Irresistibly Exotic Men

She spun and stared at the long-legged figure in her front yard. “How long have you been there?”

“A few hours.” What did he think she was going to do—burn the place down? Do a runner? “We need to talk.”

She stiffened, waiting for the catch. Luke maintained steady eye contact. Finally, she said, “I’ll come out.”

With a coolness belying her thumping heart, she released the blinds. They clattered down with sharp finality.

A burst of nervous energy sent her pacing across the kitchen.

She didn’t want to talk. Hell, she’d spent the last ten years keeping her mouth shut. Her idyllic existence was based on a bunch of lies and talking would only leave her wide-open to the past, to what she’d left behind.

Not to mention possible criminal charges for identity theft.

Icy fear skimmed her skin, forcing goose bumps to the surface. The Australian press had a fascination with morbid grand-scale tragedy, especially on the eve of the ten-year anniversary. She rarely read the news but the past few months she’d managed to avoid everything—papers, TV, radio. She’d become adept at sidestepping when her clients brought up current affairs. But her memories couldn’t be so easily avoided.

She went over to the counter and poured a cup of coffee from the pot, swallowing the faint acrid taste of panic. No one in her new life knew who she’d been, what she’d done. Yet Luke’s appearance brought back all those old fears like the Ghost of Christmas Past.

She quickly slammed the door on her thoughts and focused on the present. Luke De Rossi.

Like an old motor starting up, her heart quickened. In a normal situation, she’d be itching to help this man who practically smoldered with shredded nerves. In a normal situation … But this could hardly be less normal.

Good-looking men always had hidden agendas. Like that reporter she’d trusted when she was eighteen. Like a couple of rich, smooth business types—both married and single—who used her massage services then tried to chat her up.

Like Ben, her missing bookkeeper.

She’d more than learned her lesson about trust.

After she made a quick call to Laura and asked her to open the store today, she went to the front door, cup in hand. With an efficient smoothing of hair and squaring of shoulders, she took a deep breath. Getting all panicky will do no good. The agency couldn’t give her answers, so maybe he could. And, she realized, Luke De Rossi, Mr. Rich-and-Powerful, could make her life very difficult if she kicked up a fuss.

On that last thought, she opened the kitchen door and stepped outside.

Luke sat on the railing, looking seriously dangerous in the morning light. Even with creased shirt and rumpled hair, everything about him screamed authority and confidence—from the tanned skin revealed by the one loose collar button and strong biceps beneath rolled-up sleeves, to the way he watched her with those darker-than-midnight eyes.

He needs to get rid of that tension bunching up his neck. A few sessions and she could have those muscles massaged into relaxation.

The thought of getting her hands on all that pent-up energy sent an unfamiliar sensation down her spine. What was wrong with her? Sure, she’d seen great bodies before. Pummeled, manipulated and eased any manner of muscular aches and pains. Yet this stranger had a look about him, one that said even though he was fired up about something, he could handle it. He was in control. Too in control?

He surprised her by handing her a bunch of letters. “Your mail.” As she took them, he nodded toward her porch swing and added, “Those are for you.”

Beth’s eyes widened. Carnations covered the seat, a burst of vivid yellow, white and pink. Their distinctive fragrance teased her nose, courtesy of a warm easterly.

She glanced from the swing back to him. His expression was subdued, even a little uncomfortable.

“I was out of line last night,” he said brusquely. “I don’t normally jump to conclusions. I apologize.”

“Okay.” Her gaze skittered back to the flowers.

“I got them from the garden at the end of the street. I left a note and twenty bucks.”

A reluctant smile kicked the corner of her mouth up. “You stole Crabby Craig’s prized flowers?”

“Ah.” His confident expression fell. “With a name like that, he will mind.”

She surprised herself by grinning. “He may come looking for you. Apparently, the man’s a big-shot doctor.”

“Then I’ll have to tell him it was a life-or-death situation.” When he answered her grin with one of his own, her thoughts mockingly returned. He was gorgeous without all that anger—all Italian muscle, aquiline nose and a set of hypnotic eyes.

An awkward silence descended until she remembered the cup she still held. “Here.” She saw him hesitate and added drily, “It’s not poisoned. Milk, no sugar.”

