The man who broke her heart...

Is the man she now needs more than ever!

Heir to his family’s global empire, branding genius Miguel Astacio turns everything into marketing gold. Only his best friend’s sister seems immune to his magic touch. Until Tanya Carrington comes to him to save her floundering nightclub. Miguel is ready to rectify past mistakes. But will his supreme sacrifice win the heart of the woman he loves?

NANA PRAH first discovered romance in a book from her eighth-grade summer reading list and has been obsessed with it ever since. Her fascination with love inspired her to write in her favorite genre where happily-ever-after is the rule.

She is a published author of contemporary multicultural romances. Her books are sweet with a touch of spice. When she’s not writing she’s overindulging in chocolate, enjoying life with friends and family, and tormenting nursing students into being the best nurses the world has ever seen.

Also By Nana Prah

A Perfect Caress

Path to Passion

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Path to Passion

Nana Prah

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08491-8

PATH TO PASSION

© 2018 Nana Araba Prah

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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“Tanya.”

“Yes.” She hated the shyness that had come over her. Couldn’t she wind back the hands of time and make things between them comfortable again? She’d have to go back to before she’d ever laid eyes on him in college, and she never wanted to have never known him. Even after everything she’d been through, meeting him was the best thing to happen to her.

“Sweetheart, look at me.”

The butterflies in her stomach took flight, but she feigned interest in the occurrences of the busy city. She had no choice but to obey when he grasped her shoulders and turned her. Staring at his chest did nothing to ease her anxiety, so she took a leap and looked up into his eyes. Back to the brilliant hazel she’d always loved.

For every moment they stood gazing at each other she sank deeper. She could barely remember who she’d been when he hadn’t been in her life for the past ten years. He was her world at that moment and nothing else mattered.

Her breaths came out in little pants as dread competed with nerve-racking anticipation. Would he kiss her? The air pulsed around them.

Dear Reader,

For some reason, the term “being on the down low” popped into my mind one day and refused to leave. That’s the reason why Tanya Carrington ended up having an ex-husband who epitomized the phrase. It made for a fascinating and painful backstory for the heroine. The reintroduction of the man who rejected her years ago added to the drama that is her life.

I’ve been crushing on Miguel Astacio since I first introduced him in A Perfect Caress as the heroine’s younger brother. Handsome, rich, fun, sexy, dimpled and always seeking the limelight, there’s a lot more to Miguel than his partying ways. He’s now put in the position to prove himself to his family, to the world and especially to the woman he gave up but now has a second chance to be with.

I hope you enjoy the story.

Nana

To Ortanyi Arrington. Something about being the “wind beneath my wings” and a super fantastic friend.

Acknowledgments

I’d like to thank all of the people who have encouraged me with my writing over the years—you know who you are.

To every person who has ever read one of my books—thanks for keeping me going.

A huge thanks to Keyla Hernandez, Glenda Howard, Melissa Senate and everyone at Harlequin Kimani for your expertise and guidance.

To Hamzeh for your discussions on clubs and disguises that made the story even better.

As always I thank God for...everything!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Epilogue

Extract

About the Publisher

Chapter 1

Miguel Astacio slid on his tailored suit jacket for the third time in twenty minutes, found the material irritating and flung it onto his seat. He hadn’t been this nervous since... Well, never.

He went into his office’s private bathroom to splash cold water on his face. Maybe that would take away some of the heat making him so unbalanced. Was he coming down with something? Maybe a case of food poisoning from the lobster thermidor he’d had for lunch? It would be a more comforting explanation than being panicked about seeing his best friend’s sister.

Josh had called him a couple of days ago asking for a favor. His friend from college never asked for anything. The request hadn’t even been for him. His sister was on the cusp of losing her nightclub and Josh claimed she needed his help. Miguel had no idea what he could do, but he’d at least listen to her story.

Tanya Carrington was the one woman he’d fallen irrevocably in love with back in college. He’d refused to acknowledge his feelings and had denied them to anyone who’d attempted to guess how much she meant to him. He’d already lost a couple of good friends in the past because he’d stupidly decided to date and inevitably dump their sisters. Lesson learned. When he’d been attracted to Josh’s older sister after they’d first met, he’d stayed the hell away from her, or had tried to. When she’d insisted on hanging out with her brother, Miguel had had no choice but to get to know her better. The more he learned, the more he’d wanted her.

She’d been unlike any other woman he’d dated. Unimpressed by his wealth and status as an Astacio, she’d treated him as she did everyone else. Her genuine personality had placed her in a category above all others. He’d loved her chubby cheeks and on the rare times they’d hugged, her full curves had felt perfect against his body. He’d appreciated everything about her. Big mistake, because whatever had zipped between them every time they were together had threatened his much-needed friendship with Josh.

He and his soul brother had met in their sophomore year. Josh hadn’t initially known Miguel was one of three heirs to the Astacio empire, and when he’d found out, it hadn’t made a difference. At first, Miguel had been wary because everyone wanted something from him; after all, he wasn’t just an Astacio but a Gill on his mother’s side, which meant double the prestige, money and power. His parents owned a conglomeration of companies all over the world and kept creating more just because they could.

He recalled Josh’s words on the day he connected his last name to that of the famous Astacio family: “I don’t understand why you’d want to hang out with a geek like me, but if you don’t mind catching some of my uncoolness, I don’t mind sharing. Just don’t expect me to be a groupie. I don’t have time for that.” His words had cemented their friendship. Miguel could never give up having such a supportive and loyal person in his life. The man’s innate integrity and comedic nature had made him indispensable.

The splash of cold water against his face didn’t help settle his nerves. Miguel wiped away the liquid and frowned at his reflection. Where had those sweat rings under his arms come from? Dammit. He stripped out of the shirt and stormed to the closet where he kept extra clothes.

He had to calm down. This wasn’t the suave man he’d branded himself into since stepping out in front of the cameras with enviable confidence at the age of twelve. This nervous, sweaty man had to go.

Ten years had passed since he’d last seen Tanya. He’d been with more women than he could count during that time. Why the hell was he jittery about seeing her again? Sure, she’d been on his mind over the years and he couldn’t help comparing every woman he’d been with to her, but he’d gotten over his best friend’s sister. Right?

Momentarily distracted from his plight, Miguel smiled as he glanced at his watch and thought about how he’d used his marketing savvy to put the newly launched Astacio watch line in competition with established timepiece designers such as Movado and Breguet. Now people of prestige were wearing their Asombra watches.

Only ten minutes before her arrival. Pulling out a lavender shirt with a matching tie, he ignored the fact that it used to be Tanya’s favorite color. What did he expect from her? To be the same sweet, intelligent, loyal-as-her-brother woman he’d spent all night talking to back in school? He scoffed as he slid the gold-and-onyx cuff links into the sleeves. She owned a nightclub. How sweet could she possibly be anymore?

The thought calmed his agitation. He’d changed over the years so it stood to reason she must’ve, too. Of course he’d become more handsome, confident, charming and responsible. If she’d headed in the same positive direction as him, then he had every right to fear this meeting, because other than being Josh’s sister and two years his senior, she’d been damn near perfect.

