Sinfully Summer

Aimée Duffy

A division of HarperCollinsPublishers

www.harpercollins.co.uk

Contents

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Love Romance?

About HarperImpulse

Copyright

About the Author

Aimée Duffy

All my life I’ve been dreaming up stories. My mum said when I was little I used to make all the My Little Pony figurines talk to each other and even fall in love. Later, it was Barbie and Ken. In my teens, I played matchmaker with my friends at school.

When I wasn’t creating imaginary scenarios, I had my nose stuck in books, reading across genres and there was one thing I loved more than the escapism—the fact a story could touch me so deeply, like I was experiencing everything along with my characters. I knew from early on this was something I wanted to do for others.

Fast forward a few years and the dream almost got lost in real life, but I still couldn’t shake it completely. Now I write sizzling romance with the hope of making my readers’ hearts race as if they are falling in love for the first time.

I would like to dedicate this to Michelle Smart, Incy Black and Amalie Berlin. If not for you three wonderfully talented ladies, I would have thrown in the towel with this story. Thank you for your unending patience and support.

Chapter One

Alexa Green poked her head out of the hotel room door. She darted a glance left, then right and exhaled when she saw the corridor was empty.

‘One lap,’ she threw over her shoulder to her best friends, Sarah and Jenna. ‘And don’t you dare think about locking this door.’

If she was lucky, she guestimated she’d get all the way around her floor without seeing a soul. Nice underwear or not, getting caught in her knickers running down the halls of the most exclusive hotel in Marbella was sure to paint her cheeks pink for the first time ever. With shaky hands and a jittering belly, she took a step into the hallway. Out of all the crazy things she’d done, this topped them all. A muffled thump sounded from along the corridor and she hesitated.

‘Chickening out, Lex?’ Jenna asked.

Alexa gritted her teeth at the god-awful nickname. She swore they only used it to wind her up. ‘Not a chance.’

Tiny gymnasts in her stomach flipped and twirled, contradicting her cool façade. She stepped further into the hall. Adrenaline ripped through her body, making her heart pound hard against her chest. She felt alive, alert and exposed in a way that was more thrilling than terrifying. She turned back to her friends, a huge smile on her face. ‘See ya in a few.’

The marble floor felt cool on her bare feet as she bolted down the light, airy hall. Doors leading to other suites whirred by in a flash as she pushed herself faster; elation and a sense of freedom making her laugh breathlessly. She couldn’t deny the craziness of the dare, this was one of the wildest things she’d ever done, but she couldn’t say that she wasn’t enjoying the thrill.

She reached the end of the long corridor and made to turn left just as the main lift doors opened and two men stepped out. Her heart stopped and, for the beat of a second, time seemed to freeze.

Oh God.

She turned and scampered in the opposite direction – away from the English rock star and his publicist. She recognised them from more than a few wild parties back in London.

There were no doors down this strip of the hotel and she wondered where on earth she was running to, but the sound of two wolf-whistles kept her feet moving.

If she was the kind of girl to blush, she’d have been scarlet from head to toe.

Panting, she reached the end of the corridor and sprinted down the hall to her right. She couldn’t hear the men’s footsteps over the blood pounding in her ears, so couldn’t be sure if they’d followed. But she was sure that she wasn’t going to give anyone the opportunity to perv on her up close. What kind of idiots wolf-whistled in this day and age?

Shiny brushed steel doors came into sight at the end of the corridor. When she reached the lift, she paused in front of it. Alexa didn’t think it could be the main one, not so far away from the rooms.

She stabbed her finger into the button furiously until the doors slid open. After darting inside, she spun around, scanned the control panel then hit the ‘door close’ button. As the metal slid shut, she exhaled the huge breath she’d been holding.

She let out a giggle. The elevator jarred and then promptly began to move. Up. She stopped giggling and scanned the control panel, hoping a floor between where she was now and the penthouse would magically appear. It didn’t.

Jenna and Sarah had booked the plushest suite for their girly holiday and that had been the top floor, just below the penthouse with a bird’s eye view of the beach.

With her heart bursting out her chest and her hands shaking worse than the vibration plates at her gym, Alexa reasoned it might have been a maid who pressed the button so there was no need to panic, yet. After all, hotel managers still needed their suites cleaned. Her father had long since moved out of the penthouse of his own luxury resort but she knew from catching quick glances of the hotel mogul’s adopted son, Enrique Castillo, around the hotel that he stayed here. She couldn’t imagine the hunky man with the expensive tailored suits and Italian shoes would stay anywhere else. Unless he had a huge mansion on the beach, just like his parents did. Their beautiful properties were often featured on the news for hosting charity functions.

The fact that it was past six in the evening made her feel silly for praying it was a maid, but with panic threatening to render her incoherent, she had to keep a hold of her marbles and find a way out of this mess. Surely if the infamous Mr Castillo caught her, he’d chuck her and her friends out of his hotel. Ice laced the blood in her veins as trepidation washed through her.

Not to mention the paparazzi would have a field day with the story. She’d be Alexa Green, the wild-child streaker who’d gotten herself thrown out of another classy establishment. She shuddered. No way was she going to let her last single girlie holiday with her best friends end that way.

Alexa’s mind whirred as she thought of a way out of it. Given the choice, she’d rather face the idiot whistlers than this. The lift shuddered to a halt and she edged to the back. Her bottom met cold metal, but it did nothing to cool the heated blood pounding through her veins. Watching the doors slide open, she felt the ones behind her do the same. For a brief second, she froze as two male voices bid each other goodbye in Spanish. They weren’t in sight yet, so she slipped out the opposite side of the elevator and darted around the wall.

Trying to calm her breathing, Alexa took stock of her surroundings. With her heart galloping faster than a race horse, she noted that she wasn’t in an entrance hall as she’d originally expected. Nope. She’d walked straight into the Castillo penthouse. The thump of metal signalled the doors closing. She held her breath.

The slap of shoes hitting the cold, granite floor had dread knotting her stomach. Mr Castillo hadn’t left. Alexa struggled to breathe evenly. If he was here, calling the elevator back up would make enough noise to alert him to her presence. But that couldn’t be the only way out.

If she was right, no one would rely solely on one escape route in a hotel this grand, not with the risk of fires and electrical failure. Safety officers wouldn’t allow it. There must be a stairwell leading out, she just had to find it and slip away unnoticed.

The sound of the footsteps drifted away, followed by the click of a door closing. Adrenaline roared through her veins. This was her only chance. Pushing away from the wall, she rounded the lift, desperately seeking an escape. She barely noticed the plush furnishings, soft-looking leather sofas and floor to ceiling window which showcased the most spectacular view she’d ever seen. Instead she focused on the walls surrounding the elevator.

