Seduced by Mr. Right (10 page)

“You. Now shut up and kiss me.” Emilio seized her waist, wrapped his arms around her and claimed her lips with his mouth.

Chapter 10

T
he moment Emilio's lips touched Sharleen's mouth, pleasure exploded inside of her body. He tasted of peppermint—delicious and sweet—and the savory flavor tickled her taste buds. Tingles danced down her spine as he sprayed soft, featherlight kisses over her lips and cheeks.
Is this
really
happening? Are we actually kissing, or is this a figment of my imagination?

Emilio pulled her closer, urged her into his arms. His hands explored her flesh, caressed and stroked her inflamed body. He played with her hair, massaged her neck, her shoulders and hips. Sharleen was stunned by how aggressive he was, but she secretly loved every minute of it. For the first time in her life, she was living in the moment, gratifying the desires of her flesh, and it was the most liberating thing she'd ever done.

Delirious with need, she inclined her head toward him and deepened the kiss. He wasn't a good kisser—he was an outstanding kisser, the best she'd ever had. Sharleen wanted more of him, needed more. She didn't want the kiss to ever end, could happily spend the rest of the day cradled in his arms. His urgent caress and the warmth of his touch intensified her hunger, and as the seconds slipped into minutes, Sharleen found herself losing control. Her temperature soared, and the voices in her head—the ones urging her to flee—faded to the background.

Sharleen stroked his face, grabbed fistfuls of his hair, nibbled his bottom lip. The heady sensation of his lips and his hands was overwhelming, pushed her to the brink. Overcome with longing, a hunger she'd never known, she moaned from deep inside. Finally, after weeks of flirting, they'd kissed, and it was even better than she'd imagined.

Their moans and groans intensified, grew to a fevered pitch. Desperate to be closer to him, she draped her hands around his neck and pressed her body flat against his. It wasn't enough—she needed more, desired more. A shiver ripped through her body, one so powerful her knees buckled.

Sharleen couldn't believe that one kiss—one sensuous, erotic kiss—could wreak such havoc inside of her body, but it did. Her breasts ached for his touch, her hands shook and her legs quivered. She wanted to rip off his clothes and kiss every inch of his body. The thought made her cheeks burn with shame, but the urge still remained.

Finally, they pulled apart, exhausted.

“That was some kiss,” Emilio said in a husky growl. “Definitely the best I've ever had.”

Not trusting herself to speak, Sharleen took a moment to catch her breath. She lifted her head, caught his eye and returned his smile. She couldn't deny how much she'd enjoyed that kiss, and she tried to keep thoughts of losing her job from ruining the moment.

“I'm sorry I lost control, but I couldn't help myself. Your lips are so damn tempting.”

“I know,” she said, with a shrug, pretending to inspect her French manicure. “I hear that
all
the time.”

Emilio chuckled. “I love your humility. It's endearing.”

“At least I'm not rude.” Deciding to have some fun with him, she jabbed a finger at his chest and wore a stern face. “Make no mistake, Mr. Morretti. The next time you tell me to ‘shut up,' you'll be looking for a new life coach.”

“That suits me just fine.”

Her spirits sank. “I thought you liked working with me.”

“I do, but I don't want you to be my life coach anymore. I want you to be my girlfriend.”

Sharleen heard a gasp fall out of her mouth.

“Why is it so hard for you to believe that I'm attracted to you and that I want us to date?”

Because you've dated models and actresses, and I'm a nobody.
Her thoughts spun out of control. She knew it would be foolish to embark on a relationship with him—the risk of being hurt was just too great.

“I adore everything about you. You're intelligent, ridiculously beautiful and—”

“Ridiculously beautiful?” Sharleen scoffed and rolled her eyes. Men would say anything to get laid, and although she'd never pegged Emilio as the type who'd use lies and flattery to lure her into bed, he seemed to be doing just that. “Laying it on kinda thick, aren't you?”

“No. I think you're perfect.” His gaze was a lethal combination of hunger and desire. It held her captive, refused to let her go. “You have great eyes, pretty lips and bootylicious curves!”

Sharleen cracked up, chuckled until tears filled her eyes. The word
bootylicious
had no business coming out of Emilio's Italian mouth, and the expression on his face tugged at her heartstrings. He made her laugh, even at his own expense. He was the most caring man she'd ever met.
It's too bad he's my client
.
If he wasn't I'd definitely want him to be my—

“Are you free on Saturday night? I'd like to take you out for dinner. On a date.”

