The Sweetest Encounter Read online

  “How dare he send flowers?” My nose flared and I shredded the card, scattering it in the trash. “I don’t want anything from him.” I glanced over at a stressed-out Beth. “Can you get rid of these flowers for me? I don’t care what you do with them.” I was boiling up and could not think straight. “I can’t deal with this right now.”

  “It’s okay, Dallas,” Beth said, looking frantic. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it right away.”

  Shit. I need to control my anger. I didn’t want Beth to think I was taking it out on her. “I’m sorry, Beth. I didn’t mean to raise my voice at you, honey.”

  “It’s okay, Dallas,” she said in a soothing tone. “I know you’re not upset with me. Believe me, I understand how you feel. Go and relax on your sofa. It will be okay. I got this.”

  “You’re the best.” I sighed in relief and walked into my office. The door shut with more force than intended. My head was throbbing from being agitated, and I plopped down on the sofa. How the hell did Hank get my contact information? Nobody besides my family knew where I lived and worked. He did not know my new cell phone number either. There was only one way to find out. I grabbed my cell phone and clicked on Mama Mabel’s number. It rang a few times and then she answered.

  “Dallas, honey,” she sounded happy to hear my voice. “How’s my girl doing? I thought you were going on a trip to England?”

  “I am.” I was so emotional that my voice broke a little. “I’m leaving tomorrow. How are you?”

  “Dallas, are you okay, honey?” she asked, as if sensing that something was up. “You don’t sound like yourself. What’s the matter, baby?”

  I swore the woman had a radar. She could always sense when something was bothering me. “I got roses from that lying piece of shit Hank.” My voice shook with emotion. I took a deep breath to calm myself. “I don’t know how he got my information. Can you find out for me? I don’t want him disrupting what I got going in New York. I want nothing to do with him.” I tried hard to hold back the flood of tears but couldn’t.

  “Oh, honey, don’t cry,” she said, soothing me. “I’ll get to the bottom of it. Don’t worry yourself. Do you hear me? I won’t have that boy bothering you. I’ll talk to your daddy about it.”

  “Thanks, Mama Mabel.” I sniffled, wiping my eyes. I ended the call and lay on the sofa as tears poured down my face. I wasn’t in love with the idiot anymore, but his betrayal still cut deep. I didn’t know how long I was bawling, but jumped as strong arms embraced me. I swung around to see Franco with his brows pushed together in a frown. With all that was going on since I got the flowers, it slipped my mind that he would be arriving soon. Damn, I didn’t want him to find me in this state.

  “Dallas, what’s going on? Why are you crying?” he asked, holding me close and then reaching to brush the tears from my cheeks. “I saw Beth trying to get rid of some flowers outside. Then I come in here and you are, crying your eyes out.”

  I sat up to face him and his green eyes looked worried. I took a deep breath to relax my nerves. “I’m okay physically.” I glanced up at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “What is it?” he asked, staring at me. “Did someone do something to you?”

  I nodded and tried hard to hold back the tears. “I almost got married this past summer.”

  He gasped, looking stunned. “Are you kidding me?”

  I shook my head and continued, “I called off everything when I caught him in bed with my best friend.”

  “Damn, Dallas, I’m sorry,” he said, and pulled me into his strong arms, holding me tight. “What a fucking asshole. How could he hurt a woman like you? He’s an idiot. I take it the flowers are from him?”

  “Yes.” Confiding in him made me feel much better. I rested my head on his broad shoulders. “I don’t know how he found me. I changed my cell phone number before coming here.”

  “Who besides your family knew you were coming to New York?” Franco said, probing my face.

  “No one,” I responded, my brows creased. “I didn’t tell any of my so-called friends that I was moving to New York. I dropped all my sorority sisters back home in Fort Worth. I’m going to get to the bottom of it, though.”

  “Do you still love him?” Franco asked, gazing at me with a perturbed look. “Is that why you are crying? And why you are holding back from getting closer to me?”

