Page 5 of Surrendered Hearts

“Fuck,” he says, looking pained. We’ve been going back and forth for an hour on this, and I know I’m beating him down, soif he says no, I just need to keep going. However, he exhales and nods before saying, “I’ll give you another five percent.”

“Good decision, Bob. This is going to bring you a lot of money.”

“I don’t doubt it, but I would have preferred that extra five percent.”

He should have done better homework on me. Everyone I do business with knows I don’t back down. They know I always get what I want.

“I’ll have the new contract drawn up and sent over first thing tomorrow,” I say, and we end the call.

I close my laptop and take a deep breath as I think about what I have to do now.

Javier.

I have to have dinner with the man who will be my husband in less than forty-eight hours.

God knows what he wants to discuss. My guess is he’ll attempt to tell me how our marriage will be run, at which point he’ll discover what I think of that idea.

With one last check of my appearance, I exit my room and head up to the next floor. I made sure to choose a red dress for tonight even though wearing a dress for Javier is the last thing I want to do. I have my reasons, though, the low-cut style with a slit that reveals my toned leg chosen for maximum attention.

I can’t afford to ever relax with Javier.

Not my thoughts, my feelings, or my ability to keep him on his toes.

This dress will help with that.

I arrive at 7:14 p.m. and immediately sense the caged energy surrounding him. The one thing I know for sure with Javier is that he’s unpredictable at the best of times, and these are not the best of times, so I have no idea of predicting what he will say ordo. If his body language is anything to go by, I need to remain on high alert. He’s made of stone tonight.

“Sit,” he orders, gesturing at the dining table situated in one of the glass balconies of the suite. I’ve stayed in some of the most luxurious penthouses around the world, but this one takes my breath away.

We’re 700 feet above Manhattan with 360-degree views. The cathedral ceilings, lacquered walls with mother-of-pearl inlays, plush carpet, sleek accents, and cut-glass chandelier that glitters like a piece of diamond above the dining table steal my attention from the imposing man I’m here to see.

Only for a few moments, though.

Javier makes sure of that.

He moves behind me while I gaze out at the city, places his hand on my hip, and brings his mouth to my ear. “I don’t appreciate being kept waiting. Don’t do it again.”

His touch scatters need through me, and my body goes to war with my head.

Goddamn it, I do not want to feel any desire for this man, but I’ve never been able to switch it off. Not even after what he did two years ago, and not even when he’s being an asshole. I’ve kept tabs on him in those two years, never letting him go fully, and here I am, still wanting him.

Without moving, I say, “And I don’t appreciate your way of handling me.”

He exhales and I feel his frustration. “You require managing if this marriage is to work.”

I spin to face him, my own irritation flaring. “This marriage will work because I’ll make sure it does. Your management of me will piss me off, though, and you won’t enjoy the fallout of that, so I suggest you rework your assumptions of how this is going to go.”

His nostrils flare while those eyes of his darken. “Sit,” he orders again, and I know now is not the time to push him further than I already have. Javier has his limits; of that I am very aware. I’m also aware it was likely those limits that caused him to walk away from me two years ago. This time, he can’t walk away. God knows what his preferred method of dealing with me will be once we’re married.

I sit and watch as he moves to the other end of the table. It’s not a long table; only six people could sit at it comfortably, but there are only two chairs.

Javier is still wearing the suit he wore earlier today, and I can’t help but indulge my desire to run my eyes over his body as he moves. Damn him for being so good looking. And damn him for wearing suits like no other man can. And that black dress shirt he’s teamed the suit with? It’s sexy in a way I wish it wasn’t. All I can imagine is running my hands over it and his muscles, up to his neck, before kissing him.

Jesus.

I reach for the glass of wine his butler has just filled for me and take a long gulp. I regret the way I take that sip the second Javier’s eyes look at me knowingly. The bastard never misses a thing.

He sits back in his seat and assesses me some more before saying, “We need to lay some ground rules.”

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