Ocean of Love (13 page)

There was a knock on the door and she jumped
forward, expecting someone to enter.

“
Marissa, you alright?” His
deep voice was low on the other side of the door.

“
Absolutely. I’ll be out in
a minute.” She forced a bright banter to buoy her words. She
tightened her fingers on the faucet lever, releasing a trickle of
cold water.

She reached for a towel, holding the
terrycloth material under the stream, and wetting her fingertips.
She ran the cloth across her forehead. Her eyes shone brightly in
the mirror, bloodshot from a lack of sleep.

This deal would be closed tonight if the
seller responded. If not, then tomorrow. It was a good hunch that
Wyatt’s offer would be accepted. He had agreed to avoid low-balling
the seller, given the price had already been reduced. She’d be
surprised if a counteroffer were issued. The homework that Apex had
completed paved the way. Wyatt had turned out to be more than an
easy client, once he had all the facts. He didn’t require
financing, a sure-fire stumbling block in many property deals of
this magnitude, and all the more reason the seller would accept his
offer.

She should feel relief. Instead she
shivered, unsettled and unglued after that woman’s pronouncement.
She dried her trembling hands. It was as though her blood had
congealed from a dark premonition. No matter how hard she tried,
she couldn’t shake off the feeling.

Outside in the hall, she announced when he
came into view carrying an armful of red roses from their dinner,
“Let’s get this show on the road.”

“
Show me the digital dotted
line. All the documents in the folder are executed, signed, titled,
and dated.” He handed over the folder. She inhaled the infusion of
rose scented air.

“
Those are the loveliest
shade of red,” she murmured.

“
And all yours.” He
smiled.

On the way to her car, they spoke about the
minor details of his land purchase, yet with each step, the tension
she felt tightened.

“
The title company has
secured a time tomorrow afternoon. I’ll send the date of the
15
^th
along with the closing package to your attorney,” she said,
forcing lightness into her voice.

“
Can you make certain on
getting the permits? We’ll break ground next month.”

“
I haven’t forgotten. Two
weeks? I’ll push them through.” She was aware that his arm brushed
against hers.

She clicked her automatic key fob. Her trunk
lights blinked, glaring red across the parking lot. She removed the
tablet and powered up the computer. The screen illuminated in her
hands.

“
Here, I’ll trade you.” She
set the tablet on her trunk and handed Wyatt a stylus.

She took hold of the flowers, admiring each
brilliant blossom. She peered over at Wyatt as he stood with one
foot on her bumper, leaning over her car hood, flipping through the
pages of the contract, initialing each client box, and finally, at
the end, effortlessly signed his name, committing to a
million-dollar investment.

“
Happy Valentine’s Day,” he
said, holding out the tablet.

“
Likewise,” she
whispered.

Their eyes locked, tearing at her ability to
resist him. She yearned for him to come closer. Suddenly, she
remembered Sinclair. Her boss would be waiting for confirmation and
a copy of the property contract.

“
We need to forward the
contract to Apex.” She set the roses and the tablet back on the
trunk of the car. Her fingers shook as she typed. “With a few quick
moves your offer is now in route.”

“
I’m more than satisfied
with your abilities,” he spoke in voice that got under her
skin.

She powered off the computer, realizing this
was it. She’d done what Wyatt had asked of her. He moved nearer,
the presence of his body sent a blanket of heat slithering across
her skin. His breath flowed over her neck and face as he bent his
head toward her mouth.

A valet sprinted into the garage. The
clatter of his feet made them both step apart.

“
Can you hold the flowers
for a second?” She lifted the trunk and set the tablet back into
her attaché case.

“
You really came through
for me.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I think we make a
good team.” Admiration and something glittery shone in his eyes,
beckoning her to take a chance.

She looked away, not wanting to get swept
back into the fiery desire that skittered within her body.
“Sinclair said you were staying next door. Did you drive or
walk?”

“
Walked. How about a night
cap to celebrate?”

“
Oh, I don’t know. It’s
getting late.”

Every cell in her body screamed and burned
to go with him. Glancing at her car, this parking space was beyond
what she required. The spot was selected to provide her with the
ability to move between the building and the sidewalk for her
moonlit swim. Her beach bag was already stashed outside the wooden
privacy fence that ran along the restaurant on the opposite side,
far away from Wyatt’s villa. A nearly perfect spot, except it was
still early. Too soon to dive naked into the ocean.

“
Just one drink. What are
your plans tonight anyway? Marissa, join me for one drink.” His
seductive voice was too tempting to resist any longer.

“
How about if we walk to
your place?” she asked.

She’d done her duty to Apex and hadn’t
folded before the contract was signed. For all practical purposes,
their business was only one day from being complete—if that.

One drink and she’d be out the door into the
crisp, dark waves, unbolting this iron padlock on her sense of
peace. After tonight, she’d have another month before she needed to
worry about her next moonlit swim.

Tomorrow would be a real cause for
celebration. She pulled at her collar; even in the cool breeze, she
felt sticky and scorched.

“
Come then.” Wyatt held out
his hand to her. “I’ll take the flowers.”

A small gesture. And one she couldn’t laugh
off. All this was terribly new. The end of an evening, joining a
man for a drink, alone in his home. She had side-stepped a few
gentlemen’s evening kisses, more from disinterest than from fear
that something would happen.

Not so with Wyatt. She knew one false move
and she’d be overpowered to resist her own urges. Too late now. He
laced her fingers between his strong ones. They moved from the lot
onto the sidewalk and stopped in front of the private gate.

“
What a place?” she
murmured, unable to contain her smile. A tucked-away gem—the house
sat back from the road, not far, and holding onto the gate, she
admired the layout of a lovely formal garden.

