Okay, it’s better not to think about why he kissed me and just focus on why it can’t happen again. Even if his interest in her were sincere, being with Nick would only hurt his chances of making up with Gio. Giving in to temptation would achieve the exact opposite of what she’d hoped to achieve by going to see him.
Whether you’re asking me out because you’re trying to stick it to your brother, Nick, or because you found our kiss as amazing as I did—my answer has to be the same.
She chose her path and typed, I’m sorry, Nick. I don’t feel that way about you. We’re friends. Nothing more.
He didn’t text back.
***
Nick threw his phone on his desk and slumped forward, his head in his hands. He’d told himself not to text Rena. He’d spent the day fighting off the desire to go upstairs and see her.
He didn’t believe for a moment she wasn’t interested in him. No woman kisses a man the way she’d kissed him unless she feels something for him.
She’s scared. She said she’d been warned to stay away from him, and Rena had always been one to play it safe.
He told himself he should respect her decision.
He should call any of the women he’d been with recently and fuck them until he couldn’t remember how incredibly hot Rena’s mouth had been. Or how her tight little body had felt pressed against him. He needed to do something that would dull how vividly he remembered how her perfectly rounded ass felt in his hands.
There was only one reason he wouldn’t do that.
He looked down at his traitorous dick. “You’ve never been picky before. Why start now?”
“Who are you talking to?” his brother Luke asked from the doorway. “I didn’t see your secretary at her desk—tell me she’s not under yours. That’s not a good start to working here.”
Nick stood, shaking his head with reluctant amusement at being caught talking to his cock. “I’m alone.”
Luke didn’t look convinced.
Nick waved at the area below his desk. “You can check if you don’t believe me.”
Janet popped her head in behind Luke. “Mr. Andrade, I’m so sorry. I went down to HR like you asked me to. I probably shouldn’t have left my desk. I guess I’m still getting used to you being here.” She looked from Luke to Nick and then hastily added, “Not that you’re not always here and haven’t always been here. Because you have been. Right here. In your office. Every day.”
Nick raised a hand to stop her. “Relax, Janet. This is my brother Luke.”
A smile returned to her face. “Thank God. Hey, then do you mind if I go home now? I actually worked today.”
Nick couldn’t help but smile back. He had the secretary he deserved, he supposed. He shrugged. At least he’d never wonder what she was thinking. “Go home. I’m done for the day. See you tomorrow.”
“Really?” she asked, sounding pleased.
“Totally,” he answered with humor, but she didn’t get the joke. Being around her made him feel old.
Luke dropped into the chair in front of Nick’s desk. “Well, she’s pretty. Not that I’d expect you to have anything different, but you might want to find yourself a secretary that sounds like she’s out of high school.”
“I don’t care how she looks or how she sounds, as long as she does her job.”
Folding his arms across his chest, Luke sat back and studied Nick. “You mean that.”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
Luke cocked his head to one side. “A little. So it’s true—you’re working here. Why the sudden interest in Cogent?”
“You’re the one who kept encouraging me to give it a second try.”
Sitting forward in his chair, Luke said, “You don’t have to prove anything to me, Nick. I’m on your side. What are you really doing here?”
Nick walked around his desk and sat in the chair across from his brother. “Did you ever get the feeling that things aren’t the way they’re supposed to be? When we were on Isola Santos Uncle Victor gave a long speech.”
“I remember.”
“He kept saying the most important things to any Andrade are family and taking care of the next generation. Father didn’t take care of us very well. We don’t take care of each other. Hell, if it weren’t for you, I doubt Gio, Max, and I would speak outside of the holidays. I wanted to be the kind of Andrade Uncle Victor described. I started spending more time with Mother, and it all went to shit after that.” Nick leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “She has a way of making me doubt which way the sun comes up. I can’t tell if she’s lying or if Gio is. Every time I try to figure it out I discover another reason to be angry. Last year I would have thrown my hands up and walked away. I don’t want to do that this time. This time, I want the truth.”
“About?”
“About any of it—all of it. Why did Mother want to keep us away from Father’s side of the family? Why didn’t Gio tell us we had a half sister?” Nick stopped and watched Luke’s expression. “How long have you known about Gigi?”
“Gio told me about her after he found out you knew.”
“And that didn’t make you fucking nuts? That he knew something that important and didn’t tell us?”
Luke balled one hand into fist. “I have to believe that he thought he was doing what was best for all of us. He said he intended to tell us before Mother’s episode.”
“He said he only found out when we went to Stephan’s wedding. You believe that, too?”
“I do.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s what he told me, and Gio is many things but he’s not a liar.” The two brothers sat in silence for a long time, then Luke said, “I don’t know what happened between Mother and our uncles. Or why Father needed another family in Venice when he had us. Whatever happened has weighed heavily on Mother for a long time. You were right to spend time with her. She’s very unhappy right now.”
“Because of her heart attack.”
Luke sighed. “If she had one.”
“Are you suggesting that she didn’t?” Nick’s head snapped back.
