Making Choices

ALEJANDRO

My knuckles turned white as I gripped the steering wheel. I sped down the dark and lonely road, trying to contain my growing fury. I had decided to go home after everything today, but I had changed my mind.

Natalie’s obsession was beginning to become a serious problem, and it had to be stopped. People talked, and if they started talking about how Natalie was targeting my employees, or if they thought Natalie was treating me like she was my girlfriend, that would cause problems.

I couldn’t afford to look weak. I’d been up late taking my father and Don Horacio out to talk, and Don Horacio was fine with waiting a while longer on the loan. Sure, I could pay him from my savings, but that wouldn’t look good. The company was making progress with everything Tina and the marketing department were doing, but we needed time for the new initiatives to work.

My heart was beating too fast. My blood pressure was high. Natalie used to be someone I could call for stress relief, but now she was the main source of my stress.

I narrowed my eyes as I took a curve too fast. Natalie knew better. I’d never love her. Not after what my father had been through with my mother.

Then I saw Tina’s face in my mind. I took a deep breath and loosened my grip on the steering wheel.

What was I even doing with Tina? Maybe it was because she so clearly didn’t need me, or even particularly seem to want me. Something about her was irresistible. I found her strong will so attractive. Her anger was foxy. And those lips I’d kissed—I thought of her pout.

I’d told her that pouting didn’t suit her. That was a lie. I would do anything to see her do that again.

My tongue darted out and ran over my lips. I could still taste her. I wanted more.

My phone suddenly rang, startling me. It was Natalie.

“What do you want?”

“Alejandro, you don’t sound happy to see me.” She sounded confused.

“I’m not, Natalie,” I snapped. “What the hell was that stunt you pulled today? Were you aware that the person you had arrested was one of my staff? What is wrong with you?”

“Why are you defending her?” Her voice was whiny. “She assaulted me at the restaurant and I—”

“Let me stop you right there,” I cut her off. “Why did she assault you? I know Kelly can be hot-tempered, but she would never attack someone unprovoked.”

There was a pause on the other end.

“Are you taking her side, Alejandro, darling? I am the victim here!” Her voice was shaky.

I knew she was acting. “Cut the crap, Natalie!” I snapped. “I’m sick of this! I got the whole story at the station. You instigated it. You humiliated Tina again! This is after I told you to leave her alone. She didn’t do anything to you.”

“She did!” she exclaimed, making me pull the phone away from my ear for a moment. “She’s trying to take you away from me.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Don’t try to play dumb with me. I saw the pictures. I saw the magazines. I saw you and her go out on a date a few days ago.”

I blinked. How did she know about that? I rubbed my forehead in anger. One of those gossip columns must have taken pictures of me and Tina at the restaurant. Honestly, these paparazzi needed to get a life.

“So what if I decided to have a meal with someone?” I said. “How is that any of your business?”

“But—”

“Get one thing clear, Natalie, we are not an item. You and I. You are not mine and I am not yours. We had an agreement. We were friends with benefits. Colleagues, if you will. Nothing more.”

“Alejandro—”

I was not going to let her finish. “And because I can’t trust you anymore, I have to end our arrangement. I’m done with you. I’ll be cordial in public, and I expect the same from you. If you ever come near me or any of my staff members, I’ll file a restraining order against you.”

“Alejandro, please—”

“Goodbye.” I cut the call.

“And good riddance,” I muttered to myself for good measure.

I relaxed into my seat and sighed. She had saved me the trouble of going over to her place and confronting her. A weight had finally been lifted off my shoulders, and I felt more relaxed.

Now that feeling to see Tina was growing. I glanced at the car clock. It was a few minutes past eleven. Too late. I should just go home and get a good night’s sleep.

But my mind kept wandering to those pink, delicious lips I’d kissed moments ago.

I made a beeline back to Tina’s house.

The time was nearly midnight when I stood in front of her door. It was too late. This was officially the craziest thing I’ve ever done. As I raised my hand to knock, I wondered if she would be asleep. But to hell with it; if I woke her up, I’ll make it worth it. Waiting is overrated.

I knocked at her door. At the third attempt, I heard footsteps approaching the door.

“Who is it?” I heard her call from the other end.

I didn’t reply. I smiled mischievously as I knocked on the door again. The door opened, and a delightful sight graced my eyes.