* * *

Tanya Carrington had sat in her car for the past fifteen minutes willing herself to get out. Repeating phrases like “Turn off the engine. Unlock the door. Breathe, girl, breathe...” hadn’t helped one bit. The heater keeping her warm in the harsh Cleveland weather could attest to that. Not only did she want to avoid the blistering wind, she’d become paralyzed at the thought of seeing Miguel Astacio live and in person again.

It was one thing to daydream about him after watching him give some speech or catching the entertainment news feature him with his latest girlfriend. He couldn’t see how dejected she became every time his virtual presence crossed her world. She took a quick glance at the car’s digital clock—in ten minutes she’d be walking into his office to ask for the biggest favor of her life.

Her heart thundered just as it had all those years ago when she’d first met him and every time after. Her brother’s friends had never interested her. In college, her focus had been on her studies in order to keep the full scholarship that had allowed her to major in computer science at Ohio State University.

She’d been drawn to him the moment she’d walked into her brother’s room and locked eyes with the new transfer. She could’ve sworn she’d seen an answering flash of interest in hazel eyes set in the most flawless light brown skin she’d ever seen. His long eyelashes had distracted her until he’d smiled and two dimples had appeared, making her knees so weak she’d sunk down into the first chair she could stumble to. She didn’t know anything about him other than being the most handsome man she’d ever met in her life, but she’d known for sure that she’d wanted him.

While her nerdier-than-her brother had gone on and on about a sci-fi movie he’d just seen, she’d tried to pay attention, but Miguel kept stealing it. Not that he’d paid any mind to her after their initial introduction, where he’d tipped his chin up and said, “Sup,” before ignoring her.

She’d spent more time in her brother’s room those few weeks than she had in her own just so she could sneak glances at Miguel when he’d drop by. It took a while for him to warm up to her, but he had and they’d became friends.

Toward the end of their second semester, they’d gotten really close, and she could’ve sworn he’d liked her way more than a friend. But every time she looked at him, she remembered the forty pounds she needed to lose before a guy like him would even consider dating her. How many times had she attempted to lose weight to be more attractive to him? Every time she’d started a diet, the pounds she’d lost would rebound when she fell into a state of temptation.

What she’d detested him for was the fact that he’d humiliated her when finally she’d summoned the courage to tell him she loved him just before she’d graduated.

Why hadn’t she sought her best friend, Becca’s, opinion on it before exposing herself? That’s right, her stubborn self had already made up her mind and nothing would stop her. Becca may have told her to forgo the plan of revealing her true feelings for Miguel, which would’ve saved her from mind-numbing humiliation. Although the experience had left a lingering ache in her chest every time she thought about it, at least she never had to wonder how Miguel felt about her.

His rejection still rang in her ears. He’d never seen her as anything more than Josh’s older sister and a friend as he dated every woman on campus. At least she’d had sense to tell him how she felt just before graduation. The timing saved her from ever having to see him again.

Tanya gripped the steering wheel and took deep, controlled breaths. No need to dredge up the past when there was nothing she could do about it. The focus should be on fixing her business so she wouldn’t end up living in her car or, worse: moving in with her parents. In order to do that, she had to get out of the car, walk down the block to the fifteen-story Astacio building and ask advice from a man she’d once allowed to destroy her.

No big deal.

Chapter 2

The fact that her brother had suggested and arranged this meeting with the king of marketing had forced Tanya to drag herself out of the vehicle, smooth her knee-length down coat and speed walk to the Astacio building so she wouldn’t be late. Just because Josh had had to convince her to attend didn’t mean she was stupid enough to annoy the marketing director by being late. What had she been thinking sitting in the car for so long?

The trepidation and mortification she should’ve gotten over a long time ago had held her bound. She made it to the ninth floor of the building with one minute to spare. The space reminded her of what she’d learned about him over the years. The word vivid came to mind. Weren’t offices supposed to be sedate and understated? No one must have given Miguel the message, because the reception area was the polar opposite of traditional.

Bright blues, yellows, greens and reds interspersed with white would’ve made teaching primary colors to a kindergartner fun and exciting. She blinked as she looked down at her conservative navy blue skirt suit with the maroon-colored silk blouse. She felt more than a little out of place.

She gasped as she turned to the right and saw what appeared to be a Jackson Pollock in matching colors to the office. Was it real? Just as she was about to step closer to the painting, the receptionist said, “Good afternoon. How may I help you?” His grin spoke of more than just politeness. He was amused by her reaction. His red suit and white dress shirt adorned with a canary-yellow pocket square fit right in with the trendy atmosphere.

“Hi. My name is Tanya Carrington and I have an appointment with Mr. Miguel Astacio.”

“Please have a seat. I’ll let him know you’re here.”

She nodded and sat, gripping her purse on her lap. For the hundredth time, she asked herself if she really needed Miguel’s help. She’d been in worse situations than having her livelihood snatched away. When had she started lying to herself? She’d never been in such dire straits. Josh seemed to think Miguel could help, so she’d trusted him and consented to him calling his best friend. Besides, she’d transitioned into a confident woman who ran a restaurant and nightclub. Did it matter that it was failing miserably and she was spiraling into a near-debilitating debt?

“He’ll see you now, Ms. Carrington,” the stylish receptionist announced.

She swallowed hard with a longing look at the watercooler as she forced a smile to her face. “Thank you,” she said while standing on shaky legs, making sure not to trip in her comfortable wedge heels. With the aim of going into the lion’s den with a strictly professional mentality, she ran through a couple of her favorite affirmations. I am worthy. I am great. I am successful.

When she stepped into the large office to see the man who’d broken her heart with his callousness years ago, feelings of self-doubt rammed into her like a linebacker. One last thought rolled into her mind: I am screwed.

* * *

Miguel had lowered the heat, yet his fingers had difficulty grasping his pen due to the excessive sweat. He figured the busy look would be best when Tanya walked in. Unfortunately, a shaky pen due to his trembling hands was too telling, so he lay it down and waited for her to walk in while pretending to read a document.

The woman who entered could’ve been a swimsuit model with her full hips and breasts, emphasized by a slim waist. His gaze settled on her flawless medium-brown complexion and lingered. Her beauty stunned him. Large onyx eyes stared at him from beneath finely arched brows. Her light hand with the makeup emphasized her sculpted cheekbones and succulent lips. Who was this woman and where was Tanya? He watched the door she’d closed and waited for Josh’s sister to follow behind.

“Good afternoon,” the stranger greeted.

He started at the sound of the familiar voice, and he snagged in a sharp breath. “Tanya?” he whispered. This gorgeous woman couldn’t be her.

Her eyes turned cold although she smiled while extending her hand. “Good to see you again, Mr. Astacio.”

The hard tone of her voice indicated otherwise. Pulling himself together, he ignored her hand the same way he did her lie. After how he’d treated her back in college, she’d probably never wanted to see him again, but at least he’d been honest. He extended his arms out to her, not missing the way she shrank away even though his smile was genuine. “There’s no Mr. Astacio among us. Bring it in.”