“I’m not suggesting anything. Listen, Gio and Mother are at odds, and that’s never good for any of us. They both have a hard time letting go of the past. What’s the truth and what’s a lie? I don’t know. But does it matter? Would knowing change anything? Let it go.”
“Well, Ghandi, you’re a better person than I am. I can’t let it go. I’m done walking away. I’m going to work here, side by side with Gio, until I get some answers.”
Luke nodded.
Nick’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You’re not going to tell me that I don’t belong here? Warn me to leave now before the wrath of Gio descends upon me?”
“No, I think you’re where you need to be.”
“That wasn’t at all what I expected you to say.”
Luke stood and for once his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “None of us are the Andrades we thought we’d grow up to be. I want to know the truth, too.” He laid a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Gio kept this office for you because he always believed you belonged here. He may not tell you that he loves you, but this is proof that he does. Remember that while you search for your answers.” He dropped his hand. “Now, let’s go to dinner and talk about all the reasons you had better not be dating Rena.”
Nick stood and chuckled. “You’re making me sorry I gave up drinking.”
Luke’s eyes widened in surprise. “Did you really?”
“Three months sober.”
Luke gave him a pat on the back and a wide grin spread across his face, this time brightening his eyes. “Now that is something worth celebrating. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
As they walked out, Luke said, “You should tell Gio. He’d be happy for you, too.”
Nick shrugged. “I’m sure he’ll know, now that you do.”
The both turned when they entered the elevator and stood shoulder to shoulder. Without looking at Nick, Luke said,
“No, this time I’m staying out of it. You and Gio need to work out your issues. On your terms. Not mine.”
“You? Stay out of it? That’s like telling Rena to mind her own business.”
“Oh, yes, back to Rena. What is going on there?”
“We’re friends,” Nick said and made a face as he did. “Nothing more.”
Chapter Six
Two weeks later, Rena was sitting at her desk reviewing the calendar on her computer when her cell phone rang. Gio was out of the office for the morning, so she answered it without hesitation.
As soon as she heard the voice that greeted her, she wished she’d taken the time to check caller ID.
“Rena,” the woman said cheerfully.
“Maddy, what a surprise. If you’re looking for Gio, he’s out of the office this morning.”
“Actually, I’m calling to talk to you. It’s a private matter. Do you have a moment?”
“It’s pretty busy here today. Could I call you—”
“This will be quick. I promise. I heard that Nick is working there now. Is that true?”
Rena pushed a pen around on her desk. “I never feel comfortable discussing Cogent business with anyone.”
“I’m not just anyone, I’m their cousin. Besides, I couldn’t care less about the business side of why he’s there. Have you met his secretary?”
“I’ve spoken to her on the phone.”
“Does she seem to like her job more now that Nick is there?”
Rena picked up the pen and started to doodle on a piece of paper. “I haven’t spoken to her enough to know.”
“Could you? Speak to her, I mean. It would look weird if I started hanging around Nick’s office, but I have to know how they are getting along. Curiosity is killing me. Luke told me Nick likes her, but he won’t say more than that.”
Rena pressed so hard on the pen that it tore into the paper. She threw the pen down. “I don’t understand.”
Maddy said excitedly, “Don’t you think she would be perfect for Nick? She comes from a great family in Connecticut. And she’s drop-dead gorgeous.”
“Janet is one of your plants?”
“Not mine, but I don’t care. She applied for a job at Corisi Enterprises. Marie interviewed her and snapped her up, then we pulled a few strings and sent her over to Cogent. Don’t worry, Marie did a full background check on her and her family. Her mother is an elementary school teacher. Her father works as a hospital administrator. Janet put herself through school by working at a fast-food chain. Everyone there loved her. They all say she has a heart of gold. That’s exactly the kind of woman Nick needs. Someone who can love him unconditionally.”
“Who is Marie?”
“Mrs. Duhamel, Dominic Corisi’s personal assistant. She practically runs his company. I can’t believe you don’t know her. You would love her. Just don’t mess with her boys. She’s very protective of them.”
“Maddy, as interesting as this is, I have to get back to work.” And try to forget that Nick likely took her brush-off so well because he’d already moved on to sleeping with his secretary.
“Don’t hang up. Rena, I know you said you don’t want to get involved, but all you’d have to do is peek in and see how they are together. Janet doesn’t know she’s a plant so she won’t know why you’re there. That’s it. Maybe put in a good word for him to her. Or vice versa. Nothing more than that.”
Rena looked up at the ceiling. Does someone up there hate me? “I’m sorry, Maddy, I told you. This isn’t something I want to be a part of.”
“I get it. You have to be discrete. That’s fine. Keep it simple. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Rena sighed after Maddy hung up. Speaking to her was always a little bit like stepping into a hurricane: You had to fight to keep your footing. Nicole had been right—Maddy definitely had a problem with the word no.
A few minutes later, Rena was still gathering her thoughts when Nick walked into her office. She should be used to seeing him in a suit and tie, but the sight still took her breath away. No matter how many times he came up to see Gio, Rena’s response to him was the same. Her heart beat triple-time and her hands itched to reach out and mess his recently tamed hair.