‘Are you lost?’

The heavily accented voice froze her to the spot. She darted a glance toward the sound. Dark brows furrowed over the richest coloured eyes she’d seen. His gaze swept over the length of her body, then up, lingering on her rear for a beat too long. Her skin tingled under his scrutiny.

Turning her whole body to face him, she slapped a hand on her hip. ‘Had a good enough look?’

His lips quirked in a sexy, lopsided grin. The jitters were back and Alexa swore the temperature in the room shot up ten degrees. Her gaze dropped to his broad shoulders, covered in a thin white t-shirt, then down to a well filled chest. She could see a dark pattern beneath the t-shirt. She longed to find out what kind of tattoo he had. Usually, tats didn’t do it for her. But on that body…

‘I could ask you the same thing.’

She snapped her attention back to his face. He stepped toward her, his jaw set, his eyes dancing with humour and something darker…something that made her blood heat and her mouth water.

Alexa raised her arm, palm out. ‘Hold it there, Mr. Any closer and I’ll scream.’

He paused by the sofa. Propping his hip against the cream leather, he folded his arms across his chest, causing the muscles to bulge. The moisture drained from her mouth and flooded in her belly.

‘No one’s here to hear you.’ He cocked a brow. ‘You seem to be forgetting where you are and,’ his gaze dipped down to her breasts causing the nipples to peak against the lacy fabric ‘how underdressed.’

Alexa thought this moment would have topped the blush scale. She planted her other hand on her hip and glared at him, unwilling to show any weakness. ‘I’m just leaving.’

She turned and strode back to the lift, keeping her back straight and trying not to wiggle her hips too much. The predatory sheen in his eyes made her body more jittery than the idea of sprinting around the lower floor in her underwear. She reached out to hit the button, but a large hand circled her wrist before she made it.

Alexa squeaked and darted back a step. He was so close, and his chest was right in her face. She could see the dark outline of the tattoo beneath the thin cotton. The outline of a burning sun, she thought, or something that looked like a sun. Her hands itched to lift the material and see for herself.

‘I’m up here.’

She snapped her gaze back up to his smirking face and took another step back. His lips kicked up at the corners and his eyes darkened. She swallowed against the urge to step closer, to feel his hard body pressed against hers. But she realised she was in little more than her bra and knickers in a stranger’s home. Unease skittered down her spine.

Alexa squared her shoulders, trying to quash the fear turning her heated blood into cold sludge. ‘I’m leaving now.’

‘After you explain what you’re doing in my home in your undergarments.’

‘Undergarments?’ Alexa pressed her lips together to keep a giggle at bay. ‘Seriously?’

The amusement in her eyes brought out Ric’s smile—something he hadn’t done in a long time. What was it about the young heiress that fascinated him? He couldn’t deny that she was incredibly beautiful. A brown, messy bob fell to her shoulders and she had the greyest eyes he’d ever seen. Her lips were the perfect bow; pink, rosy and ready to be kissed. Not to mention the fact she had a body that would melt weaker men into a puddle, and he’d never seen as much of it as he had tonight.

‘How do you refer to them where you’re from?’ he asked, knowing full well. Becoming fluent in English was the first thing he did when he left behind his former life on the streets, but he was curious to see where the conversation would go.

She cocked a perfectly manicured brow. ‘You’re going to ask me what I call my underwear?’ Shaking her head, she eyed the lift door over his shoulders. ‘My friends will be worried.’

Disappointment pulsed through him. He didn’t want her to leave. He hadn’t had the time to enjoy a woman’s company in so long, not since he started organising this charity ball, not to mention negotiating new contracts for the resort his adopted parents were having built at the other side of the city. Lately, all he did was work and sleep. It was the only way he was going to convince Antonio and Maria that he had changed, that they could trust him to run more than just the hotel, that he was ready to own a stake in their empire. A famous heiress showing up in his suite was most certainly a welcome distraction.

‘Are you going to tell me why you’re here or would you prefer to explain yourself to the police?’

She gasped and her mouth dropped open. ‘You can’t do that!’

Ric forced back a smile. ‘And why is that? Breaking and entering is against the law.’

‘Don’t you know who I am?’ she demanded. ‘The press would love to snap me being carted out of a fancy hotel in my knickers.’

Her eyes pleaded with him to understand, and he did. She was in the international news on a regular basis for her wild stunts and excessive partying. A road he’d almost gone down himself, even after the Castillos had saved him.

He eyed her again, wiping all signs of recognition from his expression. Her arms folded across her chest causing the swell of her breasts to almost spill out over the white lace. Heat arrowed down to his groin and he had the urge to take a step closer. To inhale the flowery scent he’d caught a whiff of when she’d been so close before. Her eyes couldn’t mask her irritation as she glared at him.

‘I don’t believe I do,’ he lied to see how she’d react.

Her feistiness intrigued him. Given the Castillos’ wealth and status, women never dared stand up to him.

‘I’m Alexa Green.’ She glared at him, one delicate eyebrow raised, waiting for his reaction.

Ric fought back a grin and kept his expression blank. ‘That doesn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?’

She dropped her arms to her sides, her fists clenched. He pressed his lips together to keep from laughing.

‘A dare.’

Ric frowned. ‘What?’

Alexa shook her head and huffed out a breath. ‘A dare, like a bet or a—’

‘I know what a dare is, Alexa. You were dared to break into my suite?’

Teasing forgotten, he eyed her again. He could have sworn she was in her twenties, younger than he, but not a minor. The last picture of her splashed over the Spanish news was of her falling out of an exclusive London nightclub.

‘It was a bit of fun.’ She waved a hand and went on, like an impatient teacher talking to an incredibly stupid pupil. ‘My friends and I wanted to make this holiday memorable, but it wasn’t to come in your suite—I had to run around the top floor in my knickers. I got caught and ended up in your lift.’ Ric did grin this time. ‘What?’

‘Nothing.’ There was no way he’d admit that her impatience was adorable. He closed the distance between them so they were toe to toe and looked down into eyes that had turned the colour of a stormy sky. ‘What age are you, Alexa?’

She straightened and seemed to gain an inch, still a head shorter than him. ‘Twenty-three.’ He could see irritation warring with lust in her expression; perhaps she was still annoyed at his lack of recognition.

But he couldn’t concentrate on that now. She wasn’t off limits. Ideal for what he had in mind.

Ric edged closer when he noted her eyes clouding over. The tips of her breasts grazed his chest with every shallow breath. Her lips parted on an almost silent gasp.

‘Aren’t you a little old for childish stunts like that?’

