I’d been more demanding of her than I’d realized until after the call had ended.
How interesting she surrendered so easily to my choices.
“She sounds lovely, Judge. I’ll ensure she’s shown your table personally.”
“Thank you, Marco.” Before I was settled into my seat, a waiter brought a drink I knew would be my favorite whiskey. It felt good to be out and about, my schedule hectic for the last few months. I sat back in the chair, casually studying the scene over the edge of the balcony. The sights and sounds of South Beach were always the same.
Electric.
Only tonight the vibrations felt different, as if there was an underlying and unforeseen danger lurking in the shadows. A few seconds later, I checked my watch. She was late. By two minutes. Laughing, I tried to tone down my thoughts. Maybe I was just eager.
I swirled my drink, reminding myself this was not my normal behavior. Just as I brought the glass to my lips, a deep pulse vibrated through my body, a crackle of current that I’d had happen only once before.
As soon as I turned my head, my chest tightened. The sight of Valentina in a body-hugging red dress took my breath away. Another rarity. She appeared more confident than she had only weeks before. Her innocence and fragility had brought out the staunch protector in me.
Marco was casually saying something to her. Her response was a laugh that carried all the way to where I was seated. Every muscle tensed from the sound. There wasn’t a man on the balcony who wasn’t staring at her, undressing her. Hungering for her.
Not only did my fingers tighten around the glass to the point I was fearful I’d crack it, but the instant jealousy also shocked the hell out of me. She certainly didn’t belong to me.
When she finally noticed where I was seated, she stopped briefly, blinking several times. The same nervousness I’d witnessed before was exposed simply by the way she fought with her long strands of hair fluttering in her face from the light breeze. The way she pursed her lips was likely another sign of her slight discomfort and unwavering innocence, but the act defied all sense of decency inside my body.
When she smiled, the entire deck lit up as if blasted from rays of sunlight. She touched Marco on the arm, nodding toward me.
He glanced in my direction, offering his usual wide, welcoming smile, only if I wasn’t seeing things, his eyes reflected a hint of mischief.
The dress hugged her every curve leaving little to the imagination. Or maybe I had a filthy mind given my thoughts centered around peeling away the silky material and revealingthe prize underneath. If I wasn’t careful, I’d go to hell for my salacious thoughts.
She moved slowly through the remaining tables, surprised when I pulled out a chair for her.
“Such a gentleman.” She was practically purring.
“You might be surprised.”
“No, I don’t think I would be.”
Chuckling, I immediately poured her a glass of wine. “I hope you like red because it’s the only type of wine I’ll drink.”
“I also knew you were a master of control. Red is perfect. Cabernet even better.”
“A woman of distinguished tastes and are you calling me a control freak?”
Her shrug was subtle, but the flash of her eyes was something entirely different. She was obviously in the mood to live as dangerously as I was given the fiery look in them.
“I’d call it utter confidence. However, you do command a room including a courtroom.”
“I believe in right and wrong with no in between.”
“Your reputation precedes you.”
Leaning over, I enjoyed the closer view as well as the indulgence in her soft, floral perfume. A provocative difference in her low-cut dress. “You have me curious. Tell me about my reputation.”
She leaned closer as well. “Arrogantly correct to a fault, refusing to take any shit, and demanding in every aspect of your life.”
I pressed my hand against my chest. “I’m not certain whether to be insulted, amused, or thrilled.”
“Perhaps a little of all three. I like a man who knows what he wants and refuses to take no for an answer.” Her eyebrows lifted. “I should add if they’re a good man. Monsters don’t qualify.”
“I guess I should be going since I’m not a good man.”
