Читать онлайн книгу «Take Me On» автора Dylan Rose
Take Me On
Dylan Rose
An erotic wager… Who ends up on top? Kenzie Fox is ready to sell her stake in a rum distillery, until she discovers the buyer is Antonio Navedo, the arrogant stranger she’s just shared a steamy night with. Furious, she changes her mind and proposes a sexy wager instead: if she can turn the business around, she gets the distillery. If she fails he gets her shares – and anything he wants in the bedroom…including her heart
A sexy, no-holds-barred debut from Dylan Rose! Meet yoga goddess Kenzie Fox, who strikes an unconventional—steamy—bargain with Antonio Navedo, the irresistible stranger buying her stake in a rum distillery. Everyone wins in the bedroom... But in love? That’s anyone’s guess...
Clean-living New Yorker Kenzie Fox is ripped from her comfort zone when a relative leaves her shares in a Miami rum distillery. She flies to Florida intent on selling up, but her plans are turned upside down after a chance encounter with a handsome stranger turns into an unforgettable night of passion. One that has her questioning her “no strings” rule on relationships.
When she turns up to the sales meeting the next morning, Kenzie realizes she’s been duped. Sitting opposite her is none other than the mysterious man from last night, Antonio Navedo. Did he use her to get her shares? Their sexual chemistry is still electric, but she’s too angry to let him off easy. Instead of her shares, she offers him a sexy, high-stakes challenge.
If Kenzie can turn the outdated business around in a week, then he must sell her his shares, no questions asked. But if she fails, not only does he get her shares, but she’ll also have to play out his wildest bedroom fantasies—and Antonio has a very wild, shockingly romantic imagination. In this erotic wager, who will end up on top?
DYLAN ROSE is a writer from New York City, who is obsessed with watching romantic comedies, taking hot baths on cold nights and finding the perfect red lipstick. Take Me On is her debut novel for Mills & Boon Dare. Follow her adventures on Instagram @DylanRoseRomance (https://www.instagram.com/dylanroseromance/).
Take Me On
Dylan Rose
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-08695-0
TAKE ME ON
© 2019 Dylan Rose
Published in Great Britain 2019
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
This book includes an extended sneak peek of
Mr Temptation by Rachael Stewart that we think you’ll love! Enjoy the story—band the extended excerpt!
Contents
Cover (#udca671d3-a5cd-5dd9-b02d-12b966bcbd39)
Back Cover Text (#ubdfede07-97db-569d-8a4e-6492ee3825de)
About the Author (#u442a2ade-bca7-5bb4-84e2-9ff604d87502)
Title Page (#uf4237921-a423-5df7-bf49-0f3c76b7a88e)
Copyright (#u72e74fd2-dc29-52d2-b8e9-825d08de8106)
Dedication (#u58bd133a-0cd2-585e-ac3c-87788f1552e2)
CHAPTER ONE (#u20f4d8c4-5d6e-5e65-a409-daf45fe272cb)
CHAPTER TWO (#u8fc14d04-846e-5b51-a63a-f987adc60af8)
CHAPTER THREE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u1d2d1899-3a80-5c5f-9880-dc15424c0658)
MACKENZIE FOX SAT in the back of a car, en route from the airport to her hotel, and already she was sweltering. It wasn’t just the lack of A/C. The driver had rolled the windows down, letting in a gust of hot air that swept across her cheek each time the car picked up speed as they rolled down Collins Avenue. Plus, she was seriously overdressed. Attired in her go-to travel outfit—comfy black leggings, Ugg boots and a zip-up sweatshirt emblazoned with Honor Yoga, the name of the studio she owned back in Brooklyn—she knew she looked like an out-of-place New Yorker. Just a few short hours ago she was slugging through the slushy February streets, bundled up against the frigid temperatures.
Glancing out the window, she could see the heat rising off the hot bodies that filled the sidewalks. A woman in a pair of jean shorts cut so high that her perfectly rounded bottom was almost completely visible. A group of girls laughing as they crossed the street at an intersection, wearing nothing but neon string bikinis, their bodies bouncing and glistening as they walked. Jogging alongside the cab was a perfectly chiseled man running with his shirt off, with warm brown skin. She noted the beads of sweat glistening on his chest and back and imagined he tasted like salted caramel.
Whew! She had only been in Miami less than an hour and already Kenzie was feeling the heat.
Just as the car pulled up to the entrance of the legendary Fontainebleau Hotel, Kenzie snuck a glance at her appearance in the rearview mirror. She pulled her long, curly brown hair into a messy bun on the top of her head and reapplied a swipe of her signature crimson gloss to her lips. The driver, an older man with tanned, wrinkled skin and hair graying at the temples, gave her a wink.
“Enjoy Miami, chica.”
“Thanks,” Kenzie said, opening the door and slinging her only luggage—a small overnight bag—over her shoulder.
But Kenzie wasn’t here to enjoy herself. It wasn’t that she didn’t need a longer vacation. God knows, she could use a break from the seemingly endless string of blizzards they were experiencing back home. But this trip was all about business, not pleasure. And it was business she was eager to get out of the way.
A week ago, to the day, her great-aunt Lilly had passed away. Having never met the woman, Kenzie didn’t think it necessary to fly down for the funeral. But within a day of hearing the news, a lawyer had contacted her, letting her know that she was named in Aunt Lilly’s will. There were a few pieces of family jewelry, a savings bond, and most interestingly, a stake in a small rum distillery.
When the attorney mentioned there was an interested party willing to buy out her share, Kenzie was relieved. Not only did she have no interest in running a distillery, the money from the sale would likely allow her studio to stay in business, despite the astronomical rent hike her landlord had slapped her with earlier that month. Although her business was profitable, the skyrocketing city rents were in danger of putting her out of business.
Kenzie entered the palatial lobby and was heading toward the front desk when a voice stopped her in her tracks. She turned toward the bar where the laughter was coming from and her eyes landed on an olive-skinned man in dark blue jeans, a black T-shirt and a sports jacket. He was seated next to a scantily-clad, beautiful Latina. Apparently, whatever he had said was extremely amusing because the woman was laughing with her head thrown back, a long mane of hair cascading down her spine. The man, dark-haired with a strong face and piercing brown eyes, looked past his companion and momentarily locked eyes with Kenzie, sending a shiver up her back. He flashed her what was most certainly a devilish smile before turning his gaze back to the woman.
Wow. Kenzie unzipped the front of her sweatshirt, pulled out a magazine from her bag and fanned herself furiously as she waited to check in. It had been a while since she had experienced this kind of instant attraction to someone. There was something animalistic about the way he had looked at her, with those dark eyes peering out between strands of his black hair, which was just long enough to be sexy. In that brief glance, she had taken in the entirety of his perfect form. Her mouth went dry as she imagined the mysterious stranger kissing the sensitive spot on her neck that always sent the blood rushing straight to her nether regions, causing her nipples to harden and her insides to melt like butter.
“Bottle of water, miss?” asked the desk clerk.
“Yes!” Kenzie croaked, stepping up to the desk and taking the bottle, relieved at the opportunity to cool down this fire that a stranger had suddenly ignited.
“How many keys will you be needing?” asked the clerk as she typed quickly on her computer.
“Just one,” Kenzie answered. Just one had been the answer to that question for quite a long time now. It wasn’t that she wasn’t interested, but with running her own business, the last thing she had time for was dating. Ever since her fiancé Cole’s death a few years ago, she had thrown herself into her work—and it had paid off. Sure, there had been interest from many guys, mostly fellow yogis who showed up at her studio or hung around the vegetarian café she frequented in her neighborhood. She was a bit ashamed to admit it but in recent months she had found herself craving something a little bit...meatier.
With the key to her room in hand, Kenzie took the elevator up to the 28th floor and found her room at the end of the hallway. Opening the doors, she sighed at the sight of the giant, king-size bed at the center of the room. Further exploration revealed a serene bathroom with a claw-foot tub, and out on the balcony, a view of the ocean. Her first idea was to strip off all her clothes, get into the plush bathrobe the hotel provided and plop herself down on the bed in front of the TV and order room service. But then she thought of Missy, one of the yoga instructors at the studio, and how disappointed she’d be if all she did in Miami was binge-watch Queer Eye. “You need to get out there and have some fun!” her friend had told her.
Kenzie had a flash of the handsome stranger from the bar’s devilish grin and, wondering if he was still down there, opened her carry-on and pulled out a silky, magenta slip dress she had tossed in her bag as an afterthought.
Why not? she thought to herself, kicking off her boots, and pulling off her too-heavy clothing until she was standing naked in front of the giant mirror positioned directly in front of the bed. Kenzie caught a glimpse of herself and couldn’t help but smile. It was true—she had a pretty rockin’ body, and it was hard-earned, with many hours spent running, doing yoga, challenging herself both physically and mentally. She swiveled her hips to the side, checking out what her friends referred to as her “yoga butt,” which was ample and firm. Kenzie slipped the flimsy dress over her naked breasts, thought about putting her bra back on for a moment and then decided against it. A tiny pair of black panties and heels completed the look. Letting her curls loose from the bun, they cascaded over her creamy white shoulders. Now that was more like it!
Back down in the lobby, Kenzie made a beeline for the bar but was dismayed to see that the handsome stranger was no longer there. What was she thinking, anyway, seeking out a random businessman in a hotel lobby? Okay, a totally hot businessman, who looked like his sole purpose on the planet was pleasuring women, but still. The obvious conclusion was that Kenzie Fox was desperately in need of a good fuck. All this pent-up sexual energy was bad for her prana. Sitting down on a stool, she flashed a smile at the bartender, ordered her usual—a club soda with lime—and pulled out her phone. Maybe Missy was right, it was time to try online dating.
But before she had time to search for a dating app, she felt a hand graze across her lower back. It was a strong, firm hand—clearly a man’s—and the surprising touch sent a tingle up the length of her spine.
“I was hoping to see you again,” said a sultry male voice with the slightest hint of a Spanish accent.
Kenzie turned to her left and laid eyes on the arresting man she had noticed earlier. Up close, he was even more handsome than she’d previously noticed, with intense, dark eyes that made it impossible for her to look away from him. His longish dark hair was thick and full, and Kenzie imagined raking her hands through it in the heat of passion.
“Do you mind if I sit down?”
Kenzie nodded affirmatively. She wasn’t usually at a loss for words but somehow her ability to form them was suddenly impaired. She felt her cheeks get hot and hoped that he didn’t notice she was blushing.
“My name is Antonio Navedo,” he said, extending his hand to her. “I noticed you earlier, when you were checking in.”
“Yes, I noticed you, too.” Okay, there was no hiding it. She was seriously blushing now. “MacKenzie Fox. My friends call me Kenzie.”
“Where are you traveling from, Kenzie?” he asked, taking the bar stool next to her and turning his body toward her so that their knees were almost touching.
“New York,” Kenzie answered, regaining her composure. “I’m here on business,” she stated matter-of-factly.
“But there has to be a little room for pleasure, no? I find that to be very important.”
“Yes, you seemed to be enjoying yourself when I saw you earlier,” Kenzie ventured with a hint of challenge in her voice. She watched as Antonio’s face changed from amused to slightly serious. There was a flash of danger in his eyes that was incredibly sexy.
“That was my business associate,” he said in a serious tone. “I often take my meetings here.”
Kenzie let out an amused little laugh. Business associate in what? she wondered. But did it really matter? She tried her best to stop her gaze from traveling from Antonio’s sensual lips down to the small V of skin exposed at his shirt collar, but her eyes went there anyway.