“Good guess.” Luke took the cup gratefully. “Why the sudden kindness? I thought you wanted me gone.”

“And I thought you’d have a cop with you this morning.”

“There are other ways to deal with this.”

“Then I should credit you with more self-control than I initially thought.”

“Enough for both of us, it seems.” Was he teasing her from behind the coffee mug? After that lame attempt to sweet-talk her last night, she didn’t doubt it.

His soft, almost seductive tone made her heart thump. Annoyed, she swallowed a sharp retort. Instead, she gave him an abbreviated version of what little she’d discovered that morning.

He took it all in in silence, with no overt display of emotion except a faint tightening of the jaw, a flash of his dark eyes. Finally, he dragged a long-fingered hand through his hair and rose.

“And what’s the real estate agency called?” He fixed her with such a piercing look, she felt the danger tingle down to the roots of her hair.

“Crown. I have a rental agreement … well, it’s more like a caretaking agreement—the owners are permanently overseas and I pay minimum rent to keep their house.”

“And you’ve been here three years.”

“Yes.”

“And before that?”

A myriad of emotions tightened her gut. “A bunch of cheap rentals. Nothing like this.”

She’d put so much time and effort into making this house her home. Fixed and replanted the sad garden. Painted the walls. Retiled the bathroom. Put up shelves. All with her own sweat and time and with many a muttered curse. And in a few months, finances willing, she’d even planned to make an offer on it.

It was her sanctuary from the world and no one was going to take that from her without a fight.

“What do you do for work?” he continued.

“I’m a masseuse. I have a store in Surfers …” She glanced at her watch. “One that opens at ten.”

He paused and took a sip of coffee, his expression unreadable. “Do you have the agency’s address?”

“Highway end of Surfers Mall.” She frowned. “What are you going to do?”

“Who’s Ben?”

“What?” Beth blinked.

“Boyfriend? Ex-husband?”

“No!”

“You thought I was here about Ben yesterday.”

She hated how the seeds of insecurity had blossomed into a full-blown tree of doubt in the last half hour. She didn’t want to give in to that. Because if she did, it meant all her efforts to carve out a normal life these last ten years had failed. She didn’t want to be suspicious, didn’t want to automatically doubt every person she met. But right now, faced with this bizarre situation, she had a strange feeling she should believe him. He just gave off that kind of aura.

“Ben’s got nothing to do with this,” she eventually said.

“How do you know that? He could’ve been partners with the agency, operating a real estate scam.”

“Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?”

“Oh, and what we have here is normal?”

She plunked herself on the porch railing. They stayed like that for a few moments, Luke in anticipatory silence, she with her lips pressed tight. He gave her that look again, that firm, what-are-you-hiding-from-me look. It unnerved her.

“He was my bookkeeper,” she conceded tightly, cheeks warming. “When my bank accidentally deposited someone else’s money into my business account, he took it and ran.”

“How much?”

“Five hundred thousand dollars.”

He gave a low whistle, and embarrassment flamed her face. She’d trusted Ben—someone she thought she’d known—and he’d gone and screwed her over.

“I take it you’ve filed a police report?”

“Not yet.” His look only compounded her shame. “The bank gives you twenty-eight days to return the money. It’s only the second.”

“You think he’s going to bring it back?” At her silence, he added more softly, “So. We have a scam and a missing person.”

“We don’t. My problems are none of your business.”

“And I can see you’re handling them just fine.”

She shot to her feet, irritated beyond words. He was right. But cops meant an inquiry, one she couldn’t afford to have.

“Were you and Foster in a sexual relationship?” he said suddenly.

Beth flushed. “What is it with you and sex? No! He’s nineteen, barely out of his teens. A math geek. His mother was a client and he… I…” She faltered at his expression then conceded, “We met twice after work, but it was always about business.”

“Did he know that?”

“Of course!” She swallowed as a small sliver of doubt crept in. “Of course,” she repeated with less conviction. “Why would he steal from me? And something that’s not even mine?”

“Greed’s a basic human desire. It’s not a matter of need, it’s about want. You focus on a victim, build trust and then …”

“Don’t you think I know that?”