Instead of coming forward as expected, she stepped back, reached for his right hand and pumped it up and down.

Once again, the woman had shocked him. Everyone wanted a piece of him when he was willing to give it and yet she’d rejected his embrace. One thing hadn’t changed between them, though. The zap of electricity that hit him had been present every time they’d accidentally touched.

Her eyes widened and her nostrils flared for a beat with her sharp inhale before she pulled her hand free. “It’s been a long time.”

Unable to get over how much she’d changed, he continued to stare, wondering why he’d never known such a transformation had occurred. What good would it have done to ask Josh about her when he’d made the ultimate choice to maintain their friendship instead of pursuing a relationship? They didn’t run in the same circles so he never saw her. “You look amazing.”

Shifting from one foot to the other revealed her nervousness. “Thank you.”

“I’m being rude.” He waved a hand toward one of the two maroon leather chairs in front of his dark oak wood desk. “Please have a seat.”

She nodded, perched on the edge of the chair and crossed her legs at the ankles. Her long skirt suit exposed no skin. Most women who came to see him for a favor wore midthigh dresses and didn’t sit as demurely. He wondered if he should be pleased or disappointed by her conservative demeanor. It would’ve been nice to see more of her legs. They’d always been beautiful.

His breath got stuck in his throat as their gazes locked. “You look amazing.” Hadn’t he said that already? Perhaps he was dehydrated from the excessive sweating he’d done before her arrival. “Can I get you some water? A drink?”

She opened her mouth to speak, but then shut it and shook her head. “No, thank you.”

What had she been about to say? The woman he’d known in college had always spoken her mind, yet another trait he’d appreciated. And then he remembered that she’d come to see him because her nightclub was in deep financial trouble.

He strode to the refrigerator hidden within a dark varnished cabinet that matched the rest of the furniture, pulled out a bottle of water and downed half of it before returning to his side of the desk. How should he play it with her? Keep it strictly professional or treat her like a friend? Asking her on a long-awaited date was out of the question. Nothing had changed and he refused to ruin the incredible friendship with Josh. Tanya was still off-limits. No matter how exceptional she looked or made his heart race.

She opened her bag and took out a notebook and pen. “Thank you very much for seeing me. I’ll get right to the point so as not to waste your time.”

Had her voice always been so husky? He’d remembered a lot about her, but not that. He nodded in response.

“It’s no secret you’re the marketing expert of your family’s successful conglomeration. You can take any product, rebrand it and make it fly off the shelves.” Her throat bobbed with her swallow, and he wondered if she was rethinking declining the offer of a drink. “You’ve done it with food products such as your chocolate puff cereal and malt drink, your children’s multivitamins and quite recently, you’ve catapulted your newly launched watch line into the must-have category for the rich and famous. Time magazine said you had the ‘Midas-branding touch.’”

Should he be impressed she’d done her homework? Once again, he had to stop comparing her to most women. She’d always shone above the rest.

For the first time since walking into his office, her smile seemed sincere. “You had the gift even back in college. Thanks to you, the football, baseball and women’s volleyball teams got a whole new look from the money you helped them raise through getting students involved in fund-raisers. And when their looks changed, the next year so did their performance. It was nothing short of brilliant.”

He hadn’t realized she’d been aware of what he’d done.

Tanya continued her speech. “Toshia Covington bragged about your role in reviving her party-planning business. She said if it hadn’t been for you, none of her husband’s money would’ve done her any good in providing CPR for her business. She said she would’ve pumped it in only for it to flow back out.”

The clenching of his stomach didn’t bode well. How did she know his sister’s best friend? And even more disconcerting was how she knew he was the one who’d helped her. “Are you friends with Toshia?”

The hard shake of her head sent her thick wavy hair flying over her shoulders. “I’ve never met her. She gave an interview in Black Women Entrepreneur magazine and sang your praises.” She crinkled her brow. “I’m surprised you didn’t have people knocking down your door to tap into your branding acumen.”

He chuckled as his body relaxed. The fear of stalkers was a real thing in his life, and he never took it for granted when someone had more information on him than they should. “I did. I had to take a trip to Argentina and then Jamaica to get away from the stress. Poor Franklin.”

“Franklin?”

“My assistant. He absorbed the brunt of it.” At her slight frown of disappointment, he rushed on to explain, “I rewarded him with a fully paid vacation to a place of his choosing once everything died down. And besides, I was scheduled to take those trips a couple of weeks later for business—I just happened to push up the dates.” Why was he defending himself? She was supposed to be impressing him, not the other way around. After clearing his throat, he asked, “What can I help you with?”

She gained an inch when she straightened her back. “Since you’re an expert when it comes to reviving products which are sorely in need of rebranding, I was wondering...” Her eyes flicked to the left toward the view of the downtown Cleveland skyline and then roamed over the room until it reached him again with her mouth open.

He hid his amused smile behind his hand. Had she only just noticed this office? Would she comment or continue with her paused presentation? Most people noted the stark difference between his conservative decor and that of the reception area as they stepped into his office. She’d lost a point for not observing it right away. But then again, would he have noticed if he’d been in her position?

Seeming to recover, she continued her spiel. “Would you kindly give me some tips on how I can revamp my nightclub back into one of the happening spots in Cleveland? If it could become a hot spot in Ohio, that would be great. And if we could have people from all over the Great Lakes region coming to party there, that would be fantastic.” She clasped her hands over the notepad and watched him.

He couldn’t help laughing. She may have matured into an alluring woman, but her honesty and forthrightness of speech hadn’t changed. He appreciated it more than she’d ever know. “Before I agree to anything, I have some questions for you.”

How her whole body proceeded to stiffen even more was a mystery. Maybe she needed some time to get accustomed to him. He picked up his water and took a sip before resting his elbows against his desk in as relaxed a manner as he could convey. “How does a computer-science major who barely socialized in college because she was studying so much come to own a nightclub?”

At her loud gulp and widened eyes, he swore she’d jump up and sprint out the room. Her eyes then turned sad enough to clench his heart, and he knew that the next words out of her mouth would shake up his world.

Chapter 3

Even if Tanya had analyzed every picture she could’ve found of Miguel on the internet, she still wouldn’t have been ready to meet him again live and in person. His persona claimed the space, swallowing her into his charm. She felt overwhelmed and drawn in at the same time. Only it wasn’t where she wanted to be.

When she’d been sitting comfortably behind her desk at her nine-to-five computer-programming job, she’d found absolutely no joy in her work, but at least it had paid her on a weekly basis. She’d never appreciated money coming in at a steady rate as she did when it was no longer happening. When had things gone so horribly wrong in her life?

The moment Miguel had rejected her during her senior year of college. That’s when she could pinpoint it to. The irony of coming full circle wasn’t lost on her. Once again, he could turn her away, only this time she’d go without breaking apart.

Since he wanted an explanation before providing his much-needed assistance, she’d give him the truth. After living with the illusion of having a perfect marriage with her ex-husband, she was done with hiding. Besides, she doubted such a busy man would make the time to help her when he had a whole marketing department to run. How was he even able to party as much as the media claimed?

