His Southern Sweetheart (17 page)

“Whatever you say,” Amelia sneered.

“What I say,” Brittany gritted, “is you ought to be careful who you're messing with. Karma is a bitch when you mess with God's children.”

After Brittany walked through the VIP section, Amelia and Chantal broke out in a fit of laughter. One thing Amelia didn't miss about being back home was the hypocrites. She shook her head to push Brittany and her attempt at preaching out of her mind, and then realized what she'd said. A warm feeling of relaxation washed over her.
She was back home
.

Amelia couldn't wait to get home and call Nate. When Chantal received a text from a potential client, Amelia didn't hesitate to say yes and hop in the car. Instead of making her drive up the gravel way and risk waking Grandmamma, Amelia stepped out of the car, kicked out of her heels and hightailed it through the green grass, up the ramp and ran inside. The screams she made should have woken the closest neighbors down the road. The last thing she expected to see in her grandmother's living room was her grandmamma sprawled out on the living room floor, with Pastor Rivers scrambling to cover his naked body.

Chapter 12

N
ate cared less about what had made Amelia change her mind so quickly and more about the reality of her being in his hometown with him. Their five-hour drive was filled with nonstop chatter from both equally excited girls. Not even a chauffeured ride from Stephen's driver, Keenan, diverted the girls' desire to hang out with Amelia. Nate liked the idea of the girls liking Amelia. If they didn't get along, a relationship between him and Amelia might have to be readjusted. But considering the way Amelia offered advice and listened to the girls, she cared as well about them. Nate wasn't particularly happy about Kimber's eagerness to bend Amelia's ear about getting into the reality TV world, but he was sure he'd nipped the idea in the bud during the barbecue. According to the feedback he'd received from Chantal last night, Amelia seemed more and more driven to want to stay in Southwood—just as he planned.

Why would she need the flashy lights from all the cameras or all the action and drama from her previous life? When they stopped off at his mother's house, Nate quickly regretted his decision to bring her because his mother's infatuation with Amelia only excited Amelia, as well. She beamed from ear to ear, telling his mother about the trips she'd taken with the Ruiz clan back to Puerto Rico. Amelia's oval face lit up with animated excitement when his mother mentioned restaurants and places she'd visited. He'd worked so hard these past few weeks getting Amelia to start her new life over in Southwood instead of trying to get her old job back or even continue in the television industry. What she needed to see was that settling down back home was the right choice for her. And him.

Now, finally alone with no responsibility other than to attend to her every wish and command, Nate breathed a sigh of relief after he stepped out of the shower and spotted Amelia. She stood against the balcony of their Torres Towers Hotel suite with the sun settling down into the Gulf as a backdrop behind her. The white sequined dress sparkled under the pink sky. Her long, shapely legs beckoned to be wrapped around his waist. A sea breeze filtered through the air, lifting Amelia's shoulder-length hair off her neck, exposing a ripe place to plant a kiss right along her collarbone. Having kept her body at bay, he felt the sexual desire in him grow stronger knowing they had the whole weekend together. The breeze made its way into the living room of the suite and offered a teasing hint of Amelia's sweet, peachy scent. Mouth watering, Nate licked his lips and cleared his throat. At the sound, their eyes locked. A familiar beat thumped against Nate's rib cage. He pressed his hand against the pocket of his white Oxford shirt to make sure his heart did not beat out his chest. The last time this happened was the night he'd first made eye contact with Amelia. At the time, he'd thought he would only buy her a drink to keep her occupied. but now he wanted so much more. He needed her, now.

Tonight he'd made a reservation at Ignacio's, the salsa dinner club off the boardwalk. He'd missed the spiciness of the food and the action on the dance floor. But given that his uncle Ignacio owned the place, he trusted his table would still be held for them.

“Did you say something?” Amelia asked.

“I may have, but whatever words I had got stuck in my throat when I saw you.” At this point Nate found no reason to hold his feelings back. She'd infiltrated his life and his heart. “I love you, Amelia.”

Whether or not it was the pink sky or her feelings, a blush crept across her high cheekbones. Given what he'd learned of her job, he wished he'd had a camera to capture this tender moment. Amelia needed a close-up shot of her face. Never one for a loss of words, she stood there, dumbfounded.

“Too soon?” he asked. For a moment he wondered if he'd scared her off. Hell, the words scared him. Nate had never been in this position before. But all he could think about was her. The only person he wanted to be with was Amelia.

