Why the man still made me nervous was beyond me, but I refused to allow him to see anything else about my personality. He’d already seen me at my most vulnerable. “Only if you can handle the heat. Of hot sauce, of course.”
“Mmm… I do love anything that keeps my mouth watering.”
There was no disguising what he wanted. The question that bothered me was why did he affect me to the point that butterflies had taken up residence in my stomach? “I guess we’ll see who can handle them the hottest. Or anything else for that matter.”
There was something sinful about the sexual tension between us.
We could both laugh easily, maybe because of the grueling day we’d already been through. Or maybe because my brother was resigned to getting better, and we both felt the same about the six months we’d both endure. Only I couldn’t help but continue to think Christian was getting the better end of the deal.
What I’d yet to have the mental capacity to do was to figure out how my father fit into all of this. Did I think my father capable of something ruthless and even unscrupulous? You bet I did. In the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but think it could form into a dangerous game of Russian roulette. I wasn’t certain if I was the tiny ball or the chips used for betting purposes.
I hadn’t realized my mind had drifted away until I felt his hand guiding my face toward him. “What?”
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine. Just one thing. I do appreciate your help with Donovan. The connections, the facility, the attorney. All of it I’m more than grateful for. I will promise you to keep my end of the bargain, but there are two things that I won’t tolerate.”
“Just two?”
“Yes. Just two. One, if you fuck with Donovan in any way, I will kill you.”
He was obviously surprised, both eyebrows lifted. “Should I dare ask about number two?”
I don’t know why I felt the need to say anything else. Maybe because of what my brother had said or maybe because of the swell of emotions I’d experienced. Whatever the case, I felt it necessary to draw another line.
This one completely and entirely unbreakable.
“I will never, ever allow myself to treat this as anything other than a contract between two business partners. Is that clear?”
He lifted his glass, fingering the edge. “Crystal.”
“I’ll be right back,” I said as I rose to my feet.
We’d enjoyed the time together, two hours of getting to know each other better with questions and answers that meantabsolutely nothing. But right now, that was fine. I didn’t need a discussion turning into a boxing match.
Christian was leaning back in his chair. With one arm tossed over the back, he appeared as if he owned the establishment. Far too comfortable in his skin. “Don’t go far. I will hunt you down.”
“Maybe you won’t be able to find me.”
“Take that chance and find out what happens when I catch you.”
“Oh, you have me wanting to race away to find out.”
A wry smile curled on his lips. I turned around before things got any further out of hand, trying to make my way through the crowd toward the location of the restrooms.
Maybe I should blame the oysters.
Or the beautiful setting.
Possibly the music.
Or just maybe the champagne with its delicious taste and effervescent haze was the reason.
Whatever had unleashed something so raw and vital was annoying.
But incredible.
The moment I walked into the cramped bathroom inside the Cabana, I took a deep breath. Completely flushed. Completely unnerved. At least I had a few minutes to myself. That’s how anxious and excited the man could make me.
