Chapter 2

Jasmine

After that encounter, sleep was out of the question.

My heartbeat was erratic. Goose bumps prickled my flesh, yet I was suddenly warm. There was one place I enjoyed going when I couldn’t sleep.

A long time ago, Dario changed one of the rooms on the first floor from a sitting room to a theater room. I couldn’t begin to estimate the number of afternoons and late nights I’d spent in the comfy large recliners. Possible titles of favorite movies raced through my thoughts as I opened the door and flipped the switch.

The room filled with ambient lighting, the kind that can be illuminated while a movie or TV show played without distracting from the screen. I didn’t need brighter lighting. I knew this room like the back of my hand.

While others enjoyed Hallmark kind of movies around this time of year, my preference was for the less traditional holiday movies such as the old titles Die Hard and Lethal Weapon. As could be guessed by their titles, these movies had loud soundtracks. Instead of waking the entire apartment—Catalina’s parents were staying on the second floor and more of her family was expected soon—I placed the earbuds in my ears and hit the play button on the remote control.

Settling back with a blanket, I watched a movie I’d seen more times than I could count. The repeated gunshots reverberating in my ears could be blamed for my inability to hear the opening of the theater room door. My attention to the screen could be why I didn’t notice the movement to my side.

The intensity of the storyline might be the reason I screamed.

A handsome profile appeared in front of the screen. My fingers went to my lips, silencing my scream as my heart raced.

Has Rei found me?

As the light hit his handsome face, I recognized Catalina’s brother, Em. I didn’t expect his arrival until sometime during the coming day.

He spoke, but I couldn’t hear him.

Shaking my head I plucked the earbuds from my ears.

His deep timbre ricocheted through me. “I saw the light beneath the door.” He shook his head. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, Jasmine.”

“I’m not frightened.” I lied. Feigning strength seemed to be my go-to story. “The movie was just really intense.”

Emiliano Ruiz turned and looked up at the screen. His smile broadened as he swiveled back toward me. “If machine guns are your holiday fare, you’re in the right family.” He stepped closer and pointed to the seat at my side. “Do you mind?”

I shook my head and gestured toward it.

He offered me his hand. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. I was hoping you’d be home for the holidays.” His long fingers encased mine. There was a spark to his touch as if energy flowed through him to me. My breathing shallowed.

There was a familiarity with Em that wasn’t the same as Rei. My tension eased.  

Em bowed at the waist, lowering his face, and kissing the knuckles of the hand he was still holding. His firm lips sent more sparks through my circulation that only multiplied with the intensity in his gaze. 

I retrieved my hand, still sensing his kiss. “I’m on semester break.”

Emiliano lowered himself to the seat at my side. He’d changed since the last time I saw him. His body was bulkier and impossibly more toned. His long legs folded as he leaned back, looking at the screen. A blended, intoxicating aroma of spice filled the air. “How many times have you seen this movie?”

My cheeks rose in a grin as I took in his profile, protruding forehead, high cheekbones, and defined jaw. My mouth grew dry as I answered. “Too many to count.”

I sat back, but as I began to place the earbuds in my ears, I realized the problem. “Um, you can’t hear without the earbuds. I didn’t want to wake the whole house.”

“Machine guns, right.”

I suddenly wished I’d remembered my Bluetooth earbuds, but they were upstairs in my room. Instead, I had a corded old pair that plugged into the arm of the chair. “We could share.” I offered him one of the earbuds and placed the other one in my ear closest to him.

Em placed the earbud in his ear.

Despite all the chaos breaking loose on the screen, I wasn’t concentrating on the movie. Leaning closer, so as not to dislodge the earbud, I found myself staring at the arm on our shared armrest. Em was wearing a dark t-shirt, leaving his biceps and forearms exposed. It took every ounce of my self-control to not run my fingers over his defined muscles. Maybe my encounter with Rei had my hormones in overdrive.

He leaned closer. “I thought you were always followed.”

“Followed?”

“Bodyguards. I’ve watched you.”

He had?

I cleared my throat. “Dario is a bit overprotective.”

Em nodded. “With my sister too.” His eyebrows rose. “He has good reason to be with you. You stand out among the others.”

My breathing hitched as he reached for a strand of my hair. “Your fire-colored hair and blue eyes are beacons among the other women.”

