Her steps carried her around the next corner into a room that looked more like a gallery, filled with shelves of old, bound books carefully displayed. She held her breath as her fingers itched to caress the binding of old leather and relish the sound of crackling as she turned the pages steeped in history.
“Ah, so to get you to notice me tonight, I should turn into a book, no?”
She spun around. A man stood in the doorway, his eyes filled with a mischievous humor she knew to be a part of his core. His hair was long and caught back in a low ponytail, giving him the look of a pirate who had charmed women for centuries. His lips were full and his nose dominated his strong features in typical Italian style. Dressed in black pants, a black silk shirt, and expensive leather shoes, he exhibited a graceful, seductive air just by standing. Maya knew immediately the man was charming, warm-hearted, and deadly to women. The thought made a smile curve her lips.
She had a soft spot for womanizing Italian men. They reminded her of puffed up peacocks who inwardly wished to be kept in line by the right woman.
“Oh, I noticed you.” She turned her back and resumed her study of the books. “I knew you’d get to me by the end of the night.”
“And were you looking forward to the moment, Signorina?”
“With baited breath. So, should we use one of the bedrooms here or go back to your place?”
A shocked silence descended.
Maya peeked over her shoulder. A mixture of disappointment and temptation carved out his features. Maya bet he missed the idea of a chase, but didn’t want to turn down such an offer. A delighted laugh bubbled to her lips at his obvious conflict and sudden loss of confidence.
A knowing light gleamed in dark eyes. “You are teasing, no?”
She turned to face him, still laughing. “I guess I am.”
He shook his head with amusement. “You are a wicked woman to tempt a man like that.”
“You are a wicked man to think a woman would do such a thing.”
“Perhaps, you are right. A woman like you should have a husband watching at all times. Such a treasure could be stolen at any moment.”
“Ah, but if I were a true treasure, I wouldn’t be stolen easily. Certainly not by the first line thrown at me.”
He pretended offense. “Signorina, I would never insult you by thinking it would not be a long treasure hunt. You’d require a lot of work.”
“Signora,” she corrected. “I am married.”
His face pulled into a low, sad look. “Pity.”
“Somehow, I think you knew.”
“Perhaps. But let me introduce myself formally. I am Dennis Michael.”
“Maya Davis..., Maya Smith.”
He caught her slip-up and seemed to make a mental note. “Newly married, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Yet you wander the hallways alone, and were not seen in the company of your husband all night.” He shook his head. “These American ways are tragic.”
“My husband is here on business.”
“Alex Smith , correct?”
She nodded. “You should know him well. He’s making a pitch for the waterfront deal.”
Michael kept his face neutral. Obviously, behind his charming facade lurked a sharp businessman and she bet he knew her identity when he approached. Alex underestimated Michael if he believed a conversation would soften him. This man obviously kept business and pleasure in two separate worlds.
“I have not had the pleasure of meeting him as of yet.” He leaned in ever so slightly. His musky cologne rose in the air between them. His eyes met and held her own. She waited for a blast of sexual energy, a hum of chemistry, a note of hunger to shake her body and confirm Alex Smith wasn’t the cause of her problems.
Nothing. Not even a spark.
With a tiny inward sigh, she resigned herself to battling her attraction for Alex and admitted maybe she still harbored a crush from her girlhood days.
If Dennis Michael couldn’t stir a shred of sexual emotion, she was in deep trouble.
Maya sighed. “I think you will love my husband as much as I do,” she said.
He received her message and accepted the implication with grace. “We shall see. As for us, we will be friends, no?”
She smiled. “Yes. Friends.”
“I will accompany you back to the dining room for a cordial and you will tell me all about yourself.”
She accepted his arm and allowed herself to be led out of the library.
“You know, Michael, I think I have the perfect woman for you. She’s a close friend of mine. And she may be your match.”
“You underestimate yourself, signora.” He gave a naughty wink. “I am still grieving your loss.”
