Embrace My Heart(60)

The matter was offset for a while, at least, when she spotted Minka. The woman was making her way to one of the chesterfield-style sofas that dotted an enormous gold-and-cream checkerboard lobby where the opening party was being held.

“Minka!” Vectra made her way over to the woman, watching as she reconsidered taking a spot on the antique furnishing.

Minka’s trademark sunny smile flashed. “Vectra!” She pulled her close for a hug. “So glad you could come!”

“Yeah, well...” Vectra scanned the lovely, glamorous room. “I wanted to see what the competition has that I didn’t.”

“Sorry about the change.” Minka’s apology mirrored her expression of regret. “We really did feel bad about putting such an event on you in the first place.” Minka studied the sumptuous room, as well. “We’ve been thinking about a Gatsby-type weekend event for a long time, though. Given the Hembry’s recent renovations to maintain their vintage style...we thought it’d be the perfect locale.” Minka winced. “Then we got their pricing sheet and we weren’t so sure.”

“Ahh...” Vectra offered a mock toast with her glass. “Pricing with a little extra tacked on by Will Lloyd.”

“Hmph,” Minka said, smirking. “He made it sound like the Hembry’s recent maintenance work was to blame.”

“And now, thanks to you—” Vectra raised a hand toward the chandelier’s illuminated ceiling “—here we are.”

“I didn’t want to get here like this.” Minka sighed. “Feels like I had to crawl through a lake of mud in Pettysville, USA.”

“Understood!” Vectra laughed, her eyes still sparkling well after the laughter quieted. “Sometimes we have to spend a little time in the dirt to get to the happy places in life.”

Minka’s expression brightened. “I like your optimism.”

Vectra shrugged. “A good friend told me that dark areas crop up from time to time, but that’s life.”

The corners of Minka’s mouth tilted down, proving that she was impressed. “Your friend sounds like a pretty smart person.”

Vectra was about to respond. Instead, she blinked past Minka’s shoulder. “He has his moments,” she said.

Minka followed the path of Vectra’s gaze and smiled up at her boss. “Hey, Sim—oh! Look who’s here...” She acted as though she’d spotted someone across the crowded room. “I should go and say hi. Vectra, it was great to see you.” She squeezed Sim’s arm on the way past. “Don’t forget I booked you a suite here for the weekend.”

“Was that a hint?” Qasim grinned at Vectra once Minka had rushed off.

“I love you,” she blurted, blinking uncontrollably while expelling the breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

“I’m sorry. I–I should’ve said that a long time ago—a long time before you told me.” She sipped down more champagne. “It was why I really came to see you that day about Robb’s party. I—you cut me off, and I...I didn’t know why.” She set the nearly empty glass on a white lacquer end table and stepped closer to Qasim.

“Losing your friendship that way when I had all this—” she curved her hands toward her chest as if to emphasize the emotion crushing her from the inside “—I had—have—all these feelings for you and nowhere to put them. What I’m feeling isn’t for anyone else but you.”

She inhaled deeply and expelled the breath, needing the release following the confession she’d kept to herself for far too long.

Qasim schooled both his surprise and approval. He kept his smile soft, not wanting to do anything to discourage her from telling him what she needed to.

Vectra looked miserable. “I’m sorry, Qasim. I–I shouldn’t have left town the way I did, but I panicked and—”

He silenced her. Gently, he tugged one of the fringed cap sleeves of her dress. He pulled her close, her curves fitting perfectly against his solid frame. His mouth crushed hers, his tongue thrusting deep, exploring at length before entwining with hers.

Desperately, Vectra caught the lapels of his three-quarter-length pinstriped jacket and fully participated in their kissing battle. She moaned, raking her nails across the whiskers darkening his jaw. Flames began to lick her with the same potency that Qasim’s mouth branded her with. Someone passed and patted his back.

“The place has lots of rooms, man.”

The couple broke their kiss, soft laughter humming between them.

“I’ve had enough of the hints,” Qasim said close to her ear.