Her heart thumped hard as she assessed him. Miguel hadn’t changed and yet he had. She thought he’d been hot in college. She’d been wrong. His body had filled out and his face had matured to the point of being devastating. The full head of curly hair she’d rubbed her hands through once, eliciting a moan of satisfaction from him, still beckoned her. Why had she listened to her brother? It had been a ridiculous idea to meet with him.

She picked up the notebook and jammed it into her bag, unable to be in the same room anymore without the memories flooding back and once again trampling her heart. To stop thinking about him, she took in the space of his office again. A dark expensive-looking desk, classic leather chairs and couches, all set off with a light peach–colored wall. The area was the total opposite of the waiting area and she wondered at the difference. Which one represented him?

Did it matter? She squirmed in her seat as unease refused to release its hold. She’d made a mistake coming to him and now she had to go. She’d exonerate her debt to the bank by selling her four-bedroom Victorian house that she’d paid off before the divorce.

Making it on her own sounded better than being slapped with the past every time she looked at him. Miguel should’ve been the man she’d ended up with; instead, she’d fallen into the arms of Broderick. Her ex-husband had set up the perfect marriage by making her lack for nothing. Not support, pampering, nor what she’d thought had been love. It had hurt to realize he’d used her. Her heart throbbed at what her life could’ve been if Miguel had claimed her in college.

Standing, she clutched her bag to her chest, hoping to suffocate the pain. “I’m sorry I’ve wasted your time, but thank you for agreeing to meet with me.” She pivoted and walked toward the door. Before she could reach it, Miguel had sprinted across the room to block her path.

“What’s wrong?” A shiver rolled down her spine. His voice had always been able to dig deep into her, eliciting a reaction.

She stared at his chest so he wouldn’t be able to decipher her lie. “Nothing. I just figured out a way to get the club back into the black.”

He hooked one of his elegant fingers under her chin and lifted her head until she looked into his eyes. His touch held her spellbound as her heart pounded with longing. Remembering who she was dealing with, she stepped out of his grasp and held on to the back of the chair she’d vacated so her weak knees wouldn’t buckle and land her in a heap at his feet.

“Have a seat,” he ordered.

She bristled. Who did he think he was? “No. I’m leaving.”

“I don’t think so.” Miguel strode to his desk and made the leather chair squeak under his weight. “Are you aware of how much Josh told me about your situation?”

Her legs decided they didn’t want to support her anymore, so she rounded the chair and collapsed. Her brother wouldn’t have divulged everything.

The neatly trimmed goatee made a bristling sound as he rubbed it. “Josh mentioned you were at risk of losing the club you and Broderick had purchased together.” His eyes narrowed the slightest bit. “You helped him and his partner, Jordan, to purchase the club by allowing him to use your house as collateral.”

Was he judging her for wholeheartedly supporting her ex-husband’s dream?

His light gaze held hers. “Under Broderick’s management, The Palace thrived. I even went there a couple of times.”

Her jaw dropped open.

“Why are you so surprised? We were on the same football team in college.”

Her ex had kept a lot of things from her, but what did it matter if Miguel had come to the club? Maybe Broderick had remembered how she’d cried on his shoulder after Miguel had blatantly rejected her and didn’t want to dredge up the horrific memories. It wouldn’t have mattered because the memory was always a heartbeat away, tormenting her, even after all this time. She couldn’t figure out why she’d never been able to get Miguel out of her mind and had stopped fighting it. Ten years was too damn long to hold on to someone.

Miguel opened a folder to reveal a graph with colorful squiggly lines. He pointed to a low dip and tapped on it. “He’d kept the club in the black within four months of opening it and then six months ago things went south. What happened?”

Her gaze flittered to the hidden refrigerator as her mouth dried. Why hadn’t she said yes to the water he’d offered earlier instead of letting her pride direct her answer? She didn’t want anything from him, so if she could deny whatever he offered, other than his help to get her out of this muddle, then she’d decline.

May as well come clean about her shoddy ownership skills. Air filled her lungs with her deep inhale before she released it. “We got divorced and the club and house went to me.”

His brows crinkled together and his voice lost a bit of its bass when he asked, “Why?”

Was the question regarding the divorce or the settlement? Did she need this embarrassment? Walking out would be easier. If she ran fast enough, he wouldn’t be able to catch her, but she liked her home and wanted to continue living in it for the foreseeable future. “Because the house belonged to me. I had purchased it in my name long before we got married three years ago. When he wanted to start up the club, I believed in him and used the house as collateral.”

He flipped his large hands over. She remembered the heat they’d elicited in her as he’d caressed her skin that night back in college. She shoved the thought away. “I don’t understand. Couldn’t he have paid you off? Or at the very least, you could’ve sold the club and split the profits.”

Clasping her hands together until a knuckle cracked did nothing to remove the nervous flutter from her belly. What would he think of her? That she was a loser. A little white lie wouldn’t hurt. “He insisted I keep it.” Of course he’d said it in a sarcastic, challenging tone, but her prideful self had taken him up on it. It hadn’t helped that she’d wanted him to suffer for ruining her life the way he had. How hard could it be to run a business? Not difficult with a background in finance and marketing, and six years working as the manager of a thriving club in Boston. Broderick had that experience; unfortunately, she didn’t. Where he’d made their place fly, it was flopping under her incompetent control.

Miguel shook his head and narrowed his hazel eyes. “So you’re saying that even though he’d poured his heart and soul into the club, he was willing to give it to you straight out?”

She twirled the strap of her bag as she struggled to maintain eye contact. His steady gaze had been her undoing every time she’d tried to lie to him. It turned out his eyes still had the same power of drawing out the truth when it came to her, but if she could hold on for a few more seconds, then maybe he’d be willing to let it all go. Seconds passed before the words spewed out. “I fought him for the club. With the help of my parents and my brother, I paid off his business partner so I could own it outright when the judge awarded me with it.”

Before he could ask any more questions, she held up a hand. “It turns out that a woman can get almost anything she wants when her husband is unfaithful—” she paused for the dramatic effect the moment deserved “—with the man he divorces her for once he’s able to marry him.”

Her admission seemed to have knocked Miguel for a loop as he slammed his back into the seat and stared at her. Speechless.

At least she hadn’t been the only one fooled by her ex. He’d been a master at hiding his homosexuality. “Now he’s out of the closet and ecstatic. By the way, his business partner, now husband, is who I had to buy out and when I slid the check over to them, Broderick wished me the best of luck with a condescending ‘You’re going to fail big-time’ snarl. He didn’t think I could run the place. He’d told me so on numerous occasions throughout the divorce proceedings.” She crossed her arms over her chest. His attitude had irked her to the point of spite. Just because she hadn’t been able to keep him satisfied as a wife didn’t mean she’d fail at the venture, even though her heart wasn’t really in it. Pride was named one of the deadly sins for a reason. “I couldn’t have him take away my chance at a family along with bursting my ego, so I decided to prove him wrong.”