She laughed as they entered the dining room, then looked up in surprise when her husband stepped in front of them. He towered over her with an intimidating air. She opened her mouth to speak, but he reached out and pulled her into his embrace. A moment passed before she was able to form the words. “Hello, darling. I was chatting with Michael. I don’t think you two have formally met yet?”
The men sized each other up like they would just before a cock fight.
Alex was the first to surrender. Probably for good business reasons and not anything to do with testosterone.
Alex offered his hand. “Michael, how are you? I see you’ve met my wife.”
Michael shook his hand and Maya studied her husband’s expression with sheer puzzlement. Was she crazy, or did he not want her to engage Dennis Michael with her sparkling conversation? Hadn’t he hinted he wanted inside information if at all possible? Now he just looked plain irritated, as if she had betrayed him.
The clean scent of soap and lemon rose from his skin. His fingers splayed around her waist and rested on the curve of her tummy. She fought back a shudder when she imagined his hand coasting just a few inches downward.
How would it feel to have his fingers deep inside her, taking her to places she ached to go, but was too afraid to visit?
She re-focused on their conversation.
“Congratulations, Alex. Maya tells me you are newlyweds. How difficult it must be to drag yourself to a business function, no?”
“Absolutely.” His head lowered. Her breath hitched as his lips grazed her lobe, and his nose nuzzled her ear. Her nipples grew hard and tingly. She prayed her padded bra hid the evidence of her body’s betrayal.
Michael watched the gesture with barely hidden amusement. “It seems Richard thinks you are the perfect man for the job. Perhaps we can set up a meeting to go over your ideas.” “Thank you. I’ll call your secretary and arrange an appointment.” She caught the clear-cut simplicity in his tone, and knew Michael noticed. Alex didn’t play certain business games, namely being too arrogant to pick up the phone himself to call for an appointment. “Very good.” Michael took her hand and placed a kiss on her palm. “It was lovely to meet you, Maya.” His Italian accent caressed her name. “I’m having a dinner party for a few close friends two weeks from tonight. Would you join me?” She noted he directed his invitation to her so she turned to her husband. “Darling? Are we free?” This time, his movement wasn’t subtle. He took a step behind her and wrapped both hands around her waist, drawing her back against him. Her butt pressed against his groin. Iron thighs trapped hers. He rested both hands d
Alex’s hands hung at his sides, empty. For one moment, he’d been filled with her: her curves, her scent, her heat. Now he stood in the middle of the room, alone, just like he had on their wedding night. A married man with a hard-on and no relief in sight. Amazed at his ridiculous predicament, he tried to go over the events of the evening and see where he had gone wrong. The moment he caught her with Michael, a slow, steaming anger had risen up within him. The heat started at his feet, traveled to his stomach, his chest, and finally settled like a hot band around his head. If he was a horse, he would have snorted out smoke and stamped his hooves. If he was a wolf, he would have howled at the moon. Her hand had rested on the Michael’s arm. He must’ve been quite amusing, because she threw her head back and laughed, her cheeks flushed and rosy. Her full lips had gleamed under the chandelier light. They’d acted like they were long-time friends instead of people who had just met. But the
“Oh, yeah, Alex would just love this kind of night out. He’d probably prefer a root canal and a prostate exam.” “How are you two getting along? Besides the physical attraction.” “Fine.” Olivua rolled her eyes. “Lying again. You’re not going to tell me, are you?” Maya realized she’d always confessed everything to Olivia except for one event. The first time Alex kissed her. She’d known she loved him back then. Friendship turned to rivalry and then to a girlish crush. That first kiss twisted emotions so pure within her she believed it was love. Her heart beat for him, full of joy at the possibility of them being together, so she uttered the words, her voice echoing through the trees. “I love you.” Then waited for him to kiss her again. Instead, he stepped back from her and laughed. Called her a silly baby and walked away. She learned her first lesson in heartbreak in that moment. Fourteen yearsold. In the woods with Alex Smith. She wasn’t about to repeat the lesson. She pushed th