Stepping back, she glared at him, all trace of desire gone. ‘You can never be too old to have fun. Do you even know how any more?’

His tongue froze for a second. How much did she know about his past? There was a time in his late teenage years where he did everything he could to feel alive, almost giving Maria and Antonio a heart attack in the process. But he was sure the worst of his past was buried, they’d made sure their money kept his secrets. She couldn’t know.

He dragged his mind back to the present. ‘Oh, I know how to have fun.’

Ric’s gaze swept down over the swell of her breasts, narrow waist to curvy hips he imagined were silky and firm. Heat punched him square in the groin and he shifted, trying to ease the tightening of his trousers.

‘Mind out of the gutter, Castillo, and eyes where I can see them.’

His gaze rose at a leisurely pace back to her frowning face.

‘That is not the kind of fun I was referring to.’

He cocked a brow. ‘Don’t tell me you hadn’t thought about it. I saw you eyeing me up.’ He grinned and her mouth popped open.

‘I’ve just met you!’ She looked annoyed, but from the lust darkening her eyes he knew he was right.

Ric chanced a step closer. ‘And yet you want me.’

Alexa retreated a few steps and banged into the wall. ‘Hold it right there, Castillo.’ She held her hand out again, palm forward, an inch away from his shirt.

‘Call me Ric.’ He reached out and curled his fingers around her arm, her racing pulse made his smile grow wider. ‘Your body’s reaction can’t lie.’ His thumb traced light circles on the inside of her wrist.

Alexa’s eyes darkened further to a stormy grey. ‘It’s adrenaline, not lust.’ She snatched her hand back.

The breathless reply made his already heated blood sizzle. He lowered his head, hovered his lips above her ear. ‘Keep telling yourself that, you might start to believe it.’

Alexa wasn’t the kind of woman he’d want a short liaison with—her personal life was too messy and far too public for his liking—but he couldn’t deny his attraction to her. Any more than she could deny hers.

She planted a hand on his chest and pushed him back. Ric could see her cheeks tint with arousal and her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths.

‘My friends will be wondering where I am. They’ll end up phoning security to hunt me down.’

Ric guessed it was time for a cold shower. Alexa headed for the lift. He reached out and clasped her by the arm; his palm tingled at the contact. ‘Wait.’

She turned to face him, her eyebrows raised. ‘I’m not going to sleep with you, Ric. Forget it.’

If her gaze hadn’t dipped to his chest at the same time as she licked her lips, he might have believed her. But that’s not what he wanted. This time. ‘You owe me a date.’

‘Excuse me?’ Pulling out of his grasp, she glared at him.

His gaze dipped to her rosy pout, slightly damp from her tongue. Another bolt of heat headed south. ‘I have a party to go to tomorrow night.’ Actually, he had networking to do and having a beauty like Alexa on his arm might convince some of the old men with too much money and wives long since gone to attend his charity ball in a few weeks. ‘And you’re coming with me.’

Taking her would be risky, but he’d never let that stop him before. She was unpredictable and if the media suspected he was having a fling with her, they’d dig deep into his past. Then again, her father’s status was well known even here and he could work that to his advantage. He had no doubt she could be charming, he just had to keep her in check.

She laughed. ‘I don’t think so.’

Ric shrugged. ‘Then I’ll be happy to call security and have them hold you until the police arrive.’ Her brows drew together and Ric continued. ‘If you really are press worthy, I’m sure I can arrange for one of the reporters to shoot the story.’

Fear flashed in her eyes, but it was gone in a heartbeat. She smirked at him. ‘I’m going back to my room.’

Irritation warred with amusement, but in two steps he was in front of the elevator doors.

She glared at him, then turned back to his apartment. ‘Fine, I’ll take the stairs.’

‘Good luck with that, the door is locked.’ He smirked at her and slid his phone from his pocket. ‘Last chance.’

Her eyes widened, but she straightened her shoulders. ‘You wouldn’t.’

He lifted an eyebrow and hit speed dial, then the speaker. The ringing sounded in the room.

‘Hola, Señor Castillo,’ a voice answered. Alexa paled.

Ric lifted the handset closer to his mouth.

‘Fine, I’ll go with you.’ She glared at him.

He smiled. After telling security they weren’t required, he disconnected the call. ‘Good choice. It won’t be so bad. Fine dining, champagne and I’ll even buy you a new dress.’

She crossed her arms and his gaze dropped to her cleavage. ‘I have my own party clothes.’

An image of her in her usual style, a barely-there concoction of silk, flooded his mind and his whole body heated up. His gaze snapped to hers and he glared right back. ‘It’s formal, Alexa.’

Puffing out a breath, she stepped closer. ‘I can do formal. Do you know how many corporate affairs my straight-laced father, Robert Green, has dragged me to over the years?’ She poked a white tipped finger nail into his chest. ‘Far too many. And it better not be as boring as those.’

He grabbed the offending finger, used it to haul her body against his, lowered his head and whispered in her ear, ‘the night will be as fun as we make it.’

He released her trembling frame, took a step back and hit the button for the elevator. After a lingering glance at her almost-naked body he pulled his t-shirt over his head and handed it to her with a shred of regret. Alexa’s mouth fell open as she fixed her attention on his chest. Ric smirked as she accepted the shirt with a shaking hand.

‘Put this on.’

Alexa obeyed slowly, as if the sight of his naked skin cast a dreamlike spell over her. Ric couldn’t believe it, but in his shirt she looked even sexier than she had in her underwear. Legs that went on forever held his gaze and, even though he knew what was under the white cotton, he wanted to rip it off and find out all over again.

He cleared his throat. ‘A limo will pick you up out front at seven. I’ll meet you at the event.’

Alexa startled out of her trance. ‘But where are we going? How long will it take?’

A ping announced the arrival of the elevator and Ric gestured for Alexa to enter. She did, then held her finger on the open button, her eyebrow raised in question.

He tried not to smile. He’d given her an ultimatum she couldn’t refuse, yet she wouldn’t admit defeat.

‘Do you like surprises?’ he asked.

Alexa pressed her lips together as if considering his question. ‘Not the kind that lead to a party with the atmosphere of a wake.’

He chuckled again, wondering whether she had a brain-to-mouth filter at all. ‘You’ll just have to hope it’s something better.’

She folded her arms and pouted at him. He smiled as the doors began to slide shut.

‘Don’t be late, Alexa. And remember, it’s formal.’

The clink of metal slamming together halted her not-so-innocent reply.

After the lift had disappeared, Ric headed for the bathroom, intent on taking the cold shower for as long as he could. Alexa fired his blood like no woman had in a long time and she would no doubt look spectacular all glammed up by his side.