“I don't know what to say.”

“Say, ‘I'd love to. I'll be ready at six.'”

“I can't,” she said, smiling apologetically. “Dating clients is against the rules, and if Mrs. Fontaine finds out we're seeing each other, she'll fire me.”

“You don't need to work. I'll take care of you.”

“Emilio, I can take care of myself, and that's beside the point. I love working at Pathways, and I'd be devastated if I lost my job. Being a life coach is all I've ever wanted to do.”

“I understand, and for now, I'll respect your wishes. On Saturday we'll have dinner here at the house, then watch the new Will Smith movie in my theater.”

Sharleen heaved a deep breath and tried to gather her bearings, but the truth came tumbling out of her mouth. “Dating is a bad idea. We would never work. We're from two different worlds—”

“I don't care. I want you, and
only
you.”

“Why?” she blurted out, stunned by his confession. “You can have any woman you want, so why are you pursuing me?”

“Because you have no ulterior motives. I can be myself around you, without fear of you selling me out to the tabloids or betraying my trust.” Emilio leaned in, gave her a sweet, soft kiss on the lips, then nuzzled his face against her cheek. “And you smell great, too.”

A grin tickled her lips. “I do, huh?”

“I love your fragrance. It reminds me of my villa in Lake Como. One day I'll take you there, and we'll make love in the garden.”

Oh, my,
she thought, fanning a hand to her face.
Let's leave tonight!

Emilio entwined his fingers with hers and led her across the backyard toward the house. The backyard had it all: an outdoor kitchen, whirlpool tubs surrounded by lush plants and shrubs, waterproof flat-screen TVs and a decorative fire pit. As they strode past the car-shaped swimming pool, Sharleen decided the estate was as lavish as a five-star resort.

“Do you know how to swim?” Emilio asked.

“Yes, but I rarely go swimming.”

“Why not?”

“I haven't found the right bathing suit,” she joked, returning his smile. “Besides, it's just not my thing.”

“I'm going to buy you some designer swimwear. We're going to spend the day at Miami Beach with my cousin and his wife, and I want to see you in a string bikini.”

Sharleen gulped.
I can't wear a bikini. People will point and stare!

“We can discuss our trip to Miami during lunch.” Emilio slipped a hand around her waist and held her tight. “Since the weather's nice, I thought we could eat outside.”

A savory aroma carried on the breeze, tickling her nose and rousing her hunger. Her gaze landed on the gazebo. The table was dressed with red table linens, fine china that gleamed and sparkled and two bottles of Cristal champagne. An oversize bouquet sat beside the potted candles, and lace ribbon was swathed around the chairs. “Wow, what an elaborate spread. What's the occasion?”

A grin claimed his lips. “We met a month ago today.”

“And you think that's worth celebrating?”

“Absolutely.” He pulled out her chair and stepped aside. “Meeting you was the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I hope today is the first of many celebrations.”

At a loss for words, Sharleen sat down and dropped her hands in her lap. Everything was happening too fast, at lightning-quick speed. Her apprehension must have shown on her face, because Emilio crouched down in front of her and slowly stroked her cheek with his fingertips. “I don't want anyone else. I want you today, tomorrow and for the rest of my life.”

“Emilio, this is crazy. We've only known each other for a month—”

“The moment I saw you, I knew you were the only woman for me.”

“Was that before or after you kicked me out of your estate?”

His eyes dimmed, and the smile slid off of his face.

“That was a tough day for me,” he confessed, his voice filled with sadness. “It was the second anniversary of Lucca's death, and I was angry at the world.”

“I know, and I'm not trying to be insensitive. All I'm saying is—”

“You're making excuses for why we can't be together, but I won't let you push me away. My feelings for you are real, and I won't give up on us.”

They are? Really? You're not just saying that because you want to get me into bed?
Sharleen kept her thoughts to herself, didn't speak. His words played in her mind over and over. They touched her in a real, profound way, but she didn't know if she was strong enough to overcome the pain of her past. Her biggest fear had always been that she'd fall in love, but once a man saw the “real” her, he'd reject her like all the other guys she'd dated in the past.

“For the first time in my life, I know exactly what I want, and it's you...”

Sharleen read the expression on Emilio's face, saw the sincerity in his eyes, the truth, and caressed his cheek. She felt safe with him, cherished, and when they were apart he was all she should think of. His voice was soft, soothing, but Sharleen couldn't quiet her inner doubts.
Should I take another chance on love? Is Emilio worth it? Or am I just fooling myself?