Just then the bartender reappeared, placing the club soda in front of Kenzie.
“What can I get for you, Antonio?” he asked. Kenzie raised an eyebrow. Was he a regular at a hotel bar? That was a definite red flag. What kind of business was he involved in anyway?
“The Atlantico Reserva, neat. Thank you, Jose. And for you?” he said, turning to Kenzie. “Something besides the water?”
“I’m good with this,” Kenzie said, pursing her red lips around the straw and taking a long sip. She felt Antonio watching her mouth and suddenly felt downright pornographic. Removing the straw from her mouth, she smiled. “I don’t drink.”
She said it offhandedly, disguising the fact that her choice to abstain was a heavy subject. Three years earlier, Cole had been at the wheel in a drunk driving accident. When Cole didn’t survive, she had stopped drinking alcohol, thinking that it could do no good in her life.
Antonio raised an eyebrow and smiled back at her. “So, what do you do to relax? When you’re not ‘on business’?”
Kenzie thought for a second and realized she couldn’t remember a time in recent years when she wasn’t totally consumed with her business. It was the most important thing in her life now, and ever since she had found out the studio was in danger of closing, she’d had trouble sleeping. Maybe some relaxation would be just the thing to set her mind straight.
Kenzie turned her body toward Antonio’s so that her bare knee grazed the inside of his leg. “I own a yoga studio. So, I guess you could say my work is my relaxation. Do you practice?”
Antonio’s eyes lit up and he laughed loudly. “Uh, no. I prefer other forms of physical activity.”
Who was this guy? On the one hand, his smile was so warm and inviting, she felt like she already knew him. But then there was that glint in his eye, and the way he commanded the room that suggested to her that he was someone very powerful, and quite possibly, dangerous. In any case, he was oh so different from the gentle, overly-intellectual men who tried to court her back home. Antonio was such a...man!
Falling back to the hair-twirling habit that manifested itself whenever she was nervous, Kenzie twisted her hair up to the top of her head and formed a makeshift bun and exhaled deeply. Was the air-conditioning out of whack or was she just not used to all this intense heat?
Unexpectedly, Antonio reached his fingers into her glass and fished out an ice cube. Taking the slippery cube between two of his manly fingers, he reached around Kenzie and began to trace circles with it at the base of her neck.
“Better?” he asked, maintaining direct eye contact with her as droplets of water melted down her back.
“Oh yes,” Kenzie whispered. Emboldened by his move, she leaned closer to him. “Maybe I could show you some yoga poses, I’m sure you could benefit from them.”
Antonio leaned toward her, matching her body language. They were so close that she could breathe in his scent—a mixture of fresh cologne and sweat that nearly made her swoon, making the hairs on her arms stand up on end and sending electric signals straight down to her lady parts.
“I would like that very much,” Antonio said in a low, husky voice. Kenzie glanced down at his crotch and could see that he was feeling the same shock waves, too. Part of her wanted to reach out and put her hand on that sexy bulge, right there in the bar, but propriety, and the nearby table of vacationing senior citizens, stopped her.
“Should we go to my room?” Even though she was usually confident, Kenzie surprised herself with how forward she was being. Maybe being away from home was making her feel especially free.
“Yes,” Antonio responded immediately. There was an urgency to his tone that was both flattering and vulnerable.
Kenzie slid off the bar stool and tossed a bill onto the bar. As she turned and strode confidently toward the elevators, she could feel the tender area between her thighs getting wetter with every step. It had been a long time since it had happened spontaneously, and the sensation surprised her. Without needing to turn around, she could feel that Antonio was following close behind.
Pressing the up button a few more times than was necessary, Kenzie imagined stepping inside the elevator with Antonio, and thought about what he would do to her. Envisioning him pushing her up onto the side of the wall, his mouth devouring her lips and neck, she teetered on her high heels, praying for the moment when the doors would finally open.
As they did, Kenzie was dismayed to see a large family crowding the small elevator car. When they didn’t exit, she stepped inside, disappointed to see that Antonio was separated from her, forced next to the opposite wall by the family’s gargantuan stroller. Antonio made eye contact with her and shrugged. After what seemed like an eternity, the car stopped on Kenzie’s floor, and they politely excused themselves past the vacationers, alone at last in the deserted hallway.
“It’s right over here,” Kenzie whispered, leading the way to her room. Part of her wanted to turn around and let Antonio take her, right there by the ice machine, but the good girl inside her told her to wait. With Antonio so close behind her, she could feel his hot breath on her neck, she keyed into the room and he followed her inside, letting the door click shut behind them.
Turning to face him, Kenzie wrapped her arms around Antonio’s neck, bringing her mouth up close to his in a dizzying haze of anticipation.
“Wait,” he whispered, breaking the spell and pulling back from her. “I thought you were going to show me your yoga.”
Kenzie tilted her head to the side in confusion. “You want me to do yoga? Seriously?”
But Antonio didn’t need to answer. She could tell by the way he was assessing her form that he was totally serious.
“Okay.” She shrugged, moving away from him. If this was what he considered foreplay... “Get down on all fours.”
Antonio laughed, but then he removed his shoes and suit jacket and did what she told him to. Kenzie assessed the muscles of his back, visible through his T-shirt, and his firm ass through those tight-fitting jeans before getting down on the floor next to him.
“Follow me,” she said, leading him through a cat-cow sequence. “Arch your body up—like a cat. Then open your heart forward...”
Kenzie turned to see that Antonio not only had perfect form, but he was syncing his breath with hers. She looked straight ahead, pushing out her chest and could feel Antonio’s gaze wandering toward her ass, which she knew was on display with her dress riding up, exposing it to his view. When pushed back like that, it took on its roundest possible shape.
As she continued the sequence, Antonio moved in front of her. When she tilted her gaze up to meet his, she could see the unbridled desire in his eyes.
“I have to kiss you now,” he said, pulling her up toward him. They were facing one another, both on their knees, and Antonio grazed the side of Kenzie’s neck. His mouth was wet and hot, and the sudden contact sent a shiver running through her body. Hungrily, she moved her mouth to meet his and instantly they were locked onto each other, a swirl of tongues meeting, taking turns playfully biting each other’s lips as they gasped for breath. It was so crazy that she was doing this with someone she’d just met. Kenzie couldn’t remember the last time she had felt such a sense of urgency. She glided her hand down the length of Antonio’s body until she found the hard bulge in the front of his pants and tentatively began to touch it.
Meanwhile, Antonio was doing some exploring of his own, his hands going down the curves of Kenzie’s body, awakening something inside her that she had been ignoring for too long. With a look of confidence that made her head dizzy with desire, Antonio pulled Kenzie’s dress up and over her head, and began kissing her naked breasts. Kenzie threw her head back and closed her eyes, savoring the moment and really letting herself feel every sensation.
With her nerves tingling, she looked at Antonio and pulled up his T-shirt, managing to get it over his head while taking in the view of his chiseled chest and abs. His body was perfect—sexy and fit without being overly muscular—and she allowed herself to enjoy it without restraint, planting hungry kisses on his torso. For a second, she worried that her forwardness showed just how ravenous for sex she really was, but before she could really think too much about it, Antonio had gotten behind her, putting his strong hands on her hips.
Kenzie eased back into an on-all-fours position and waited with anticipation to see what he was going to do next. Her question was answered almost immediately, as Antonio cupped her pushed-out bottom in his hands. He sighed audibly, squeezing her ripe bottom as she stared forward. Kenzie quivered as he ran a finger down the center of her still-clothed rear until it found the wet spot. Moving the soaked fabric to the side, Antonio quickly found her most sensitive spot and began making circles around it, which forced Kenzie to let out a deep sigh, almost like an “Om.” This was more fun—and more intense—than any vinyasa she had ever experienced.
Just when she thought she was about to come, Antonio abruptly stopped his massage of her nub of oh-so-sensitive nerves. Glancing back at him, she could see the look of determination in his eyes as he unzipped his pants, releasing the erect rod that was now so close to her body. Hooking his fingers on the sides of her panties, he quickly yanked them down. Kenzie suddenly felt the nakedness of being totally exposed to him. She wiggled her hips from side to side, her way of inviting him in without saying a word. But Antonio was still admiring her, still holding back on giving her what she really wanted—the full length of him inside her. Kenzie thought that if he didn’t touch her in the way she wanted soon, she was going to explode. It was a delicious form of torture, but she was done waiting.
“Please,” she croaked, hating to admit that she needed anything this badly, but unsure how to stand another moment without it. Kenzie didn’t have to wait any longer. In an instant, Antonio gave her exactly what she needed—the full length of his cock buried inside her, and she sighed in relief. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed that feeling of fullness, and she sank down, reveling in the sensation of the firm drilling she didn’t know she had needed so badly.
But before Kenzie could relax into the feeling, Antonio grabbed her now-unfurled long hair in his hand and pulled her back up to him. Kenzie moaned in pleasure at being wanted—and taken. She knew that both of them were close but didn’t want things to end just yet. Not before she had shown him her most erotic posture.
“Come join me over here,” Kenzie said invitingly, lying down on the bed. Taking an ankle in each hand, like she had done so many times before in her practice, she opened herself up to him. Ananda Balasana—it was one of her favorites. She had never before thought of it in such an erotic sense, but in the moment it seemed like the perfect introduction for Antonio to yoga, and so much more.
Antonio stood at the edge of the bed and looked hungrily at her. Sliding his lean body over hers, he plunged into her and moaned out in pleasure. Seeing her like that had obviously been too much for him to take, too difficult to hold back. Letting go of her ankles, Kenzie reached down to her pleasure center and with him still inside her made quick back-and-forth motions over her erect nub until she came, hard, her face buried in his shoulder.
Antonio rolled over onto his side, his breath ragged from the encounter. Kenzie was also gasping for breath, trying to recover from the heights of pure pleasure and also doing her best to sort out what she had just done. It’s no big deal, she told herself. It wasn’t like she was going to fall for the guy. This was clearly a one-time thing. Okay, so maybe she wouldn’t turn him down for a second spin, but that was the extent of it—an itch that needed to be scratched, nothing more.
* * *
The next morning, Kenzie awakened alone, like she always did. But somehow, this morning she felt especially invigorated. She knew that it had everything to do with the sexy man who had shared her bed, if only for a few hours. But what a few hours it was! She felt simultaneously disappointed and relieved when Antonio had gotten out of bed and walked, stark naked to the bathroom to put his clothes back on. Sure, it would have felt great, sleeping the night in his arms, but that wasn’t what this was. Besides, she’d done the impossible. She had broken her dry spell and there were no strings attached! It was really the perfect situation.
She wanted to text Missy, to tell her about her crazy adventure with the sexy Latino, but she knew that if she didn’t shower and dress quickly she’d miss the meeting at the lawyer’s office—the whole point of this spontaneous trip.
Attired in her most professional yet form-fitting pantsuit, Kenzie took an Uber to an office building downtown and, staring out the window at the rows of palm trees that they passed, replayed the events of the previous night in her head. It was so unlike her to be that spontaneous, that reckless. But she couldn’t suppress the smile that now seemed to be a permanent fixture on her face. Now all she needed to do was get this deal over with and fly home with a big fat check which she’d summarily place in front of the building’s landlord. Better yet, maybe it would be enough to start investigating a bigger space, in her favorite neighborhood of Red Hook.
When she reached the office building, Kenzie took the elevator to the third floor and found the suite for the law offices of Melinda James, whom she had been emailing. Kenzie was buzzed in through a set of double doors and stepping inside a large open space filled with cubicles, she looked around for someone to guide her to the correct office. Just then, Melinda, a tall woman in a floral top and skirt, rushed over to her and shook her hand.