But he’d need to make sure he kept a stranglehold on his libido. Falling into bed with Alexa—as tempting as it had been tonight—wouldn’t be a smart choice. The girl was wild, unpredictable and far too irresponsible. He knew he was walking a fine line using her status to tempt guests to the ball, but dating her crossed it completely. That would draw the kind of attention he didn’t need. Especially if the media dug too deep into his past…

Chapter Two

Wild. Daring. Completely bonkers.

Alexa had been accused of all these things, but it didn’t bother her. Ric’s accusation that she was childish hit a nerve. She twisted the knob and threw the door open. Jenna yelped into the hotel phone, while Sarah paced the living room. They both turned to her with wild, worried eyes.

Alexa shut the door behind her. The gymnasts in her tummy felt more like heavy weight champs. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Where have you been, Alexa?’ Sarah stomped towards her, a frown marred her brow.

‘It’s okay, she’s back now,’ Jenna spoke into the receiver then hung up. She glared at Alexa. ‘We’ve been worried sick.’

Hugging her stomach, she swallowed. ‘The dare didn’t go as planned. I ended up in Enrique Castillo’s penthouse.’

She was rewarded with wide eyes and gaping mouths. Jenna recovered first. ‘His t-shirt?’

Alexa nodded, her eyebrows pulled together. ‘He blackmailed a date out of me too.’ The arrogant, pushy, git. She shook her head in exasperation, who’d have thought he’d actually back up his threat? If it was her father, he wouldn’t want bad press for his hotel. Not Castillo. ‘Tomorrow night. Some mortuary gig.’

Well, not quite. But it didn’t sound promising. Formal, in her opinion, meant boring and there was nothing she loathed more than boring. Except having to call her father to ask him to bail her out of a Spanish prison. She shuddered at the thought.

‘A date?’ Sarah perked up, skipping over the fact Alexa had said blackmailed, and clapped her hands like a loon. The shiny diamond on her ring finger sparkled in the light.

Alexa quelled a grimace as a chill ran through her. Why her friends felt the need to settle down so young was beyond her. Then again, they hadn’t been brought up by her father.

‘And he’s gorgeous,’ Jenna added, already on her way to the mini bar. Did neither of her friends hear the word blackmail? Jenna pulled a bottle of Cristal from the fridge. ‘This calls for a celebration.’

‘I don’t think so.’ Alexa accepted the champagne flute though—how could she not? The sip she took was heavenly and exactly what she needed right now. They settled down onto the sofas. ‘I’m not looking for the one.’ And even if she was, Alexa knew it wouldn’t be Ric. Lush as that chest may be…

‘Just imagine. We could all end up getting married this year!’ Sarah bounced up and down in her seat, her short blonde bob swished around her shoulders.

The blood drained from Alexa’s face and the weight in her stomach felt heavier than lead. ‘No.’ Her protest was barely a whisper. Bunnies would rule the earth before she married a man even remotely like her father. From her experience, successful men, even aspiring ones, were all the same. God knows her father had tried to set her up with enough of them. He’d even staged a proposal from one. She had pulled on her running shoes and bolted in the opposite direction.

Jenna saved her. ‘Sarah, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. They’ve not been on the date yet.’

Alexa flashed her a grateful smile.

Sarah just pouted. ‘Where’s he taking you? You said mortuary?’

Shrugging, she sipped her wine then tucked her legs under her. ‘He said formal, which means black-tied, straight-laced, men dribbling on about their success. Might as well be a wake. Those kind of parties are always dull.’

Rolling her eyes, Sarah said, ‘You never moan when we go to functions like that.’

‘That’s different. That’s networking for my business. This is a boring date with a boring guy whose sole idea of fun is a frisk between the sheets.’

Hell, in other words. Shivers ran through her again and her body tingled, betraying her thoughts. It seemed her hormones liked the idea of a frisk with Castillo. Well, they’d just have to be disappointed.

‘Sounds like fun to me.’ Jenna giggled. ‘Seriously though, what are you going to wear? You’ve nothing formal with you.’

Sarah clapped her hands together again. ‘We could go shopping tomorrow.’

Alexa smirked. ‘No need. I have the perfect dress.’

Jenna frowned at her, unconvinced.

‘The bronze silk Gucci.’ Her lips curved wider. She couldn’t wait to see Ric’s face. It would serve him right for blackmailing her into going.

‘Alexa, that scrap shows off more than it hides. He said formal.’

Suppressing a giggle, she pulled her face into her best innocent expression. ‘It’s ankle length.’

Still, Jenna was right. It was over-the-top and revealing. But, with her sun tan at its peak, the dress would be a killer, and she’d work on ridding herself of the bikini lines in the morning. Maybe it would teach Ric he couldn’t push her into doing what he wanted. Maybe he’d stare at her with that hungry-predator gleam in his dark eyes. Alexa’s stomach quivered. Either way, tomorrow promised to be interesting.

Her phone beeped on the counter and she rose, crossed the room and opened her emails. Her eyes almost bugged out of the sockets when she saw the name of the American actress asking if Alexa’s business Together could set her up with a companion when she visited London for business next week.

She brought her phone back to the sofa and showed Jenna and Sarah. ‘Look at the new client I got!’

Sarah grabbed the phone out of her hands and gawked at the screen. ‘Can I be the one you set her up with?’

Jenna and Alexa rolled their eyes.

‘She wants a tour guide and a dining companion, not a crazed stalkery fan,’ Alexa teased.

‘I can’t believe she heard about your business in the States,’ Jenna said. ‘But we agreed, Alexa. No work on this holiday.’

‘I can’t lose a client, Jenna. It will only take half an hour to set things up. I have the perfect woman in mind.’ She didn’t mind setting clients up with the opposite sex, she based the service Together provided on common interests, but she didn’t think an A-lister would want to be seen with a mystery man. The press in London would be all over that like a rash.

Sarah nodded. ‘Alexa, reply before she changes her mind.’

Jenna grumbled something under her breath and guilt broke through Alexa’s excitement. But holiday or not, Together was her livelihood and big named clients would mean better publicity. With her reputation still shot to pieces and her refusal to touch her trust fund, she couldn’t let a client like this slip through her fingers.

She scrolled through her contacts and found the number she needed. It was great business and a brilliant distraction from the whirlwind of hormones and irritation Ric had brought to the surface. Hitting dial, she ignored Jenna’s pout and brought the phone to her ear.

The midday sunshine heated her skin like she was in a just-too-warm jacuzzi, but Alexa didn’t care. She had tan lines to get rid of and lying topless was the only way to do it, even if that meant being more wary of low-lying paparazzi.

