her eye couldn’t stay in one spot. Each window and entry was trimmed in bright red that matched the tiled roof. The expansive front porch was held in place by four impressive columns that poured over the circular drive and supported a shaded arch.
They’d barely pulled to a stop when a tall, athletically built man sauntered down the wide stairway with a movie star white smile and a relaxed wave.
“Bartow?” she whispered, as if he could hear them from their vehicle.
“The one and only.” Even Omar sounded impressed.
“I’ll tame my inner shark until formal introductions are made.” No matter how much she wanted to watch Omar squirm, she’d get a feel for the place first.
“I’m thankful for that miracle.”
“Well, I might have to take one small bite.” Devi leaned close and kissed him on the cheek as he slid the car into park. She grinned and then swiped the smudge of lipstick from his skin, making sure to let her fingers slide along his jaw in a light caress. She turned him toward her with one finger and winked. Even though she had her shades on, she knew he could easily see her eyes at this distance.
“Remember, newly engaged. We’re bound to be all perky, playful, and full of lip-locks,” she whispered. Then she playfully bit the air. “Shark bite.”
Omar grabbed her arm and his lips lifted in a devilish grin. He didn’t break eye contact as he turned her wrist skyward and touched his warm mouth to her skin. He flicked his tongue across her pulse point. She could feel his smile when her heart raced.
She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. For the millionth time this week she wondered just what she’d gotten herself into as a shot of heat, followed by thousands of pinpricks, shot up her arm.
Omar tilted his head to the side. “Touché. I just want you to know I can dish it out as well as take it.”
“You’ve been practicing.” Devi’s voice came out rushed and breathless. How had he gone from that awkward hug on the sidewalk to making her body hum and purr with the lightest pressure of his mouth on her wrist?
“You wanted real, didn’t you? Don’t underestimate me when I want something. And I want this contract.”
And I want you. She coughed, almost choking on her thoughts. Instead she managed to choke out, “Lesson learned.” As if she didn’t already know he always got what he wanted. She pulled her hand from his and wrapped her fingers around the strap of her purse.
“I hope I’m not interrupting.” The older man’s grin encompassed them both. “Welcome, Omar. Although I was surprised you agreed to join us, I’m glad you did. I’m looking forward to getting to know both of you.”
Omar shook Mr. Bartow’s hand as he stepped from the car, a flash of a frown furrowing his brows briefly. “I’m glad—we’re glad to be here. The drive up to your house is impressive.”
The comment about Mr. Bartow being surprised they’d want a chance to work with him didn’t go unnoticed by Devi, either. Why wouldn’t Esterly want the chance to take him on as a client? She planted a smile on her face, but made a mental note to ask Omar about it later.
Mr. Bartow turned toward her. “And this must be Devi.” He engulfed her hand in both of his and met her gaze. His suntan—one he’d definitely acquired from being outside—paled a little, but he quickly replaced it with a wide smile. “And I understand that congratulations are in order. Newly engaged? Lots to do in planning a wedding I’ve heard.”
Again an odd sensation traveled the length of Devi’s back. The look he’d met her with had her wondering if she’d dressed too casual, forgotten to wear deodorant, or if he’d decided on the spot he didn’t like her. She shook off the impression and swallowed her nervous laugh.
Where had her confidence gone? She’d always taken life by the horns and lived in the moment, and she definitely didn’t worry about what others thought of her. You either liked her or you
They’d barely pulled to a stop when a tall, athletically built man sauntered down the wide stairway with a movie star white smile and a relaxed wave.
“Bartow?” she whispered, as if he could hear them from their vehicle.
“The one and only.” Even Omar sounded impressed.
“I’ll tame my inner shark until formal introductions are made.” No matter how much she wanted to watch Omar squirm, she’d get a feel for the place first.
“I’m thankful for that miracle.”
“Well, I might have to take one small bite.” Devi leaned close and kissed him on the cheek as he slid the car into park. She grinned and then swiped the smudge of lipstick from his skin, making sure to let her fingers slide along his jaw in a light caress. She turned him toward her with one finger and winked. Even though she had her shades on, she knew he could easily see her eyes at this distance.
“Remember, newly engaged. We’re bound to be all perky, playful, and full of lip-locks,” she whispered. Then she playfully bit the air. “Shark bite.”
Omar grabbed her arm and his lips lifted in a devilish grin. He didn’t break eye contact as he turned her wrist skyward and touched his warm mouth to her skin. He flicked his tongue across her pulse point. She could feel his smile when her heart raced.
She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. For the millionth time this week she wondered just what she’d gotten herself into as a shot of heat, followed by thousands of pinpricks, shot up her arm.
Omar tilted his head to the side. “Touché. I just want you to know I can dish it out as well as take it.”
“You’ve been practicing.” Devi’s voice came out rushed and breathless. How had he gone from that awkward hug on the sidewalk to making her body hum and purr with the lightest pressure of his mouth on her wrist?
“You wanted real, didn’t you? Don’t underestimate me when I want something. And I want this contract.”
And I want you. She coughed, almost choking on her thoughts. Instead she managed to choke out, “Lesson learned.” As if she didn’t already know he always got what he wanted. She pulled her hand from his and wrapped her fingers around the strap of her purse.
“I hope I’m not interrupting.” The older man’s grin encompassed them both. “Welcome, Omar. Although I was surprised you agreed to join us, I’m glad you did. I’m looking forward to getting to know both of you.”
Omar shook Mr. Bartow’s hand as he stepped from the car, a flash of a frown furrowing his brows briefly. “I’m glad—we’re glad to be here. The drive up to your house is impressive.”
The comment about Mr. Bartow being surprised they’d want a chance to work with him didn’t go unnoticed by Devi, either. Why wouldn’t Esterly want the chance to take him on as a client? She planted a smile on her face, but made a mental note to ask Omar about it later.
Mr. Bartow turned toward her. “And this must be Devi.” He engulfed her hand in both of his and met her gaze. His suntan—one he’d definitely acquired from being outside—paled a little, but he quickly replaced it with a wide smile. “And I understand that congratulations are in order. Newly engaged? Lots to do in planning a wedding I’ve heard.”
Again an odd sensation traveled the length of Devi’s back. The look he’d met her with had her wondering if she’d dressed too casual, forgotten to wear deodorant, or if he’d decided on the spot he didn’t like her. She shook off the impression and swallowed her nervous laugh.
Where had her confidence gone? She’d always taken life by the horns and lived in the moment, and she definitely didn’t worry about what others thought of her. You either liked her or you
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