Back in the Brazilian's Bed

Luc looked at her shrewdly. ‘He has got under your skin.’

‘Can we make a start, please?’

‘Whatever you say.’ Luc grinned with the anticipation of fun as he sat down at his desk.

‘Apologies for my late arrival.’

She nearly jumped out of her skin when the door flew open. Dante’s blazing stare found hers immediately.

‘You’re not late. We’re early,’ Luc pacified, smiling as he stood.

She watched the two men punch fists and hug. She felt like an outsider when once she had been an honorary member of their gang.

That had been years ago.

She turned back to business—and tensed when Dante pulled his chair up close to hers. ‘Those notes you emailed over...in the middle of the night?’ His amused eyes scanned her face. ‘I’ve taken a look at them. You get some good ideas at three o’clock in the morning. I hope I wasn’t keeping you awake?’

‘You weren’t,’ she said coolly, conscious that every part of her body was responding eagerly in spite of the fact that that was the last thing she needed. It was interesting to know Dante had been awake too, she conceded as he pushed his response notes in front of her.

‘We made a good choice in your sister,’ he said to Luc.

‘I agree. I think Karina will do a very good job for us.’

‘Excuse me—I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m still here.’

‘Of course you are,’ Dante said warmly. ‘My apologies, Senhorita Marcelos. Why don’t you add to your notes a suggestion for classes so that gaucho polo players can learn better manners?’

‘Good idea,’ she murmured, as she studied his comments.

‘I’ve written some notes on the back of that,’ he said, leaning towards her to turn over the document she was studying.

Like an idiot, she bent her head to read, ‘Dinner Cellini’s. Eight o’clock.’

‘Seriously?’ She glanced up. ‘I don’t think we need to consider this, do you?’

‘On the contrary senhorita,’ Dante argued with a perfectly straight face. ‘I think I’ve raised a very important point that should be considered right now.’

A point she was forced to award to Dante. ‘Your notes are certainly comprehensive,’ she agreed with a rise of her brow.

‘Exactly as I intended. And your answer?’

‘I’ll give it some thought.’ She smiled to reassure her brother, who was watching this exchange closely. She hoped Luc was oblivious to the undercurrents, though she doubted it when he asked to take a look at the page she was clutching to her chest.

‘Maybe I can help clear up Dante’s meaning so you can decide what to do?’ he offered.

‘That won’t be necessary. It’s perfectly clear to me.’ Moving the papers out of her brother’s reach, she stowed them away safely in her briefcase.

‘Then can you please stop frowning so we can get on with the meeting?’ Luc suggested. ‘I can’t tell if this is going well or not.’

And long may that last!

‘Karina and I are going to work together just fine,’ Dante assured Luc.

‘If you say so.’

Luc looked less than convinced. And he’d better not be smiling, she thought as her brother covered his mouth with his hand. If bringing her together with Dante was his idea of a joke—

‘How soon will you be going out to the fazenda?’ Luc asked, directing his question to Dante.

It would have to be soon, Karina thought, frowning as she weighed up the hectic schedule ahead of her. There were several big projects pending—not as prestigious as this one but, then, what was? And whatever the job, she prided herself on giving it her best. But the clock was ticking.

‘Tomorrow morning?’ Dante suggested, turning to her to seek her approval. ‘I’ll have my driver pick you up.’

So soon? Her heart lurched at the thought. But that was exactly what she needed to happen, she reminded herself—not that that made the thought of going with Dante tomorrow sit any easier in her mind.

‘Unless that’s too soon for you, Karina?’ Luc probed, seeing her frown.

‘No. The sooner I can get started, the better it is for me. I have other commitments not too far down the line.’

‘None that are going to interfere with this project, I trust?’ Dante asked with a raised brow.

‘Of course not.’ Her heartbeat spiked as he continued to stare at her.