A Shot of Red (8 page)

Gio had heard rumors that Mia was favored by their father as much as Matthew was by their mother, although their dad hadn’t been as exclusive about it. Even so, it was obviously part of the conflict between Mia and her mom, although Gio sensed there was more to it than that.

Mia pulled the pick out of her drink and ate one of the olives, chewing slowly. She glanced up at him hesitantly. “What about you?” She lowered her eyebrows. “I wouldn’t take you for a mama’s boy, but you never know.”

A group of businessmen entered the bar and headed to the booths in back. Every one of them checked Mia out as they passed, and a couple of them leered. Gio had the sudden urge to put some of his boxing practice to good use.

“I’m a mama and daddy’s boy,” he said. “Only child.” Wouldn’t it have been nice for them to have had conversations like this before they slept together? Some people would call that old-fashioned, and he wouldn’t necessarily argue with them. “My folks live down in Naples, Florida.”

“Mmm…” she murmured. Gio had heard that sound before and awareness shot through him on recall.

He took a long sip of bourbon. “You been there?”

“Once. It’s gorgeous.”

They had so many serious issues to deal with—personal and professional—yet he couldn’t help but imagine her in a bikini on a Naples beach at sunset. His phone pinged with a text alert. No sooner had he pulled it from his belt than Mia’s phone chimed, too. They looked at each other curiously. She reached in her purse for her phone as Gio read the message from Secretary Dartmouth’s office.

Sharp increase in reporting of flu cases nationwide.

He glanced at Mia as she read what was likely the same message.

She met his gaze. “The TV appearances haven’t started, and people haven’t had much time to get vaccinated, but I feel kind of defeated already. Especially considering that the odds of an epidemic increase with every case.” She ate the last olive off the pick.

“I understand.” And he did. But he didn’t want to go over and over the issues they’d be talking about all day tomorrow, the next day, and for weeks to come. With her sitting in front of him, close enough to touch, his concern was with their issues right now. He wasn’t going to let their time slip away without asking the question that had tortured him for months.

Gio took a slug of Maker’s Mark and swallowed hard. “But there’s something else I don’t understand.”

She blinked a couple of times, then looked him in the eyes. “What’s that?”

“Why did you leave, Mia? Why’d you run?”

Chapter Eight

Mia’s heart raced. She’d expected Gio’s questions, she just hadn’t thought they would come right now—in a hotel bar that was becoming more crowded and louder by the minute. Answering him was going to be awkward regardless, but struggling to hear each other would only make it worse.

She glanced away from his piercing gaze. “I’d rather have this conversation in private.”

He nodded once. “There aren’t many
private
places we can go in New York City.” His tone was a little sharp, as if he thought she was putting him off. She wasn’t, as hard as that was for even her to believe. Mia wanted things settled between them.

His room and her room were private, but also dangerous considering the opportunities they offered. She quickly ticked off the pros and cons of each and decided she’d rather have the option to leave whenever she wanted.

“Think we could go to your room?” she asked.

His eyes widened, but only by a bit. Her proposition had sounded surprising to her, too, even though she’d known what she was going to ask. It wasn’t a come-on—and he seemed to get that—but it sure sounded like one. The last thing she needed to do in her tense emotional state was to get physically involved with him again. As difficult as he was to resist—if he was still into her—she couldn’t handle the extra complication right now. She had to focus on the dilemma Brent had left her in, and decide what to do about it. And she had to decide that alone. Even if she could trust Gio, she wouldn’t risk putting him in danger by involving him.

Regardless of her issues, he deserved answers. After she gave them to him, she’d make it clear that their night together had been the only one. Maybe he’d already moved on. Her heart thudded at the thought. It would be the best thing for him, but could she bear it if he had?

“That’ll work,” he said, revealing nothing in his tone. He signaled for the waiter, who brought the check. Gio paid for the drinks and generously tipped him. He led her out of the bar, possessively pressing his hand at the small of her back as they walked by a table full of businessmen who shamelessly stared at her. Without a word between them, they went upstairs, passing the business center on the way to his room. She breathed a little sigh of relief, figuring he must’ve just happened to catch her in there when he’d been headed that way earlier.

