trip.”
“Italy.” Tasha and Stephen both spoke at the same time.
Tasha whipped her head around in surprise, then was forced to add, “You remembered?
I didn’t think you were listening to my fantasy itinerary.”
How had he done that? Known what she was going to say?
“I’m always listening, Natasha.” He shared a masculine smile with Burke. “Natasha
has a weakness for Italian cuisine. I’ve been meaning to take her, but I have this
nightmare of losing her to a chef in Tuscany.”
They all laughed and Burke motioned to someone nearby who instantly brought him a
fresh mimosa. “So, you’ve got no interest in Ireland either, Miss Rivera? I’m surprised.
I would’ve thought you’d be anxious to see your father and his family.”
Stephen’s hand stilled on her back, but Tasha had fully expected Burke to know something
about her. Her father’s deportation was low hanging fruit, the easiest information
for a man with his resources to uncover. She shrugged and sent him a look laced with
just a trace of guilt. “Am I a horrible person for craving the warmth of the Mediterranean
over an awkward family reunion? To be honest, I haven’t seen or heard from him in
so long, he could be at this party and I wouldn’t recognize him.”
She’d get her grandmother to pray for forgiveness on her behalf. That kind of lie
had to be a sin. The only thing that had ever kept her from going to Ireland was her
fear that her father would turn her away. That her memory of the man he had been was
colored with a child’s hopeful brush and the reality would be painful.
His wife reached out and touched Tasha’s leg, as if to comfort her. Just as quickly,
she pulled away and Tasha saw the blonde’s cheeks darken. Interesting. “Of course
you aren’t horrible. Phil shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Stephen’s words were low, but had the desired affect. Burke
stopped smiling.
“My apologies, Miss Rivera. I spend my days surrounded by nosy reporters. Some of
it was bound to rub off. It so happens I do have a villa in Tuscany, as Wendi said.
I’d love to bring the both of you there, and I’ll do my best to keep all the best
chefs hidden away from view so your Natasha isn’t unduly tempted.”
Wendi was beaming, and Tasha sent her a matching smile. “I would love that.”
Stephen tugged on her bikini tie in warning but answered, “How can I refuse such a
generous offer?”
Wendi stole a sip of her husband’s mimosa, her eyes never leaving Tasha’s face. “Are
you wearing contacts?”
Tasha smiled. “No.”
“You have beautiful eyes.”
Burke chuckled at his wife’s compliment. “Finn, you could be in trouble. Every party
we throw, Wendi and I are each allowed to explore a different desire. I can’t deny
my beauty anything either, and this time I believe she’s decided on Miss Rivera. At
least, that’s what she’s been insisting since you two arrived.”
Wendi was blushing so deeply that Tasha felt bad for her.
Stephen’s fingers dug possessively into her waist. “I don’t blame her. However, there
are a few things I’m not willing to share, Burke. I’m sure you understand.”
Phil Burke’s eyes narrowed, honing in on Stephen in a way that made Tasha uneasy.
He wasn’t used to being denied.
She covered Stephen’s hand with her own. “I wouldn’t mind one little experiment. As
long as you were watching me. Sir.”
She stared at him, willing him to read her thoughts. Wendi was still a newlywed, barely
married a year to a man who surrounded himself with the kind of debauchery that would
send anyone into sensory overload. Tasha had no doubt Wendi’s request was more about
keeping her husband’s attention in this kind of environment than seriously exploring
same-sex relations.
Tasha could make an ally if she helped her out. Or at the very least, do her job and
distract their host from
“Italy.” Tasha and Stephen both spoke at the same time.
Tasha whipped her head around in surprise, then was forced to add, “You remembered?
I didn’t think you were listening to my fantasy itinerary.”
How had he done that? Known what she was going to say?
“I’m always listening, Natasha.” He shared a masculine smile with Burke. “Natasha
has a weakness for Italian cuisine. I’ve been meaning to take her, but I have this
nightmare of losing her to a chef in Tuscany.”
They all laughed and Burke motioned to someone nearby who instantly brought him a
fresh mimosa. “So, you’ve got no interest in Ireland either, Miss Rivera? I’m surprised.
I would’ve thought you’d be anxious to see your father and his family.”
Stephen’s hand stilled on her back, but Tasha had fully expected Burke to know something
about her. Her father’s deportation was low hanging fruit, the easiest information
for a man with his resources to uncover. She shrugged and sent him a look laced with
just a trace of guilt. “Am I a horrible person for craving the warmth of the Mediterranean
over an awkward family reunion? To be honest, I haven’t seen or heard from him in
so long, he could be at this party and I wouldn’t recognize him.”
She’d get her grandmother to pray for forgiveness on her behalf. That kind of lie
had to be a sin. The only thing that had ever kept her from going to Ireland was her
fear that her father would turn her away. That her memory of the man he had been was
colored with a child’s hopeful brush and the reality would be painful.
His wife reached out and touched Tasha’s leg, as if to comfort her. Just as quickly,
she pulled away and Tasha saw the blonde’s cheeks darken. Interesting. “Of course
you aren’t horrible. Phil shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Stephen’s words were low, but had the desired affect. Burke
stopped smiling.
“My apologies, Miss Rivera. I spend my days surrounded by nosy reporters. Some of
it was bound to rub off. It so happens I do have a villa in Tuscany, as Wendi said.
I’d love to bring the both of you there, and I’ll do my best to keep all the best
chefs hidden away from view so your Natasha isn’t unduly tempted.”
Wendi was beaming, and Tasha sent her a matching smile. “I would love that.”
Stephen tugged on her bikini tie in warning but answered, “How can I refuse such a
generous offer?”
Wendi stole a sip of her husband’s mimosa, her eyes never leaving Tasha’s face. “Are
you wearing contacts?”
Tasha smiled. “No.”
“You have beautiful eyes.”
Burke chuckled at his wife’s compliment. “Finn, you could be in trouble. Every party
we throw, Wendi and I are each allowed to explore a different desire. I can’t deny
my beauty anything either, and this time I believe she’s decided on Miss Rivera. At
least, that’s what she’s been insisting since you two arrived.”
Wendi was blushing so deeply that Tasha felt bad for her.
Stephen’s fingers dug possessively into her waist. “I don’t blame her. However, there
are a few things I’m not willing to share, Burke. I’m sure you understand.”
Phil Burke’s eyes narrowed, honing in on Stephen in a way that made Tasha uneasy.
He wasn’t used to being denied.
She covered Stephen’s hand with her own. “I wouldn’t mind one little experiment. As
long as you were watching me. Sir.”
She stared at him, willing him to read her thoughts. Wendi was still a newlywed, barely
married a year to a man who surrounded himself with the kind of debauchery that would
send anyone into sensory overload. Tasha had no doubt Wendi’s request was more about
keeping her husband’s attention in this kind of environment than seriously exploring
same-sex relations.
Tasha could make an ally if she helped her out. Or at the very least, do her job and
distract their host from
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