The room pulsed with the unstated words of her failure. To her revulsion, tears stung the backs of her eyes, and she tried to swallow the lump of disappointment, which had come from nowhere and refused to leave. She had to get out of there before she embarrassed herself even further. This time she didn’t speak as she jumped out the chair and ran toward the door. She knew for certain now that coming to the man who’d driven her into Broderick’s arms in the first place had been a colossal mistake.

Firm hands held her by the shoulders and turned her around before she could grip the handle of the door. When he pulled her in close, she pressed her hands against his chest and tried to push away. She really did, but ended up gripping the lapels of his suit jacket so she could rest her head against his broad chest.

For the first time since the night he’d destroyed her, she released the pain she’d been holding in. The sobs shook her body as he rubbed her back. She cried so hard that his words were lost on her, but the calming vibrations passing into her chest soothed. When the dam finally closed, she sniffled as the hiccups made their unfortunate appearance.

He released her and looked down into what must look like a monstrous mess of a face. Wiping the tears from her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs, her heart stilled when for the briefest of moments, he angled his head as if he was coming in for a kiss. Her captured breath burned within her lungs in anticipation, ready to relive his soft lips pressed to hers. Her nipples tightened at the prospect. Without warning, he stepped away.

Leading her to the couch, he sat her down and handed her a box of tissues. The unladylike sound that came when she blew her nose didn’t make her feel any more comfortable. He went to the refrigerator, took out a bottle of water and twisted off the cap before handing it to her.

Tanya gulped the liquid to reduce the flame of mortification heating her head while she avoided his gaze. Had she actually thought he’d kiss her? She may have lost weight and looked okay, but he could have any woman in the world. Why would he want her? She’d never forget how he’d treated her.

“You must have really loved him,” he said.

The water she’d just sipped slid down the wrong way, eliciting a sporadic cough. He actually thought the tears were for Broderick and the end of their marriage. If she wasn’t fighting for her life, she’d have laughed. She’d thought she’d loved him and that their marriage had been good. No television show could’ve presented a more perfect one. Over time, she’d realized her love had merely been on a friendship level. Their marriage had been doomed from the start. Only he’d known the reason, though. Yet she’d also been at fault. Why had she ever attempted to give her heart to one man when it belonged to another?

His heavy hand banged on her back. “Are you all right?”

She nodded while pushing his arm away. “Yes,” she croaked out, and held up a finger so he wouldn’t call 911. “Just...need a minute.”

The concerned man holding out his arms as if ready to catch her if she should faint was not what she’d expected after following the lifestyle he’d lived over the years. He’d recently calmed his partying, being seen on the celebrity circuit less frequently and dating women for longer than a week at a time, but even those few monthlong relationships never lasted and she wondered why.

The only thing the women he dated had in common was that they were gorgeous and all seemed to possess the same social rank. If the media were correct, he didn’t look at race, culture or size when choosing his females. He’d dated Amelia Wilson and Sara Bloom, both of whom weren’t just overweight, but obese. Her heart broke with each woman he’d been photographed with. Why couldn’t he have fallen for her?

Not paying attention to his romances would’ve led to a happier life, but she couldn’t fully release him from her world. And now here they were. Together.

She noticed the wet area on the lapel of his jacket and gasped. “Oh, my goodness. I’ve ruined your suit.” She pulled out a wad of tissues from the box he’d given her and attempted to dab the area. As if that would help her save a garment that could probably pay off a month’s rent on the club. It didn’t ease her guilt to see that she’d gotten lipstick on the tie. She’d heard he favored Hermès.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said, gripping her wrist. “Besides, it’s nothing my dry cleaner can’t get out.”

Every pulse point in her body bounded at his touch. With reluctance, she slipped out of his grasp. “Okay. I’ll pay for the dry cleaning.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

She waved her hands at his chest, remembering how solid and supportive he’d felt holding her. “But it’s my fault.”

Shaking his head, he grabbed her floundering hands and held them between his. “Really, Tanya. It’s no big deal.”

Ignoring the heat thrumming into her from his touch would require too much effort from her drained body, so she pulled her hands away and picked up the bottle of water from the table.

Once again, a softness returned to his eyes. What was he thinking?

“I’ll help you get the club up and running.”

Had she heard correctly? “I... I only wanted your advice. You don’t have to help me any more than that.”

“You know Josh even better than I do. The only time he asks for help is when the situation is desperate. I can’t let him down.”

He and Josh had been close since the moment they’d met. It had taken effort to tamp down the jealousy she’d had of sharing her sibling with Miguel. “Thank you. But I’ll pay you for your consultation.”

He cocked both his head and brow.

“I don’t have the money now, but with your Midas-branding touch, I’ll be rolling in dough soon enough.”

She had missed his contagious laughter over the years. “I still won’t take your money. This is a favor to a friend. And his sister.”

Tanya bowed her head to hide the sting. So they weren’t even friends. Sure they’d spent ten years not speaking, but it sounded harsh for him not to acknowledge what they’d once been. She’d always wanted more from him, but hadn’t been able to get it, so she’d ended up with nothing. Now they’d be working together. Would she be able to keep her heart locked up and safe? Did she have a choice? She looked up to have his glorious eyes fill her vision, and for a moment, her hands itched to hold his face still so she could feel his luscious lips against hers just one more time. Maybe the need for his touch would go away if she indulged her whim.

He nodded. “No argument for once? Good.”

“I will pay you back,” she vowed.

His grin brought out those delectable dimples. “Obstinate as always, I see.”

Out of all the things that had changed, her stubbornness had probably gotten worse. “You don’t know the half of it.”

Chapter 4

Miguel got out of the most unobtrusive car he owned, a black Mercedes sedan, after parking half a block away from Tanya’s nightclub. Her tears had shattered his heart yesterday. Making things better for her had been his only goal. If he could make her club a success, then he’d do it. No matter what.

Not only had she turned out to be even more beautiful than she’d been in college, she also had the inner strength to do anything she put her mind to. Something they had in common.

Holding her had felt right. Sure, she’d been bawling, but having her body melt against his brought back the memory of the incredible kiss they’d shared in college. The one kiss he’d compared all first kisses to. They’d all fallen short. Referring her to one of his outstanding marketing officers would’ve been the most logical action to take to rebrand The Palace, with the added benefit of keeping him away from her. Away from being enticed by her beauty and the temptation of leaning in to smell her light honeysuckle perfume every chance he could get.

While they’d been in his office, he’d fought his attraction to her and won. Who was he kidding? If it wasn’t for the fact that she was related to Josh, he would’ve had her in his bed last night. Or at least tried to get her there. Normally running on instinct, he’d had difficulty reading her. One minute, she’d stared at him with the same desire in her gaze he remembered and his stomach would flip. The next moment, she’d seem to remember how much he’d disappointed her by choosing her brother’s friendship over her professed love, and she’d become cold.

Both aspects of her intrigued him. That’s why he should turn away from the cool metal door handle beneath his palm, hustle to the car and leave skid marks on the road as he raced away. A good sense of self-preservation would’ve had him doing just that. He opened the door.