‘I can’t believe you made us pick a spot this far away from the bar,’ Jenna grumbled as she returned with a tray of cocktails. ‘There are plenty of topless women next to the pool; you don’t need to hide away here.’

Alexa opened her eyes to squint at Jenna. ‘Last thing I need is to be back in the papers, especially with the new client I’ve just scored.’

Jenna laid the tray of multi-coloured cocktails down on the table between Alexa and Sarah’s sun loungers. Jenna then pulled a Spanish magazine from her bag and threw it at Alexa. She caught it, exposing herself to the sun again, so rolled onto her stomach.

‘Page three,’ Jenna said.

Alexa opened the magazine to the page Jenna had pointed to, and her breath caught. ‘You’re kidding me.’

The sneaky paparazzi had the cheek to snap a picture of her at Sarah’s hen party. Alexa was tipsy and in the process of getting out of a limo, with her knickers in full view. ‘Can’t they just leave me alone, I wasn’t even doing anything shocking. Two seconds later and they wouldn’t have seen a thing.’

She wished she could read Spanish to see what the article said, but she wasn’t an idiot and could guess. Exaggerated rubbish, since she wasn’t as crazy as she had been in her teenage years.

‘What is it?’ Sarah asked.

Alexa handed the magazine to Sarah, her blood heating with irritation. Jenna lowered onto her lounger with a pink cocktail. Alexa went for the tray, picked up the glass with the red contents, and drained half. The fruity liquid was cool and relaxed her a little. If she didn’t have Together to worry about, she wouldn’t care. But being caught with a goofy expression on her face and her knickers on show wasn’t exactly sending images of the professional business woman she wanted to be.

‘It isn’t as bad as the one where you fell out of that club,’ Sarah said, flicking through the pages, ‘it hasn’t made any of the gossip rags in the UK. The Spanish must be short on scandal.’

‘Let’s just forget about it, okay?’ Alexa was sick of being the wild-child. ‘We still have to plan Jenna’s dare.’

Jenna groaned. ‘I’d rather talk about your date with the hunk.’

Sarah dropped the magazine and turned on her side to face Alexa. ‘What’s his story, anyway? Didn’t he used to be reckless, a bit of an adrenaline-junkie?’

‘He was as far as I know.’ Alexa thought maybe the git would have cut her some slack, since he had hardly been a good little boy growing up.

Jenna pulled out her iPhone and swept her fingers across the screen. A few minutes later, she grinned. ‘It’s so sexy to see a man jump out of a plane, and all these woman must think so too.’

Alexa ground her teeth. She wasn’t going to ask, she wasn’t.

Sarah piped in. ‘What women?’

Jenna turned the phone around to show Google Image results for a search on Enrique Castillo. She didn’t want to look, really. But she couldn’t not. In all the tiny pictures, he was with a different woman, rarely pictured with one twice. She tried to tell herself the twisty feeling in her stomach was disgust. After all, it definitely couldn’t be jealousy.

She polished off the rest of her cocktail then lay down on the lounger, her hands covering up her sensitive bits from the rays of the sun. The twisting sensation in her tummy turned to an almost low burn, and her already warm skin flared hotter. Puffing out a breath, she tried to wipe the images Jenna showed her from her mind. She really didn’t care if Ric had dated, or even slept with all those women. After tonight, she’d never see him again if she could help it.

Ric glanced at his watch again. Seven thirty. She should be here by now. He grabbed another glass from a passing waiter, then made his way through the throng of Spanish socialites to the exit.

The car park was empty. Party already in full swing, all the guests had parked up or their chauffeurs had left. He glanced toward the road leading off the beach. Frustration set in as he saw the empty strip of tarmac before him.

Running his free hand through his hair, he cursed under his breath. Today was a hell of a day for people letting him down. First his events organiser, Lydia, who had a family emergency, and now the unpredictable heiress.

He turned back to the boathouse and took a long gulp of champagne. Boathouse was an understatement. The Castillo holiday home covered at least a quarter of an acre and had its own private stretch of beach. The house itself consisted of four levels, the ground floor specially kitted out as a ballroom to host parties for those who were somebody in the Costa Del Sol—or those, like himself, with a connection to the owners, a fat wallet and deep pockets.

The sound of wheels crunching against the tarmac made him turn. His driver nodded at him from the front seat and Ric exhaled. She was here.

Manuel exited the vehicle, rounded it and then pulled open the rear door. Ric heard every one of his heartbeats pounding in his ears as he visualised what Alexa would look like in a glamorous gown. He’d couldn’t help but notice her around his hotel. Scandal was something he wished to avoid if he could help it—even in his adrenaline-junkie days—and scandal seemed to follow her wherever she went. He’d worked hard to gain some respect in this society, and whether he deserved it or not, it wasn’t something he wanted to lose.

He’d seen her in non-existent shorts, a tiny cocktail dress which made his blood heat and now he could add undies to the list.

But none of it could have prepared him for what he saw now.

Taking Manuel’s hand, she stepped out of the limo. First he only noticed the plunging neckline and his gaze followed the cut of the material to the curve of her breasts and then further, down to the flash of toned, tanned stomach above her navel.

Fire ripped through his veins. Ric gulped down the last of the champagne. It didn’t help.

She turned to him, a smile of triumph curved her hot-red lips, flashing bright, white teeth. He opened his mouth—to say what, he had no idea—but then she stepped out from behind the car door and his mind blanked.

His gaze was drawn down over the clingy fabric which hugged every delectable curve of her body. The bronze silk flowed down to her ankles, but it by no means covered her legs. A slit cut through the material, up past her bare hipbone. The pulse in his groin grew more prominent as he prayed she wore high legged knickers and hadn’t gone without.

A long, supple leg poked all the way out of the slit as she strode toward him. He was frozen to the spot and his mind seemed to have crashed south.

Pausing in front of him, Alexa tilted her head to the side and looked up. ‘You like?’

Too much.

He remembered his promise to himself. Straightening and dragging in a breath through his teeth, Ric forced himself to concentrate. ‘I said formal, Alexa.’ He frowned to drive home his point.

‘This—’ She spun around, exhibiting golden skin he ached to drag his teeth over. ‘—is as formal as you’ll get from me.’

Her smile, filled with mischief, tipped his libido over the edge. He grabbed her hips and pulled her flush against him. Humour fled her expression as her head tilted back and her eyes sparkled shiny platinum. Ric didn’t know what she’d see, but he could guess. His hunger pulsed in his groin in time with his rapid heartbeats. Her pupils dilated, and he knew then he wasn’t the only one feeling this crazed pull between them.

‘This—’ He drew a finger down the silky skin on her naked back, pausing when it met the material over the curve of her buttocks ‘—is not formal.’ Her tremble vibrated through him.

