The Valquez Seduction

‘Oh, lovely,’ she said. ‘But you shouldn’t have gone to any trouble.’

‘It’s no trouble.’

‘But what did you have planned for today?’

Luiz wasn’t used to his dates being concerned about him, only what he could do for them. Daisy’s concern was not only refreshing but it was surprisingly genuine. Her blue eyes had a worried light in them as she waited for his reply.

‘Nothing much,’ he said. ‘A bit of time in the gym, a few games of poker. Chilling out.’

‘So is that why you’re here in Vegas now? Just for a holiday?’

Why did he go anywhere when he wasn’t competing? To distract himself from moping around his huge empty villa in Argentina. If he didn’t fill his spare time with parties and people he got restless and bored. His older brother enjoyed solitude. Luiz didn’t. Time alone reminded him too much of how he had felt as a child.

Abandoned.

‘I come over a couple of times a year. It’s a great place to blend into the crowd.’ He realised too late the irony of what he’d just said and sent her a wry smile. ‘Well, maybe not always.’

She gave him a sympathetic look. ‘I’d hate to be famous. It must be awful to have cameras thrust in your face all the time. Never being able to go anywhere without someone tailing you.’

‘Having a bodyguard must be similar.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Tell me about it.’

Luiz glanced out of the back window of the limousine. ‘Is he still following you?’

‘No. I called my father when I was packing my things and made him promise. I think he finally accepts I’m safe with you.’

You’re not safe, he thought. But then, I’m not safe either. Damn it.

The helicopter was waiting for them when they arrived. Luiz handed Daisy the headset and went through the safety features.

‘But what about the pilot?’ she asked.

He adjusted her earphones so they sat correctly. ‘I’m your pilot.’

Her eyes rounded. ‘You’re a pilot?’

He couldn’t help touching her chin where the red mark from his stubble was still faintly apparent. ‘Got my licence years ago.’

Her eyes began to sparkle. ‘Do you have any other secret talents I should know about?’

‘None that I can show you right now.’ Do not flirt with her. Do. Not. Flirt. With. Her.

Her smile had a touch of naughty girl about it. ‘I bet you have lots of tricks up your sleeve.’

Right now my biggest trick is not up my sleeve, Luiz thought as he helped her into the passenger seat. His hand inadvertently brushed against her breast as he pulled the seat belt into place.

Her eyes met his in a little lock that made his blood hurtle through his veins. Her eyes had tiny flecks of slate in amongst the intense blue, reminding him of an ocean with hidden depths. Her lashes were spider leg long and spiky with a coat of mascara. The point of her tongue darted out to sweep over her lips, making it impossible for him not to stare at the soft shiny lushness of her mouth.

He brought his mouth closer, pausing within a whisker of her slightly parted lips. Her sweet cinnamon and honey breath danced over the surface of his lips, her signature fragrance of old-fashioned cottage flowers teasing his senses into an intoxicated stupor.

‘Is someone watching?’ she said.

‘Not that I know of.’ He nudged his nose against hers. ‘Why?’

‘You’re about to kiss me.’

‘So?’

‘So I thought someone must be watching.’

He couldn’t pull himself away from the lure of her soft mouth that tantalisingly brushed against his lower lip every time she spoke. ‘Can’t I kiss you when no one’s watching?’

‘Sure. But I thought—’

‘Stop thinking.’ Luiz wasn’t sure if he was saying it to her or himself. ‘Just feel.’

He closed the distance between their mouths with a soft press against hers but as soon as her mouth flowered open he was gone. He drove his tongue into her mouth to meet hers; tangling with it in a passionate duel that made the base of his spine shudder and his groin fill with pulsating blood.

Her hands came up to cradle his face, a tender gesture that was at odds with the heated fervour of her kiss. But that was the complexity of her—the beguiling mix of passion and innocence that so knocked him off kilter.

He encircled her wrists with his hands, reluctantly pulling away before things got too out of hand. He needed to stay in control. It was what he did best. He pushed the boundaries as far as he could but no further. He knew his limits and Daisy Wyndham was testing every damn one of them.

She looked at him with a quizzical expression, her mouth all soft and glistening from his moistness and hers. ‘Is something wrong?’