When they finally came up for air, Chloe said. “Are you ready for our first work adventure?”
“Every moment is an adventure with you.”
She scooted away, feeling weak and giddy. He had a way of stealing all the energy from her cells and electrifying her nerves.
He rose and she got another whiff of his body soap. It made her mouth water. “Let me put my computer in the room, and I will be ready.”
“And your cell phone.”
A crease formed above those gorgeous eyes. “What?”
“Leave your cell phone, wallet and all your gadgets in the room. I want to untether you from the outside world for a few hours.”
“I do not go anywhere without my phone.”
She nodded. “I get that. Trust me. It’ll be good for you. Those emails, texts and calls will be waiting for you when you get back.”
He put his hand on her shoulder. “You’ll have to keep me really busy to distract me from the outside world.”
She knew she was smiling, but couldn’t help herself. “I’ll do my best. Let’s go,” she said.
“Not yet.” He spun her around and pressed his lips to hers one more time. Then he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and said, “I don’t leave my cell behind.”
“I know but—”
He pressed his finger to her lips. “You are making a new man out of me already.”
“Meet me in the front. Your adventure awaits.” She rose up on her toes, nibbled his chin and then left him to watch her walk away.
Nicolas couldn’t stop smiling. He’d made a connection with Chloe, and that didn’t come easy with him. She was different and surprising. He had no idea how to live in the present, but he was willing to give the experiment a try for a week. Breathing with Chloe. Hell, as long as they were both naked and he could put his lips all over her soft body, then sign him up. After that? He’d go back to LA. Chloe was amazing but she wasn’t going to prove that he was long-lasting material. He wished she could, but he knew it wasn’t in him. He’d never be that guy, because he didn’t know how to really love anyone other than his family. He never had.
His mind knew all of this. His body, though, seemed to have a language of its own. When Chloe Harper was near, his fingertips were drawn to her skin, his nose had a heightened awareness of the intoxicating scent of her shampoo and the soap on her body, and his lips longed to taste hers. Loving every inch of Chloe’s naked body was a reoccurring theme in his brain.
He waited out front as she’d asked and heard an engine purring in the distance. He sucked in a breath when a volcano-orange McLaren F1 pulled up next to him. It was one of the hottest cars he’d ever seen, especially when the doors bat-winged open to reveal Chloe sitting in the front seat, wearing a white dress and a sexy grin.
“Ready, handsome?” she asked.
Santa Mãe. It was going to be a rock-hard day. “This is a McLaren F1 Longtail. Is it even street legal?”
“Yes?” She shrugged. “Probably. I guess so. Most likely.”
“Seems legit to me.” He climbed in. “You’ve driven a race car before?”
“Sure. My brothers and I played racing video games all the time when I was a kid. How hard can it be?” She winked at him. “Don’t worry. I’ll be safe.”
The doors closed and he took a long look at the woman in the driver’s seat. “It suits you.”
She grinned and the look on her face was a mix of excitement and wonder. That suited her, too. If he could get her to look like that in his arms, he would be a happy man.
“That’s what he said, too.”
He frowned. “Who?”
“My dad when he gave it to me this morning. Let’s take this baby out on the open road and see if you’re both right.”
She pressed the gas and roared down the drive.
Chloe was giddy. Again.
Taking the curves on an empty backcountry road in her very own race car? Having Nicolas in the passenger seat, eyeing her as if she was a tasty treat? Never in a million years could she have imagined this day. The heck with being professional; she wanted to enjoy the moment. She squealed her delight.
Nicolas laughed. “You are so damned beautiful. A natural-born race car driver. You should get some time on a race track and open her up.”
She side-eyed him. “Really?”
He grinned. “It’s clear to me, gata—you have a need for speed.”
She didn’t respond. He was correct. Part of her wanted to pull the car over in a lookout spot and grab Nicolas and kiss him like she’d never kissed anyone. Her fingers itched to touch him everywhere.
She added pressure to the gas pedal. The engine purred and she could feel the rumble in her core. She slowed the car and cast Nicolas a glance. “Wow, that felt good.”
“You look good.” Nicolas’s voice was deep, sexy. “Maybe we should pull over. I’ve never kissed a race car driver before and I want to. Right now.”