“I don't want you hooking up with other guys. I want us to be exclusive.”

“What makes you think I'm dating other guys?” she asked, puzzled.

“Aren't you?”

“I don't have time to date. I'm too busy working.”

His eyebrows merged, and he lowered his gaze in confusion. “And that's the truth?”

“Cross my heart and hope to die.”

“I don't want to share you with anyone.”

You won't have to. Besides, why would I want anyone else when I have you?

“Give me a chance to prove that I'm the right man for you.” Emilio pointed a finger at his chest and flashed a boyish smile. “From now on just call me Mr. Right.”

Her heart fluttered like a butterfly, and a smile overwhelmed her mouth. This time, Sharleen was the one who initiated the kiss. She closed her eyes and brushed her lips against his mouth. Lunch forgotten, she pleased him with her mouth, tongue and hands. She surprised herself by taking the reins, by being the aggressor, and when Emilio swept her up in his arms, Sharleen realized it was the only place in the world she wanted to be.

Chapter 11

“T
hanks for coming with me to the hospital today,” Jocelyn said, opening her handbag and rummaging around inside for her designer sunglasses. “I really appreciate it, and I know your visit meant a lot to my mom.”

Sharleen smiled and joined her friend inside the elevator. “It was my pleasure. Your mom's a sweetheart, and I'm glad I could spend some time with her this afternoon.”

As the elevator began its descent they chatted about their plans for the weekend.

“Do you want to go to the Atlanta job fair on Saturday?” Jocelyn asked.

Sharleen carefully considered her words. She wanted to tell Jocelyn about her plans with Emilio, but thought better of it. She couldn't risk one of her colleagues finding out about their secret trip to Miami and blabbing to Mrs. Fontaine. Her boss was busy promoting her new life-coaching book,
90 Days to a Better You
, which suited Sharleen fine. Image meant everything to Mrs. Fontaine, and she'd be furious if she discovered Sharleen had kissed Emilio.

You've done a lot more than
just
kissing!
her conscience pointed out.

Her cheeks flushed with heat. For the past few weeks, she'd been hanging out with Emilio—playing tennis at his estate, watching movies in his home theater, sharing kisses under the stars—and every day their bond grew stronger. He'd welcomed her into his life, opened up to her, and she felt compelled to protect his privacy. Emilio was a quiet, sensitive man who enjoyed his solitude, and she didn't want to betray his trust by gossiping about their relationship to her friend.

“Sorry, Jocelyn, I can't. I'm busy this weekend.”

“Do you work on Sunday, too?”

“Yes, I, um, have three consultations lined up and an afternoon session in Savannah.”

“I am
so
jealous,” she gushed, with a wistful look in her eyes. “I wish I had somewhere to go besides the hospital and the unemployment office.”

“Keep your chin up. You'll find something soon. I know it.”

“I sure hope so, because I'm tired of sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring.”

The women exited the elevator and left the Atlanta Medical Center through the sliding glass doors. Hearing her iPhone chime, Sharleen pulled it out. The newest text message from Emilio made her heart soar.

I'm counting down the minutes until our flight to Miami. I'm going to wine you and dine you until you forget every other guy, and fall hopelessly in love with me...

Sharleen couldn't wipe the grin off her face, didn't even try. Emilio was a sweetheart, unlike anyone she'd ever met, and she adored everything about him—his boyish smile, his deep, throaty laugh, how his eyes twinkled at the corners when he was amused. He put her on a pedestal, treated her with kindness and respect and showered her with affection.
And he's an amazing kisser, too,
she
thought, her mind overwhelmed with memories of their last date.
He makes me feel desirable, like the most beautiful woman in the world, and if I wasn't so self-conscious about my body, I'd want Emilio to be my—

“I'm starving. Let's grab something to eat at that fast-food place across the street.”

Making a mental note to return his text later, Sharleen put her cell phone away and turned to Jocelyn. “I don't want to eat fast food. Let's do dinner and a movie instead.”

“I can't. I'm broke and unemployed, remember?”

“You haven't been job hunting long,” she pointed out. “Give it more time.”

“I've applied for dozens of positions, but no one's even called me for an interview.” Sadness filled her eyes, and her bottom lip trembled. “I told my mom I'd help her out financially until she got back on her feet, and now that I'm unemployed, money's real tight.”

“How much are your mom's medical bills?”

