skin
glowed, her senses peaked, her head swam, and her pelvis vibrated
every time she thought of Nico Sloan.
As Tai brought in the cardboard tray with
their lattes, she shifted her gaze from her co-workers to the front
office. “There’s a man here to see you, Rica” she announced. “The
same one from yesterday.” Her gaze bore into the designer with
fervent anticipation. “So, tell me, is he the one?”
Erica felt her heart skip several beats, and
then rev up and away. Had Nico managed to take a break and come by
just to see her?
“Thanks,” she acknowledged and headed for the
lobby with both Sacha and Tai right behind her. She tried not to
burst into the front office, but Erica couldn’t help her
exclamation of happiness.
“Nico! I—”
She stopped short. The man standing in front
of her resembled Nico Sloan in looks and build, but the fuller hair
with the side part and the darker clothing told her in otherwise.
This had to be Gianni, the less likable twin.
“Oh, hello there.”
“I know you weren’t expecting me,” Gianni
began as he stepped closer, “but I just wanted to stop by and find
out if you decided to take me on as a client. I assume my brother,
Nico, spoke to you yesterday.”
“Yes, yes, he did.”
“And?” Seating himself on the edge of Tai’s
desk, Gianni raised his brows in expectation.
“Well,” Erica sputtered as she searched for
something to say. Great! She did fine last night with her physical
repertoire, but when it came time for verbal sparring, she came up
short. Of course, Gianni’s surprise visit caught her off guard. She
drew up the nearest canvas and tubular chair and sat down. “You
see, I haven’t had time to give your project much thought. I barely
saw your apartment last night.”
“Oh, no problem. I just got into town, and I thought
I’d stop by. Your firm here is on my way from the airport. In
fact,” he chuckled lightly, “I haven’t even seen Maritza yet.”
As he spoke, Erica allowed her gaze to take
in his black form-fitting jeans, the gray lizard-skin boots, and a
navy blue sports jacket over a striped oxford shirt.
“So,” he continued, “can you spare a few
minutes?”
When Erica’s gaze flitted to the hall, she
caught Sacha and Tai darting back into the shadows. She quickly
returned her attention to her potential client. “Would you like to
come back to my office?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of a
cafe table and a cup of cappuccino.” Gianni brokered a wide smile
along with the invitation. “Of course, I do have an ulterior
motive. I’d like to talk to you... alone .”
“Oh, well, if it’s about any ruffled
feelings, believe me, there’s no ill will on my part. I thought
about your offer, and I’ve decided to take on the job. Your place
offers several design possibilities.”
“Great!” Gianni rose. “But the coffee offer
still stands.”
How could she possibly refuse? The other
Sloan brother seemed to put Erica in an awkward position. She could
hardly decline and explain why. Of course, she could say she had a
previous appointment, but that excuse sounded as flimsy as it had
on Sunday.
“All right,” she finally agreed. “I’ll just
get my purse.”
For the second day in a row, Erica would have
to forgo her takeout latte for a fresh-brewed encounter with an
attractive man. Of course, this one didn’t thrill her in the same
way his twin brother had, and would continue to do so as long as
Nico wanted to be with her.
Once outside, she donned her sunglasses and
allowed Gianni to escort her to a nearby Jaguar convertible, the
color of glossy cobalt. He had the top down, and when Erica slid
into the passenger seat, she savored the feel of the warm, burnt
umber leather against her bare arms.
“This is quite a car,” she commented as he
jumped in beside her and replaced his own wrap-around dark
glasses.
“I like her,” he returned and started the
engine, then roared away from the curb.
Erica hung on
glowed, her senses peaked, her head swam, and her pelvis vibrated
every time she thought of Nico Sloan.
As Tai brought in the cardboard tray with
their lattes, she shifted her gaze from her co-workers to the front
office. “There’s a man here to see you, Rica” she announced. “The
same one from yesterday.” Her gaze bore into the designer with
fervent anticipation. “So, tell me, is he the one?”
Erica felt her heart skip several beats, and
then rev up and away. Had Nico managed to take a break and come by
just to see her?
“Thanks,” she acknowledged and headed for the
lobby with both Sacha and Tai right behind her. She tried not to
burst into the front office, but Erica couldn’t help her
exclamation of happiness.
“Nico! I—”
She stopped short. The man standing in front
of her resembled Nico Sloan in looks and build, but the fuller hair
with the side part and the darker clothing told her in otherwise.
This had to be Gianni, the less likable twin.
“Oh, hello there.”
“I know you weren’t expecting me,” Gianni
began as he stepped closer, “but I just wanted to stop by and find
out if you decided to take me on as a client. I assume my brother,
Nico, spoke to you yesterday.”
“Yes, yes, he did.”
“And?” Seating himself on the edge of Tai’s
desk, Gianni raised his brows in expectation.
“Well,” Erica sputtered as she searched for
something to say. Great! She did fine last night with her physical
repertoire, but when it came time for verbal sparring, she came up
short. Of course, Gianni’s surprise visit caught her off guard. She
drew up the nearest canvas and tubular chair and sat down. “You
see, I haven’t had time to give your project much thought. I barely
saw your apartment last night.”
“Oh, no problem. I just got into town, and I thought
I’d stop by. Your firm here is on my way from the airport. In
fact,” he chuckled lightly, “I haven’t even seen Maritza yet.”
As he spoke, Erica allowed her gaze to take
in his black form-fitting jeans, the gray lizard-skin boots, and a
navy blue sports jacket over a striped oxford shirt.
“So,” he continued, “can you spare a few
minutes?”
When Erica’s gaze flitted to the hall, she
caught Sacha and Tai darting back into the shadows. She quickly
returned her attention to her potential client. “Would you like to
come back to my office?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of a
cafe table and a cup of cappuccino.” Gianni brokered a wide smile
along with the invitation. “Of course, I do have an ulterior
motive. I’d like to talk to you... alone .”
“Oh, well, if it’s about any ruffled
feelings, believe me, there’s no ill will on my part. I thought
about your offer, and I’ve decided to take on the job. Your place
offers several design possibilities.”
“Great!” Gianni rose. “But the coffee offer
still stands.”
How could she possibly refuse? The other
Sloan brother seemed to put Erica in an awkward position. She could
hardly decline and explain why. Of course, she could say she had a
previous appointment, but that excuse sounded as flimsy as it had
on Sunday.
“All right,” she finally agreed. “I’ll just
get my purse.”
For the second day in a row, Erica would have
to forgo her takeout latte for a fresh-brewed encounter with an
attractive man. Of course, this one didn’t thrill her in the same
way his twin brother had, and would continue to do so as long as
Nico wanted to be with her.
Once outside, she donned her sunglasses and
allowed Gianni to escort her to a nearby Jaguar convertible, the
color of glossy cobalt. He had the top down, and when Erica slid
into the passenger seat, she savored the feel of the warm, burnt
umber leather against her bare arms.
“This is quite a car,” she commented as he
jumped in beside her and replaced his own wrap-around dark
glasses.
“I like her,” he returned and started the
engine, then roared away from the curb.
Erica hung on
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