Adrian sat down across from her. She averted her eyes. Having finished putting out several of the largest fires had the unfortunate side effect of giving her time to bring her attention back to how devastatingly attractive he was.
How was it possible for a man to look so sexy in something as simple as black pants and a dark green dress shirt? He’d left the top button undone, giving her the barest glimpse of the skin at the base of his throat. Had she kissed him there as they’d made love? Those minutes had been a pleasurable rush of silky caresses, hot skin and burning kisses as he’d moved inside her.
She took another drink of water, hoping to squelch the lust burning through her. She’d enjoyed working alongside him, brainstorming and laying out a plan for the future of Fox Vineyards. They’d ordered lunch in every day, discussing discounts at the winery’s event space for local businesses over Spanish delicacies like gazpacho and fried green peppers. The plan they’d eventually crafted had been so well done, it had left her with an incredible sense of pride.
Hard to believe that just recently she had felt like giving up control of the winery. It would have been like cutting off her own arm. But, seeing her dad grow more and more relaxed on their nightly conference calls, and seeing a future for Fox Vineyards she’d never thought possible, it had become clear to her that the sale was the best thing for the winery.
She closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the chair. “Thank you,” she said again.
“For what?”
The surprise in his voice was evident. She opened her eyes to see curiosity flicker across his sculpted face.
“I can see how this sale will help Fox Vineyards prosper. There’s a part of me that will always be sad that things didn’t go as I planned. But,” she added with a smile, “I haven’t enjoyed my work this much in years.”
“It’s I who should be thanking you,” Adrian replied. “We could have sold a lot of wine without you, but I doubt we’d have had the support we have now because of you.”
His compliment sent a cozy warmth spiraling through her and deepened her smile. “That means a lot.”
Adrian stood, turning his back on her to move to the windows. Her contentment dimmed a little. What would it be like if he opened up, took a risk and allowed himself to feel as she had these past few weeks? Would he still be the billionaire who broke hearts and eschewed commitment? Or would he find happiness in a relationship with someone he could trust? Someone like her?
She shook her head and stood up too. Her eyes landed on the Alhambra. The last rays of the setting sun illuminated the reddish hue of the outer walls of the fortress. “It’s so beautiful. Someone mentioned the gardens are incredible.”
A heartbeat later Adrian turned to her. “Let’s go.”
She blinked. “What?”
“To the gardens.”
“But it’s eight-thirty at night. Aren’t they closed?”
“They offer night tours. And even if they didn’t, my mother sits on the board and my father donates an obscene amount of money every year.”
She should say no. Common sense demanded that she decline, go back to Casa de Cabrera and crawl into bed. That would be a much smarter option than exploring a romantic garden at night with the only man she’d ever slept with.
“I’d love to.”
Thirty minutes later Adrian escorted Everleigh through the gardens adjacent to the historic palace. Ancient cypress trees spread their branches out against the backdrop of a darkening sky, where stars were blinking between the leaves like little diamonds. The look of wonder on her face as she gazed around made the late-evening sojourn more than worth the trip.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
“Sí.I once knew the Alhambra like the back of my hand.” Adrian felt Everleigh’s inquisitive gaze land on him. “Abuela Sofia brought me up here nearly every day one summer.”
“Was that the summer your mom lost the baby?”
His head snapped around, the cozy feeling of nostalgia disappearing under a splash of ice-cold reality. “How do you know about that?”
Instead of shrinking from his frigid tone, Everleigh held his gaze. “Your mother told me.”
“She what...?” Old wounds rose up, ugly and pulsing with pain.
“The day she brought theleches fritasto your office.”
For a moment he couldn’t breathe. Black spots clouded his vision. He turned away from Everleigh before he yelled at her. She didn’t deserve his wrath. How many times had he wanted to talk to his mother about how she’d abandoned him in his younger years—first after the loss of his sister and then when she’d focused all her attention on Alejandro and Antonio? He’d never blamed his brothers; they’d been babies. And his father had been distant ever since Adrian could remember. But his father had never dangled love and adoration in his face and then snatched it away in the blink of an eye.
“She’s been trying to buy her way back into my life for a long time,” he finally grated out.
“I don’t think that’s what she’s trying to do.”