Embarrassed, I tried to pull my hand back from his grasp. But Canaan drew me to him and wrapped his arms around me. “Relax . . . I already miss you too.”
I closed my eyes, held on to him, and drew on the warmth, comfort, and safety within the cocoon of his strong arms. Maybe I could focus more on this side of him—the more reserved, honest, and vulnerable Canaan. I could be friends with this version of him, with occasional benefits, once it was time to separate publicly.
“Let me walk you back. It’s late, and we have a long day tomorrow. More press conferences and interviews.” His voice broke the silence. We’d been locked in an embrace for what seemed like an eternity.
I looked at him. “Your place is right there.”
Canaan’s voice deepened. “If we go to my place, I can’t promise to be a gentleman.”
“We can be celibate in Miami. I don’t want you to be a gentleman tonight.” I picked up his hand again and led him to his villa.
He tugged against my hand. “Still, I’d rather we go to your suite.”
“When we’re right here? That makes no sense... unless...” I dropped his hand like it was a piece of garbage. “You have a woman waiting on you, don’t you?”
His prominent jawline clenched and unclenched.
I stormed toward his villa, and he rushed behind me. “Listen, I didn’t ask any woman to be with me tonight. But women don’t always wait to be asked . . . um . . .”
Over my shoulder, I snarled, “Shut up.”
“You can’t tell me to shut up.” The alcohol had slowed his reflexes, or I was that mad. Canaan struggled to keep up with my much shorter legs.
“Yes, I can. Do you want me to tell whoever is in your bed to leave, or do you want to do it?” I stopped at the large, wide doors to his villa.
“Oh, so now I can talk? You just told me to shut up.” At my menacing glare, he wisely opened his door and stood back so I could enter first.
I walked into the lamp-lit space expecting two or three rooms, not more. “Where’s the bedroom? This place is huge.”
“It’s the last double doors at the end of the hall after you make a right on this hall.”
Once I reached the closed bedroom doors, I yelled, “I’m sorry that my stupid fiancé forgot he had a woman. No, fuck that. I’m not sorry. I have a knife and am not afraid to use it. You have five seconds to get your shit and go. And in case you want to pretend you can’t understand me.Sal antes de que te apuñale.” When I started counting down, Canaan had to bite back his laughter. By the time I made it to one, three barely dressed brown women holding their clothes rushed out of the room and out of the house, too afraid to make eye contact with an amused Canaan or me.
I ordered, “Lock the front door behind them.”
He held his hands up. “You sure you don’t want to walk with me? Make sure they don’t try to take me with them?”
“Do I look amused, Canaan? Lock the door.”
While he quickly went to lock the door, I entered the massive master bedroom. The bed was barely ruffled. Nothing had happened yet. I should feel relief, but I didn’t. I was still jealous. Hell, I wasjealous? I prided myself onnotbeing jealous. Yet, I didn’t want him with anyone else. At least not while we were together. I internally groaned. These three months were going to be the death of me. Women would be after him just to see if they could take him from me.
When Canaan reappeared in the doorway, rubbing his head, I asked, “Three. Really?”
Canaan grinned sheepishly. “I didn’t know for sure. Sometimes, women find their way into my bed. Sometimes, I kick them out, and other times, I go for it.”
“This is your big night. You would’ve been with them if I weren’t here.”
“But youarehere,” he reminded me.
“And if we were a real couple, we would be done. I don’t tolerate cheating.” I brushed past him and threatened, “I would’ve stabbed youandthem.”
“Damn, woman. It’s like that?” he exclaimed. “Then I’d better not cheat on you.”
“Ever.” I pushed open another door to a smaller bedroom. “This is where I’m sleeping. You can go back to your bed.”
“Wait . . . I thought . . .” Canaan struggled to find the right words.
I scoffed. “You think you’re getting some after I just caught you with three women?”