Alex reached down and snagged Maya's fingers, pulling her up from the chair. “Show me the rest of the store while this guy finishes up.” Olivia chuckled and settled herself into the empty chair. “He’s just afraid of hin being next.” “You’re absolutely right.” Alex led her away from the crowd. With an instinctive motion, he stopped in a shadowed corner by a sign entitled RELATIONSHIPS. He guided her so her back pressed against the bookshelf, then dropped her hand. Alex shifted his feet and cursed under his breath at his sudden uneasiness. He hadn’t planned what to say, just knew he had to break the tension between them before he got crazy and dragged her into his bed. Somehow, he needed to bring the relationship back to friendship. Back to older brother/younger sister camaraderie. Even if it killed him. “I want to talk to you.” A slight smile twitched those bee-stung lips. “Okay.” “About us.” “Okay.” “I don’t think we should go to bed with each other.” She threw back her head
Maya. Pregnant.This can't be happening. Despite the warmth of the summer day, an uncomfortable chill settled over Maya’ skin as she settled on the bench in the small garden just a few blocks from the apartment she shared with Alex . She shivered even as the sun’s rays found her tightly clenched fingers, the heat not yet chasing away the goose bumps. Javier wouldn’t be happy over her brief disappearance. Neither would Alex when Javier reported that she hadn’t taken proper security measures. But dragging along the imposing guard to her doctor’s appointment hadn’t been an option. Alex would have known of her pregnancy before she could even return home to tell him herself. How would he react to the news? Despite the fact they had taken precautions, she was eight weeks pregnant. The best she could surmise, it had happened when he had returned from an extended business trip overseas. Alex had been insatiable. But then so had she. A bright blush chased the chill from her cheeks as she
AlexAlex urged her back to the bed then strode out of the suite toward the kitchen. After a long week of laying traps for the person attempting to sell his company out from under him, the last thing he wanted was a hysterical confrontation with his mistress.He poured a glass of Maya ’s favorite juice then prepared himself a liberal dose of brandy. The beginnings of a headache were already plaguing him.He smiled when he saw Maya ’s shoes in the middle of the floor where she had left them as soon as she hqd come off the elevator. He followed the trail of her things to the couch where her bag was thrown haphazardly.She was a creature of comfort. Never fussy. So this emotional outburst had caught him off guard. It was completely out of character for her. She wasn’t clingy, which is why their relationship had lasted so long. Relationship? He had just denied to her that they had one. She was his mistress.He should have softened his response. She probably wasn’t feeling well and needed
Alex. Three months later. Alex sat in his apartment brooding in silence. He should have some peace of mind now that there was no longer any danger to his company, but the knowledge of why was hardly comforting. He stared at the pile of documents in front of him as the evening news droned in the background.His stopover in New York was going to be short. Tomorrow he would fly to London to meet with his brother Jake and have the groundbreaking ceremony for their luxury hotel, a hotel that wouldn’t have happened if Maya had gottenher way. A derisive snort nearly rolled from his throat. He, the CEO of Zionsville International, had been manipulated and stolen from by a woman. Because of her, he and his brothers had lost two of their designs to their closest competitorbefore he’d discovered her betrayal. He should have turned her over to the authorities, but he bad been too stunned, too weak to do such a thing.He hadn’t even ridded his apartment of her belongings. He bad assumed she wou
Maya. Maya struggled underneath the layers of fog surrounding her head. She murmured a low protest when she opened her eyes. Awareness was not what she sought. The blanket of dark, of oblivion, was what she wanted.There was nothing for her in wakefulness. Her life was one black hole of nothingness. Her name was all that lingered in the confusing layers of her mind. Maya .She searched for more. Answers she needed to questions that swarmed her every time she wakened. Her past lay like a great barren landscape before her.The answers dangled beyond her, taunting her and escaping before she could reach out and take hold.She turned her head on the thin pillow, fully intending to slip back into the void of sleep when a firm hand grasped hers. Fear scurried up her spine until she remembered that she was safe and in a hospital. Still, she yanked her hand awayas her chest rose and fell with her quick breaths.“You must not go back to sleep. At least Not yet.”The man’s voice slid across h