The full house of patrons enjoying a meal in the downstairs restaurant piqued his interest. The club might be doing abysmally, but the restaurant conducted a brisk business. The tables were filled with people who may have felt too old to party the night away but who still wanted to have a good time in a trendy atmosphere.

The hostess didn’t recognize Miguel in his disguise of a hat, full beard and stooped stature. He’d learned to be a chameleon over the past few months in order to be incognito in his personal life. His father’s ultimatum still didn’t sit right with him, but if he wanted the job of Executive Public Relations Officer, he had to stay out of the media as the poster boy of partying for at least another month and a half. His parents wanted to see that he could represent the Astacio companies in a responsible manner, so that’s what he’d give them.

Did he need the position? With the trust fund being handed over to him when he hit thirty within the next six weeks, he’d never have to work again. Yet he couldn’t imagine not working for a living. His parents had set an example and he meant to follow it. He didn’t appreciate having to give up his partying lifestyle, or at least partying as Miguel Astacio. He’d developed aliases to keep the groove going without the media getting a whiff of him. He kept their interest by showing up at red-carpet and charity events because it wouldn’t do to lose them from his tail.

He sat at a table, switched on his tablet and scribbled his observations. The restaurant might improve its patronage by serving microbrew. The waitress fairly skipped over to him. Someone loved her job. “Welcome to The Palace Restaurant. Can I get you a drink while you decide on your order?”

He smiled at the chipper young woman, enjoying the cool loft-like ambiance of the space. “Nothing to drink, but I’ll take the house special to go.”

“We have grilled rib eye steak and blackened trout fillet. Both are served with a fresh salad, potatoes and vegetables.”

“I’ll take the trout fillet, please.”

She gathered up his menu as she bobbed on her toes. How much was Tanya paying her to do this job? “Your food will be out soon.”

“Thank you.”

Not telling Tanya he’d be stopping by gave him freedom to assess the place without her unique ability to distract him. He stood and trooped up the stairs to the empty second-floor club, took in the open area with a bar along each wall and then went up to the top floor to snoop around. He smiled at the thought of transforming the space into an exclusive VIP seating area. It would be perfect, considering the people partying up there could see down to the main dance level and be seen if they stood or danced by the railing. Otherwise, they’d have their own private party where the others would want to be but couldn’t access.

He jogged down the stairs more excited than when he’d stepped into the building and sat at his table. The place had potential. And as the ideas formulated, he realized just how much of a success he could make of it. Of course it would take a heavy investment, but he’d figure out a way around that. Excited, he pulled out his phone to dial the number Tanya had given him reluctantly before leaving his office yesterday. How many times had he stared at the digits on his phone, wanting to call just to hear her voice?

He slid his phone into his coat pocket. He needed a plan before speaking to her again. Revealing to her how he felt wouldn’t be a good idea, considering how angry she still was at him. Had he ever stopped loving her?

No. His feelings for her hadn’t been enough to destroy a friendship with her brother.

Maybe he could treat her as if she were nothing but a sister. That might work, especially if he found someone to get serious about before they met again. He scoffed at the idea. It had been months since he’d dated anyone seriously, and he’d even use the term loosely. Had consistent sex with the same person would be more accurate. If two people date for months and the feelings don’t deepen, can it ever be considered serious? He’d tried on several occasions over the past few years to become emotionally vested, but something always seemed to be missing with the women he dated.

The waitress set his to-go bag in front of him and he handed her the cash for the food, including a large tip. He left the restaurant, stepping onto the cold Cleveland street. The lingering effect of being taken by surprise yesterday by Tanya wouldn’t rule him the next time they met face-to-face. Neither would his attraction to her.

* * *

Tanya watched the security monitor from her office and could’ve sworn she didn’t breathe until Miguel left the vicinity. She’d frozen when she’d turned to face the CCTV screen and seen his stooped frame with his face hidden behind a fake beard and a hat. He hadn’t called to inform her of the visit. What had he been writing so enthusiastically?

He’d taken it upon himself to help her improve the club, and she’d watched him as if it were all some sort of television show. Why hadn’t she gone to see him?

Fear alone could take the blame for her inaction.

She dialed her best friend. “Becca, I’m so screwed.”

“What’s wrong?”

She rubbed the heel of her palm against her forehead. “I’m an idiot.”

Becca snorted. “Is this about Broderick? How could you have known he was gay? I definitely didn’t. He had us all fooled.”

Tanya stood and paced the perimeter of the space her ex had set up as an office. From the lushness of the black-and-white leather furniture, she’d ventured to guess it had doubled as his illicit love den. “For once, it’s not about him. I went to see Miguel Astacio yesterday.”

She snatched the phone away from her ear at Becca’s shriek. “No. You will not do this to me over the phone. Either you get over here or I come to the club, where I know you are. You spend too much time in that place. Considering how dead it’s been there, we’ll have privacy either way.”

“Not funny.” But absolutely correct. “Let me make sure things are set up and I’ll stop by.”

“Bring a bottle of white zinfandel with you. Wait, we’re talking about Astacio—bring two.”

Tanya got off the phone thinking Jack Daniel’s would serve her better. She tracked down her club manager to check that everything was set for the night. Clint Davis had recently been promoted to manager from bartender under Broderick a few months before he’d asked for a divorce.

Out of all of the people Broderick had been close to, Clint had been her friend, too, and she trusted him. He’d been supportive by providing more than one listening ear during the most difficult times after her divorce. While she’d been struggling as the new owner of the club, he’d proved himself to be loyal by working just as hard as her to return it to its previous status. None of their promotions, advertising or specials had had lasting effects, leaving them to flounder.

She popped into his office. “Hey, Clint. I’m headed out. Anything you need me to do tomorrow?”

In some ways, it was as if she worked for him. She’d paid very little attention to Broderick’s involvement in the club, so she knew less than nothing about running it and it showed in the downhill progression of patronage. Clubs were more volatile than restaurants, and once people discovered that Broderick no longer owned the place, their numbers had declined. She lacked the ability to schmooze anywhere near as well as her ex. She’d prefer to be in flannel pajamas on a Friday night rather than speaking to strangers and making sure they were having a good time.

Her head throbbed with the thought of losing everything and dealing with the failure, but now that Miguel was on her team, soon she’d be the one bragging while raking in the money.

She still hadn’t forgiven Miguel, but she could enjoy a man’s powerful presence and comforting touch without liking him, right?

Clint’s handsome light brown face looked up at her and his white teeth gleamed when he smiled. “We’re good to go. DJ Slide will be here in an hour to set it off.”

Tanya held back a grimace. The DJ wasn’t her favorite. Slide liked to play only techno music, which Tanya didn’t appreciate because she found it hard to dance to. “Do you suppose we could get someone else?” At Clint’s narrowed dark-eyed gaze, she backed up a step. He didn’t care for her opinion of DJ Slide and would always defend her saying she’d been one of the main reasons they’d been so hot for so long. She recalled Broderick hiring other DJs, but she’d rather slit her throat than ask him. “Not for this weekend, but maybe she could change up the techno with some house, reggae and Top 40 hits. Or stop playing the same twenty songs over and over again.” She mumbled the last. Cowering went against her nature, but she couldn’t afford to annoy Clint when she needed him most. Where would she get a trusted club manager if he left her?