“Is Gio in?”
“He stepped out for a meeting.”
“Do you know when he’ll be back?”
“He didn’t say.”
Rena cursed herself for being angry at Nick for respecting her wish to ignore what had happened between them. He had been completely businesslike each time they’d met since and it made her more confused.
It was probably easy for him since he likely consoled himself in the arms of his secretary.
Bastard.
Rena knew she should be happy that Gio and Nick had come to something of a truce. Nick had come by to talk to Gio almost every day recently, and it looked like Gio was trusting him with more and more responsibility. Gio had even mentioned that he was impressed with how Nick was both coming to him for guidance and bringing his own ideas. If all went well, the two would indeed end up as partners. Nick was surprising everyone.
And looking so damn pleased with himself I want to throw a shoe at his head.
He walked over to the side of her desk and laid one hand down flat, bringing his mouth close enough that he could speak softly in her ear. “I can’t tell if you’re angry with me because I kissed you that night or because I haven’t kissed you since.”
Rena kept her eyes glued to her keyboard. “I’m not angry at all.”
“Is that why you glare at me every time I come in here? I won’t apologize for what I said to you afterward.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “You’re not fooling me, Rena. I know you enjoyed that kiss as much as I did. The thought of repeating it is keeping me up at night. Just being in the same room with you makes me painfully hard. I want to fuck you, Rena. It’s going to happen. How long can you hold out, pretending you don’t want it as much as I do?”
In a voice much more breathy and excited than she’d intended, Rena answered, “I’m not pretending.”
“Look me in the eye and say that, Rena.”
She couldn’t. If she turned her head she wasn’t sure she could stop her lips from seeking his. “I—”
Her denial was cut off by Gio entering her office. “Nick, you’re here. Good. I wanted to update you on our newest client.”
Nick straightened. “Great. Did you mention the stats I gave you?”
“I did and they were a nice touch. Good thinking. Rena, hold my calls for the next thirty minutes.”
“Absolutely,” Rena said, striving to sound unaffected by her exchange with Nick.
Nick followed Gio, but just before he stepped into Gio’s office, he turned and winked at Rena. A deep red flush spread up her neck and face.
She glared at him.
He smiled back at her and closed the door behind him. Rena laid her head on her desk and groaned audibly.
“Is this a bad time?” a woman asked tentatively.
Rena rolled her head to one side and peered at the woman with one eye. She was in her mid-twenties, with long blonde curls that hung wildly around a heart-shaped face and stunning green eyes. If the tiny waist and huge breasts were anything to go by, she had to be Janet.
“No,” Rena answered as she raised her head. “I was reading over some notes.”
The woman glanced down at the empty desk in front of Rena, then shrugged. “Hi, I’m Janet Wagner. We’ve spoken on the phone a few times. I’m Nicholas Andrade’s secretary. Do you have a minute?”
With a sigh of resignation, Rena sat back in her chair, “Sure. What do you need?”
The young woman stepped closer to Rena’s desk. “Nick asked me to type up some summary notes. I did, but I don’t know if they need to be in a certain format. Could you look at what I did and tell me if you think that’s what he wants?”
I know what he wants, Rena thought but didn’t say. And the problem is: I want the same thing.
Ren
a stood and pushed past Janet. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this right now.” She kept walking until she was in the privacy of the bathroom. Once inside she locked the outer door and stood in front of the sink facing her reflection. Don’t sleep with him. Everything is finally going well for him. Gio is beginning to trust him. He’s actually finding his way here.
Fucking him could seriously fuck that up.
Fuck. Look at what I’m becoming.
I don’t even swear normally.
This is not good.
Pull yourself together.
A glint of satisfaction lit her eyes. He wants me.
She closed her eyes and shook her head.
But that doesn’t change anything.
She opened her eyes, reminded herself that she was not the type to hide in a bathroom instead of conquering a challenge, and told herself to go help Janet with her summary.
I can do this because I know I made the right decision for Nick and for me.
If he wants to fuck her it’s none of my business.
Fuck, I’m swearing again.
She took a deep breath and unlocked the bathroom door. She looked up at the ceiling and said, “I don’t know who I pissed off up there, but could you work with me? Just a little? I’m trying to do the right thing here.”
***
Nick sat in one of the leather chairs in front of Gio’s desk. He forced himself into a relaxed pose. Gio hovered beside his desk. For the past two weeks he’d looked down at him from his desk chair like a king tolerating one of his subjects. Something had changed.
“The meeting went well this morning. You were spot-on with how Durkin would respond to our counteroffer. How did you know that?”
“I spent a week at his house in Bali last year. Durkin Senior likes to talk when he drinks. At the time I found it tediously boring, but he bragged extensively about the equipment his company was developing. Sounded like a large investment project. Which implied a possible cash flow issue until they prove their new design works. Two months ago we received a call from one of his people. They were feeling out what our next contracts would be. I figured they were ripe for a lowball offer from us.”