with a capital T.
Chapter Three
Miguel Galvez had expensive taste if his clothing and form of transportation were any indication. He’d put on a silk gray business suit with a black button down shirt and tie, while I’d opted to stay a little less formal with a light blue maxi dress.
This wasn’t a date, after all.
I raised an eyebrow when he led me toward a jet-black sports car of the three hundred thousand dollar variety.
“Nice,” I stated.
He shrugged. “Merely a rental. Every once in a while I like to throw caution to the wind.”
I thought his comment severely understated. This guy didn’t know the meaning of the word caution.
He opened the door, and then took my hand to help me in as naturally as if we’d been dating for months. I kept my face a blank mask when I felt a surge of adrenaline shoot through my system. I didn’t look at him, hoping that if I refrained from acknowledging the sparks zigzagging between us he would follow my lead.
I had a few seconds to relax my body a bit, as he rounded the front of the car. The minute he sat down and closed his door, I felt that lovely tension return like a heavy weight, closing in suddenly instead of gradually.
Neither one of us said a single thing for a few seconds, and the awkward silence became more pronounced when he didn’t move to start the car. I clenched my left hand in my lap and used my right to nervously pick some imaginary lint off my knee. I felt his fingers smooth out my fisted hand, and I turned my surprised eyes to his amused ones.
“You seem a bit tense, Analise. Your body always appears to be in a state of anxious preparation. As if you might flee the first chance you get. I hope I’m not the cause of your unease.”
I gave him a wan smile, and said the first thing that popped into my head.
“"Mr. Galvez, there isn’t a woman on this planet who could ever be completely at ease in your presence. There probably isn’t a woman on this planet who wouldn’t give their right kidney to actually be in your presence.”
His eyes widened in surprise, and then he laughed. “I love this about you. You never censor your comments. I would, however, prefer it if you called me Miguel.”
I gave myself a few mental slaps. I had no filter around this guy, but maybe it was better this way. Acknowledge my attraction for him, and move on.
“I suppose I could waste time pretending that this entire situation isn’t unusual, but I think we might feel more comfortable around each other if I just admit that sharing a room with a nice looking stranger is beyond awkward.”
He gave me a heart-stopping wink, and laced his fingers through my own. “Then I think in the spirit of making things less awkward, we should skip the inane chit chat, and begin discussing matters that are truly interesting. Such as, how nice your hand feels in mine and how that dress you’re wearing flatters all of your curves.”
My jaw dropped. “Did I mention that physical contact and shameless flattery are also on my list of things that make me uncomfortable?”
His smile grew wide as he kept his eyes locked on mine and lifted my hand to his lips, giving it a slow, gentle kiss that had my heart pumping as hard as if I’d just run a marathon.
“Would an entire week of scheduled dinner dates with me also rank top of your list?”
“Most definitely,” I croaked.
“Then consider yourself supremely uncomfortable and your evenings fully booked.”
My eyebrows shot to my hairline as he started the car, and threw it in gear.
The satisfied smirk on his face was more than adorable while simultaneously annoying as hell. He knew the affect he had on women, and I had merely played to his ego.
I’d met plenty of arrogant, domineering men in my lifetime, but I had a feeling that Miguel Galvez could give them all a run for their money. Normally, I’d be protesting his assumption that I had nothing better to do than eagerly accept dinner invites from someone as
Chapter Three
Miguel Galvez had expensive taste if his clothing and form of transportation were any indication. He’d put on a silk gray business suit with a black button down shirt and tie, while I’d opted to stay a little less formal with a light blue maxi dress.
This wasn’t a date, after all.
I raised an eyebrow when he led me toward a jet-black sports car of the three hundred thousand dollar variety.
“Nice,” I stated.
He shrugged. “Merely a rental. Every once in a while I like to throw caution to the wind.”
I thought his comment severely understated. This guy didn’t know the meaning of the word caution.
He opened the door, and then took my hand to help me in as naturally as if we’d been dating for months. I kept my face a blank mask when I felt a surge of adrenaline shoot through my system. I didn’t look at him, hoping that if I refrained from acknowledging the sparks zigzagging between us he would follow my lead.
I had a few seconds to relax my body a bit, as he rounded the front of the car. The minute he sat down and closed his door, I felt that lovely tension return like a heavy weight, closing in suddenly instead of gradually.
Neither one of us said a single thing for a few seconds, and the awkward silence became more pronounced when he didn’t move to start the car. I clenched my left hand in my lap and used my right to nervously pick some imaginary lint off my knee. I felt his fingers smooth out my fisted hand, and I turned my surprised eyes to his amused ones.
“You seem a bit tense, Analise. Your body always appears to be in a state of anxious preparation. As if you might flee the first chance you get. I hope I’m not the cause of your unease.”
I gave him a wan smile, and said the first thing that popped into my head.
“"Mr. Galvez, there isn’t a woman on this planet who could ever be completely at ease in your presence. There probably isn’t a woman on this planet who wouldn’t give their right kidney to actually be in your presence.”
His eyes widened in surprise, and then he laughed. “I love this about you. You never censor your comments. I would, however, prefer it if you called me Miguel.”
I gave myself a few mental slaps. I had no filter around this guy, but maybe it was better this way. Acknowledge my attraction for him, and move on.
“I suppose I could waste time pretending that this entire situation isn’t unusual, but I think we might feel more comfortable around each other if I just admit that sharing a room with a nice looking stranger is beyond awkward.”
He gave me a heart-stopping wink, and laced his fingers through my own. “Then I think in the spirit of making things less awkward, we should skip the inane chit chat, and begin discussing matters that are truly interesting. Such as, how nice your hand feels in mine and how that dress you’re wearing flatters all of your curves.”
My jaw dropped. “Did I mention that physical contact and shameless flattery are also on my list of things that make me uncomfortable?”
His smile grew wide as he kept his eyes locked on mine and lifted my hand to his lips, giving it a slow, gentle kiss that had my heart pumping as hard as if I’d just run a marathon.
“Would an entire week of scheduled dinner dates with me also rank top of your list?”
“Most definitely,” I croaked.
“Then consider yourself supremely uncomfortable and your evenings fully booked.”
My eyebrows shot to my hairline as he started the car, and threw it in gear.
The satisfied smirk on his face was more than adorable while simultaneously annoying as hell. He knew the affect he had on women, and I had merely played to his ego.
I’d met plenty of arrogant, domineering men in my lifetime, but I had a feeling that Miguel Galvez could give them all a run for their money. Normally, I’d be protesting his assumption that I had nothing better to do than eagerly accept dinner invites from someone as