“Thanks for coming,” she said, leading Kenzie into a conference room decorated with a potted palm that seemed to be an attempt at Floridian décor. “Mr. Navedo and his associate have just arrived as well.”
Navedo? That name seemed to ring a bell, but why? Kenzie got her answer as soon as she set foot in Melinda’s office. There, seated at the conference table, was Antonio and Elena, the young woman she had seen him with at the bar yesterday.
“Antonio?” Kenzie blurted, unable to hide her surprise.
“You two know each other?” asked Melinda, a bemused smile playing on her lips.
“We’ve met before,” Antonio calmly explained.
Antonio may have been calm but Kenzie’s blood was boiling over. What was going on? Who was this man?
“Who doesn’t know the most successful distiller in all of South Florida and the Caribbean?” Antonio’s associate chimed in.
“Very true,” Melinda conceded.
“Antonio, may I have a word with you—in private?” Kenzie asked, her voice shaking.
“We’ll give you two a moment,” Melinda said, gesturing for Antonio’s lawyer to follow her out of the room. Once the door was closed, Kenzie practically pounced over the conference table.
“What’s going on here?” she demanded.
“What’s going on,” Antonio said calmly, “is that I’m interested in a property that you’ve recently acquired.”
“Did you know who I was...last night?” Kenzie’s eyes were ablaze as she waited for an answer.
“I may have gone there to scope you out,” Antonio admitted, “but it was you who seduced me.”
Kenzie was speechless. Okay, so maybe it was her that did most of the seducing, but Antonio had been a willing participant. More than willing! And the fact that he hadn’t revealed that he knew who she was seemed unnecessarily deceptive.
“Were you afraid that if I knew who you were I wouldn’t sleep with you?” Kenzie asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
“No,” Antonio answered emphatically. “I was afraid that maybe you wouldn’t want to do business with me. But I couldn’t stop myself.” His last sentence was whispered, and the two of them both instinctively looked toward the door, where the other women were waiting.
“I’m sure we can work out a good business deal,” Antonio said with a smile. “One we can both benefit from. My family has a long history of rum production. And I’m sure you have no interest in a little, run-down distillery.”
“Why are you so sure about what I’m interested in?” Kenzie asked, her tone simultaneously flirtatious and challenging.
Antonio looked up and chuckled. “I just figured...”
“That because I’m a woman I don’t know anything about how to run a business?”
Antonio reached out and touched Kenzie’s hand. “No. Not at all.”
The door handle clicked, which caused Kenzie to jump, pulling her hand out of Antonio’s grasp.
“Everything okay?” Melinda asked, peeking her head back into the office.
“Everything is fine,” Kenzie said, looking directly at Antonio. The practical side of her said to put her pride aside, take the check and catch the next plane back home. But something else in her was beckoning her to take a risk. So maybe she didn’t know anything about the rum business, but she also hadn’t known anything about opening a yoga studio when she’d started one. When was the last time she’d taken on a real challenge? Looking at Antonio, she could feel that there was unfinished business between them.
Kenzie turned to Melinda. “We were just discussing the terms of Antonio’s proposal,” she said, almost sweetly. “And I think we both agree that I have a lot to offer.” Kenzie locked eyes with Antonio who raised an eyebrow with what looked like a combination of genuine surprise and unmitigated lust.
“Well, this is a surprise,” Melinda said matter-of-factly. “Any thoughts on next steps?” she asked, looking back and forth between the two of them. Kenzie wondered if she suspected that there was something more between them than an unsigned contract. At least for Kenzie, the electricity she felt ricocheting off the walls was undeniable.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to go see my distillery now,” Kenzie said, unable to prevent a small smile from forming on her lips.
CHAPTER TWO (#u1d2d1899-3a80-5c5f-9880-dc15424c0658)
THE EARLY-MORNING MIAMI sun blazed through the white curtains. Antonio Navedo stirred in his bed. It had been a strange night for him, full of racing thoughts and strange dreams. He usually slept straight through, but last night had been different. He found himself getting up every few hours, taking trips to the bathroom and pacing around his large, professionally-decorated bedroom. He couldn’t figure out what was off. Everything about his bedroom was perfectly in place—the blue-and-gold throw pillows piled neatly on a nearby chair, the glass and pitcher of water he kept next to his bed were filled, and all of his devices were docked and charged. But something still felt off. It probably had to do with his dealings with the self-assured and beautiful New Yorker.
Antonio was used to getting his way—in business and with women. Perhaps that was why his encounter with Kenzie Fox had him so frustrated. He had expected, no, counted on her accepting his business proposal at first offer. The buyout he and his lawyer had drawn up was more than generous. In fact, it was so much in her favor that it bordered on ludicrous.
It was the crack of dawn, the time Antonio usually reserved for a dip in the surf to begin his day. But this particular morning he found himself unable to unravel himself from the twisted sheets of his king-size bed. He always thought that staying in bed, even an extra few minutes, was lazy. He liked that he could start each day with vigor and enthusiasm. He was always ready to meet any challenge, but this morning he sank back into the pillows and let himself daydream.
Thoughts of Kenzie’s long curly hair falling over her perfect breasts, her pert nipples pointing out to him, just begging to be sucked, sent his mind into a daze. That, and the image of her ample ass pushed out toward him back in the hotel room played on a seemingly endless loop in his head. Absentmindedly, his hand traveled down the length of his naked body to the aching hard-on that arose every time he pictured that brief but oh-so-hot encounter.
After the meeting in Melinda’s office yesterday he had needed to relieve himself so badly from the feelings she aroused in him, he had excused himself to the bathroom to take care of business. The fiery look in the brunette beauty’s eyes when she had yelled at him was enough to make him want to come on its own. But that, coupled with how her businesslike yet somewhat tight suit revealed the outline of her very fit but also voluptuous form meant that he had been useless for anything that didn’t involve stroking his own cock for the rest of the day.
Antonio ran his hand up and down the length of his formidable manhood, feeling simultaneously annoyed and titillated by what was turning into a perma-erection ever since he had met the mysterious Ms. Fox. He knew that he could quicken his strokes, increase the pressure, play with himself a little bit rougher until he pictured Kenzie lying back on the bed and the sight of her gorgeous, well-formed body waiting for his touch that would make him come and at least momentarily relieve his constant state of arousal. Instead, Antonio growled and threw back the sheets. The Miami sun was an unforgiving alarm clock to him and he knew there was work to be done. He had to be showered and ready in an hour to meet Kenzie. Thankfully, she had agreed to wait a day to tour the ramshackle Baracoa distillery. The last thing he wanted was to head over there with his whole legal team in tow. Melinda was a shark when it came to looking out for his business interests, but he knew that if he wanted to try and persuade Kenzie to come around to his way of thinking he needed the chance to be alone with her again.
Already naked, Antonio strode into his en suite bathroom, turned on the shower and stepped into the tiled stall. The multiple faucets hit his body from all directions, and he purposefully turned the water toward cold, hoping the spray would lower his blood pressure and cool his heated thoughts.
What did a teetotaling New York City woman want with an ancient rum distillery? Even more frustrating was the fact that he had upset Kenzie, which meant there could be a chance he would never get to feel her body underneath his. There was so much more he wanted to do with her. It was curiosity that had sent him to the hotel lobby that night. He hadn’t planned on doing anything more than possibly checking out this woman who he had Googled immediately upon learning that she was coming down to Miami. Something about her reminded him of Clarissa. But he tried not to think too much about that. A constant parade of different women in and out of his bedroom had been a good enough distraction from his one serious girlfriend’s departure over a year ago. His life was full, he reassured himself. And besides, who wanted to be tied down?
Shutting off the water and grabbing a towel from the rack, Antonio quickly dried himself off and dressed in a pair of expensive gray trousers and white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to expose his muscular forearms.
Grabbing the keys to his convertible Lamborghini, he glanced in the hallway mirror to check his appearance: a few days’ worth of stubble worked, he decided, running his hands through his jet-black hair. Grabbing his favorite pair of aviators, he headed out the door, feeling mostly self-assured that he would change Kenzie’s mind about his business proposal—and maybe even calm that New York attitude of hers down long enough to enjoy some of his hot and spicy Miami flavor.
* * *
“Where is he already?” Kenzie questioned the uniformed doorman standing at the entrance to her hotel. She looked at the time on her phone. It was already ten minutes past the time Antonio had agreed to pick her up and she was getting antsy. The doorman shrugged and turned his attention to the hotel’s shuttle bus which was arriving with a full load of guests. Kenzie sighed and blew a curl out of her face and peered down the street, not knowing what car she was looking for but wanting to do something besides stand there like a statue. The longer she waited, the more she regretted her choice of clothing—an off-the-shoulder white cotton top with a matching skirt that showed off her breasts and tiny midriff.
It had been a mistake to agree to let Antonio give her a tour of Baracoa. He would likely try to convince her to sell him her share of the distillery. In truth, that was probably the move that made the most sense, logistically and financially. But she couldn’t bear the thought of giving this arrogant man exactly what he wanted. Besides, maybe the place was a gold mine, or at least a diamond in the rough. It made good sense to at least go see what she would be giving up.
Just as Kenzie reached into her bag for her room card, her mind suddenly set on going back up to the room to change into a business suit, an azure-blue sports car roared into the semicircular driveway of the hotel, causing Kenzie and the busload full of tourists to all stop and stare.
“Buenos dias!” Antonio called to her, flashing her a sexy smile and lowering his shades to unabashedly check her out from head to toe. Damn, Kenzie thought. Her game plan of acting cold and indifferent to the man who had taken her to bed knowing full well that she was a potential colleague was going to be hard to keep up with. Why did he have to be so good-looking? Kenzie flashed back on the moment up in the hotel room when Antonio had pulled her hair, his hard cock inside her, and felt the same shock waves that tingled from the roots of her curls all the way down to the very core of her nether regions as if it were actually happening again.
Cars pulled in and out of the circle in front of the hotel, but Kenzie was focused only on the car in front of her. She wondered where it might take her, and if it was a ride she was really ready for. Glancing at Antonio, who was confidently leaning in her direction, she decided to take a chance.
“You’re late,” Kenzie stated firmly, reaching for the door handle of the insanely showy but somehow elegant car. Her hand was trembling a little and she tried to steady herself by taking a deep breath. Everything around her felt so foreign—not just the expensive vehicle, but the palm trees, the intense heat and the tourists in the colorful dresses and shorts. Back home, the streets were gray and slushy with dirty snow. Here, everything was in Technicolor and it was throwing her off.
Before she could sit down, Antonio was up and walking around to the passenger side. When he was close enough that she could feel the heat coming off his body, she inhaled sharply. It was no wonder the eyes of the other hotel guests were on them—she had to admit that together, they made a striking scene. Antonio was a foot taller than her, but somehow their looks complemented each other. At only five foot two she somehow always found herself dating the tall guys.
“Here,” he said handing her the keys. “You drive.”
Kenzie laughed and looked skeptically at the fast car in front of her. She wasn’t much of a car person and usually when she saw guys in them on the highway she figured they were overcompensating for something. But looking at it up close, she had to admit it was pretty incredible looking. Still, she hoped Antonio wasn’t serious about wanting her to drive. “You do realize the last time I drove was for my driver’s ed test? I was seventeen.”
Antonio gave her a puzzled look.