  “No,” I protested, and sat up. “Franco, I don’t want to see him again. I’m just taking it slow with us. I’m into you, Franco.” Acting out of impulse, I pulled his head down and latched my lips to his mouth. He made a sound in the back of his throat and pulled me closer, devouring my lips. He pressed me down into the sofa, threading his fingers through my hair.

  “Dallas,” he whispered, eyes darkening with desire. “You don’t know how much it’s taking me not to rip off your clothes.” My body shivered, and I pulled him down on top of me. His sexy voice made me hot. He ran his tongue across my lips sensuously. “I want you so badly,” he murmured between kisses. His hardness pushed into my stomach. I wanted him too. My panties were moist, and I moaned as he pulverized my lips. “You’re so sexy, baby.” His fingers found their way up to my breast. My nipples hardened as he caressed it through my blouse. We kissed deeply as he cupped my breast. Then he pulled away abruptly. “We have to stop.” His breathing was uneven. “I’m so close to coming in my pants. When we make love, it won’t be in your office.”

  I laughed, trying to ease the sexual tension, and sat up. “I know what you mean, Yankee. I feel the same way.”

  He smiled and reached out to caress my face. “Dallas, I know that we’re just getting to know one another, but I’ll be up front with you,” he said thoughtfully. “If I have any issues, I’ll always discuss them with you no matter what.”

  “Thank you, Franco.” I smiled, touched by his gesture. “It’s just me. After what happened with Hank and Amber, it is hard to trust other people. I shouldn’t let it interfere with us, but I have to sort through it some more.”

  “Fair enough,” he said, flicking his thumb across my lips. “I’ll give you time. I’m not going anywhere, Dallas Cowboy.” He glanced at his watch. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Are you hungry?”

  “Yes.” I nodded, rubbing my stomach. He was so patient with me. Heck, I kept him at arm’s length for months. “Franco, thank you for being patient and understanding.”

  He smiled and pushed my hair back. “You’re worth it, Dallas. Come, let’s get out of here.” He pulled me onto my feet. “Let’s get to this burger place you’ve been raving about.”

  I chuckled as he pulled me out of the room to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. I felt lighter and more connected to him. My body was still tingling from our make-out session on the sofa. I wanted to open up more to him, but one step at a time.

  Chapter Eleven

  Franco, two weeks later

  It was Thanksgiving Day, and it did not feel the same without Dallas. I felt like such a punk for missing her. Hell, I was in love and did not have the guts to tell her. Thank Christ she was opening up to me and revealed why she left Texas. Shit, I could not believe she almost got married, and the motherfucker cheated on her. Is he crazy?

  How could anyone cheat on a woman like Dallas? She was exquisite and the most incredible woman I had ever met. He must be blind or an arrogant bastard. Now he was trying to get her back? Not if I could help it. I knew she hadn’t revealed her feelings for me either, but my gut told me she felt the same way.

  I dated many girls in the past, but I never cheated or hurt them just for a quick fuck. I had led no one on. Yes, some of them tried to change the game, like my old hookup Kelly, but I had to set the record straight. The longest relationship I had ever been in was back in high school. Her name was Dena, and we had gone out during our senior year. When we graduated, she went to school in California and we broke up.

  I did not want to get serious with anyone else until now. After I had gradu
ated, I focused on being a firefighter. Last year, when I moved out and saved up for my future house, the thought of settling down came to mind. Hell, I was twenty-six going on twenty-seven next month. Johnny was getting married before me. I could picture Dallas being in my life. Thoughts of her consumed my mind 24-7. I physically craved her. I got hard thinking about kissing those succulent lips.

  Since the steamy afternoon in her office, we hadn’t spent any time alone. She went to London after and spent a week over there. I was on duty until yesterday and went straight to see her, but her twin brothers were there. They were crazy funny and had me laughing the whole time. They cracked me up with their Texas twang too. Theirs were a much thicker accent than Dallas’s. Last night we hung out at the MO Bar and then went back to the fancy-ass Plaza Hotel. They all were staying there because the penthouse was being remodeled. Dallas had given my brother Johnny and his fiancée Sheila furniture last month and donated the rest to charity. They were so lucky that they didn’t have to buy new furniture now.