He opened the door to his room and they went inside. The decor was exactly like hers, with muted gold and taupe, and black accents. He walked over to the window that looked out at another New York City high-rise and closed the shade.

Mia watched every little move he made, unable to tear her gaze away from him. He captivated her even more than he had in her imagination, where he’d perpetually appeared unbidden during her time in Haiti. Now that she was back, was there any possibility things could work out between them? A spark of hope flickered and burned out as she thought about everything she’d have to hide from him, coupled with the fact that he worked for her mother. He’d be committing career suicide if he got involved with her.

She glanced around the room, seeing two options for a place to sit besides the bed. He offered her the upholstered chair then sat on the edge of the king-size bed. Despite his sheer size, his broad shoulders and strong jaw, she saw vulnerability in his eyes. Mia resisted the urge to go to him and explain herself with a kiss. She could practically taste the twinge of bourbon on his tongue. But kissing him would only raise more questions, and he was looking for answers.

“I needed a break from all the corporate politics at Moncure.” She swept her hand across her forehead and dragged it down her cheek, pushing her hair away from her face. “I needed to reassess where my life was headed.” This sounded exactly like what she’d said to Lila before she’d left, and what she’d said to Nora after she returned. But now she was talking to Gio. Could she bring herself to tell him more of the truth?

“So you don’t take my calls after…that night, and then you disappear for eight months?”

Mia deserved the harsh tone in his voice. “I handled it all wrong.” And she could make things even worse now. “Everything was so complicated.”

“That’s for sure,” he said. “I mean, I understood that things were complicated—you’d just broken up with Brent, I work for your mother under her zero-tolerance policy. But I was willing to take the risk. We could’ve at least tried to figure something out.” He sucked in a deep breath and blew it out loudly. “I meant everything I said to you that night. I don’t go around having one-night stands with women, and I certainly don’t go putting myself out there like I did with you.”

Mia tensed, struggling against her desire to take him in her arms and apologize with actions. “Me either. Not with anyone.” Tears pricked at the back of her eyes. “Not even with Brent.”

“Is that why you ran?”

She closed her eyes, finding it easier to gather her thoughts when she wasn’t looking at him. “Yes,” she whispered, gazing at him through the blur of tears. “And things with Brent were so awkward after I turned down his proposal—a lot of strain at work. It complicated everything.” She sank her teeth into her bottom lip. “I mean, I loved him, just not enough. I didn’t want to hurt him. But there was something missing between me and Brent.”

Gio set his jaw and stayed silent.

“But you.” She shook her head but her intense gaze never left him. “How could it have felt so real? I barely knew you—still don’t. I’d never experienced anything like that. I was just…” She searched for a word to explain it.

“You were just what?”

“Blindsided.”

His sultry stare sent heat pulsing through her. “That makes two of us.” He raked his hand through his hair. “Then and every day since.”

Mia’s heart clamored. He really had meant what he said. Had he been as tortured as she was since they’d been apart?

“I just couldn’t handle it all,” she said. “Professionally, I could’ve worked through things. But personally…I didn’t know what to do. I was afraid you regretted what we’d done—because of your job and my mother. Or maybe you were just that smooth and I’d fallen for a motorcycle ride and a seductive line.”

He narrowed his eyes, his lips turning down at the corners. “I can’t believe you would think that.”

“How would I have known? I had no idea what to think, since what happened with you had never happened to me before. I know that sounds incoherent, but that’s the best way I can explain it.” She leaned forward, propping her elbows on her knees.

“So you just cut out everyone?”

She nodded slowly. “Except my grandmother and Claude. It was a completely selfish move, but I justified it by pouring all my energy and emotion into helping the people in Haiti.”

Gio stood, walked over to the ottoman in front of her chair, and sat facing her—leaving just inches between them.

Mia’s breath hitched.

“All of your emotion?” He gazed at her with an irresistible look of vulnerability and desire.

“No,” she managed to say.

Gio leaned in even closer and she caught the sexy scent of bourbon on his breath. He cupped one hand at the back of her neck, and traced his fingertips along her cheek with the other. The tender look in his eyes gripped her heart. He lightly swept the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip, sending a sultry shiver through her. “Mia,” he whispered, and kissed her—tentatively at first, then with growing intensity.