“I’m a New Yorker,” she explained. “We take the subway.” In truth, it had been years since she’d driven, and she was terrified of crashing this beautiful vehicle that probably cost more than all of her worldly possessions, combined.
“This is more fun than the subway,” Antonio promised, pressing the car key into her hand.
Kenzie reluctantly walked around to the driver’s side, slid her body into the leather seat and turned on the ignition. The car’s powerful engine roared and she felt a quick hit of excitement.
“You can adjust the mirrors over here,” Antonio explained, leaning across her to toggle the side-view mirrors switch. Kenzie involuntarily inhaled Antonio’s clean and masculine scent and the pheromones hit her—hard.
“Got it,” she said, and pulled out of the drop-off area fast, sending Antonio back against the passenger seat. “Buckle up,” she cautioned him with a smile.
Kenzie made good time getting them to Alligator Alley, and soon the road opened up to reveal the greenery of the Everglades. It was such a contrast, going from the colorful buildings of downtown to this otherworldly swamp region. The grass was greener than anything Kenzie had seen in months in New York and the sun beat down on them as she drove a straight shot, picking up speed as she got more comfortable in the powerful ride.
“It’s stunning,” she commented, momentarily taking her eyes off the road to take in the lush scenery. For a second, she even thought she saw an actual alligator. She had heard that they were all over the place down here, and the thought freaked her out. New York City subway rats she could deal with—giant reptiles were something else. She appreciated nature but was definitely not looking to get up close and personal with it.
“I agree, it’s beautiful,” Antonio said. Instead of looking for wildlife, his gaze was firmly planted on her. His unabashed stare made her blush. She wasn’t used to being looked at so intensely, especially by someone she was so attracted to. Suddenly, she had the overwhelming impulse to turn the steering wheel sharply to the right and pull off to the side of the road.
She saw herself hiking up her skirt and straddling Antonio right there in the car, not caring if anyone else would see. Her panties got wet with the idea of his manly fingers moving her undies to the side and exploring the soft folds of her most intimate area. She looked over at Antonio and guessed that he was thinking of a similar scenario, too. But instead, she floored it, eager to reach Baracoa before she found herself doing something equally as reckless as two nights before.
When they pulled off the highway, Antonio directed her through the side streets until they came to a series of buildings in an open field that looked more like ancient ruins than a working rum distillery.
“This is it,” Antonio announced, stepping out of the car and gesturing toward—well, to be honest, Kenzie wasn’t a hundred percent sure what she was looking at.
“Is it still operational?” she asked in a more sheepish voice than she normally used. She was definitely out of her territory here. Her domain consisted of yoga mats, asanas, breathing techniques and meditation. The rum business was as far from her own business as she could possibly imagine.
“It’s a working distillery, yes,” Antonio answered, “but on a very small scale. Here,” he said gesturing toward what looked like the main building. “Let me show you around.”
Kenzie’s thin white outfit was already sticking to her skin as the hot sun beat down on them. “Okay,” she said, following right behind Antonio, which gave her a chance to wipe some of the perspiration on her face and chest with the back of her hand. How did Antonio manage to look so cool and collected? She wondered. She definitely wasn’t used to such intense heat.
Inside the main building there were a few huge metal fermentation tanks where Antonio explained that sugar cane was turned into molasses. They walked past the distillery tanks and into a huge, cool open area where the barrels were stored.
“Some of these are aged,” Antonio explained, “which affects how dark the rum will be.”
Antonio waved at a worker driving a utility vehicle who was transporting barrels which were presumably ready to be stacked and aged. Apart from him, Kenzie saw no other people and it seemed like there was very little activity going on.
“They’ve been doing things the same way here for a long time,” Antonio explained. “We have a much more intricate process at our Little Havana locations. Our master blender is always coming up with new flavors, new processes.”
Little Havana—Kenzie knew the name from some quick internet research she had done on Antonio after, ahem, they had gotten acquainted, so to speak. Apparently, his family was the owner of the largest rum distillery outside the Caribbean, and also had a hand in several smaller operations. Judging by a “Millionaires under 40” article she had come across in Forbes, this little distillery was definitely off his radar.
“We would have fully acquired this distillery a long time ago, and absorbed it into our main businesses, but the previous co-owner held on.”
Aunt Lilly. Kenzie still wasn’t exactly sure who she was, and why or how she had become involved in the liquor business.
“Some people like holding onto things,” Kenzie whispered. Suddenly her thoughts shot back to Cole—to the last time she had seen him alive, barely breathing in a sterile hospital room. It was liquor that had destroyed their relationship, destroyed both of their lives. Kenzie suddenly felt queasy, and her breath was short.
“Excuse me, I need some air,” she apologized, and darted out the double doors straight ahead of her.
When she reached the outdoors, Kenzie noticed out of her haze that she was standing in the most serene, run-down little courtyard. Pink and red azaleas bloomed out of the crevices of the rocks and the sound of birds was audible from the palm trees.
“Are you alright?” Antonio had raced after her and now had a protective arm around her waist.
“Yes,” Kenzie answered, composing herself as best she could. “This is all just a little...overwhelming.”
Antonio frowned, and she was touched that he seemed so seriously concerned about her well-being. Kenzie did her best to shake off any bad feelings the sight of those rum stills had stirred up and instead decided to focus on the beautiful, tranquil surroundings.
“It’s like an oasis here,” she commented.
“It is quite beautiful,” Antonio agreed. She noticed that he still had his hand on her. The warm pressure on the small of her back radiated up her spine and made every inch of her skin feel more sensitive.
“Believe me, I would love nothing more than a beautiful partner in the operations here,” Antonio said seriously, turning to face her. “But you have no use for this place.” He said it so firmly that for a moment, Kenzie believed it. “Why not make a deal? Let me do what I do best. You’ll walk away with a lot of money and then...” he boldly reached out and moved a curl off Kenzie’s face, “then we can celebrate both of our good fortunes.”
Kenzie smiled tentatively and assessed Antonio. His words were so commanding, so smooth, it was hard not to be persuaded by him. But something in his eyes betrayed this extreme confidence. She thought maybe it was a hint of vulnerability. He was looking for something, just like she was, too.
“I don’t know...” said Kenzie, allowing herself to think out loud. Antonio’s face was so close to hers, she could easily lean in and feel the stubble on his face, rough against her soft skin. She took a step back.
“Something tells me that this place has potential,” she said, looking around.
Okay, so it was probably ill-advised, but when Kenzie got one of those feelings, she knew there was no stopping her. It was the same feeling she had when she saw the abandoned warehouse space that was now her thriving yoga studio. She had a way of seeing beyond what things were and envisioning a greater end result. Maybe there was something great to be brought out in Baracoa. She just needed to uncover it.
“I have a proposition,” she said, looking at Antonio pointedly. “If I can get this distillery on its way toward turning a profit in a week’s time, you give me all of your shares and I own it outright. If I fail, then it’s yours to keep.”
Antonio shook his head. A bemused smile played across his lips. “Kenzie... I know you are a smart businessperson.” Antonio spoke slowly, and it seemed like he was trying to choose his words carefully. “But you don’t know anything about running a distillery. I don’t want to rob you of your inheritance.”
“Don’t worry about me.” Kenzie reached out and touched Antonio’s bare forearm in a gesture to drive her point home—and maybe as an excuse to have physical contact with him again. “I’ve gotten this far by trusting my gut.”
Antonio grabbed Kenzie’s arm and pulled her close to him. The electricity ricocheting back and forth between their bodies was undeniable.
“I’ve wanted to do this again since this morning,” Antonio whispered, leaning his face in toward Kenzie, ready to kiss her. Oh, how she longed to feel his mouth pressed against hers again, to bite his lips and allow his tongue to penetrate not just her mouth but all of her orifices. She wanted to feel those strong shoulders again. She needed to make sure they were really as solid as she remembered from the first time she had allowed herself to touch them, to let her hands linger over the muscles just long enough to get totally turned on. Taking a deep breath, the kind she instructed her students to do to begin their yoga practice, she collected herself and held him back with her hand placed firmly against his muscular chest.
“You’re used to getting everything you want, aren’t you?” she asked him, her eyes gleaming with a challenge.
Antonio raised an eyebrow and met her gaze. “I know what I like, and I go after it,” he said plainly. “And I really like you.” He put his hand around her waist and pulled her in toward him.
Kenzie’s knees weakened. She could feel his hardness pressing into the side of her hip. She couldn’t deny what a boost to her ego it was that he was this turned on and all they were doing was talking. “Tell me you don’t want this, too,” he whispered, speaking directly into the spot on the side of her neck that was her most sensitive place. She could feel the stubble of his half-grown beard grazing up against her skin and a shiver ran through her body.
“How about I sweeten the deal?” Kenzie asked. The sensible part of her brain was telling her to keep her distance, to be cautious, but the primal side of her was allowing her to relish the long kisses Antonio was expertly administering to the side of her neck.
“I like the sound of that,” Antonio murmured in between licks and bites.
“If I don’t turn Baracoa around, you also get all of me.”
Antonio paused his exploration and looked pointedly at Kenzie. “Hasn’t that happened already...back at your hotel?” he asked, his voice heavy with lust.
Kenzie tilted her head to the side. Her resolve was shaking but she kept her voice firm. “I don’t just mean my body. I mean all of me. Really.”
Antonio nodded. “A relationship?”
“Let’s just call it a chance to go...deeper. So, do you think you’re up for it? Do you want to take me on?”
Antonio stepped back and exhaled, raking his fingers through his hair. She had been right, her words had obviously rocked him to his core. She smiled, knowing she could have this effect on him without even touching him.
“There has to be a catch,” Antonio said cautiously. “If I lose? Which I won’t...” he added.
Kenzie’s eyes narrowed. “Then I go back to New York and you never see me again.”
Ooph. It sounded harsh when she heard herself say it out loud. But truthfully, it was the only outcome Kenzie could really imagine. They would have some fun, she would of course win, and then be on her way. Like she always was.
The proposition made Antonio shake his head. “You really like torturing me, don’t you?”
“Maybe just a little.” Kenzie smiled. She had to admit, she was enjoying this playful banter. It had been a long time since she had actually wanted to flirt like this with someone, to delight in seeing their reaction to her. And Antonio’s reactions were anything but subtle.
“Okay,” he acquiesced. “But you can’t leave me like this.” Antonio looked at her wantonly. “I won’t make it back to the city.”
Kenzie observed the bulge that was currently testing the limits of Antonio’s trouser zipper.
“Take off your pants,” she instructed.
Antonio hesitated. “But you just said...”
“Take off your pants,” Kenzie reiterated, her voice firm now.
Antonio glanced around. There was no one else in sight and the only sounds that were audible were the birds and the gentle whirring of the fermentation tanks. In one swift motion, Antonio’s pants were off, and he stood before her in just his shirt, his proud erection pointing straight toward her.
“The shirt, too,” she said matter-of-factly.
Kenzie relished the vision of his naked body in front of her. The other night she hadn’t really had a chance to assess him, but now she took her time, committing all of the details of his form to memory. His body was muscular but not bulky, with defined pecs and abs and a treasure trail leading from his belly button straight down to one of the most formidable members she had ever laid eyes on. It was perfect really, long but not too long, with a beautiful, rounded head that was just begging to be sucked on. His balls were nice too—cleanly shaven—but it was his rock-hard thighs that really impressed Kenzie the most. She could see his strength in them with long, firm muscles that showed what a man he really was. It occurred to her that she could come so easily, just rubbing her clit up against one of Antonio’s perfectly defined quads. It was the best idea that had occurred to her a long time, but it would have to wait.