“Nothing for you to do tomorrow,” he said in a haughtier voice than she appreciated. “You’ve been here every weekend since taking over. Not even Broderick was here that much.”

She stiffened. Was he trying to remind her of where her ex-husband had spent his time when he’d said he’d been at the club? No matter—their relationship had been doomed from the moment she’d left Miguel’s arms and cried on Broderick’s shoulder back in college. He’d been so understanding and had a way of making her feel good about herself. They’d stayed friends over the years and when he’d returned to Cleveland after working in the Boston club scene, he’d looked her up and they’d started dating. Three months later, they were married.

Everyone had told her she’d moved into the relationship too fast, but it wasn’t as if she’d had a plethora of choices. The handful of relationships she’d had over the past six years had all gone nowhere. Broderick had liked her even though she’d outweighed him by sixty pounds and she would wince whenever he pulled her onto his lap.

“I’ll take time off when we start making money again,” she responded.

What was the expression that passed over his face? He’d looked almost pained before grinning. Lately, something had been off about Clint, but she couldn’t put her finger on it, so she blamed it on her distrust of all men.

“We’ll get there,” he affirmed.

She didn’t quite feel his conviction as she nodded and pumped her fist. “Yes, we will. Have a good night.”

“You, too.”

She ignored the temptation to grab a bottle of wine from the club’s stock so she could head straight to Becca’s place. A quick stop at the supermarket wouldn’t kill her. A brownie pick-me-up would be nice, too. No. Absolutely no brownies. She’d done so well to keep the stress eating at bay. Dealing with Miguel would not make her gain weight again.

She refused to let him have any kind of effect on her. She’d merely been in shock after not having seen him for so long. More like overwhelmed. Now that she had control over her reactions, she’d be able to deal with him to make her business successful. No emotion.

Chapter 5

Twenty minutes later, Tanya lounged on her best friend’s couch with the crumbs of a decadent chocolate-chip cheesecake waiting for her to make them disappear. “So that’s what happened.” Becca had remained silent, sipping wine, as she listened to Tanya’s account of her encounter with Miguel.

Becca poured herself another glass and bit off a tiny piece of her carrot cake. “You just watched him roam through your club and didn’t even think to talk to him?”

“He was in some sort of disguise.” She crinkled her nose. “Which I could see right through, but no one else recognized him. I don’t think he wanted to be seen. And as I mentioned before, I was beyond embarrassed about what happened yesterday. I got snot all over him.”

“Which is romantic as hell because he let you. I wish you could remember what he’d said as you were entwined in his comforting embrace. Maybe something like, ‘Baby, it’s okay. I’ll be here to take care of you. You don’t need to do it alone anymore. I love you.’” Becca said the last in a dramatic breathy whisper.

Tanya broke out into a fit of laughter. “You’re a nut. I do remember an ‘It’s okay’ being repeated.”

“Do you think he likes you?”

Her lip curled involuntarily. “It doesn’t matter.” She and Becca had met in junior high school and had maintained their closeness even when they’d gone to different universities. “Need I remind you that I confessed my love to him, and he laughed in my face telling me to call him when I lost forty pounds. Sixty for good measure because he didn’t like his women fat.”

Becca rolled her eyes. “He did not say that.”

“I know that’s what he meant when he said he didn’t want to lose his friendship with Josh by going out with me. I was too big a girl for him.”

“You’ve always been too hard on yourself about your weight.” Becca pierced her with a stare. “You were active, which made a difference in your structure. Sure you look great now, but you looked good back then, too. I believe him.” She waggled her head. “I don’t understand why he couldn’t have both you and Josh in his life, but at least he didn’t betray his friend by sneaking around with you.”

Nothing her friend could say would change her mind about why Miguel had rejected her. It didn’t help that although Broderick had been a wonderful husband for a while, she could count on both hands and feet the number of times they’d made love. She’d blamed the problem on her weight then, too. That time she’d been wrong. Tanya eyed the carrot cake she’d bought for her friend. Seeing the direction of her gaze, Becca broke off a piece slathered with frosting and handed over the rest. “With the marathon you’re training for, you’ll burn these calories off in a hot minute.”

Tanya didn’t say no to the offer. Tired of having a passionless marriage and needing to feel healthier, she’d worked hard a couple years ago to lose over eighty pounds. The ordeal with Miguel had had her eating like a fiend and before she knew it, she’d ballooned to the point where she got out of breath when walking from her bed to the bathroom.

The weight loss hadn’t made a difference to the frequency or quality of the lovemaking with Broderick, and things started going downhill in their relationship. When Broderick presented her with divorce papers, she’d finally understood why he’d never really wanted to touch her in more than friendly ways.

“What am I going to do?” Tanya whined after finishing off the treat.

“Obviously, you’re going to let him help you, but keep your heart as far away from him as possible. You married a gay man because of Miguel.”

“That’s not the way it went down.”

Becca pursed her lips. “Would you have bumped into Broderick while crying your eyes out if Miguel hadn’t rejected you?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “No. You would’ve been more than happy to ignore him as you did every man you came into contact with because you only had eyes for Astacio. You wouldn’t be at risk of losing your house and livelihood. Plus, you might have had the chance to find a guy worthy of you if you hadn’t been attached to Broderick.”

Tanya loved her best friend. Becca always knew what to say. “I wonder what he scribbled so furiously on his tablet. Do you think he’ll be able to save the place?”

Becca sipped her wine, pondering. “He’s a marketing genius. Josh did well by setting up an appointment with him. The only thing I’m worried about is him charming you into bed.”

Tanya gasped with a slap to her chest. “I wouldn’t sleep with him.”

“That’s my concern.” Becca couldn’t hold a straight face and giggled. “Seriously. You need to have a good time, and he might be the one to give it to you. Just don’t get all emotional.”

She ran a hand through her hair, refusing to consider it. “Girl, stop being ridiculous.” At that moment, her cell phone rang. Miguel’s name flashed across the screen. It’s him, she mouthed even though the phone still rang.

“Answer it. And for goodness’ sake, put him on speakerphone,” Becca said.

She ignored her friend and hit Talk. “Hello.”

“Hi, Tanya. This is Miguel Astacio.”

As if she had more than one Miguel in her life. His voice melted over her, richer than the cheesecake she’d just eaten. “Hi, Miguel. What’s up?” Was that her sounding cool?

Speakerphone, Becca mouthed.

“I stopped by your club this evening.”

She thumped a fist to her chest to stop her heart from hammering out of it. “Really? Why didn’t you call me?”

“I needed to do a personal assessment. I did a walk-through and took some notes. I’d like to see the club in full swing. When is it busiest?”

Never almost slipped off her tongue. “Saturdays.”

“Great. I’m free then. Please let your bouncer know to let in an Isaac Graham. I’ll be incognito.”

