I’m much of a challenge.”
She was a novice and Javy was the expert when it came to flirting, dating, making love…She didn’t stand a chance, and if she were smart, she’d run in the opposite direction. But she sat frozen, caught in the spell he wove with his voice, his touch, the slumberous burn in his dark eyes. When Emily finally found the strength to move, she didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned forward, melting into the heat of his hand.
“Javy…” Her stuck-in-the-throat whisper was barely audible over the cheers of the crowd and the loud music, but Emily heard another female voice, clear as day, calling out his name.
Startled, she turned in time to see a gorgeous brunette weaving her way in time with the music through tables and chairs and groups of people to reach Javy’s side. The woman turned more than a few heads as she brushed by several guys, most of whom did double takes at her thick mane of chestnut hair, wide smile and feminine curves, readily displayed by a lollipop-red tank top and denim skirt.
“Monica!” Javy rose and greeted the woman with a smile and a kiss on the cheek. “It’s good to see you! How long has it been?”
“Has to be six months, right? Your family’s Christmas party,” said the woman.
“Was that the last time?” He shook his head, a look of nostalgia, and…something else, which Emily couldn’t identify, crossing his features.
What was it? she wondered. Sorrow over the way things had ended? Sympathy for leaving another broken heart in his wake? She didn’t know Javy well enough to read the subtleties of his expression, but she did know his reputation.
“I heard about the restaurant.” Concern shone in the woman’s eyes. “How long do you think you’ll be shut down?”
“Not long. As soon as the damage is repaired, we’ll be up and running again,” Javy replied.
“I bet Maria’s glad about that,” Monica said, the warmth in her voice taking Emily by surprise.
Emily knew she had a strike against her as far as Maria was concerned, thanks to her past with Connor. She also assumed Javy’s mother didn’t believe any woman was good enough for her son, so she tried not to take Maria’s criticism personally. But Monica’s obvious affection for the older woman spoke of a close enough relationship to make Emily reconsider.
“Speaking of my mother, it’s a good thing she’s not here, or she’d be smacking me for forgetting my manners,” said Javy. “Monica, I’d like you to meet Emily Wilson. Emily, this is Monica Carter, an old friend.”
Emily wasn’t exactly sure of proper etiquette when introduced to an ex-girlfriend while on a date—if this was a date—but Monica merely smiled and held out her hand. “Hi. Nice to meet you,” she said, without showing the least bit of reaction at being introduced as an “old friend.”
But then again, hadn’t Javy used that same term when he’d told his cousin about her? Which, Emily supposed, answered her unasked question from earlier that evening. Maybe Javy did kiss all his friends the way he kissed her.
“It’s…nice to meet you, too,” Emily replied a little weakly to the brunette’s easygoing greeting.
Six months down the road, if she ran into Javy with another woman, he’d no doubt refer to her as an old friend, as well. And Emily could only hope she would respond with as much casual and carefree grace as Monica Carter had.
Emily pulled up to the town house the next morning and breathed a sigh of relief. The place was exactly as she remembered and just as charming in daylight as it had been the evening before.
She was meeting Javy’s cousin, and Anna had sounded so excited, not only about a possible sale, but about the fact that Emily had liked one of the houses. Her enthusiasm was exactly what Emily needed, since her parents, whom she’d also asked to meet her at the town house, weren’t likely to be as thrilled.
“This is what I want,” she whispered as she cut the
She was a novice and Javy was the expert when it came to flirting, dating, making love…She didn’t stand a chance, and if she were smart, she’d run in the opposite direction. But she sat frozen, caught in the spell he wove with his voice, his touch, the slumberous burn in his dark eyes. When Emily finally found the strength to move, she didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned forward, melting into the heat of his hand.
“Javy…” Her stuck-in-the-throat whisper was barely audible over the cheers of the crowd and the loud music, but Emily heard another female voice, clear as day, calling out his name.
Startled, she turned in time to see a gorgeous brunette weaving her way in time with the music through tables and chairs and groups of people to reach Javy’s side. The woman turned more than a few heads as she brushed by several guys, most of whom did double takes at her thick mane of chestnut hair, wide smile and feminine curves, readily displayed by a lollipop-red tank top and denim skirt.
“Monica!” Javy rose and greeted the woman with a smile and a kiss on the cheek. “It’s good to see you! How long has it been?”
“Has to be six months, right? Your family’s Christmas party,” said the woman.
“Was that the last time?” He shook his head, a look of nostalgia, and…something else, which Emily couldn’t identify, crossing his features.
What was it? she wondered. Sorrow over the way things had ended? Sympathy for leaving another broken heart in his wake? She didn’t know Javy well enough to read the subtleties of his expression, but she did know his reputation.
“I heard about the restaurant.” Concern shone in the woman’s eyes. “How long do you think you’ll be shut down?”
“Not long. As soon as the damage is repaired, we’ll be up and running again,” Javy replied.
“I bet Maria’s glad about that,” Monica said, the warmth in her voice taking Emily by surprise.
Emily knew she had a strike against her as far as Maria was concerned, thanks to her past with Connor. She also assumed Javy’s mother didn’t believe any woman was good enough for her son, so she tried not to take Maria’s criticism personally. But Monica’s obvious affection for the older woman spoke of a close enough relationship to make Emily reconsider.
“Speaking of my mother, it’s a good thing she’s not here, or she’d be smacking me for forgetting my manners,” said Javy. “Monica, I’d like you to meet Emily Wilson. Emily, this is Monica Carter, an old friend.”
Emily wasn’t exactly sure of proper etiquette when introduced to an ex-girlfriend while on a date—if this was a date—but Monica merely smiled and held out her hand. “Hi. Nice to meet you,” she said, without showing the least bit of reaction at being introduced as an “old friend.”
But then again, hadn’t Javy used that same term when he’d told his cousin about her? Which, Emily supposed, answered her unasked question from earlier that evening. Maybe Javy did kiss all his friends the way he kissed her.
“It’s…nice to meet you, too,” Emily replied a little weakly to the brunette’s easygoing greeting.
Six months down the road, if she ran into Javy with another woman, he’d no doubt refer to her as an old friend, as well. And Emily could only hope she would respond with as much casual and carefree grace as Monica Carter had.
Emily pulled up to the town house the next morning and breathed a sigh of relief. The place was exactly as she remembered and just as charming in daylight as it had been the evening before.
She was meeting Javy’s cousin, and Anna had sounded so excited, not only about a possible sale, but about the fact that Emily had liked one of the houses. Her enthusiasm was exactly what Emily needed, since her parents, whom she’d also asked to meet her at the town house, weren’t likely to be as thrilled.
“This is what I want,” she whispered as she cut the
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