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Dylan Rose
An erotic wager… Who ends up on top? Kenzie Fox is ready to sell her stake in a rum distillery, until she discovers the buyer is Antonio Navedo, the arrogant stranger she’s just shared a steamy night with. Furious, she changes her mind and proposes a sexy wager instead: if she can turn the business around, she gets the distillery. If she fails he gets her shares – and anything he wants in the bedroom…including her heart
A sexy, no-holds-barred debut from Dylan Rose! Meet yoga goddess Kenzie Fox, who strikes an unconventional—steamy—bargain with Antonio Navedo, the irresistible stranger buying her stake in a rum distillery. Everyone wins in the bedroom... But in love? That’s anyone’s guess...
Clean-living New Yorker Kenzie Fox is ripped from her comfort zone when a relative leaves her shares in a Miami rum distillery. She flies to Florida intent on selling up, but her plans are turned upside down after a chance encounter with a handsome stranger turns into an unforgettable night of passion. One that has her questioning her “no strings” rule on relationships.
When she turns up to the sales meeting the next morning, Kenzie realizes she’s been duped. Sitting opposite her is none other than the mysterious man from last night, Antonio Navedo. Did he use her to get her shares? Their sexual chemistry is still electric, but she’s too angry to let him off easy. Instead of her shares, she offers him a sexy, high-stakes challenge.
If Kenzie can turn the outdated business around in a week, then he must sell her his shares, no questions asked. But if she fails, not only does he get her shares, but she’ll also have to play out his wildest bedroom fantasies—and Antonio has a very wild, shockingly romantic imagination. In this erotic wager, who will end up on top?
DYLAN ROSE is a writer from New York City, who is obsessed with watching romantic comedies, taking hot baths on cold nights and finding the perfect red lipstick. Take Me On is her debut novel for Mills & Boon Dare. Follow her adventures on Instagram @DylanRoseRomance (https://www.instagram.com/dylanroseromance/).
Take Me On
Dylan Rose
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-08695-0
TAKE ME ON
© 2019 Dylan Rose
Published in Great Britain 2019
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
This book includes an extended sneak peek of
Mr Temptation by Rachael Stewart that we think you’ll love! Enjoy the story—band the extended excerpt!
Contents
Cover (#udca671d3-a5cd-5dd9-b02d-12b966bcbd39)
Back Cover Text (#ubdfede07-97db-569d-8a4e-6492ee3825de)
About the Author (#u442a2ade-bca7-5bb4-84e2-9ff604d87502)
Title Page (#uf4237921-a423-5df7-bf49-0f3c76b7a88e)
Copyright (#u72e74fd2-dc29-52d2-b8e9-825d08de8106)
Dedication (#u58bd133a-0cd2-585e-ac3c-87788f1552e2)
CHAPTER ONE (#u20f4d8c4-5d6e-5e65-a409-daf45fe272cb)
CHAPTER TWO (#u8fc14d04-846e-5b51-a63a-f987adc60af8)
CHAPTER THREE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u1d2d1899-3a80-5c5f-9880-dc15424c0658)
MACKENZIE FOX SAT in the back of a car, en route from the airport to her hotel, and already she was sweltering. It wasn’t just the lack of A/C. The driver had rolled the windows down, letting in a gust of hot air that swept across her cheek each time the car picked up speed as they rolled down Collins Avenue. Plus, she was seriously overdressed. Attired in her go-to travel outfit—comfy black leggings, Ugg boots and a zip-up sweatshirt emblazoned with Honor Yoga, the name of the studio she owned back in Brooklyn—she knew she looked like an out-of-place New Yorker. Just a few short hours ago she was slugging through the slushy February streets, bundled up against the frigid temperatures.
Glancing out the window, she could see the heat rising off the hot bodies that filled the sidewalks. A woman in a pair of jean shorts cut so high that her perfectly rounded bottom was almost completely visible. A group of girls laughing as they crossed the street at an intersection, wearing nothing but neon string bikinis, their bodies bouncing and glistening as they walked. Jogging alongside the cab was a perfectly chiseled man running with his shirt off, with warm brown skin. She noted the beads of sweat glistening on his chest and back and imagined he tasted like salted caramel.
Whew! She had only been in Miami less than an hour and already Kenzie was feeling the heat.
Just as the car pulled up to the entrance of the legendary Fontainebleau Hotel, Kenzie snuck a glance at her appearance in the rearview mirror. She pulled her long, curly brown hair into a messy bun on the top of her head and reapplied a swipe of her signature crimson gloss to her lips. The driver, an older man with tanned, wrinkled skin and hair graying at the temples, gave her a wink.
“Enjoy Miami, chica.”
“Thanks,” Kenzie said, opening the door and slinging her only luggage—a small overnight bag—over her shoulder.
But Kenzie wasn’t here to enjoy herself. It wasn’t that she didn’t need a longer vacation. God knows, she could use a break from the seemingly endless string of blizzards they were experiencing back home. But this trip was all about business, not pleasure. And it was business she was eager to get out of the way.
A week ago, to the day, her great-aunt Lilly had passed away. Having never met the woman, Kenzie didn’t think it necessary to fly down for the funeral. But within a day of hearing the news, a lawyer had contacted her, letting her know that she was named in Aunt Lilly’s will. There were a few pieces of family jewelry, a savings bond, and most interestingly, a stake in a small rum distillery.
When the attorney mentioned there was an interested party willing to buy out her share, Kenzie was relieved. Not only did she have no interest in running a distillery, the money from the sale would likely allow her studio to stay in business, despite the astronomical rent hike her landlord had slapped her with earlier that month. Although her business was profitable, the skyrocketing city rents were in danger of putting her out of business.
Kenzie entered the palatial lobby and was heading toward the front desk when a voice stopped her in her tracks. She turned toward the bar where the laughter was coming from and her eyes landed on an olive-skinned man in dark blue jeans, a black T-shirt and a sports jacket. He was seated next to a scantily-clad, beautiful Latina. Apparently, whatever he had said was extremely amusing because the woman was laughing with her head thrown back, a long mane of hair cascading down her spine. The man, dark-haired with a strong face and piercing brown eyes, looked past his companion and momentarily locked eyes with Kenzie, sending a shiver up her back. He flashed her what was most certainly a devilish smile before turning his gaze back to the woman.
Wow. Kenzie unzipped the front of her sweatshirt, pulled out a magazine from her bag and fanned herself furiously as she waited to check in. It had been a while since she had experienced this kind of instant attraction to someone. There was something animalistic about the way he had looked at her, with those dark eyes peering out between strands of his black hair, which was just long enough to be sexy. In that brief glance, she had taken in the entirety of his perfect form. Her mouth went dry as she imagined the mysterious stranger kissing the sensitive spot on her neck that always sent the blood rushing straight to her nether regions, causing her nipples to harden and her insides to melt like butter.
“Bottle of water, miss?” asked the desk clerk.
“Yes!” Kenzie croaked, stepping up to the desk and taking the bottle, relieved at the opportunity to cool down this fire that a stranger had suddenly ignited.
“How many keys will you be needing?” asked the clerk as she typed quickly on her computer.
“Just one,” Kenzie answered. Just one had been the answer to that question for quite a long time now. It wasn’t that she wasn’t interested, but with running her own business, the last thing she had time for was dating. Ever since her fiancé Cole’s death a few years ago, she had thrown herself into her work—and it had paid off. Sure, there had been interest from many guys, mostly fellow yogis who showed up at her studio or hung around the vegetarian café she frequented in her neighborhood. She was a bit ashamed to admit it but in recent months she had found herself craving something a little bit...meatier.
With the key to her room in hand, Kenzie took the elevator up to the 28th floor and found her room at the end of the hallway. Opening the doors, she sighed at the sight of the giant, king-size bed at the center of the room. Further exploration revealed a serene bathroom with a claw-foot tub, and out on the balcony, a view of the ocean. Her first idea was to strip off all her clothes, get into the plush bathrobe the hotel provided and plop herself down on the bed in front of the TV and order room service. But then she thought of Missy, one of the yoga instructors at the studio, and how disappointed she’d be if all she did in Miami was binge-watch Queer Eye. “You need to get out there and have some fun!” her friend had told her.
Kenzie had a flash of the handsome stranger from the bar’s devilish grin and, wondering if he was still down there, opened her carry-on and pulled out a silky, magenta slip dress she had tossed in her bag as an afterthought.
Why not? she thought to herself, kicking off her boots, and pulling off her too-heavy clothing until she was standing naked in front of the giant mirror positioned directly in front of the bed. Kenzie caught a glimpse of herself and couldn’t help but smile. It was true—she had a pretty rockin’ body, and it was hard-earned, with many hours spent running, doing yoga, challenging herself both physically and mentally. She swiveled her hips to the side, checking out what her friends referred to as her “yoga butt,” which was ample and firm. Kenzie slipped the flimsy dress over her naked breasts, thought about putting her bra back on for a moment and then decided against it. A tiny pair of black panties and heels completed the look. Letting her curls loose from the bun, they cascaded over her creamy white shoulders. Now that was more like it!
Back down in the lobby, Kenzie made a beeline for the bar but was dismayed to see that the handsome stranger was no longer there. What was she thinking, anyway, seeking out a random businessman in a hotel lobby? Okay, a totally hot businessman, who looked like his sole purpose on the planet was pleasuring women, but still. The obvious conclusion was that Kenzie Fox was desperately in need of a good fuck. All this pent-up sexual energy was bad for her prana. Sitting down on a stool, she flashed a smile at the bartender, ordered her usual—a club soda with lime—and pulled out her phone. Maybe Missy was right, it was time to try online dating.
But before she had time to search for a dating app, she felt a hand graze across her lower back. It was a strong, firm hand—clearly a man’s—and the surprising touch sent a tingle up the length of her spine.
“I was hoping to see you again,” said a sultry male voice with the slightest hint of a Spanish accent.
Kenzie turned to her left and laid eyes on the arresting man she had noticed earlier. Up close, he was even more handsome than she’d previously noticed, with intense, dark eyes that made it impossible for her to look away from him. His longish dark hair was thick and full, and Kenzie imagined raking her hands through it in the heat of passion.
“Do you mind if I sit down?”
Kenzie nodded affirmatively. She wasn’t usually at a loss for words but somehow her ability to form them was suddenly impaired. She felt her cheeks get hot and hoped that he didn’t notice she was blushing.
“My name is Antonio Navedo,” he said, extending his hand to her. “I noticed you earlier, when you were checking in.”
“Yes, I noticed you, too.” Okay, there was no hiding it. She was seriously blushing now. “MacKenzie Fox. My friends call me Kenzie.”
“Where are you traveling from, Kenzie?” he asked, taking the bar stool next to her and turning his body toward her so that their knees were almost touching.
“New York,” Kenzie answered, regaining her composure. “I’m here on business,” she stated matter-of-factly.
“But there has to be a little room for pleasure, no? I find that to be very important.”
“Yes, you seemed to be enjoying yourself when I saw you earlier,” Kenzie ventured with a hint of challenge in her voice. She watched as Antonio’s face changed from amused to slightly serious. There was a flash of danger in his eyes that was incredibly sexy.
“That was my business associate,” he said in a serious tone. “I often take my meetings here.”
Kenzie let out an amused little laugh. Business associate in what? she wondered. But did it really matter? She tried her best to stop her gaze from traveling from Antonio’s sensual lips down to the small V of skin exposed at his shirt collar, but her eyes went there anyway.
