter with a yellow Post-it note that says, Eat me.
The scrawl of black handwriting is ultra masculine, but somehow still elegant.
Begrudgingly, I have to admit this is thoughtful.
Removing the wrapper, I sit at the island and chew on the turkey sandwich in silence.
My apartment was simple enough, but I find myself missing the eclectic mish-mash of furniture.
There are flashes of color amongst the beige in Zeke’s apartment but somehow, it’s still too orderly. Too polished. Too perfect.
Rinsing my plate in the sink, I decide to test out the pool.
May as well make the most of the facilities while I’m here.
PG eyes me furtively from where he’s holed up on top of the dresser in my room as I change, looking as unsettled as I feel.
I wrap a large white fluffy towel over my black bikini and pad softly along the hall, taking the staircase to the upper floors.
There is a slither of light spilling from beneath Zeke’s study doors, and I pause to listen.
Soft strains of music reach my ears, too low for me to identify.
The night air is balmy when I hit the roof, and the city lights steal my breath away.
It feels like you’re at the very zenith of the city up here, with a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of downtown.
I take the time to walk around the entire railing, entranced by the glittering mirage.
Steam wafts off the top of the pool and when I sink my first foot in, it feels more like a bath.
Groaning softly, I lower myself in and allow myself to float on my back as goosebumps rush over my skin.
Okay, this, this I can live with. My hair slicks to my head as I begin to swim laps with a soft front crawl, trying to ease some of the restless ache out of my limbs.
I lose myself in the movement, not stopping until I’m loose and breathless.
Leaning back against the edge, I tip my head to the sky.
It’s been feeling like we need rain for days, and one glance at the dusky grey clouds blotting the sky tells me tonight might just be the night.
My eyes trace the red blinking lights of a plane overhead, so high I can’t hear the noise.
The heavens open and blessedly, cool rain splatters down onto my face.
I grin, letting out a long, satisfied sigh.
“I didn’t realize you were up here.”
I jerk, righting myself and wiping water from my face as I stare across the blue-lit water.
My heart leaps into my throat as I take him in.
He cuts an imposing stature against the night, his face half shaded, sharpening his angular features.
My eyes are pulled downward like they are being drawn to a magnet.
And that magnet is a body more perfectly honed that I could have imagined.
Broad, cut shoulders fall into defined chest muscles and washboard abs, with only the faintest smattering of masculine, dark hair.
The gentle plinks of the rain dripping into the water all around me match the beat of my thundering heart.
Who knew that underneath those sharp business suits he’s tattooed to the eyeballs?
Dark whirls and lines of ink trace his body, from his rounded shoulders all the way to his tapered waist. My eyes snag on a downright unfairly defined V of muscle that disappears into the waistband on his black swim shorts, and a kernel of fire sparks low in my stomach. Fuck.
“Erm, yeah,” I manage to force out lamely, averting my eyes as heat spills furiously into my cheeks. I skim my fingers over the surface of the water to give myself something to look at other than the six feet and five inches of very masculine male.
“Would you rather I gave you some privacy?”
My eyes bounce back to his and I let out a nervous laugh.
“Zeke, it’s your pool. If you want to swim, you should swim.
” I jerk my shoulders in a throwaway shrug, and the resulting ripples flit away from me.
He doesn’t answer, but I see him walk down the steps into the pool at the other end.
He swims my way with broad strokes, water sliding over slicing muscles.
I try not to look, I really do. But damn, the feral something inside me that likes what she sees wins out.
He stands when he nears and silvery water slides from his dark hair plastered to his forehead, dripping down his aristocratic nose and off his chin as he casts one broad hand back through it.
He’s so tall that the line of the water hits his waist, and I curse it silently for being so damn distracting.
How is this man ten times hotter when he’s wet?
“You’re staring.”
My eyes snap to his and narrow. “I was not staring.” I roll my shoulders with more bravado than I feel, and then lean my head back against the lip of the pool, willing my blush not to give me away.
“You’ve got a little drool right he—”
“Shut up,” I snap, batting away his hand that's pointing at my chin. Despite my best efforts, I feel my lips twitch into a smile. I close my eyes. “Okay, fine. Maybe I was a little. I’m a woman. I can admit you look good. Not that you need the ego boost.” I crack one eye open and side-eye him.
He’s smirking down at me with a knowing look on his handsome face, so I snap it shut again.
“You look good too, mi fuego.” My eyes jerk open as I feel his warm, minty breath on my face.
He’s leaning over me with one thick arm braced against the side of the pool, his gaze pinned intently on mine.
A steady pulse beats between my legs as I read a thousand filthy promises in those sparkling eyes.
“Okay, that’s quite enough of that,” I squeak and promptly disappear under the water, using my legs to push away from the side and escape him.
He’s laughing when I resurface halfway down the pool.
“It’s just been too long since I had sex.
Don’t let it go to your head, asshole,” I throw over my shoulder as I propel myself toward the steps.
“Whatever you say, sweetheart.” His lazy drawl reaches me as I stand on the top step and stoop to snatch up my towel.
Risking a glance back, I see hungry eyes roving across my near naked body.
His arms are spread wide on either side, hands planted on the edge of the pool, chest stretched tight, with steam rising around him so he looks like some demi-god of the underworld.
“I do say.” I point a swift finger his way and turn. “And stop staring at my ass, Guerra,” I add without looking as I walk away.