Luke took in her tight expression and felt a rush of sympathy. “Do you need to sit down?”

“No.” As if he’d insulted her, she straightened her back and crossed her arms.

He flipped out his phone and dialed. “Dylan. It’s Luke. I need a favor. Information on a Ben Foster. Lives …?”

He paused for an interminably long moment, until Beth grudgingly reeled off an address.

As he gave details, he pointedly ignored Beth’s impatient snort. But when she attempted to interrupt, he held up a hand, silencing her. A complex play of emotions flitted across her face—annoyance, indignation—along with a scowl. Obviously she wasn’t used to being silenced. Fascinated, he watched her wrestle with the anger banking in her eyes. For a second he wasn’t sure control would win out.

“Gotcha,” Dylan said. “When do you want this info?”

“Yesterday.”

Dylan laughed. “Right. I’m off to Cairns for a court appearance this afternoon, then I’m booked solid until Friday. I could hand it over to one of my guys—”

“No. I’d much rather you handle it.”

“Okay. So it’ll have to wait until Sunday.”

Four days? Luke frowned. “Sure.” Then he hung up.

Beth rounded on him. “I didn’t ask for your help!” Her eyes narrowed, her expression tight. “Or is poking about in people’s lives just something that comes naturally?”

He slowly crossed his arms. “Dylan’s a P.I. and can find your runaway a lot quicker than the bank or the cops. I’m not interested in your secrets, Beth,” he lied smoothly.

“Just make sure it stays that way.” The fire retreated as she darted her gaze away to a point past his shoulder. “My private life stays private.”

Luke swallowed the unspoken question teetering on the tip of his tongue. Somehow he didn’t think voicing his opinion on her trust issues would bode well for their tentative truce.

“White-collar crime is more common than you think.”

“Gee, that makes me feel so much better.”

He ignored her sarcasm and started dialing Gino’s solicitor again. “And we need to prove I’m telling the truth.”

Luck was definitely not with him. After a few minutes of the busy signal, he clicked off with a foul curse. “I need to see your lease.”

Her eyes narrowed then zeroed in on his hand where he’d begun to rub his neck.

“Wait here.” But when he stood, she took a step back. “What?”

“Wouldn’t have any more coffee, would you?”

She paused. “In the kitchen.” Then, reluctantly, “Fine. Come in.”

Beth was acutely aware of his presence as she gathered up the carnations then walked into the kitchen. She got an empty vase from the cupboard, filled it with water then arranged the flowers, all the while trying to ignore the whirl of confusing reactions circling inside.

“Mind if I have some toast?” he asked when she finally finished.

She sighed. What’s one more oddity in a day like today? “Help yourself,” she muttered and walked out of the kitchen.

When Beth returned, she paused in the doorway, watching as Luke stood at the counter eating Vegemite-smothered toast.

I’ll bet relax is not in his vocabulary. Yet despite that small flaw, he was a perfect specimen. He had shoulders broader than a man had any right to have. His Mediterranean skin was a healthy tan and from what she could see, not one ounce of fat insulted that perfect physique. It was a functional, red-blooded, well-kept body … and looked far too warm and touchable for her liking. Despite herself she wanted to touch him, wanted to ease out the tension furrowing his brow, trail her hands down those beautiful forearms, over his chest, feel the heat radiating there, maybe even—

Annoyance chased away the threads of attraction. After her past mistakes, she’d vowed never to let anyone get that close again.

And now Luke was making himself at home in her kitchen. He’d even mastered her temperamental toaster, because just as the offending appliance flung a piece of toast high into the air, Luke caught it as skillfully as a Brisbane Broncos halfback.

She’d never been able to judge the trajectory on that stupid thing.

She laid her papers on the kitchen table. “Here’s everything. You should also know I have a legally binding tenancy agreement.”

She savored the small bittersweet triumph, even as he grabbed the documents and scanned them with a black scowl.

But as she watched him read, that feeling of victory slowly leeched away. Three months. Only a blink away. If he was telling the truth, could he actually sell her home from under her feet regardless of that bit of paper?