  I liked her family so far. I knew the real test would be when I met her parents and beloved grandmother. She mentioned that they were coming to New York for Christmas.

  My ringing cell phone broke me out of my thoughts of Dallas. I glanced at the screen and a big smile spread across my face. Just the woman I am thinking about. My heart sped up and I swiped the screen.

  “Hello, gorgeous.” I beamed. “I’m happy you reached Texas safely. I miss you.”

  She chuckled. I loved her laugh. Hearing that sexy twang turned me on, and I had a hard-on. Damn, I could not control myself for her. “Yes, we’re here at the ranch,” she drawled. “I miss you too, Yankee. I wish you could’ve come down here with us.”

  “Next time,” I said, feeling happy for the first time all day. “I really wish I could’ve spent more time with you.”

  “Me too,” she said, sighing. “We’ll catch up when I get back, though.”

  “I want us to go away for the weekend when you come back.” One of my firefighter buddies had a place up in Vermont. Maybe I could take her there. It was a nice spot, and I hoped it was up to her standards. Here I go again comparing our lifestyles. Damn, I have to stop doing it.

  “Yankee,” Dallas said, getting me back out of my freaking head. “Are you still there?”

  “Sorry, gorgeous, I was just thinking about getting you alone.” I chuckled, turning my focus back to her. “My buddy has a place up in Vermont. Maybe I could secure it for the weekend. Would you like that?”

  “Sure, Yankee,” she said, sounding jubilant. “Are you going to take me skiing? I hear you Yankees go up to places like Vermont to ski.”

  “Whatever you want, beautiful.” I smiled. Shit, I am thinking of never leaving the cabin. “Can you ski? Or do I have to give you lessons?”

  She burst out laughing. “I ski,” she said smugly. “We go skiing all the time at our place in Aspen, Colorado. You should come out with us next time. Maybe we can go out there after the holidays.”

  I felt insecure again. They have a freaking place out in Aspen, Colorado. “Your family has a place out there? Do you see movies stars?”

  “Yeah, sometimes,” she replied. “But we usually don’t pay them any mind since everybody is out there on vacation. You know what? Maybe we can go out to Aspen instead for our weekend. More snow might be out there at this time. We can fly out on Daddy’s jet and be back by Monday. What do you think?”

  Damn, her daddy has a private plane. “Whatever works for you, baby,” I said, going along with her. I cleared my throat. “Your family owns a private plane?”

  “Yeah,” she said, as if it were no big deal. “Daddy uses it mostly for business, though. It’s a Lear Jet; it will fit your entire family and mine. Heck, the boys and I used it this morning. Daddy sent it for us. We left from a private airstrip in New Jersey. I thought I told you, Yankee. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay, sweetheart.” I felt a little depressed. “I thought you were leaving from Newark Airport when you mentioned flying out of Jersey.”

  “No. We got here in less than two hours since we flew private,” she said casually. Then, I heard someone calling out her name in the background. “Yankee, I have to go now. My mama wants me to get off the phone. I am in the kitchen with them making Thanksgiving dinner. I’ll text you later or you can call me tonight.”

  “Okay. I’ll let you get back to your family now,” I said reluctantly. I wanted to chat with her more, but it was Thanksgiving. “You will hear from me tonight, Dallas Cowboy. Have a good Thanksgiving with your family.”

  “You too, Yankee,” she said. “Tell Natalia and the boys Happy Thanksgiving for me. Talk to you soon.”

  After I hung up the phone, I lay on the leather sofa in front of my fifty-inch flat screen television, watching ESPN. It was two thirty in the afternoon, and I had to leave soon for my family’s Thanksgiving dinner.

  My mind raced back to our conversation. Damn. How can I ever impress that girl? What can I bring to the table? I was a New York City firefighter. Yeah, the title was impressive to regular people, but not in her world. I would bet a year’s salary the motherfucker who broke her heart was just as loaded. I was sure that her daddy approved until he fucked her over.

  I shouldn’t let this bother me, but it was hard to brush off. I was in love with a millionaire. Whenever we went out, I always took care of everything. I knew eventually she might want to go to some fancier places in the future. I would spend more of my money because I refused to let Dallas cover the bill. No way was that happening. I would treat her, as a real man should.

