Guilty Pleasures (51 page)

“I would. Thank you. I wasn't doing very well over here anyway. And being in your company is just the thing to lift my spirits.”

He took her elbow. “Come. I have a table reserved.” He escorted her to the top deck of the ship to the glass-enclosed restaurant. They were quickly shown to their table.

Rita looked out onto the calm seas and the ink-black sky dotted with millions of tiny stars.

“This is beautiful. I didn't realize there was a restaurant up here.”

Xavier smiled. “I told you: it is my responsibility to please a lovely lady such as you.”

Rita actually blushed. “You always know what to say.”

“If only I did.” His expression grew serious. “I've been thinking a lot of you.”

She reached for the goblet of water. Light danced off its polished surface, making the glass opalescent. “Have you
Is that a good thing
”

“It depends.”

“On what
”

“On your answer to my proposition.”

“Oh
” Her brows arched over widened eyes of curiosity.

He steepled his fingers beneath his mouth. “I have important business in Miami. It will take several days. I have a home there.”

Her pulse quickened.

“I'm inviting you to stay as my guest while I am in Miami.”

She lowered her lids and toyed with her glass. “A guest
What kind of guest
”

He smiled at the loaded question. “The kind who benefits from my benevolence.”

“A guest with benefits—interesting concept.”

“It will give us a chance to get to know each other. And then”—he shrugged slightly—“who knows.”

“Do you want an answer now
”

“After we eat, after you come to my suite and share my bed. Then you can decide.”

A hot flush raced straight to her head and pounded against her temples. Her underarms grew damp. She reached for the water and then changed her mind.

“You seem to have this all figured out,” she said, struggling to maintain calm in her voice while her thoughts raced.

“Everything in my life is carefully planned. Something you will learn, should you take me up on my offer of hospitality.”

Her throat had gone so dry, she thought she'd choke if she tried to swallow. This time the goblet of water made it to her lips. She took a long slow drink. This may be her last chance to get into his room, but were they ready
Jake swore up and down that it could be pulled off. But the plan was for
tomorrow,
not tonight. She needed to be sure that everything and everyone was in place.

“Let's order, have a wonderful dinner, an exquisite time in your bed … and
if
you are as benevolent as you say, I just might take you up on your offer to be a guest with benefits.” She smiled wickedly over the rim of her glass.

Xavier tossed his dark head back and laughed from deep in his belly. “As they say in the States … You're on.” He signaled for the waiter.

After dinner of penne pasta with clam sauce, steamed mussels, and a garden salad to die for, they danced under the stars and laughed over several glasses of wine.

Rita couldn't remember the last time she'd been romanced or, better yet, seduced. At times when she listened to Xavier tell ribald stories of his life in South America, she was hard-pressed to see him as the ruthless killer and smuggler that he was reported to be. Under the stars and the glow of good food and wine, he was simply a devastatingly handsome, sexy, and charming man.

What would life be like with a man such as Xavier Suarez
She would certainly have all the money and luxuries her heart desired. She'd never have to work a con again. She'd never have to forge documents for extra cash to feed her lust for the finer things in life or concern herself with the trivialities of everyday living. She would finally be queen of a castle and have a powerful and sinfully wealthy man as her protector. What if everyone was wrong about him

“You've come a long way from the back streets of Venezuela and Brazil,” Rita said as they danced to a slow song.

He held her close, and she inhaled his manly fragrance. She let her eyes drift closed.

“I've worked hard for all that I have attained. I knew since a little boy that I would not grow up in poverty, living forever in a shack with mud for floors.”

She heard the underlying pain mixed with determination in his voice.