A single tear glistened in the corner of her left eye. “You love me?”

“I do.”

“Nate, I—”

Nate closed the distance between them, gently wrapping his fingers around her slender neck to bring her face closer to his. They both paused for a quick breath before desire consumed him. Every inch of his body hardened. Afraid he'd burst if he didn't hold her, Nate swept her into his arms and carried her through the living room area, kitchen, down the hall and to their bedroom. The backs of her soft thighs pressed against his forearms. Her heartbeat raced through her clothing against his chest. He'd won her over, he felt it, but knew she didn't know how to express it. In a moment, she could show him. Nate kicked the bedroom door open.

“Hey now,” Amelia gasped. “I thought we had reservations.”

“They can wait,” he replied, trailing a set of kisses along her neck. She tasted as sweet as she smelled. “I can't.”

Nate set Amelia down on the bed facing him. Leaning forward, he kissed her and coaxed her to stretch out on the bed. Nate extended his body over hers, balancing himself on his knees at the edge of the king-size mattress. With one hand holding his upper body above her head, he used the other to span across her body, aiming toward the hem of her dress. To his surprise, she wore only that tonight.

“Naughty, naughty,” he whispered in her ear.

“I already knew you wouldn't be able to resist me.” Amelia's lips spread into a grin against his earlobe.

“You set me up?” Nate's blood pulsed when her teeth nibbled his ear.

“More like, I came prepared.” With her challenging tone, Amelia wrapped her legs around his waist and drew him close against the nectar between her legs.

The heat sizzled against his growing erection. Damn his pants. Caught up in sensation, Nate lost focus and Amelia took over. Her legs squeezed and maneuvered so he was somehow lying flat on the mattress. As he did with her, Amelia assumed his previous position, one hand by his head supporting her weight and the other slowly traveling down toward the waistband of his black slacks.

* * *

“Nathaniel.” Infamous chef Ignacio Torres made his way toward the white-clothed, two-top intimate table overlooking the jam-packed dance floor. He'd just finished doing a number with a few pretty customers before he spied his nephew. Prior to being seated, Nate explained that his uncle enjoyed pulling ladies out of their seats and dancing with them. He said people lined up praying to get chosen by the dancing chef.

Celebrities were a part of Amelia's career. She filmed them, followed them and recruited them for guest appearances. Being starstruck was not something she usually went through, but when charismatic Ignacio danced his way up the winding glass stairway toward them she beamed from ear to ear. For a moment she debated whether or not to reach for a napkin and ask for an autograph. Instead, she accepted the hug Nate's uncle gave her, feeling it to be more valuable than a signature. He accepted her immediately.

“It is an honor to have you at my establishment, Miss Marlow.” Ignacio spoke in a thick Puerto Rican accent.

A menagerie of scents stemming from onions, bell peppers, cilantro and
culantro
, which made up a batch of
sofrito
and
recaito
, whetted Amelia's appetite. She and Nate had certainly worked up one before arriving tonight. Coming to his feet, Nate broke up the two-second-too-long hung from Ignacio and clasped his uncle on the back for a half hug.

“All right, all right,” said Nate. “Hands off my woman.”

Ignacio cut a look over at Amelia and winked. “I knew you were special the moment Nate said he wanted a table for two.”

Heart fluttering when Nate turned his gaze away for a brief moment, Amelia smiled. “For real?”

“I would not lie,” said Ignacio, crossing his heart with his index finger. “And I can honestly say I understand why he wants you all to himself. You are absolutely beautiful.”

Nate cleared his throat. “Need I remind you she's my date?”

“Two handsome men fighting over me?” Amelia inhaled deeply.

Dear MET executives,

Sizzle with salsa on this small island town with the Torres family, where the men all have the same taste in beautiful women. I would like to schedule a pitch session to discuss
Keeping it in the Family
.

Sincerely,

Amelia

“Uh-oh.” Nate waved his hand in front of Amelia's face. “
Tío
, we need to hurry up and get some food in her.”

Ignacio nodded and excused himself, backing away from the table with the promise of such fine cuisine that she'd go home with him instead of Nate. After Nate seated Amelia, she watched him sit back down, smoothing the front of his blue shirt. The white one he'd worn before lay tattered on the floor in their bedroom, courtesy of her. And she didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt for doing so. Being able to make love to Nate wherever and whenever was liberating.