This house meant more to her than a roof. It was a home, a sanctuary. It was her home. After so many years of not belonging, it was a symbol of how far she’d come and everything she’d struggled for. And there was no way some high-priced banker with a sinful smile would force her out.

She needed expert legal advice—except she couldn’t afford it.

She eyeballed Luke still studying her papers, his shirt tight across his shoulders as he leaned over the table. Amazing how such a large piece of clothing provided so little cover.

With awareness prickling her skin, she reached for the coffeepot and poured herself a cup. Gently blowing the steam off, she lifted her eyes, only to find his intent on the rim of her cup.

On her lips.

She swallowed, lowered the cup and waved to her papers. “Does that prove I’m not lying?”

“It looks legitimate.” He pointed to a signature. “The agency has a management agreement, acting on behalf of the owners.”

“That’s right.”

“So you have no idea who the real owners are?”

“No.” From the look on his face he obviously didn’t like her answer. “So our next move is …?”

“I’m going to see Gino’s lawyers.”

“You mean, we’re going.” She put her cup in the sink, the coffee now a tart taste in her mouth.

He flexed his back and grimaced but said nothing.

She scowled. “I’m going to be frank with you, Mr. De Rossi. I am not impressed with you—not by your power or your wealth. I know people like you.”

His eyes narrowed. “Really.”

“Yes. Men dedicated to their jobs, their own needs. They think that with one killer smile, anyone can be swayed into changing a decision. They have to be in control twenty-four hours a day.”

“All that just by looking at me, hey?”

“I’ve had a lot of practice. And just so you know, don’t even think about trying to charm me. I’m immune.”

Luke studied her blankly, her stubborn chin tilted up, lips pressed tightly together, hands on hips.

Classic defensive stance.

His sudden smile threw her. “So, apart from my job, my looks and my mere presence, you like me, right?”

A gentle morning breeze took that moment to sweep through the window, curling through the flowers on the windowsill and ruffling her wheat-blond curls. It wrapped around them until Luke wasn’t sure if the perfume came from her or the flowers.

Either way, she smelled damn good.

Yeah, hold on there, mate. You need to focus on getting Gino’s stuff out of your life, not be swayed by a pair of wide Bambi eyes. She could make things awkward. You still don’t know what her part is and you need Beth Jones onside.

Judging by the hostile vibe of her crossed arms and her closed expression, he had his work cut out.

“Surely there must be one tiny thing you like about me, right? Otherwise I wouldn’t be standing here.”

She tilted her head with a curious expression. “Why is it so important I like you?”

“Because then you can start to trust me.”

“I don’t trust anyone.”

Luke watched her grab a cloth and wipe the table in swift, jerky movements.

He could read people pretty well, yet Beth Jones was an enigma. In direct contrast to yesterday, she was armored up in a green shirt and jeans, her hair efficiently pulled back low on her neck. Defensive, yes. Self-sufficient, definitely. Yet he couldn’t quite get a handle on the rest … and loose cannons made him nervous.

Despite her desperation to get rid of him and the mess she was now in, she hadn’t mentioned cops or lawyers again. He’d expected tears or anger, not this cool, calm logic. She’d even dug in her heels and dared him to prove his story, which meant she was confident with hers.

His initial hunch was correct—she was hiding something.

He crossed his arms and tested his theory. “We do this my way or we hand it all over to our lawyers. And I’m pretty sure you won’t like the alternative.”

She narrowed her eyes, her smile tight. “So I guess we’re about to find out who’s trustworthy, aren’t we?”

Three

They got into Luke’s car and set off in silence.

Instead of thinking about those long fingers changing gears a hairbreadth away, she tried to focus on the things she didn’t like—his arrogant attitude, the way he took control. Those all-seeing, all-knowing eyes. The tension in his shoulders … hard, firm shoulders … That kissable mouth …

As he changed into third gear, she jumped again, the warmth of his knuckles sending a tingle up her leg. She stole a glance at him. He was looking straight ahead and didn’t appear to be having a problem keeping his hormones in check.

“So,” he finally said, absently running a finger around his rolled-up shirtsleeve and working the material, bringing Beth’s attention to the tanned forearm underneath. “We’ll make a stop at the real estate agent’s first then head to Brisbane.”