Alexa planted her palms on his chest and her breathing sped. Her tongue poked out and moistened her lips. Irritation forgotten, he lowered his head. As he drew closer he could taste her sweet breath. Every cell inside him screamed to plunder her mouth and take all she had to offer, and he knew from her pliant body and come-to-bed eyes that she would definitely offer, whether she was still angry at him or not. His hands, now settled on hips that were exactly as firm as he’d imagined, itched to slip through the split and find out whether she did wear anything beneath the scrap.

Alexa’s eyes closed and her lips parted. His hands were an inch away and his body hummed in anticipation.

‘Ric, darling. There you are!’

Ric snapped out of the spell Alexa held over him and turned his attention to his mother, Maria Castillo, who was walking toward them from the boathouse. His whole body ran cold. Alexa tried to pull out of his hold, but he tightened his grip reflexively.

Ric hated being indebted to anyone and the fact he owed Maria and Antonio more than he could ever repay made him uncomfortable. They’d adopted him to protect his past with their name and help him start a new life. He’d thrown it back in their faces, using their money to fund his obsession to find a new high jumping out of planes, speedboat racing and whatever else caught his interest.

Now he wanted to prove he could change, be trusted enough to pay them back by making their hotel and new resort in Marbella flourish. Maybe even go into the new resort as a partner, not just an employee. The fact they had handed him the management of Hotel Castillo after all he’d done made him more determined to prove himself.

‘Maria,’ he acknowledged. ‘I’d like you to meet my date, Alexa Green.’

Maria beamed at Alexa, who he released, grateful for the interruption. Kissing Alexa would have been a colossal mistake. Though there’d been a time when he wouldn’t have hesitated to seduce her for gain, he wasn’t that person any more. And he wanted that part of his past to stay buried. If what he had done became public knowledge, the Castillos’ reputation would be tarnished beyond repair. Dating someone with her bad press would be like digging up everything he was ashamed of and announcing it to the world.

Using her fame to his advantage, however, was a risk he’d take for the charity.

Alexa turned to the older woman and extended her hand. ‘Mrs Castillo, you have a lovely home.’

Ric couldn’t believe Alexa recognised the other woman. Maria and her husband were well known in Spain for their expanding chain of luxury hotels and charity work, but he hadn’t thought the news of their success would spread to London or if it did, that it would be the kind of news to interest Alexa.

‘Thank you. Where did you get your dress? It’s stunning.’

Ric stiffened. He was reminded yet again how little the silk number covered. It was entirely inappropriate. His irritation returned full force.

Not to mention the way it chiselled away at the resistance he’d spent the day building up towards her. Alexa answered Maria and went on to talk about shoes. He held onto his irritation with a death grip. Inviting her tonight had been a mistake. People would take one look at her on his arm and he could kiss their presence at his function goodbye. After all, what self-respecting businessman would date someone as wild and inappropriate as Alexa?

Flowing champagne, good food and boring conversation seemed to make the stick up Ric’s ass more apparent. Alexa kept a polite smile on her face as he stiffly marched her from one mind-numbing introduction to another, his hand never leaving her hip.

Her skin hadn’t stopped prickling since she’d seen the way he’d eyed her when she left the limo—the look she’d been both dreading and anticipating all day. The one that said he wouldn’t mind tearing the dress from her body with his teeth, then showing her what his idea of fun really was…

Get your head out of the gutter, girl.

Then the almost kiss. Her heart pounded remembering. She’d forgotten that she was still angry at him and submitted to his hunger. She’d even felt the same feral attraction she saw in his eyes, an attraction she needed to get over quick. Thank god Mrs Castillo had interrupted them or she’d have been one frisk away from ending up like her mother.

Her eyes flickered to Ric. He sported a charming smile while he nattered in Spanish to a couple who couldn’t speak English. She wondered again why he tensed up when Mrs Castillo had appeared. Maybe he was grateful she’d interrupted them—or irritated—but he looked uncomfortable more than anything.

The fire in her belly, and her desperation to hide it, made the party more interesting than it should have been. Throughout, she managed to keep her business head on and treated the night like she would if she were scouting clients for Together. And she had the feeling Ric was scouting too, but no idea why.

As she glanced around at the décor, she felt like she was in a fairy-tale. Everything was shiny and grand. The lighting highlighted the white table cloths with pink and baby blue trimmings. A huge, crystal chandelier sporting five tiers centred the massive dance floor and a band dressed in tuxedos played on the stage at the far back of the room. The place oozed money and class and made her a little uncomfortable. It was too similar to the parties she’d been dragged to by her father after her mother died.

‘Mr and Mrs Santos, this is Alexa Green.’ Ric introduced her to an elderly man with a twenty something year old wife.

Alexa noticed that after he introduced her to Mrs Castillo he stopped referring to her as his date. It was around the same time he started to act like someone had shoved the stick up his ass.

Alexa held her hand out and allowed Mr Santos to brush the back with his lips. His wife threw her a death glare, then turned to Ric with a sultry glint in her eye. Alexa stepped closer to Ric. She may not be dating him, and didn’t even particularly like him, but it was rude to eye up other people’s partners, and so blatantly. Alexa decided she didn’t like the skinny blonde.

Ric’s hand tightened on her hip.

‘A pleasure to meet you, novia,’ Mr Santos crooned while his wife remained eerily silent.

‘The pleasure’s all mine.’ She said what was expected with a smile. Her father had taught her well.

‘Enrique, the whole place is buzzing about the charity ball you’re hosting next month. I’m assuming your presence here tonight is to secure our attendance?’

Trying to keep the surprise from her expression, she turned to look up at Ric. The charming smile he’d worn all night returned and a husky laugh escaped him. Alexa shivered all over.

‘You’ve caught me.’ He clapped the old man on the back. ‘It’s for a good cause. There are too many children living on the streets in Spain and it isn’t the government’s priority to help. Your support would be appreciated.’

Alexa ground her teeth to stop her mouth gaping. She wouldn’t have pegged Ric as the caring type. Especially about someone he couldn’t gain anything from. The fire in her belly morphed into a warm glow. She gulped down her champagne. Damn. She hadn’t expected him to have a heart in that magnificent chest.

Heart or not, don’t go there.

‘Of course we’ll be there.’ Mr Santos pulled his wife to his side. She looked like she’d rather be anywhere else.

Alexa felt a pang for the old man. He deserved better than a gold digger.

‘And I hope to see your beautiful Alexa.’

Only having a week left on her holiday, she opened her mouth to explain she would have to return to London.

