At least, Setha scribbled. Khouri stared. It was all he could do to get through the first hour of their discussion that morning. It would have probably been a chore for him to keep his full attention on business anyway.
It went without saying that Setha Melendez was a beauty. It was no surprise that she was tall coming from a family of giants—same as him, Khouri thought. What was a surprise was the sweet, husky voice that cracked every now and then in the most adorable way. Unlike her brothers who’d inherited their complexion from their father, Setha’s skin was a flawless dark chocolate, courtesy of her mother.
Then, there was everything else. Her curves. The blue-black waves of hair bound in the tight glossy ball atop her head. Then there were the midnight-colored eyes that could drown a man and the mouth that promised heaven.
While the physical surprises abounded and delighted, they didn’t take his mind off the fact that she’d sought refuge in his car just two nights prior. Of all the mysteries he intended to solve about her, that was the one he most wanted answers to.
“Lunch?” he proposed when she looked up to find him watching her.
“Oh…thank you, but no.” She scooted to the edge of the sofa. “I’m supposed to have a late lunch with my staff.”
“Well, then.” Khouri left his place behind the desk and went to meet her in the center of the room. “Guess we’ll have lots to talk about.” He smiled toward the pad she’d been scribbling on.
She eased it into her tote and nodded. “I’ll clear time with my staff so we can schedule meetings and put this thing to bed.” She coughed, the phrase having left her mouth before her brain could process it.
Khouri held his laughter, knowing he’d only embarrass her more than she already was. “May I take you to your car?” he asked, bringing his hand to the small of her back but not touching her there.
Setha raised a hand, shaking her head as she did so. “I’ve already taken up enough of your time.”
“Hold on.” He went back to his desk, leaning across it and grabbing the phone. “Hey,” he greeted softly when Marta answered. “Call down to security and tell them to have somebody down there to show Ms. Melendez to her car.”
“I appreciate that,” Setha said when he rejoined her in the middle of the room. “But I can get myself to the car just fine.”
“I know that, but this is for Sam’s benefit.” Khouri’s sleek brows rose in acknowledgment of her curiosity. “I’m sure he didn’t much like sending his baby sister into the lion’s den. Having sisters myself, I know I wouldn’t care for it much, either.” Bright eyes scanned her body quickly yet intensely. “Least I can do is have security give you an escort.”
“Well, thank you.” She almost whispered the words.
“You’re welcome. I’ll call you.” His voice was just as soft.
Setha walked out less than half a minute later and Khouri ordered himself to stop at his office door—not to follow her down the hall. He watched even after she had disappeared into one of the elevators.
“Put your tongue back in your mouth, baby,” Marta said when she walked past.
Khouri rolled his eyes and returned to his office. Marta’s laughter followed.
Chapter 4
Marta was handling a call when Avra dropped by her brother’s office. She pointed to the door to silently inquire if he was in.
Covering the phone’s mouthpiece, Marta’s eyes shifted quickly toward the door. “Yeah, but in a weird mood.”
“And this is news?”
“He’s been acting funny since Ms. Melendez left around lunch.”
“Ah…” Avra’s expression turned smug. “I told him he’d be floored.”
“Floored ain’t the half of it.”
“Thanks, Mart,” Avra said, letting the woman get back to her phone call.
She applied a fast knock to the door and stepped into the office calling Khouri’s name. He was behind his desk, somberly swiveling his chair to and fro. Avra had to call his name three times before catching his attention.
She whistled when he pulled his fist from his chin and looked over at her. “Damn! Floored ain’t the half of it. You looked downright steamrolled, baby brother.”
Khouri smiled but made no effort to provide a verbal confirmation…or denial.
“Come on, out with it.” Avra moved aside folders from a corner of the desk and planted her butt in the space. “So? How’d it go?”
“Not now, Av.”
“Uh-uh, I’ve been waiting all day for you to tell me about it.”
“Later.”
“Well what? Do I need to be concerned?” She wasn’t put off by the black look he sent her.
“I mean, if I need to be concerned—tell me.” She folded her arms across the front of the ruffled blouse and feigned exasperation. “It is my name on the account. I should know if it’s about to take a swan dive down the toilet.”
“Bullshit.” Khouri worked the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “But all right.”
“What?”
“It’s got nothin’ to do with the ads. You just want to know what happened with her.”
“Khouri…” That time, Avra feigned innocence. “That’s not even true. I need this idea of Dad’s to work. I’m absolutely not trying to have to deal with Samson Melendez again. Ever.”
Khouri didn’t have to look Avra’s way to detect the disappointment on her part. Was she aware of it? he wondered.
“So. About the meeting?”
“Jesus, Avra.” Khouri left his desk then said, “She’s incredible, all right?”
Avra leaned over his desk, bracing her weight on one elbow. “Trophy material, huh?”
“Ha!” He laughed over the phrasing, but nodded. “And then some, but more than that—a lot more.”
“Wow.” Avra couldn’t pull her eyes away from her brother’s face. He looked positively thunderstruck. “I still can’t believe you’ve never met her—seen her. I would’ve expected you to have scoped that piece of eye candy a long time ago.”
“Yeah…” Khouri’s thunderstruck look showed traces of unease. “Well I thought I’d never met her,” he said and rubbed the back of his neck while walking the perimeter of his office.
Avra’s long stare widened in anticipation of Khouri sharing a bit of sexy dirt.
“Forget it,” he flatly refused, easily reading her expression. “Maybe met is too strong of a word.”
Avra hung her head and shook it. “Now I’m completely confused.” She was, however, sitting up moments later once Khouri explained how and where he’d originally met Setha Melendez in the alley behind Raquel’s club.
Overwhelmed, Avra could only sit with her mouth open in amazement. “All right…is it possible for you to go over this once more and slowly—I mean like funeral-procession slowly?”
He grinned. “Story ain’t gonna change, darlin’.”
“But what’s it all about? What’d she say when you asked her?”
“I didn’t ask her.”
“Well, dammit, Khouri. Why not?”
“Hell, Avra!” Khouri lost the tether he kept on