Just then the bartender reappeared, placing the club soda in front of Kenzie.
“What can I get for you, Antonio?” he asked. Kenzie raised an eyebrow. Was he a regular at a hotel bar? That was a definite red flag. What kind of business was he involved in anyway?
“The Atlantico Reserva, neat. Thank you, Jose. And for you?” he said, turning to Kenzie. “Something besides the water?”
“I’m good with this,” Kenzie said, pursing her red lips around the straw and taking a long sip. She felt Antonio watching her mouth and suddenly felt downright pornographic. Removing the straw from her mouth, she smiled. “I don’t drink.”
She said it offhandedly, disguising the fact that her choice to abstain was a heavy subject. Three years earlier, Cole had been at the wheel in a drunk driving accident. When Cole didn’t survive, she had stopped drinking alcohol, thinking that it could do no good in her life.
Antonio raised an eyebrow and smiled back at her. “So, what do you do to relax? When you’re not ‘on business’?”
Kenzie thought for a second and realized she couldn’t remember a time in recent years when she wasn’t totally consumed with her business. It was the most important thing in her life now, and ever since she had found out the studio was in danger of closing, she’d had trouble sleeping. Maybe some relaxation would be just the thing to set her mind straight.
Kenzie turned her body toward Antonio’s so that her bare knee grazed the inside of his leg. “I own a yoga studio. So, I guess you could say my work is my relaxation. Do you practice?”
Antonio’s eyes lit up and he laughed loudly. “Uh, no. I prefer other forms of physical activity.”
Who was this guy? On the one hand, his smile was so warm and inviting, she felt like she already knew him. But then there was that glint in his eye, and the way he commanded the room that suggested to her that he was someone very powerful, and quite possibly, dangerous. In any case, he was oh so different from the gentle, overly-intellectual men who tried to court her back home. Antonio was such a...man!
Falling back to the hair-twirling habit that manifested itself whenever she was nervous, Kenzie twisted her hair up to the top of her head and formed a makeshift bun and exhaled deeply. Was the air-conditioning out of whack or was she just not used to all this intense heat?
Unexpectedly, Antonio reached his fingers into her glass and fished out an ice cube. Taking the slippery cube between two of his manly fingers, he reached around Kenzie and began to trace circles with it at the base of her neck.
“Better?” he asked, maintaining direct eye contact with her as droplets of water melted down her back.
“Oh yes,” Kenzie whispered. Emboldened by his move, she leaned closer to him. “Maybe I could show you some yoga poses, I’m sure you could benefit from them.”
Antonio leaned toward her, matching her body language. They were so close that she could breathe in his scent—a mixture of fresh cologne and sweat that nearly made her swoon, making the hairs on her arms stand up on end and sending electric signals straight down to her lady parts.
“I would like that very much,” Antonio said in a low, husky voice. Kenzie glanced down at his crotch and could see that he was feeling the same shock waves, too. Part of her wanted to reach out and put her hand on that sexy bulge, right there in the bar, but propriety, and the nearby table of vacationing senior citizens, stopped her.
“Should we go to my room?” Even though she was usually confident, Kenzie surprised herself with how forward she was being. Maybe being away from home was making her feel especially free.
“Yes,” Antonio responded immediately. There was an urgency to his tone that was both flattering and vulnerable.
Kenzie slid off the bar stool and tossed a bill onto the bar. As she turned and strode confidently toward the elevators, she could feel the tender area between her thighs getting wetter with every step. It had been a long time since it had happened spontaneously, and the sensation surprised her. Without needing to turn around, she could feel that Antonio was following close behind.
Pressing the up button a few more times than was necessary, Kenzie imagined stepping inside the elevator with Antonio, and thought about what he would do to her. Envisioning him pushing her up onto the side of the wall, his mouth devouring her lips and neck, she teetered on her high heels, praying for the moment when the doors would finally open.
As they did, Kenzie was dismayed to see a large family crowding the small elevator car. When they didn’t exit, she stepped inside, disappointed to see that Antonio was separated from her, forced next to the opposite wall by the family’s gargantuan stroller. Antonio made eye contact with her and shrugged. After what seemed like an eternity, the car stopped on Kenzie’s floor, and they politely excused themselves past the vacationers, alone at last in the deserted hallway.
“It’s right over here,” Kenzie whispered, leading the way to her room. Part of her wanted to turn around and let Antonio take her, right there by the ice machine, but the good girl inside her told her to wait. With Antonio so close behind her, she could feel his hot breath on her neck, she keyed into the room and he followed her inside, letting the door click shut behind them.
Turning to face him, Kenzie wrapped her arms around Antonio’s neck, bringing her mouth up close to his in a dizzying haze of anticipation.
“Wait,” he whispered, breaking the spell and pulling back from her. “I thought you were going to show me your yoga.”
Kenzie tilted her head to the side in confusion. “You want me to do yoga? Seriously?”
But Antonio didn’t need to answer. She could tell by the way he was assessing her form that he was totally serious.
“Okay.” She shrugged, moving away from him. If this was what he considered foreplay... “Get down on all fours.”
Antonio laughed, but then he removed his shoes and suit jacket and did what she told him to. Kenzie assessed the muscles of his back, visible through his T-shirt, and his firm ass through those tight-fitting jeans before getting down on the floor next to him.
“Follow me,” she said, leading him through a cat-cow sequence. “Arch your body up—like a cat. Then open your heart forward...”
Kenzie turned to see that Antonio not only had perfect form, but he was syncing his breath with hers. She looked straight ahead, pushing out her chest and could feel Antonio’s gaze wandering toward her ass, which she knew was on display with her dress riding up, exposing it to his view. When pushed back like that, it took on its roundest possible shape.
As she continued the sequence, Antonio moved in front of her. When she tilted her gaze up to meet his, she could see the unbridled desire in his eyes.
“I have to kiss you now,” he said, pulling her up toward him. They were facing one another, both on their knees, and Antonio grazed the side of Kenzie’s neck. His mouth was wet and hot, and the sudden contact sent a shiver running through her body. Hungrily, she moved her mouth to meet his and instantly they were locked onto each other, a swirl of tongues meeting, taking turns playfully biting each other’s lips as they gasped for breath. It was so crazy that she was doing this with someone she’d just met. Kenzie couldn’t remember the last time she had felt such a sense of urgency. She glided her hand down the length of Antonio’s body until she found the hard bulge in the front of his pants and tentatively began to touch it.
Meanwhile, Antonio was doing some exploring of his own, his hands going down the curves of Kenzie’s body, awakening something inside her that she had been ignoring for too long. With a look of confidence that made her head dizzy with desire, Antonio pulled Kenzie’s dress up and over her head, and began kissing her naked breasts. Kenzie threw her head back and closed her eyes, savoring the moment and really letting herself feel every sensation.
With her nerves tingling, she looked at Antonio and pulled up his T-shirt, managing to get it over his head while taking in the view of his chiseled chest and abs. His body was perfect—sexy and fit without being overly muscular—and she allowed herself to enjoy it without restraint, planting hungry kisses on his torso. For a second, she worried that her forwardness showed just how ravenous for sex she really was, but before she could really think too much about it, Antonio had gotten behind her, putting his strong hands on her hips.
Kenzie eased back into an on-all-fours position and waited with anticipation to see what he was going to do next. Her question was answered almost immediately, as Antonio cupped her pushed-out bottom in his hands. He sighed audibly, squeezing her ripe bottom as she stared forward. Kenzie quivered as he ran a finger down the center of her still-clothed rear until it found the wet spot. Moving the soaked fabric to the side, Antonio quickly found her most sensitive spot and began making circles around it, which forced Kenzie to let out a deep sigh, almost like an “Om.” This was more fun—and more intense—than any vinyasa she had ever experienced.
Just when she thought she was about to come, Antonio abruptly stopped his massage of her nub of oh-so-sensitive nerves. Glancing back at him, she could see the look of determination in his eyes as he unzipped his pants, releasing the erect rod that was now so close to her body. Hooking his fingers on the sides of her panties, he quickly yanked them down. Kenzie suddenly felt the nakedness of being totally exposed to him. She wiggled her hips from side to side, her way of inviting him in without saying a word. But Antonio was still admiring her, still holding back on giving her what she really wanted—the full length of him inside her. Kenzie thought that if he didn’t touch her in the way she wanted soon, she was going to explode. It was a delicious form of torture, but she was done waiting.
“Please,” she croaked, hating to admit that she needed anything this badly, but unsure how to stand another moment without it. Kenzie didn’t have to wait any longer. In an instant, Antonio gave her exactly what she needed—the full length of his cock buried inside her, and she sighed in relief. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed that feeling of fullness, and she sank down, reveling in the sensation of the firm drilling she didn’t know she had needed so badly.
But before Kenzie could relax into the feeling, Antonio grabbed her now-unfurled long hair in his hand and pulled her back up to him. Kenzie moaned in pleasure at being wanted—and taken. She knew that both of them were close but didn’t want things to end just yet. Not before she had shown him her most erotic posture.
“Come join me over here,” Kenzie said invitingly, lying down on the bed. Taking an ankle in each hand, like she had done so many times before in her practice, she opened herself up to him. Ananda Balasana—it was one of her favorites. She had never before thought of it in such an erotic sense, but in the moment it seemed like the perfect introduction for Antonio to yoga, and so much more.
Antonio stood at the edge of the bed and looked hungrily at her. Sliding his lean body over hers, he plunged into her and moaned out in pleasure. Seeing her like that had obviously been too much for him to take, too difficult to hold back. Letting go of her ankles, Kenzie reached down to her pleasure center and with him still inside her made quick back-and-forth motions over her erect nub until she came, hard, her face buried in his shoulder.
Antonio rolled over onto his side, his breath ragged from the encounter. Kenzie was also gasping for breath, trying to recover from the heights of pure pleasure and also doing her best to sort out what she had just done. It’s no big deal, she told herself. It wasn’t like she was going to fall for the guy. This was clearly a one-time thing. Okay, so maybe she wouldn’t turn him down for a second spin, but that was the extent of it—an itch that needed to be scratched, nothing more.
* * *
The next morning, Kenzie awakened alone, like she always did. But somehow, this morning she felt especially invigorated. She knew that it had everything to do with the sexy man who had shared her bed, if only for a few hours. But what a few hours it was! She felt simultaneously disappointed and relieved when Antonio had gotten out of bed and walked, stark naked to the bathroom to put his clothes back on. Sure, it would have felt great, sleeping the night in his arms, but that wasn’t what this was. Besides, she’d done the impossible. She had broken her dry spell and there were no strings attached! It was really the perfect situation.
She wanted to text Missy, to tell her about her crazy adventure with the sexy Latino, but she knew that if she didn’t shower and dress quickly she’d miss the meeting at the lawyer’s office—the whole point of this spontaneous trip.
Attired in her most professional yet form-fitting pantsuit, Kenzie took an Uber to an office building downtown and, staring out the window at the rows of palm trees that they passed, replayed the events of the previous night in her head. It was so unlike her to be that spontaneous, that reckless. But she couldn’t suppress the smile that now seemed to be a permanent fixture on her face. Now all she needed to do was get this deal over with and fly home with a big fat check which she’d summarily place in front of the building’s landlord. Better yet, maybe it would be enough to start investigating a bigger space, in her favorite neighborhood of Red Hook.
When she reached the office building, Kenzie took the elevator to the third floor and found the suite for the law offices of Melinda James, whom she had been emailing. Kenzie was buzzed in through a set of double doors and stepping inside a large open space filled with cubicles, she looked around for someone to guide her to the correct office. Just then, Melinda, a tall woman in a floral top and skirt, rushed over to her and shook her hand.
