Read Online Born Into Love by Catherine LaClaire - Free Book Online Page B

we’re in. A good man is still hard to find.”
     
    * * *
     
    Mercedes slid into a newly delivered chair and admired the fabric. “Great print.”
    Annie startled. “Hurry! Baby’s kicking.”
    Mercedes placed her hand on her sister’s belly. “I love it when he does this. Little guy’s going to be a soccer dude like his auntie.”
    Mercedes couldn’t think of a way to segue a transfusion into the conversation so she opted for a direct route. “I’m donating tomorrow.”
    “Great.”
    “Diego’s offered to take me to the clinic. Maybe I can arrange with the museum to officially change my hours so we’ll have one less concern.”
    “Think they’ll cooperate?”
    “I’ll ask.”
    “Got plans for the evening?”
    “I’m accepting Diego’s offer of a swim.”
    Annie perked up. “I guess hobnobbing with the elite suits you.”
    “He’s a gentleman and he’s kind.” Mercedes steamed veggies and set the oven to bake a frozen pizza. “Remy Procteur’s the low-life. I’m not going to let him catch me unprepared again.”
    Annie leaned closer. “Remy? Who’s he?”
    When Mercedes finished, Annie shook her head. “Just imagine what would’ve happened if you’d beaned him with one of those ancient pots.”
    “I’d’ve lost the opportunity of a lifetime and ruined something precious.”
    Annie yawned. “I’ll eat upstairs. This body wants to hit the sack. Let me know if anything interesting happens in that pool.”
    “Wait. How was Luz? You two get along?”
    “Yup. Sometimes she seems a bit spacey, but she makes me laugh.
    “Why?”
    “Nothing in particular. Just her ways. I think she forgot to send a fax.” Annie headed for the hall. “I told her there’s always tomorrow. Sleep tight.”
    Mercedes rooted through dresser drawers for another swimsuit. She found it and bent forward to adjust the red top. She tugged the bottom and grabbed another wrap. Strange thing about bikinis: on a crowded beach they didn’t attract much attention, but with a couple, alone? Another thing entirely.
    She fluffed her hair, grabbed a white beach towel from the linen closet on the first floor and walked to the back of the house looking forward to the onshore breeze. From the top of a dune, his house loomed huge. The upper floor had lights on and she wondered if he was changing into a swimsuit.
    The night swirled around her full of promise. Her stomach turned to hiccupping butterflies and her steps quickened as she followed the lighted path to his secluded back yard. Someone had left the gate open for her.
    But things were not as expected. No Diego.
    She glanced at her watch—-ten o’clock. Just when she started to rethink the visit, he stepped out of a shadow. The lanterns surrounding the pool snapped to life.
    “You scared me. I didn’t see you.”
    “Please forgive my tardiness.” He pointed to the pool area and the water lit from below. “You go ahead. I will join you shortly.”
    Mercedes eased onto a cushioned lounge chair. Diego hadn’t scanned her outfit. He’d looked into her eyes. It hadn’t been soul-searching. They’d both been caught off-guard.
    As the minutes ticked, she grew restless. Watching for movement at the windows facing the pool proved fruitless. The summer curtains, although made from a white gauzy material, didn’t allow for snooping. She called to the house. “I’m going in.”
    First the water chilled her, then cushioned. Buoyant, she took a few strokes and landed in middle of the pool waist-level. Diego came out of the house wearing trunks. He walked to the deep end.
    He offered the perfect blend of muscle on bone. In the soft patio lights his arms, legs and chest showed uncoerced definition. His proportioned legs left her with the impression he’d spent a lifetime on a bike.
    He dove in and slowly swam to her. “Do you always assess men so thoroughly?”
    “First time I’ve had a chance to. . . .”
    “Get acquainted?” He stood next to her.
    “Something like