Jocelyn groaned. “Don't ask. I'm trying to stay positive, but every time I think about that notice of payment tacked to my fridge I feel nauseated.”

Sharleen gave her a hug. It hurt to see her friend upset, so to cheer her up she said, “You're coming over tonight. We'll order pizza, make mocktails and watch movies.”

“You're on, but no mocktails. The more tequila the better!”

After leaving the hospital, they stopped at the grocery store to stock up on food and drinks. They loaded the plastic bags into the car and set off for Inman Park. Driving across town, they sang along with the radio and reminisced about their early days at Pathways Center. It was hard for Sharleen to believe she'd known Jocelyn for five years, even harder for her to believe it had been almost a decade since her mom and dad died.
I wonder if my parents would have liked Emilio.

Of course they would!
her inner voice said.
What's not to like? He's considerate and thoughtful
and
he spoils you silly!
Jocelyn's cell phone rang, but she didn't answer it. “I have to change my number,” she grumbled, hurling her iPhone into the bottom of her handbag. “Brad calls constantly, and it's driving me crazy. Why can't he leave me alone and go harass someone else?”

“Have you considered going to the authorities?”

“No, but I
have
considered hiring a hit man.”

“Jocelyn, I'm serious—”

“So am I.” Blinking back tears, she stared aimlessly out the windshield. “I still don't understand how this happened. I only had two glasses of wine the night we hooked up...”

Sharleen let Jocelyn vent, listened quietly as she recounted her story. Red flags went up, and a chilling thought entered her mind. “Did you leave your drink alone at any time? Was it ever out of your sight? Even for a second?”

“I don't remember. That night is such a blur.”

“I think Brad spiked your drink. That's why you don't remember what happened—”

“No way. He's a chauvinistic pig, but he'd never do something
that
sneaky.”

“Yes, he would,” Sharleen insisted. “He took naked pictures of you and threatened to post them online. I wouldn't put anything past him. Guys like Brad are capable of anything.”

“He didn't drug me, so drop it.”

“Okay, okay, don't bite my head off. I won't mention it again.”

Twenty minutes later, Sharleen parked in front of her brown two-story house. Inman Park was full of Victorian homes, trendy restaurants and boutiques, but what Sharleen loved most about the neighborhood were the people. Her neighbors smiled and waved as she got out of her car. Skateboarders zoomed down the street, and kids played hopscotch on the sidewalk. Laughter filled the air, and the smell of barbecue carried on the evening breeze.

Sharleen took the grocery bags out of the trunk, grabbed the letters in the mailbox and unlocked the front door. Sunshine streamed through the bay windows, filling the main floor with light. To create an inviting feel, she'd decorated with Persian area rugs, off-white furniture and brass lamps. Glass sculptures beautified end tables, and black-and-white photographs of her parents were prominently displayed in the foyer.

“Why don't you go in the living room and relax while I put away the groceries?”

“Sounds good to me.” Jocelyn took a wine cooler out of the fridge and grabbed a pack of barbecue chips off the kitchen counter. “I'll order the pizza.”

Working, attending aerobics classes and hanging out with Emilio left little time for housework, so while Jocelyn watched TV, Sharleen cleaned the kitchen and sorted through the mail. She was surprised to find a letter from Antwan's company, Elite Management. She ripped it open and read the handwritten note inside.

Keep up the good work, and there'll be more bonuses in your future.

Sharleen studied the check attached to the note, wondering if her eyes were deceiving her. Antwan had given her bonuses in the past, but he'd never sent her a check for ten thousand dollars. She grabbed her cell, dialed his number and when his answering machine came on left a message.

Her mind racing, she drummed her fingers on the counter. She had to return the check—it was the right thing to do, the only thing to do. Besides, she'd had nothing to do with Emilio's decision to come out of retirement, and she didn't want Antwan—or anyone else—to think she'd influenced him in any way. Emilio was his own man, his own boss, and if he ever found out about the bonus, he'd be upset.

Sharleen walked over to the garbage, but when her gaze fell across Jocelyn, she had second thoughts about destroying the check

An idea came to her. After grabbing a pen from her purse, she scrawled her signature on the back of the check and strode into the living room. “This is for you,” she said excitedly, flopping down beside Jocelyn on the sofa. “Use it to pay your mom's medical bills.”

“What's this?”

“A gift.”

Reluctantly, Jocelyn took the check from her outstretched hand. “Ten thousand dollars?” Her hazel eyes grew wide. “I can't take your bonus. You earned it, not me.”