“Thanks for coming,” she said, leading Kenzie into a conference room decorated with a potted palm that seemed to be an attempt at Floridian décor. “Mr. Navedo and his associate have just arrived as well.”
Navedo? That name seemed to ring a bell, but why? Kenzie got her answer as soon as she set foot in Melinda’s office. There, seated at the conference table, was Antonio and Elena, the young woman she had seen him with at the bar yesterday.
“Antonio?” Kenzie blurted, unable to hide her surprise.
“You two know each other?” asked Melinda, a bemused smile playing on her lips.
“We’ve met before,” Antonio calmly explained.
Antonio may have been calm but Kenzie’s blood was boiling over. What was going on? Who was this man?
“Who doesn’t know the most successful distiller in all of South Florida and the Caribbean?” Antonio’s associate chimed in.
“Very true,” Melinda conceded.
“Antonio, may I have a word with you—in private?” Kenzie asked, her voice shaking.
“We’ll give you two a moment,” Melinda said, gesturing for Antonio’s lawyer to follow her out of the room. Once the door was closed, Kenzie practically pounced over the conference table.
“What’s going on here?” she demanded.
“What’s going on,” Antonio said calmly, “is that I’m interested in a property that you’ve recently acquired.”
“Did you know who I was...last night?” Kenzie’s eyes were ablaze as she waited for an answer.
“I may have gone there to scope you out,” Antonio admitted, “but it was you who seduced me.”
Kenzie was speechless. Okay, so maybe it was her that did most of the seducing, but Antonio had been a willing participant. More than willing! And the fact that he hadn’t revealed that he knew who she was seemed unnecessarily deceptive.
“Were you afraid that if I knew who you were I wouldn’t sleep with you?” Kenzie asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
“No,” Antonio answered emphatically. “I was afraid that maybe you wouldn’t want to do business with me. But I couldn’t stop myself.” His last sentence was whispered, and the two of them both instinctively looked toward the door, where the other women were waiting.
“I’m sure we can work out a good business deal,” Antonio said with a smile. “One we can both benefit from. My family has a long history of rum production. And I’m sure you have no interest in a little, run-down distillery.”
“Why are you so sure about what I’m interested in?” Kenzie asked, her tone simultaneously flirtatious and challenging.
Antonio looked up and chuckled. “I just figured...”
“That because I’m a woman I don’t know anything about how to run a business?”
Antonio reached out and touched Kenzie’s hand. “No. Not at all.”
The door handle clicked, which caused Kenzie to jump, pulling her hand out of Antonio’s grasp.
“Everything okay?” Melinda asked, peeking her head back into the office.
“Everything is fine,” Kenzie said, looking directly at Antonio. The practical side of her said to put her pride aside, take the check and catch the next plane back home. But something else in her was beckoning her to take a risk. So maybe she didn’t know anything about the rum business, but she also hadn’t known anything about opening a yoga studio when she’d started one. When was the last time she’d taken on a real challenge? Looking at Antonio, she could feel that there was unfinished business between them.
Kenzie turned to Melinda. “We were just discussing the terms of Antonio’s proposal,” she said, almost sweetly. “And I think we both agree that I have a lot to offer.” Kenzie locked eyes with Antonio who raised an eyebrow with what looked like a combination of genuine surprise and unmitigated lust.
“Well, this is a surprise,” Melinda said matter-of-factly. “Any thoughts on next steps?” she asked, looking back and forth between the two of them. Kenzie wondered if she suspected that there was something more between them than an unsigned contract. At least for Kenzie, the electricity she felt ricocheting off the walls was undeniable.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to go see my distillery now,” Kenzie said, unable to prevent a small smile from forming on her lips.
CHAPTER TWO (#u1d2d1899-3a80-5c5f-9880-dc15424c0658)
THE EARLY-MORNING MIAMI sun blazed through the white curtains. Antonio Navedo stirred in his bed. It had been a strange night for him, full of racing thoughts and strange dreams. He usually slept straight through, but last night had been different. He found himself getting up every few hours, taking trips to the bathroom and pacing around his large, professionally-decorated bedroom. He couldn’t figure out what was off. Everything about his bedroom was perfectly in place—the blue-and-gold throw pillows piled neatly on a nearby chair, the glass and pitcher of water he kept next to his bed were filled, and all of his devices were docked and charged. But something still felt off. It probably had to do with his dealings with the self-assured and beautiful New Yorker.
Antonio was used to getting his way—in business and with women. Perhaps that was why his encounter with Kenzie Fox had him so frustrated. He had expected, no, counted on her accepting his business proposal at first offer. The buyout he and his lawyer had drawn up was more than generous. In fact, it was so much in her favor that it bordered on ludicrous.
It was the crack of dawn, the time Antonio usually reserved for a dip in the surf to begin his day. But this particular morning he found himself unable to unravel himself from the twisted sheets of his king-size bed. He always thought that staying in bed, even an extra few minutes, was lazy. He liked that he could start each day with vigor and enthusiasm. He was always ready to meet any challenge, but this morning he sank back into the pillows and let himself daydream.
Thoughts of Kenzie’s long curly hair falling over her perfect breasts, her pert nipples pointing out to him, just begging to be sucked, sent his mind into a daze. That, and the image of her ample ass pushed out toward him back in the hotel room played on a seemingly endless loop in his head. Absentmindedly, his hand traveled down the length of his naked body to the aching hard-on that arose every time he pictured that brief but oh-so-hot encounter.
After the meeting in Melinda’s office yesterday he had needed to relieve himself so badly from the feelings she aroused in him, he had excused himself to the bathroom to take care of business. The fiery look in the brunette beauty’s eyes when she had yelled at him was enough to make him want to come on its own. But that, coupled with how her businesslike yet somewhat tight suit revealed the outline of her very fit but also voluptuous form meant that he had been useless for anything that didn’t involve stroking his own cock for the rest of the day.
Antonio ran his hand up and down the length of his formidable manhood, feeling simultaneously annoyed and titillated by what was turning into a perma-erection ever since he had met the mysterious Ms. Fox. He knew that he could quicken his strokes, increase the pressure, play with himself a little bit rougher until he pictured Kenzie lying back on the bed and the sight of her gorgeous, well-formed body waiting for his touch that would make him come and at least momentarily relieve his constant state of arousal. Instead, Antonio growled and threw back the sheets. The Miami sun was an unforgiving alarm clock to him and he knew there was work to be done. He had to be showered and ready in an hour to meet Kenzie. Thankfully, she had agreed to wait a day to tour the ramshackle Baracoa distillery. The last thing he wanted was to head over there with his whole legal team in tow. Melinda was a shark when it came to looking out for his business interests, but he knew that if he wanted to try and persuade Kenzie to come around to his way of thinking he needed the chance to be alone with her again.
Already naked, Antonio strode into his en suite bathroom, turned on the shower and stepped into the tiled stall. The multiple faucets hit his body from all directions, and he purposefully turned the water toward cold, hoping the spray would lower his blood pressure and cool his heated thoughts.
What did a teetotaling New York City woman want with an ancient rum distillery? Even more frustrating was the fact that he had upset Kenzie, which meant there could be a chance he would never get to feel her body underneath his. There was so much more he wanted to do with her. It was curiosity that had sent him to the hotel lobby that night. He hadn’t planned on doing anything more than possibly checking out this woman who he had Googled immediately upon learning that she was coming down to Miami. Something about her reminded him of Clarissa. But he tried not to think too much about that. A constant parade of different women in and out of his bedroom had been a good enough distraction from his one serious girlfriend’s departure over a year ago. His life was full, he reassured himself. And besides, who wanted to be tied down?
Shutting off the water and grabbing a towel from the rack, Antonio quickly dried himself off and dressed in a pair of expensive gray trousers and white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to expose his muscular forearms.
Grabbing the keys to his convertible Lamborghini, he glanced in the hallway mirror to check his appearance: a few days’ worth of stubble worked, he decided, running his hands through his jet-black hair. Grabbing his favorite pair of aviators, he headed out the door, feeling mostly self-assured that he would change Kenzie’s mind about his business proposal—and maybe even calm that New York attitude of hers down long enough to enjoy some of his hot and spicy Miami flavor.
* * *
“Where is he already?” Kenzie questioned the uniformed doorman standing at the entrance to her hotel. She looked at the time on her phone. It was already ten minutes past the time Antonio had agreed to pick her up and she was getting antsy. The doorman shrugged and turned his attention to the hotel’s shuttle bus which was arriving with a full load of guests. Kenzie sighed and blew a curl out of her face and peered down the street, not knowing what car she was looking for but wanting to do something besides stand there like a statue. The longer she waited, the more she regretted her choice of clothing—an off-the-shoulder white cotton top with a matching skirt that showed off her breasts and tiny midriff.
It had been a mistake to agree to let Antonio give her a tour of Baracoa. He would likely try to convince her to sell him her share of the distillery. In truth, that was probably the move that made the most sense, logistically and financially. But she couldn’t bear the thought of giving this arrogant man exactly what he wanted. Besides, maybe the place was a gold mine, or at least a diamond in the rough. It made good sense to at least go see what she would be giving up.
Just as Kenzie reached into her bag for her room card, her mind suddenly set on going back up to the room to change into a business suit, an azure-blue sports car roared into the semicircular driveway of the hotel, causing Kenzie and the busload full of tourists to all stop and stare.
“Buenos dias!” Antonio called to her, flashing her a sexy smile and lowering his shades to unabashedly check her out from head to toe. Damn, Kenzie thought. Her game plan of acting cold and indifferent to the man who had taken her to bed knowing full well that she was a potential colleague was going to be hard to keep up with. Why did he have to be so good-looking? Kenzie flashed back on the moment up in the hotel room when Antonio had pulled her hair, his hard cock inside her, and felt the same shock waves that tingled from the roots of her curls all the way down to the very core of her nether regions as if it were actually happening again.
Cars pulled in and out of the circle in front of the hotel, but Kenzie was focused only on the car in front of her. She wondered where it might take her, and if it was a ride she was really ready for. Glancing at Antonio, who was confidently leaning in her direction, she decided to take a chance.
“You’re late,” Kenzie stated firmly, reaching for the door handle of the insanely showy but somehow elegant car. Her hand was trembling a little and she tried to steady herself by taking a deep breath. Everything around her felt so foreign—not just the expensive vehicle, but the palm trees, the intense heat and the tourists in the colorful dresses and shorts. Back home, the streets were gray and slushy with dirty snow. Here, everything was in Technicolor and it was throwing her off.
Before she could sit down, Antonio was up and walking around to the passenger side. When he was close enough that she could feel the heat coming off his body, she inhaled sharply. It was no wonder the eyes of the other hotel guests were on them—she had to admit that together, they made a striking scene. Antonio was a foot taller than her, but somehow their looks complemented each other. At only five foot two she somehow always found herself dating the tall guys.
“Here,” he said handing her the keys. “You drive.”
Kenzie laughed and looked skeptically at the fast car in front of her. She wasn’t much of a car person and usually when she saw guys in them on the highway she figured they were overcompensating for something. But looking at it up close, she had to admit it was pretty incredible looking. Still, she hoped Antonio wasn’t serious about wanting her to drive. “You do realize the last time I drove was for my driver’s ed test? I was seventeen.”
Antonio gave her a puzzled look.
