ISABELS PULSE SKIPPED at the image of how Dante could handle things. Shed bet he could handle them just fineand then some.
It was all she could do not to pinch herself. Dante Luciano, bad boy extraordinaire and hunk of her fantasieshere, in front of her. It was almost too much to accept. Was it a dream? A hangover-induced birthday fantasy in 3-D? Her mind whirled with possibilities, but it felt real. Her bodys reaction was definitely real.
But shed already done her idiot impression for Dante, ten years before. Holding tight to the image of her humiliation, she vowed to keep it cool this round. If fate had brought him back into her life, shed make the most of it. Lucky for her, shed never even registered on his radar, so he didnt remember her.
Excitedif deludedtriumph surged through her. This was her chance to meet him on even ground. Or as close as possible, all things considered. Sure, she might peek at the man while he worked, but shed be damned if shed blush and stammer when caught. After all, she was all grown up now, hardly an inexperienced sixteen-year-old good-girl.
Yeah, but Im talking about construction, she corrected, proud of her offhand tone. He grinned in response. I dont suppose you have references or anything?
No references, but Ive never had a single complaint.
She slid an appreciative look over his body and gave a little hum. Years of hot, wet dreams flashed through her mind, all starring the man in front of her. She was sure complaints were the last thing he heard the morning after. Then, realizing what shed done, her gaze flew back to his as color flooded her cheeks.
So much for not blushing.
Dantes grin widened.
He moved through the open area that took up the front half of the house. Still under construction, it was one big, raw space. She watched as he inspected the wiring and plumbing.
Whatre you aiming for when this is done? he asked.
Sweet Scentsations will be one-stop gift shop, she replied, glad to focus on her project instead of her wayward bodys reactions. Ill not only offer fresh cut flowers, bouquets and plants, but handmade candies made by a local chocolatier. There will be a small selection of gifts, cards and balloons.
Clever. Dante quirked a brow. Is Santa Vera big enough to support such a specialty shop? Ive seen plenty of clever ideas fail in larger cities.
Ive done the research. Santa Vera caters to its tourist population and over the last three years has created a solid niche as a wedding town. I wouldnt have invested my entire capital into this shop if I didnt have a plan to make it work.
His eyes widened at the vehemence of her tone, but Isabel barely noticed. She was too busy tamping down the demons his question had stirred. Failure wasnt a consideration. She had too much to prove, after all.
Thatd explain the plumbing, was all he said, though. Whats back that way?
Still putting out the last embers of panic at the idea of failure, she followed him toward the storage rooms. Her gaze locked on the tight planes of his butt, highlighted in loving perfection by his worn jeans. Her fingers itched to reach out and touch the soft denim, just there where it curved over his left cheek.
Focus, she reminded herself. Be professional. She pulled in a breath and folded her fingers together. Shed have plenty of time to pant after he left.
This is where I want the storeroom and a small kitchen to make candies on site. I also want to add another cooler for the flowers, as well as a small greenhouse on the back of the building. Those are on the list of changes.
She went on to describe the details of the job, when the walk-in refrigerator and appliances would be delivered and her timeline. At least, thats what she hoped was coming out of her mouth. Because when Dante shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, she lost focus. She slid a quick glance over his clenched biceps, her eyes narrowing in heated desire.
Realizing shed stopped mid-sentence, her gaze flew to his. Under the amusement dancing in his green eyes was a burning flame of interest. Oh, God. She was making a complete ass of herself. Again. This was completely unacceptable. He had to go so she could get control of her thoughts. There was no hope of controlling the lust that surged through her body, but she could at least keep it from being so obvious.
I have the list in the office, she finally said. We can go over it now.
Dante shook his head.
Ive been on the bike for a couple hours. I need to settle in and get a shower. How about you give me the list now, Ill read it. Im good at reading. If I have any questions, Ill let you know.
Good, hed be gone sooner. The short trip to her office was used to lecture herself on the value of control and how stupid shed feel if he knew how badly he affected her. Not even bothering with a file folder, she snagged the pages from the printer and clipped them together.
She stood there, her future clutched in her fists, her past looming like a testosterone-flexing reminder of how easy it was to lose ones brain cells at the sight of the ultimate fantasy.