“You need it more than I do.”

She cocked her head to the right. “Did you win the lottery or something?”

“No, but I signed on to work with Rashad J, and the pay's incredible. We had our first session yesterday, and even though he's difficult, I'm up for the challenge.”

Jocelyn squealed like a five-year-old girl at Disney World. “Rashad J! Wow, that's awesome. I love his new single, ‘Heaven in Your Eyes.'”

Yeah, I like it, too
.
Every time I hear it on the radio, I think of Emilio.

“I'm so happy for you! Before you know it, you'll be
the
life coach to the stars, and celebrities will be beating down your door for a private session.”

“I don't want to be famous. I just want to help my clients discover their life's purpose,” Sharleen said, speaking from the heart.

“I don't know when I'll be able to pay you back. It could be months from now.”

“Jocelyn, it's a gift. No strings attached.”

Her lips moved soundlessly, and unshed tears filled her eyes. “I can't believe this. Yesterday, I didn't know how I was going to pay my mom's medical bills, and now I have enough money to pay off the balance.”

“You've been an amazing friend and colleague, and this is my way of saying thank you.”

“I love you, girl. You're the best.”

The doorbell rang, and Jocelyn jumped to her feet.

“I'll pay for the pizza,” she said, with a cheeky grin. “It's the
least
I can do!”

Sharleen picked up the remote control and flipped channels. On the sports channel she saw a commercial for the World Series Racing All-Star Race, and she leaned forward in her seat. Her eyes were glued to the picture on the screen of Emilio. His five o'clock shadow and brooding gaze gave him a mysterious air, and he looked drop-dead sexy in his red-and-white fitted coveralls. He'd been training with his team for weeks, and Sharleen was surprised by the changes in his personality. He smiled more, laughed more and constantly cracked jokes about his grumpy pit-crew boss.

“Girl, get in here quick!”

Startled by the urgency in Jocelyn's tone, Sharleen raced into the foyer. The first thing she noticed was all the shopping bags on the floor; the second was the wide-eyed expression on her friend's face. “What's going on?” Sharleen asked, dumbfounded.

“A delivery guy just brought all this inside and sped off in his truck. I tried to get his name, but he was gone in the blink of an eye.”

“Where did all these bags come from?”

Jocelyn pointed at the shiny purple logo on the top of the garment bags. “Fashion Starr, of course! And it looks like someone bought you their entire summer collection!”

Sharleen crouched and peeked inside the shopping bags. Jocelyn was right; there were thousands of dollars' worth of designer clothes, shoes and accessories.
The high-end boutique catered to socialites with money to burn—and tiny waistlines—so she was shocked to discover all of the outfits were in her size.

With Jocelyn's help, she carried the bags into her bedroom and dumped them on the bed.

“I feel like I've died and gone to retail heaven!” Jocelyn joked, carefully admiring each article of clothing. She picked up a striped, one-shoulder bathing suit and whistled. “Wow, this is
some
suit. You're going to be the sexiest woman at the beach this summer...”

Her thoughts returned to the conversation she'd had with Emilio, weeks earlier, about their trip to Miami, and Sharleen knew, without a doubt, that Emilio was behind the gift.

He'd gone to Fashion Starr, selected the clothes and arranged to have them delivered to her house.

Her gaze strayed to the clock on her nightstand. She wanted to call Emilio to thank him for the presents, but since she didn't want Jocelyn to hear their conversation, she decided to phone him later, after she dropped her friend at home.

“I knew Antwan had a crush on you, but I didn't realize he liked you
this
much.”

“Antwan didn't buy the clothes. Emilio Morretti did.”

“The Italian race-car driver you're coaching?”

Sharleen nodded, hid the smile threatening to explode onto her lips. “The one and only.”

“Holy Hannah!”

Jocelyn leaped to her feet, gripped Sharleen's shoulders and shook her like a rag doll. “Why didn't you tell me you were dating a living legend? How long has this been going on? Is Emilio a good kisser? Do you think he could be the one?”

Yes, and the more time we spend together the more I love him.

“Start talking,” Jocelyn ordered. “I want to hear everything.”

“Emilio's not my boyfriend—”

“Your eyes light up when you say his name.”

“I'm thrilled about the progress he's made the past couple months, that's all,” she said, avoiding her friend's gaze. “Our first few sessions were rough, but now he's opening up more, attending group therapy sessions and even reading self-help books.”