OH MY GOD.
Common sense is screaming at me to shut up, but I can’t. I’m showing him I’m capable of playing this game. I’m channeling Winnie, listening to my tattoo and doing what she would do in this situation. She would never allow Cristiano to steamroll over her.
Gently, like he’s touching a baby bird, his hand rises to cup my jaw. Too late, I realize that though his touch isn’t cruel, it’s a warning all the same. I shiver as he tips my chin up and lowers his face until our mouths almost meet. His eyes dart back and forth between mine, searching for something. Suddenly every nerve ending in my body is firmly in his grasp. I have no fight left in me, only warm, beckoning desire.
“Do you want me to teach you how I’d like you to talk to me in public? With everyone watching us?” He speaks like the idea delights him.
His gaze drops to my mouth and I feel my bottom lip tremble. All at once, with a panic, I realize I’ve taken things too far. My stomach swoops with fear and longing and…
I tear my gaze away from him and swallow down my nerves. I don’t argue. He’s won. He knows it. He doesn’t need my confirmation.
I cross my arms and wait for him to finish with me.
“I’ll find you and your friends after your shift,” he tells me with calm satisfaction. “I’m driving you home tonight.”
I don’t even bother to reply; I just walk away.
Chapter Twelve
Cristiano
Juan Carlos and I sit parked outside Aura, waiting for Isabel and her friends to emerge from the side exit. Her shift ended a while ago and I don’t know what’s delaying her. I fidget in my seat, drum my hand on the steering wheel, and then look back to the door with dwindling patience.
My cousin chuckles to himself in the passenger seat, drawing my attention. He’s been watching me.
“¿Estás bien?” he asks, not bothering to hide that twinkle in his eye.
I ignore him and clear my throat.
“Seriously, I thought you were going to fight me earlier. That was some real machismo shit you pulled in there. And now we’re out here waiting for her? That girl with the black hair?”
That girl with the black hairis the very one who’s had me tied in knots since her arrival on this island. Even now I want to tell my cousin to watch his mouth, but it would only make him laughto get a rise out of me again. I don’t usually get worked up like this. I’m white-knuckling the steering wheel and bouncing my leg impatiently, all courtesy ofthat girl with the black hair.
The side door opens and I jerk my head around, but it’s not her.
“What’s the deal?” Juan Carlos asks. He’s not smiling anymore; now he’s openly curious.
“Nothing. I know her. She’s a family friend.”
“We’re family,” he points out with another laugh.
“On my other side.”
Dolores isn’t Juan Carlos’s grandmother; he and I are related on my mother’s side.
“All right. Still, I feel like you’re leaving something out. Like the part where you want to fuck her…”
I thunk him on the back of the head and he goes overboard rubbing the spot like I’ve really hurt him.
“What wasthatfor?”
“Enough. You’ve been getting on my nerves all night.”
Isabel’s already pushed me past my limit, and I don’t have the patience for Juan Carlos’s foolishness. It’s bad enough he’s making me give him a lift home.
The side door opens again and I spot Annika emerging with Simone and then… Isabel. Jesús. I can’t help but look her over from head to toe. She’s washed off her makeup and swapped her uniform for a short sundress,too short. Her legs go on forever in a dress like that.
She spots my SUV and shakes her head. I don’t hear what she says to her friends. Too bad; I’m sure it would have made me chuckle. I get out and round the front of my vehicle so I can open the back door for her. The security guard beats me to it, but Itake the door from him, letting Annika and Simone climb in before Isabel stops and meets my determined gaze with a fiery one of her own.