Tina was dressed in a pink, thick robe that showed off her luscious thighs and hugged her hips. Her hair was wet, which meant she’d just come out of the shower. Her robe was loosely tied at the waist and revealed some cleavage. Her brown eyes stared at mine, wide with surprise. Her lips opened.

“Alejandro? What—”

I slammed my lips over hers and pushed her into the apartment, kicking the door shut behind me.

Her muffled gasp switched into a moan as my tongue found hers. I smiled within myself as her hand wrapped around my neck. I was right. This was worth it.

I lifted her, wrapping her legs around my waist and taking her to the couch. I lowered her down with care and lay on top of her.

The top of her robe had slipped down to reveal her smooth shoulders. Her cheeks were flushed as she stared at me, her eyes dilated with shock and arousal. Her lips were parted as she breathed heavily.

I reached down and claimed them again. I felt the blood rush south as her tongue slipped over my lower lip. Her hand squeezed my shoulder blade as we relished in our steamy embrace.

Dios mío, she tasted as sweet as I predicted. My hands slipped down and caressed her smooth thigh, bringing out a gasp from her. As my hands slipped toward her hips, I paused and swallowed at a new discovery.

She wasn’t wearing panties. The embarrassed look in her eyes when we separated helped to confirm it.

Then that familiar boldness came into her eyes, and she kissed me again. She moaned when my fingers brushed past her entrance. She gasped as I sucked the skin of her neck. My lips made way to the swells of her beautiful breasts, and I kissed them.

“Alejandro,” she whispered, her eyes shut.

I traced the inside of her thighs and moved upward again, and her mons increased. Her eyes snapped open and looked into mine. Her thighs spread open as the neediness reflected in her beautiful brown eyes.

I had an epiphany then, and I pulled away. Something didn’t feel right. I needed a moment. I sat up and reached for her hand.

“Alejandro?” She quickly sat up, disappointment in her eyes. Her mouth formed that lovely pout again.

But I still needed to think. “Sorry about that.” I rubbed my hair and sighed.

“I was not complaining,” she replied. “Why did you stop?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “It just didn’t feel right.”

“Are you saying I’m suddenly repulsive?” I saw her face darken with anger.

“No, that’s not what I meant.” I squeezed her hand. “Tina, I don’t know what came over me. But I shouldn’t have just rushed all the way here and done what I’ve just done.”

“Then why did you?” She raised an eyebrow.

“I couldn’t get what happened earlier out of my head,” I replied.

“You mean the kiss?”

“Yes. Tina, there is something about you. I just don’t know how to explain it. I really want to see you, and I want to let you see me. I want more. It’s not what I’m used to wanting with women. But if we’re going to ever engage in something like this—”

“You mean have sex.” She was smiling cheekily at my obviously embarrassed state.

This was silly. Sex was easy for me. Talking about sex was easy. Why was it so embarrassing with her?

“Well, yes.” I squeezed her hands gently. “It has to be at the right setting and time. I can’t just barge in without an invitation. I don’t want you feeling like you’re some kind of easy—”

“I don’t feel like that at all.” She put a finger over my lips. “Like I said earlier, over the months, you’ve shown me the kind of man you are. Any other person who barged into my home and tried a makeout session would have gotten a kick in the nuts. What does that tell you?”

“I understand.” I leaned my head on hers. She smelled of fruity shampoo. “But I want our first time to be special.”

“Fine,” she groaned. “But you owe me, big time. You can’t just come all the way here, rev me up, and then abort the mission. I demand justice.”

Her pout this time was over the top.

I almost laughed. It was funny how fast things could change over a few months. We could barely stand each other in the beginning, and now we were acting like, dare I say it, a married couple.

“Fine,” I said. “How do I make it up to you?”

“You can start by carrying me to bed.” She raised her hands toward me like a baby.

I chuckled as I stood up and gathered her in my arms.

As I made my way toward her room, her sweet scent invading my nose all the way, I was beginning to come to a realization.

Something was breaking within me. I thought I had been able to protect my heart from her. I always knew how to protect my heart from women.

But I realized I had forgotten to picture the faces of our children when we first met, the way I did with any woman I might be interested in. I always did that because I didn’t want to let those kids down the way my parents had let me down. I’d failed to guard my heart, and now I wanted her. She wasn’t afraid of me or trying to win me over—and that was why she had won me over.