thing.” The bartender moved away and the woman glanced over at him, her dark eyes widening in shock. A blush tinged her caramel cheeks and Alejandro knew that she recognized him but didn’t want to admit it.
“You slipped out,” he said, not looking at her, keeping his gaze fixed on the rows of bottles behind the bar.
“Pardon?” she said, her voice quivering a bit.
He turned to her. “You slipped out of the show at your friend’s villa.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She fidgeted with the stem of her wine glass. He leaned over and caught the scent of coconut in her dark hair and he drank it in.
“Ah, but you do, mi tesoro,” he whispered in her ear.
The bartender brought him the mineral water and Alejandro paid him. He picked up the highball glass and took a sip, watching her as she fidgeted, obviously uncomfortable in his presence.
“Well, perhaps I was mistaken. Have a good night.” He turned to walk away.
“Why would it matter?” she asked.
He turned. “Why would what matter?”
“You noticing me leaving.”
“Yes, I did.”
“I’m sure women leave you...” She cleared her throat. “I’m sure they leave your shows all the time.”
Alejandro sat back down. “Not my shows.”
She snorted and he was enchanted. “You’re awfully arrogant.”
“I have every right to be. I’m good at what I do.” He winked at her and she smiled. He was getting through the walls she’d built up. Not that he knew why she’d built such impenetrable walls, but he knew when he’d been dancing for her that she’d been keeping a part of herself locked away and that was very intriguing to him.
Why would she hide herself away?
“So you’re telling me that in a nightclub you notice if people come and go?”
“No, I’m not saying that.”
“You just did!” Then she imitated him. “‘Not my shows.’”
He chuckled. It was sexy the way she tried to get her high voice to deepen. Her brow furrowed and her lips pursed a bit when she did it. “That’s a very good impression.”
She blushed again. “So are you denying you said that?”
“No, I’m not, just that I don’t dance in nightclubs, which is a polite way of saying strip clubs.”
She pushed back an errant strand of her inky-black hair. “Strip clubs, then.”
“I don’t dance in strip clubs. I used to dance in samba bars, but the clothes stayed on. Now my services are primarily hired for private sessions like tonight. I’m that good. Women are willing to pay my agent whatever I desire.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re laying it on thick. No one is that good.”
“I am. I take pride in my work. Don’t you take pride in your work?”
“I do. In fact, I’m one of the best there is.”
He cocked an eyebrow, even more intrigued, and he couldn’t help but wonder what else she was good at. “Really?”
“Yes. Which is why I left the party early. Work is that important to me. I had things to look over.”
“Then how do you unwind?”
“Unwind? What is this mythical thing you’re talking about?” she teased.
Alejandro couldn’t help but laugh. His older brothers often teased him about working too hard, never relaxing. Only he didn’t really feel like he had the right to unwind. He had to work hard. He had too much to live up to.
“Perhaps you’re right. For those of us dedicated to what we do, there is no down time. Also, there is no perfection until all parties are satisfied, and I don’t think you were satisfied with my performance.”
And the blush tinged her cheeks again. “I’m sorry for walking out.”
“Then allow me to show you what you missed.”
What’re you doing?
“What?” she said, her voice hitching. “I don’t have that... I don’t even know your name. I can’t go off with a stranger.”
Alejandro reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his business card.
“My name is Alejandro. There is all my business information. I’m fully bonded. I take my work seriously and wouldn’t jeopardize that. I dance. That’s all. I’m not a gigolo and nothing untoward would happen. It’s hands-off.”
She took the card. “Why do you want me to go with you?”
“Like I said, I don’t like leaving a customer unsatisfied.” He held out his hand. “Your friend paid me to put on a good show for her bridal party. Please let me finish it.”
Never had he ever approached a customer, but it bothered him that she’d walked out of his performance. Or maybe it was the fact he thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen someone so beautiful.
Either way, he waited with bated breath for her answer, expecting her to say no.
She drank down the rest of her wine. “I’m probably crazy, but this is Vegas and what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?”
His pulse thundered between his ears as he held her soft, delicate hand in his. “Absolutely.”
Five years later. Miami, spring
“YOU KNOW YOU MARRIED the ugly brother, right?” Alejandro was teasing his new sister-in-law Saoirse Murphy on her marriage to his brother. His ugly brother.
Saoirse, a fiery Irish beauty, had recently married Santiago, who was rolling his eyes as Alejandro and the twins, Rafe and Dante, joined in the good-natured ribbing. They were all the “ugly brothers,” but right now Santi was taking the heat because he’d been the first of the Valentino brothers to take the plunge and marry.
“It’s your fault,” Santi shouted, pointing at Dante and Rafe. “You two are the elders. You should be married already, then I wouldn’t be getting this teasing from the baby.”
Alejandro chuckled and moved out of the line of fire. He knew Dante and Rafe didn’t like to be referred to as the elders, but Santi and he had always done that behind their backs.
The