A taunting little voice in her head reminded her of the Man Plan she and Audra had created. Oh, sure, shed wanted a man. Not just a man, but a man who could make all her hot, sexual fantasies a reality. And now onenot just any man but her ultimate fantasy manwas at her front door and what did she do?
Blush, stutter and hide in her office. Not okay. After all, number one on her list was control. Number two was not looking stupid. Isabel pressed her hand against her stomach, trying to calm her edgy nerves. He was just a man. Albeit her ideal man, but that was beside the point.
The question was, would she pursue the man?
Or hide?
She didnt know yet. But for now, he was technically her employee. So she needed to get over her girly nerves and act like the professional she prided herself in being.
Pep talk in mind, she returned to the shop. Stopping a safe distance away, she thrust the handful of documents at him.
I was starting to wonder if you were coming back, he commented, taking the papers. His eyes widened at the thickness of the stack. Damn, how many changes do you plan to make? And Frank had approved all these for your timeframe?
Theyre all approved, she said. She needed him to go. Now. Before the pep talk faded and she tried to lick him.
He glanced at the top sheet, his lower lip dropping a little at the bulleted list, prioritized and color-coded.
Scary, he breathed.
They were already printed out and on my desk, she said, ignoring his comment. Id intended to put them in a file folder and all, but you seem like youre in a hurry and I dont want to keep you waiting.
He seemed to get her unspoken message, loud and clear. He winked. Then he tried to kill her.
He took her hand in his, smoothing his thumb over the sensitive flesh. One second turned to five as he held her gaze. Ten seconds and her smile dropped away. Her vision blurred and her body stiffened, but she didnt pull away. Dantes smile quirked.
It was that smilealmost a smirk, but not quitethat brought her back to sanity. She suddenly wanted to take his cocky self down a peg or two.
Maybe I should let you in on a little secret, she murmured, her words low and breathy. She was proud of that tone. Like she was about to tell him her deepest fantasies.
Id like to hear all your secrets, he said as he lifted her hand to his lips. He pressed a kiss to her knuckles, then rubbed them against his cheek.
Since they mostly featured him, she was sure hed get a kick out of them. One thing about Dante Luciano, he wasnt hurting in the ego department. He never had been.
Lets settle for just this one, hmm? She turned her hand in his, then patted his cheek. Im the boss here, and I dont think mixing business and pleasure is a good idea. But Im sure if you take your hot and horny self down to the east side of town, youre bound to meet up with some old friends. Or make new ones even. Youll have no trouble finding yourself a good time.
Apparently unoffended, Dante flashed a delighted grin. Im much more interested in a challenge, he told her. Like I said, well be spending a lot of time together. Why not make the most of it?
Thanks for the offer. But no thanks. She laughed, actually amused. Besides, I doubt well be spending that much time together.
Why not? Scared? He stepped closer. Close enough for her to smell the warm sunshine on his skin and the musky spice of his cologne. Close enough to see the tiny flecks of gold in his bottle-green eyes. Desire blurred her vision as flames of edgy wet heat flickered deep in her belly.
When Dante reached out and wrapped one of her inky curls around his index finger, it was all she could do not to whimper.
But she didnt pull away. Hell, no, she wasnt giving in like a namby-pamby good girl. Instead, she rolled her eyes and gave what she hoped was an amused sneer.
Oh, please? Is that supposed to be a dare? Now what? I prove Im not afraid to have you within lusting distance without throwing myself at you?
Lusting distance, huh? Why dont we talk about that?
Why dont we not.
Dante laughed. You know, I was looking forward to coming back to Santa Vera as much as Id anticipate a prostate exam. But I have to admit, now Im actually looking forward to my four-week stay in hell.
TWENTY MINUTES later, Dante pulled out his key and unlocked the door to the motel. He hadnt bothered to go by his parents house. He had, though, taken a quick trip around the property his boss wanted. Nice way to kill a few birds with one stonehelp out his mom, piss off his dad and do his regular job at the same time.
Dante snickered and tossed the room key on the cheap dresser. Maybe he was still trouble? Hell, even the desk clerk had recognized him. And charged an extra two-hundred bucks deposit. Apparently she remembered his going-away party. Back in high school, he and some of his buddies had trashed three of the rooms, shed been quick to remind him.
