Seduced by Mr. Right(30)
Antwan’s face fell, but he quickly recovered and nodded his head.
“Let me know when the contracts are in. We can review them together.”
“I will. Give my regards to Sharleen,” he said quietly. “Have fun.”
You can count on it, Emilio thought, slipping on his sunglasses as he exited the office. I’m spending the afternoon with a vibrant, vivacious woman, and one day soon she’ll be my girlfriend.
Chapter 9
The sleek black helicopter climbed high above the trees and headed toward Atlanta. Sharleen wondered which one of Emilio’s obscenely rich neighbors owned the gleaming chopper. Uncomfortable in confined spaces, she couldn’t imagine ever being inside such a small aircraft, but suspected the view from above was breathtaking. Probably, her inner voice conceded. But nothing beats spending the afternoon with Emilio.
Sharleen jogged beside Emilio on the winding trail, awed by the beauty around her. The air was perfumed with the scent of plants, exotic flowers and sweet-smelling herbs.
Pressing her eyes shut, she inhaled the fresh air. A sense of calm washed over her, instantly relaxed her. She loved feeling the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. But what she enjoyed most about being in Greensboro was hanging out with her favorite client.
Emilio is more than just a client. You like him more than you’ve ever liked anyone, and if he kissed you, you’d probably die of pleasure!
Stealing a glance at him, she felt her heart murmur inside her chest. Athletes had always been her weakness, and the tall, wickedly handsome race-car driver was everything she wanted in a man. The realization stunned her, but deep down in her heart she knew it was true. Her gaze slid down his physique. His fitted white T-shirt and black athletic shorts showcased a flat stomach, toned biceps and muscled legs. But it was his smoldering gaze that made her head spin time and time again. He had his nephew’s face tattooed on his left biceps, and the adorable image made her smile. It took supreme effort, but she peeled her eyes away from his chiseled body and asked about his morning meeting. “How did it go? Did you make a decision about the All-Star Race?”
Emilio told her about his argument with Antwan, his new blockbuster deal with Ferrari and his hour-long conversation with his pit crew. “We’re practicing tomorrow at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, and I want you to be there. You’re my good-luck charm, and my crew is anxious to meet you.”
“They are? Why? What did you tell them?”
“Nothing—just that I’d met the girl of my dreams.”
Sharleen gave a shaky laugh. She couldn’t tell if Emilio was serious or pulling her leg, but convinced herself it was the latter. Normally, she ignored clients who flirted with her, but that strategy wasn’t working with Emilio. If anything, his teasing made her desire him even more.
“I need you to be at my first practice.”
His words surprised her, made her realize how much he’d changed in the past three weeks. Instead of moping around the house, he was attending social events, volunteering at outreach programs and making plans for the future. He was even actively looking for ways to honor his nephew’s memory. Sharleen had encouraged him to attend meetings at the clinic, and to her surprise, he was always the first one to arrive. He didn’t talk during group sessions, but he admitted that hearing other people’s stories made him feel less lonely. These days, Emilio was fun to be around, and everyone from his publicist to his physical trainer was thrilled about the positive changes he’d made in his life.
“Are you listening or fantasizing about me again?” he teased. “Don’t try and deny it, because I can see the truth in your pretty brown eyes.”
Sharleen parted her lips to speak and tripped over her tongue. She was mortified that she’d lost her composure again and inwardly chastised herself for letting her nerves get the best of her.
Emilio had a hold on her she just couldn’t explain, and the more she fought their attraction the stronger it was. It was times like this, when he was flirting with her, that she remembered he was one of the most eligible bachelors in the nation. Unlike the guys she’d casually dated in the past, he made her feel special and seemed to get a kick out of spoiling her. He had flowers delivered to her office, treated her to lunch at trendy eateries and lavished her with time and attention. It was hard not to think wanton thoughts when he flashed his trademark grin at her, but Sharleen was determined to keep her cool. Her reputation and the vice-president position were at stake, and she’d worked too damned hard to watch her career go up in smoke. And she had to land the VP position so she could persuade her boss to fire Brad and rehire Jocelyn. Her best friend still hadn’t found a job, and she was growing more discouraged each day.