Excitement raced through her veins. “Mmm. That can be arranged. Let’s stop in Pueblicito.” Slowly she drove down the main street, while Nicolas took in the small town.
“I’ve never heard of Pueblicito and yet it looks like it’s been here a long time,” he said.
“It’s probably too small to show up on most maps, but you’re right—it has been here since the 1800s. The town started out as a working ranch for my family.”
“The pirate Harpers went into ranching?”
“No, the next generations went into cattle and became the land-baron Harpers. It’s not a great chapter in my family history.” She grimaced. Several chapters in her history were less than stellar. “People have lived in this town all their lives. Several generations back, their descendants were brought here from Mexico to work in the house, fields, pastures or on the range for the Harpers. Those poor people were not always treated well by my ancestors. My father is changing all that.” She parked in front of Juanita’s Café and Market.
“Your father.” He looked puzzled. “RW Harper is upgrading this town, too?”
“In a big way. He is paying the residents of Pueblicito a percentage of all money made on the new resort and restaurant. That is apparently the reason he is going into the resort business to begin with—to give back to the residents in this town and correct past mistakes. Expect to see Pueblicito on the map in a few years.”
He cocked his head. “Interesting. It’s hard to imagine RW as a charitable guy. I always heard he was a cutthroat businessman. One that shouldn’t be trusted.”
She laughed. “You aren’t wrong. I was skeptical, too. Since I’ve been home, I am awestruck by how much he has changed from the father I knew growing up. He seems to be making amends and coming through on his promises. It gives me hope that people can change.” She opened the doors. “Come on. I can’t wait for you to try the dulces here.”
They stepped out of the car and were quickly surrounded by a group of young boys ogling her car.
“Aunt Chloe!” her nine-year-old nephew, Henry, came running over. “No way! Grandpa let you drive the F1?”
She smiled and gave Henry a hug. “Even better. He gave it to me.”
Henry’s face fell. “Is Grandpa okay?”
Henry knew how much RW loved his cars. The kid and his grandpa were remarkably close. The whole family was worried about RW since Angel had disappeared.
“Yep. He’s fine.” She hoped. “Let me introduce you to my friend. This is—”
“Nicky M!” Julia, Henry’s mother, rushed out of the café, letting loose a string of Spanish words as she came. Chloe didn’t understand half of it until Julia switched back to a flood of English words. “Holy Madre, I can’t believe you’re here. I have every record you ever made. Every one. I have watched all your music videos dozens of times. More! Maybe hundreds of times. This is, I mean, I can’t even...” She looked at Chloe. “Oh, my gosh, it’s Nicky M!”
Chloe laughed. “Yes, I know. Nicolas, this is my sister-in-law, Julia. She’s Matt’s wife.”
“Con mucho gusto,” he said in Spanish, not Portuguese, as he shook Julia’s hand. “Matt? He is the pilot?”
“Yes.”
Chloe elbowed her. “The crowd is growing. Let’s go inside.”
Julia blinked dreamily and then seemed to mentally shake herself. “Pardon my manners. Of course. Come in. I’ll make you two something yummy to eat.”
“You’re cooking? That’s new. Oh, wait.” Chloe held up her finger. “Henry?” Chloe called to the boy peeking in the windows of her new car.
Henry held up both hands and took a step back. “I didn’t touch it, I swear.”
“No, that’s fine. If you and your friends are careful, I’ll let you sit in my car.”
The boys hooted and hollered. “Thanks, Aunt Chloe. We’ll be careful,” Henry promised.
“Wow. I wish I had an aunt like you when I was a boy,” Nicolas whispered as they walked through the glass doors. He put his hand on her back, causing a shiver of delight to roll up her spine.
“I have only one nephew and I reserve the right to spoil him rotten.” Chloe inhaled deeply. The sights and smells of the Mexican market never disappointed.
Julia led them to a table in the café. “What would you do with another nephew? Or maybe a niece?”
It was then that Chloe noticed the sparkle in Julia’s eye.
“Julia! Really?” Wrapping her arms around her sister-in-law, Chloe gently squeezed. “I am so happy for you. Does Henry know?”
“Not yet. Matt and I are going to spill the beans tonight, after he returns from his flying exercises for the Forestry Service.”