  My ringing cell phone broke me out of my troubled thoughts. I glanced over at the screen to see my mom’s face. Shit, it is time to get moving. I picked up the remote, clicking off the television, and then I grabbed my leather jacket.

  ∞∞∞

  An hour later, I was in the noisy kitchen, helping to carry the food to the dining room. My mind was on Dallas again, wondering what she was doing at this moment. I missed her like crazy.

  “Franco, what’s going on with you today?” My mom disrupted my thoughts as she handed me a large pan with lasagna. “You’re a million miles away.”

  “He’s thinking about Dallas,” Gino cut in with a smirk. “He’s in love.”

  “Shut the hell up, Gino,” I said, slapping him on the back of the head. He had to open his big mouth in front of my mother. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t listen to him, Mom.”

  “Ouch.” He rubbed his head. “That’s not fair, big bro. You know it’s true. Ask everybody, Mom. He’s seeing Dallas.”

  Shit, I do not want my mom to know yet. I tried to keep my love life on the low. Dallas was different, but now I would hear about it all night. “Thanks, bro.” I glared at him. “For telling all my fucking business, you motor mouth.”

  “Franco, watch your language.” My mom’s brow creased as she gazed at me. “You’re seeing Dez’s niece? When were you going to tell us about it?”

  She looked upset, and I was teed off. I did not want her to find out like this. Damn. Gino has a big fucking mouth. “Mom, there’s nothing to tell.” I tried to placate the situation. “We’re hanging out, that’s all.”

  “What’s going on in here?” my dad asked, interrupting us as he walked into the kitchen. His green eyes skimmed the room. He was the same height as me but had sandy-brown hair and fair skin. Patrick, Nat, Sean, and I inherited his eyes. “I heard yelling all the way out to the living room.”

  My mom glanced at him with a frown. “Honey, did you know Franco was seeing Dez’s niece?”

  “No.” He shook his head and glanced at me. “Franco, you’re messing around with Dez’s niece?”

  Damn, the whole fucking family knows now. “We’re just hanging out, Dad,” I said, acting cool. “I don’t want to make a big deal over it.”

  “Franco, that is so not true,” Nat said, butting into the conversation as she stepped into the kitchen. Telling by the express
ion on her face, she was about to make the situation worse. “He’s in love, Mom and Dad.”

  “Thanks, Nat,” Gino jumped in, giving her a fist bump. He glanced at me, looking smug. “I told you so, Mom.”

  “Thank you, guys,” I said, feeling hot under the collar. “Remind me not to ever tell you anything again.” Both of them had the nerve to laugh as I chewed them out.

  “So it’s true then, Franco?” My mom looked hurt. “You know that Dez’s niece is rich, right? Her twin sister Deidre married some millionaire down in Texas. Franco, I don’t want you getting hurt. She’s out of your league, honey.”

  “I’m a big boy, Mom,” I said defensively. I was aggravated that my whole family was ganging up on me. “I can handle myself. Let’s get this food on the table now,” I said, changing the subject. “I don’t want to talk about it. Case closed.”

  “Gina,” my dad interrupted Mom, who was about to say something more. “Leave the boy alone. He’s a grown man and can handle his own life.”

  I sighed in relief. Thank God for Dad.

  “I invited your friend Kelly over for Thanksgiving, Franco,” my mom blurted out.

  We all looked at her in shock. My temper flared up. I cannot believe this shit. How could she go behind my back and invite Kelly of all fucking people?

  “What?” My face was red hot. “What the hell, Mom? You did not ask me. Kelly and I are not a couple. Call her right now and tell her not to come.” I glowered at her, my brows pushed together.

  “Mom, I can’t believe you invited that pathetic bitch!” Nat exploded, defending me. “Franco doesn’t love her. I cannot believe you would do something like that without asking him first.”

  “Natalia,” my dad bellowed at her. “Watch your mouth, young lady. I will not have you cursing in this house. Apologize now!”

  “What the hell is going on in here?” Johnny asked, walking into the war zone.