He shrugged off the irritation. Hed known hed be judged if he came back. Thats how small towns were. Quick to blame, long to forget. And it wasnt as if his reputation hadnt been earned. Hed been hell on wheels as a teen and he hadnt changed a whole lot since.
Sure, he had a steady job now. Ironically, despite his issues with his father, hed taken the old mans profession to heart. A troubleshooter for one of the largest construction firms on the West Coast, he didnt lift a hammer much these days, but he was sure he hadnt lost this touch. Instead, he spent his time traveling from site to site, handling everything from zoning to personnel issues.
Travelling thirty weeks out of the year kept him from boredom, as well as entanglement-free. Buddies to party with in the various towns he visited on Tremaine business, ladies satisfied with a few weeks here and there. It should be perfect. But lately, itd been bugging him. He shrugged off the idea that his life was lonely; it was exactly how he wanted it.
Free, easy and unencumbered.
Every once in a while, his boss had him scout out properties to take over, since the guy had a weird desire to own pieces of the entire world. While the job gave Dante enough freedom to keep him from going crazy, the challenge was wearing off.
But other than a cushy bank account, a house on the beach and the Harley, he was still pretty much the same hell-raising no-good hed been ten years before when his father told the sheriff to escort him out of town.
Dante sighed and looked around the plain motel room. Same ol, same ol. Living on the road was definitely losing its appeal. He unpacked his MP3 player and docking station, needing some unwind music. Before he could drop to the bed to see if it was as lumpy as it looked, his cell phone rang.
Luciano, he answered.
Did you check out the property? his boss asked on the other end. Luke Tremaine wasnt a man to waste time with pleasantries.
Yeah, I saw it. As luck would have it, its right across the street from the place Im working on. Good location, nice lot. Ill get inside in the next couple days, see what kind of shape its in.
Doesnt matter. Luke dismissed his comment. Well raze it. From the reports, its one of those old-fashioned monstrosities. That wont suit my purposes.
Dante pulled a face. He could just imagine one of Tremaines signature, sleek chrome-and-glass dance clubs on Main Street. Itd stick out like a sore thumb. And piss off the townspeople like nobodys business. Not his problem. His job was to scout, assess and report to Tremaine Construction.
Dont forget youre still technically on the clock, Tremaine reminded him. Confirm the lot size and stats, then get me a report.
With that, the phone went dead. Dante was about to toss it on the bed when it rang again.
A quick glance told him it was his mother. Dante grimaced, but didnt answer this time. He needed to unwind before dealing with her questions and unspoken expectations. Hed take her to dinner, of course. Otherwise shed be hurt. And not hurting his mother was one of the few rules Dante followed religiously.
But for now, hed settle in. A quick shower, a nap, then hed be ready to deal with the coming weeks.
The Santos job was the only major thing on his fathers schedule. A few other little jobs here and there, but nothing big. Dantes focus would be on the intriguing Isabels renovations. Get those done, then he could leave, free and clear.
What was it about her that tugged at him? Other than her looks, she really wasnt his type. Not that he liked to think of himself as being so predictable that he had a type. To him, all women were simply fascinating. But a man didnt hover on the edge of thirty without learning a little caution around serious, sweet women.
And the vibe the woman in front of him put off was seriously sweet. Not uptight, but not on par with the hit-and-run sexual satisfaction he made his benchmark for involvement with a woman.
Dante grabbed the papers shed given him, scanning her list. Damn, it was gonna be a lot of work. And the sweet Miss Santos was obviously planning on tracking him with a stopwatch.
Pacing off the irritated energy, Dante flipped to the last page. Hand written, numbered, with notes in the margins. Great, directions.
He focused on the words.
Oh, yeah baby.
Hot, wild and a little rough up against the wall.
Intense passion in a semi-public place.
A smorgasbord of sexual pleasure, complete with whipped cream, strawberries and lots of decadent chocolate.
Dantes mouth went dry and the words blurred on the page as he pictured he and Isabel in each of those scenarios. Especially that last one. Fast, intense and a little rough got his juices flowing like nothing else. The idea of taking Isabel against a wall sent a bolt of heat straight to his dick.