He loved how her eyes sparkled when she was feeling mischievous, and how her body fit perfectly against his. Her hand played with the hair on the back of his neck and electricity jolted through him. There was no denying the attraction he felt for her. He lowered his hand to the small of her back pulling her closer.
They danced for a few more songs then he led her back to the table. He’d arranged for a small cake and the waiter signaled that it was ready to be served.
“Happy birthday, Meg,” he said as the cake was placed on the table. Her whole face glowed with joy. “You said you wanted dessert. Hope this is good enough.”
Tears glistened in her eyes as she nodded. She licked her lips then chewed on the bottom one. “Everything has been wonderful today. Thank you so much. It’s been like a little vacation away from reality. I needed that right about now.”
“I’m glad. Now let’s eat some of this cake. I think I actually made a little room while we were dancing.”
The dessert was several layers, crushed Oreos intermingled with a fudgy mousse middle, then covered with thick chocolaty frosting. More Oreo cookies were halved and arranged decoratively on top. Meg’s eyes couldn’t get much bigger, her smile matching.
Watching her eat was decadent but he couldn’t wait to get her out on the dance floor again. Holding her in his arms was whatheneeded right now.
Soon he was gliding to the slow music, holding her close to his heart. She’d been working her way in there with each smile, each kiss… And each day that passed made it more difficult for him to fight it. He was beginning to wonder if he should give in to his feelings, or fight even harder against them.
He forgot about trying as she snuggled closer, resting her head on his shoulder. His arms held her tight, his nose inhaling her new floral scent, courtesy of the boutique. Usually she smelled like the lavender soap from the hotel and he wasn’t sure which he liked better. On her they both scintillated his senses. Her body relaxed as they swayed to the music and her soft curves pressed to his chest making parts of him hard and unyielding. He’d deal with it later though. He was enjoying this too much to stop.
They were the last ones to leave as the restaurant closed at eleven. The full moon was out softening her beautiful features and he wasn’t ready to go back to the room yet. His control would be tested to the max with her in the next bed.
“Would you like to take a walk along the beach or are you too tired?”
Her feminine laughter tickled his ears. “You forget my inner clock runs a little later than this. I’d love to take a walk.”
“Why don’t we leave our shoes here,” he suggested as they stepped off the veranda on to the fine sand. He kicked his off, stuffing his socks inside as she slipped out of hers. They began walking but she stopped, kneeling in front of him.
“I want to walk in the surf. Let me roll up your pants so they don’t get ruined. I’d like to see you in this suit again sometime.”
He figured he’d be wearing a suit when they testified against Moreno. He liked the idea of getting to see Meg there, one more time. She finished rolling up his pant cuffs then gazed up at him, returning his smile.God, she’s beautiful.He suddenly noticed the close proximity of her face to a certain part of his anatomy. Images of what she could do down there flashed through his mind.
“Come on, let’s go.” He pulled her up before she saw the tenting start below his belt. “You wanted to walk in the waves.”
Taking her hand, he held it tight and they strolled leisurely along the shore. The bright moon hung in the sky illuminating her face. “I hope you enjoyed tonight.”
Her steps slowed as she faced him. “Tonight, today, it was all wonderful. Thank you again. I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
“It’s your birthday.”
She reached up to straighten his tie and her hands lingered on his chest. He still couldn’t get over how sweet and innocent she looked. But then she alwayslookedthat way, until she opened her mouth.
“Not just tonight,” she added. “Thank you for trusting me enough to help nail Moreno. For getting me out of that dump of a room I was staying in. Feeding me every day, letting me sleep until noon, and having intelligent conversation with me so my IQ doesn’t go down with all the idiots I’m surrounded by at work.”
He chuckled. “Anytime.”
She slid her hand around his elbow and began walking again. “You know last year my birthday sucked. Not because I didn’t have a big party or gifts or anything like that. I think it had finally sunk in that I was trapped here. And it was my own damn fault.”
He leaned down whispering, “You won’t be soon enough. I’ll make sure of that.”
“The first few months I was here I tried to make the best of it. See the glass as half full, you know. It wasn’t an ideal situation but I could hang out on the beach all day, the weather was gorgeous most of the time, and I got to see the night life up close and personal.”
Her eyes moved to some far-distant point as if in memory then turned back to him. She was amazing. Who else would try and see the bright side of working for a criminal?
“Over the time I’ve been here I’ve seen more than a few people go into Moreno’s office and come out bruised and broken. And it doesn’t matter who it is. He’s shaken me a time or two for spilling drinks or showing up a few minutes late.” Her eyes clouded over and she looked away again. Had Moreno done something even worse to her? Like when he’d seen her getting on the bus to Tina’s?
Her eyes filled with tears. “After a while I realized I was stuck here. I tried to find ways to get out of town but it seemed as if at every turn there was some wall I’d come up against. No money, no time, one of Moreno’s henchmen showing up. And there was no way I’d ever subject my family to what Moreno could do to them. I got desperate.”
She looked down and away from him, her voice soft and low. “I actually considered doing what Mr. Moreno suggested. I thought, sure, I can just sleep with a few of his friends and my debt will be paid off, no problem. Then I can go home. What would it take, maybe a few weeks, a month at most? I could grin and bear it for a short time, right?”
He tensed knowing how hopeless she’d become, hating that she’d considered offering herself to pay Eddie’s tab. Her face pinched and he pulled her close until she rested against his chest. Her head moved back and forth. “I couldn’t do it, though. I knew if I lowered myself and became that desperate, I’d never be able to face my parents again. They already thought I was a screw-up. They’d be able to see what I’d done, how I’d disgraced the family, become nothing more than a common whore.”