“What makes you think they’ll tell you anything?”

“Because I can be very persuasive.”

Oh, I’m sure you can.

“So how did you find them?” he asked.

“They’re local, a few of my clients use them and they had what I was after.” She glanced sideways, taking in his expression. “Look, they’re a legitimate business with an office, a receptionist and a bunch of listings. It’s not like I threw my money at any old bum in the street.”

“I’ve no doubt their operation is professional,” Luke said.

“And I have all the right papers, as you saw.”

“I also saw you have three months left on your lease.” She clamped her mouth shut. She wouldn’t have to suffer his presence much longer. Before day’s end this would all be cleared up.

She focused back on the road, staring out the window as they moved along Pacific Highway, passing Australia Fair shopping complex before driving over the Nerang River.

Soon, Aphrodite’s appeared on the left, all towering glass and concave walls. A replica of the Venus de Milo standing proudly atop seemed subdued in the daylight, almost grave in her state of undress. But at night, when all the lights of the casino came on, reflecting on the lake below like a never-ending fireworks display, she glowed with inner beauty. A magnificent spectacle that was still a regular Gold Coast draw twenty years on.

A familiar line of hotels, shops and restaurants flanked busy Surfers Paradise Boulevard as they crawled along with the rest of the traffic, the pungent smell of exhaust fumes mingling with the familiar saltiness of the Pacific Ocean a few hundred feet away.

She chanced another glance at Luke—deep in thought—and set her mouth in a grim line.

“Why are you getting involved in this, anyway? Don’t you have an army of lawyers to do all the legwork?”

The unspoken mistrust hovered, warm and cloying, until he pulled into a parking space across from Cavill Mall.

He switched off the engine and turned to face her.

“For whatever reason, Gino Corelli gave me that house. So—”

“Wait, what? Gino Corelli? He’s your uncle?” Shock slammed into Beth, choking her breath. She tried to swallow but failed. “The owner of Aphrodite’s? The one who’s just been under investigation from the gaming commission?”

“Yeah, so?”

At his confused expression, she slumped back in her seat and stared blankly ahead. “Gino Corelli,” she repeated slowly. “So you’re … he’s … My God! You … you … You were in my home … using my toaster!”

His black frown loomed like storm-filled clouds. “I thought you knew who I was!”

“You, yes. Not who your uncle is … was. I …” The words caught in her throat as his expression iced over.

“The press are wrong. The commission didn’t have enough evidence to bring to the Director of Public Prosecutions,” he returned tightly.

Beth scrambled out of the car, desperate to dislodge the sour taste in her mouth. What on earth was she in the middle of?

Luke rounded the hood and came toward her.

“You just keep your distance!” she ordered. The brief newsflashes she’d been unable to avoid burst in her mind, robbing her of coherent thought. “Corelli’s a crime boss who laundered money and was bribing the cops and …” She scrambled for further details but it was futile. All that stood out was something about insider trading—and Luke worked for one of the largest merchant banks in Australia.

“Allegedly bribing the cops. Allegedly laundering money.” His eyes went stony, his expression grim. A wall of self-protection to hide the blow she’d unthinkingly dealt him. “One disgruntled employee with an ax to grind, and the mighty press finishes the job. And for the record, Ms. Jones, the case was eventually thrown out and I was never formally named. They didn’t splash that on the front page though, did they?” He spun on his heel and strode across the road.

His words struck Beth like a slap. A wave of shame immediately followed, burning her cheeks as surely as if he’d landed the blow.

She had hurt him. She’d never willingly hurt anyone, yet she’d blurted out those accusations without a thought as to Luke’s innocence.

A small groan of dismay escaped as she recalled the scant details. More important, she remembered the overwhelming rush of sympathy she’d felt for Luke De Rossi right before she’d clicked off the TV in frustration. She had avoided the news since then and frankly, the absence of hearsay, rumor and half-truths was wonderfully liberating.

So why was she so willing to believe in Luke’s guilt now?

That thought propelled her into action. She dashed across the street to where Luke was impatiently waiting, his eyes hidden by sunglasses.