‘Of course Alexa will be there.’ Ric squeezed her hip in what felt like a warning. ‘In fact, Alexa’s helping me organise the event.’ Another squeeze. Harder this time.

Uh, uh, no way.

She wasn’t going to allow him to use her, and he had nothing to blackmail her with this time. Her father had used her mother for his gain so many times she’d sworn she would never let anyone do the same. And Ric—the big sneak-freak—was trying to do exactly that.

‘I’m sorry, Mr Santos. I’m flying back to London next week. I hope you enjoy it.’

Ric’s arm stiffened around her. ‘Alexa, may I have a word?’ He spoke through gritted teeth.

‘Actually, I’d like another drink, if you don’t mind?’ She fluttered her eyelashes innocently, all the while knowing she was ticking him off, if his clenched jaw was anything to go by. Well, he wasn’t the only who was miffed. ‘Thank you, sweetie.’

Ric, obviously too straight laced to cause a scene, released her and left to find a waiter—or ditch her. Alexa’s lips quirked.

‘Trouble in paradise?’ The blonde parasite’s face twisted into a smile.

‘Not at all. In fact, Ric and I aren’t dating. I’m merely accompanying him for the evening,’ Alexa said, while trying her hardest not to give blondie the finger and tell her exactly what she thought of her gold-digging agenda.

‘Such a shame,’ Mr Santos said. ‘You two make an attractive couple.’

‘Yes, Alexa is a very beautiful woman.’

Ric’s tight voice sent a jolt of shock down her spine. She turned to him. He handed her a champagne flute, his face impassive. From the stiff lines of his shoulders, the hardness of his jaw, she reckoned his compliment was little more than polite etiquette. Irritation simmered in her veins.

Stick-insect stepped forward then, a sultry smile spread her silicone-filled lips. Alexa wanted to say something rude, something that would wipe the smile away. Especially when Mrs Santos directed that smile at Ric.

She touched the material of Alexa’s gown above her hip. ‘Where did you buy this dress, Mr Castillo? It’s beautiful.’

Mrs Santos ran a hand down the silk covering Alexa’s thigh. Her head spun to face Alexa, shock widening her eyes. ‘How did you find underwear so seamless?’

Alexa stepped back from the girl’s touch. Her irritation had hit its peak when the skinny bimbo assumed Ric had bought the dress. Mrs Santos feeling her up, like she was just another tool to get into Ric’s pants, made her blood boil. Now it brimmed over at the attempt to embarrass Alexa in front of the men.

Well, it would take a lot more than her knickerless state to embarrass her—blondie picked a bitch-fest with the wrong girl.

‘Actually, I bought the dress in London,’ Alexa smirked at the gold-digger. ‘Oh, and I’m not wearing any knickers.’

Mr Santos’ face turned scarlet, but an amused smile curved his lips. His wife shot another death glare. ‘I suppose we shouldn’t expect any less from a spoilt heiress, isn’t that right darling?’ She turned to her husband. His mouth gaped. ‘Alexa is the daughter of Robert Green. You remember we stayed at The Crystal? She’s in the news all the time for her trashy behaviour.’

The blood drained from Alexa’s face as understanding dawned on Mr Santos’ expression. If Ric really hadn’t known who she was before, he had a good idea now. He remained wooden and silent beside her. The only word she could think to throw back at the witch with a capital B wasn’t very polite at all. In fact, she reckoned it would get her thrown out of the party. Maybe even Spain.

Mr Santos turned to Ric. ‘I hope your function goes well. I don’t think my wife and I will be attending. Enjoy your evening.’

He tugged his wife away as Ric bid him farewell in Spanish.

Alexa had never been so angry or affronted in her life. Her body almost throbbed with both emotions. There was no way she was going to meet any more of the rich and pompous—especially if Ric was going to spout waffle to score guests and try to use her again. It seemed she’d been right about the scouting.

The band began to play a Sinatra number she recognised. Snaring Ric’s hand, she dragged him to the dance floor amongst the other guests, all swaying to the beat. Having no other options for privacy, she would have to chew him out here where they’d be close enough to whisper without being overheard.

‘Dance with me,’ she said through gritted teeth.

‘Alexa, if you wanted to press yourself against me, all you had to do was ask.’ His tone was light, but his expression was tight and deadly serious. Then again, on closer inspection, the hard lines of his face were rigid with what looked like fury.

‘Dream on, Castillo. I want to talk to you and unfortunately, dancing with you seems to be the only time I’ll have you alone.’

He slid his arms around her waist and rested them just above her buttocks. Half an inch lower and he’d be cupping her backside. The fire in her roared back to life, but she refused to let it overpower her. Fisting her hands, she rested them on his shoulders, positive if she felt the hard muscle there she’d lose herself and the anger she clung onto.

Ric eyed her balled hands with a frown then pulled her against him. Her breasts pushed against his chest and she grabbed his shoulders for balance. Ric’s smirk told her that had been his intention. She stifled an irritated squeal.

His head descended and hovered above her ear, ‘Ladies first.’

Alexa’s mind muddied when the full blow of his spicy aftershave hit her. With their hips pressed together, they swayed to Frank’s husky voice. Still, she fought against her loony hormones and refused to slide her hands along the contours of his shoulders like they craved to.

‘Why did you lie like that?’

Ric’s nose grazed her earlobe. The brief touch sent the fire in her belly burning over her skin. ‘I didn’t lie. You will be there and you will help me organise it.’

Alexa pulled back. His eyes were the colour of scorching espresso. His strong jaw serious. The lusty fire inside morphed into indignation. ‘Not a chance. I’m going home next week.’

But when she saw his expression harden, his eyes set with determination, Alexa squared her shoulders and readied herself for the fight.

Ric whirled Alexa around the dance floor in time with the tempo. The woman had driven him crazy all evening. The dress she sported covered nothing, yet it covered too much for his liking. He was torn between ripping it off, and wrapping his suit jacket around her. Not to mention he’d been worrying all night that she’d step over the mark, make an inappropriate comment, offend someone or embarrass him further.

And then she’d gone and done it, nuclear bomb style. When Santos, a man with more money and influence than Ric had ever known gave him the time of day, he wanted to do anything to secure his attendance at the fundraiser. Even if it meant spending more time with Alexa-the-pantieless-heiress. Heat simmered in his veins, but he ignored it. Although Santos seemed embarrassed, but mostly amused by Alexa’s outburst, it pissed him off. Ric had been right. She didn’t have a brain-to-mouth filter at all.

