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Two weeks later
Maria walked through the lobby on her way to her office. Why in the hell couldn’t she get her mind off of Garrett and back on her job where it belonged? Could it possibly be because every day since she’d boarded the plane that had brought her back to Miami, she’d received a text from him? A text that read the same thing, day after day. Nobody touches.
Always short and succinct. She’d never bothered responding. He knew where he could find her if he wanted to see her, but she had to admit, just that one small form of communication from him every day was reassuring.
“Maria,” Beth whispered and caught her arm as she rounded the corner of the reception desk.
“What’s up?” Maria stalled in her tracks at the flushed look on Beth’s face.
“You know Garrett just arrived?” the girl whispered, looking around as if they were telling top secrets.
A whole mess of crap emotions exploded in Maria’s head. “When?”
“About fifteen minutes ago. I texted you,” Beth said, frowning, letting her know she hadn’t bothered answering.
That was sort of true. Maria hadn’t bothered looking at her phone. “Is he upstairs? Or in the offices?”
“Upstairs,” Beth answered. “There’s another thing,” the girl went on, whispering again. “That man is waiting for you in your office.”
Maria stalled in her tracks again. “What man?”
Beth looked as if she’d seen a flesh-eating zombie. “That guy from the Keys. Maximo Villareal.”
“He’s here? Now?” Maria asked, dumbstruck. Two arrogant men in one day? Great. Lucky her.
“Yes,” Beth hissed in a whisper, jerking her head toward the back offices.
“How long has he been here?”
“Maybe three minutes.” Beth answered, still in a whisper. “I sent you a text,” Beth said again, accusingly.
Maria ignored that. “Did he ask for Garrett?” she asked uneasily.
In answer, Beth began shaking her head, her eyes wide.
“He asked for me?” Maria heard herself all but screech.
“Yes,” the other woman said firmly.
“Why?” she asked, although Maria knew the other woman probably wouldn’t have the answer.
Beth bit her lip and shrugged her shoulders, a perplexed look on her face.
“Okay.” Maria said, taking a breath. “No time like the present, I guess. Look, if we’re still in there in ten minutes, knock on the door and make up an excuse to get me out of there, okay?”
“You got it.” Beth agreed, her eyes lighting with a fire that told Maria the girl would protect her if she could.
“Thanks.” Maria turned away and ran her hands down her skirt, smoothing a wrinkle as she walked to her meeting on low-heeled shoes. As she glanced inside her office, the office Garrett had used, she saw the man sprawled in one of the chairs that faced the desk.
“Hello,” she announced as cheerfully as possible as she entered the room, leaving the door wide open.
Maximo Villareal stood to his feet and a smile appeared on the hard planes of his face. But for whatever reason, the smile didn’t seem to touch his eyes and Maria felt her stomach drop in reaction. “Miss Alvarez,” he said, inclining his head.
Maria stopped to shake his hand and felt a slight trepidation run down her spine. When he released her, she sat behind her desk and asked, “How may I help you, Mr. Villareal?”
“Max, please.”
She inclined her head infinitesimally. “Max,” she agreed, lifting her hand to indicate he should take his seat.
When he walked around her desk and leaned against it, not a foot away from where she sat, Maria felt her heckles rise. “The chair is uncomfortable?” she asked in challenge.
“No, it’s fine,” he said as his gaze raked over her.
Even though his face was couched into a smile, his eyes were cold and distant, and Maria got the unwavering impression that whatever he was feeling, whatever he was doing here, it had little to do with her. “Might I suggest you take your seat then?” she asked with a saccharine smile.
In answer, he lifted himself from his indolent position and sauntered a couple of feet away, but remained standing. Turning to face her, he announced, “I’m sure there’s no need for me to beat around the bush—I’d like for you to come work for me.”
Surprise and an arrow of disbelief had her wondering about his machinations. “You hardly know me.”
“Yes, but what I do know of, I appreciate,” he answered precisely. “Good employees are most difficult to come by, I’m sure you’re aware.”
“Yes, I am.” She stared straight at him without blinking. “I sincerely appreciate it, but I like my position here—I’m content.”
He studied her, almost knowingly. “You seem very loyal to the Rule Corporation.”
There was something in his tone that was sending a chill down her spine. “I’d say I’m loyal to the hotel, although the Rules seem like a lovely family, from what little I’ve seen.”
It was as if an arctic blast hit his features. “Yes, three brothers who are quite close, I believe.”