“
Wait until you see the
inside. The owner traveled extensively and surrounded himself with
trinkets. He had the inside renovated from the 1920s.”

“
The owner is something of
a South Beach icon. He has another house over by the golf course
and a few condos here and on Key Biscayne. Now he’s living on
Bimini.”

“
And how do you know that?
Have you been here before?”

She eyed the villa housed between a block of
modern houses, townhomes, and two sleek restaurants; the street
wasn’t busy, and all the more reason she couldn’t give up the idea
of a swim tonight.

She swung around to face him. “No. He’s
tight with Sinclair. But I’ve never been here.”

Here he went again. That same expression,
just like when he’d asked about the structural engineer. Too much
to interpret. Tomorrow, she’d be mistress of her emotions, not out
of sorts, and near-crazy from primal urges that Wyatt provoked. She
sincerely hoped, more uncertain than convinced.

He keyed in the security code and pushed
open the pedestrian side gate. Inside, a fountain pattered with
spurts of water. Low lighting filled the tropical garden along the
paved walk up to the front of the house. The garden and his face
were shadowed with the moon hiding behind a patch of clouds.

For a moment, she felt his hands brush past
her arm, teasing and tingling her senses. All too soon the front
door swung open and low, adagio, exotic strains of musical notes
filled the entryway. Sconces lit the foyer, casting light into the
hall over a checker-board marble floor. A gilded banister ran
upstairs from the foyer. Marissa hesitated, uncertain if she was
ready for this part of the evening.

“
After you.” Wyatt turned
to wait for her to enter ahead of him. He followed close behind
her, stopping to shut the door. The snick of hardware locking
resounded inside the hall. Rebounded inside her body.

“
Our business is done. The
purchase is done. What I agreed to—correct?” He stilled, his
expression had become all-too-serious. He laid the flowers on the
entry side-table.

“
The closing is officially
the end. But from my vantage point … yes. Sinclair will attend the
closing with you as you requested.” She struggled to keep a quaver
at bay.

“
I’ve no intention of going
to a closing. That’s the purpose of my financial staff. To be
blunt, it’s the reason I choose someone such as Sinclair and
brought along Hannah. I trust them and I’m asking point blank,
regarding business and transactions. You and I are done in that
realm?”

“
The seller might refuse
your offer.”

“
Do you genuinely think so?
No, I believe your advice was well-seasoned. He hasn’t got another
offer on the table. And considering our cash offer, the interest
alone for the next thirty days is a well-planned lure. Sure the
seller could counter. I could walk. The seller doesn’t know my
position and I trust you that you haven’t sought to bump up the
selling price. Knowing what I do, I doubt anyone would risk waiting
for another buyer’s offer and possibly risk some financing
fiasco.”

“
Don’t forget, the property
has just been listed.”

“
Sweetheart, you know as
well as I do, the owner will respond. I give him less than an hour
to accept.” He pulled out his phone and pressed some numbers.
“Sinclair, I need a favor. Call the seller and find out where my
offer stands. I want an answer in ten minutes. I don’t expect any
problems and make certain none exist.”

She admired his take-charge attitude. Now,
it was easy to admit his commanding nature really was one of his
most attractive characteristics when she watched him in action.
Funny how in the beginning, it wasn’t. The man expected results,
and his reputation said he always got what he wanted.

Marissa smiled to herself. She picked up a
small porcelain vase, contemplating the fine detail. Victor’s villa
was astounding. She’d expected outlandish and the whole house was
beyond elegant and refined. She looked up by chance, nearly
catching her breath. Wyatt had just set down his phone. He waited
in the hallway. Shadows lazily came and went across his handsome
features, feral in the dark. He unabashedly studied her. Isn’t this
how they had started out today?

Again, she refused to be unnerved. She
glanced around the living room. “The house is stunning, just as you
described. Do you like staying here?”

The room opened up beyond the hall, the
well-appointed living room with plush furniture, artwork, and vases
of fresh flowers. A rich sensuality infused the ambiance of the
house.

“
I do now. More than you
can imagine.” He voice hung in the air.

He came to her, taking hold of her wrist,
and drew her over the floor, stopping in front of the sofa. He
smoothed the hair from her face, rubbing his thumb along her jaw,
tormenting her millimeter by millimeter. This time she didn’t bite
her lip but relaxed her mouth, willing something sexy to come
out.

“
There’s no need to keep
hiding. Marissa, I want you. I’ve done what you requested. When
Sinclair calls back with the seller’s acceptance, you won’t be able
to hide behind the loophole of being my business acquaintance,
sweetheart. No longer forced apart by reports and contracts or your
sense of professional ethics.”

“
Pony up. Is that what
you’re basically saying?”

“
No
pony
. Just you. Only you.” His face
loomed before her, his lips hovered above her mouth, his breath
swept over her face. He lightly kissed her. She tumbled into the
sensation of his mouth upon hers, and the heat pouring off his
body.

“
Drink?” He whispered
against her lips. “I promised you a nightcap. And we need a vase
for the flowers.”

“
In the kitchen? Do you
want me to get one?”

“
No, just make yourself at
home. What would you like to drink?”

Whatever you’re having.” Her own rapid
heartbeat clouded her thinking. She visually followed his progress
down the hall. Alone in the elaborate room, she moved toward the
terrace doorway. He’d just left the doors wide open. She shook her
head. Who in this day and age did such things? Stepping outside,
she marveled at the patio and yards of beach in front of her. The
moonlight reflected from the water and sand, even the powder-coated
furniture gleamed. Her body didn’t know which way to turn—back
toward the house or run headlong into the ocean. Marissa’s
heartbeat struck hard and heavy.

Wyatt’s voice tangled in
her thoughts and drew her. She wanted him, glancing back at the
waves.
Soon
was
all she thought, fighting the roil in her bloodstream.