Now, she’d lost him Santos. Ric gritted his teeth. He knew it hadn’t been entirely her fault. When Santos’ plaything goaded Alexa, Ric froze and waited for the torrent that he expected would come. Instead, she’d kept her mouth shut, even though he could feel the anger pounding off her in waves. Then again, if Alexa had kept her mouth shut about her underwear—or lack thereof—the incident could have been avoided. Making Alexa work for him would be appropriate punishment and would solve his recent problem.

A little into the conversation, he’d made the decision. His party planner announced this morning that her mother was ill and she had to return to Madrid to care for her for a month. That left him up the creek without a clue how to organise a charity ball.

And he bet if anyone could throw a party, it would be the wild party girl Alexa Green. Of course he’d have to supervise, make sure that the party was classy and not trashy, and the close contact could devastate his libido. Still, he didn’t see any other options at such short notice.

He needed to focus all his free time running the hotel and overseeing the building work. This party was something he needed to do for himself. He’d lived on the streets, done things he wasn’t proud of and had been used. If he could help it, no other child would have to suffer what he had.

Alexa was his only option.

‘No, you’re staying here for the next four weeks, helping me plan the charity ball. I think that’s the least you can do after showing up here like this.’ He ran his finger up the gaping slit at the front, traced the outline of her cleavage. She gasped and tiny bumps rose on her golden skin. Arousal zapped down to his groin. Again, he ignored it.

‘And you’ll behave yourself,’ he added, in a no-nonsense tone.

Her stormy eyes cleared to flinty silver. She slid her hands down his chest and pushed, but he didn’t let go. ‘Don’t cause a scene, Alexa.’

She darted a glance around the room, then scowled up at him. They continued to dance while her eyes shot daggers. He grinned, though he was far from amused.

‘I have a business to run. I can’t drop everything and anyway, why should I? My dress is gorgeous. People have been staring all night.’ Her gaze dropped, but not before he caught the shame there.

He gritted his teeth. Men had been gaping all night at the silky skin on display. That was his point exactly. ‘Staring in disbelief, I imagine. I’m respected in these circles, Alexa and I’ve worked hard to gain that respect. Having a woman on my arm so scantily dressed lowers people’s opinion as Santos changing his mind proved. You will make it up to me.’

He spun her around. By the time she was back in his arms, her eyes flashed stormy black. ‘That wasn’t my intention, but I’m not going to apologise for being who I am. You asked me here. What did you expect?’

‘I expected more class from Robert Green’s daughter.’

‘I’m not, nor will I ever be, anything like my father.’ Steely resolve hardened her eyes.

Ric wondered why she spoke of her father with such barely contained anger. She’d been born into this life with everything. A family and the best start a person could ask for. Ric had been left on the streets, barely a child of five, with a bleak chance of survival.

The song ended and his frustration grew. He didn’t release her. Instead he loomed over her with a hard expression of his own. ‘You owe me for this, and you will work with me to organise the fundraiser.’

Her hands fisted in his jacket and she frowned. ‘No.’

‘Stop acting like a child and take responsibility for your actions.’

Alexa jolted back like he’d struck her. ‘I am not acting like a child.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m twenty-three. Not forty.’

‘At your age I started running Hotel Castillo.’

‘Explains why you’re so dull.’ She placed a hand on her hip, causing the cut down the front of her dress to gape wider. His gaze was drawn to the half globes exposed by the material. ‘It doesn’t explain why you want me working with you. Don’t you have a party planner?’

‘She’s indisposed for a while.’

‘The plot thickens.’ Her sarcastic tone grated on his temper. She glared at him. ‘And my lack of class was the perfect excuse to guilt me into working with you, but you can forget about trying to make me feel bad for losing Santos. I have a business to run back home and no inclination to spend any more time with you.’

‘I didn’t ask. You will work with me, and maybe even rid yourself of your wild-child reputation by doing so.’

She opened and closed her mouth a few times. Ric could see she was considering what he’d said. He resisted the urge to smirk and pulled her into another dance. Alexa’s brows creased, but she didn’t pull away. He smelled victory.

Alexa’s bravado had buggered off. Again he’d called her childish and again it hit her like a hard slap to the face—harder than when blondie had told her husband Alexa was trash. But she wasn’t going to be bullied into working with him, even though she could see what he said made sense. And she did feel a trickle of guilt about losing Santos and wearing the dress.

Not that she cared what everyone thought about her, but if she lost a major benefactor for a good cause, she had to try and make that right. Still, Alexa didn’t know what she could do to persuade Santos to attend. Maybe helping out would prove she wasn’t the spoilt little rich girl everyone thought she was.

She’d started her business, Together, two years ago, but she knew the money she made barely paid the cost of living in London and she wouldn’t touch her trust fund. It was just another reminder that she was her father’s possession.

‘What kind of coverage will your event have?’ She had to ask. If the media didn’t hit London with the news she’d helped organise such an event it was pointless.

Ric grinned down as he swayed her to the music. Still, she could see his eyes were tight with anger. Alexa straightened her shoulders.

‘It depends how much interest we can raise.’ He shrugged. ‘I came here tonight with the hope of convincing people like Santos to come. He’s well known in society and the more people like him who attend, the more media coverage.’ He frowned down at her. ‘And while telling men you meet in London clubs that you have no underwear on may score you a date, it won’t here Alexa.’

He scowled down at her. She was galled at his arrogant assumption and the suspicion that he knew exactly who she was grew stronger, but now at least she understood why he was angry. Ric was all about respect. Plus, if she was going to do this, she’d need as many people like that to attend the ball to benefit her—which meant hunting down Santos and charming him into changing his mind.

But organising a party this big and glamorous wasn’t something she’d done before. Still, she couldn’t let fear get in the way. She had planned lots of parties for her friends and herself, this couldn’t be much different.

‘For the record, I don’t make a habit of informing people whether or not I’m wearing knickers.’ His lips twitched. ‘If I agree to do this, I have a few conditions.’

He cocked an incredulous brow. Alexa smiled. If he thought she was going to bow at his feet he had another think coming.

‘For the next week I get to enjoy my holiday. After, I’ll have to spend some time on my work. I’ll need access to a landline and the internet.’

His expression smoothed out. Alexa thought she saw a hint of relief in his dark eyes. ‘All are reasonable requests, but I do need you visit a potential venue with me tomorrow since it looks like the new resort won’t be ready in time. A few hours should do it. You can meet me in the lobby at eight.’

She pressed her lips into a firm line. ‘Fine. Lobby at eight. But from midday I’m off the clock.’

‘Fine.’ His dry tone mirrored hers. Holding out his hand, he said ‘Let’s network.’

Alexa grimaced and he laughed. She knew she had to do this if she wanted the ball to gain international interest. Pulling herself together and remembering everything her father had taught her about how to act at places like this, she placed her hand in his.

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