Born Into Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

him down a wide hall into a room ten times the size of the yacht’s galley. Sparkling copper pots hung from a frame that dangled from the ceiling. Sage paint covered the walls. The floor tile formed a footpath in black and white. Formal and off-putting. The color scheme wreaked havoc with Diego’s complexion. And strangely enough, no scents filled the air, not spices or roasts or even detergent.
    “Know how to use the coffee maker?” she asked.
    He lifted an eyebrow. “All things are possible.”
    She feigned interest in the china cupboard while he read the machine’s instructions. There he stood. A confused famous collector trying to make coffee for her. Before the silence grew again and she leaped on top of him, Mercedes shifted into action. “Want to use these cups?” She indicated the vessels behind the glass directly in front of her.
    “Fine.”
    He hadn’t even looked. Too busy dropping coffee grains over the multi-colored granite counter. She watched his reflection in the glass. The guy needed a maid. Mercedes came to his aid with the milk and sugar and napkins but it had been a long search. By the time the heavy aroma of an exotic blend laced the air she’d readied the table.
    He stood by the counter and she sat across from him on a white cushioned stool. The coffee smelled delicious and she took a sip. He seemed to have forgotten his. “Do you take milk and sugar?” she asked.
    “No, plain is fine.”
    “Well, I’m a sugar fan.” She reached for the bowl and added a double dose. The square-shaped clock ticked, sounding like a metronome. For a few minutes she stared at his chest but longed to gaze into his eyes again.
    “Are you looking forward to working at the museum?”
    “Yes.” She found her courage and met his gaze. “I’m thrilled to be at the Pascuas. Saturday is your last exhibit. You must be excited.”
    “I am relieved. It is you who excites me.”
    She skirted his directness. “Tell me how you helped with the displays.”
    “I provided the pottery. Luz handles the tedium.”
    “You get the accolades?” His eyes flickered with bits of gold.
    “No. I remind people that I have nothing to do with the creative aspect of the gala. I am the least important person.”
    “You’re certainly the most humble.” A smile intensified the flashes of light in his eyes. She figured she’d better leave before his charm overpowered her. “Time to head home.” She placed the linen napkin on the counter.
    How had they reached her porch? She didn’t even have sand pricking her feet. He kissed her on the forehead. “Did you enjoy your adventure on the sea?”
    “Yes. I forgot about the danger.”
    He bowed. “Until tomorrow.”
    When she rested against the closed door, Mercedes shook her head. Diego brought out something new in her--feelings tinged with more intensity than she’d ever handled. Intuition told her he had not wanted the evening to end. Neither had she.
    In the bathroom mirror she checked her reflection expecting to see what? A giggly cliché? Gold sparkles in her eyes? She ditched her outfit for pink flannel pajamas and climbed into bed. She tucked the heavy cotton sheet around her as a comfort, but her mind stayed on the evening. Something about the yacht didn’t rest easy. The craft appeared beautifully decorated and plush, but the crew seemed strangely elusive, too quiet, like they weren’t there at all.
     

 
     
    Chapter 3
     
    “Master, time to rise.”
    Waking required several seconds--a process that reminded him of removing veils. When the last slipped away, he opened his eyes. Yet, on some animal level he was always aware that his companion was standing by his marble pallet. “What is the hour?”
    “Almost three in the afternoon, as you prefer. Your trip to the market and who knows what other activity drained you. Tonight I suggest you rehabilitate yourself with a quiet evening at home.”
    He flung to the side the white silk sheet that served as his latest