She was instantly on fire for him. How many times had she imagined his kiss over the lonely months? The supple curves of his lips, the velvety wisps of his tongue, the sensuous scrape of his whiskers. He pulled away, and she pressed her lips together, already second-guessing another go-round with him. Because that’s where this was headed if she didn’t stop things now. She’d seen that look in his eyes before, and she knew where it could take her…somewhere she’d been longing to go ever since the last time he’d been in her bed.

That would make for an amazing night, but what about tomorrow?

“Don’t think ahead,” he said as if he’d read her mind, and leaned in close. “Just stay in the moment with me,” he whispered huskily, his breath warm on her ear. Her body tensed with need, her blood running hot. Gio fixed his dark gaze on hers. “Give us tonight.”

How could she deny him? How could she deny herself? One night…without inhibitions. He’d shown her how letting go could feel. She’d spent eight months running away from that feeling, too afraid to deal with it. But now things were different, and she was desperate to go there with him again.

Mia stood, took off her jacket, and tossed it over the back of the chair. She reached for his hand and he stood, towering over her even before she kicked off her heels. Her legs felt rubbery from nerves and the martini as she tugged him into the posh bathroom, opened the door of the oversize marble shower stall, and turned on the water. Catching on to her intent, Gio raised his eyebrows and absently licked his lips. That move did it for her. She drew him toward her and kissed him deeply, clutching the back of his neck with one hand and making quick time of the buttons on his shirt with the other. Stripping it off of him, she tossed it to the floor and backed away to get a full view of the body she’d pictured so many times in her mind, and longed to feel against hers.

Mesmerized, she swept her gaze over each defined ab, both tight pecs, and his smoothly muscled shoulders. Desire coursed through her as she stepped forward and kissed her way from his pecs down to the button of his jeans. His spicy scent sparked a flashback of their first time together and Mia quivered, anticipating the same sensual rush that had overtaken her before, feeling it coming on.

Gio drew her up to face him, his eyes fixed on hers. “God, Mia. Why did you ever leave?” He kissed her with longing as he quickly undressed her, strong hands grazing sensitive skin. Mia savored the promise of them lingering everywhere on her body. Within seconds he had her stripped down to her bra and panties.

Eager to see all of him again, she unbuttoned his jeans, which had tightened with his thick erection. She carefully lowered the zipper. Slipping her hands between the jeans and his boxer briefs, she grasped the curve of his butt, pushing his jeans to the floor and pulling him closer as he stepped out of them.

Steam rose from the shower, making everything gauzy and surreal. Gio kissed a trail down her neck as he reached behind her and unclasped her bra. Sliding his hands beneath the straps, he guided it down her arms and off of her with a velvety touch. Her breath caught as he backed her against the wall and cupped her breasts, his thumbs teasing her nipples into firm peaks. The sensation shot right between her legs, leaving her wet and wanting. A low moan vibrated in her throat.

He splayed his strong hands across her back and pressed her against him, kissing her with urgency. Her breasts strained against his solid pecs as she arched, her body tense, pulsing with heat. Gio grabbed the lacy band of her panties and tugged them down with one swift move, heedless of the delicate lace. They fell like feathers around Mia’s ankles. No sooner had she stepped out of them than Gio lifted her to straddle him, sucking in a sharp breath as his smoldering gaze swept hungrily over her body and settled on her eyes.

Mia could hardly stand the intensity as he slowly ground his hips against her, teasing her with the hard length beneath his boxer briefs. She tipped her head back, dizzy with desire. “Please…take those off,” she said breathlessly.

Gio brought his mouth down on hers, kissing her with abandon, growing even harder against her. He pinned her against the wall, took her face in his hands, and withdrew his lips, keeping his forehead pressed to hers. “Do you want me?”

She tugged at his briefs, desperate to free him, longing for him to fill her. “Yes.”

Gio grabbed her wrist with a sturdy grip, commanding her full attention. “Not just tonight?”

He had her where she’d longed to be—where she knew she belonged, even though she hadn’t admitted it to herself. Mia squeezed her eyes closed, aching for him, physically and emotionally. She kissed him tenderly, the satiny strands of his hair clutched between her fingers. Pulling away just enough to bring her mouth to his ear, she nipped at his earlobe and whispered. “Not just tonight…that would never be enough.”