He touched her wrist ever so gently.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Goldman’s got them.”
Penny sighed and tried to relax. Why was she feeling like Juniper and Thorn were her responsibility? Yes, Marcia should take care of them. She was their mother now.
“So, are you hungry? Or am I just making assumptions here?”
It was impossible for her not to get lost in those green eyes of his, and not to melt at that wicked smile gracing his full, sinful lips. It was a little embarrassing, but she would have done anything to hear him speak Spanish again. The way he pronounced the words, the “s”-es, specifically… It was so different from the Latin American accents she’d heard before.
“Okay, you caught me. I’m a bit hungry.” She chuckled.
“My offer still stands.”
She bit the inside of her lip. She couldn’t believe she was falling so easily for him. He was hot, yes, but he was a stranger. And a foreigner. For the life of her, Penny couldn’t quite place the real reason why she felt so attracted to him. Was it because he was obviously so wealthy and powerful, since he was working with Goldman, and of all the women who had probably fallen at his feet, he had chosen to pay attention to her? It didn’t make sense, though. She couldn’t care less about a man’s money.
“Are you trying to woo me because I’m the only young woman at this cocktail party, sir?”
Both his dark, thick eyebrows shot up in a look of shock.
“No, of course not. Why would you think that?”
“So, you’re not trying to woo me?” Okay, she was teasing him now. And she liked it.
He huffed. “Penelope, I am trying to woo you. You got that part right. But not because you’re the only young woman here. Because you’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
His words took her aback. She leaned against the cold iron railing that separated the terrace from the yard. Her fingers tightened around her glass, lest she’d drop it from how sweaty and slippery they had become.
“Well that… that is a bold statement.”
He smiled and took a step toward her, placing a hand on the railing, so close to her elbow that his thumb almost touched the thin, blond hairs on her arm.
“It’s true,” he whispered.
Penny’s nostrils flared as she inhaled the musky, strongly masculine cologne he was wearing. The warmth of his body so close to hers was intoxicating. She could feel herself slipping farther and farther under his spell, and she was ridiculously close to giving in to him and allowing him to do with her whatever he wanted. She was sure she would enjoy it, too. But, no. She still had some self-control left. She swallowed hard, wet her lips, and did her best not to move a muscle. He didn’t need to know his closeness was making her whole body turn to jelly.
“Thank you, then. That’s the nicest compliment I’ve ever received.”
“What?! No one has told you how beautiful, sexy, and downright ravishing you are?”
He sounded almost offended, and she had to laugh at that.
“Not with the passion you put into it, no.”
“Fools!”
She laughed harder. Normally, his pick-up lines wouldn’t work on her, but he seemed so tumultuous and sincere that she couldn’t deny his entire being was doing something to her. He hadn’t even touched her anywhere above her wrist, and her panties were already soaked. Her breasts were swollen, and her hard nipples were poking through the lace of her bra and the soft fabric of her dress. She was pretty sure Enzo was the culprit, and not the slight chill of the late summer hour.
“Alas, you better get used to my compliments.” He pushed himself away from her and took a step back. “If you’re Mr. Goldman’s assistant, then there’s a high probability we’ll bump into each other at his office, right?”
She smiled tensely. Should she correct him and let him know she was more of a nanny than an assistant, and she won’t be spending that much time at Goldman Corp?
“Come on, let’s check the buffet. If you’re not hungry, I am.”
He made to leave, and Penny realized she was losing him. Well, maybe that was an overstatement, but the truth was that she enjoyed his company, his attention, and his compliments. Also, she didn’t feel like going inside. She’d had enough of the Goldmans and their rich friends for one day. She deserved a break. And, to be exceptionally honest, even a prize for having held up so well.
“Why not? I’m a big girl. I deserve to have fun once in a while. No strings attached.”
Her decision was made. Enzo Salvador was not going anywhere.
