Oh, the minds of the rich. Even though he’d amounted a substantial wealth, the boy who counted his coins every week to buy an ice cream cone still lived inside him. “That’s a romantic idea of buying a house.” Too many of his clients had it at first, but once they got to know the market and the list of things they’d have to compromise on, they became more pragmatic.
“She can afford to be picky, right?”
“That she can. If I sell her this home, and with the rest of her family moving to California, if I get her business I’ll be able to retire,” he said.
She shifted in her seat, watching him. “What will you do when you retire?”
“What do you mean?” he asked, to gain more time. He’d hoped to have a lot of free time to focus on life, but things slipped through his fingers. The convenient relationship he had with Megan ended, thankfully so. What would come next though? He’d been so focused on making a lot of money and not ending like his old man, that when it came to life after retirement—he needed to work out the kinks. Especially since he was only forty-three.
She nudged his elbow playfully, but the chaste touch sent thrills up his arm, igniting his nerve endings. “Well, do you have any big plans? Travel the world? Start a greenhouse in your backyard? A family?”
He chuckled. “A greenhouse is out of the question.”
“Too bad. You’d make a handsome old man, caring for plants.”
Old man? He scowled. “I don’t know if I should be offended by the old man part, or flattered by handsome,” he delivered in an easy way. Had their interactions always been this organic between the two of them? He’d always maintained her at an arm’s length, and now he wondered if it was because a part of him knew she was a fun, witty person—hard to resist.
“They’re equally true.” Specks of gold flickered in the depths of her irises, and a dangerous message touched her gaze. “Do you know what they call you at the agency?”
Greedy, heartless son-of-a-bitch? “What?” This was going to be good.
She bit her lower lip. “Office Daddy.”
Amusement floated up his throat. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.” She gave him a long glance, as if she appraised him.
The GPS pinged, the robotic voice announcing they’d arrived at the destination. He parked the car, seeing Clarice come behind him and park hers. “We’ll have to continue this conversation later.”
She touched his leg, before she shifted in her seat and removed her seatbelt. “Oh, I can’t wait,” she said in a low sexy voice that almost did more damage than the touch itself.
“So what do you think? They have a lot of bathrooms, and the saltwater heated pool is second to none. Even better than the ocean,” Nate said.
Manuela sighed. For the past hour, Clarice had looked and looked around this house. Sheets of rain fell from the sky, then they progressed to fat droplets, but none of it seemed to send Clarice into a sense of urgency. She couldn’t blame her, after all, if she had millions of dollars available to buy a house, she’d be picky too.
Clarice shortened the gap between them, pointing at the terrace. “We need to come back here in the daylight when it’s not raining. I can’t get a feel for what the outside area is like with this terrible weather.”
“Com certeza,” Manuela replied. Of course it made sense to see the place with the sun shining over the pool, and the palm trees glistening from the rays of light, instead of the stubborn rain now pounding the trees and plants.
She explained it to Nate, who understood, and they made plans to see it the next day—per Clarice’s request. He’d have to switch things around in his schedule, but seemed happy to accommodate. From all the properties they’d showed the Brazilian matriarch, she’d spent the longest time in this one. Maybe it’d be the one—and one night would make a difference.
“If she wants to see it in the morning, maybe we should spend the night here,” he suggested after they said goodbye to Clarice. “Doesn’t make sense to drive in this weather, to turn around and drive back after a few hours.”
“That works with me,” she said, and tried hard to contain her enthusiasm during the drive to a swanky hotel. She also texted her neighbor to ask her to feed Gustavo.
While he checked in and asked for two rooms, she grinned. This was her opportunity—away from the office, from obligations, from the stark contrast of boss and employee. They rarely saw each other socially, besides networking events. Those really didn’t count because other coworkers would be around.
Tonight, she’d have him all to herself. And she’d make good use of this chance.
4
Nate ran his fingers through his wet hair as he walked through his hotel room. He usually kept a change of clothes in his trunk in case something came up, but they were suits and ties, not sleep or causal wear. He wrapped the hotel robe he’d taken from the bathroom, the fabric a tad too fluffy for his taste, but comfortable, around himself.
Staying in this hotel wasn’t planned. The property was nice, luxurious, with a vast full room service menu and little frivolities like turndown service. He knew it because he’d read the hotel guide twice since he’d arrived over an hour ago.
He’d told Manuela she could order whatever she wanted from the menu. He’d been a coward, and preferred not to see her for dinner. Hopefully he’d miss her for breakfast too, in the morning.
Truth was, something had shifted in their relationship, and he couldn’t risk spending time alone with her without the buffer of work.
