Page 106 of Overtake
Mai looks smug. “El Conejo’s gonna lock-up when he sees you.”
I wave that away. “It’s just Nico.”
“Exactly. He hasn’t seen you looking like sex on stilettosfor him.” She hands me the beautiful embroidered bag. She’s already transferred my ID, phone, and key card into it.
“The first time we met, Petra, you threatened to run my ass over if I hurt Reece.”
I laugh. “Did I? Sounds like something I’d do.”
She smiles and it’s dazzling, because Maiken is Vegas glitz from head to toe. “It’s what I needed to hear. So I’m returning the favor. If you don’t give this sweet Spaniard a fair chance, I’ll tell Reece to run your ass over.”
I laugh again, but a knock at the door catches a reply in my throat.
Maiken gives me a gentle shove. “Now you have a date to knock dead.” She opens the door with a flourish.
Nico stands there looking casual-cool in pale trousers, a dark-brown button down shirt—sleeves neatly rolled—and brandy-hued Oxfords. He looks exactly like every fantasy I definitely haven’t been having since that first kiss. The man is dead sexy, which I’ve noticed in the past, yes, because I’m not some frigid beast, but seeing him like this now and knowing he’s here looking so fit formemakes a real fucking difference.
Nico’s eyes go wide, then dark as he drinks me in. “Petra...eres perfecta.”
The way he seems to taste my name as much as pronounce it makes something low, warm, and filthy unfurl just below my belly button. Sure, I’ve slept with men, but I don’t ever remember one of them making me feel likethis. Like I’m beautiful and sexy and wanted, without also making me feel like I need to lessen myself for their ego. Nico isn’t fragile, like other blokes. He’s not asking me to stand in his shadow or pretend I’m not his equal on track and off. That, alone, makes him hot as fuck.
“Eyes back in your head, Belmonte.” Maiken sounds entirely too pleased with herself. “You can thank me, Zara, and the emergency fashion squad later.”
But Nico’s still staring, gaze traveling from the stilettos up to my carefully arranged hair. When he meets my eyes again, the heat there makes my pulse jump because my body still remembers what he did to it.
“Me vuelves loco.”
Apparently, I drive him crazy.“¿En un buen sentido?”In a good way?
His smile turns wicked. “I’ll tell you later.”
“And that’s my cue to go.” Mai grabs her bag. “Have fun, be safe, good luck dodging the Honey Bunnies.” She strides down the hall.
“So.” I sound surprisingly steady despite the way he’s still looking at me. “This favorite place of yours better be worth all this effort.”
He steps closer, fingers brushing my hip.“Absolutamente.”His lips brush my ear and I shiver as he murmurs, “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, Petra Lison Meris Hayter.”
My breath slows because, Christ, his compliments seem so bloody sincere. Sure, I know I’m pretty, but no man has ever made mefeelit the way Nico does. I meet his gaze. “Thank you, Nico.”
He brushes a kiss across my lips. “You’re welcome.” He steps back and takes my hand and leads me to the lift. “Just so you know, I cleared this with Coy and Marcus.” His smile turns bemused as he adds, “I had to show them the security plan before they agreed to let us leave the hotel tonight.”
“You needed permission from our team principals for a dinner date?”
“Welcome to la Ciudad de México.”
Cameras flash the moment we step into the hotel lobby. Questions fly in Spanish and English. I blink, startled by the intensity of the media focus. It’s a wall of noise and light that hotel security barely contains. Like Nico calling mebeautiful, this is something I’ve experienced all my life, but tonight the scrutiny feels bigger and more volatile than ever before.
“Ready?” Nico’s hand settles at the small of my back.
I swallow and plaster on my brave media face. “Always.”
The security team creates a human barrier, clearing just enough space through the crowds in front of the hotel for us to reach a convoy of three enormous black SUVs with tintedwindows. As we approach, a team of black-suited security personnel forms a cordon around us.
Oscar, Nico’s local head of security, introduces himself and his partner, Eduardo, as he opens the middle SUV’s door. Rodrigo appears beside them, coordinating with the local team in rapid Spanish before switching to English.
“Transportation’s secure, Ms. Hayter,” he says. “Local team’s vetted, routes confirmed.”
Meanwhile, Eduardo scans the surroundings and another security member speaks into a two-way radio, coordinating with the other vehicles and guards.