“I’m a New Yorker,” she explained. “We take the subway.” In truth, it had been years since she’d driven, and she was terrified of crashing this beautiful vehicle that probably cost more than all of her worldly possessions, combined.
“This is more fun than the subway,” Antonio promised, pressing the car key into her hand.
Kenzie reluctantly walked around to the driver’s side, slid her body into the leather seat and turned on the ignition. The car’s powerful engine roared and she felt a quick hit of excitement.
“You can adjust the mirrors over here,” Antonio explained, leaning across her to toggle the side-view mirrors switch. Kenzie involuntarily inhaled Antonio’s clean and masculine scent and the pheromones hit her—hard.
“Got it,” she said, and pulled out of the drop-off area fast, sending Antonio back against the passenger seat. “Buckle up,” she cautioned him with a smile.
Kenzie made good time getting them to Alligator Alley, and soon the road opened up to reveal the greenery of the Everglades. It was such a contrast, going from the colorful buildings of downtown to this otherworldly swamp region. The grass was greener than anything Kenzie had seen in months in New York and the sun beat down on them as she drove a straight shot, picking up speed as she got more comfortable in the powerful ride.
“It’s stunning,” she commented, momentarily taking her eyes off the road to take in the lush scenery. For a second, she even thought she saw an actual alligator. She had heard that they were all over the place down here, and the thought freaked her out. New York City subway rats she could deal with—giant reptiles were something else. She appreciated nature but was definitely not looking to get up close and personal with it.
“I agree, it’s beautiful,” Antonio said. Instead of looking for wildlife, his gaze was firmly planted on her. His unabashed stare made her blush. She wasn’t used to being looked at so intensely, especially by someone she was so attracted to. Suddenly, she had the overwhelming impulse to turn the steering wheel sharply to the right and pull off to the side of the road.
She saw herself hiking up her skirt and straddling Antonio right there in the car, not caring if anyone else would see. Her panties got wet with the idea of his manly fingers moving her undies to the side and exploring the soft folds of her most intimate area. She looked over at Antonio and guessed that he was thinking of a similar scenario, too. But instead, she floored it, eager to reach Baracoa before she found herself doing something equally as reckless as two nights before.
When they pulled off the highway, Antonio directed her through the side streets until they came to a series of buildings in an open field that looked more like ancient ruins than a working rum distillery.
“This is it,” Antonio announced, stepping out of the car and gesturing toward—well, to be honest, Kenzie wasn’t a hundred percent sure what she was looking at.
“Is it still operational?” she asked in a more sheepish voice than she normally used. She was definitely out of her territory here. Her domain consisted of yoga mats, asanas, breathing techniques and meditation. The rum business was as far from her own business as she could possibly imagine.
“It’s a working distillery, yes,” Antonio answered, “but on a very small scale. Here,” he said gesturing toward what looked like the main building. “Let me show you around.”
Kenzie’s thin white outfit was already sticking to her skin as the hot sun beat down on them. “Okay,” she said, following right behind Antonio, which gave her a chance to wipe some of the perspiration on her face and chest with the back of her hand. How did Antonio manage to look so cool and collected? She wondered. She definitely wasn’t used to such intense heat.
Inside the main building there were a few huge metal fermentation tanks where Antonio explained that sugar cane was turned into molasses. They walked past the distillery tanks and into a huge, cool open area where the barrels were stored.
“Some of these are aged,” Antonio explained, “which affects how dark the rum will be.”
Antonio waved at a worker driving a utility vehicle who was transporting barrels which were presumably ready to be stacked and aged. Apart from him, Kenzie saw no other people and it seemed like there was very little activity going on.
“They’ve been doing things the same way here for a long time,” Antonio explained. “We have a much more intricate process at our Little Havana locations. Our master blender is always coming up with new flavors, new processes.”
Little Havana—Kenzie knew the name from some quick internet research she had done on Antonio after, ahem, they had gotten acquainted, so to speak. Apparently, his family was the owner of the largest rum distillery outside the Caribbean, and also had a hand in several smaller operations. Judging by a “Millionaires under 40” article she had come across in Forbes, this little distillery was definitely off his radar.
“We would have fully acquired this distillery a long time ago, and absorbed it into our main businesses, but the previous co-owner held on.”
Aunt Lilly. Kenzie still wasn’t exactly sure who she was, and why or how she had become involved in the liquor business.
“Some people like holding onto things,” Kenzie whispered. Suddenly her thoughts shot back to Cole—to the last time she had seen him alive, barely breathing in a sterile hospital room. It was liquor that had destroyed their relationship, destroyed both of their lives. Kenzie suddenly felt queasy, and her breath was short.
“Excuse me, I need some air,” she apologized, and darted out the double doors straight ahead of her.
When she reached the outdoors, Kenzie noticed out of her haze that she was standing in the most serene, run-down little courtyard. Pink and red azaleas bloomed out of the crevices of the rocks and the sound of birds was audible from the palm trees.
“Are you alright?” Antonio had raced after her and now had a protective arm around her waist.
“Yes,” Kenzie answered, composing herself as best she could. “This is all just a little...overwhelming.”
Antonio frowned, and she was touched that he seemed so seriously concerned about her well-being. Kenzie did her best to shake off any bad feelings the sight of those rum stills had stirred up and instead decided to focus on the beautiful, tranquil surroundings.
“It’s like an oasis here,” she commented.
“It is quite beautiful,” Antonio agreed. She noticed that he still had his hand on her. The warm pressure on the small of her back radiated up her spine and made every inch of her skin feel more sensitive.
“Believe me, I would love nothing more than a beautiful partner in the operations here,” Antonio said seriously, turning to face her. “But you have no use for this place.” He said it so firmly that for a moment, Kenzie believed it. “Why not make a deal? Let me do what I do best. You’ll walk away with a lot of money and then...” he boldly reached out and moved a curl off Kenzie’s face, “then we can celebrate both of our good fortunes.”
Kenzie smiled tentatively and assessed Antonio. His words were so commanding, so smooth, it was hard not to be persuaded by him. But something in his eyes betrayed this extreme confidence. She thought maybe it was a hint of vulnerability. He was looking for something, just like she was, too.
“I don’t know...” said Kenzie, allowing herself to think out loud. Antonio’s face was so close to hers, she could easily lean in and feel the stubble on his face, rough against her soft skin. She took a step back.
“Something tells me that this place has potential,” she said, looking around.
Okay, so it was probably ill-advised, but when Kenzie got one of those feelings, she knew there was no stopping her. It was the same feeling she had when she saw the abandoned warehouse space that was now her thriving yoga studio. She had a way of seeing beyond what things were and envisioning a greater end result. Maybe there was something great to be brought out in Baracoa. She just needed to uncover it.
“I have a proposition,” she said, looking at Antonio pointedly. “If I can get this distillery on its way toward turning a profit in a week’s time, you give me all of your shares and I own it outright. If I fail, then it’s yours to keep.”
Antonio shook his head. A bemused smile played across his lips. “Kenzie... I know you are a smart businessperson.” Antonio spoke slowly, and it seemed like he was trying to choose his words carefully. “But you don’t know anything about running a distillery. I don’t want to rob you of your inheritance.”
“Don’t worry about me.” Kenzie reached out and touched Antonio’s bare forearm in a gesture to drive her point home—and maybe as an excuse to have physical contact with him again. “I’ve gotten this far by trusting my gut.”
Antonio grabbed Kenzie’s arm and pulled her close to him. The electricity ricocheting back and forth between their bodies was undeniable.
“I’ve wanted to do this again since this morning,” Antonio whispered, leaning his face in toward Kenzie, ready to kiss her. Oh, how she longed to feel his mouth pressed against hers again, to bite his lips and allow his tongue to penetrate not just her mouth but all of her orifices. She wanted to feel those strong shoulders again. She needed to make sure they were really as solid as she remembered from the first time she had allowed herself to touch them, to let her hands linger over the muscles just long enough to get totally turned on. Taking a deep breath, the kind she instructed her students to do to begin their yoga practice, she collected herself and held him back with her hand placed firmly against his muscular chest.
“You’re used to getting everything you want, aren’t you?” she asked him, her eyes gleaming with a challenge.
Antonio raised an eyebrow and met her gaze. “I know what I like, and I go after it,” he said plainly. “And I really like you.” He put his hand around her waist and pulled her in toward him.
Kenzie’s knees weakened. She could feel his hardness pressing into the side of her hip. She couldn’t deny what a boost to her ego it was that he was this turned on and all they were doing was talking. “Tell me you don’t want this, too,” he whispered, speaking directly into the spot on the side of her neck that was her most sensitive place. She could feel the stubble of his half-grown beard grazing up against her skin and a shiver ran through her body.
“How about I sweeten the deal?” Kenzie asked. The sensible part of her brain was telling her to keep her distance, to be cautious, but the primal side of her was allowing her to relish the long kisses Antonio was expertly administering to the side of her neck.
“I like the sound of that,” Antonio murmured in between licks and bites.
“If I don’t turn Baracoa around, you also get all of me.”
Antonio paused his exploration and looked pointedly at Kenzie. “Hasn’t that happened already...back at your hotel?” he asked, his voice heavy with lust.
Kenzie tilted her head to the side. Her resolve was shaking but she kept her voice firm. “I don’t just mean my body. I mean all of me. Really.”
Antonio nodded. “A relationship?”
“Let’s just call it a chance to go...deeper. So, do you think you’re up for it? Do you want to take me on?”
Antonio stepped back and exhaled, raking his fingers through his hair. She had been right, her words had obviously rocked him to his core. She smiled, knowing she could have this effect on him without even touching him.
“There has to be a catch,” Antonio said cautiously. “If I lose? Which I won’t...” he added.
Kenzie’s eyes narrowed. “Then I go back to New York and you never see me again.”
Ooph. It sounded harsh when she heard herself say it out loud. But truthfully, it was the only outcome Kenzie could really imagine. They would have some fun, she would of course win, and then be on her way. Like she always was.
The proposition made Antonio shake his head. “You really like torturing me, don’t you?”
“Maybe just a little.” Kenzie smiled. She had to admit, she was enjoying this playful banter. It had been a long time since she had actually wanted to flirt like this with someone, to delight in seeing their reaction to her. And Antonio’s reactions were anything but subtle.
“Okay,” he acquiesced. “But you can’t leave me like this.” Antonio looked at her wantonly. “I won’t make it back to the city.”
Kenzie observed the bulge that was currently testing the limits of Antonio’s trouser zipper.
“Take off your pants,” she instructed.
Antonio hesitated. “But you just said...”
“Take off your pants,” Kenzie reiterated, her voice firm now.
Antonio glanced around. There was no one else in sight and the only sounds that were audible were the birds and the gentle whirring of the fermentation tanks. In one swift motion, Antonio’s pants were off, and he stood before her in just his shirt, his proud erection pointing straight toward her.
“The shirt, too,” she said matter-of-factly.
Kenzie relished the vision of his naked body in front of her. The other night she hadn’t really had a chance to assess him, but now she took her time, committing all of the details of his form to memory. His body was muscular but not bulky, with defined pecs and abs and a treasure trail leading from his belly button straight down to one of the most formidable members she had ever laid eyes on. It was perfect really, long but not too long, with a beautiful, rounded head that was just begging to be sucked on. His balls were nice too—cleanly shaven—but it was his rock-hard thighs that really impressed Kenzie the most. She could see his strength in them with long, firm muscles that showed what a man he really was. It occurred to her that she could come so easily, just rubbing her clit up against one of Antonio’s perfectly defined quads. It was the best idea that had occurred to her a long time, but it would have to wait.
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