Clutch Hit by Faith O'Shea (most popular ebook readers txt) 📗

couple of seconds for her to know who was on the other side of the conversation.

“Rique wants to know if we want to go to his place tonight. He’s invited Reid and Izabella, Seb, Fiona’s assistant and his wife…”

Allie could hear Rique’s voice as he rattled off a couple more of the players who’d been invited. She didn’t know if she wanted to tell the world quite yet that she’d hooked up with the Cuban, but she thought it might be a fun way to spend the evening.

“He wants to celebrate his engagement. Fiona’s taken the night off and he isn’t sure when he’ll be able to pry her away again.”

“Are we talking one of his infamous parties?”

He quirked a smile and asked. Mateo relayed the answer. “He doesn’t know what you’re talking about. He’s a happily engaged man and parties are no longer on the agenda.” He put the cell back to his ear before adding, “And he says no way would you get an invite to one of them.”

She believed that. One of the mandates of the trade was that he stop partying and get serious about the game. She finally noticed he was waiting for her answer when he asked, “Do you want to go?”

The question was: did she want to meet Rique’s future wife? And the answer to that was yes, she did.

“Sure. Anything we can bring?”

He shook his head a second later, finished up the call, and shut off the television.

“We can watch the rest of the documentary some other time.”

She nodded. “I’d like to see the rest of it. I’m sorry I couldn’t get out to see where you were born.”

“Maybe, if things ever settle between here and there, we can go and visit for more than a couple of days.”

“Would you ever want to move back?”

“No. That is my past. I prefer my today.”

He gave her a kiss, telling her without words why. When they came up for air, he said, “I will get cleaned up. We should leave soon.”

She thought she should change as well. She’d worn jeans on their outing, and she couldn’t show up looking like she did. Assessing what the appropriate attire would be, she asked, “Where does he live?”

On his way to his bedroom, he said, “He just leased a place not far from the Jacksons. It’ll take about half an hour with no traffic.” He glanced back. “Will there be traffic on a Sunday night?”

She’d started down the hall after him. “Shouldn’t be. I feel like we should bring something.”

“Fiona is good with the speed dial. You tell her what you want, and she’ll have it delivered in no time at all.”

As she was about to walk by him, he took her in his arms and kissed her. She wondered if she’d ever get used to the electric current that always surged when he did.

“I would think they’d want to be alone tonight.”

She was fingering his hair, thinking that if she ever got engaged, she might not want to invite friends right over. She winced inwardly, forgetting again that she’d never be engaged. She’d jumped right into marriage. While gazing into his eyes, she didn’t see a downside at the moment.

He thumbed her cheek and the feather like stroke shot right to the core of her.

“I think they are in need of a break with all the celebrating they’ve done, and this is it.” He paused before asking, “What are we going to tell them?’

She felt fear knot in her belly.

“I don’t know. That we’re together?”

“Why not just tell them the truth?”

“They won’t understand. They’ll all think I did it to get you here.”

And that wasn’t the only reason. She’d finally been able to admit it to herself.

“We tell them we are now a couple. It can be no other way. I’m unable to control myself when I’m with you. There will be kisses and looks of undying devotion.”

“We tell them we’re a couple, and word will get around quickly. Soon everyone will know, Mateo. Be sure this is what you want.”

He kissed her then, and with the feel of his lips on hers, she let the worry skitter away. She had today, and as many todays as he’d allow. She’d fallen in love with her husband, but fear was a dangerous bedfellow, and it was still trying to push him out. She was not looking forward to seeing which emotion won.

Fiona seemed to be in the same type of haze as she was. Flustered yet happy, she showed off her ring with open disbelief. And it was beautiful. Rique had done a great job with both the ring and future wife. She was grounded, practical, and didn’t take his shit. And brilliant, from what Allie could tell, something she’d never thought Rique would be comfortable with.

“He says he had to go to Brazil to find me. He’s such an idiot.”

Rique had come up behind her, kissed her neck. “Don’t go making me look like a loser. A wife’s job is to make a husband feel like the million-dollar man.”

“And if he needs no help with that?”

Before he dropped his head just below her neck on her shoulder blades, Allie saw his eyes brimming with love.

Izabella had come over and said, “Isn’t she just perfect for him? Makes me proud.”

Allie was still on the fence about that. Could Rique content himself with one woman? Would he be satisfied with a home life devoid of the parties and clubbing he was famous for?

She glanced at Reid who was standing close to his wife, and she knew some could. Her ace had had the same kind of reputation before his wife had tamed him.

When the doorbell rang, Rique nodded his head at Mateo, then in the direction of the door. When he left her to tag along with the host, it gave Allie time to take in the place. It was beautiful, although she thought it a bit sedate for Rique. Gleaming hardwood floors covered the whole downstairs of