“Parabéns to you and Matt,” Nicolas said. “That is very exciting.”
“Nicky M, you could write a song about the excitement in my life. The love of my life returned from the dead, I found my lost mother and now...” The tears welling in her eyes did not dim Julia’s radiant smile. “Another baby.” She swiped at her wet cheeks. “Stupid hormones.”
“Aww. I am so happy for you and Matt. Henry, too. He’s going to be a great big brother if he is anything like mine.” Chloe kissed Julia’s cheek.
“Sit, please. Let me make you lunch,” Julia said.
“You’ve taken over Juanita’s while your mom is gone?” Chloe asked.
“Yeah. Has your dad heard from her?” Julia’s cheeks were suddenly pale. “I’m so worried.”
“Sorry, no.” Chloe didn’t want to mention the mysterious meeting her dad ran off to this morning. No need to get Julia’s hopes up if the meeting had nothing to do with Angel.
Julia sighed. “Let me know if you do, okay? I’m dying to tell her about the new grandbaby. Hopefully that’ll convince her to stay here. Now that I finally have a family, I want them all to stay put.”
“I get it,” Chloe said.
“Family is everything,” Nicolas said softly. “I wish my mother would come to California to live, but she refuses to leave Brazil.”
“That is rough. I lived most of my life without knowing my mom and dad. It sucked,” Julia said.
“Hey, you two should come and hang out with us at the bonfire tonight. Matt invited some of his friends. Jeff and Michele will be there. You could bring your guitar, Chloe. Maybe we can all show Nicky M how talented we are.”
“You play the guitar?” Nicolas’s eyes were on her.
Chloe could feel her cheeks getting hot. “I try. Just don’t ask me to sing, because I don’t do that in public.”
He leaned into her and lifted his brow. “What would it take to get you to sing for me in private?”
“Um...”
Julia cleared her throat.
“What do you say, Chloe?” Nicolas pulled her into his arms. “Be my date to the bonfire party?”
“Aww. You two make a great couple,” Julia said as she walked away to make lunch.
Blood whooshed in Chloe’s ears. “But my brothers will be there.”
“And?” He laced his fingers with hers. “What are you afraid of?”
She rubbed her thumb on the top of his hand but couldn’t look him in the eye. “Messing this whole thing up. With you. With them. Dad. The world.” She half chuckled, or at least made a sound that she hoped sounded like a casual laugh. “Yep, that’s about it.”
“You think if they see us together they’d assume...what? That you are sleeping with me to win the contract?” The tone in his voice! She’d hurt him.
She looked up. “No! Well, maybe. I want them to believe in me. I can’t lose my family again.”
Tears fell. She couldn’t stop them.
“Maybe we can do something else tonight? Just the two of us?”
He leaned forward and looked deeply into her eyes. “I would like to do something else with you before the bonfire party. And after.” That grin of his made her wet. “But this is my part of the bargain, proving that you are worthy. And fantastic just the way you are. Look at what you have done already. Not only are you doing your job, convincing me that this place is great for the show, but you are changing me. You’ve converted a workaholic cell phone addict into someone who can breathe in the present moment and try to become a long-term guy. All in two days! You are a strong force of nature, who I believe can do anything she sets her mind to. If anyone doesn’t see how amazing you are, they are the ones messing up. Please say yes and go with me to the bonfire, Chloe. Seize the moment with me.”
When he looked at her like that, she would agree to anything. And the thought of before and after was rolling through her brain like a forest fire.
“Nicolas...” she began, her voice thick with need. God, she wanted before and after. Not to mention tomorrow and next year.
Even though Nicolas was not that guy.
His gaze was on her lips. “Say it, Chloe.”
But he was the guy she wanted. Right. Now.
“Yes,” she said. “Oh, God, yes.”
Nicolas reached across the table, put his hands on Chloe’s wet cheeks and captured her lips. His tongue licked until she opened up and let him set her world on fire. She had never been kissed like that before, especially not at a little table in a small café with people watching. She didn’t care about any of her surroundings. Her senses were hypersensitive to him—his touch, sounds, smell, taste. Nicolas was sucking her bottom lip and lighting up every cell in her body.
Life had never felt so good.
Before had already begun.