Her mouth flapped open and closed. What kind of costume could he wear that would be able to hide his lusciousness from the world? “Isaac Graham. Got it. But why don’t you come as yourself?”

A grin filtered into his voice and she longed to see it. “I tend to draw a crowd wherever I go, and I’d like to see how things are on a normal night.”

“Oh. Yeah. Of course.”

“How’s midnight? Things should be heated up by then.”

Or not. “Sounds good. See you on Saturday. And thanks, Miguel.”

“I haven’t done anything yet.”

“You and I both know you’ll transform The Palace into a hot club again, so stop being humble. It never did suit you.”

His laughter settled as a warmth in her belly. “I’ll try to keep it in mind. See you Saturday.”

“Bye.” She waited until the line went dead before putting down her phone.

“No, Tanya.” Becca stood in front of her wagging a finger and shaking her head hard. “No. No. No. No. No.”

She hopped onto her feet so she didn’t feel so small. “What?”

“You’re already back in like with him. It doesn’t matter what he did to you—you still like him.”

“Cut it out. No, I don’t. He’s helping me.”

Becca anchored a hand on her hip. “You made him laugh. I could hear.”

She stared at her friend, waiting for clarification on her observation. “So?”

“Paired with your goofy smile, it’s a sure sign that you like him.”

Snatching up the bottle of wine, Tanya corked it and stalked to the kitchen. “Two glasses seems to be more than enough for you.”

Becca followed. “I’m not drunk and you know it. I want you to be careful. He’s never dated anyone for more than six weeks, and that’s only happened recently. His life has been a revolving door of women. No matter what the media says about him now, he’s a bad boy. Rich as hell, but still treats women as if they’re disposable.” She patted Tanya’s shoulder. “He’s already hurt you once. I don’t want it to happen again.”

She had difficulty shaking off the truth in her friend’s words. The pain he’d put her through hit her squarely in the gut. She’d never be able to forget his callousness. He cared for no one but himself, and she’d just have to remember it as they worked together. “I’m a grown woman, Becca. I can take care of myself. Miguel is going to help me rebrand the club, and then he’ll return to just being Josh’s best friend who I never see.”

Becca twisted her lips to the side and hummed. “Just be careful, okay.”

“Always.” Older, wiser and jaded, she’d be a fool to fall for Miguel again. He’d made her feel like an idiot once, and Broderick had done a better job of it than Miguel. The third time she’d be the one to end up on top.

Chapter 6

The thumping of techno blaring through the speakers set Miguel’s jaw muscle twitching. Having never enjoyed jumping up and down rather than getting into a smooth rhythm when dancing, he hated the music. Dressed to hide his true identity, he’d texted Tanya when he’d reached the door.

The paparazzi loved him. He was the least shy Astacio when it came to making sure they spotted him. He’d readily compare himself to a Kardashian, only he didn’t do reality-TV shows and he’d never be caught on a sex tape. Not that some of the women he’d been with hadn’t tried. His sexual life had remained personal, no matter how many partners he’d been involved with.

Tonight, he’d worn a fedora with a smooth brim and adorned with a broad velvet ribbon. The full mustache made him look older than his twenty-nine years, but the dark contact lenses hiding his hazel eyes tended to unnerve him when he looked in the mirror. He’d darkened his skin with a touch of makeup, and the cheap polyester floral button-down shirt and trousers hid his love for expensive clothes well enough that no one, other than his family, could recognize him.

Taking the stairs up to the second floor, he didn’t have to fight to make his way through the clubbers. The place had some college students jumping as if they were popcorn. A few older guys dotted the room, so he didn’t stand out as much as he’d initially thought he might. He bobbed his head in time to the music and made his way to the bar. Ordering a scotch on the rocks, he glanced over his shoulder, wondering how Tanya had made it through the past six months without the business collapsing. How much money had she sunk into it?

The bartender gave him the drink and Miguel slipped him the payment with a tip. He almost spit out the liquid when he took a sip. Watered-down scotch wasn’t his drink of choice. He held up the glass. Was there any liquor at all in the glass? After placing it on the bar, his breath hitched and his heart went crazy as he spotted Tanya. Damn, she was gorgeous, if not a little severe in her outfit.

She’d tucked a dark blue silk top into a black business skirt. Had she always dressed so conservatively? He couldn’t remember. He’d been so excited to hang out with her back then that he hadn’t really noticed what she wore. He cursed himself every day for messing things up with her.

His princess stood in front of him once again and his hands itched to grab and hold her so close she’d only be able to breathe in the air he released. To kiss her like he had that first time, lips blazing as they melded into each other, her tongue sliding tentatively against his until he took complete control, teaching her as he relished her scent. Her taste. Her body finally being in his arms.

When they’d separated to suck in air, she’d professed the sweetest words of love he’d ever heard in his life. For a moment, he’d basked in it, but then the reality of who he was and what he had to lose dawned on him. He’d just kissed his best friend’s sister, something he’d vowed to never do again. Josh would’ve seen it as a betrayal he’d never be able to forgive. So he’d confessed that he’d chosen Josh over her.

Her wide eyes had conveyed the blow he’d delivered. His heart had begged him to recall the words and tell her how much he wanted her, needed her, but his mind stayed in complete control. He’d turned his back on her and pretended interest in a book on his desk, unable to endure the tears in her eyes.

He’d heard rather than seen her stumble out the room as his heart broke.

It had been the lowest moment of his life, and he’d never apologized for his choice. Or comforted her with the honesty of how he’d really felt about her. She’d been the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on. She still was. Probably always would be. But he couldn’t have her.

She’d never hear his words of apology. Not only wouldn’t she believe it after all this time, but he didn’t need her softening toward him. Having her like him and making him fall for her again would be detrimental for them both. It had been tough getting over her, and he didn’t need a repeat.

Other than maintaining his relationship with his best friend, he was keeping her out of harm’s way. His life was all about being in the public eye. She wouldn’t be able to handle the spiteful women calling her vicious names just because she walked at his side. The media could be cruel. Even to him. He’d developed a tough skin, but it would crush her.

He waited to see if she’d recognize him. His heart stuttered the moment cognizance hit her and she grinned. For the second time in his life, she’d seen right through to him.

* * *

Despite being dressed as if he’d shopped in a thrift store, with a fedora covering his curly locks and his eyes darker than she’d ever seen them, she’d found him. He’d even shaved off his goatee and slapped on a mustache for the occasion. No one had rushed to the famous Astacio to become one of his groupies, so he’d fooled everyone else.

She crossed the floor to his side and leaned into him to shout in his ear over the blaring music. “Hi.”

His crooked grin as he looked down at her flipped her stomach. “Sweet meeting you here. How’s tricks, foxy lady?”

She placed a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. “I wonder if anyone knows Billy Dee Williams is in the house. With that mustache and darker complexion, you look like a younger version of him.” He knew how to play a role and how to emphasize his most attractive features. His full dusky-pink lips brought to mind memories of when they’d made hers bend to his will, and without warning, she felt a need to taste them again. She sobered quickly. They weren’t here to have a good time. Getting her out of debt was the name of this game.

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