“Don't think I didn't catch the faraway look in your eyes,” Nate said; a twinkle sparked in his green eyes.

Amelia batted her lashes over the single candle between them. A soft trumpet solo played on the stage below. “What?”

“C'mon, tell me what the idea for a reality show was.”

“The only thing I am willing to share is that it was about family.” It was mostly the truth.

Nate rested his elbows on the table. “You miss your old job, don't you?”

Since telling him the little white lie about losing her job, Amelia never had found the right time to confess. Besides, anytime someone brought up her career, Nate found a way to change the subject. Just the other day he shut down any conversation Kimber wanted to have over the whole reality show topic.

“I worked really hard to get where I was, Nate,” Amelia answered with a thoughtful sigh. It was the truth.

Climbing the ladder had been her priority before she was placed on leave. Now, not so much. It had been what she wanted to share with Nate last night before walking in on her grandmother and Pastor Rivers's lovemaking session. The thought caused her to cringe. Eyes closed tight, Amelia shook her head. When she opened them, Nate was sitting back in his chair with a brow raised. The corners of his full lips were turned upward in an amused grin. Wanton desire electrified her system. She had to look away. If she didn't, she was sure she'd climb across the table and into his lap.

In order to keep her clothes from coming off so fast in front of these strangers, Amelia turned her attention to the patrons of the restaurant. Even though she'd resolved her feelings about Southwood, something on the dance floor caught her attention, or at least someone did. Amelia shook her head and blinked. Natalia Ruiz. The familiar figure was cuddled close to a large person and had turned her face into his chest. Perhaps Amelia was seeing things. Her desire for Nate meant more than her desire to break up the dancing lovers' embrace just to satisfy her curiosity.

“Are you all right?”

Nate's deep voice brought her out of her daze. “I'm fine.” She turned her attention back to her handsome date.

“I'm glad you're here,” he said.

“I'm glad I'm here, too,” Amelia said. “I can't believe I have never been to Villa San Juan before. I can't wait for you to show me around.”

“After dinner, we can take a walk down to the pier. Do you like history?”

“Love it.”

“Great, there's an old bench we can hang out at and talk.”

Amelia's brows rose. “A bench?”

“It has sentimental value. Lots of people propose there.”

Amelia's brows froze in position. “What?”

Nate shook his head. “Whoa, I'm not proposing.”

His quick response hurt her feelings. Though a part of Amelia knew marriage was not in her near future, did he have to respond with such disgust? Amelia faked a smile and inhaled. What was the point of her staying in Southwood if there was no future with Nate? Sure, there was more to staying in Southwood than a man. She'd reconnected with her family and the idea of reopening the ice-cream parlor was beginning to take shape. Her future was not based on a man, but still, Amelia decided to keep the truth about her job to herself.

“You're quiet now,” noted Nate.

Amelia exhaled. “I'm fine.”

Whether or not he believed her, Nate nodded and carried on the conversation, giving her a history lesson about his island. Another family member came over and said hello. Nate made his introductions and then asked if she minded if he stepped outside with him for a moment. Needing a break from him, Amelia offered a smile of permission. With Nate away, her eyes wandered toward the dance floor to where she thought she'd spotted Natalia. The dark hair and the height looked to be the same. Curious, Amelia pushed her chair away from the table. She had to get a better look.

Careful not trip on the silver four-inch silver heels Lexi insisted would “make the outfit,” Amelia made her way down the crystal staircase through the crowds of salsa dancers. The couple she thought she'd seen had disappeared. Amelia stood in the center of the dance floor feeling foolish as hell. What would she have done if she spotted Natalia? Called who? Rory? Her film crew? William Vickers? Amelia shuddered at the thought.

What did any of it matter? She wanted to stay in Southwood. She'd already transferred the money to Cay's account. She'd chosen Southwood. She'd chosen the opportunity to be with Nate, even if he wasn't sure about their future. Amelia started to turn on her heels to head back to the table. Out of the corner of her eye she thought she spotted another familiar face, the runaway bride from the Ramos-Montenegro wedding earlier this summer. Grace, was it? Jesus, of all the times to not have her work phone! More importantly, of all the times to consider stepping down from her position at MET. If that was really Grace Montenegro or if that really had been Natalia, Amelia stood the chance to score TV gold.