Read Online Private Acts by Delaney Diamond - Free Book Online Page B

put in it to keep you quiet.” At that moment, she saw the spark in his eyes. The need. The hunger underlying the teasing words. An answering heat unfurled inside of her. “Nothing to say?”
    “You took me by surprise.” Her voice sounded tight and strained. He didn’t play fair, and she was flirting with danger.
    “I have many more surprises in store for you, querida .”
    “You’re wasting your time.”
    “You’re so sure?”
    “One hundred percent. And you know what else I’m sure about? I’m not staying here another minute. Thomas is gone, and I’m leaving too.”
    “And who is this lovely young woman?”

    * * * *

    The hairs on the back of Miguel’s neck stood up when Esteban approached. He’d been so engrossed in his conversation with Samirah, he hadn’t noticed the program was at the halfway mark and a brief intermission.
    To his chagrin, Samirah blossomed under the compliment, her eyes filling with pleasure. Extending her hand, she said, “Samirah. Samirah Jamison.”
    Esteban took her hand. “I do not believe I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting you before.” To Miguel, he said in Spanish, “Where have you been hiding her?”
    “She speaks Spanish,” Miguel said in clipped English.
    “Even better.”
    Miguel’s attention focused on how the other man’s hands remained joined with Samirah’s. She laughed, a throaty, sensuous sound that jolted him from his daze. He liked the sound of her laugh, but he wanted it for himself. Had she ever laughed with him? He couldn’t remember an instance when she had.
    Esteban continued to hold onto her, his larger hands engulfing one of hers, lingering longer than was socially acceptable for new acquaintances.
    “Do you plan to hold her hand all night?” His irritated, gruff voice halted their one-on-one conversation like nails on a chalkboard.
    They both turned to him. Esteban’s eyes filled with surprise, but he let go. “Her hands are so soft, I forgot myself.”
    Miguel knew very well how soft her hands were. He imagined the rest of her body he hadn’t had the good fortune to explore the other night would feel the same way. Right now he needed to get control of the jealousy coursing through him. It was completely unfounded, and out of character when he considered this was his mentor, the man who’d taken him under his wing and been a father to him when he needed direction in his life.
    “I hope I will be able to speak to you again before the end of the evening. If not, it was my pleasure.” With a gallant bow and a mumbled comment to Miguel, Esteban left the two of them alone.
    “You weren’t very nice to your friend,” Samirah remarked.
    “And you were too nice.”
    “I was being polite, which seems to be a problem for you.”
    “It’s not a problem for me.”
    “Are you sure about that?”
    Miguel stepped closer and bent to her ear. The fragrance of her perfume filled his lungs, tightening the muscles of his neck. He wanted to fill his sheets with the same tantalizing smell. “My problem is with you and the way you smile and flirt with every man who comes within six inches of you.”
    Her eyes flashed with anger, but behind the flash he saw something else. Had he hurt her with his comment? Too late, he couldn’t retract it.
    “Flirting? Let me guess, you think I’m flaunting my…assets, too, don’t you?” She took a deep breath, fighting to keep her voice low and maintain her composure. “I’m sick and tired of you and everyone else who has a problem with me. Do you know how many times I’ve heard something similar? Stop. Tone it down. Stop being who I am, right? Because for some reason, it makes you uncomfortable.” She shook her head. “I don’t think so. I’m a social person, and I like making new friends. This is who I am, and I’m not changing for you or anyone else. If you don’t like it, too damn bad. It’s your problem, not mine.”
    “Keep your voice down,” Miguel said between gritted teeth as a few