Is this real?

How did I have a similar conversation with two men in one night?

“You’re stunning, Jasmine. I’m sure you know that.”

There was something about Em that returned my thoughts to the first snow. Unwanted tears filled my eyes. “My sister used to say I was pretty. But it’s been years since I’ve heard her voice.”

Compassion shone in his gaze. “I’m sorry. Is she…?”

Swallowing the unwelcome emotions, I nodded. “I was just thinking about her.”

Em’s hand came to my cheek, his thumb gently wiping away my tear. “It wasn’t my intention to make you cry.”

Inhaling, I shook my head and feigned a smile. “Holidays and snow.” I shrugged.

“Well, you’re beautiful. You should be told every day.”

Warmth filled my cheeks. “Thank you.”

“Tell me,” he said, “how would he feel about me here now?”

“He?” My thoughts went back to Rei. But that wasn’t who… “Oh, you mean Dario?”

“Sí, capo dei capi.”

He wouldn’t approve, but I didn’t want to say that and risk Em leaving. Instead, I shrugged. “We’re just watching a movie.”

“That’s what we’re doing. However, I want to do something else, something I was told you wouldn’t allow Jano to do when he took you to the wedding.”

My chest grew tight.

A kiss.

Aléjandro had tried to kiss me that night and Mia intervened. Kisses were supposed to be saved for your husband, that’s what Contessa, our housekeeper, told me. I did a good job of following the rules. Those rules kept me safe, kept Dario happy, and gave me a home.

However, I’d thought about Aléjandro’s almost-kiss many times. I wasn’t attracted to him, not like Em or even Rei. Nevertheless, I wondered what it would be like to be kissed, really kissed, the way they do in books and movies.

After all, it was just a kiss.

Right?

My tongue darted to my lips. “I’m older than I was then.”

His lips quirked. “More experienced?”

“No,” I replied honestly.

His hand was back to my face, his palm cupping my cheek. “I’m afraid the capo would not approve.”

“Do you always strive to please the bosses?” I wasn’t sure what was making me say anything to encourage him, other than the way my body suddenly warmed. I leaned closer, my robe-covered breasts rubbing against his strong arm.

“Not always.” His timbre was slower and deeper.

My core twisted and my nipples hardened with need. “Good.” My reply was barely audible.

Fire burned in his dark orbs as he wove his fingers through my hair and tugged me closer until our lips met. His kiss was light at first, testing the waters. He tasted of liquor. I wasn’t experienced enough to know what kind of liquor, only that in combination with cologne, his strong lips, and his touch of my face and hair, the concoction was intoxicating. I pressed forward, lifting myself higher onto my knees and leaning over the armrest. My touch of his rock-hard broad shoulder was only to steady myself as our kiss took on new life.

His hand moved from my hair to the back of my neck as my body ignited with his kiss.

We both startled at the sound of the door opening and bouncing off the wall.

“Jasmine?”

I sucked in a breath, settling down in my chair and brought my hand to my lips. “Piero,” I answered my bodyguard.

He came forward, his gun in his hand. Piero’s eyes narrowed as he took in Emiliano. He returned his attention to me. “Armando reported a scream.”

“Um, it was the movie. Very suspenseful.”

My bodyguard’s nostrils flared as he nodded. “It’s late—or early. I should see you safely to your room. The house is full of guests.”

Standing, I straightened my robe and allowed the blanket to fall to the floor. “That’s probably a good idea.” I turned to Em. “Good night.”

He stood and reached for my hand, a brazen move in front of my armed bodyguard. “Good night, Jasmine. Thank you.”

“For?”

He winked. “Just thank you.”

More warmth climbed from my chest to my cheeks. “Thank you.” I took one last look over my shoulder at the man with whom I’d shared my first kiss before walking away with Piero.

My bodyguard stopped. “Mr. Ruiz, I’ll come back and turn off the movie. Feel free to make your way to your room.”

Em nodded. “It’s late—or early.”

As Piero and I walked up the staircase, I whispered, “Could we please keep this between us?”

His jaw clenched.

“We don’t want to cause problems between the famiglia and the cartel,” I reasoned.

“That’s good advice. We should both listen.”

I would listen, but it would be impossible for me to forget that kiss. I could still feel his lips and his touch as I turned off the lights and slid under the covers.